What Would The Smart Party Do?

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, to writing, game design with his 9 year old, and many other hats, this wide-ranging discussion covers writing, designing, art in games and more! (Including Frankish kings and their bee fetish.)

If you dig actual plays and reviews of played modules, check out the new YouTube channel.

Get in touch, the lads love to hear from you!Facebook: facebook.com/thesmartpartyTwitters: twitter.com/the_smart_partyEmail: [email protected]Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/thesmartpartyPatreons: patreon.com/thesmartparty

We always welcome lovely reviews on iTunes or elsewhere too. If you're less keen, give us a shout, we'd are open to development opportunities! :)

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 iterations of D&D handled magic and did they get it right? All this and more awaits your summoning spell.

If you dig actual plays and reviews of played modules, check out the new YouTube channel.

Get in touch, the lads love to hear from you!Facebook: facebook.com/thesmartpartyTwitters: twitter.com/the_smart_partyEmail: [email protected]Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/thesmartpartyPatreons: patreon.com/thesmartparty

We always welcome lovely reviews on iTunes or elsewhere too. If you're less keen, give us a shout, we'd are open to development opportunities! :)

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 edition on KAP, how the company is doing in new normal and new kickstarter about an old product. An increased focus on honour as well as glory, refined rules, new art and more are revealed. Roll for the Winter Phase and see if your wife, and more importantly your favourite horse, survive!

You can discover more for yourself in the links below:

If you dig actual plays and reviews of played modules, check out the new YouTube channel.

Get in touch, the lads love to hear from you!

Facebook: facebook.com/thesmartparty

Twitters: twitter.com/the_smart_party

Email: [email protected]

Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/thesmartparty

Patreons: patreon.com/thesmartparty

We always welcome lovely reviews on iTunes or elsewhere too. If you're less keen, give us a shout, we'd are open to development opportunities! :)

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 to please.

You can discover more for yourself in the links below:

If you dig actual plays and reviews of played modules, check out the new YouTube channel.

Get in touch, the lads love to hear from you!

Facebook: facebook.com/thesmartparty

Twitters: twitter.com/the_smart_party

Email: [email protected]

Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/thesmartparty

Patreons: patreon.com/thesmartparty

We always welcome lovely reviews on iTunes or elsewhere too. If you're less keen, give us a shout, we'd are open to development opportunities! :)

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? Do they go on too long? How can you make them more interesting? All this and more, this episode!

You can discover more for yourself in the links below:

If you dig actual plays and reviews of played modules, check out the new YouTube channel.

Get in touch, the lads love to hear from you!

Facebook: facebook.com/thesmartparty

Twitters: twitter.com/the_smart_party

Email: [email protected]

Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/thesmartparty

Patreons: patreon.com/thesmartparty

We always welcome lovely reviews on iTunes or elsewhere too. If you're less keen, give us a shout, we'd are open to development opportunities! :)

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 roleplaying, Dirk the Dice, from the Grognard Files Podcast to discuss sources of GM advice. From the ancient tomes handed down by Gygax himself, to the latest hot takes from blogs and the internet, our scholarly heroes delve into the dungeons to bring out the shimmering gems of golden advice.

You can discover more for yourself in the links below:

Robin Laws has given many talks and written several documents, including Robin's Laws of Good Game Mastering

Sly Flourish (Michael E. Shea) wrote The Lazy Dungeon Master (and return thereof)

James D'Amato has several novels, including The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide

Gareth Ryder Hanrahan is an excellent RPG writer and is often giving out advice on the Pelgrane Press website.

Greg Stolze's "How to Run Roleplaying Games" and many other resources are available on his website.

The ancient words of Gary Gygax are still available in his Role-Playing Mastery work.

A good general read, but especially for investigators, Justin Alexander's The Alexandrian is worth perusing.

Rolltop Indigo provides some interesting view points to expand your gaming arsenal/

If you dig actual plays and reviews of played modules, check out the new YouTube channel.

Get in touch, the lads love to hear from you!

Facebook: facebook.com/thesmartparty

Twitters: twitter.com/the_smart_party

Email: [email protected]

Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/thesmartparty

Patreons: patreon.com/thesmartparty

We always welcome lovely reviews on iTunes or elsewhere too. If you're less keen, give us a shout, we'd are open to development opportunities! :)

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 on playing or running. This time Gaz and Stunt Baz (Guy) talk through some expert advice on setting up your one shot games, garnered from many years of trial and error. Join the lads as they lay out what to do with your one shot slots, whether as a first timer or older hand looking for new tidbits!

You can get more Hot Guy Action on his Burn After Running blog.

If you dig actual plays and reviews of played modules, check out the new YouTube channel.

Get in touch, the lads love to hear from you!

Facebook: facebook.com/thesmartparty

Twitters: twitter.com/the_smart_party

Email: [email protected]

Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/thesmartparty

Patreons: patreon.com/thesmartparty

We always welcome lovely reviews on iTunes or elsewhere too. If you're less keen, give us a shout, we'd are open to development opportunities! :)

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 Guy Milner joins Gaz to talk through a top ten beauty parade of RPGs, highlights merits and occasionally flaws of their favourites, as well as honourable mentions for dessert. Come peruse the aural landscape and appreciate fine art.

You can get more Hot Guy Action on his Burn After Running blog.

If you dig actual plays and reviews of played modules, check out the new YouTube channel.

Get in touch, the lads love to hear from you!

Facebook: facebook.com/thesmartparty

Twitters: twitter.com/the_smart_party

Email: [email protected]

Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/thesmartparty

Patreons: patreon.com/thesmartparty

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 players can negotiate a session. The role of NPCs in a session, giving players what they want, the role of streaming games and the wealth of players on Reddit are discussed, among many interesting topics.

You can follow Dmitry on Twitter, and for non-gaming related skills in negotiation, head over to explaintrade.com

Get in touch, the lads love to hear from you!

Facebook: facebook.com/thesmartparty

Twitters: twitter.com/the_smart_party

Email: [email protected]

Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/thesmartparty

Patreons: patreon.com/thesmartparty

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 time for a discussion of Conan and associated stories. The lads have been playing through some adventures set in the land of pulp sword and sorcery with good friends of the show Mat from Steamforged Games, and Rich August, a writer on much of the 2d20 Conan game line. Come one, come all and feast your ears on aural delights, or let the devils take you, by Crom!

Get in touch, the lads love to hear from you!

Facebook: facebook.com/thesmartparty

Twitters: twitter.com/the_smart_party

Email: [email protected]

Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/thesmartparty

Patreons: patreon.com/thesmartparty