Expedition to the Grizzly Peaks
By Andy
Bandits Peak GaryCon drunk cast
402: That's All Folks
Expedition to the Grizzly Peaks staggers to a close. This is it - really - really, the final episode. Thanks to everyone that has listened, called in, contributed, inspired, befriended, castigated, chastised, humoured, loved, hated, but mostly put up with, this collection of mostly meaningless ramblings, which will now sit on Spotify's servers gathering dust until someone one day decides to unplug the life support.
You've all been awesome. Except for Barney.
If you want to hear more from me (and Barney and many others) head over to Grizzly Peaks Radio
Peace!
371: The Oblivion of Memory
370: Sometimes you just want to punch a Nazi in the face
369: Games bonanza, feat. Star Frontiers, Mutant Crawl Classics, Call of Cthulhu, Trail of Cthulhu
After decompressing from the amazing awesomeness of GaryCon I talk about (amongst other things) NuTSR and Star Frontiers fiasco, Twitching with Goodman Games, and where you go when an epic campaign ends.
GaryCon love Day 3 and 4
the glorious failure of endings
GaryCon Day 2
AD&D is a great game with a terrible game system
GaryCon report Day 1
what it says on the tin
364 - Are you scared yet?
The horror game is in full flight and I reflect on whether we have created something truly scary. Messages from Joe and Julz from a while back give me a bit of a start too.
363 - Mega Fan Horror Special
362: Creating a Horror Game
They say you never want to see the sausage get made - but we are making a horror game so a bit of intestine and gristle is par for the course. This may not be everyone's cup of tea but I think it's interesting to hear how we are collaboratively building the setting and characters for our forthcoming delve into real horror (or as real as you can get it). Listen in as Scott Dorward (Good Friends of Jackson Elias), Spencer Game (Keep off the Borderlands), Barney Dicker (Loco Ludus), and TJ Drennon join me for our session zero of (Name Pending) horror game.
Listener discretion advised: There is an actual real life monster attack at about the 40 minute mark - so anyone of a sensitive disposition may want to skip.
361: Two Games, One Cup
Are the GM and Players playing the same game? The answers obvious isn't it?
Inspired by Jason of Nerd's RPG Variety Cast, and an epic battle of wills between Joey of Hindsightless and Daniel of Bandit's Keep, I lumber into the ring and give a good pounding. After all who doesn't like to see grown men take a pounding in the ring.
360: Three Hearts and Three Lions: The Origins of D&D
I have just finished reading Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson. Recognized as one of the key texts that inspired and shaped D&D. I ponder how different D&D would be if we had never had heroic fantasy and been stuck in the mire with these wonky and delightful Appendix N novels. Call ins from Rob (Menion) Barney Jason Karl Rodriguez David Henry
359: The Barney Agenda
Many moons ago Barney sent me some messages. I am not a good friend but I try to make amends here.
358: An Earthquake in Lyonesse
Where I talk about Earthquakes and Lyonesse - and a game or two.
356: Ripping Yarns
Wherein I talk about The Dying Earth, Clark Ashton Smith, The Empty Man and Tears for Fears
Thanks to all the callers in. Barney, Jason, BJ, Rob "Menion", Karl, Joe and Spencer
England's Dreaming
Another oh so near. This time England made us hope longer than they had since that black and white day in 1966. I reflect on a lifetime of supporting England, a lifetime of disappointment and longing. This one is all about Football so if you want gaming content - this pod is not for you!
355: A serious month in gaming and life
Call-ins from Julz, Jason, Daniel, Joe, Sofinho, Randy, Lieren, Che, Karl, Barney, Spencer
354: Eldritch Organ - One Night in Paris - Pt1
We rejoin our temporal adventurers as they get sent back to Medieval Paris to investigate a mysterious flagellation. Hijinks ensue.
Starring:
Barney as GM
Spencer from Keep Off The Borderlands
Archie
Scott Dorward of too much to mention
Dave Surman
353: TSR sharts the bed
The TSR debacle has me thinking about many things, but mostly about my friends who I game with. This is where I stand.
352: Audio Terror pt.4 - Haunters in the Dark
Continuing the mini-series documenting our journey to create audio horror. In this episode I am joined post game by Spencer, Scott, Nicky, TJ and Barney to discuss our plans for scaring our pants off. Now that I think about it, that idiom is quite silly isn't it. I mean is it because you've crapped yourself, or that your pants have been literally blown off your legs by some supernatural force.
351: Audio Terror pt.3 - The Lurking Fear, interview with Spencer from Keep Off The Borderlands
350: Audio Terror pt2 - Spooky Resonance, interview with TJ Drennon
Continuing the mini-series documenting our journey to create audio horror. In this episode I dig deep with my collaborator TJ Drennon who edits most of our actual plays and is a sometimes player in our Call of Cthulhu games.
349: Audio Terror pt.1 - What does horror sound like?
348: Player Power and Power GMs
347: Wilderness Survival Skills
346: Heavyweight gaming
345: Eldritch Curtain. How much does a game mean.
344: Competent heroes
343: Failing to Improve
342: Babble On Berlin
In this episode I go into more detail on why I think Berlin The Wicked City is the best sourcebook I've ever seen.
In the second half of the episode I am joined by most of my players from that campaign, Daniel from Bandit's Keep, Varin, Henry and Marko as we unpack the Bookstore Incident!
341: Call of Cthulhu is not Lovecraft
340: Waste of time
How we spend our time is an important question, both in and out of game. What counts as progress and should I keep releasing an episode or more a week of this podcast. All shall be revealed. Thanks to Goblin's Henchman and especially Daniel Norton for their contributions to the show.
TJ's patreon can be found here
And don't forget to check out Grizzly Peaks Radio for all our actual plays
339: Feel Mighty Real
338: Getting Too Real
337: Naval Gazing
336: Safe as Milk
What happens when there is tension at the table, does everyone feel the same thing, does a recording of the session give us any clues. Hopefully by the end of this episode you will have an answer - but probably not
You can hear more from Safer and Spencer here
Music and editing by TJ
Check out our Actual Plays at Grizzly Peaks Radio
335: Table manners
This really should be titled Eldritch Organ pt.9 but I thought that would put people off - I mean who in their right mind does a nine part series on a podcast for Cthuga's sake. Herein we touch on some delicate matters - such as tension at the table and people maybe (or maybe not) feeling unsatisfied at the end of a session. Great call ins from Goblins Henchman and Loco Ludus.
Music as ever by the man mountain, TJ Drennon
334: Eldritch Organ Actual Play 2 - The Elder Things
Our second Eldritch Organ actual play reaches parts that other AP's cannot reach. With the youngest clocking in at 62 this must be the oldest group of investigators to ever go face to face with the mythos. We all hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed playing it.
Starring:
Barney as Orville Hammond (age 89)
Safer as Rob Thornton
TJ as Jasper Sherman
Spencer as Percival Flint
Music and editing by TJ
Check out the rest of out APs at Grizzly Peaks Radio
333: Believing is Seeing
The end is in sight
332: Beginning to see the light
331: Eyeless in Gaza
What happens when you take away player agency? What happens when you take away their sight.
Special thanks to TJ for his new version of our theme song "The Way Up"
Don't forget to check out Grizzly Peaks Radio for our actual plays
330: Organ failure
We finally move away from the Eldritch Organ and talk about more appropriate gaming topics - like civil disorder. What a day, what a day.
329: Eldritch Organ Actual Play 1 - League of Eternal Guardians
If you've been following the EO experiment over the last few weeks you'll know the outcome, now listen to the tapes. We hope you enjoy our first stumbling steps into improvisational mythos investigations. A group of Eternal Guardians are warp dropped near the Scottish border in Cumbria, England where some strange events are unraveling in Carlisle Cathedral
Starring:
Barney as GM
Safer as Captain William Blunt
Archie as Smike
Spencer as Mathias Lapel
Yours truly as Vernon Bland
Music and editing by TJ
Check out the rest of out APs at Grizzly Peaks Radio
328: Eldritch Organ pt8. Playing it Safe
Barney and Safer have a right old Barney. Whilst I dive for cover. More deep thoughts about our Eldritch experiments in Mystery Improv.
327: Eldritch Organ pt7. The results are in
We did it. Ended the year on a promise. Barney from Loco Ludus and I ran two improvisational Mythos games, using two different rules systems. One - designed by Barney himself called the League of Eternal Guardians and the other Azathoth's Answer. Here we discuss the successes and failures of our respective games and look to the future of Eldritch Organ.
Thanks to all the players that played.
Archie, Safer, TJ, and Spencer
check out Grizzly Peaks Radio in the near future for the edited Actual Plays of each session. Should be fun
326: Eldritch Organ pt6. The moment is near
One day to go until we run the inaugural EO improv game - and I'm nervy
TJ's patreon can be found here
And don't forget to check out Grizzly Peaks Radio for all our actual plays
325: Eldritch Organ pt5. Hokey and the Bandit
A hokey set up got under Daniel's skin and he gently gave me both barrels - it was a learning experience for me. You should definitely check out this episode of Bandit's Keep on YouTube to get the full story.
Daniels podcast is here as well Find more game design theory from Loco Ludus and Goblin's Henchman
TJ's patreon can be found here
And don't forget to check out Grizzly Peaks Radio for all our actual plays
324: Eldritch Organ pt4. Player of Games
Continuing the series about Improvisational Cthulhu Mythos mysteries. We have had a great response to our proposed experiment. Comments, requests and caveats. Call-ins from Spencer, Paul StJohn Mackintosh, Edwin, Jason, Barney, Safer and George Johnson Jr