One Shot Test Kitchen
By April-Lyn Caouette, Mike Kelly, Samara Naeymi
One Shot Test KitchenSep 09, 2020
Episode 24 - Dungeons and Dragons OGL
The tabletop world has been shaken by a leaked draft of D&D's new Open Games License, a set of rules that defines how users can create new content around the system. The legal questions are a bit complex so we invited our friend Chris, a lawyer who specializes in entertainment and games law, to shed some light. We talk about specific language, how unique this document may or may not be, and about the landscape going forward with this new OGL.
Chris can be found online at @NYGameLawyer
(Note: This was recorded in the middle of an evolving situation, and there have been and will be more developments coming.)
Initial article by @lincodega: https://gizmodo.com/dnd-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-1-1-open-gaming-license-1849950634
Wizards of the Coast's response: https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1423-an-update-on-the-open-game-license-ogl
Episode 23.2 - Stillfleet (Interview)
Having returned from H'rabdin, space slug in tow, Mike sits down with Wythe and Ethan to talk about the genesis of Stillfleet. They have a wide-ranging conversation about the optimism of games, creating a world out of bits and pieces, and about creating a playful space for people to engage with ideas that may be overwhelming.
Stillfleet is available on stillfleet.com, and is currently live on Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wythe/the-stillfleet-core-rulebook). They can be found on Twitter @stillfleet
(Disclaimer: Mike is a long-time friend of one of the designers and is a backer of the project)
Episode 23.1 - Stillfleet (Gameplay)
We enter the world of Stillfleet, a game where fantastical alien races work for The Company on an ancient/futuristic space station called Spindle. It's a vast and colorful world where the wonders of the far future are within your grasp, but with a strong undercurrent of weird biology and corporate intrigue. Join our crew of sentient salamanders, winged monkeys, and unsettling psychic practitioners of Hell Science as we seek... a space slug.
And as an extra special treat, we play with two of the designers of the game, Wythe and Ethan!
Stillfleet is available on stillfleet.com, and is currently live on Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wythe/the-stillfleet-core-rulebook). They can be found on Twitter @stillfleet
(Disclaimer: Mike is a long-time friend of one of the designers and is a backer of the project)
Episode 22.1 - CBR+PNK (Review)
Mike opines about the aesthetics and themes of cyberpunk while Samara digs deep into the Forged in the Dark system in our review of CBR+PNK.
CBR+PNK and Mind The Gap (the specific run setting) are by Emanoel Melo (@emanoelmelo on Twitter) and available on itch.io here. The Forged in the Dark system is based on Blades in the Dark by One Seven Design.
Episode 22.1 - CBR+PNK (Gameplay)
We jack into a cyberpunk world as we try out CBR+PNK, a one-shot game based on the Forged in the Dark system. Our runners are sent out in one last job to deliver an important package. But all is not as it seems....
CBR+PNK and Mind The Gap (the specific run setting) are by Emanoel Melo (@emanoelmelo on Twitter) and available on itch.io here. The Forged in the Dark system is based on Blades in the Dark by One Seven Design.
Episode 21 - Sports are Just Numerology
This week we delve into the high-stakes world of competitive bocce. No, you read that right. We try out Sports are Just Numerology, a quick game with an intriguing central mechanic. We also expose just how little Samara and Mike know about sports.
Sports are Just Numerology is by Ben Roswell (@roswellwrites on Twitter) and is available on itch.io.
Episode 20.2 - Stewpot (Review)
We've created our tavern, told some tales, now we try to puzzle out how we ultimately feel about Stewpot.
The zine that Samara references is called Synthesis, by Riley Rethal (@rileyrethaI on Twitter). It can be found on itch.io here.
Stewpot: Tales from a Fantasy Tavern is by Takuma Okada (@takuma_okada_ on Twitter) and is available for purchase on itch.io.
Episode 20.1 - Stewpot (Gameplay)
This week, we become adventurers retiring to run a tavern in a small fantasy town. Samara and Mike are joined by special guest Jared as they prepare exotic foods, serve drinks, and gather round the hearth for this unique game. Come in and stay a while at Trip's.
Stewpot: Tales from a Fantasy Tavern is by Takuma Okada (@takuma_okada_ on Twitter) and is available for purchase on itch.io.
Episode 19.2 - Lady Blackbird (Review)
Our adventures have brought us to this point. Mike and Samara debrief on their time spent soaring through the skies. We consider participatory worldbuilding, how to inhabit characters, and the impact that a good aesthetic can have on a gameplay experience.
Lady Blackbird is designed by John Harper (@john_harper on Twitter) and is available for free at ladyblackbird.org
Episode 19.1 - Lady Blackbird (Gameplay)
We take a journey into the Wild Blue Yonder for a tale of high adventure amongst sky pirates. Will the debonair Lady Blackbird and the goblin pilot Snargle find a way to free their crew from the depths of the imperial cruiser Hand of Sorrow? Mike, Samara, and special guest Scott explore this beautifully crafted world of romance, action, and sky squids.
Lady Blackbird is designed by John Harper (@john_harper on Twitter) and is available for free at ladyblackbird.org
Episode 18.2 - Cozy Town (Review)
We have finally come home from the cozy town of Coral Gardens, and we have a lot of thoughts. Samara and Mike discuss worldbuilding games vs "tradtional" RPGs, the value of a game throwing you curveballs, and games as escapism.
Cozy Town is a Sword Queen game by Jamila R. Nedjadi (@temporalhiccup on Twitter) and is available at https://temporalhiccup.itch.io/cozy-town.
Episode 18.1 - Cozy Town (Gameplay)
Welcome to our cozy little town! Mike and Samara are joined by special guest Kate as we create a thriving little village where everyone looks out for each other. Join us for a warm fuzzy time in our precious welcoming community.
Cozy Town is a Sword Queen game by Jamila R. Nedjadi (@temporalhiccup on Twitter) and is available at https://temporalhiccup.itch.io/cozy-town.
Episode 17.2 - Spoken Magic (Review)
Off of our gameplay session of Spoken Magic, we discuss the highs and lows. Samara and Mike have a wide-ranging conversation about the nature of language, the dissonance between narrative and mechanic, and how the game shifts between the grounded and the metaphysical.
Spoken Magic is made by Dylan Grinder and can be purchased at https://anarisis.itch.io/spoken-magic.
Episode 17.1 - Spoken Magic (Gameplay)
Words have power, and this week we speak magical phrases as a trio of adventuring mages who journey across the land to find themselves. What dangers and wisdom awaits?
Spoken Magic is made by Dylan Grinder and can be purchased at https://anarisis.itch.io/spoken-magic.
Episode 16.2 - Trophy Dark (Review)
We've emerged from the dangers of the forest after playing Trophy and talk about how we feel. We discuss the interplay of joint authorship, the nature of horror gaming, and Mike's opinions on French cinema.
Trophy Dark is made by Jesse Ross and is available on DriveThruRPG and trophyrpg.com.
Episode 16.1 - Trophy Dark (Gameplay)
The forest is dark and full of terrors. This week, we play Trophy Dark, a mind-bending game about doomed treasure hunters and a forest that seeks to protect itself from all invaders. Will our players survive, or have their minds and bodies broken? And in the end, will they be claimed as a trophy?
Trophy Dark is made by Jesse Ross and is available on DriveThruRPG and trophyrpg.com.
Episode 15 - Our Mundane Supernatural Life
She's a product manager living in Brooklyn about to wed the love of her life. However, she's got to survive her off-kilter sidhe grandmother who has come back from beyond the divide! Hijinks ensue as we take on Our Mundane Supernatural Life, a warm and fuzzy 2-player game by Vee Hendro and Hayley Gordon.
Our Mundane Supernatural Life is available at https://storybrewersroleplaying.com/ourmundanesupernaturallife/.
Episode 14.2 - Umlaut: Game of Metal (Review)
So that was a thing. Did Umlaut live up to their lofty ambitions of letting us live out our metal dreams? Or is the shine on this game a bit dulled? Mike and April-Lyn do a deep dive on what didn't work for them while playing.
Umlaut: Game of Metal is made by Rich Stokes and is available on DriveThruRPG (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/79824/Umlaut-Game-of-Metal).
Episode 14.1 - Umlaut: Game of Metal (Gameplay)
This week we enter the world of face melters, sick beards, and rock gods as we strive to become the greatest metal bands the world has ever seen. We are also joined by two incredible metalhead guests, Elana and John, who take Mike and April-Lyn to school on the ins and outs of metal culture.
Umlaut: Game of Metal is made by Rich Stokes and is available on DriveThruRPG (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/79824/Umlaut-Game-of-Metal).
Elana is the host of Graphic Policy Radio (blogtalkradio.com/graphicpolicy) and can be found on Twitter @Elana_Brooklyn.
John is part of Comix Connection (comixconnection.com) and can be found on Twitter and Instagram @QuasarSniffer.
Episode 13.2 - Fiasco (Review)
We've wrapped our Fiasco in London, and get together to discuss how we felt about it. Does Fiasco do enough to actually push the characters we created into a big beautiful mess? How do we feel about this seminal indie TTRPG more than a decade after its launch?
Fiasco is available from Bully Pulpit Games (https://bullypulpitgames.com/games/fiasco/). Our particular playbook, Bookhounds Fiasco, is made by Pelgrane Press and is based on their Trail of Cthulhu game. (https://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/bookhounds-fiasco-playset/)
Episode 13.1 - Fiasco (Gameplay)
We return to one of the most seminal games of modern TTRPGs and have ourselves a Fiasco. Follow the trials and travails of the Windsleydale twins and Caelan Pope as we play as bookhounds in Depression-era London, and be there when it all goes wrong.
Fiasco is available from Bully Pulpit Games (https://bullypulpitgames.com/games/fiasco/). Our particular playbook, Bookhounds Fiasco, is made by Pelgrane Press and is based on their Trail of Cthulhu game. (https://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/bookhounds-fiasco-playset/)
Occasional ambient audio from https://tabletopaudio.com/
Episode 12 - Kiss Her Before The World Ends
We're back!
And boy do we have an episode for you today. We take on Kiss Her Before The World Ends, a deeply emotional game about people trying to connect in a terrible situation. This one is a heavy one, but come along and see how we feel about it on the other end.
We've also launched our Patreon! Check us out at https://www.patreon.com/OSTKPodcast!
Last Shooting is made by Alice Olivia Grizzle (@TafKat_ on Twitter), and is available for $10 here: https://tafkat.itch.io/kiss-her-before-the-world-ends
CW: Implied abuse, suicidal ideation
Episode 11 - 2020 Games in Review
The year is drawing to a close, so we gather everyone around the hearth in the Test Kitchen to talk about the games we played. Now that we've tried out a ton of systems and settings, how do we feel about tabletop gaming on the whole? Have our tastes shifted? Listen to find out!
The Test Kitchen will also be taking a brief hiatus over the next month or so, but look for us back in your feeds early next year!
Episode 10.2 - Last Shooting (Review)
Samara and Mike review their experience with Last Shooting, and talk about the vulnerability and trust of a 2-player system, resolving combat without a combat system, and the role mechs play as an extension of other forces in the world they inhabit.
Last Shooting is made by My Name Is Grant (@gen_ironicus), and is available for $5 here: https://my-name-is-grant.itch.io/last-shooting
Episode 10.1 - Last Shooting (Gameplay)
Samara and Mike take on a unique two-player RPG this week, with Last Shooting, a game about two mech pilots and their encounters in war. We play out the story of PJ and Kal, people from very different worlds brought together in this war.
Last Shooting is made by My Name Is Grant (@gen_ironicus), and is available for $5 here: https://my-name-is-grant.itch.io/last-shooting
Episode 9.2 - Cyberpunk RED (Review)
We may be Samara-less, but April-Lyn and Mike examine their experience with the Cyberpunk RED system. They also give movie recommendations at the end, and you should go watch Blade Runner 2049 like right now.
Cyberpunk RED will be available later this year at rtalsoriangames.com, or you can get the Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit at Drivethru RPG here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/279014/Cyberpunk-Red-Jumpstart-Kit
Episode 9.1 - Cyberpunk RED (Gameplay)
We head to the dark future with the latest version of the RPG classic Cyberpunk 2020, called Cyberpunk RED. This update comes alongside the highly anticipated release of the Cyberpunk 2077 video game, and the Test Kitchen checks out what makes this world and system special as we take on a job from a shadowy fixer....
Special Guest: Tim Shea
Cyberpunk RED will be available later this year at rtalsoriangames.com, or you can get the Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit at Drivethru RPG here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/279014/Cyberpunk-Red-Jumpstart-Kit
Episode 8 - Risus
The Test Kitchen takes on Risus, a 4-page game system initially published in 1993(!), which Mike definitely knows is the year Doom came out. This barebones system calls itself an "emergency" RPG, but does it work? Listen to find out!
Risus is available for free at DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/170294/Risus-The-Anything-RPG
Episode 7.2 - Golden Sky Stories (Review)
After our sojourn in the world of the henge, we come back together to discuss the highs and lows of Golden Sky Stories.
Golden Sky Stories is available for purchase at http://starlinepublishing.com/our-games/golden-sky-stories/.
Episode 7.1 - Golden Sky Stories (Gameplay)
We're dealing with some lighter fare these days as we try out Golden Sky Stories in the test kitchen. Inspired by the works of Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki, we dive into some heart-warming role-playing rich with happy animal spirits and the power of friendship.
Golden Sky Stories is available for purchase at http://starlinepublishing.com/our-games/golden-sky-stories/.
Episode 6.2 - Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall (Review)
Following our gameplay session, we sit down with Sen and Banana in the Test Kitchen to learn a little bit more about what went into making Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall. We also give our review.
Banana Chan is @bananachangames on Twitter and Instagram, as well as @gameandacurry on Twitter.
Sen-Foong Lim is @senfoonglim on Twitter as well as a host on the Meeple Syrup Show on Facebook Live.
You can preorder your own copy of the game on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jiangshi/jiangshi-blood-in-the-banquet-hall
Episode 6.1 - Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall (Gameplay)
This week, we are joined by Banana Chan and Sen-Foong Lim, creators of Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall, to play through their upcoming game about a Chinese family making their living by running a restaurant in one of America’s Chinatowns, circa 1920.
Banana Chan is @bananachangames on Twitter and Instagram, as well as @gameandacurry on Twitter.
Sen-Foong Lim is @senfoonglim on Twitter as well as a host on the Meeple Syrup Show on Facebook Live.
You can preorder your own copy of the game on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jiangshi/jiangshi-blood-in-the-banquet-hall
CW: Racism, violence
Episode 5.2 - Murderous Ghosts (Review)
We've emerged from the Murderous Ghosts mansion, and review how we felt about it.
Murderous Ghosts is available at https://lumpley.itch.io/murderous-ghosts
Episode 5.1 - Murderous Ghosts (Gameplay)
Join us on a trek into a haunted mansion in upstate New York as we confront some Murderous Ghosts.
CW: Arachnophobia, descriptions of violence
Murderous Ghosts is available at https://lumpley.itch.io/murderous-ghosts
Occasional ambient audio from https://tabletopaudio.com/
Episode 4.2 - Night Witches (Review)
We've returned from the front lines of Pashovskaya. April-Lyn, Mike, and Samara get together to discuss their feelings about Night Witches.
Night Witches is available for sale at https://bullypulpitgames.com/games/night-witches/
Episode 4.1 - Night Witches (Gameplay)
This week on One Shot Test Kitchen, we play Night Witches, a game about the Soviet airwomen who fought on the Eastern Front.
Special guest: Katie Tejedor (@krrtejedor on Twitter)
Night Witches is available for sale at https://bullypulpitgames.com/games/night-witches/
Episode 3 - Peril
This week, we try out Peril, from worldchampgame.co. Three deities try to solve the problems of the world. And succeed. Or fail?
At the end of the episode, Samara gives us an update on the Lasers & Feelings game she ran with some newbies.
Episode 2.2 - Lasers & Feelings (Review)
After our adventures on the Raptor, April-Lyn, Mike, and Samara get together to discuss what they liked and didn't like about the Lasers & Feelings game system.
Lasers & Feelings is available for free at http://www.onesevendesign.com/laserfeelings/
Episode 2.1 - Lasers & Feelings (Gameplay)
This week on One Shot Test Kitchen, we play Lasers & Feelings.
Special guest: Xavier Rice (@mr.mamma_rice on Instagram)
Lasers & Feelings is available for free at http://www.onesevendesign.com/laserfeelings/
Episode 1 - The Sundered Land
Welcome to the first episode of One Shot Test Kitchen! We're a group of nerds who wanted to try out a bunch of really neat indie RPGs, so we made a podcast!
This week's game is The Sundered Land, available for purchase at nightskygames.com.
Gameplay starts at 13:45
Review section starts at 43:00