Run the Adventure

In this Halloween special, I am joined by Mike Mason, line editor for Call of Cthulhu at Chaosium. We talk about the Gateways to Terror collection of short scenarios for Call of Cthulhu. These scenarios are perfect for beginner keepers or as introductions to players who've never played Call of Cthulhu before.

We also cover advice for new keepers and those hoping to write their own scenarios for the game. There's a lot to chew on in this episode!

Further Resources:

• Gateways to Terror (Print)
• Gateways to Terror (PDF)

If you have questions, thoughts or suggestions about this episode please get in touch by email [email protected] or on Twitter @rta_podcast.

Listen to the show for a special discount from DungeonLand.

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In this special episode, I am joined by Justin Alexander from the Alexandrian and Atlas Games to talk about the Dragonlance module DL1 Dragons of Despair. For me the Dragonlance novels were a formative part of my childhood and I remember running this adventure for friends back in the 90s with some success. More recently, I brought it to the table for D&D 5th Edition.

I talk to Justin about what makes this a fun adventure, with some of its novel elements and innovations for the time. We also chat about the problems it has for those accustomed to the modern game and how these may be overcome. Justin gives his usual insights into adventure structure and design with hints at how you might remix this for your table. He also talks about some of the fascinating history of the production of the Dragonlance saga. 

With a new generation about to be introduced to Dragonlance for the first time, this felt like a timely conversation going back to the roots of the setting.

Further Resources:

• Dragons of Despair (AD&D 1e) PDF on DriveThruRPG
• Dragons of Autumn PDF collection (D&D 3.5) on DriveThruRPG

Also check out the excellent D&D Actual Play podcast, Tale of the Manticore.

If you have questions, thoughts or suggestions about this episode please get in touch by email [email protected] or on Twitter @rta_podcast.

Listen to the show for a special discount from DungeonLand.

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This is a trailer for the dark fantasy actual play Dungeons & Dragons podcast Tale of the Manticore.

You can find it here: https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/

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In this episode, I take a look at the first scenario in the Doors to Darkness collection aimed at beginner Keepers of Call of Cthulhu 7th edition. The Darkness Beneath the Hill is often touted as a good transition for D&D players into Call of Cthulhu. Whether that's true or not, its a scenario that has some great atmospherics but a bit of dodgy setup.

For this episode I'm joined again by Matthew (@juniperapolo) to discuss how this adventure played for our group.

Further resources:

• Doors To Darkness from DungeonLand
• Doors of Darkness PDF from DriveThruRPG 

Also check out the excellent D&D Actual Play podcast, Tomes of the Chaos Bard.

If you have questions, thoughts or suggestions about this episode please get in touch by email [email protected] or on Twitter @rta_podcast.

Listen to the show for a special discount from DungeonLand.

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For this special episode, I am joined by Iain from the Roll To Save podcast to discuss the Vampire the Masquerade campaign adventure, Fall of London. 

Vampire the Masquerade is a setting and rule system that hit its peak in the 90s when at least in my gaming circle it pushed out more traditional RPGs like D&D. It perfectly captured the goth chic and music vibe that would go on to stylise films like the Matrix and Underworld. It is a lore rich setting and a simple enough system to play. 

Whilst much has been written about the setting and countless campaigns played amongst friends and LARPers alike, what it seemed to lack was a memorable or even half decent adventure or scenario book. Well, at least in my opinion that was the case until Fall of London was released in 2020 for the 5th edition game. 

Further Resources:

• Fall of London on DriveThruRPG
• Fall of London hardback book from DungeonLand (10% discount for Patreons)
• History of Vampire: The Masquerade on Roll To Save podcast

If you have questions, thoughts or suggestions about this episode please get in touch by email [email protected] or on Twitter @rta_podcast.

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A trailer for the podcast for new curious listeners.

This is a podcast about getting the most out of published modules for your tabletop roleplaying game. Every episode I take a look at a module to show you where the fun is and how you might want to tweak it to suit your game.

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For the tenth episode, I go back to the beginning with my favourite module from back in the day, the Isle of Dread. Like many gamers of a certain generation, I got introduced to RPGs with Frank Mentzer’s Red Box Dungeons & Dragons. But it was the blue Expert set that really made me a lifelong roleplayer. Inside that box was contained the orange cover of X1 Isle of Dread which gave not just a sea adventure, not just a wilderness hex crawl but also the first rough sketch of the Known World.

In an effort to see if it holds up against my boyhood memories, I've been playing through it in a lunchtime game using pared down rules based on Old School Essentials. I talk about how that goes. I also approach the structural and content problems that the module throws up for modern gamers.

Further resources:

• X1 Isle of Dread from DriveThruRPG
• Old School Essentials

If you have questions, thoughts or suggestions about this episode please get in touch by email [email protected] or on Twitter @rta_podcast.

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This is a trailer for Snyder's Return, a UK based Tabletop Roleplaying Game Podcast featuring TTRPG Actual Play, Content Creator Interviews and DM/Player Guides.

You can find them here: https://linktr.ee/snydersreturn

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For this episode, I embark on the Achtung! Cthulhu adventure, A Quick Trip to France. This was provided in the Quick Start rules for the 2d20 version of Achtung! Cthulhu. 

It’s a setting about fighting the Axis powers in a Secret War during the Second World War, involving as you might suspect Cthulhu Mythos entities, magic and weird science. In short, its pulp adventures in wartime with a bit of horror fantasy thrown in. 

The 2d20 system isn’t for everyone and Modiphius’ has gotten some flak for the editorial quality of their rulebooks. So, whilst I’ll be focusing on the scenario in the Quick Start rules as it stands, I will be discussing how it works as an introduction to the 2d20 rules as well.

I am joined by Ryan to discuss how it played for us.

Further Resources:

• Achtung! Cthulhu 2d20 Quickstart 

If you have questions, thoughts or suggestions about this episode please get in touch by email [email protected] or on Twitter @rta_podcast.

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This is a trailer for Tomes of the Chaos Bard, an All Ages Dungeons & Dragons Actual-play Podcast with Original Music.

You can find them here: https://drum.io/tomesofthechaosbard

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