
Plundergrounds
By Ray Otus
Ray Otus is a tabletop role-playing gamer, artist, writer, and designer. Plundergrounds is about role playing games and related geekery. Show notes archive at plundergrounds.com.


340 Elusiveness of Story, Toxic (?) Nostalgia
Opening theme by Logan Howard of Sword Breaker
Call-ins from Jason of the Nerd's RPG Variety Podcast
Spikepit
Runeslinger of Casting Shadows
Psychobilly
The Cramps, The Meteors, Dai Kaiju, Khrangbin, Vivisectors, HoliznaCC0, Mystery Mammal, Nova's The Crusher ("Do the Hammerlock")
Outland (1981), not Outlander!
Twin Peaks
Nicole Williamson's rendition of The Hobbit
The Wind in the Willows stop-motion
Nostalgia, life stories, coherence
Heraclitus said "No man ever steps in the same river twice. For it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man."
Glory Days by the Boss
Mike Wyatt - Against the 70s
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Hong Kong toys - inspirations for Rust Monster, Owlbear, etc.
3-D Owlbear
When We Were Wizards podcast - rise and fall of EGG
Toy Soldiers blog on Dragonriders of Styx
Blog post on HD > hp
Taika Watiti, What We Do in the Shadows, Jojo Rabbit
Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammet (influenced Yojimbo, Fistful of Dollars)
Thor Wake the Mangog by Lee/Kirby, Simonson
Dragonriders of Styx Demons
Phil Tippet Mad Dreams and Monsters
Rayotus.com
Closing music is Moth Man by Apache Tomcat
39:46
August 17, 2022

339 Face Folio and Call-Ins
Plundergrounds opening theme by Logan Howard of Sword Breaker
Back Face Folio by Goblin's Henchman
Call-ins from:
Jason of the Nerd's RPG Variety Cast
Runeslinger, aka , of Casting Shadows
Joe of Hindsightless
Closing is Vodka and Beer by the Vivisectors
42:39
August 15, 2022

338 My Hobby Entry Story
Plundergrounds opening theme by Logan Howard of Sword Breaker
I wax nostalgic about stories and fables (Mother West Wind, Jack and the Giant Killer, Beowulf, Gilgamesh), board and card games (Carrier Strike, Payday, Auto Dealer, Masterpiece, Mastermind, Rook, Dutch Blitz, Risk, Inventors, Stop Thief), reading (The Hobbit, A Wizard of Earthsea, Dragonriders of Pern, Heinlein's juvenile works, Choose Your Own Adventure, The Science Fiction Book Club), 1977 (Star Wars, The Hobbit cartoon, Atari 2600, Steely Dan, Space Mountain, Roots, the blizzard, the energy crisis), 1978 (D&D Holmes Basic, Advanced D&D, Melee and Wizard, Ogre, another blizzard!, Pete Rose's 3,000th hit, WKRP, Bob Crane's murder, the Jonestown massacre, The Star Wars Holiday Special, Alladin's Castle, Omni magazine), 1919 (the TI-99/4a, moving houses, Voyager and Pioneer 11, Three Mile Island, Disco Demolition, Star Trek the Motion Picture, the Iran Hostage Crisis, Jimmy Carter attacked by a swamp rabbit, and Traveller).
Closing music is Cemetery Dance by the Vivisectors
26:07
August 12, 2022

336 World-Building Genre Distinctions and First RPG Experiences
Plundergrounds opening theme by Logan Howard of Sword Breaker
Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
Science Fiction Book Review Podcast
Ten Very Big Books Podcast (Malazan specific)
The Discord Conversation
The Chronicles of Amber
Agartta City of Runes, Season 1
Shadowdark (recently updated), Old School Essentials, The Black Hack
Closing: Leopard Girl by The Vivisectors
36:19
August 02, 2022

335 More Call-Ins! Ending in a Dangerous Ramble about Problematic Fiction
Opening theme by Logan Howard of Sword Breaker
Call-in from Aron Clark of On the Tabletop
Call-ins from Jason of the Nerd's RPG Variety Cast
Warlock! and Troika!
Nope (movie, 2022), Space 1999
Monthly podcast prompt (downloadable mp3): Rufus Asks - Favorite Fantasy Fight?
Call-in from Joe Richter of Hindsightless
Gardens of the Moon: Book One of The Malazan Book of the Fallen
Ramble: We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, The Fantasy Trip, Lovecraft (The White Ape or Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and his Family, Misspent Youth, Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles (Way in the Middle of the Air), MAR Barker, author of Empire of the Petal Throne, a nazi -- I never said it but I meant to mention his War of Wizards, Ben Riggs Slaying the Dragon (sales figures), Game Wizards, When We Were Wizards podcast with Adam Turner and Paul Stormberg, is Oriental a bad word?
Into the Odd by Chris McDowall, Vaults of Vaarn by Leo Hunt, Bones Deep by David Schirduan
Closing music is Silky by Alex Figueira
44:47
July 26, 2022

334 Call-ins on Combat Sequence, Mad Libs, Warlock, and More
Opening theme by Logan Howard of Sword Breaker
Call-in from Jason of the Nerd's RPG Variety Cast
Call-in from Chris Shorb
Call-in from Joe Richter of Hindightless
Call-in from Cody Mazza of the No Save for You! podcast
The Clerics Wear Ringmail podcast
Burning Wheel
Geiger Counter by Jonathan Walton
Warpstar!, Warlock!'s spacey cousin
Closing music is 37 ohmperios by Rolemusic
Big thanks to my Campaigners!
My links
32:04
July 22, 2022

333 Warlock!
Opening Theme by Logan Howard
Warlock! by Fire Ruby Designs
Ray Otus
Closing music is Dance til You Die by HolizinaCC0
31:27
July 20, 2022

332 Before Fire and the ICRPG Oath
Before Fire by James Feore
Index Card RPG (ICRPG) by Runehammer Games
rayotus.com
Producers A-L
Aljoscha Beyer
Aron Clark
Asbjørn Flø
Beckett at Weird Realms
Brian Oldfield
Brian T Bullard
Christopher Thompson
D.C.
David Dorward
Dennis Gaens
Diederik van Arkel
FelTK
Gherhartd Sildoenfein
James Knight
James West
Jeffrey Jones
Jessalynn
Joaquín Aguirrezabalaga
John Taber
Joshua Skelton
Kyle Hodnett
Leckie
Leonard Maradan
Love Dahlgren
30:39
July 15, 2022

331: Sequencing Combat for Fun
Opening theme by Logan Howard, accompanied by Rufus!
Call-in: Cody Mazza, No Save For You
Call-in: Menion, Confessions of a Wee Timorous Bushi
Call-in: Daniel Norton, Bandit's Keep
Follow up to podcast on skill checks: March 11 Skill Rolls in Classic D&D
Quick graph showing d20, 3d6 and d100 skill tests compared to 2-in-6 chance, Viridian Scroll
"Modern Traditional Initiative"
Index Card RPG Master Edition by Modiphius Entertainment
"Classic Traditional Initiative"
Sequence as given in Old School Essentials
Comment from Philotomy's Musings
Orchestrating turns in detail
Housekeeping and Producer Roll Call
Plundergrounds Patreon
rayotus.com
Closing music NPC Theme by Holzina
48:50
July 08, 2022

330 Designing a Dungeon in a Zettelkasten
Opening Theme by Logan Howard
What is a Zettelkasten?
Obsidian
Control Panel Layout in the OSR
Choose Your Own Adventure
Fighting Fantasy
Interactive Fiction
Jaquaying the Dungeon
Retro copies The Dark Tower
"Dungeon"
"Link Distance"
"Room" / Page / Numbered Location
Blogs on Tape
Should We Start Numbering Hallways On Our Maps? - Audio
Should We Start Numbering Hallways On Our Maps? - Post
See my work
End Music is Hard Mode by HoliznaCC0
rayotus.com
35:41
June 23, 2022

329 Call-Ins, Diagesis, Itras By, etc.
Opening Theme by Logan Howard
Cody from No Save For You
BJ of Arcane Alienist
Goblin's Henchman
Diagesis
Archipelago
Itras By
Plundergrounds Patreon
Closing Music is Demomiculator by Hobotek
31:57
June 17, 2022

328 Gygax 75 with DuvelmanDice
Opening theme by Logan Howard
Duvelman Dice
Get a copy of The Gygax 75 Challenge
Affinity products
Life After People
Just Use Bears / Everything Is a Bear
Maze Rats
Torchbearer
30 Minute Dungeons
Two Week Megadungeon
Blogs on Tape
Midjourney AI
Cowspiders and Dropbears
Desiccated Temple of Locha
Me
Out music is Benthic by Mystery Mammal
49:15
June 14, 2022

327 Gygax 75 with SageDaMage
Opening theme by Logan Howard
Get a copy of The Gygax 75 Challenge
World of Dungeons by John Harper
Sorcerer & Sword by Ron Edwards
Dictionary of Mu by Judd Karlman
Perilous Wilds / Freebooters on the Frontier
Hex Kit by Cone of Negative Energy
Thomas No's Strange Hex Tiles
SageDaMage's Wasted Potential zine
My Gygax 75 work: week 1, week 2
Closing Music is Friendly Fire by Mystery Mammal
46:46
June 10, 2022

326 White Whale Games & Gygax 75 again!
Opening theme by Logan Howard
Andrew Walter's Ferverax and the Valley of Gleam
Joe from Hindsightless!
Wayne Peacock talks DCC (he also makes zines!)
Get a copy of The Gygax 75 Challenge
Jump into the Cauldron, or just look at week 1 of the Gygax 75 Challenge entries (my week 1 work is there or you can see it on my Patreon)
Closing Music is Life on Laserdisc by Mystery Mammal
28:18
June 07, 2022

325 Blorb Principles & F-U Design
Opening theme by Logan Howard
Andrew Walter
Cockatrice Nuggets
Goblin's Henchmen
Blorb Principles - original post by Sandra Snan
Blorb Principles - recap by technoskald
F**k You Design - original post
Rules with Gaps - a response to F**k You Design
Cairn by Yochai Gal
The Super Hack by Simon Burley
Maze Rats by Ben Milton
Closing Music is Innuendo 64 by Mystery Mammal
Tired of hearing crappy audio? Anyone want to help me with my mic issues? Contact me ... my gmail is just my name all run together, no caps.
40:02
June 01, 2022

324: What's a Zettelkasten?
Opening theme by Logan Howard
Niklas Luhmann
Zotero
Zettelkasten, Archive
Typora
Obsidian
Notion
Closing Music is Dog on a Rocket by Mystery Mammal
48:45
May 20, 2022

323: Call-ins + Creative Rubrics & Check-ins
Opening theme by Logan Howard
Gygax 75 mentioned on Questing Beast
Call in from Chris Schorb about digital vs. physical media
Call in from Rich Fraser of Cockatrice Nuggets about organizing digital media
Software: Calibre, Name Mangler
Goblin's Henchman recommends Blake's Seven, check out his Face Folio!
Cody of No Save for You on the magic of dice
Judd Karlman's creative rubric and Daydreaming about Dragons
Full Light, Full Steam by Josh Roby
Reading: The Godwhale by TJ Bass and Dracula in "real time" - sign up by May 3rd
Sound clips from Voltron and Land of the Lost
Writing (rewriting) Plundergrounds the Collected Edition (here are the individual DW zines)
Closing Music is Dog on a Rocket by Mystery Mammal
40:52
May 16, 2022

322 A Weekend with the Doctors (and bonus? dad jokes)
Opening theme by Logan Howard
Dr. Strange: .... multiverse ... something ... madness something something
Dr. Who: The Keys of Marinus
Read Dracula in "real time" - sign up by May 3rd
Closing Music is Dog on a Rocket by Mystery Mammal
30:04
May 09, 2022

321 Call Ins and Tons of Topics
Opening theme by Logan Howard
Call-ins from Dennis, Jason
Rogue Scroll and Swords without Master by Epidiah Ravachol (See also Dread and Wolfspell)
Talrand, Sky Summoner and the Master of Waves
VTT Token Maker and Owlbear Rodeo
Read Dracula in "real time" - sign up by May 3rd
Lots of rambling without links: First Men in the Moon, The Shining, Dracula, the Parker series by Richard Stark (pen name for Donald Westlake), Sortilege and fortune telling, Bible tales, teaching a board game class, Mancala, OSE, Canterbury Tales, "Eternal Atlanteans", The Chronicles of Amber ...
Closing Music is Industrial Fights & Magic by Mystery Mammal
47:38
May 06, 2022

320 Mastodon, Pocket Dice, Magic Cubing
Opening theme by Logan Howard
Three Dice to Rule them All
Places to buy more (!) dice: d20Collective, Kraken Dice, Roll4Initiative
Mastodon
Perl
Results from Alex Schroeder's nutty and awesome Hex Describe Perl generator! (link to generator at bottom, it takes a bit of time to run)
Magic the Gathering Cubes: What is a Cube?, What is a Battle Box?, The Pauper Cube, a Budget Battle Box (costs about $35 all-in), Winston Draft, Grid Draft
Read Dracula in "real time" - sign up by May 3rd
Closing Music is Industrial Fights & Magic by Mystery Mammal
46:54
May 02, 2022

319 Lowlife and Forking Paths
Opening theme by Logan Howard
Lowlife by Sam Sorenson
Forking Paths
Hunters in the Snow by Peter Bruegel the Elder
Harlot's Progress/Rake's Progress by William Hogarth
The Fall of Icarus (also by Bruegel!)
Closing Music is The Situationists... by Fucked Up Beats
31:46
April 22, 2022

318 Blood Heist
Opening theme by Logan Howard
Blood Heist by Leo Hunt and Lewis Garvey
The original Kickstarter
From Spear Witch (US)
From Rook's Press (UK)
Music to heist by
Vaults of Vaarn (digital)
Closing Music is Videogames with Your Brother by Mystery Mammal
29:52
April 21, 2022

317 A Handful of Troika Zines
Opening theme by Logan Howard
Kriegsmesser by Gregor Vuga ($8 digital)
Aetherjack's Almanac by Ian Woolley ($24 .... ?!)
The Cerulean Curtain by Mark Conway ($5 digital)
Thousand Pound Canvas by Mark Conway ($3 digital)
Closing Music is Unauthorized Forms of Space Propulsion by Mystery Mammal
21:40
April 20, 2022

316 Dethroners
Opening Theme by Logan Howard
Dethroners from Phantom Mill Games
Closing Music is Frisky Business by Mystery Mammal
16:27
April 19, 2022

315 Gary Con XIV The Final Lap
Opening Theme by Logan Howard of Swordbreaker
Chaosium's Cities book
Escape from Skullcano Island, Levi Combs, Planet X Games
Black Oak Workshop
The Adventurer's Almanac, Michael Curtis
ShadowDark, Kelsey Dionne
Cursed Scroll Zine
The Hideous Halls of Mugdulblub
The rest of this week, the zine-a-day challenge?
Call ins from Jason of the Nerd's RPG Variety Cast and Colin Green of Spikepit
Closing music is Good Grief by Mystery Mammal
34:28
April 18, 2022

314 Gary Con XIV Part 3
Opening music by Logan Howard
Dragonlance, the Board Game
Dave Arneson
Fight in the Skies
Secrets of Blackmoor
Wizard Funk 3
End music by Mystery Mammal
38:17
April 08, 2022

313 Gary Con XIV part 2
Theme by Logan Howard of Swordbreaker
Tales from the Smoking Wyrm
Lou Zocchi
En Garde!
Steve Winter
The Chop House
Ultimate Dinosaur Fighting
End Music by Mystery Mammal
40:22
April 04, 2022

312 Gary Con XIV part 1
Yochai Gal, Cairn
TC's Rockets
At Ease Games
Off the Shelf
The Palace of Unquiet Repose by Prince of Nothing
Desert Moon of Karth by Joel Hines
Shadowdark RPG by Kelsey Dionne
Norse Foundry
SPI War of the Ring (1977)
Ultimate Dinosaur Fighting
Giordano's
46:58
March 31, 2022

311 Skill Rolls in Classic D&D: Methods Compared
Logan Howard of Swordbreaker sings the opening theme
Jason of the Nerd's RPG Variety Podcast says "% under ability"
Menion aka Rob of Confessions of a Wee Timorous Bushi says "3d6 or more, roll under ability"
Goblin's Henchman talks about the "genius roll" of "3d6 or more, roll under ability" - his blog article is here.
Andrew Walter says "x in 6" but considering ability in setting difficulty
Daniel of Bandit's Keep says "for things anyone can try, look to other mechanics; for special skills don't allow non-specialized characters to roll"
(Quote marks in notes denote my paraphrasing, not actual quotes. Several call-in messages were omitted.)
The Viridian Scroll
Alex Schroeder of Halberds and Helmets tunes us out.
24:37
March 11, 2022

310 Learning to Love OSE
Joe from Hindsightless (podcast)!
Old School Essentials
What does Granular mean?
Is Rejigger a bad word?
Childcraft: The Magic of Words
Goblin's Henchmen executes Wolfram's Theorem (blog)!
Halberds & Helmets (podcast)
Nerd's RPG Variety Podcast
Where the Buffalo Roam
Opening music by Logan Howard. Closing music by Alex Schroeder.
35:36
March 07, 2022

309 Four Color Hexes and The Black Sword Hack
Wolfram's Theorem
The Black Sword Hack
Fleaux!
Halberds and Helmets
Fantasic Fights
40:03
March 04, 2022

308b Birthday plans, Minecraft follow up calls, the gift of SIGHT!
Music by Logan Howard of Sword Breaker. Call-ins from other podcasters: Joe of Hindsightless, Jason of the Nerd's RPG Variety Podcast, BJ from the Arcane Alienist, and Rich Fraser of Cockatrice Nuggets.
16:50
November 09, 2021

308 Everything I know about D&D I learned from Minecraft? Call-Ins. Creative Writing Tools.
This is a long one. Call-ins include: Karl of The GMologist Presents, Chris Shorb, BJ the Arcane Alienist, and Cody Mazza of No Save for You! Promised links: John Oak Dalton, my Itch.io Page, where you will find free games like The Oracle and Sorcerers & Sellswords, Lasers & Feelings, CRGE, Lester Dent's pulp fiction generator in the Thrilling Tales Omnibus.
56:56
November 05, 2021

307 Not a Place of Honor, Valley of the Manticore
Through the Valley of the Manticore KS. Not a Place of Honor. La Planète Sauvage. Opening closing jingles by Alex Schroeder of Halberds & Helmets.
29:50
November 02, 2021

306 Carcass Crawler 1
A review of Carcass Crawler issue 1, from Gavin Norman's Old School Essentials line. Opening jingle by Alex Schroeder of the Halberds & Helmets podcast
29:47
September 20, 2021

305b Call-ins, Magic Forests, Hermeneutics, Extensibility, Open Systems, Narrative Combat
Karl of The GMologist Presents calls us about Rush. I talk about their Hemispheres and 2112 albums, as well as the songs Rivendell and The Trees. I talk about hermeneutics, and Noam Chomsky on extensibility, and definitions of role-playing that appear in Peterson's Playing at the World and Elusive Shift books. I also visited some sequoias recently!
32:32
September 17, 2021

305 Rush, Hindsightless, Robservations
Cinema Strangiato (the Rush "movie" I mentioned), the Hindsightless podcast with Joe Richter, Robservations with Rob Liefeld.
28:37
September 10, 2021

304 Codex R
This week I'm having a look at Codex R by Roque Romero and Eric K. Hill. Also mentioned: Fantastic Planet and Itras By. Chiptune by Alex Schroeder of the Halberds & Helmets podcast.
17:31
August 27, 2021

303 In the Shadow of Tower Silver Axe
Looking at In the Shadow of Tower Silver Axe with Evil Jeff of the Minions and Musings podcast. Chiptune by Alex Schroeder of the Halberds & Helmets podcast.
32:07
August 23, 2021

301b Bonus Content - What is a Zine w/Jason
Guest is Jason from the Nerd's RPG Variety Podcast. Chiptune by Alex Schroeder of the Halberds & Helmets podcast.
15:23
August 13, 2021

302 Hex Drive
Hex Drive by Micah Anderson is available at Rook's Press or as a PDF through itch.io. Opening jingle by Alex Schroeder of the Halberds & Helmets podcast.
14:47
August 11, 2021

301 Siege
• SIEGE: Pocket Warfare, a modular battle-defense system to use with your RPGs created by BiteSizedGaming
• Co-host Jason from the Nerd's RPG Variety Podcast.
• Chiptune by Alex Schroeder of the Halberds & Helmets podcast.
25:35
August 05, 2021

164 Revisiting Logic in Fantasy
I talk about over and under "grounding" fiction in role-playing. I also shill two amazing podcast episodes, Daydreaming About Dragons 69 and Spikepit 333.
15:02
December 16, 2020

163 Guide to Player Greatness?
I'm back after a hiatus, partly thanks to a challenge thrown out there by Judd Karlman of Daydreaming About Dragons. I'm rolling a d20 for topics this season. Today is #12, one submitted by (I think) Logan Howard of Swordbreaker: If you were tasked with training players for greatness, what steps would you take? In response I talk about developing self-awareness through a player inventory. (Partly inspired by Rob C's confessional on Down in a Heap.) I then talk about developing a table awareness and finally putting in the hours at the table.
17:37
December 13, 2020

161 More on Spell Effects and Kriegsspiel
This episode features some great call ins from Judd of Daydreaming About Dragons and Joe of the Hindsightless podcasts. I spend a bit of time talking about engaging with fiction and projecting one's self into fictional worlds. Then Barney of Loco Ludus calls in to talk Kriegsspiel and cultural stereotypes. I mention Playing At the World, an amazing Kriegsspiel table, David Wesley, the Bruanstein game, Strategos.
27:56
October 02, 2020

160 Spell Effects and Free Kriegspiel
Part 1: thoughts on adjudicating in-game effects literally or adjusting them to the fiction. Part 2: thoughts on the Free Kriegspiel Revolution. Stuff mentioned: Old School Essentials, The Glatisant.
25:23
September 24, 2020

159 Reading Corner - Best of SF
Readings from the foreword to The Best of Science Fiction, an anthology from 1946. Edited by Groff Conklin, published by Crown.
11:08
September 15, 2020

158 Tell Me About Your Character w/JJ
JJ and I talk about character arcs from generation to transformation. The context is a 12 session campaign of the Marvel Superhero Adventure Game with 1 GM and 4 players. We cover topics like card-based mechanics, "comic book frame narrative," switching gears from physical to digital play, fictional positioning, super hero style transformations, etc.
01:02:50
September 10, 2020

157 Jack Kirby's Eternals
I give an overview of Jack Kirby's Eternals as an RPG setting. Kirby's Kids, The Eternals by Jack Kirby, The Eternals by Neil Gaiman, New Gods by Jack Kirby, Chariots of the Gods by Erich Von Daniken.
09:57
September 03, 2020

156 Ride On #RPGaDay2020
The last five words of #RPGaDay2020: Favour, Close, Ride, Portal, Experience. Things mentioned: Old School Essentials, D&D 5e, Marvel Superhero Adventure Game, Rakka's Raiders (in the Plundergrounds Zine bundle), Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Dungeon World.
14:43
August 29, 2020

155 I Can't Drive 55
An interesting idea I had, and a kind of fun mini-game, for generating old school D&D stats. Also a bit of life advice about not feeding negativity.
14:37
August 27, 2020

154 Not So Rare #RPGaDay2020
Stream-of-consciousness riffing on the words Rare, Edge, Humor, Lever, and Strange. Things mentioned: Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Over the Edge, The Great Slow Kings by Roger Zelazny.
14:45
August 23, 2020

153 Listener Call-ins and Who Decides How the World Works?
Call-ins from Evil Jeff of Minions and Musings and Jason of the Nerd's RPG Variety Podcast. Milestone XP in Old School Essentials (episode, spreadsheet). Cultural touchstones; Judd on "knife fights in space." Sorcerers & Sellswords. Tiger and Del. Spikepit, Puddleglum, Innsmouth Look, Mike Myers' Canada. Polaris by Ben Lehman.
20:41
August 20, 2020

152 Framed! #RPGaDay2020
The who, what, when, where, and why of framing scenes. Giving dramatic moments space. Finding comfort in rpg prep. Getting past the "meet at the inn" moment. The mythical nature of towers. Clues for investigation shouldn't be subtle, and sometimes it's fun to investigate without purpose. Push was a cool movie and I wrote a game about it that worked on the "loner" character problem. Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came! Librivox - etext.
19:38
August 19, 2020

151 Shades of #RPGaDay2020
#RPGaDay2020 continues. Sorry about the audio issues! Shade - don't throw it! Light - Safer Fantasy Crafting says 'rules light is both Kindergarten and Ph.D. role-playing.' Want - to not want! Old School Essentials Advanced and Dicey Times. Stack - people like to stack things, designs should give gamers things to stack. Messages - leave your characters meaningful in-world messages! Rest - is unsatisfying if it is simply a reset mechanic. Make them into scenes? Banner - people love to show their allegiances, so characters/NPCs in game worlds should have lots of banners, badges of office, patches, etc. Gygax 75 challenge podcasts and booklet.
14:49
August 08, 2020

150 The Beginning of #RPGaDay2020
I'm a big fat cheater when it comes to the #RPGaDay2020 challenge. Though I'm supposed to talk about one word each day, I instead lump them all together for the week. So here are the first seven words. I talk about "Beginning" a lot, and then do quick hits on the other six: change, thread, vision, tribute, forest, couple. Opening clip is from the movie Dune. Games mentioned: Ogre, Melee, Wizard, Death Test, D&D Holmes Basic, Traveller, Oracle, Prime Time Adventures, Microscope. Other stuff: Star Wars: A New Hope, Lord of the Rings, the Science Fiction Book Club, A Wizard of Earthsea, The Dragonriders of Pern, Midnight's Lair (defunct podcast), Merlin, Aladdin's Castle, Alien (movie), TI-994a. My free games are found at rayotus.itch.io.
23:44
August 03, 2020

149 Milestone XP in OSE and Call-Ins
In this episode I talk about using milestone XP in OSE D&D without losing the particular feel of the different speeds of class progression. The referenced spreadsheet is available in the notes for this show. Call-ins are from Jason of the Nerds RPG Variety Podcast, John Alan Large of RDDRPG, Paul Unslaked of the OtakuGeneration podcast, and Lieren from Updates from the Middle of Nowhere. Call-in topics are spell books, Collaborative NPCs, GM crash, The Score - a WIP PbtA game about anime sports. Games mentioned Old School Essentials, Holmes Basic D&D, My Life with Master, Misspent Youth, The Score (not yet available).
23:32
July 30, 2020

148 Sorcerers & Sellswords with Spikepit
I talk with Colin Green of the Spikepit podcast about Sorcerers & Sellswords (a hack of John Harper's Lasers & Feelings). Show notes at plundergrounds.com.
52:39
July 28, 2020

147 Revisiting Rulebooks
Do you really know the rules, or do you just think you do? In this episode I talk about the value of revisiting rulebooks after actual play to focus one's understanding of the game you are playing. John Alan Large of the Red Dice Diaries podcast gets me started by calling in to talk Old School Essentials.
22:32
July 17, 2020

146 Worlds within Worlds
I imagine the spell Fog Hammer and talk about The Ghost City, a setting-within-a-setting for my Old School Essentials game. I mention Ramanan's character generator for Ben Milton's Maze Rats, Jonathan Harper's Ghost/Echo, China Mieville's The City & The City, Fred Hicks' Don't Rest Your Head, Itras By, and H. G. Wells' The Door in the Wall. Encounter table at www.plundergrounds.com.
20:32
July 15, 2020

145 OSE Combat Sequence Simplified
Show notes at https://plundergrounds.blogspot.com.
19:06
July 08, 2020

141 World Building (+) Discussion
Show notes at https://plundergrounds.blogspot.com.
44:19
June 23, 2020

140 Problematic Works, High Crusade, Fallible Fiend
Show notes at https://plundergrounds.blogspot.com.
15:32
June 15, 2020

137 Chaos vs. Law, Leaky Vessels, Rungood, etc.
Show notes at https://plundergrounds.blogspot.com.
27:31
May 21, 2020

136: Catching Up
Show notes at https://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Theme song by Logan Howard, the Sword Breaker. Joe from Hindsightless, Cards in RPGs, Space Kings, Lonely Adventurer, Gygax 75 challenge, Matterguffins, Moorcock's Swords Trilogy (Corum), OSE GM Screen and Player's Rules Tome, Gaming & BS + Jason Hobbs on Low Fantasy Gaming, Judd Karlman's Daydreaming About Dragons, D&D Ability Questions, Jeff Collyer's Tome of All Dooms, Ironsworn the RPG.
21:01
May 15, 2020

135 Bringing the Tactile to the Virtual
Show notes at https://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Theme song by Logan Howard, the Sword Breaker.
12:17
May 07, 2020

134 It's All in the Cards
Shout out to Angus of Kirby's Kids for the topic suggestion! Show notes at https://plundergrounds.blogspot.com.
14:10
May 05, 2020

133 Roses & Thorns
Show notes at https://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Editing by Aonghais of the Kirby's Kids podcast. Show them by Logan Howard.
24:07
April 29, 2020

132 The Oracle
Show notes at http://www.plundergrounds.com. Games at https://rayotus.itch.io. Theme song by Logan Howard.
19:41
April 28, 2020

131 Gygax 75 Week 5
Show notes at http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Theme song by Logan Howard, performed by Lu Quade.
17:15
April 24, 2020

130 Gygax 75 Week 4
Show notes at http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Theme song by Logan Howard, performed by Lu Quade.
30:08
April 23, 2020

129 Supers Session Zero
Show notes at http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Editing help from Angus of the Kirby's Kids podcast!
39:03
April 21, 2020

128 A Pale of Air and Other Things
Show notes at https://plundergrounds.blogspot.com.
22:54
April 18, 2020

127 El Cid with Aonghais of Kirby's Kids
Great show notes and a few visuals at https://www.kirbyskids.com/2020/04/rays-rarities-eerie-presents-el-cid.html.
34:04
April 01, 2020

123 Awful Green Things
Show notes to follow at http://Plundergrounds.blogspot.com.
53:33
February 20, 2020

122 Grab Bag Part 2:
Shownotes and links at http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com.
55:36
February 12, 2020

121 Grab Bag part 1: D&D 5e, Getting Around, Zine Quest 2
Shownotes and links at http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com.
25:22
February 09, 2020

120 Calls - Into the Earth, Red Planet, Crawl Solo
Notes to follow at Plundergrounds.blogspot.com
24:09
January 24, 2020

119 Crawl Solo!
Full show notes at plundergrounds.com. Leave me a message! Theme by Logan Howard of Swordbreaker.
24:03
January 19, 2020

118 The Angry Red Method
Show notes at http://www.plundergrounds.com. Did you know you can leave a voice message? Theme song by Logan Howard of the Sword Breaker podcast! Tags: Science Fiction, Movie, Mars, Monsters, Martians, Session Design, Dungeon Crawl Classics. Daniel Fowler call about stealing from bad movies. Conan the Destroyer. Alien Resurrection. Matt Covil on genius. The Angry Red Planet, 1959. Cast: Gerald Mohr: Ace Pilot, Man's Man; Nora Hayden: Biologist, Femme Fatale; Les Treymane: Professorial Dude; Jack Krushen: Grease Monkey/Security; Directed by Ib Melchior and Sidney Pink. Reptilicus, 1961. Applying the "red filter."
15:54
January 07, 2020

117 Hidden Shrine of Space 1999
Show notes at http://www.plundergrounds.com. Did you know you can leave a voice message?
47:34
December 29, 2019

116 Gygax 1975 Challenge Week 3
Show notes at http://www.plundergrounds.com. Did you know you can leave a voice message?
39:03
December 17, 2019

115 Campfire Stories and Tiger and Del
Show notes at http://www.plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Did you know you can leave a voice message? Theme song by Logan Howard of the Sword Breaker podcast!
21:28
December 04, 2019

114 Fighting Fantasy + Call-Ins
Show notes at http://www.plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Did you know you can leave a voice message? Theme song by Logan Howard of the Sword Breaker podcast!
48:36
December 03, 2019

113 Into the Earth (Again), Wm Blake, Callins
Show notes at http://www.plundergrounds.com. Did you know you can leave a voice message?
01:03:48
November 22, 2019

112 Into the Earth, AD&D vs. BX
Show notes at http://www.plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Did you know you can leave a voice message? Theme song by Logan Howard of the Sword Breaker podcast!
36:28
November 19, 2019

111 B-Movies and Call-Ins
Show notes at http://www.plundergrounds.com. Did you know you can leave a voice message? Theme song by Logan Howard of the Sword Breaker podcast!
36:56
November 08, 2019

110 Anchorites Write Games!
Show notes at http://www.plundergrounds.com. Did you know you can leave a voice message? Theme song by Logan Howard of the Sword Breaker podcast! Arneson theme by T. J. Drennon.
37:46
October 31, 2019

109 Why Games Go Funny
Show notes at http://www.plundergrounds.com. Did you know you can leave a voice message? Theme song by Logan Howard of the Sword Breaker podcast!
17:18
October 28, 2019

108 Of Gods and Iron
Show notes at http://www.plundergrounds.com. Did you know you can leave a voice message? Theme song by Logan Howard of the Sword Breaker podcast!
22:57
October 25, 2019

107 Gygax 1975 Challenge Week 2
Show notes at http://www.plundergrounds.com. Did you know you can leave a voice message?
34:18
October 23, 2019

106 Rules and Rulings Call-Ins
Show notes at http://www.plundergrounds.com. Did you know you can leave a voice message?
18:59
October 22, 2019

105 The Play's the Thing
Show notes at http://www.plundergrounds.com. Did you know you can leave a voice message?
39:19
October 16, 2019

104 Gygax 1975 Challenge Week 1
Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message.
46:54
October 14, 2019

103 Rulings and Rules
Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message.
17:08
October 10, 2019

102 Light Rules not Rules Light
Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message.
32:03
October 09, 2019

101 Arneson, Instigator & Innovator
Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message.
21:38
October 04, 2019

100 Plundergrounds Season 1 Retrospective
Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message.
28:15
October 03, 2019

099 The Long-Overdue Call-In Marathon
Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com
Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
01:23:19
October 01, 2019

098 Delving Deeper on Nonhuman Races
PART TWO at the No Save For You podcast: https://anchor.fm/nosaveforyou. Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message.
29:43
September 30, 2019

097 Return to Audiobooks!
Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message.
44:56
September 24, 2019

096 Recent Calls
Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message.
42:24
September 16, 2019

095 Treasure, Ducks, The Crash
Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message.
17:31
September 10, 2019

090 Lords of Mars
Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message.
43:32
September 06, 2019

094 Procrasticon
Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message.
23:57
September 03, 2019

093 #RPGaDay2019 Final Days
Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message.
08:12
September 01, 2019

092 Dual-Cast: Delving Deeper with Cody M, Part 2
If you are coming to this episode without having first listened to part 1 on the No Save For You podcast, you should go do that. Show notes at https://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message.
24:15
August 31, 2019

091 Dual-Cast: Delving Deeper with Cody M
This is a "false episode" to tell you to go listen to part 1 of my Delving Deeper discussion with Cody of the No Save for You podcast! Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com. Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
00:45
August 31, 2019

089 #RPGaDay2019 Week 4
Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
27:52
August 28, 2019

088 #RPGaDay2019 Week 3
Show notes: http://plundergrounds.blogspot.com
Leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
24:19
August 21, 2019

082 From One to Satan
I talk about a great question for the game table and play some awesome call-ins.
28:21
July 16, 2019

079 My Final Word on Troika!?
I talk about my play experience with Troika! and try to achieve some closure. Click HERE for show notes. (Troika!, Fighting Fantasy, Prog Rock, Silent Titans, Keep Off the Borderlands)
33:21
June 30, 2019

Bonus: Cutting Up Old Books
I talk about the process of cutting the spines off old paperbacks and scanning them for preservation, sharing, and reading.
18:01
June 29, 2019

075 Military SF, Emergent Fiction, RPGs for Growth, Surrealism (Call-in Show)
Show notes will be available at www.jellysaw.com.
28:03
June 12, 2019

071 Interactive Fiction + Dystopia and Prototype Call-ins
Full notes at www.jellysaw.com.
27:56
June 02, 2019

067 10 Foundational Fantasies
10 books that every adventure game fan should read in their lifetime! Notes to follow at www.jellysaw.com.
33:11
May 08, 2019

066 Urban Druids II, 92 Tables, Mutants of Ixx
More thoughts on urban druids from Jim Jones, RFED talks miniatures wargames and scale (as do I), and I review 92 Tables and Mutants of Ixx. Cody and Aaron respond to last week's homework.
No Save for You
Spikepit
92 Tables
Mutants of Ixx
www.rayotus.com
38:53
May 03, 2019

065 Urban Druids and RPGs vs Literature
www.rayotus.com
James Shields clip art! Also the A Grazing Mace podcast
Xeno Dead Zone
Fight & Race games: Gaslands. Circus Maximus, Circus Imperium, Arena Maximus, Wreckage, Ave Caesar, Krash, Thunder Road
Army games: De Bellis Multitudinis, Battleground
RPGs mentioned: The One Ring, There and Back Again, Troika, Polaris, Dictionary of Mu, Veins of the Earth
31:41
May 01, 2019

064 Necromunda, Blades in the Dark, Undead Armies, Xeno Dead Zone
Show notes at www.jellysaw.com.
Spikepit by Colin Green (episode 134, RFED on Dead of Winter)
Necromunda (Blood Bowl, Space Hulk, Mordheim)
Blades in the Dark (John Harper's games)
Sword Breaker by Logan Howard
Undead Armies (The Escape by Marshall Miller, Game of Thrones)
Xeno Dead Zone
24:32
April 29, 2019

063 City Dreaming
www.jellysaw.com
Traveling in Puebla
Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
Troika
Evil Jeff of Minions and Musings
The Downside Up episode (#12, November 6) of Plundergrounds
Necromunda
Metropolis (1927)
Judd and Rich and demon buildings: Comic Strip AP - Sorcerer
High Rise by J. G. Ballard
22:46
April 26, 2019

062 Colin Was Right & Nuggets 2
www.jellysaw.com
Call-ins from Tim Shorts of Gothridge Manor and Evil Jeff of Minions and Musings
More (and more positive) 5e talk
Cockatrice Nuggets zine, Nuggets #2
Call-ins from Rob C. of Down in a Heap and Frothsof of Thought Eater, you decide which is which!
13:48
April 25, 2019

061 Take That Colin — 5e Cast
www.jellysaw.com
"Drunk"-casting from the Houston airport
Reading 5e Basic Rules
Spikepit's 5e casts: "What's up with 5e" beginning April 5 and continuing
Down in a Heap's (NOT Thought Eater's) 5e casts: April 19 (x2) & 23, 2019
26:55
April 23, 2019

060 Plugs, Imposters, Symptoms and Causes
www.jellysaw.com
Gavin Norman's B/X Essentials aka Old School Essentials Kickstarter
Frothsof's Thought Eater cast and the James Smith memorial
My art zine - available for $1 by joining my Patreon
Thoughts on role-playing and imposter syndrome
Gene Wolfe's New Sun series
Earthsea trilogy
Jim Yoder from Encounters in the Library
25:16
April 18, 2019

059 Monster Twists & Troika
www.jellysaw.com
Something old, new, borrowed, blue challenge follow-up. (See separate post.)
Why aren't monsters fatigued/injured/distracted when you find them? Why are they fighting?
I plan to run Troika, here's an NPC
Tech upgrade to CR-V studios
22:20
April 15, 2019

056 Projects!!
In this episode I talk about several projects I’m working on and review my quarter one output for Plundergrounds.
28:29
April 03, 2019

055 In One Bite & Call-Ins
Get In One Bite for one buck!
John Aegard Dragonslaying on a Time Table
Yochai Gal One-Shot World
Cloud Gate (a.k.a. The Bean)
Spikepit Down in a Heap
Punk Rock Podcasting / Down in a Heap by Rob C.
Polaris by Ben Leman
Ben Milton converts MtG cards to tokens
Eric Salzwedel Omega 3D Chicken Coop
Cody M No Save for You!
42:52
March 29, 2019

054 Fast Prep Methods for GMs
I discuss fast prep techniques shared by various GMs. Lots of tangents; sorry not sorry.
Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master
30-Minute Dungeons
Runehammer on Timers
Jason's 7-3-1
Goblin Punch's Checklist
Marshall Miller Dungeon Starters
Dave's Mapper
34:27
March 27, 2019

053 Magic the What Now?
I hold forth on using Magic the Gathering cards as creative inspiration for RPGs. Both baseline ideas here were stolen from WotC's mobile app/magazine, Dragon+. It's free; check it out. The referenced card images and full show notes can be found at ww.jellysaw.com.
28:10
March 25, 2019

052 Axebane's Deck of Many Dungeons
I review a deck for randomly generating dungeons. You can buy it and the expansion for about $20 at Game Crafters. https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/axebane-s-deck-of-many-dungeons. Full show notes at http://www.jellysaw.com.
27:45
March 21, 2019

051 Revolt on Antares
The one where I talk about the 1981 TSR micrograme, Revolt on Antares. Designed by Tom Moldvay, art by Erol Otus, Bill Willingham, Jeff Dee, DSL, Jim Roslof. Show notes: https://jellysawgames.blogspot.com/2019/03/051-revolt-on-antares.html
26:41
March 20, 2019

050 Call-In Roundup
Random topics including encounter tables, timers, avoiding rust monsters, Dune, Barsoom, bronze age gaming, OGRE, illusions, Revolt on Antares, Tetsuo, the Tripod Trilogy, and establishing questions. Full show notes at http://www.jellysaw.com.
40:46
March 18, 2019

049 Encounter Tables - Do Better
A quick rant about encounter tables that are too repetitive/thin. Full show notes at http://www.jellysaw.com.
17:59
March 13, 2019

048 Gary Con XI Day 4
Angus and I wrap up the week, even though we then hung around for another 4+ hours talking to people, buying stuff, and generally basking in the gamer glow. Topics include world building at TSR, Zeb Cook, Planescape, writing for yourself vs. for the mob, making jump from TTRPGs to computer games, Interplanar Melee, and gaming at Gary Gygax's house. Full show notes at http://www.jellysaw.com.
40:46
March 10, 2019

047 Gary Con XI Day 3
Angus and I talk Bob Meyer's Blackmoor game and the experience of "Arneson's D&D," Traveller character generation seminar with Marc Miller and his Traveller novels, Steve Jackson's vintage Kickstarters, Elric the AH board game, and the day ahead. Later I cast with Cody M of No Save for You and Larry Hamilton of Follow Me and Die! Then I recap my day gaming with Brett of Gaming and BS and playing at Gary Gygax's house. Full show notes at http://www.jellysaw.com.
47:54
March 10, 2019

046 Gary Con XI Day 2
Angus recaps his day, we talk about B/X Essentials, sourcing the table, play culture at Gary Con, and I debrief on my two events (Goblintown and Dungeon World). Full show notes at http://www.jellysaw.com.
28:10
March 09, 2019

045 Gary Con XI Day 1
I talk with Angus of Kirby's Kids about our upcoming day and drop con guest names. Then I joust with Cody M of No Save for You. The day ends with a tired ramble about the day's games. Full show notes at http://www.jellysaw.com.
27:09
March 08, 2019

044 Creative Distractions & Guilt
I talk about doing creative things as a way of avoiding doing other creative things. Squirrel! Full show notes at http://www.jellysaw.com.
26:51
February 28, 2019

043 Call-In Extravaganza
Topics include: time spent on the toilet, self-doubt, the book Annihilation, relating the old to the new/mundane to exotic, Valentine's Day, history books on Audible, Gobekli Tepe, crocodile erections, Melee/Wizard/Fantasy Trip, Delving Deeper, Quintessential and Essential BX... Full show notes at http://www.jellysaw.com.
39:18
February 26, 2019

042 Crossing Lines, Kaiju, Goblintown, WWI
I talk about GMs and players crossing boundaries in play, kaiju movies, the Goblintown design challenge, and Peter Jackson's They Shall Not Grow Old. Full show notes at www.jellysaw.com.
22:26
February 24, 2019

041 Roadside Picnic and Into the Odd
Talking about Roadside Picnic, Stalker, Into the Odd, Annihilation. Full show notes at http://www.jellysaw.com.
19:46
February 22, 2019

040 Braces Off! Rando Rambles
Celebrating my last day of braces! Listing of ideas for future podcasts, talking about The Monster Brothers podcast, my supportive wife, Delving Deeper, Warriors of the Red Planet, future Plundergrounds zines, Fantastic Planet, etc. Full show notes at www.jellysaw.com.
42:21
February 14, 2019

039 Design Meandering Call-Ins
Call ins from Matt, JJ, and Emanuel. We talk spell throwing, saves, prime requisites, and Lovecraftian hacks. Full show notes at www.jellysaw.com.
18:46
February 11, 2019

038 Let's Make a Zine Part 2!
I field some call-ins from people who are reporting progress and talk about writing in or out of "the shell," choosing fonts, and more. Full notes at www.jellysaw.com.
25:44
February 08, 2019

037 Retro Design Meandering
I ramble about a couple of different ways to smooth out the rough edges of old school rule sets. Show notes at www.jellysaw.com.
17:22
February 06, 2019

036 Let's Make a Zine!
A caller asks for advice on making a zine and I try to deliver. There's homework for those of you similarly inclined! Full show notes at www.jellysaw.com.
25:07
January 29, 2019

034 Call-Ins, Death & Resurrection, Patreon
Show notes at http://www.jellysaw.com.
25:19
January 20, 2019

033 Back to Basix, ToAD, Ghost Star, Death and Growth
Show notes at www.jellysaw.com.
28:17
January 16, 2019

032 Training "Schools" & Cleric Disfavor
I talk about how the Wuxia film idea of a training temple, school, or secret manuscript could be ported over into fantasy adventure games. Likewise, I talk about moving the DCC disfavor rule for clerics into Dungeon World and B/X. Full show notes at www.jellysaw.com.
17:57
January 13, 2019

031 Old School Texts & Wuxia Movies
Complete show notes at http://www.jellysaw.com.
38:54
January 10, 2019

030 Solo Gaming Hangout
Solo Gaming Hangout w/Sophia Brandt, Slade Stolar, and Michael Barford. Recorded on April 14, 2017.
• The big list of solo RPG resources from my blog http://dieheart.net/solorpg
• Getting started with solo role-playing primer: http://dieheart.net/getting-started-solo/
• Actual play reports solo http://dieheart.net/category/actual-play/
• Dungeon World solo plays: http://dieheart.net/ap-dungeon-world-one/ and http://dieheart.net/ap-dungeon-world-two/
• The Mythic Game Master Emulator: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/20798/Mythic-Game-Master-Emulator?it=1
• The 9 Questions: (download) http://dieheart.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/The-9Qs.zip
• The 5 Room Dungeon: https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Five_Room_Dungeon
• Lone Wolf G+ Community: https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/116965157741523529510
• Products from the former soloroleplaying.com: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/6632/Cabbage-Games
• Rory’s Story Cubes: https://www.storycubes.com/
• Adventuresmith (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.steavesea.adventuresmith&hl=en
• Itras By: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/107617/Itras-By-English
• Itras By (Just the cards): https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/111501/Itras-By-Card-Set-English
• Ray’s Random Dungeon World Move Generator: http://www.jellysaw.com/
• John Yorio’s Excellent “Solo Role-Playing Series” of blog posts: https://tabletopdiversions.blogspot.com/2015/01/solo-role-playing-series-part-1.html
• Marshall Miller’s Dungeon Starters: http://www.finemessgames.com/DWsupplements/dungeonstarters
• Logan Howard’s Sword Breaker zine: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/207706/Sword-Breaker-Issue-No-2--The-Hollow-Fingers
• Joe Banner’s Adventures: https://www.patreon.com/jbinc
• The Armitage Files: https://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/15/15383.phtml
• Todd vs. The Black Hack (online solo play): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUVmgndvBVU&t=1985s
• H is for Hex Mapping (with Rory’s Story Cubes): http://theironpact.com/h-is-for-hex-mapping/
01:14:46
January 06, 2019

029 Crosscast - Plunderkids!
Angus of Kirby’s Kids and I talk Klaus and Christmas-themed gaming.
Kirby’s Kids -> http://anchor.fm/kirbyskids
Krause -> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38749750-klaus
Letters from Father Christmas -> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/061800937X/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
A Sinister Solstice -> http://jellysawgames.blogspot.com/2016/12/sinister-solstice.html
23:48
January 01, 2019

028 Dungeon World 2nd Edition Discussion
Gauntlet Con discussion of Dungeon World 2nd Edition. Hosted by David LaFreniere. Guests: Cameron Burns, Yochai Gal, Jeremy Strandberg. Recorded on October 21, 2018.
01:06:38
December 31, 2018

027 Making Zines Hangout
Making zines with Oli Jeffrey, Logan Howard, Tim Shorts (Gothridge Manor). Recorded on July 3, 2017.
• Plundergrounds: https://www.patreon.com/rayotus
• Logan Howard's Sword Breaker: https://www.rpgnow.com/browse.php?key...
• Oli Jeffery and Codex: https://www.patreon.com/gauntlet/post...
• Gothridge Manor: https://gothridgemanor.blogspot.com/p...
• Tolling the Great Black Bell: https://thegreatblackbell.blogspot.com/
• Wormskin: https://www.rpgnow.com/browse.php?key...
• Black Pudding: https://www.rpgnow.com/product/199081...
• Crawling Under a Broken Moon: https://www.rpgnow.com/browse/pub/448...
• Crawl!: https://www.rpgnow.com/browse/pub/495...
• Crawljammer: https://www.rpgnow.com/browse/pub/690...
• Misspent Youth Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
• Session Zero: https://www.rpgnow.com/browse.php?key...
• Worlds without Master: https://www.patreon.com/Epidiah/posts
01:01:57
December 27, 2018

026 Happy Holidays, Call-In Fest
• The Original Melee and Wizard Counter Sheets -> https://www.jellysaw.com
• Gaming and BS 209, the Smash Cut -> https://gamingandbs.com/smash-cut-rgps-gbs209/
• Centum Mortui poster -> https://www.jellysaw.com
• Letters from Father Christmas -> https://preview.tinyurl.com/y7c83a4l
• Ben Milton on Control Panels -> http://questingblog.com/control-panel-book-layout-osr/
36:48
December 24, 2018

025 Creating a Themed World w/Angus
• Norse Mythology - https://www.amazon.com/Norse-Mythology-Neil-• Gaiman/dp/039360909X/
• Celtic Myths and Legends - https://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Myths-Legends-Rolleston-1990-11-01/dp/B01LP3DNMM/
• Gods and Fighting Men: The Story of the Tuatha De Danaan and of the Fianna of Ireland - https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Fighting-Men-Tuatha-Ireland/dp/1495385140/
• Vikings - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2306299/
• Britannia - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5932548/
• Vikings Campaign Source Book - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/16912/HR1-Vikings-Campaign-Sourcebook-2e
• Celts Campaign Sourcebook - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/110199/HR3-Celts-Campaign-Sourcebook-2e
• Journey To Ragnarok - Adventure and Setting for 5e - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/257334/Journey-To-Ragnarok--Adventure-and-Setting-for-5e
• Fate of the Norns: Ragnarok - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/112998/Fate-of-the-Norns-Ragnarok
• Midgard Worldbook for 5th Edition and PFRPG - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/237360/Midgard-Worldbook-for-5th-Edition-and-PFRPG
• The Five Temples of the Earthmother Part 1: Life and Moon - https://www.dmsguild.com/product/170745/The-Five-Temples-of-the-Earthmother-Part-1-Life-and-Moon
36:09
December 20, 2018

024 Call-Ins & Plans for 2019
Call-ins from...
• Spikepit -> https://anchor.fm/spikepit
• Kirby's Kids -> https://anchor.fm/kirbyskids
• The Happy Whisk -> https://anchor.fm/thehappywhisk
• No Save for You! -> https://anchor.fm/nosaveforyou
My Stuff
• Plundergrounds Patreon -> http://www.patreon.com/rayotus
• All of my projects -> http://www.rayotus.com
42:05
December 17, 2018

023 Melee, Wizard, Death Test!
Capsule reviews of classic Melee, Wizard, and Death Test. With dramatic readings. Looks like you'll be able to buy it in a retro edition in April: http://thefantasytrip.game/products/core-games/the-fantasy-trip-melee-wizard-pocket-box/
37:22
December 13, 2018

022 Balance, Hobgobs, Skills, & More
• Laumer Bolo Stories -v
-> Combat Unit http://hell.pl/szymon/Baen/The%20Baltic%20War/Odyssey/0743435273__15.htm
-> The Last Command http://hell.pl/szymon/Baen/The%20best%20of%20Jim%20Baens%20Universe/The%20World%20Turned%20Upside%20Down/0743498747__14.htm
-> Field Test https://www.baen.com/Chapters/1439133476/1439133476___2.htm
37:35
December 09, 2018

021 Many Voices Make Podcasting Better
It's an all call-in show with Ivy "The Happy Whisk," Colin "Spikepit," Darren "RFED," and Carl from the Megadungeon podcast. Topics include anxiety at the table, dealing with creative struggles (follow up), a new type of table, "telling it to the page," and much more.
16:03
December 07, 2018

020 Cybernetic Tanks, 1977
• Steve Jackson's Ogre -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogre_(game)
• Newer Versions -> http://www.sjgames.com/ogre/
• Winchell's Story ver 1 -> http://www.projectrho.com/ogre.html
• Winchell's Story ver 2 -> http://www.sjgames.com/ogre/products/ogrezine/forgingfirstogre.html
• Music behind reading is "Boss Battle" (altered) by Mystery Mammal
• Intro/Outro Music is "You Can Use" by Captive Portal
37:38
December 06, 2018

019 Dice, Tables, Right-Sized Mechanics, RPG "Feasts"
• Inspectres -> http://www.memento-mori.com/rpg/inspectres
• Hex Power Flower -> https://goblinshenchman.wordpress.com/2018/10/25/2d6-hex-power-flower/
• Jim's Poem (Late at Night in Bed by Gregory Djanikian) -> https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/37125/late-at-night-in-bed
• Spikepit -> http://anchor.fm/spikepit
43:35
November 29, 2018

018 Call-in-apalooza
• Jim Jones Extra Life -> https://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=39374
• Larry - Follow Me and Die! -> https://anchor.fm/follow-me-and-die
• Judd - Daydreaming About Dragons -> https://anchor.fm/daydreaming-about-dragons
• Cody M - No Save for You! -> http://anchor.fm/nosaveforyou
• Rich - Cockatrice Nuggets -> http://anchor.fm/rich-fraser
• Ivy - Happy Whisk -> http://anchor.fm/thehappywhisk
• Colin Green - Spikepit -> http://anchor.fm/spikepit
34:19
November 28, 2018

017 Creative Crises
• DM Dad (Dr. Robert Groves) -> https://anchor.fm/dm-dad
• Spikepit! -> https://anchor.fm/spikepit
25:30
November 21, 2018

016 Call-Ins, The Hobbit Game, Time-Keeping
• There and Back Again -> http://jellysawgames.blogspot.com/2018/11/there-and-back-again.html
38:23
November 20, 2018

016 Cross-Cast - PlunderPit
Spikepit and I talk about anything and everything, but mainly our days in art school and how they informed our gaming selves today.
rayotus.com
Old episode number 015
01:04:37
November 14, 2018

015 Advanced Sorcerers & Sellswords
Opening music is "You Can Use" by Captive Portal
My birthday!
Call-ins from Spikepit, RFED, Logan Howard of Sword Breaker, Rich Frazier of Cockatrice Nuggets, Carl Rodriguez
Ringworld and colony ship fiction: Ray's Radio Revival: Universe
Mythras
Preview of "Advanced" Sorcerers & Sellswords
rayotus.com
Old episode number 014
21:25
November 09, 2018

014 Cross-Cast PlunderNotes
Chickenspike
Frank T's Liner Notes
Simple, Rules-Light RPGs
Gaming with Kids
Listening to Kirby's Kids
Graphic Novels and Story Structure Cues for RPGs
Crit Hit gaming con in Phoenix
Music is "You Can Use" by Captive Portal
rayotus.com
Old podcast number 13
46:01
November 08, 2018

013 Downside Up Dungeons
Call-ins about Clerics
Colin Green, aka Spikepit
Complete Vivimancer by Gavin Norman
Logan Howard of Sword Breaker
DM Dad
Beowulf audiobooks:
Translated/read by Seamus Heany abridged
Translated by Seamus Heany read by George Guidall
Translated by Benedict Flynn read by Crawford Logan
Translated by C. W. Kennedy read by Charles Griffin
Rosemary Sutcliff prose version read by Sean Barrett
Dragonslayer
Looking at Dungeons Downside Up, a Virtual Whiteboard Exercise
Veins of the Earth
Tome of Adventure Design
Microscope
How to Host a Dungeon
HtHaD Fan play-through
Tony Dowler (the creator) playtesting HtHaD v2
Music is "You Can Use" by Captive Portal
My Links
Old podcast number 012
27:21
November 06, 2018

012 Call-Ins, Castle in the Mist, Earthworms, Bad-Wrong Healing
Eric Salzwedel of the Omega 3D Chicken Coop
Larry Hamilton of Follow Me and Die!
Call with Logan Howard and Sword Breaker - Castle in the Mist for Dungeon World (audio a little weak)
Half-Species and Creepy Clerics
The Earth Moved by Amy Stewart
Earthworm Regenerative Effects
Cleric Healing Gone Wrong
Music is "You Can Use" by Captive Portal
My Links
Old podcast number 011
24:48
November 01, 2018

011 L&F Hacks, Movies, & Magic Items
Angus from Kirby's Kids
Colin Green aka Spikepit
Josh of JB Publishing
Lasers & Feelings hacks:
War & Craft - Josh Beckelheim
Sorcerers & Sellswords - Ray Otus
Blood & Chrome - Nathan Knaack
Deputies & Desperados - Second Thought Games
One & Thousands - Tam
Pack of Strays - Phillip Wessels, Oli Jeffery, Claudia Cangini
Rockerboys & Vendingmachines - Encoded Designs
Whiskers & Claws - Robin Smith
RFED ("Rocks Fall Everyone Dies")
Cody of No Save for You! (extremely quiet)
Harryhausen Skeleton Fight
Hydra Teeth
Six Sentient Sword Motives
Music is "You Can Use" by Captive Portal
My links
Old podcast number 010
18:03
October 24, 2018

010 Finding Nemo - The Other One
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) Trailer
Not the scene I referenced, but still some damn good organ!
Thundarr the Barbarian
Marshall Miller's The Escape
Skeletal bone giant
Jason and the Argonauts
Logan Howard's Sword Breaker
Music is "You Can Use" by Captive Portal
My links
Old podcast number 009
17:15
October 18, 2018

009 Lasers & Feelings
John Harper's Games
Hacking Lasers & Feelings
Sorcerers & Sellswords
Music is "You Can Use" by Captive Portal
My links
Old podcast number 008
16:50
October 16, 2018

008 Military SF Scenario Part 2
Larry Hamilton's Follow Me and Die!
Metagaming & Steve Jackson's OGRE
Laumer's Bolo Fiction
3:16 Carnage Amongst the Stars
Carry by Nathan Paoletta
Logan's Sword Breaker zine
Spikepit on Stay Frosty
Kirbys Kids
Music is "You Can Use" by Captive Portal
My links
Old podcast number 007
17:34
October 12, 2018

007 Military SF Scenario - Fiction and System
Gary Con XI
Hammer's Slammers
Starship Troopers
Forever War
Honorable Mentions: Ender's Game, Space Cadet, Armor, Bolo, Honor Harrington, Old Man's War, Legion of the Damned
Diaspora
3:16
Stay Frosty
Mothership
Honorable Mention: Edge of Space
The Pitch: platoon play, missions, hot fights, changing world dynamics
Music is "You Can Use" by Captive Portal
My links
Old podcast number 006
11:42
October 10, 2018

006 Drifting Dungeon World Tech
Some follow up comments/corrections on Dungeon World Moves
Spikepit
Hobby/Creator Games vs. Industry/Collective Games
Shared Fiction vs. Individual Fiction
Plundergrounds Kazarak (Establishing Questions)
Plundered Pages (Monster Moves that Matter)
Making a monster for DW
My first (not very good) DW experience
Rich Rogers' +1 Forward Podcast
Sinister Solstice
Zine economics
Music is "You Can Use" by Captive Portal
My links
Old podcast number 005
44:09
October 06, 2018

005 Dungeon World Moves
The "Move" as the fundamental mechanic of PbtA games
Dungeon World by Sage LaTorra and Adam Koebel
I try to explain moves in Dungeon World and talk about some of the things that tend to rub people the wrong way about Dungeon World (i.e. advice like "don't say the name of the move").
Music is "You Can Use" by Captive Portal
My links
Old podcast number 005
23:32
October 04, 2018

004 Bio-Dungeons, Troika, Kickstarter, Dragonlance
"Spikepit" talks bio-dungeons and Goblintown
Urmo the Magnificent
Cody M on unruly reptile familiars
My Kickstarter Attitude Adjustment
Frank Turfler from Liner Notes talks bio-dungeons
Reading Dragonlance at 50
Music is "You Can Use" by Captive Portal
My links
Old podcast number 003
18:33
September 27, 2018

003 Bio-Dungeons
Jason Hobbs, Podcasting Junky: Hex Talk, Random Screed
Logan Howard & Jesse Ross, Sword Breaker
Jorge Louis Borges' Book of Imaginary Beings
Gary Con X
Karl Stjernberg
Evyln Moreau
Stay Frosty
Black Hack
Andrew Walter, Expectorating Encrustor
My links
Shoji Ohtomo
Fantastic Voyage (1966)
The Voice in the Night by William Hope Hodgson
Matango (1963)
My Links
Music is "You Can Use" by Captive Portal
Old podcast number 002
20:16
September 24, 2018

002 Making the Fantastic Familiar
RIP Meathead
Familiars and Animal Companions
Pack World (Dragonriders of Pern, Elfquest)
Tension between the Fantastic and the Real
Setting vs. Player responsibility for "Realism"
Homework!
First call-in: Colin "Spikepit"
On Fighting Fantasy
Troika! and Evolving vs. Set-It-and-Forget-It Initiative
My links
Music is "You Can Use" by Captive Portal
Old podcast number 001
14:03
September 20, 2018

001 The Pilot
Opening music "Alley" from Anchor library
Forest Hymn & Picnic
Troika! - Free, no art version
Astro- - an in-development 2-player game
Books - Dragonlance, Nero Wolfe, Invisible Cities, Sandman, Dr. Strange & Dr. Doom
Jianghu Hustle
Old podcast number 000
25:08
September 19, 2018