Episode 237_The Divine Puzzle preview.mp4
The wheel of fate is turning...At long last, we return to listener prompts with a soul-focused setting from a first-time submitter! Tune in as we infuse this world with theosophy, spirit photography, conspiracy, and the pursuit of perfection. Don't mess with destiny, folks.
🎧 https://buff.ly/3SJdyQJ
📺 https://youtu.be/IKJ65LE9Dhk
Episode 232_The Border of Death and Life preview.mp4
In the second part of this month-long series, we introduce druid-based factions to this strange world, which, yes, may involve cute animals. We also explore the magical connection between the lands of the living and dead, which is perhaps less cute.
🎧 https://buff.ly/3vEp6wL
📺 https://youtu.be/J3ecrGkEEUw
Episode 231_A Hole in the Earth preview.mp4
Happy New Year, beloved listeners! Continuing our tradition from January 2023, we're returning to our roots by embarking on an original longform setting. Without a prompt and with just two tenets each, we start a fantastical realm where the rains contain life itself and where maps and calendars are so much more than static guides. What wonders remain hidden behind the storm clouds? What lurks at the bottom of the massive maw in the earth? And what role do the druids of old play here? Tune in to find out!
🎧 https://buff.ly/4aOHaV5
📺 https://youtu.be/_Nqg_EhfceE
Episode 230_The 2023 Retrospective preview.mp4
The end of the year is upon us, and so we take part in our traditional recap and reflection on some of our favorite settings from 2023! We each pick a world to revisit and expand upon, delving into topics like flesh trains, the dangers of bureaucracy, endless McMansions...and the eternal question of, "Will senpai ever notice Daniel?"
Thank you, listeners, for all your love and support! ❤️ Here's to even more blood, sweat, and...other things in 2024.
🎧 https://buff.ly/3NFJa8n
📺 https://youtu.be/iawRybn5ooA
Episode 229_An Interview with the Crew of OSR Advanced Old School Revival preview.mp4
In this episode, Rob interviews a few familiar faces—system creator/designer Daniel Quinn, setting designer/mechanics maestro Jonnie Law, and art director/editor Courtney Staples—about their newly-released tabletop roleplaying game OSR+: Advanced Old School Revival. The team talks about the inspiration behind this streamlined RPG system, its years of playtesting and refining, how YOU can get involved for free, and what the future might hold.
🎧 https://buff.ly/3RCCSHR
📺 https://youtu.be/glubw0kxdCE
Episode 228_Above the Court of the Crimson King preview.mp4
Floating islands rising from the ocean, tethered by chains. Prophecies in song, carried on the wind. Prog rock. These are just a few parts of a listener's bronze-age setting built on an idyllic seascape, traversed by kites and boats. But all is not as it seems, and to learn the truth we must go far into the planet's past, when the red star first rose and the royal pair still reigned together.
🎧 https://buff.ly/48e7Hcs
📺 https://youtu.be/g1ukki7HNF8
Episode 227_ Monster Mash - Winter Creature Extravaganza preview.mp4
In a special holiday season edition of a Monster Mash, we're rolling for a wintry mix of monsters! The fates (or dice, whichever you prefer) have us reimagining toys, elves, and reindeer in some rather grotesque ways, with settings spanning from FAO Schwarz all the way to space. Let Rudolph's blood-red glow guide you through the night, but remember, children: you can't ever truly buy your way off of Santa's naughty list...
🎧 https://buff.ly/3RyRPMi
📺 https://youtu.be/UvGRmnQs1P8
Episode 226_Catalina Wizard Mixer preview.mp4
This week, a first-time prompt submitter asks us to build out a dangerous, magical world called Warevinet, populated by mermaids, winged humans, and boring ol' regular humans. We take inspiration from important cultural works like The Little Mermaid, The Dying Earth, Zoolander, and I Think You Should Leave to infuse this realm with petty wizards, aquatic vineyards, fashion-based magic, and so much more! Anyone got a spare skin suit?
🎧 https://buff.ly/3R5yOzg
📺 https://youtu.be/sDVKKuf3GcM
Episode 225_Poisoned Oceans, Iron Skies preview.mp4
In this episode, we're finishing this dieselpunk alt-history Earth by boosting the military horror factor! Jonnie Law joins us once more as we take inspiration from media like Squid Game, Koyaanisqatsi, and Cronenberg's films to set up a few drastically different movie studios, all while contending with pesky cults and carnivorous robots. We cap it off with an adventure that spans the globe...and beyond.
🎧 https://buff.ly/47oC1kt
📺 https://youtu.be/ojIjfaqLE8A
Episode 224_Do Androids Dream of Lunar Sheep preview.mp4
We're gettin' real weird with history this week courtesy of a dieselpunk/blitzpunk prompt from patron Kaiser. Guest host Jonnie Law joins us as we scorch this alt history WWII-era Earth with battles and pollution, and then infuse it with occult artifacts, art-loving robots, and the power of cinema. Scientific accuracy? Ehh don't worry about it, we don't have any idea how diesel engines work either.
🎧 https://buff.ly/46nrOU1
📺 https://youtu.be/LCgorPJ_d6w
Episode 223_The Voice of the Mold preview.mp4
In part two of this city setting, we explore Palimpsest's depths and roots, and even add a touch of greenery to brighten up the place. Listen to this exciting conclusion for consensual necromancy, predatory slime mold, TechnoFrance™, guessing what popular media Daniel is talking about based on vague clues, and so much more!
🎧 https://buff.ly/3SA1nYi
📺 https://youtu.be/RqYgfGqJrTs
Episode 222_Speakers of the Dead preview.mp4
"Where lies the strangling fruit that came from the hand of the sinner I shall bring forth the seeds of the dead to share with the worms..."
—Jeff VanderMeer, Annihilation
New patron and first-time prompt-submitter Ewan introduces us to Palimpsest, a city empowered by language slime molds. We build it up with mysterious poetry, eerie choirs, and layers upon literal layers of construction...But can you read the writing on the wall to learn what lurks at the center of this labyrinthine metropolis?
🎧 https://buff.ly/3Sjs9UB
📺 https://youtu.be/0HKRj227Jkc
Episode 221_A Deliciously Lich-y Spooky Jam preview.mp4
Continuing our celebration of the spookiest time of the year, we're bringing the three liches from last episode's Monster Mash into a worldbuilding jam! Random dice rolls guide us into horror subgenres like "psychological thriller" and "haunted house" (interpreted not-always-literally, of course) and we pile on heart-wrenching tragedy in addition to the spookiness. Be sure to let us know your favorite lich tale in the comments or on our Discord!
🎧 https://buff.ly/492HVJz
📺 https://youtu.be/hpmTKmBn7Ec
Episode 220_Monster Mash - The Lich preview.mp4
In celebration of 💀spooky season🎃, we're reimagining another monster from our randomized list: the lich! These powerful undead creatures often attain immortality, but is it always a case of ruthless ambition? Or is it just FOMO on a cosmic scale?
Tune in to hear three very different remixes of these typically-evil beings, featuring black holes, oil barons, and rage spirits...and be sure to listen in again next week, when we'll be expanding on these liches in random worldbuilding jams!
🎧 https://buff.ly/3FoaP97
📺 https://youtu.be/W1bxEIcw1uE
Episode 219_The Party at the End of the World preview.mp4
This week, we're forging more of this post-apocalyptic setting with everyone's favorites, from demonic blood and dangerous cults to plagues and parties...And we cap it all off with a surprisingly cozy quest.
🎧 https://buff.ly/46o0A0H
📺 https://youtu.be/8y4JqOtzb2Y
Episode 217_The Wound in the Earth preview (Made by Headliner).mp4
In the second part of this patron prompt, we borrow from a slew of movies to craft a mostly-subterranean adventure full of zombie dinosaurs, crystalline dwarven-halfling-gnome scouts, spooky sand clerics, and heaps of hijinks! Also, Rob dies inside. https://buff.ly/4682Tom
Episode 216_Journey to the Center of the Hollow Earth preview.mp4
This week, we're starting on a prompt from patron Jonnie Law that seems suspiciously targeted against our tastes. Tune in to hear how we build out this spite-world and its stout, tragically-bloodless denizens, with bonus tangents on The Expanse, Daniel's dislike of mushrooms, and more, along with a most unexpected twist! https://buff.ly/3Lx0wmV
Episode 215_A Tangled Web of Time preview.mp4
In this episode, we delve deeper into this setting full of magic child soldiers and tachyonic geriatric lich kids, sprinkle new factions into the mix, and explore the origin—and potential end—of this seemingly-eternal war. Remember: whoever controls the Space W.H.A.L.E. controls the world. https://buff.ly/3sRaEjV
Episode 214_Instruments of Violence preview.mp4
A new prompt from patron Gluax brings us to a land of ✨magical children✨...who lack rights and are used as soldiers in a never-ending war. Fun! We start building out this setting with science (sort of), gerontocracies, ghosts, and the implications of immensely powerful mage-babies. But who's *really* behind this war? https://buff.ly/3R97QZm
Episode 213_An Interview with Justin Alexander preview.mp4
This week, we're honored to have author, RPG designer, and Game Master extraordinaire Justin Alexander back on the podcast to discuss his upcoming book "So You Want to Be a Game Master: Everything You Need to Start Your Tabletop Adventure for Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder, and Other Systems"!
Justin gives us a tour of this step-by-step guide and how it can help GMs new and experienced alike run their best games, avoid railroading, do quick-and-dirty worldbuilding, and more! Plus: early misadventures with homebrew Batman RPGs, the unexpected power of TV trays, questions from our patrons, a worldbuilding jam featuring the waters of Europa, and heaps of other topics in this XXL episode. https://buff.ly/3L2JvRh
