What Would The Smart Party Do?

Episode 87 - Rob Schwalb Interview

(aka All Hail the Demon Lord)

Rob Schwalb, our special guest this time is a veritable game-producing machine, prolific output for Shadow of the Demon Lord is added to by Occult Philosophy in Kickstarter. One of the designers of D&D, involved in everything from A Song of Ice and Fire to WFRP second edition - Rob has plenty to talk about and intriguing thoughts into game design and where inspiration comes from.

Many thanks to Rob for coming on again! We lost one interview and he graciously agreed to come back on and put up with more (the same?) questions and nonsense from the lads - but it was well worth it dear listeners, as the conversation is full of gaming gold.

You can find Rob on twitter, buy stuff on his website, or get in on the Occult Philosophy Kickstarter.

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 86 - Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan Interview

The prolific and talented Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan joins the lads for some gaming chat and excellent advice on writing scenarios. We cover the writing process, collaborating with others, creating specifically for convention games and why gaming books should be useful at the table, among other things. A lot of what Gar says makes perfect sense and our glorious listeners may wonder, as we did, why it's not just this obvious for everyone - but that's the mark of someone good at what they do - making it all seem to easy!

You can find Gar on twitter, get some great stuff on his blog, or read more at the Pelgrane site.

Gar's novel The Gutter Prayer is out January 2019, check out more on Good Reads:

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 85 - Shane Ivey Interview

The guys chat to Arc Dream head honcho Shane Ivey about the Ennie-award-winning Delta Green, GODLIKE, British small press games, publishing in the modern world many other things. Not only a prolific producer of games, but well-read fan of RPGs too, Shane has plenty to say on what's happening on Arc Dream and tidbits on other games and insights into how to run a game company.

The Delta Green site has plenty of content, but there's great presence on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit etc.

Of course there's also the Arc Dream website and one for The Unspeakable Oath too - A Digest of Arcane Lore for Cthulhu Mythos Roleplaying Games.

Want to discuss further? 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 84 - Spire & One Page RPGs

(with Grant Howitt and Christopher Taylor)

A cornucopia of voices on this edition, as Baz is unavailable, but Iain McAllister from Brainwaves podcast and The Giant Brain blog in on board to help interview Grant Howitt and Christopher Taylor of Rowan Rook & Decard best known for Spire RPG and one sheet RPGs such as Jason Statham's Big Vacation.

Join the Strata Kickstarter

You can also catch the guests on the Hearty Dice Podcast, for your listening pleasure.

Want to discuss further? 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 83 - Designing Scenarios

Scenarios are what it's all about! Thanks to glorious supporters on Patreon, The Smart Party have pumped out a couple of adventures - one whimsical from Baz and another more gritty from Gaz. This week the lads chat about the process of designing their own scenarios and some of the tips and tricks they've learned from their own writing and reading (and playing) other peoples'. Struggle to write your own stuff? Wonder what goes on behind the scenes? This podcast is for you!

Want to discuss further? We're 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 82 - First Time DM Experience

It's been many long years for Baz and Gaz, hazy memories of early games lost to the mists of time. What was it like to run that very first game? Well, that lads can't remember, that's for sure, so this time they're joined by delightful guest Nina (@humanbard) to talk about her first time behind the DM screen. Our guest has been playing for many years, and done podcasting and streaming, but that first time in charge of the game can be intimidating. But like all others, she's survived to tell her tale!

Want to discuss further? Give the lads your view via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Buy the guys some Hobnobs by becoming a Patreon supporter, extra content is going on up on the Patreon site including a fanzine, scenario from Baz - and another from Gaz fresh out of production!

Episode 81 - Judge Dredd and the Worlds of 2000AD (Interview with Russ Morrissey)

Attention thrill-seekers! Russ Morrissey, designer of the W.O.I.N system joins the lads to talk about his new take on Judge Dredd and the Worlds of 2000AD. A nostalgiac trip to the early days of gaming, inside scoops and future products, a view of the system, chat about how to make a successful Kickstarter and more await you!

With the full support of Rebellion Comics, the art and production are in place, an already written and proofed game, the Smart Posse are super excited about this trip to the golden age of British comics.



Russ also has a podcast with lots of RPG news, check out Morrus' Unoffical Tabletop RPG Talk or of course head over the EN World website for all the latest RPG news if you prefer to read about it.

Want to discuss further? Give the lads your view via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Buy the guys some Hobnobs by becoming a Patreon supporter, extra content is going on up on the Patreon site including a fanzine, scenario from Baz - and another from Gaz currently going through production!

Episode 80 - Patrick Stuart Interview

(a.k.a Picard is my nemesis)

More Ennie Award Winning guestage this week, with Patrick Stuart joining the lads. Author of such gems as Maze of the Blue Medusa, Veins of the Earth and many more, Patrick provides insightful chat on his writing process, inspiration and all things gaming from Warhmmer to OSR.

Follow what Patrick is doing by checking his blog or get some lovely books on his author website.

You can find much more of Dirk's unique art by clicking the image below, or following him on Instagram:

Want to discuss further? Give the lads your view via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Assist the boys grab more amazing guests by becoming a Patreon supporter, extra content is going on up on the Patreon site including a scenario from Baz - another from Gaz is on the way!

Episode 79 - Troika! Daniel Sell Interview

Good friend of the show Ennie Award Winning Daniel Sell returns (last time was Episode 13!) to talk about his revamp of Troika! which definitely isn't Fighting Fantasy, winning Ennie awards and his delightfully hands-off publishing style. Fans of Hipster Planescape are in for a treat, as is anyone who likes something just a little bit different than the usual.

Daniel publishes The Undercroft, a nostalgically pleasing hand-crafted fanzine, you can catch up on what he's up to on his website.

Want to discuss further? Give the lads your view via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Assist the boys grab more amazing guests by becoming a Patreon supporter, extra content is going on up on the Patreon site including a scenario from Baz!

Episode 78 - Teachers & Teaching

This week the lads are joined by educators Pete Atkinson and Neil Gow to talk about how teaching influences gaming, or vice versa. Is the noble art of pedagogy something that helps or hinders young minds when it comes to playing games? With a teacher of primary, secondary and further education on board, the assembled classroom discusses what lesson we can all learn.

Gaz mentioned a Data Science in the Games Industry course that can be picked up on the freemium model - find more here.

Neil Gow is the master of Omnihedron Games and you can catch up on what he's up to on his website.

Want to discuss further? Give the lads your view via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Help the lads get new school uniforms by becoming a Patreon supporter, extra content is going on up on the Patreon site including a scenario from Baz!