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Gothridge Manor

Gothridge Manor

By Tim Shorts

Become a Paid Subscriber: https://anchor.fm/gothridgemanor/subscribe Welcome to my Anchor channel. You'll find nothing serious here. I talk about tabletop RPG gaming with a focus on the older editions and retro clones. Some folks call it the OSR, I just call it gaming. If you like rolling weird dice, talking in weird voices and just being weird, pull up a chair and stay a while.
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Currently playing episode

Local Folklore

Gothridge ManorMar 17, 2024

00:00
15:18
Local Folklore

Local Folklore

A quick conversation about adding local lore to your game.
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Come join us on Monday night at 8pm est.
Mar 17, 202415:18
Rolling Dice with the Kids

Rolling Dice with the Kids

My experience of running a game with a horde of savage teenagers.
Mar 01, 202423:22
Creating an Adventure Live on Monday Night

Creating an Adventure Live on Monday Night

This week was the first of a series where we create an adventure with the help of a live YouTube audience.
Feb 06, 202408:15
Running with the Kids

Running with the Kids

At the end of the month I am running a ShadowDark game for a group of kids. The group is somewhere between 6 and 12 and I only have 90 minutes. Errr, no problem?
Feb 03, 202409:43
Mothman Has Landed

Mothman Has Landed

I have a thing for mothman. I'm not ashamed.
Jan 02, 202413:25
A Conversation With You

A Conversation With You

I eat lunch, sorry for the chewing noises, and talk about the writing struggles I've had.
Dec 28, 202329:04
A New Youtube Show Coming Soon

A New Youtube Show Coming Soon

Joe the lawyer and I've been talking about getting together to collaborate on a new YouTube show.
Dec 16, 202309:33
The Basic Fantasy Field Guide 2

The Basic Fantasy Field Guide 2

I unbox a copy of the newest monster collection for The Basic Fantasy RPG.
Dec 06, 202313:20
Working on the Kickstarter

Working on the Kickstarter

Dec 01, 202314:34
So You Want to Be a Dungeon Master

So You Want to Be a Dungeon Master

I unbox the Jason Alexander book, so you want to be a Dungeon Master and cards I recently received from a Phil Reed Kickstarter... Enjoy!
Nov 25, 202313:54
Consequences for Choices in a Campaign

Consequences for Choices in a Campaign

I love this topic. So much meat on the bone. I talk about how choices players choose echo for the length of a campaign.
Oct 27, 202320:49
Kickstarter Talk

Kickstarter Talk

A little bit about mine. A little bit about Rob's. And a little about ones I've backed.
Oct 13, 202312:08
Leaving an Enemy Alive

Leaving an Enemy Alive

What? Leave an enemy alive? Why yes. Let's talk about the benefits of allowing an enemy to walk away. It's fun. Really.
Oct 06, 202319:49
Using Random Encounters to Enhance Your Game

Using Random Encounters to Enhance Your Game

I go through the years of a random encounter table. How to get the most out of a random table.
Oct 03, 202322:11
ShireCon Baby

ShireCon Baby

I went to ShireCon and all I got was this lousy podcast.
Sep 21, 202316:27
Hexploration with Ivy

Hexploration with Ivy

Searching those mysterious hexes is a major part of old school gaming. I talk about it and then do an Unboxing of a Kickstarter with Ivy.
Aug 25, 202330:48
What game do you want to spend your precious time on?

What game do you want to spend your precious time on?

A reaction to the excellent Roleplay Rescue podcast where Che and Jason have a conversation about this subject. I give my view on the topic with examples that I can remember while driving home.
Aug 23, 202311:33
Swords & Wizardry Complete

Swords & Wizardry Complete

I opened another box. And I talk about it.
Aug 04, 202319:24
Will there be dice?

Will there be dice?

Just had a crap day, but then I had a notification my dice order came in. Will my crappy day continue our will there be dice?
Jul 20, 202316:36
The Battle of AI Art

The Battle of AI Art

We had a heated show on the Random Party Generator over at Tenkars Tavern last night. I share my take on it and how being the owner of the RPG Zine Group on Facebook, influences the future of zines.
Jul 15, 202316:52
OSE and Shadowdark a Match Made for My Campaign

OSE and Shadowdark a Match Made for My Campaign

Started a new adventure combining OSE and Shadowdark.
Jun 09, 202321:01
Security Taught Me More Than College

Security Taught Me More Than College

Jason C calls in! Apparently I can get messages. This episode I go down a non-gaming rabbit hole. I talk about how my security Work as a while taught me way more how to deal with people than college ever did. And a specific story about the time I worked security for a tarot card reader.
May 02, 202318:21
WotC Pinkerton's Come Knocking

WotC Pinkerton's Come Knocking

Don't get early accidental access to magic the gathering cards or you may get a visit from the WotC heavies.
Apr 29, 202307:31
Getting Inspiration from Nonfiction Books

Getting Inspiration from Nonfiction Books

I find it lot of great material for games delving into books about small sectors of cultures, customs, and beliefs. I find the process a lot of fun and it adds a depth to my game.
Apr 28, 202310:57
New DM Guide Coming Soon

New DM Guide Coming Soon

WotC had announced a new version of their DM Guide for the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons. Why not.
Apr 22, 202323:30
Half-Races/My Kickstarter/ShadowDark/Running a Game for the Kiddos

Half-Races/My Kickstarter/ShadowDark/Running a Game for the Kiddos

I meander from discussing a little about the latest dumb ass focus instead of focusing on creating 'good' content. I quick swerve into my Kickstarter. The new laptop that'll be helping me with that. The amazing ShadowDark RPG and how I plan to use it to run a game for a group of teenagers. I haven't done that in a long time. I'm looking forward to it.
Apr 16, 202321:03
Learning the Difference Between What I Can Control and What I Can't

Learning the Difference Between What I Can Control and What I Can't

This episode is a bit more personal. It is a long journey of an episode of how I tie my life lesson into gaming. But I get there.
Feb 22, 202321:53
Adding a Supernatural Element into Your Game

Adding a Supernatural Element into Your Game

I love spooky stuff. I love adding spooky stuff in my game. But the fantasy genre is difficult to work in supernatural elements. I hope to give a few nuggets of advice on how to work in the mystery of the supernatural.
Feb 13, 202324:11
The Bad, the Post Office, and the Good in Gaming

The Bad, the Post Office, and the Good in Gaming

A calmer episode about the recent interviews with Kyle Brink and my not so nice thoughts about them. My battle with the post office. And Exalted Funeral's awesomeness.
Feb 12, 202324:20
OGL and Morality Rant

OGL and Morality Rant

It's been a while. This episode catches up with what I've been doing. My rant on the current OGL bullshit. And I end it with one of my famous unboxings. Enjoy.
Jan 22, 202345:27
Evil Campaigns

Evil Campaigns

Inspired by Jason over at Nerd's RPG Variety Cast, I give examples of how evil, or perceived evil, campaigns can work. And why they can't.
Sep 29, 202215:51
Will WotC Make it Harder for 3td Party Publishers for 5.5?

Will WotC Make it Harder for 3td Party Publishers for 5.5?

Just a quick opinion of what I see coming.
Sep 23, 202213:22
Review of the Best Starter Set: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle

Review of the Best Starter Set: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle

I give my opinion on the newest Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast.
Sep 19, 202232:14
Unboxing: Swords of Cthulhu and The Redoubt of Chandra

Unboxing: Swords of Cthulhu and The Redoubt of Chandra

I grabbed two OSR products from RPG Drive thru recently. Swords of Cthulhu is a source book to assist in adding everyone's favorite cosmic horror into their game. The Redoubt of Chandra is a short adventure through an undercity with even more evil cults. Can you have enough cults? Don't answer. I know.
Aug 27, 202238:46
Unboxing: New Big Dragon

Unboxing: New Big Dragon

I'm a big fan of anything Richard LaBlanc creates. I bought and went through two zines, The Dragon Horde, and a monster collection called Creature Cache. Get your copies on Lulu Publishing.
Aug 22, 202217:44
My New Top 3 Monsters

My New Top 3 Monsters

Another topic I stole from Red Dice Diaries podcast, choosing a new top 3 Monsters!
Jun 20, 202211:27
Ending a Campaign

Ending a Campaign

May 26, 202210:05
Dealing With Shitty Players

Dealing With Shitty Players

I give a few brief tips on how to deal with problem players.
Apr 08, 202216:06
Do Dungeons Need to Make Sense?

Do Dungeons Need to Make Sense?

Call ins from Matt Jackson and Rob C. And i take a swing at whether dungeons need to make sense.
Mar 31, 202225:41
Divine Acts

Divine Acts

In campaigns I run in my Komor Forest setting I use a thing called Divine Acts. I've taken the turn undead ability and fused it with a multipurpose tool. The effects are determined by the player and GM because these are not in the ruleset. It is a freeform tool to allow clerics to get their kiss ass holiness into high gear.
Mar 24, 202220:43
Old School GMs are Afraid of High Level Characters

Old School GMs are Afraid of High Level Characters

I borrow and twist a topic from Rob C from the Down in the Heap podcast. He talked about why campaigns don't usually go much farther than 5th level. I say that old school GMs are afraid of high level characters.
Mar 19, 202231:03
Zombie NPCs and Generating Treasure for the Froghemoth

Zombie NPCs and Generating Treasure for the Froghemoth

A couple of calls about my recent undead episode from Che Webster and John Large which led me to discuss my most recent creations, zombie NPCs. Then Cody M called in about the Froghemoth episode. Which now I need to generate magic items and treasure. I go over a few if items I plan to include.
Mar 01, 202225:41
The Froghemoth

The Froghemoth

How I use high level monsters in your game. In this episode I feature the strange, but wonderful Froghemoth. It turned out to be an epic battle.
Feb 23, 202209:59
Failure to Engage

Failure to Engage

Sometimes I don't get the job done. This week was one of those instances. I failed to keep each of the party members engaged.
Dec 09, 202106:23
Creating Interesting and Boring NPCs for Your Campaign

Creating Interesting and Boring NPCs for Your Campaign

I give a few tactics on how I handle the brain of NPCs on my campaign.
Dec 06, 202111:03
Undead!

Undead!

I go through the different undead creatures and how I put my twist on them. To bring more opportunity for role playing and to keep the players terrified.
Dec 03, 202124:17
After Game Assessment

After Game Assessment

After last night's session my players and myself discussed their style of play and what I appreciate about each of their styles.
Dec 01, 202109:59
Why System Hopping is Bad

Why System Hopping is Bad

My take on gamers who system jump. How I believe it produces a bad habit and dissatisfaction with gaming.
Nov 17, 202110:47
Campaign Random Tables

Campaign Random Tables

With the fourth game behind me I thought I'd delve into why and how I use my random encounter tables to create rich and interesting encounters.
Oct 28, 202113:17
Touching Base

Touching Base

Catching up. Been gone for a bit. New campaign in progress.
Oct 26, 202107:43