The GROGNARD Files

One of the foundational films that shaped the games that we played is Excalibur (1981). In this episode we look back on the film and consider how it can continue to inspire our gaming.

To see some of the issues of Starburst that we refer to in this episode, you’ll find images over at Dirk Malcolm’s World of Film where I have written a couple of pieces about how the magazine covered the film.

Also in this episode, David Larkins, Line Editor of King Arthur Pendragon at Chaosium, talks about Berlin Wicked City, The Esoteric Order of Role-players and much more.

Sam Vail adds Robin of Sherwood to the Appendix G.

Please consider supporting the podcast at Patreon.

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Join me as I take an idea for a walk across the Gangster RPG shelf in the GROGPOD den. It also features a sample actual play of GangBusters – The Vanishing Investigator.

Games mentioned:

GangBusters

Gangster!

Crime Fighter

Fiasco

Hillfolk

Spirit of ’77

Cartel

Blades in the Dark

Wise Guys

Also mentioned: Good Friends of Jackson Ellias, Will Weaton’s Demonstration of Fiasco, Reviews from R’lyeh, Third Floor Wars, Tale of the Manticore, and Orlanth Rex’s Gaming Vexes.

Join Patreon, for more of the Actual Play.

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In this episode, we finally draw the sword from the stone and examine a game that had an enormous impact on gaming in the 80s: King Arthur Pendragon.

David Larkins, the Pendragon line editor for Chaosium, joins us to tell us about the history of the game, how it works and the future developments.

Judge Blythy, our resident rules-lawyer, reviews the mechanics and we discuss how the game works conceptually.

We also have some closing time chatter about hot topics on our table top.

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“Get your trousers on, you’re nicked!” We are still in the mood for some old fashioned cops and robbers. In this part we look a bit more closely at how the rules work in GangBusters. Judge Blythy, our resident rules lawyer casts his eye over some of the highlights of the system.

New in this podcast is Appendix G. This segment will invite members of the GROGSQUAD to talk about books, films, TV and other media that has influenced their gaming. Vaughan Allen provides a background to The Sweeney, the UK cop show from the 70s, and talks about how it has influenced his Delta Green game.

Over in the GROGGLEBOX we watch The Untouchables (1987).

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The post GangBusters Ep.52 (Part 2) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster in an RPG.

This time we look back at a classic from back in the day. Pound the mean streets of LakeFront City as we look back to playing the game back in the 80s. Blythy opens up the box of delights as we recall the old neighbourhood where we used to play.

We are joined by Mark Hunt who has revived GangBusters with some additional material for the old game. He’s also revised the game retro-cloning the BX rules. You can find everything over on Drive Thru RPG.

We are looking for recommendations for youth groups where we can send games from our good friends at bonhomiegames.uk – following fundraising in memory of Mike Hobbs. Please get in touch if you know of a group that would benefit from new games.

Dirk

The post GangBusters RPG (with Mark Hunt) Ep.52 (Part 1) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

It’s that time of the year again when our thoughts turn to The GROGGIES, our review of the year, with a series of special awards for the highlights. Get ready to open the spurious golden envelope to find the winners.

We are delighted to have musical accompaniment by Paul Mitchener who also provides his First, Last and Everything. If you want to join the Mitchester Arms, you’ll find a link here.

We mention Kehaar’s White Hound campaign.

I have listed all the podcast appearances in 2021 on the GROGPOD page.

You can support the podcast at Patreon.

The post Episode 51 – Review of 2021 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

We return to the subject of Fighting Fantasy gamebooks with our special guest Jonathan Green who has written a history of the publishing phenomena. He is an active gamebook designer with many projects in his repertoire. You’ll find his latest work Ronin 47 (late pledges) kickstarter.

Judge Blythy joins me at the Las O Gowrie as we look at a copy of Warlock issue 11, the Fighting Fantasy magazine. Followed by a monster battle from Out of the Pit.

I’m about to appear on The Good Friends of Jackson Elias podcast talking about Gangsters in Call of Cthulhu.

You can support the GROGPOD by joining the Patreon campaign and throw some coins in the beret.

The post Episode 50 (Part 3) Fighting Fantasy (with Jonathan Green) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Welcome to another extra all about this year’s GROGMEET. This time it includes a live recording made at Fan Boy Three.

Frankenstein’s RPG podcast has been pulling together the best bits of role-playing games this year to produce an epic monster of a game. We got together to decide which would be the best supplement to support the game.

You can catch up with the Frankenstein’s RPG over at anchor.

Also in this extra podcast, I give a personal reflection on the games I played and recommend some podcasts that you may enjoy.

I played Paranoia with Iain Wilson, you can catch some of his actual plays and discussion on his podcast Roll to Save.

Pookie makes quizzes and reviews RPGs.

Newt Newport is a publisher D1o1 games and organises Go Play Manchester.

Tale of the Manticore

What am I Rolling (Vurt actual play)

Breakfast in the Ruins (Wizardry and Wild Romance)

Fictoplasm (Corum)

Weird Studies

Gaming & BS

The Gauntlet Podcast

Fear of the Black Dragon

Smart Party (Jason Cordova interview)

Orlanth Rex’s Gaming Vexes

Titterpigs

You can find out more recommendations by following the newsletter on Patreon.

The post Extra – Dirk and Blythy grogMEET Frankenstein (with Ian Cooper and Paul Fricker) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

It’s that time of year when we are preparing for the GROGMEET convention in Manchester and, this time, online.

Blythy and Dirk discuss the history of the meet-up, give some tips on how to start one yourself, discuss the thorny issue of ‘player sign-ups’ and run through the games they are running at the event.

Ottawa Tom shares the first game he played, the last game he played and the game that means everything to him.

Why not catch up on Frankenstein’s RPG before the GROGNARD files meets up with it!

GROGMEET art is by Simon Perrins.

Support the podcast on Patreon.

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We are pleased to say that Ian Livingstone returns to the GROGPOD to face the Games Master’s Screen. He talks about the early days of White Dwarf and the upcoming book, Dice Men from Unbound, and he also talks about his role in shaping computer studies in the UK.

Fabio Vollono shares the first game he played, the last game he played and the game that means everything to him. He mostly talks about his amazing memories of hanging around Dalling Road back in the day. You can find his fantastic miniatures at his etsy shop.

Daily Dwarf has provided another great essay (that I read) about White Dwarf and solo gaming.

Blythy and Dirk watch and discuss South of Watford, a documentary about Fantasy Games from 1984.

You can support The GROGNARD files on Patreon.

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