By The Smart Party
The UK's Premier RPG Podcast
Episode 153 - Shane Hensley Interview a.k.a Shaken Not Stirred The lads were delighted to have one of their gaming heroes on this time, founder of Pinnacle Entertainment Group, Shane Hensley. He's created the best-selling, award-winning Deadlands, Hell on Earth, Weird Wars, and...
Episode 152 - Jason Cordova Interview a.k.a Shouting Into The Void Jason Cordova joins the lads to chat about his own podcasting experience on Fear of a Black Dragon, hot indie rpgs like The Between and Brindlewood Bay, game design, streaming...
Episode 151 - Into The Odd Remastered a.k.a You Were The First Good friend of the show Chris McDowall has remastered his well-renowned and critically-acclaimed Into the Odd in a new edition, teaming up with more good friends of the show,...
Episode 150 - Meguey & Vincent Baker Interview a.k.a The Secret Is, They're Just Subsystems For the 150th episode, the boys needed something special, and what better way to celebrate than chatting to two of the industry's best and nicest game...
Episode 149 - Advancement a.k.a The Other Sin is 1XP Thanks to a Listener's Letter, this episode is all about advancement. Of course a lot of the chat is about XP and mechanically improving your character, but the lads also think...
Episode 148 - Nostalgia a.k.a The More You Look At It, The More It Looks Back At You Remember those Hovis adverts from back in the day? No? How about Cyborg Commando? The lads ponder on lost youth and the eternal...
Episode 147 - Investigation RPGs a.k.a The Problem That Doesn't Exist Have you passed your Spot Hidden check? Then you will note that Baz is on holidays, so Gaz is joined by the effable Stunt Baz, Guy Milner off of the...
Mike Shea Interview a.k.a Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master It's the Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master, or first time on the show for Mike Shea, also know as Sly Flourish on the Twitters. Mike's books about how to get...
Episode 144 - Games You Should Have Too In a continuation of last episode, the lads go through a veritable cornucopia of games that you should consider looking at, to round out your roleplaying chops. If you're looking for inspiration or...
Episode 144 - Games You Should Have The lads have been listening to other podcasts and hearing their thoughts on systems, creating a Frankenstein's monster of a game etc. and reminded of all the sections they have done on particular parts...
Episode 143 - Shawn Tomkin Interview The lads get yet another special guest, Shawn Tomkin, creator of Ironsworn, who is currently in the process of bringing out his new Sci Fi game, Starforged. As usual, the boys get the inside scoop...
Episode 142 - Mattias Lilja Interview The lads get another special guest this time, Mattias Lilja, co-creator and game writer for Ruins of Symbaroum 5E from Free League. They talk about the difference between the original game and 5e version, and...
Episode 141 - Dennis Detwiller Returns (aka McReady From The Thing Drinking Scotch) The lads are delighted to invite back Arc Dream's Dennis Detwiller to talk about his latest project, Impossible Landscapes, helping out new RPG creators after reviewing 200+ products...
Episode 140 - Influential Games (aka Chained Lightning) There are many games that influence the way we play. Some have become almost lifelong companions; some deliver a great idea to be stolen and used elsewhere. Baz and Gaz got through some...
Episode 139 - 90s Magazines(aka Fool's Gold) Good friend of the show Dirk the Dice off of The Grognard Files is a guest this week, to talk to the lads about gaming in the 90s; a period when he was in...
Episode 138 - Jonathan Tweet - Everway Interview(aka Right Turn Clyde) Good friend of the show and veteran game designer Jonathan Tweet returns to talk to the lads about the 25th Anniversary Edition of Everyway, his diceless mythic roleplaying game. There's...
Episode 137 - Francesco Nepitello Interview(aka You're My Sam Gamgee) This time, internationally recognised game designer Francesco Nepitello joins the lads to talk about the upcoming second edition of The One Ring. He is an author of roleplaying games and thematic...
Episode 136 - Baz is Back(aka What Are You Playing?) After his forced absence, enjoying listening to the show for a short while, our Baz is back in the office and talking games. If you dig actual plays and reviews of played...
Episode 135 - Role+Play+Game(aka I Want to Roll Dice in the First Half Hour) Due to the plague, the lads have drafted in a Stunt Baz for this episode, but it's a goodie! Guy Milner off of the Burn After Running...
Episode 134 - Final Podcast ...of the Year(aka D&D; Doesn't Work for 10 Players Online) It's nearly time for the year Mad Max takes place, but as we drive on fumes for the end of 2020, the lads get Mat Hart...
Episode 133 - Skills(aka Show Me Your Penumbra) The lads talk skills. Have we got them, do we need them, where did it all start and has it gone horribly wrong? From the good old days of 8% in detect /...
Episode 132 - Jon Hodgson Interview(aka Some of These People Have a Strong Throwing Arm) The lads talk to home-grown talent and head of Handiwork Games, Jon Hodgson. From his great work as artist and art director on The One Ring,...
Episode 131 - It's a Kind of Magic (aka Have You Spelled it Right?) Magical energies suffuse the 'cast this time as the lads discuss magic in gaming. Sure, you can have mystical power, but at what price? How have the different...
Episode 130 - King Arthur Pendragon (aka Can You Play From the Perspective of a Horse?) Good friend of the show and line developer of King Arthur Pendragon, David Larkins returns, to reveal what's been going on at Chaosium with the latest...
Episode 129 - Fights Too (aka The World's Most Complicated Initiative System) Back by popular request, both of the show's glorious listeners got in touch to say they'd like to hear more on fights in RPGs. Well, The Smart Party are here...
Episode 128 - Fights (aka Back in Black) Did you look at my pint funny? Roll for initiative! After a few games of Feng Shui 2 recently, the lads have thought about fights in RPGs. Is it necessary for combats to occur?...
Episode 127 - Reviewing GM Advice (aka "I'm the Unknown Stunt Man") There's plenty of GM advice out there in roleplaying land, but what about advice on the advice? This time on the 'cast, Gaz is joined by the Lee Majors of...
Episode 126 - One Shots (aka "All I Need Is One Good Shot") In these times of muchos online play, virtual conventions and more, it's worth taking time to reflect on how to put together a decent one shot game and tips...
Episode 125 - Beautiful RPGs (aka "Am I Baz's Stunt Double?") Who doesn't like an aesthetically pleasing book? "Sexy" RPGs (not in that way) lure in players like a moth to a flame. But is it all form over function. Guest presenter...
Episode 124 - Negotiating D&D; (aka "Nicole, please don't @ me") There's more than one way round a problem, and this week the gents are joined by Dmitry Grozoubinski - an expert in negotiation and trade - to discuss how GMs and...
Episode 123 - Swords & Sorcery (aka I'm Oiling My Thews) Conan cares not for your so-called lock down foul sorcerer. Oil up your shanks, dream of rubies the size of a pigeon's egg and climb the tower of set - it's...
Episode 122 - Burnout (aka It's Not Me, It's You) The global pandemic is biting and it's entirely possible folk are getting a little run down. This time the lads talk through burnout. What is it and what can be done? Are...
Episode 121 - System Matters Too (aka Systems Are Doing it for Themselves?) The lads have been in lockdown and gaming like daemons. Gaming ones. This has given them exposure to new systems, allowed them to stress test some old ones, jaw...
Episode 120 - Online Gaming Advice (aka Can You Hear Me?) Everywhere is on lockdown, but where there's challenge, there's opportunity. Baz and Gaz talk through the mysteries and vagaries of taking your RPGs online. How do you even get started? Where...
Episode 119 - Spring is Sprung (aka Stop Saying Things, He Keeps Drawing Clocks) The daffodils are bursting out the ground, it is (was) GM's Day, and there's lots of great gaming to talk about and emergent top tips in the making. Get...
Episode 118 - John Harper Interview (aka The Same Page Page) John Harper is a game designer with an embarrassment of riches in his back catalogue. Blades in the Dark, Lady Blackbird, Lasers and Feelings, Danger Patrol, Ghost/Echo and most recently the...
Episode 117 - Lou Prosperi Interview (aka Are Your Listeners Familiar With Earthdawn?) This week Lou Prosperi, developer for Earthdawn joins the lads to reveal all kinds of interesting detail from behind the scenes at FASA in the 90s. How do you...
Let's wind back the clock to where the stories of this podcast began, it's 1994 and the lads are talking Earthdawn. Cult classic, D&D; Done Right, post-apocalyptic fantasy, the history of Shadowrun even - call it what you will. The...
Episode 115 - 2020 Vision (aka Get Your Earthdawn '93 While It's Hot) It's the year of Cyberpunk 2020 and lots to look forward to aside from monoblade katanas and trenchcoats. The lads go through some of the upcoming delights for the...
Episode 114 - Review of 2019 (aka Making Up For The Deep Freeze) The lads look back at a year in gaming, when they've been up to, the pros and cons of playing D&D; and what they might do in the new...
Episode 113 - How To Be A Better Player (Live from Dragonmeet, London, 2019) The lads have been down to London Village for Dragonmeet 2019. Among other fantastic activities, they hosted a seminar on being a better player. If you want great...
Episode 112 - Zachary Cox Interview (a.k.a Best Left Buried) Creator of Best Left Buried by Soul Muppet Publishing and new Kickstarter Beneath the Missing Sea, as well as publisher of other independents, Zachary Cox joins the lads to talk about his...
Episode 111 - David Larkins Interview (a.k.a Go Kill A Giant) Line Editor for the King Arthur Pendragon RPG, author of Berlin: The Wicked City and more, David Larkins joins the lads this time to talk about his writing and all thing...
Episode 110 - Jeremy Crawford Interview (a.k.a Illusionary Dragons) Lead Rules Designer for D&D;, mind behind Sage Advice and Unearthed Arcana, and all round man on the scene for all D&D; books, the lads were delighted to have Jeremy Crawford on for...
Bonus Episode - Robin Laws at The Kraken 2019 (a.k.a You and I Can Go Fight Some Lesser Podcasts) He was last at The Kraken two years ago, and so when Robin Laws returned in 2019, it was only right that we...
Episode 109 - Quickstarts (a.k.a Need To Know Information) A common feature of games these days, led perhaps by RPG Day and other thing, is the "Quick Start". An adventure, some characters, enough rules to play. Should be easy, right? As the...
Starter Sets (a.k.a. Double Demogorgon) Are they just there for bring people in? Essential tools? Collector pieces? Whatever you might think, starter sets are a thing (again?) now, with most of the main players producing one. Call of Cthulhu, Legend of the...
Episode 107 - Electric Bastionland (a.k.a You Have Shared Ownership of a Child's Musket) Into the Odd was one of the lad's favourite independent game offerings of a couple of years ago, and now Chris McDowall is back again with his follow...
Episode 106 - Versions and Editions (a.k.a. d4 Damage for the Ill Behaviour) Don't remember the Edition Wars do you junior? Well, pull a stool, buy a tankard of ale and let the old timers tell you all about it... This week...
Episode 105 - Savage Worlds Settings (a.k.a. I'd Just Savage It) In the concluding part of their talk about Savage Worlds (for now!), the boys go through the some of the settings for the game, official and otherwise - as well as...
