The Sky Bear Games Podcast

Have you got questions about our RPG setting, Dragons of Tirenia? You're not alone! Even our personal friends have said, Hey, what's that thing you're always going on about? So here is a podcast episode that goes into our development of the setting since starting in 2014, all the way up to future plans we have for supplements, adventures, and related media.

If you enjoyed this episode, let us know! We might just do a lore episode if this one proves popular.

The pictures referenced in the episode can be seen on our blog in this post: https://skybeargames.wordpress.com/2021/12/14/podcast-episode-32-all-about-dragons-of-tirenia/

Omigosh, we're baaaaack! We catch up quickly at the start and then launch into our introduction into Planescape. It's such a huge setting that we're going to do more in-depth episodes in a little while. We end with the Top 5 Recommendations for Planescape books, which, as you might expect, became a Top 11. Speaking of which, here are the links for our recommendations:

- Planescape Campaign Setting: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17267/Planescape-Campaign-Setting-2e
- In The Cage: A Guide to Sigil: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17274/In-the-Cage-A-Guide-to-Sigil-2e
- Planes of Law: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17272/Planes-of-Law-2e
- Dead Gods: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17297/Dead-Gods-2e
- Tales from the Infinite Staircase: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17291/Tales-from-the-Infinite-Staircase-2e
- Planes of Conflict: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17278/Planes-of-Conflict-2e
- The Planewalker's Handbook: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17280/The-Planewalkers-Handbook-2e
- Uncaged: Faces of Sigil: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17285/Uncaged-Faces-of-Sigil-2e
- A Guide to the Ethereal Plane: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17293/A-Guide-to-the-Ethereal-Plane-2e
- Planes of Chaos: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17298/Planes-of-Chaos-2e
- The Factol's Manifesto:
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17275/The-Factols-Manifesto-2e

Today we interview the composer of the music for the next Sky Bear Games major release, Her Jentle Hi-ness, who is Michaela Cornelius of mikattemusic.com . We ask her about her background, creative process, favourite game soundtracks, and talk generally about games she enjoys. Also featured are short clips of three of her songs from Her Jentle Hi-ness, in order: Royal, Tavern, and Quiet ambience.

In this episode we discuss a heartfelt defence of D&D 4th Edition, and James gives his Top 10(+) books (see the list below). What do you reckon? Agree/disagree? Hit us up!

Books recommended:
Heroes of the Feywild
The Planes Above
The Planes Below
Underdark
The Neverwinter Campaign Setting
The Dark Sun Campaign Setting and Creature Catalogue
Monster Vault 1 and 2
Hammerfast
Vor Rukoth
Madness at Gardmore Abbey
Reavers of Harkenwold
Dungeon Master's Guide 1 and 2
Also mentioned: Hamlet's Hitpoints

Bleh, what a bad title... And that should be a pretty good indicator of how our review goes! Besides the new MtG set, we also take a trip back to the past of terrible D&D card games with Spellfire, Blood Wars and Warlords.

The two cards mentioned in the Spellfire section can be seen here: https://skybeargames.wordpress.com/2021/07/27/podcast-episode-28-reviewing-magic-the-gathering-dungeons-and-dragons-adventures-in-the-forgotten-realms/

All the screenshots mentioned in this episode can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mLnDvc5eQu7WuYlyaGVbfJAR_h6osU8P?usp=sharing

On today's podcast we have as our guest Ben Moore, tech journalist and school friend of Claire's. He asked us if he could come on and talk about the Dragonlance movie which James brought up in an earlier episode. What follows is a wild ride! Stick around in the second half to hear James's hot take on what is actually the move that represents the Dungeons and Dragons experience best.

We look back on the year that was, including looking back on two recent events we attended: a hui at Kura Rēhia and the Auckland Indie Game Showcase.
Links for places/people/games mentioned in the episode:
Kura Rēhia: https://www.facebook.com/kura.rehia/
Indie Game Showcase: https://techweek.co.nz/whats-on/2021/indie-game-showcase-142/
Kaupapa: https://speak.maori.nz/products/kaupapa
Hohi 1816: https://hohi1816.nz/
Her Jentle Hi-ness Prototype: https://skybeargames.itch.io/her-jentle-hi-ness
Frame of Mind: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1485250/Frame_of_Mind/
Ten Thousand Coins: https://www.tenthousandcoins.com/
Namtran-105: https://namtran-105.itch.io/
Scorpion Engine for Amiga: https://www.facebook.com/scorpionengine/
Bundle Buddies: https://twitter.com/bundle_buddies?lang=en
Pokemon Time Capsule: https://pokemontimecapsule.wordpress.com/

In this fortnight's episode we review Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, and then put characters from our Dragons of Tirenia setting through the Dark Lord Generator! OooOOOOoooo, SpoooOOOOoooky!

Links to the supplements referenced:

Ravenloft II: The House on Gryphon Hillhttps://www.dmsguild.com/product/178605/I10-Ravenloft-II-The-House-on-Gryphon-Hill-1e?src=hottest_filtered&filters=100084

Howls in the Night
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17508/Howls-in-the-Night-2e?filters=100084

Castles Forlorn
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17476/Castles-Forlorn-2e?filters=100084

Night of the Walking Dead
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17493/RQ1-Night-of-the-Walking-Dead-2e?src=also_purchased&filters=100084

The Nightmare Lands
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17526/The-Nightmare-Lands-2e?filters=100084

Van Richten’s Monster Hunter’s Compendiums (contains the nine Van Richten’s Guides)
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17531/Van-Richtens-Monster-Hunters-Compendium-Vol-1-2e?src=also_purchased
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17532/Van-Richtens-Monster-Hunters-Compendium-Vol-2-2e?src=also_purchased
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17481/Van-Richtens-Monster-Hunters-Compendium-Vol-3-2e

Creatures of the Night series
Vampires
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/110201/Children-of-the-Night-Vampires-2e
Ghosts
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17521/Children-of-the-Night-Ghosts-2e?src=also_purchased
Werebeasts
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/110204/Children-of-the-Night-Werebeasts-2e?src=also_purchased
Created
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/202394/Children-of-the-Night-The-Created-2e?src=also_purchased
Demons (unofficial-ish)
http://www.kargatane.com/

On today's podcast we quickly review some of the winners and finalists of the NZ Game Awards (aka The Pavs), a list which includes:
Best Friend Forever by Starcolt
Denari by Astronaut Diaries
Floating Floors by Gumboot Games Limited
Frame of Mind by [SAMPLE TEXT] Studios ltd
Galilean Moons by Fantasy Workhouse
Keep Driving by Connor, Jesse, Jordon & Sam (Yoobee Colleges)
Last Message by JamesGames
Longhaus by Gendly Games
Māoringo by Trent Archer
Neocense by Tired Tortoise Tribe
Pico Tanks by Panda Arcade
Radical Relocation by Winglett Entertainment
Road To Nowhere by 15 Bit Games
Soaring Lions by Imaginary Empire Games
Squiggle Drop by Aaron Neugebauer
Starport Delta by Cloudfire Studios
Sue's Story by Incendio Software (solo dev)
Trigger Witch by Rainbite
Umurangi Generation by ORIGAME DIGITAL
UNDER A STAR CALLED SUN by Cecile Richard
Upkeep by Gametime Again
Video World by Things For Humans
Watch This Space by It's Anecdotal
Wonderland Nights: White Rabbit's Diary by Sky Bear Games

Today we break down Claire's experience at the NZ Games Festival, with all the workshops and talks, and how it felt to win the Pav for Excellence in Narrative!
Note: I forgot to say one name in the podcast because I launched too quickly into the content of the talk, which was Tana Tanoi whose talk was Life in Three Dimensions, about spaces being lived in through the actions players could take.
Also I refer to Rose as the artist and Dave as the proofreader when I mention them at the Pavs, but to clarify, those were their roles on Wonderland Nights. They are even more talented in their full careers! Rose Northey is an illustrator and poet amongst many other things, and Dave Agnew is an editor as well as being a great roleplayer.