Tag: RPG

DNA Podcast 101 – Werewolves in Popular Culture

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 101 - Werewolves in Popular Culture
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In this episode, Rob and Don stalk the werewolf’s place in popular culture, hunting the elusive man who walks like a wolf! Along the way, they explore the history of werewolves in real life and fiction, talk about the origins of werewolves on film, and explore the RPG called Werewolf: The Apocalypse! All this, and more B-movies than you can shake a stick at (fetch boy!), are waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
The Island of Dr. Moreau
Coyote (the Trickster)
Skinwalkers
Kitsune
The Werewolf of London
Wikipedia entry on Werewolf Fiction
Bisclavret
Peter Stumpp- ‘the Werewolf of Bedburg’
Beast of Gévaudan
Wolfen
The Manitou
The Cat People (1942)
Werewolves on Wheels
The Howling
The Beast Must Die!
An American Werewolf in London
Curse of the Cat People
The Hideous Sun Demon
The She-Creature
Night of the Lepus
Food of the Gods
Prophecy
Phase IV
BUG (film)
Blood Freak
Tom Leher
Werewolf the Apocalypse
Michigan Dogman
The Iranian Angelina Jolie
The Beast of Bray Road
Dog Soldiers
Wolf
Silver Bullet
Ginger Snaps
The Company of Wolves
Monster Squad
Otherkin

DNA Podcast 087 – Automating Tabletop Gaming with Brian Welcher

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 087 - Automating Tabletop Gaming with Brian Welcher







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In this episode, Don and Rob sit down with teacher, martial artist, and gamer Brian Welcher to discuss his project to automate some parts of tabletop gaming. The three discuss how Brian first got into gaming, and how his fascination with the RPG Pathfinder led him to look for ways to create scripts that would control the actions of absent players and NPCs. It’s a fascinating discussion that leads to questions about what games actually are, and the possibilities of players being able to work co-operatively in wargaming instead of against each other. All this, and the bard with the worst luck ever, is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:
Brian’s Email: sackvilledm@gmail.com
Dungeons and Dragons First Edition
Pathfinder
Palladium Fantasy
Robotech RPG
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles RPG
Warhammer
Panzer Leader
Avalon Hill Game Company
Dust 1947
Bolt Action
Flames of War
Battletech
Mekwars.org – Classic Battletech Campaign and Server (I was wrong, it isn’t solo, but just online play- Rob)
Thorn Battlemech
Fallout Tabletop Game
Albedo RPG
Call of Chthulu
The Walking Dead: All Out War Tabletop Game
Creative Commons

DNA Episode 086 – Interview with Lee Gold

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Episode 086 - Interview with Lee Gold







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In this episode, Don and Rob sit down with the incomparable Lee Gold to discuss her life as an early RPG designer, editor of the long-running APA Alarums and Excursions, and filk songwriter. Along the way, the trio discuss the history of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (LASFS), how she started her APA, and some of Lee’s memories of the early days of fandom. All this, and a sample of Lee and her husband Barry’s singing, are waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Lee Gold Wikipedia
Alarums and Excursions
Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (LASFS)
APA-L
DRAGON Magazine
Amazon Cannot Ship to Australia
Chivalry and Sorcery
Steve Perrin
Fanzines
Worldcon
Westercon
Gary Gygax
Jackals Fattening on a Lion’s Kill by Gary Gygax
Could you repeat that in Auld Wormish? by Lee Gold
ORGINS Convention
Issac Asimov Foundation Trilogy
SLAN by A.E. Van Vogt
Lensmen by E.E. Doc Smith
Doomed Lensmen by Sybly Whyte
Skylark of Space
Filk Songs
Tunnels and Trolls (or here)
Superhero 2044
Toyo 2000 Basic Kanji Characters
Lands of Adventure RPG
Fantasy Games Unlimited
GURPS Japan
You Bash the Balrog and I’ll Climb the Tree
Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart
Liaden Series by Sharon lee and Steve Miller
In The Garden of Iden by Kage Baker
Lois Bujold’s Vorkosigan Series

DNA Podcast 61 – What is Fantasy?

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 61 - What is Fantasy?







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In this episode, Don and Rob take a look at the Fantasy genre and explore some of their favorite Fantasy RPGs. Along the way, they discuss Don’s five types of Fantasy, look at how RPGs have redefined what Fantasy is, and debate the difference between magic and theology. All this, and the great debate over whether Star Wars is fantasy or science fiction, are waiting for you to decide in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Fantasy
Alternate World Fiction
Warhammer 40K
Conan the Barbarian
Dungeons and Dragons
The Monkey King
Apocalyptic RPG Episode
Nanotechnology
The Force
Midichlorians
Psionics
Wuxia
Taoism
Abelard Snazz
Visionaries (toys)
MAGE: The Ascension RPG
MAGE (The Comic) by Matt Wagner
The World of Darkness
Warhammer RPG
Weapons of the Gods RPG
Exalted RPG
Auspicious Beginnings (Weapons of the Gods Intro Adventure)
Airship Pirates RPG
Abney Park (band)
RIFTS RPG
Shadowrun RPG
Victoriana RPG
Runequest RPG
Mouseguard RPG
Bunnies and Burrows RPG
The White Company by Arthur Conan Doyle
The Crushed D20 Supplement
So I’m a Spider! So What? (Light Novel)
No Game, No Life! (Light Novel)
No Game No Life in 7 Minutes (Video)
In Another World with My Cell Phone (Light Novel)
Dragon Quest RPG
One Piece
My Little Pony RPG

DNA Podcast 055 – Making the Biff Straker RPG

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 055 - Making the Biff Straker RPG







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In this episode, Don and Rob sit down with their friend Jack Ward to help him construct a tabletop RPG system for his Audio Drama series Spaceways Starring Biff Straker. In the process, the trio discuss the benefits of different dice systems, damage systems, character design approaches, and how to bring the feels to an RPG. All this, and the My Little Pony RPG, are waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Spaceways Starring Biff Straker
Champions RPG
Doc Savage
Jake Samson
Car Wars
Cartoon Action Hour
GURPS
Morrow Project
Vampire the Masquerade
The D6 System
Xena the Warrior Princess
Shadowrun
Cyberpunk
Space 1889
Star Trek FASA RPG
My Little Pony RPG
Battletech
Star Wars (West End Games)
Mekton (First Edition)

DNA Podcast 051 – Comedy Tabletop RPGs

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 051 - Comedy Tabletop RPGs







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In this episode, Don and Rob are joined by their friend Chad to discuss Comedy Tabletop Roleplaying Games. The three delve into the classics of the genre like Paranoia and Toon, check out their old Alma Mater, hang with Beach Bunny Bimbos with Blasters, and reminisce about being Teenagers from Outer Space. All this, and how to run a comedy RPG, is waiting for you in this fun-tastic episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Thing Discussed:

List of Comedy RPGs
Paranoia
Alma Mater
Toon
Teenagers from Outer Space
Warhammer 40k
Galaxy High Cartoon
Cartoon Action Hour Season 3
Ghostbusters RPG
Judge Dredd RPG
Macho Women with Guns
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles RPG
Gamma World
Bunnies and Burrows
The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen game
GURPS IOU
It Came from the Late Late Late Show
Attack of the Humans
DC Heros: Don’t Ask
TMNT: Road Hogs
It’s a Mad Mad Mad World
Pokethulu
Beach Bunny Bimbos with Blasters
Tales of the Floating Vagabond
Scared Stiff
Critter Commandos

 

DNA Podcast 050 – Horror Tabletop RPGs

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 050 - Horror Tabletop RPGs







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In this episode, Don and Rob trip the night fantastic with their friend Chad and discuss the creepy subject of Horror Role Playing Games. Long regarded as one of the harder types of RPGs to run, the three probe the different types of horror RPGs and do an overview of the classics of the genre. All this, and more fun than that thing creeping up behind you right now, is waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed

A History of Horror RPGs
Call of Cthulhu
The Dunwich Horror
Bureau 13: Stalking the Night Fantastic
Ghostbusters
Bureau 13 Novels
Chill
Planet Motherfucker RPG
GURPS Horror
Beyond the Supernatural
It came from the Late Late Late Show
Paranoia
Nightlife
Stellar Games
Ravenloft
Vampire the Masquerade
Eerie: The Crime Crusher (I thought I heard a “poom”)
Dark Conspiracy
Deadlands
Grimm (this is the latest incarnation)
All Flesh Must Be Eaten

 

DNA Podcast 043 – Post Apocalyptic RPGs

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 043 - Post Apocalyptic RPGs







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In this episode, Don and Rob are joined again by their friend Chad to discuss Post-Apocalyptic (Tabletop) Role Playing Games. The three discuss the different ways in which an RPG can be Post-Apocalyptic, the importance of post-apocalyptic hygiene, and then go through the history of the Post-Apocalyptic gaming genre with side trips into movies, anime and pop-culture. All this, and why The Flintstones is a post-apocalyptic setting, is waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

    Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed:

A History of Post Apocalyptic RPGs
The Oregon Trail
The Road
Mad Max
The Fist of the North Star
Future Shock
The Planet of the Apes
Panic in Year Zero!
Metamorphosis Alpha
Expedition to the Barrier Peaks
The Starlost
Endless Quest- Light On Quests Mountain
Gamma World
Thundarr the Barbarian
Radioactive Dreams
Aftermath FGU
The Late Great Planet Earth
The Morrow Project
Fallout video game
Tri-Tac Games
TMNT RPG
After the Bomb
Road Hogs
Twlight 2000
Traveller
Traveller 2300
Battletech
Robotech
Macross
Southern Cross
Invid Invasion
Mospeda
RIFTS
Logan’s Run
The Omega Man
Beyond the Supernatural
Car Wars
Mutant Year Zero
The End of the World
This is the End (movie)
Apocalypse World
Deadworld
Samurai Jack
World of Darkness

DNA Podcast 026 – Indie RPGs with Graham MacLean

October 8, 2016
CulturalDiscussionHistoricalPodcast Episodes
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 026 - Indie RPGs with Graham MacLean







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In this episode, Rob and Don are joined by scholar and game designer Graham MacLean to talk about the Independent Tabletop RPG scene. The trio talk about the origins of Indie RPGs, why D&D was the first Indie RPG, and how the Fruitful Void can make you look at games in a new way. All this, and heaping helping of Paranoia are waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

    Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed:

D&D 1st Edition
Empire of the Petal Throne
Bully Pulpit Games
Evil Hat Productions
Palladium Books
Apocalypse World
It Came from the Late Late Late Show
The Forge Indie RPG Community
Narrativist Theory
Over the Edge
Dogs in the Vineyard
Fruitful Void
Sorcerer
Mekton
Emily Care Boss
Story Games
Paranoia
Dog Eat Dog
Ron Edwards (game designer)
Do- Pilgrims of the Flying Temple
Polaris
Microscope
RPGNow
The Unstore
Robin D. Laws
Pelegrine Press
Legend of the Five Rings
Shotgun Diaries
Cosmic Patrol
TORG
Wushu
Feng Shui: Shadowfist
The Mountain Witch
Lady Blackbird
Fiasco
Castle Falkenstein
Old School Renaisance Games
Monster Hearts
Golden Sky Stories
Weapons of the Gods
401 Games in Toronto
Kingdom
Hetalia
Alternate Reality Games
Second Life

DNA Podcast 020 – Tabletop RPG Memories

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 020 - Tabletop RPG Memories







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therebedragons

In this episode, Rob and Don are joined by their friend Chad to discuss their love of Tabletop Role-Playing Games. The trio explore the history of TRPGS, and talks about their own experiences and growing up playing these games. Along the way, they discuss the appeal of Gamma World, point based vs. random character creation, and their love of Superhero Gaming. All this, and the future of TRPGs are waiting for you in the 20th episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music: Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed:

Chainmail: Rules for Medival Miniatures
Dungeons and Dragons
Little Wars by HG Wells
Metamorphosis Alpha
Traveller RPG
Gamma World
Superhero 2044
Villains and Vigilantes
Champions Review
HERO System (Champions)
TSR Marvel Superheros RPG Review
Mayfair DC Heroes RPG
GURPS
Palladium Fantasy RPG
TMNT: And other Strangeness RPG
Ninjas and Superspies
RIFTS
Call of Cthulhu
Robotech RPG
D20 System
Shadowrun
GNS Theory (Narrativst Games)
Pathfinder RPG
Mekton
Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0.
Weapons of the Gods Review
Exalted RPG
Beyond the Supernatural
Chill Horror RPG
TORG
World of Darkness RPG Universe
AR Gameboards