What Would The Smart Party Do?

Episode 94 - Kate Welch Interview

(a.k.a. Stat Blocks and Vegetables)

Bask in the mellifluous tones of D&D game designer Kate Welch, talking to the lads about what it's like to work at Wizards of the Coast. After one year on the job, Kate describes her start at Wizards, thoughts that go into design, user experience and bringing skills from the video game industry, standing up and shouting with joy in meetings about vampires and what's so good about the Monk class anyway? Plus! Much, much more...

You can hear some more D&D content with our Dungeon Master's Guide overview (part one).

We chatted to Mike Mearls a couple of weeks ago, well worth checking out.

You can see Kate on her Game Juice channel or Acquisitions Incorporated The Series.

Find the lads via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Many thanks to new Patreons, Nick, Matthew, Philippe and Dan! Plus all the regular supporters and listeners too. Encourage the lads by becoming a Patreon supporter, which will lead to fully fleshed out scenarios, fanzines and more!

Episode 93 - Mike Mason Interview

(a.k.a. "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn")

Why vote for the lesser evil? This week the lads chat to returning guests Mike Mason, Line Editor for Call of Cthulhu at Chaosium. Topics included how to start out playing Call of Cthulhu and the thinking behind the starter set, latest gossip on new products, Greg Stafford's legacy, revision of licensees, producing fan content via Miskatonic Repository and more!

Find the lads via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly! You can also buy them a Ko-Fi.

Many thanks to new Patreons, Thomas and Duncan! Plus all the regular supporters and listeners too. Encourage the lads by becoming a Patreon supporter, which will lead to fully fleshed out scenarios, fanzines and more!

Episode 92 - Mike Mearls Interview

(a.k.a. Hit Dice are the new Healing Surge)

Rare treat this week dear listeners, the lads interview Mr D&D himself right now, Mike Mearls. We cover current projects, what it was like taking over the helm, design choices and some nitty gritty details and listener questions, among many other things. Very insightful, and a charming guest, we look forward to inviting Mike back in the near future to answer more gems such as "What the hell is a hit point?" and "Why do you hate Warlords so much?".

You can hear some more D&D content with our Dungeon Master's Guide overview (part one).

Image culled from the D&D Beyond channel - worth checking out if you want more aids for D&D games.

Mike's Happy Fun Hour is definitely good for viewing if you have any interest at all in design of classes for the game and that sort of thing.

Find the lads via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Many thanks to new Patreons, Nick, Matthew, Philippe and Dan! Plus all the regular supporters and listeners too. Encourage the lads by becoming a Patreon supporter, which will lead to fully fleshed out scenarios, fanzines and more!

Bonus Episode - Rolling Up A DMG Scenario

(a.k.a. Stop Moaning and Roll Your Dice)

Hot on the heels of our Dungeon Master's Guide overview (part one), the lads have done a bonus episode rolling on the tables in the DMG and coming up with some ideas for a scenario. If you've got a copy of the book handy, then play along as they come up with table entries and what they might mean.

Think about what you might do. Let the guys know how you get on. What would you do differently? Have you ever used this method before? Any hot tips to help new GMs?

Find the lads via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Encourage the guys to pump out more content by becoming a Patreon supporter, this leads to fully fleshed out scenarios, fanzines and more!

Episode 91 - Dungeon Master's Guide - Part One

(a.k.a. Generic Cleric)

Arguably one of the most overlooked, under-read RPG books of recent years, the Dungeon Master's Guide has lots of interesting parts and deserves a more thorough look. Gaz and Baz take a wander through the first few chapters of this D&D staple and offer insights on the pages found therein! New DMs or old hands alike could gain something from delving into a staple of the RPG library.

Looks out for a bonus episode, with rolls on tables from the DMG and a live example of ideas for creating scenarios. Have you used the DMG in anger? Got thoughts on the book? Let The Smart Party know... Find the lads via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Encourage the guys to pump out more content by becoming a Patreon supporter, this leads to the aforementioned scenarios, fanzine and more!

Episode 90 - Plans For 2019

(aka Your Motivation Is Down The Gym)

Stuck for what to do in the New Year? Does it all seem to much? Too many games, not enough time? It's exactly the same at Smart Party Towers. This week the lads look at what 2019 might hold, how to get the most out of gaming hours, which books to read, corralling gamers and choosing systems and settings. Let's get some games in and all be even better players in 2019!

Do The Smart Party a favour and head on over to the EN World site to vote for them (and anyone else you fancy, it's multiple choice) as a great podcast of 2018! It'd be an amazing festive present for everyone.

Want to chat about this or other topics with like-minded folk? The Smart Party are now on MeWe (the popular destination for those leaving G+). Find the lads via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Encourage the guys to pump out more content by becoming a Patreon supporter, this leads to the aforementioned scenarios, fanzine and more!

Bonus Episode - WFRP Actual Play

The lads are joined by Dirk the Dice and Blythy off of The Grognard Files and Mat Hart from Steamforged Games to play some of the new Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay from Cubicle 7. The brave adventurers failed Baron Von Horgen in a previous endeavour and now find themselves in Schmutziger, attempting to bring back the black sheep of the Von Horgen flock. Having had an encounter with the Stevedores' Guild, (you can hear more about that here), our plucky band start to form a plan - although best laid plans and all that...

Let the guys know if you like what you hear and they'll see what they can do about more special episodes!

Do The Smart Party a favours and head on over to the EN World site to vote for them (and anyone else you fancy, it's multiple choice) as a great podcast of 2018! It'd be an amazing festive present for everyone.

Want to chat about this or other topics with like-minded folk? The Smart Party are now on MeWe (the popular destination for those leaving G+). Find the lads via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Encourage the guys to pump out more content by becoming a Patreon supporter, this leads to the aforementioned scenarios, fanzine and more!

Episode 89 - 2018 In Review

(aka A Lot of People Give a Monkeys About This)

It's that time of the year again - another one survived! Baz and Gaz and go through the games of the year, themes and what's hot right now in the industry. A sojourn through the upcoming games as well - discussion on why the new Savage Worlds might be more anticipated the Pathfinder 2 - and the proliferation of second editions, sequels and franchises.

It's not just the lads of course, thanks to all the glorious guests, amazing Patreons and both the listeners. Do The Smart Party a favours and head on over to the EN World site to vote for them (and anyone else you fancy, it's multiple choice) as a great podcast of 2018! It'd be an amazing festive present for everyone.

Want to chat about this or other topics with like-minded folk? The Smart Party are now on MeWe (the popular destination for those leaving G+). Find the lads via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Encourage the guys to pump out more content by becoming a Patreon supporter, this leads to the aforementioned scenarios, fanzine and more!

Episode 88 - B. Dave Walters Interview

(aka Shine on You Crazy Diamond)

Live gaming actor, streamer, DM, comic author, life coach and all round great guy B. Dave Walters has more strings to his bow than a harpist. You may know him from LA By Night, The Uncommon Trust, D&D, or various Geek & Sundry or other outlets (Top Ten links below). Gaz and Guest Host and good friend of the show Iain McAllister of The Giant Brain and Brainwaves podcast chat to Dave about streaming games, running D&D in a castle, writing a comic, diversity in gaming and much more!

In the interview Iain chatted about a Keyforge review which you can find here. Dave's body of work is a veritable embarrassment of riches, here's a list of Top Ten Links to get you started:

You can find him on the Twitters

Ask Your Black Geek Friend

Check out the upcoming D&D comic

Celebrity Charid20 Gangrel Action

LA By Night on Alpha

Catch him on Geek and Sundry

Get yourself to D&D in a Castle

Support him on Patreon with many endeavors!

We're Alive: Frontier

B. Dave Walters on Streaming D&D

Want to chat about this or other topics with like-minded folk? The Smart Party are now on MeWe (the popular destination for those leaving G+). Find the lads via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Encourage the guys to pump out more content by becoming a Patreon supporter, this leads to the aforementioned scenarios, fanzine and more!

Bonus Episode - Dragonmeet Seminar

A special treat dear listeners! This week the lads were down in London Village to attend Dragonmeet - a one day convention. They teamed up with old pals The Good Friends of Jackson Elias to have a verbal wrestle on whether all RPGs were essentially just customised versions of Dungeons & Dragons.

Due to live recording in fluid environment, some sections of audio may not be to the usual high standard, but the content is solid fried gold as always. Let us know what you think of the debate, the outcome and indeed what you think - if there's one thing that is nearly as good as gaming, it's talking about gaming.

Want to chat about this or other topics with like-minded folk? The Smart Party are now on MeWe (the popular destination for those leaving G+). Find the lads via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Encourage the guys to pump out more content by becoming a Patreon supporter, this leads to the aforementioned scenarios, fanzine and more!