We Aren't Dead Yet

In Episode 22 of We Aren’t Dead Yet, we speak with author Peter Darbyshire! Peter Darbyshire is a former journalist and author of six books and more stories than he can remember. He lives near Vancouver, British Columbia, where he spends his time writing, raising children and playing D&D with other writers. We ask him about his new novel, The Mona Lisa Sacrifice, and discover a new way to befriend a Beholder.

Episode Highlights

* Discussing the inspirations that led to the creation of The Mona Lisa Sacrifice by Peter Darbyshire

* The perils of running a TTRPG campaign for a group of authors.

Credits

Guest: Peter Darbyshire

Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong

Audio Production: Emily Armstrong

Music: Upbeat Lo-Fi Chill by Lidérc, Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

Special Thanks

Thank you to Peter Darbyshire for joining us today, and thank you to River Street Writing.

Peter Darbyshire: More Information

River Street Writing: More Information

If you’d like a shoutout in episode descriptions, join our Lasting Legends on Substack! Your support makes this podcast possible. Plus, as a Substack subscriber, you get access to sneak peeks, exclusive bonus episodes, and more.

In Episode 20 of We Aren’t Dead Yet, we take a swim into the lake of Sword and Sorcery, the sub-genre of Fantasy Literature known for smaller stakes, higher pace and plenty of escapist action. Vivid, gritty visceral imagery soaking typically muscle-powered loner or small group protagonists in the blood of their enemies, through a fast-paced magical world, Sword and Sorcery focuses on smaller scale, more personal conflicts, moral ambiguity and tons of action and adventure. This is the land of Conan, Kull and Jirel of Joiry. Here, there be monsters.

Episode Highlights:

* What is Sword and Sorcery?

* A brief look into the history of Sword and Sorcery and the genre’s major authors.

* Finding the start of Sword and Sorcery on the big screen.

Credits:

Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong

Audio Production: Emily Armstrong

Music: Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

Special Thanks: If you’d like a shoutout in episode descriptions, join our Lasting Legends on Substack! Your support makes this podcast possible. Plus, as a Substack subscriber, you get access to show notes, exclusive bonus episodes, and more.

Welcome to Episode 19 of We Aren’t Dead Yet, a podcast throwing magic missiles into the ttrpg, gamer and speculative fiction sphere and seeing whether we come out alive at the end.

Today’s episode… Hindsight Spotlight: Fallout, Finding Inspiration, and Sword & Sorcery

In Hindsight Spotlight, we take a look at media that struck a chord. Whether it's worldbuilding, a particular character, or even a sequence of camera shots, this content stuck out to us as something to chat about, recommend, or praise. This episode, Emily goes full fan girl on the Fallout series and starts speculating about the cosmic horror elements of the setting, Sapha discusses their interpretation of inspiration and how to write fantastic fiction without scraping your favorite media, and Dazz begins a discussion on Sword & Sorcery decades in the making. We’ll see you next week with a closer inspection of the Sword & Sorcery genre with Dazz!

Have a question you want to ask about the episode, the writing sphere or table top role playing games? Hit us up with comments on substack, down in the comments section below, or by throwing a question up on X @usurperkings or @e__armstrong.

Every little bit helps.

Cheers for now!

Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong

Audio Production: Emily Armstrong

Music: Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

Welcome to Episode 18 of We Aren’t Dead Yet, a podcast throwing magic missiles into the ttrpg, gamer and speculative fiction sphere and seeing whether we come out alive at the end.

Today’s episode… Vaporwave Drive-In: Death Becomes Her!

This episode is something entirely different than you’re used to. Rather than get into our regular discussions, we’re giving you a peek at our new series: Vaporwave Drive-In. Each episode we sit down together and provide commentary over a significant movie. Some are great, some are awful, but all have left their mark in some way. This episode, Dazz and Emily introduce Sapha to a campy classic: Death Becomes Her (1992, Robert Zemeckis)! We talk about the use of practical effects combined with CGI in the early 90s, laugh way too much, and lament how hard it is being immortal. Pop in your copy of Death Becomes Her and join in on the watch party with the included countdown click-track!

If you want to listen to more Vaporwave Drive-In soon, subscribe to our Substack! Vaporwave Drive-In will be a subscriber only production.

Cheers for now!

Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong

Audio Production: Emily Armstrong

Music: Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

Welcome to Episode 17 of We Aren’t Dead Yet, a podcast throwing magic missiles into the ttrpg, gamer and speculative fiction sphere and seeing whether we come out alive at the end.

Every Thursday will be WADY Day, a celebration of something gamer, literature or culture shocking with three friends who found each other online via World Anvil and went “Hey! Let’s talk”. We found out we all have a lot to say and different approaches to the same questions.

We have a veteran Dungeon Master, an award winning World Builder & Media Producer, and a bestselling cyberpunk + mythpunk author, here to snark, speak and speculate on fiction, creative professions and games.

Today’s episode… Side Chats: Military, Cozy, and Movie Theaters!

In this Side Chat episode, we get into improving the military ranks in our worldbuilding, discuss what cozy really means, and get into the differences between small town and big city movie theater experiences. Join us as we break down the different ranks, from enlisted personnel to high-ranking officers, and discuss their visual designations through badges, medals, pips, and more within the military hierarchy. Then, we ask ourselves: what exactly is cozy worldbuilding, and how does it differ from other worldbuilding styles? We get into our feelings about cozy feels and how to make your worldbuilding fit that vibe. Finally, have you ever noticed how the moviegoing experience can vary depending on where you live? From audience noise and cell phone use to general rudeness and etiquette, the atmosphere in movie theaters can differ significantly between small towns and big cities. Dazz breaks down life in a small town and the way movie theaters used to be.

If you want to support We Aren’t Dead Yet, please subscribe to become one of our Not Dead Knights and consider a paid tier, purchase something from our Merch Store, buy Macabre and Monstrous, our first anthology of horror stories and shout out about We Aren’t Dead Yet on social media.

Have a question you want to ask about the episode, the writing sphere or table top role playing games? Hit us up with comments on substack, down in the comments section below, or by throwing a question up on X @usurperkings or @e__armstrong.

Every little bit helps.

Cheers for now!

Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong

Audio Production: Emily Armstrong

Music: Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

Welcome to Episode 16 of We Aren’t Dead Yet, a podcast throwing magic missiles into the ttrpg, gamer and speculative fiction sphere and seeing whether we come out alive at the end.

Every Thursday will be WADY Day, a celebration of something gamer, literature or culture shocking with three friends who found each other online via World Anvil and went “Hey! Let’s talk”. We found out we all have a lot to say and different approaches to the same questions.

We have a veteran Dungeon Master, an award winning World Builder & Media Producer, and a bestselling cyberpunk + mythpunk author, here to snark, speak and speculate on fiction, creative professions and games.

Today’s episode… From Pixels to Polyhedral!

In this episode, the conversation kicks off with a blast from the past, exploring the impact of early gaming systems like the Sega Genesis and the timeless charm of games like Sonic. We discuss our favorite games, hidden gems, and how these early experiences influenced our love for gaming. We remember the days of rushing to open the newest gaming magazine to see the new releases or running home after school to play video games so long your hands ached. The episode culminates in a spirited discussion comparing our experiences with games like Baldur's Gate 3 with traditional tabletop roleplaying games, and talk about our perceived differences between video game RPGs and tabletop RPGs (TTRPGs), from player agency and storytelling to game mechanics and social interaction.

If you want to support We Aren’t Dead Yet, please subscribe to become one of our Not Dead Knights and consider a paid tier, purchase something from our Merch Store, buy Macabre and Monstrous, our first anthology of horror stories and shout out about We Aren’t Dead Yet on social media.

Have a question you want to ask about the episode, the writing sphere or table top role playing games? Hit us up with comments on substack, down in the comments section below, or by throwing a question up on X @usurperkings or @e__armstrong.

Every little bit helps.

Cheers for now,

We’ll see you next week for an exciting chat with the hosts about the media they love right now.

Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong

Audio Production: Emily Armstrong

Music: Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

Welcome to Episode 15 of We Aren’t Dead Yet, a podcast throwing magic missiles into the ttrpg, gamer and speculative fiction sphere and seeing whether we come out alive at the end.

Every Thursday will be WADY Day, a celebration of something gamer, literature or culture shocking with three friends who found each other online via World Anvil and went “Hey! Let’s talk”. We found out we all have a lot to say and different approaches to the same questions.

We have a veteran Dungeon Master, an award winning World Builder & Media Producer, and a bestselling cyberpunk + mythpunk author, here to snark, speak and speculate on fiction, creative professions and games.

Today’s episode… One Shots Part 5: A Guide to Running One-Shot Sessions!

In this episode, we focus on session preparation and dynamics, exploring the importance of session 0s and working collaboratively with your players to craft the best possible experience. Learn how to set clear expectations, establish boundaries, and create a collaborative environment that fosters creativity and engagement. Next, we get into the nuances of improvisation as a GM, discussing strategies for thinking on your feet and adapting to unexpected player actions. Discover how to embrace spontaneity and turn unforeseen challenges into opportunities for memorable storytelling and player-driven experiences. Tune in and level up your GM skills as we explore the secrets to running unforgettable one-shot sessions!

If you want to support We Aren’t Dead Yet, please subscribe to become one of our Not Dead Knights and consider a paid tier, purchase something from our Merch Store, buy Macabre and Monstrous, our first anthology of horror stories and shout out about We Aren’t Dead Yet on social media.

Have a question you want to ask about the episode, the writing sphere or table top role playing games? Hit us up with comments on substack, down in the comments section below, or by throwing a question up on X @usurperkings or @e__armstrong.

Every little bit helps.

Cheers for now,

We’ll see you next week for a sneak peek at Sapha’s newest release: Book of Revels! Come celebrate with us!

Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong

Audio Production: Emily Armstrong

Music: Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

Welcome to Episode 14 of We Aren’t Dead Yet, a podcast throwing magic missiles into the ttrpg, gamer and speculative fiction sphere and seeing whether we come out alive at the end.

Every Thursday will be WADY Day, a celebration of something gamer, literature or culture shocking with three friends who found each other online via World Anvil and went “Hey! Let’s talk”. We found out we all have a lot to say and different approaches to the same questions.

We have a veteran Dungeon Master, an award winning World Builder & Media Producer, and a bestselling cyberpunk + mythpunk author, here to snark, speak and speculate on fiction, creative professions and games.

Today’s episode… One Shots Part 4: Crafting Worlds & Encounters!

Join us in this episode as we delve into the intricacies of crafting immersive worlds and unforgettable encounters for one-shot TTRPG adventures. In the first half of the episode, we explore worldbuilding for one-shots, discussing essential elements like setting creation and establishing backstory. Then, we shift our focus to encounter design, talking techniques for crafting challenging encounters that drive the narrative forward and keep players on the edge of their seats. Learn how to balance tension, drama, and player agency to create moments that leave a lasting impression long after the game ends. Whether you're planning your first one-shot or looking to refine your craft, this episode provides valuable guidance and inspiration to help you master the art of worldbuilding and encounter design for one-shot TTRPGs.

If you want to support We Aren’t Dead Yet, please subscribe to become one of our Not Dead Knights and consider a paid tier, purchase something from our Merch Store, buy Macabre and Monstrous, our first anthology of horror stories and shout out about We Aren’t Dead Yet on social media.

Have a question you want to ask about the episode, the writing sphere or table top role playing games? Hit us up with comments on substack, down in the comments section below, or by throwing a question up on X @usurperkings or @e__armstrong.

Every little bit helps.

Cheers for now,

We’ll see you next week for the final episode of our One Shot series!

Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong

Audio Production: Emily Armstrong

Music: Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

Welcome to Episode 13 of We Aren't Dead Yet, a podcast throwing magic missiles into the ttrpg, gamer and speculative fiction sphere and seeing whether we come out alive at the end.

Today's episode... One Shots Part 3: NPCs and Premade Characters!

In the third segment of our Writing TTRPG One Shots series, we discuss the importance of memorable NPCs and pre-made player characters in crafting a focused, compelling narrative. We explore tips and techniques for developing vibrant personalities, intriguing backstories, and tangible motivations that breathe life into these characters, as well as share insights on how to ensure NPCs and pre-gens are purposefully woven into the adventure's core conflict and storyline. Learn our best practices for introducing and depicting these characters in gameplay and how to communicate these characters to the GMs playing your one shots.

We’ll see you next week for the fourth episode of our One Shot series!

Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong

Audio Production: Emily Armstrong

Music: Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn