RTFM

RTFM

By RTFM

Maxwell Lander is an educator and photographer in eastern Canada. Aaron King is an editor and collage artist in the Midwestern US. They're both game designers, and together, they read RPG books, find the good bits, and discuss them critically. Welcome to RTFM.
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RTFM: Blood Feud

RTFMFeb 28, 2023
00:00
01:27:48
RaFM: The Tome of NeverWorld
Jun 13, 202536:15
RTFM Interview: Kali Lawrie

RTFM Interview: Kali Lawrie

We interview game designer Kali Lawrie of Gem Room Games, talking Letters to Sandra, fiber arts, and curation and archival work..

⁠⁠⁠Max Lander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

May 21, 202501:32:19
RTFM Season 6 Finale: Ranking of the Games
Apr 30, 202501:06:04
RTFM: Triangle Agency

RTFM: Triangle Agency

You have been selected to work at the Triangle Agency. Game designer Sam Leigh joins us to talk about this corporate horror RPG by Caleb Zane Huett. Is corporate horror for the youths? Does metafiction have a place in RPGs? And who is the yellow voice?!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Max Lander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

Mar 26, 202501:26:10
RTFM: The Zone

RTFM: The Zone

Prepare to enter The Zone by Raph D'Amico. We compare the gamefeel of cards versus tables. We talk mutations. And we talk shit about the Southern Reach Trilogy.

We're talking the ⁠Possible Worlds series by Tyler Crumrine⁠, six discreet games boxed together. We have them fight to the death until only the best emerges victorious. Just kidding, we loved them all.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Max Lander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

Mar 12, 202558:29
RTFM Interview: Austin Walker & Tyler Crumrine

RTFM Interview: Austin Walker & Tyler Crumrine

The RTFM interview series continues. We talk to Austin Walker and Tyler Crumrine about Realis, the meaning of "ashcan," and Wawa versus Sheetz.

⁠⁠Max Lander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

Feb 26, 202501:27:39
RTFM: Possible Worlds Series

RTFM: Possible Worlds Series

We're talking the Possible Worlds series by Tyler Crumrine, six discreet games boxed together. We have them fight to the death until only the best emerges victorious. Just kidding, we loved them all.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Max Lander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

Feb 19, 202501:05:05
RTFM: Dragonlance Fifth Age
Feb 05, 202501:14:10
RTFM: A Guide to Casting Phantoms In the Revolution
Jan 08, 202501:17:31
RTFM: Pendragon
Dec 25, 202401:17:18
RTFM No Promises: Traveller
Dec 10, 202426:06
RTFM: Mausritter—The Estate

RTFM: Mausritter—The Estate

Today we're covering Mausritter: The Estate, a box set of adventures and setting materials for teeny tiny mice adventures. What makes for a good adventure? Are you a filler-inner or a chipper-awayer? How do you deal with an evil cat wizard?

⁠⁠⁠Max Lander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

Nov 27, 202401:02:47
RTFM Interview: Daniel Kwan

RTFM Interview: Daniel Kwan

Today, we interview game designer and podcast Daniel Kwan. We talk games in museums, wuxia movies, and smelly Toronto.

⁠⁠Max Lander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

Oct 30, 202401:30:44
RTFM: Dragonbane
Oct 10, 202401:01:47
RTFM: Game Design as Practice
Sep 25, 202401:05:11
RTFM: The Green Knight
Sep 11, 202401:06:14
RTFM Interview: Will Jobst
Aug 27, 202401:16:26
RTFM: Game Design & Immersive Experience
Jun 19, 202401:07:24
RTFM: Let These Mermaids Touch Your Dick Maybe

RTFM: Let These Mermaids Touch Your Dick Maybe

This episode is brought to you by No-Tell Motel from Bannerless Games, a solo murder mystery game. It rules!

Our sex game trend continues with Let These Mermaids Touch Your Dick Maybe from Riverhouse Games. Want to slap a dildo with a sticky hand? Is it a lyric game? Has anyone played it?

⁠Max Lander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

May 28, 202444:44
RTFM: Monsterhearts 2

RTFM: Monsterhearts 2

This episode is brought to you by VOID 1680 AM by Bannerless Games. It's a solo, playlist-building RPG, and it rules.

We're talking Monsterhearts 2 by Avery Alder, and we're joined by Jay Dragon of Possum Creek Games. Jay claims to know the deep dark truth of Monsterhearts, so who were we to disagree?

Max Lander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

May 14, 202401:02:06
RTFM: Vice & Violence

RTFM: Vice & Violence

This episode is brought to you by Cloud Empress: Life & Death by watt⁠. Back it on Kickstarter now!

The sex continues with Vice & Violence by Rapscallion, an explicitly horny and lewd RPG. The art is great, but is it a good game? (Yes, it's a very good game.)

About the show: ⁠⁠Max Lander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to. If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

Apr 16, 202401:16:59
RTFM: Anal Wizards

RTFM: Anal Wizards

This episode is brought to you by Cloud Empress: Life & Death by watt. Back it on Kickstarter now!

Max Lander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

Today, we cover ANAL WIZARDS by the Genchi Brothers. It's a comic book, but it's a game. We talk about transgressive art and sex sex sex.

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

Apr 02, 202456:31
RTFM Brain Power Corollary (Tunnel Goons)

RTFM Brain Power Corollary (Tunnel Goons)

We're currently on hiatus, so here's a Patreon episode that ended up being a sort of prequel to our "Brain Power One" episode. It's about Tunnel Goons by Nate Treme at Highland Paranormal Society.

Thank you to our patrons for making this episode possible! We'll be back in a couple weeks with more content here and in the Patreon.

Also, Thomas Manuel invited us onto the Yes Indie'd podcast! We talked about criticism and reading in the RPG field. Go check it out!

Mar 19, 202450:20
RTFM Season 4 Finale & Ranking of the Games

RTFM Season 4 Finale & Ranking of the Games

⁠⁠⁠⁠Max Lander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

A freewheeling discussion of the themes and lessons of the season: ownership, games criticism, social versus mechanical rules. We discuss what's next for the podcast and, as always, we rank the games.

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

Mar 06, 202401:23:05
RTFM: Errant

RTFM: Errant

This episode is sponsored by ⁠The Lost Bay RPG, on Kickstarter now⁠.

⁠⁠⁠Max Lander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

We're joined by Sam Dunnewold of Dice Exploder to cover Errant by Ava Islam, an OSR game that is "rules light, procedure heavy."

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

Feb 20, 202401:24:43
RTFM: Vermis
Feb 07, 202450:17
RTFM: Firebrands

RTFM: Firebrands

⁠⁠Max Lander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

It's Mobile Frame Zero: Firebrands by Meguey Baker & D. Vincent Baker. Returning guest Essay joins us to discuss a game that has been pitched to Max as exactly what he wants. But is it?!

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

Jan 23, 202401:06:27
RTFM: Dream Askew/Dream Apart

RTFM: Dream Askew/Dream Apart

⁠⁠Max Lander⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

We continue on our journey to cure our brains of D&D. This time, our delicious medicine is Dream Askew/Dream Apart by Avery Alder and Benjamin Rosenbaum. We recorded it a while back, so I don't remember what else we talked about.

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

Jan 16, 202401:13:19
RTFM Brain Power One (PbtA)
Dec 27, 202301:06:58
RTFM: D&D 4E

RTFM: D&D 4E

⁠⁠Max Lander⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

Look, it's Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition! The last good D&D. We talk digital tools, layout, and doing one thing well.

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

Dec 12, 202356:26
RTFM: Keep on the Borderlands

RTFM: Keep on the Borderlands

⁠⁠Max Lander⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Aaron King⁠⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

Dia Lacina is back to talk about more adventure modules. This time, it's that classic Gygax, Keep on the Borderlands. Is it good? Is it horny? Is it colonial? And what's with all these totally normal men?

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠⁠join our Discord⁠⁠. And ⁠⁠check us out on Patreon⁠⁠ for extra episodes!

Nov 28, 202301:18:13
RTFM: Troika!

RTFM: Troika!

This episode is brought to you by ⁠The Lost Bay's Outer Rim Uprising. Follow the Kickstarter for this cool set of Mothership scenarios and resources!

⁠Max Lander⁠ and ⁠Aaron King⁠ dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

Aaron Lim is here to chat about Troika! by Daniel Sell and the Melsonian Arts Council, where game mechanics are lore and inspirations are a compost heap from which oddness blooms.

If you want to chat about the episode, ⁠join our Discord⁠. And ⁠check us out on Patreon⁠ for extra episodes!

Oct 24, 202301:07:38
RTFM: Principia Apocrypha

RTFM: Principia Apocrypha

This episode is brought to you by The Lost Bay's Outer Rim Uprising. Follow the Kickstarter for this cool set of Mothership scenarios and resources!

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

Game designer Chris Bissette joins us to talk about Principia Apocrypha, one of the cornerstone documents of the Old School Revival (OSR) movement. What is the OSR? What use can non-OSR gamers get from it?

If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord. And check us out on Patreon for extra episodes!

Oct 10, 202301:22:37
RTFM: RuneQuest

RTFM: RuneQuest

This episode is brought to you by The Lost Bay's Outer Rim Uprising. Follow the Kickstarter for this cool set of Mothership scenarios and resources!

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

This one starts as an episode about RuneQuest, but it quickly becomes about citation, ownership, and stewardship in the RPG industry. Like, almost solely about that.

Here's a link to the Feminist Killjoys blog post we mention.

If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord. And check us out on Patreon for extra episodes!

Sep 26, 202301:04:12
RTFM: Blades in the Dark

RTFM: Blades in the Dark

This episode is brought to you by The Lost Bay's Outer Rim Uprising. Follow the Kickstarter for this cool set of Mothership scenarios and resources!

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

By popular demand, we're talking Blades in the Dark with returning guest Essay from the Three of Hearts podcast. Topics include built-in settings, position and effect, and CRIME.

If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord. And check us out on Patreon for extra episodes!

Sep 12, 202301:33:35
RTFM: Pasión de las Pasiones

RTFM: Pasión de las Pasiones

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

Quinns from Shut Up & Sit Down joins us to talk about Brandon Leon-Gambetta's Pasión de las Pasiones, the telenovela RPG. We cover adding drama to your game, the player-to-GM pipeline, and kissing in dungeons.

If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord. And check us out on Patreon for extra episodes!


Aug 29, 202301:26:20
RTFM: Dungeons & Dragons Third Edition

RTFM: Dungeons & Dragons Third Edition

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

Another trip to the dungeons with dragons. This time, it's the first outing from Wizards of the Coast. We're talking unified mechanics, feat trees, and Max's secret origin. Also, we conclude this season and rank the games.

Note: we recommend some movies/shows that are maybe stricken materials under the current SAG-AFTRA/Writers Guild strike, so don't check them out! Instead, listen to this interview with a Writers Guild member & organizer.

If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord. And check us out on Patreon for extra episodes!

Aug 15, 202301:39:10
RTFM: Slugblaster

RTFM: Slugblaster

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

We're talking Slugblaster by Mikey Hamm, and we're joined by Sean Harkin. We cover metacurrencies, skateboarding histories, and who's the chillest of them all.

If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord. And check us out on Patreon for extra episodes!

Aug 01, 202301:09:18
RTFM: Apocalypse Keys

RTFM: Apocalypse Keys

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

We're joined by Aaron Voigt to talk Apocalypse Keys, mechanized feelings, hungry worms, and hurting God with your sins.

This episode is sponsored by ⁠Ratti Incantati, an excellent distributor of RPGs, zines, and literary ephemera⁠.

If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord. And check us out on Patreon for extra episodes!


Jul 18, 202301:04:21
RTFM: Thousand Year Old Vampire

RTFM: Thousand Year Old Vampire

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

We're joined by Kait Tremblay to talk about Thousand Year Old Vampire, breaking rules, medium conventions, and "Lightning Crashes" by Live.

Check out Kait's book, Collaborative Worldbuilding for Video Games!

This episode is sponsored by ⁠Ratti Incantati, an excellent distributor of RPGs, zines, and literary ephemera⁠.

If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord. And check us out on Patreon for extra episodes!

Jun 20, 202301:11:30
RTFM: Bloodbeam Badlands

RTFM: Bloodbeam Badlands

This episode is sponsored by Ratti Incantati, an excellent distributor of RPGs, zines, and literary ephemera.

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

Adam Vass of World Champ Game Co joins us to talk about Bloodbeam Badlands by Viditya Voleti. Including:

  • what it actually takes to put out an RPG
  • putting yourself into your games
  • T. rex with a gun face

Check out Adam's Kickstarter, 1978 (a final girl two-player RPG) here! If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord. And check us out on Patreon for extra episodes and a zero-ad experience!





Jun 06, 202301:10:11
RTFM: Mutants in the Now

RTFM: Mutants in the Now

This episode is sponsored by Ratti Incantati, an excellent distributor of RPGs, zines, and literary ephemera.

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

For Mutants in the Now by Julian Kay, we're joined by Aaron Fiskradatz and Pete (just Pete). These two educators talk to us about hidden curriculum, (dis)respecting churches, and game designer permissions. It's our most contentious episode since Fiasco.

If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord. And check us out on Patreon for extra episodes and a zero-ad experience!




May 23, 202301:25:22
RTFM Zine Club: Amanda Lee Franck

RTFM Zine Club: Amanda Lee Franck

RTFM just learned about indie RPGs. Have you heard of this shit? They're so cool! RTFM's biweekly Zine Club will be hosted on Pateron, where hosts Max Lander and Aaron King each bring an RPG zine to discuss. Like show and tell but with swears.

This episode is our little sampler for everyone, and it's all about Amanda Lee Franck's zines, focusing on Mouth Brood (a hex crawl mutant biome) and Vampire Cruise (a boat crawl monster vacation).

May 16, 202301:10:20
RTFM: Monster of the Week

RTFM: Monster of the Week

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

Sen Holiday joins us to discuss Monster of the Week. The game has a laser focus, but it's a popular D&D off-ramp. What's the deal with that?

If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord.



May 09, 202301:04:53
RTFM: Ghostbusters International

RTFM: Ghostbusters International

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

Ghostbusters International! It's Ghostbusters. We talk about caving to audience demands, sex comedies through the decades, and how bustin makes us feel. (Spoiler warning: it feels good.)

If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord.

Apr 25, 202356:32
RTFM: Monster Care Squad

RTFM: Monster Care Squad

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

Jonathan Levstein joins the conversation on Monster Care Squad from Sandy Pug Games. How many player choices are too many? How does layout affect the reading experience? What's the best monster, and why is it the one who wants people to live in it?

If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord.


Apr 11, 202301:12:19
RTFM: Bluebeard's Bride

RTFM: Bluebeard's Bride

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

Haunted house time! Natalie Zina Walschots joins us to talk about Bluebeard's Bride. What's the deal with men? Can you consent to a book? Can tone go too far?

If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord.

Mar 28, 202301:44:09
RTFM: Wet Grandpa

RTFM: Wet Grandpa

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

As monster season continues, Dia Lacina joins us to talk about Wet Grandpa by Evey Lockhart. What's the best way to write an adventure? Do vibes rule everything? And why do we end up talking about '90s RPGs?

If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord.

Mar 14, 202301:36:41
RTFM: Blood Feud

RTFM: Blood Feud

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

Dan Phipps of Gem Room Games is here to talk about Blood Feud from Blackfisk Publishing! It's the start of our new season. The theme is "monsters," and we talk about the biggest monster of all: toxic masculinity. 

If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord.

Feb 28, 202301:27:48
RTFM Appendix Now: Kismet and The Invisibles

RTFM Appendix Now: Kismet and The Invisibles

Max Lander and Aaron King dig through RPGs of yore to bring you valuable nuggets of mechanics, lore, and strangeness. They read the fucking manual so that you don't have to.

This is the final mini-sode exploring the influences behind the games we're Kickstarting. First up is Kismet by Cezar Capacle, a deceptively simple game with revolutionary mechanics. Then we talk about The Invisibles, a comic by Grant Morrison and a whole host of artists. Discussion ranges from designer toolboxes to messy queer narratives and ends in an invitation to work sex magic so that our Kickstarter funds.

We also mention Tunnel Goons by Nate Treme.

Check out our Kickstarter here. If you want to chat about the episode, join our Discord!

Feb 14, 202356:23