Playing It Wrong

It's been a couple of months but we're still around on the podcast front.   We just renewed the hosting on the blog and thanks to all those contributed over the year.  And we're looking at some additional spaces to play around namely itchio and Locals Plus we've got a really cool project we're working, stay tuned for the official announcement on the blog for that.  Plus we've got all that mundane life stuff that everyone has.  Don't worry. We've got a plan for the podcast. Till next time. Roll dice. Kill monsters. Take their stuff.  And have fun.

I've got so much going on.  I need to ramp up on the old blog, a handful of RPG projects to get done, and some DIY projects around the house. So what takes up the most time for the least return? Well, that's the podcast.  I'm done just taking a couple weeks off of the podcast. But there's going to be more on the blog and some neat stuff coming out soon.  Thanks and I'll be back.  I really do enjoy this.

You don't need any special certificate, accreditation, or license to make RPG stuff. Just do it. A lot of us older folks in the OSR get the label and I think we subconsciously follow that label that we are "The Establishment.  We aren't we're the underground comics. We're punk rock.  So let's go out there and make cool stuff and share it. Let others know about the cool stuff others are making. Personally, I have to get off my butt and get more done. More blog posts. More episodes of the pod cast. And just get a lot of that stuff that's been in my head out. And share it.

Just a very short little shout out.  Still around just getting the whole media "empire" in order.  Don't worry things will be happening.  Thanks

In this episode, I go on a little rant about the Cepheus Engine( old-school Traveler) and more specifically about Sword of Cepheus. It's a pretty darned good Sword & Sorcery RPG.  A more detailed review is forth coming  on the blog. Plus there's a good chance you'll more about some of the games running off these rules. I've already done a review of Zaibatsu. Thanks for listening. Roll Dice. Kill Monsters. Take Their Stuff. And Have Fun. Oh.  And I've just joined up on Buy Me a Coffee if you want to help support the blog and podcast. Thanks for listening

This episode I talk about initiative and high some interesting methods I've seen over the years in such games as TWERPS, The Hero System, Shadowrun, and Savage Worlds.  Find out where I stole my house rule from.  And finally back to reading from the Tomes of Ancient Forbidden Knowledge.  This time Druid Spells from Eldritch Wizardry, Supplement III. 

Well, made it to the 50 Likes on the Facebook page. So that means Bonus Episodes every week.  As the first one, I'm complain about Lulu's major screw up.  And send out some Get Well Soon vibes to Erik Tenkar.

This episode is a total ramble cast. I hate "some people". You know that mythical bunch that is always cited by someone in online arguments. It's always "some people". Not much going on in the way of gaming but got lots of ideas bouncing around inside my head. But that's for a later blog post. Plus a shout out to the new Kickstarter by Bloat Games, Survive This Fantasy. And there's some other stuff too. No Tomes of Ancient Forbidden Knowledge. That'll be next episode. Remember: Roll Dice. Kill Monsters. Take Their Stuff. And Have Fun. Check out the Patreon. Or just like the Facebook Page. One more Like and it means bonus episodes.  Heck, I might even set something up one MeWe. We shall see.

Yes, we're back after a week's break.  Life is hectic but we're working around it.  This week, it's a rant about Magic Guilds, or Wizards' Guilds or whatever you want to call them.  What place do they hold in  your world? Or do the they even have a place? And I try to read some more from  Supplement III: Eldritch Wizardry. If you thought the psionics were crazy then check out the option rules for combat. Thanks for listen.  And check us out on Patreon.

I really tried to delve into the Psionics in Supplement III: Eldritch Sorcery.  It just made my brain hurt.  But isn't that what Psionics is about?  Also, a call in and another tale from the Bag of Too Many Things.   And we're one "Like" away on Facebook.  That means bonus episodes! Thanks for listening.  Roll dice. Kill monsters. Take their stuff. And have fun!

What can turn off a game before you even buy it, read it, or play it?  My big two things are character sheets and the community around the game. And I know this is a short episode but hey things are crazy and I'm trying to get back into some normal habits.  And it's a shorter episode than normal. But we're getting things back on track. And remember. Roll dice. Kill monsters. Take their stuff. And have fun. Thanks for listening

I missed last week but here I am back with another episode.  This time I'm talking about making monsters interesting. It doesn't take much and you don't have to make every one of them weird.  Because if everything is weird then nothing is weird. The top three things are tactics, personality and location. I also delve into the Druid in Eldritch Sorcery. Thanks for listening.  Remember. Roll Dice. Kill Monsters. Take Their Stuff. Have Fun. And Stay Safe!

I decided to use the Bonus Episodes as a Design Journal for my own little set of house rules which I call YARC (Yet Another Retro-Clone) and to spruce up my main campaign world, Zoong.  Heck, I may also do some rambles about my other projects.  Who knows? Remember. Roll Dice. Kill Monsters. Take Their Stuff. Have Fun. And Be Safe! Thanks

Yes, everything is crazy.  So here's a little update.  Busy with day job and doing my best to keep things going with the Podcast and Blog.  I just may do some at the desk ramble casts as Bonus Episodes.  We shall see. Stay safe out there.

This week I delve into the Boxed Text.  The bane of many adventures. Be inspired by it but don't get tied to it. You can even ignore it. And a very special call in. Plus, I also start on reading from Supplement III: Eldritch Wizardry.  There's some pretty good thoughts in the beginning of the book. 

A crazy idea. Let's redefine Grognard.  Not the old grumpy gamer but gamer who's about the game.  After the end of G+, people are more and more forming new communities and having a good time. There's enough division and negativity going around.  Plus where I get my organic gummy bears.  And I finish up on Supplement II: Blackmoor.

It's OK to use the same setting with different genres.  Just do the extra work to tweak it what you want to do.  Plus hey there was some powered armor in old D&D.  It ain't all Tolkien. Also, GM's Day is coming on March 4.  And the Swords & Wizardry Boxed Set Kickstarter is still going on but only for a few more days. And I got some new D&D socks.  Thanks for listening.

Hey, all those old-school games out there are mostly compatible. So go ahead and mix and match and make the game you want to play. There's nothing stopping you.   Also, Swords & Wizardry Appreciation Day is coming soon! Congrats to every one who did the Zine Quest.  And roll those dice.  Thanks for listening.

I actually get to play Dungeon Crawl Classics and had two characters survive the funnel.  Lord Bob and Mysterio. This week the Blight game is coming but I'm already thinking about the next campaign.  It may sound silly but Cthulhu Vs either Pirates or Cowboys.  I know strange.  Oddly enough, I'm thinking about hacking  Mini 6 for this or maybe Savage Worlds.  Or heck maybe even stick with good old D% system with some hacks. What do you think? Leave a message here or on the blog.

Let me tell about how much luck that Steve the Paladin had in our last session os Swords & Wizardry, and yet another thing that's different between old and new games. Plus some call-ins from Gothridge Manor and Chgowiz. Listen to their anchor casts.  Good Stuff. And a big shout out to Steve C's Dice Roll Zine No 3 Kickstarter. And I've updated the goals and tiers for the They Might Be Gazebos Patreon. 

I got a couple of pet peeves. So if you're publisher on Drivethru.  Please categorize your products accordingly. It's annoying. And here's another gaming confession. I dislike crafting when the PC's just sit around and make stuff, and domain play where they spend more time being bureaucrats then adventurers. Also, a long rant about the dumbest thing in Supplement 2: Black Moor. Plus I'm still really excited about a few Kickstarters. So check those out. Swords & Wizardry Boxed Set Hunters in Death The Phylactery And don't forget to check out the Patreon.  Something interesting is happening soon! Thanks for listening. Roll dice, kill monsters, take their stuff, and have fun!

Coming Soon!  The Kickstarter for the new Swords & Wizardry Boxed Set from Frog God Games. I'm excited.  And do a little rant on the Blight campaign, you won't believe what the Druid befriended. And I'm thinking more about old West RPG's. Thanks to Mark Hunt's Tall Tales and the Podcast Ain't Slayed Nobody. And I start reading from Supplement 2: Blackmoor. Hello, Monks and Assassins. Like this episode? Then check out the Patreon!

I'm all over the map on this one.  New 5e book is set in Critical Role's world. Meh. And long rant on minimalist games, missing games, and finding something to do. And a little shout out to Steve Cook's Dice Roll Zine.  And this week, I finish up reading Greyhawk: Supplement 1. Like this episode or others?  Then check out the They Might Be Gazebos Patreon.

Just started my Swords & Wizardry game in The Blight. Say hi to the new characters.  The story is just starting.  Big shout outs to for the Heroes Journey Kickstarter and starting this week Ain't Slayed Nobody, a Wild West Call of Cthulhu Actual Play Podcast.  Believe it or not, I actually got something done and released on Drivethru, the Gazebo Gazette Issue No 2. And of course the usual rants. And don't forget to check out the Patreon. 

Lot's is going on this week. The biggest news is that Issue 2 of Gazebo Gazette is out to Patrons and should be coming out on Drivethru soon. What else? I start my Swords & Wizardry campaign in The Blight this week.  And I've been having some real bad dice mojo in 5E. It's time to roll up another character. And possibly the most boring reading of Tomes of Ancient Knowledge. And don't forgot to check out the Patreon. Thanks for listening.

Happy New Year, dear listeners!  Hopefully, you're not hungover.  It's a new year and time for more attitude.  Thanks to everyone. Now roll initiative against the New Year.  Let's get this party started. "Take the Lead" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Like just about everyone else I start thinking about this year and plans for the next.  So give it listen and hear what's coming up.  But I'll give this clue, there's lots of shout outs to some folks producing cool stuff. Cool stuff this year goes to Old Skull Publishing (and his great games Sharp Swords & Sinister Spells, Dark Streets & Darker Secrets, Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells). Also Old Essentials from Necrotic Gnome wonderfully organized and easy to use take on BX D&D. Then there's Goodman Games. DCC Lankhmar. Hell yeah! And Frog God Games. Great Kickstarters like Tegel Manor and small print run Indiegogo campaigns for some neat adventures. And then there's Skeeter Green and his new entry into publishing. With that. Roll Dice. Kill Monsters. Take their stuff. And have fun!

We had a case of GM burnout in the gaming group so we're heading back to 5E with a fresh GM.  Time to make a new character.  So what should I play?  WOTC hasn't put our as many splat books as in the old days but there's still a lot of stuff.  And as far as DM's Guild goes. There's a lot of junk. I mean a whole lot of junk. Plus the usual rants and reading from the Ancient Tomes.  200 HD Monsters? 

 Don't over think it. Let the dice, the story, and the Player Characters determine what's important. And don't go into detail that you don't need to. Plus a call in from Gothridge Manor, I continue reading from Supplement I Greyhawk.  And Old School Essentials is  in the hands of the Kickstarter backers (like me) and available to general public now.

This episode is about keeping campaigns short. It avoids GM burn out and keeps things fresh.  It lets you play around with different games.  It lets other people take their turn in the GM seat.  All in all, it's something I dig.  I also have a thing about liking lots of different games and genres. So, there's the chance to play/run a more varied type of game. And do you have any idea how crazy the Holy Swords was in Original D&D? Wow. Plus, Old School Essentials is on its way! 

This time I go totally off the normal beaten track and talk about search engines and social media and that they're pretty much stacked against the little guy or the "outsider". Let's face it. Celebrity and controversy get more traction than content. So to heck with it. Time to do things your way.  Enjoy the doing and let the rest of it rot.    And a special shout out to The Happy Whisk and the usual features.  D&D Boot Camp and I continue reading from Greyhawk. "Take the Lead" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In case you haven't noticed the blog domain is updated!  And yes it's been a busy weekend but I've squeezed in an episode.  This week I talk about Super Hero RPG's and dang it they are tough to run.  I talk about some of the problems and the two best games that fight my tastes depending on what kind of campaign I want to run.   The top contenders are Supers: Revised Edition and Vigilante City.  Plus stayed  to the blog for a review Gangbusters BX Edition. What else?  I offer up a little wisdom to new DM's and rant about the "new" monsters from Supplement 1: Greyhawk.

This week is a little rant about Bodaks and how they changed. Plus in D&D Bootcamp: Wizard Vs Sorcerer Vs Warlock.  And the Cleric spells in Supplement 1 Greyhawk. Plus it's time to start decluttering around the house.  Join in on the fun! And if we get 50 "likes" on Facebook, that means Bonus Episodes for all. Thanks for listening.

An encounter should be more than just a PC's and monsters attacking each other.  Those some interesting terrain or environmental hazards into the mix.   Also, this episode the "new" cleric spells in Greyhawk and a little rant for beginners trying to play a magic-user. "Take the Lead" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Last episode ran really long so this one we're catching up.  We've the Session Summary and I forgot that damage from Clay Golems takes a 17th level Cleric to heal it. I like everybody else mentions Feast of Legends.  Talk about playing a Fighter in D&D Boot Camp.  Read from the original Greyhawk and the insanely powered 9th level Magic-User Spells.  And shout outs about The Egyptian Situation From Outer Time by Old Skull Games and a new Kickstarter by Elf Lair Games: Night Shift: Veterans of the Supernatural Wars.

I got call ins from Gothridge Manor and three podcast unboxings!  DCC Lankhmar.  Tegel Manor, and The Blight.  Give it a listen. All good stuff and so glad that I bought.  And heck I couldn't resist doing an unboxing video too.  You can check that out over at the fledgling Youtube channel.  Please subscribe over there. And if you liked this episode. Then you can subscribe on Anchor.fm or visit the Patreon. Take the Lead" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode, I go deep into opinionsville.  So why is fantasy the most popular genre for RPG's?  And there's the usual segments, a remarkably calm Labyrinth Lord game,  D&D Boot Camp, and reading from the Little Brown Books. Also, mentioned in this Episode, Bill Webb's Deck of Trick Tricks. Check it out on Indegogo. "Take the Lead" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This episode I channel my inner Glen Halstrom and talk about running mysteries in your game.  It isn't easy.  In D&D Boot Camp, what to do about jerks.  And from the Little Brown Books,  guess what spell you need snow for?  And remember. Not everybody likes the same pizza. Check out the interview with Matt Finch on the upcoming Swords & Wizardry Kickstarter And check out the They Might Be Gazebos Patreon. Thanks for listening. Take the Lead" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

It's all about mixing, matching, and melding the things you like into something grand.  Plus more advice for newbies and experienced players in D&D Boot Camp.   I start going over the 3rd Level Magic-User spells in Greyhawk.  Oh yeah.  And there's probably a Swords & Wizardry Kickstarter in the future. Don't forget you can support us on Anchor.fm or over on Patreon. Intro Music: "Take the Lead" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Erik Tenkar and Gothridge Manor have already talked about this stuff. Since I'm preparing to run The Blight by Frog God Games, I figured it's time I share my initial thoughts. Don't fear the city. Be ready to improvise. And too many details will just bog you down. Plus the usual features. D&D Boot Camp and Reading from the Ancient Tomes.  Roll dice, kill monsters, take their stuff, and have fun. If you like this episode please visit The Patreon.  "Take the Lead" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This episode I continue my rant on Swords & Wizardry making it more palatable to those who are used the current editions of the game.  Plus your usual favorites!  D&D Boot Camp: What Should A New Player Play?; and  Readings from the Ancient Tomes and talking about Supplement 1: Greyhawk and the birth of variable weapon damage and Hit Dice!  Thanks for listening.  Please check out the Patreon if you feel so inclined. "Take the Lead" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This episode I rekindle my love for Swords & Wizardry.  I've talked that much about it recently but then there was an epiphany.  It makes the perfect game as a gateway and bridge between the old-school games and the current editions.  You can check out more about Swords & Wizardry at Frog God Games.  For some fun listening check out the Swords & Misery Podcast for some actual play. And check out Matt Finch's Patreon too. This episode also debuts a new segment, D&D Boot Camp. Advice and wisdom to new players and game masters. And as usual there's the reading from the original old books. And you can support the podcast too. You can subscribe or join the Patreon. Intro Music: "Take the Lead" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The landscape has changed. D&D is mainstream. Social media networks go away (looking at you G+). And some mystic cabal appoints the influencers. What's the common gamer to do?  Play it your way.   I know I have a "plan".  It's time to go Punk. And here's the link to the old blog post mentioned in this episode. Also, it's that time of year that I start setting the goals for next year so I took as a prefect time to put a new coat of paint on the podcast.  We have music and even a few bumpers.  So if you're a new listener start here. We've worked out a lot of kinks  Intro Music: "Take the Lead" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

I travel back in time and talk about world building again.  This time it's all about the player characters.  Go ahead and mess around with Races & Classes and all that player facing stuff.  And we've got a call-in from The Yawning Owlbear himself. Thanks, Mark.

In this episode, I rant about being yourself and and finding your own voice whether it be in blogging, gaming, or podcasting.   Plus updates and what's been going on, mysterious hints about what's on the way, and more readings from the Little Brown Books of D&D. This week it's the example of play.

This week is a little rant on players doing prep.  It's not just the DM folks.  You should do some prep too.  Some fun from last week's session of Labyrinth Lord. If you find a Ring of Wishes. Just walk away.  And an intro for Volume 3 of the Little Brown Books.  And a follow up on last week's quest for some actual play podcasts.  Check out Not Another D&D Podcast and Swords & Misery

I've got shout to Happy Whisk and emails from the Yawning Owlbear.  And I go off on  a little rant on actual play podcasts and streams.  And I finish up on Volume 2: Monsters & Treasures of the Little Brown Books.

More rants about gaming.  Previously, I talked about how adventures are guidelines. Guess what?  They are setting too.  And all the usual features.  What been happening around my game table and more readings from the Little Brown Books.

Mark Wallring of The Yawning Owlbear Anchorcast sent in an email on lethality in 5E so I rant more on that.  It's about system mastery.  I got lots of goodies this weekend.  Kickstarters are starting to come in and I got some cool stuff. And as usual even more readings from the Little Brown Books. Yep, still on Monsters & Treasure.