What Would The Smart Party Do?

Episode 77 - Satine Phoenix Interview

Community Manager of Dungeons & Dragons, co-creator of Maze Arcana (with Ruty Rutenberg) and all around great ambassador of D&D and gaming in general Satine Phoenix joins the lads for some great chat on D&D, communities, sending people to sleep, D&D around the world, gaming in a castle and all sorts. Strap yourselves in for some delightful conversation and heartfelt chat about our great hobby!

You can find Satine by looking for @satinephoenix around the internet and get your Twitch on with The D&D Stream or Maze Arcana

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 bribe more special guests by becoming a Patreon supporter, extra content is going on up on the Patreon site including a scenario from Baz!

Bonus Episode - UK Games Expo Chat

Not too long ago it was the highlight of the UK gaming calendar UK Games Expo and Gaz went round chatting to all kinds of lovely gaming folk to find out what's going on in the wonderful world of gaming. Here's some awesome #content from his travels.

[02:10] Paul Baldowski from All Rolled Up, Cthulhu Hack and other fame

All Rolled Up

[06:20] Sam, from award-winning Sins RPG

SINS RPG

[12:50] Julia from Lamentations of the Flame Princess talks about weird stuff

Lamentations of the Flame Princess

[23:00] Mary at Rowan, Rook and Decard (The Spire RPG) gives us the low down on the Indie League Stall

Rowan, Rook and Decard

UK Indie RPG League

[32:00] Chris Birch from Modiphius takes us on a whistlestop tour of lots of books!

Modiphius

[39:40] Lloyd Gayan was the man on the scene for Games on Demand

You can follow Lloyd's antics on Twitter

[48:30] Rich talks to us about the inaugural RPG Designer's meet up

Get hold of some of Rich's games

[55:00] Dirk and Blythy talk bobbins at the bar

the Grognard Files

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

Help support the guys by becoming a Patreon supporter, extra content is going on up on the Patreon site including a scenario from Baz!

Episode 76 - Jonathan Tweet Interview

Legendary game designer and writer, Jonathan Tweet joins the lads this week, with news of his reboot of Over the Edge which you can still grab on Kickstarter if you're quick, great insights on D&D, Everyway, Ars Magica and much more. We get in a bunch of questions from our dear listeners and generous supporters and a couple of our own war stories too!

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

Help support the guys by becoming a Patreon supporter, extra content is going on up on the Patreon site including a scenario from Baz!

Episode 75 - Ennies Nominee Review

The gremlins got into the sound engine again this week and it's all gone a bit tinny. Never mind, the content is still golden! Maybe electrum. The lads discuss the Ennie Awards happening at Gen Con weekend. What's with the nominees, the process, the missing games? All is far grist for the mill - get the expert opinion on this year's entries while the GenCon masses cast their vote.

Think of anything that should have got an Ennie? Give the lads your view via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

For the love of Cthulhu get the boys some better microphones by becoming a Patreon supporter, extra content is going on up on the Patreon site and there's a scenario coming in August.

Episode 74 - DIY Gaming

(a.k.a. It's Only Got to be Good Enough)

Back by popular demand! The Smart Party presents DIY gaming – what do they mean by this? A bit of reminiscing about how it used to be “back in the day”, a dash of OSR and writing your own stuff, and advice to stop creating and start playing!

Already building your own stuff? Give the lads your view via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Enable the purchasing of virtual nuts and bolts by becoming a Patreon supporter, and you too can get great content - including a fanzine - Smartzine #1. Already a Patreon and want to appear in a scenario? Drop the guys a line via the above methods and they'll make something happen.

Bonus Episode - Runequest Actual Play

As a special feature, here's some actual play of the Free RPG Day adventure which is still available at the Chaosium site. The lads along with Mat Hart (currently warming up to release Dungeons & Doggies read more on Facebook here) faced the perils of Glorantha, as realised by Dirk the Dice from The Grognard Files.

Something different to keep you going while we get more content for you dear listeners, many thanks to Dirk for helping out and doing an edit as well as ably running a fun session!

Got games stuff to talk about? Give the lads your view via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Help keep the show running by becoming a Patreon supporter, and you too can get great content - including a fanzine - Smartzine #1. Already a Patreon and want to appear in a scenario? Drop the guys a line via the above methods and they'll make something happen.

Episode 73 - UK Games Expo Preview

(a.k.a. Bring Back The Beer Bus)

Spring has sprung, and that can mean only one thing, it's nearly time for UK Games Expo! The lads are stalwarts of the show, and joined by fellow podcaster, reviewer and Expo veteran Iain McAllister of the Giant Brain to talk about what's hot, top tips and generally enthuse about the event. You can read more detail of his Top Ten Hit List here.

Obviously listening to our excellent chat about Expo gives you all you need to know, but if you want more information, then head over to the beginner's guide on their website for all the details you could ever want!

Going to Games Expo? Give the lads your view via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Enable the purchasing of something delicious from the Expo street stalls to sustain our intrepid reporters by becoming a Patreon supporter, and you too can get great content - including a fanzine - Smartzine #1. Already a Patreon and want to appear in a scenario? Drop the guys a line via the above methods and they'll make something happen.

Episode 72 - Downtime Abbey

(a.k.a. You're Not My Supervisor)

What to do with those pesky players when they're not delving in dungeons? How to convince the GM you need time to fanny around and go shopping for booster potions with real characters? Two sides of the same copper piece my friends, this week the lads talk about downtime or what goes on in games when you're not doing the core activity (be that punching orcs in the face or using Traveller to model Elite). What do you do with your time outside of the usual stuff? Robin Laws once had a gaming group that would bang the table and shout "Next fight! Next fight!", but the Smart Party like to think there's more constructive actions that could be filling the gaming space.

Run your first game? Need advice? Give the lads your view via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Enable the purchasing of more outrageous hats by becoming a Patreon supporter, and you too can get great content - including a fanzine - Smartzine #1. Already a Patreon and want to appear in a scenario? Drop the guys a line via the above methods and they'll make something happen.

Episode 71 - New GM Advice

(a.k.a. Your Job Is To Lose Every Fight)

How do you go about running your first game? Do you want to be a DM, GM, LM, Referee or Keeper? Perhaps you've played for years but never run a game, maybe you've never gamed at all, is could be you tried running games and didn't really get on with it. Fear not! The Smart Party are here to help. The lads go through how to go about running your first RPG with everything from whether you should buy and adventure, to giving yourself enough credit and the minutiae of wee breaks. They're super keen to know how you get on should you try a game - so let them know - and please do share with any friends you think might benefit from some sage advice.

Run your first game? Need advice? Give the lads your view via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Enable the purchasing of more outrageous hats by becoming a Patreon supporter, and you too can get great content - including a fanzine - Smartzine #1. Already a Patreon and want to appear in a scenario? Drop the guys a line via the above methods and they'll make something happen.

Episode 70 - Dungeons and Dragons

(a.k.a. There's this new game called D&D)

There's a new hwatness on the streets that you may not have heard of. It's called Dungeons & Dragons and has loads of editions apparently. Who knew? Baz and Gaz have managed a couple of sessions (after finally making a save versus paralysis), and what's more have been on the same side of the DM screen for once. Baz patiently talks a sceptical Gaz through the joys of the Player's Handbook and they finish off with a score out of five scimitars for the game. Join them on a magical journey, and discover the legality of Owlbears, how to fall down a mountain and how to turn a Halfling into Robin Hood.

Should the guys talk about the Dungeon Master's Guide? Monster Manuals? More? Give them your view via Facebook, on the Twitters: @the_smart_party or email the guys directly!

Deliver copper-painted platinum pieces to the Patreon fund, and you too can get great content - including a fanzine - Smartzine #1. Already a Patreon and want to appear in a scenario? Drop the guys a line via the above methods and they'll make something happen.