Tabletop Potluck
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Creator: Tabletop Potluck
Synopsis:
Welcome to Tabletop Potluck, an actual play podcast showcasing and discussing the wide world of pen and paper roleplaying games. Whether you're an experienced player or a newbie, you’re welcome to sit at our table and see what we’ve brought to the potluck!
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Episodes:
Mon, 13 Dec 2021 09:00:00 +0000
After long discussion, we have decided to put Tabletop Potluck on an indefinite hiatus. We wanted to take this time to explain what's to come and reminisce on the past four years.
Thank you all so much for sitting at our table.
CAST
Sally Chan - instagram.com/sals_burysteak
Charlotte Elena- twitter.com/thecornbreab
Abby Heinrich - twitter.com/abhorrentabby
Matthew James Marquez - twitter.com/marquezthegm
Megan Scharlau - twitter.com/tabletop_megan
Megan and Marquez's Podcast: twitter.com/avantbardpod
Charlotte and Marquez's Podcast: twitter.com/whatyoupod
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music,
Learn more about Tabletop Potluck at http://www.tabletoppotluck.com
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Brindlewood Bay Episode 6: Potluck
Mon, 06 Dec 2021 09:00:00 +0000
Brindlewood Bay Episode 5: Where There Isn’t A Will
Mon, 29 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000
The thrilling conclusion! Our Murder Mavens wrap up the mystery! But do their theories hold water or will this investigation end up a total wash? Find out in the finale episode of Brindlewood Bay!
CAST
Sally Chan as Ruby Wynne
Charlotte Elena as Barb Clark
Matthew James Marquez as the Keeper
Megan Scharlau as Enid Endivel
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music,
"Suspense Spanish Guitar Tension" by Media Music Group
Link: https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/suspense-spanish-guitar-tension-sv5n_n8ovkgsngxrd.html
"Stumbling" by Michael Vignola
Link: https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/stumbling-b99qhcfibk2xnt8ov.html
"Escaping Forever" by Michael Vignola
Link: https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/escaping-forever-hog3rptosk2xlgdd7.html
"Vertigo" by Amber Waldron
Link: https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/vertigo-h6-94zscvkhwj7b1z.html
"Premonition" by Ralph Burnett
Link: https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/premonition-hr7chkg_vkgltsho9.html
"Life Rebirth Citrine" by Raighes Factory
Link: https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/life-rebirth-citrine-sdi6hb8rvkjohh7e9.html
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Learn more about Brindlewood Bay at https://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/brindlewood-bay.html
Learn more about Tabletop Potluck at http://www.tabletoppotluck.com
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Support the show on Patreon
Brindlewood Bay Episode 4: Old Ladies Night
Mon, 22 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000
Brindlewood Bay Episode 3: Cafe Diem
Mon, 15 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000
Brindlewood Bay Episode 2: The Amiss Family Robinson
Mon, 08 Nov 2021 13:49:33 +0000
Brindlewood Bay Episode 1: No Good Deed
Mon, 01 Nov 2021 08:00:00 +0000
TRAILER- Brindlewood Bay Beings 11/1
Tue, 26 Oct 2021 15:28:56 +0000
Tabletop Potluck is back!
Tune in next Monday for the start of Brindlewood Bay
Trailer Cast
Matthew James Marquez
Soundtrack
"Days Pass" by Adrian Berenguer, "Lightning Crashing 2", and "Slow Throat Sub Rumbling Whoosh" from audioblocks.com
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
Learn more about Tabletop Potluck at tabletoppotluck.com
Support the show on Patreon
Follow Me Down- On Kickstarter 10/7!
Mon, 04 Oct 2021 08:00:00 +0000
Mon, 30 Aug 2021 08:00:00 +0000
Kids on Brooms Episode 7: Potluck!
Mon, 23 Aug 2021 08:00:00 +0000
Kids on Brooms Episode 6: The Dragon's Decision
Mon, 16 Aug 2021 08:00:00 +0000
Kids on Brooms Episode 5: The Suspicious Student
Mon, 09 Aug 2021 08:00:00 +0000
Kids on Brooms Episode 4: The Perilous Prankster
Mon, 02 Aug 2021 08:00:00 +0000
Kids on Brooms Episode 3: The Naporian Night
Mon, 26 Jul 2021 08:00:00 +0000
Kids on Brooms Episode 2: The Detention Detectives
Mon, 19 Jul 2021 08:00:00 +0000
Kids on Brooms Episode 1: The Alto Academy
Mon, 12 Jul 2021 08:00:00 +0000
Mon, 05 Jul 2021 08:00:00 +0000
Tabletop Potluck returns July 12th! Our first offering? Kids on Brooms by Doug Levandowski, Jonathan Gilmour, and Spenser Starke.
Join the team as they navigate an important week of Magical Mystery at the Alto Academy of the Arcane
Episode Cast
Megan Scharlau as Neddie Broombuckle
Soundtrack:
Piano Spirals 30 by Christina Nemo on audioblocks.com
Follow Tabletop Potluck on all social media @tabletoppotluck and support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
Season 3 Recap: Giveaway Winner, Questions, and Announcements
Mon, 15 Feb 2021 09:00:00 +0000
TRAILER: Love and Barbed Wire on Patreon
Wed, 10 Feb 2021 09:00:00 +0000
Return to Stars Without Number Episode 6: Things Change
Mon, 08 Feb 2021 09:00:00 +0000
Return to Stars Without Number Episode 5: Comeback Tour
Mon, 01 Feb 2021 09:00:00 +0000
Return to Stars Without Number Episode 4: The Cruddiest Place off Earth
Mon, 25 Jan 2021 09:00:00 +0000
Return to Stars Without Number Episode 3: Corpus Terra Infirma
Mon, 18 Jan 2021 09:00:00 +0000
Return to Stars Without Number Episode 2: In the Lab of Dr. Killbot
Mon, 11 Jan 2021 09:00:00 +0000
Return to Stars Without Number Episode 1: Lightyears Passed
Mon, 04 Jan 2021 09:00:00 +0000
Fear Itself Episode 5: Potluck
Mon, 28 Dec 2020 09:00:00 +0000
Fear Itself Episode 4: Life and Death
Mon, 21 Dec 2020 09:00:00 +0000
Fear Itself Episode 3: The Long Road Ahead
Mon, 14 Dec 2020 09:00:00 +0000
Fear Itself Episode 2: Clever Girl
Mon, 07 Dec 2020 09:00:00 +0000
Fear Itself Episode 1: The Meeting
Mon, 30 Nov 2020 09:00:00 +0000
Ironsworn Episode 7: Potluck! (With Amr Ammourazz)
Mon, 23 Nov 2020 09:00:00 +0000
Ironsworn Episode 6: The Duskthorn Jackal (With Amr Ammourazz)
Mon, 16 Nov 2020 09:00:00 +0000
Ironsworn Episode 5: Head To Head (With Amr Ammourazz)
Mon, 09 Nov 2020 09:00:00 +0000
Ironsworn Episode 4: Undertaking a Perilous Journey (With Amr Ammourazz)
Mon, 02 Nov 2020 09:00:00 +0000
Ironsworn Episode 3: A Good ol' Fashioned Tavern (With Amr Ammourazz)
Mon, 26 Oct 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Ironsworn Episode 2: An Iron Vow (With Amr Ammourazz)
Mon, 19 Oct 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Ironsworn Episode 1: Big Toe and Thorn's Edge (With Amr Ammourazz)
Mon, 12 Oct 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Glitter Hearts Episode 5: Potluck!
Mon, 05 Oct 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Glitter Hearts Episode 4: Growing Up
Mon, 28 Sep 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Glitter Hearts Episode 3: Terrifying! Battle in the Scrap Heap
Mon, 21 Sep 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Glitter Hearts Episode 2: Forces of Nature Unite!
Mon, 14 Sep 2020 13:40:04 +0000
When mysterious creatures attack their classmates, our heroes awaken their powers and become the Forces of Nature! But is there more to their enemy than meets the eye?
CAST
Sally Chan- Kai/Lillybelle
Charlotte Elena- Marina/Aqua
Noa Heinrich: GM
Matthew James Marquez: Micah/ Fun Guy
Megan Scharlau: Imogen/ Salix
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music,
"Sea Monster Full" by Harald Melvaer Ogaard
Link: https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/sea-monster-full-rgob_u-_crk4bq65u6.html
"M.E.T.A. (Electronic Version)" by Lance Conrad
Link: https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/meta-electronic-version-s_skkxy08kc2dqirn.html
"M.E.T.A. (Pop Version)" by Lance Conrad
Link: https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/meta-pop-version-r_dyx7yrukc2dvxkb.html
"M.E.T.A. (Dance Version)" by Lance Conrad
Link: https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/meta-dance-version-r_el17yc8kc2dna7z.html
"M.E.T.A. (Orchestral Rock Version)" by Lance Conrad
Link: https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/meta-orchestral-rock-version-sqcne7trlkc2dudil.html
"White Lines" by Zac Nelson
Link: https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/white-lines-hxpg5nyp8pbk0wyb4v8.html
"A Lo Down Indian Echo Mystery" by Bobby Cole
Link: https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/a-lo-down-indian-echo-mystery-blffdf3hiphk0wxr7ae.html
"Goliath (Cinematic Dubstep) by Keith Anthony Holden
Link: https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/goliathcinematic-dubstep-he2rbrnlprk0wy351y.html
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Learn more about Glitter Hearts at https://gleather.itch.io/glitter-hearts
Read this episode's transcript and learn more about Tabletop Potluck at http://www.tabletoppotluck.com
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Support the show on Patreon
Glitter Hearts Episode 1: Field Trip
Mon, 07 Sep 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Delta Green Episode 5: Potluck! (With Cassie and Samantha of The LovelyCraftians)
Mon, 31 Aug 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Now that we've finished our mission, it's time for our debriefing of the Delta Green RPG! Join us as we discuss what we like and what we would change about the system.
CAST
Cassie: Desdemona
Charlotte Elena: GM
Noa Heinrich: Emilia
Megan Scharlau: Ash
Samantha: Maeve
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music,
Learn more about Delta Green at http://www.delta-green.com/
Read this episode's transcript and learn more about Tabletop Potluck at http://www.tabletoppotluck.com
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Support the show on Patreon
Delta Green Episode 4: Last Things Last (With Cassie and Samantha of The LovelyCraftians)
Mon, 24 Aug 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Delta Green Episode 3: Marlene (With Cassie and Samantha of The LovelyCraftians)
Mon, 17 Aug 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Delta Green Episode 2: Better than a Dead Body (With Cassie and Samantha of The Lovelycraftians)
Mon, 10 Aug 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Delta Green Episode 1: A Night at the Opera (With Cassie and Samantha of The Lovelycraftians)
Mon, 03 Aug 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Fri, 31 Jul 2020 17:02:42 +0000
Kids on Bikes is a deceptively complex game that lets players step into the role of protagonists in a classic coming of age story. It’s fun, quick, and able to express a wide variety of stories.
We found Kids on Bikes to be very accessible, thanks to the simple character creation system. Players can make a character in just a few minutes, even less if you pick one of the game’s many Tropes, which are character sheets with predefined skills, stats, and backstory questions. We did find the option to play as an adult to be a bit odd, since the game is called “kids” on bikes, but we could see scenarios where playing an adult character would make sense.
Making moves and rolling dice was also deceptively simple. Although it’s as easy as rolling the associated die of a stat against a difficulty number, the fact that failure is graded on a curve added an additional complication. For example, a player with a d6 in a stat find it all but impossible to complete a task with difficulty of 10, but can spend Adversity Tokens to at least make the consequences of failure less severe.
One mechanic that we found to be less accessible was the Powered Character. Although the concept of a shared character is interesting, in practice it was uncomfortable to simply take control of that character. We figured this would be less of a problem in an ongoing campaign where players are given more freedom to explore than a one-shot, however. In fact, we found that Kids on Bikes was most conducive to extended, sandbox-style campaigns.
Your mileage may vary when it comes to the thematic roots of Kids on Bikes. It’s very clearly inspired by media like Stranger Things, The Goonies, and IT. While these films hold an important place in American culture, they are historically focused on affluent, white communities. You have the freedom to play a game that reflects the true diversity of small American towns, but this may not be something you’re interested in.
Overall, we found Kids on Bikes to be a lot of fun, and was great at capturing the tone of the movies and TV shows that inspired it. It’s easy to begin, but could easily continue for a long time afterwards. You can find Kids on Bikes at Renegade Game Studios.
Fri, 31 Jul 2020 16:00:38 +0000
Dream Askew is a game that centers around community, both within the fiction of the game, and for the people playing it. There’s no other game quite like it.
Dream Askew is a game of Belonging Outside of Belonging, which uses a system called “No Dice, No Masters.” True to the name, there is no Game Master, and no dice rolling of any kind. There is also no predefined setting; building the world, creating NPCs, and managing outside threats are all done collectively, in what the book calls “Idle Dreaming.” This idea can be both incredibly liberating and intimidating due to the lack of structure involved. However, we found that being open about your discomfort level with your group helps with that. At its best, Dream Askew feels like a real conversation, with players bouncing ideas off one another without even having to look at a rulebook.
We found the playbooks the game uses to be highly engaging; like Apocalypse World, they embody archetypes, but give you many ways to bring your character depth. Dream Askew encourages players to play to find out who their characters are by asking guiding questions rather than setting down strict rules. However, each playbook still has “moves”, and the triggers and uses of these moves were often a bit unclear. Some of these moves didn’t feel like mechanics at all, they simply looked like normal character behavior. While these are helpful for coming up with ideas, referring to them as “moves” feels a little misleading.
Another unique thing Dream Askew has are the Setting sheets. These are an alternative set of character sheets that represent things beyond the characters’ control, such as The Earth Itself, Outlying Gangs, or the Psychic Maelstrom. Players don’t claim these, but instead give and take them. When you have one, you are in essence the GM for things related to that sheet. The mechanical reasons for giving away and taking these sheets was a bit unclear, and we found the use of them a bit polarizing. Some of us really enjoyed the power that comes with them, and the ability to add complications to the characters’ lives. Others felt a bit uncomfortable with that aspect of the game.
The theme of Dream Askew is “queer strife amidst the apocalypse”, and in the time we live in today that feels all too real. Some people may find this game comforting, a way of coming to grips with our unstable world and getting some catharsis, but others may find that it hits too close to home. It is certainly the most explicitly queer game we’ve ever seen, which is a huge mark in its favor.
The book of Dream Askew comes packed with amazing features beyond the game itself, including recipes, essays, and a guide to making your own game of Belonging Outside of Belonging. It is also paired with Dream Apart, a game using the same system that focuses on Jewish fantasy in the shtetl.
All in all, Dream Askew feels important. It felt good to play, and made us think and feel things. If you enjoy games that are mechanically light but thematically heavy, then Dream Askew is right up your alley. If you're interested, you can purchase it at buriedwithoutceremony.com
Capers Episode 5: Potluck (With Tom Harrison of ShuffleQuest)
Mon, 27 Jul 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Capers Episode 4: The Lyrebird (With Tom Harrison of ShuffleQuest)
Mon, 20 Jul 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Capers Episode 3: The Fish Fan's Club (With Tom Harrison of ShuffleQuest)
Mon, 13 Jul 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Capers Episode 2: He Talks to Rocks (with Tom Harrison of ShuffleQuest)
Mon, 06 Jul 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Capers Episode 1: Slammin' Eggs (With Tom Harrison of ShuffleQuest)
Mon, 29 Jun 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Apocalypse World Episode 6: Potluck! (With Jordan Adika of ARCS)
Mon, 22 Jun 2020 08:00:00 +0000
A Cozy Den: Giant's Garden (Part of Prism Pals Pride Week 2020)
Wed, 17 Jun 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Apocalypse World Episode 5: When The Red Hail Falls (With Jordan Adika of ARCS)
Mon, 15 Jun 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Grenades fly, tanks tread, and ultimatums are made as we rev into the finale of Apocalypse World. Can the eclectic townspeople of Ploves put a stop to the Curator’s plans. More importantly, can they do so without hurting one another…?
CAST
Jordan Adika: Greta
Charlotte Elena: Willow
Noa Heinrich: Saffron
Matthew Marquez- GM
Megan Scharlau- Stranger
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music,
"Time Bomb 2" by Dean Wagg
Link: https://www.audioblocks.com/stock-audio/time-bomb-2-b8psbygdcbk4briqaz.html
"A Haunted Message Coming Through the Radio" by Bobby Cole
"Coming to Get You Alt Mix" by Bobby Cole
Link: https://www.audioblocks.com/stock-audio/coming-to-get-you-alt-mix-hekww9ktiwrk0wyads1.html
"Variation on Egmont" by Kevin MacLeod
Link: incompetech.com
"Once More" by Thomas Woodring
Link: https://www.audioblocks.com/stock-audio/once-more-sgslhfgpivrk0wyd2u6.html
"Ascent" by Euan Atkinson
Link: https://www.audioblocks.com/stock-audio/ascent-sgms7p1tupbk0wybc26.html
"The Real Mystery" by Neil Cross
Link: https://www.audioblocks.com/stock-audio/the-real-mystery-rlkhcs0hivsk0wy3cb8.html
"Lux" by Michael Vignola
Link: https://www.audioblocks.com/stock-audio/lux-h5f8-atirk2xn85o4.html
"Within Reach 02" by Marshall Usinger
Link: https://www.audioblocks.com/stock-audio/within-reach-02-bqnbwqlf_csk4brpuwe.html
"A Traditional Classical Piano Halloween" by Bobby Cole
"Surrounding Shadows" by Neil Cross
Link: https://www.audioblocks.com/stock-audio/surrounding-shadows-sglrasa2idrk0wy3c8x.html
"Found" by Greg McKay
Link: https://www.audioblocks.com/stock-audio/found-rx1gsyl6lwbk0wyc6mz.html
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Learn more about Apocalypse World at http://apocalypse-world.com/
Read this episode's transcript and learn more about Tabletop Potluck at http://www.tabletoppotluck.com
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Support the show on Patreon
Apocalypse World Episode 4: Curated Memories (With Jordan Adika of ARCS)
Mon, 08 Jun 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Apocalypse World Episode 3: Reclamation Day (With Jordan Adika of ARCS)
Mon, 01 Jun 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Apocalypse World Episode 2: A Fresh Brewed Cup of Grenades (With Jordan Adika of ARCS)
Mon, 25 May 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Apocalypse World Episode 1: Welcome to Ploves! (With Jordan Adika of ARCS)
Mon, 18 May 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Kids on Bikes Episode 7: Potluck!
Mon, 11 May 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Kids on Bikes Episode 6: After Hours
Mon, 04 May 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Kids on Bikes Epiosde 5: Wolf, Crow & Hound
Mon, 27 Apr 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Kids on Bikes Episode 4: Midnight on Route 60
Mon, 20 Apr 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Kids on Bikes Episode 3: Don't $&#* with the HOA
Mon, 13 Apr 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Mon, 06 Apr 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Kids on Bikes Episode 1: A Planet Called 1996
Mon, 30 Mar 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Honey Heist Episode 3: Potluck! (With Eric and Amanda of Join the Party)
Mon, 23 Mar 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Honey Heist Episode 2: Long Live the Queen (with Eric and Amanda of Join the Party)
Mon, 16 Mar 2020 08:00:00 +0000
Honey Heist Episode 1: No Gods, No Kings, No Bears (with Eric and Amanda of Join the Party)
Mon, 09 Mar 2020 13:13:40 +0000
Four unlikely bear-oes (get it? like heroes?) find the perfect honey heist fallen into their collective laps.
CAST
Ray Goldberg- Baris
Matthew Marquez- Hammersmith
Amanda McLoughlin- Douglas "Dapper Danger"
Megan Scharlau- GM
Eric Silver- Iceberg McCree
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music,
"Bossa Antigua", "Airport Lounge", "Covert Affair", and "Western Streets" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.filmmusic.io)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Learn more about Honey Heist at gshowitt.itch.io
Read this episode's transcript and learn more about Tabletop Potluck at http://www.tabletoppotluck.com
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Support the show on Patreon
Endless Realms Returns Episode 5: Potluck!
Mon, 02 Mar 2020 09:00:00 +0000
We're done with our second arc of Endless Realms and now it's time to discuss all of the new things we got to experience with the full rulebook!
CAST
Charlotte Elena: River
Ray Goldberg: Yenev
Noa Heinrich: Flikki
Matthew Marquez: Seneschal Soso of Sunspot
Megan Scharlau: GM
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Dark" by Tom Goldstein, "The Evil Resident" by Bobby Cole, "Singularity" by Michael Vignola (audioblocks.com), "Redletter" and "Parting of the Ways Part 2" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.filmmusic.io)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Learn more about Endless Realms at https://www.endlessrealms.ca
Read this episode's transcript and learn more about Tabletop Potluck at http://www.tabletoppotluck.com
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Support the show on Patreon
Endless Realms Returns Episode 4: Don't Take My Man
Mon, 24 Feb 2020 09:00:00 +0000
Endless Realms Returns Episode 3: Crumpets and Curses
Mon, 17 Feb 2020 09:00:00 +0000
Endless Realms Returns Episode 2: Please Nice
Mon, 10 Feb 2020 09:00:00 +0000
Endless Realms Returns Episode 1: No Laws in the Forest
Mon, 03 Feb 2020 09:00:00 +0000
A group of four prospective mercenaries are given their final mission to join the Guild of Dedburn.
CAST
Charlotte Elena: River
Ray Goldberg: Yenev
Noa Heinrich: Flikki
Matthew Marquez: Seneschal Soso of Sunspot
Megan Scharlau: GM
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Different Universe" and "The Real Mystery" by Neil Cross, "I Nostri Giorni II- Our Days II" by Emanuele Dentoni, "Ambient Background Music 1 (Loop) by Keith Anthony Holden (audioblocks.com), "Spider's Web" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.filmmusic.io)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Learn more about Endless Realms at https://www.endlessrealms.ca
For transcripts, information on the podcast, and more go to http://tabletoppotluck.com
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
7th Sea: The Return Episode 8: Potluck!
Mon, 16 Dec 2019 09:00:00 +0000
7th Sea: The Return Potluck Blog
Mon, 16 Dec 2019 09:00:00 +0000
It’s been really enjoyable stepping back on to the deck of the One-Sided Die with our Return to 7th Sea. Now that we’ve had a chance to use the full rulebook and some features that we didn’t see in our first season, we have a new potluck discussion to dive in to!
We all noticed a sizeable difference between the full rulebook vs the free rulebook. We still praise the free rules for having all the necessities to play the game, which is a huge benefit to the system and its accessibility. We also loved the full book for the variety of specializations and options it provides, but do find it humorous how in-depth it can be in the lore section. This is great for worldbuilders but can be a little much if you’re just trying to do a quick one-shot. The most helpful part of the full rulebook is that it provides an in-depth run-through of an action sequence in its pages, the full length of which couldn’t be in the free rules. Megan mentioned she found that very helpful when running the sequences and determining what sort of things her character can do. The art of the book is astounding and showcases a variety of racial diversity and sexualities which we praise above other RPGs. Ultimately we think the full rule book is worth the price for the options it provides.
Sorcery was interesting to insert and while we praised that each nation has their own method of sorcery with each system being different, for our one shot Megan found that the Eisen Hexenwerk was a little too slow and required too much time and components to showcase effectively. She still loves the concept and execution though. Hexenwerk is HexenWORK, but somebody’s got to do it!
For the most part we didn’t like ship combat but Sally liked that it was similar to action sequences. The correlation makes it easy to grasp even if certain elements are different from land combat. Megan felt constricted (as one likely would if fighting on a ship in the middle of the ocean) and Noa thought that the concept of swashbuckling and individual actions don’t translate well when focusing on the whole ship. As a caveat, there’s never been a ship combat system we here on Tabletop Potluck felt has been really enjoyable, so perhaps this element in games just isn’t for us. Marquez mentioned how stakes are hard to fully grasp when your focus is abstracted to a ship’s hull and health rather than the personal stakes relating to a character you play and put a lot of care into portraying. Charlotte had a tough time visualizing the danger the ship was in. While Ray liked action sequences better this time around, ship combat really rubbed them the wrong way. Marquez admitted that the stakes he provided weren’t the most exciting stakes, but we can’t blame the players’ decision to run rather than stay and fight. If you’re playing a crew who is more than willing to board another ship and bring the fight to them, then you’ll likely enjoy ship combat much more than if you’re just using cannons.
Megan thought that firearms requiring 5 raises to reload is a little ridiculous and most of the table agreed. We understand that the game doesn’t want firearms to be overpowered but 5 seems too much. Marquez mentioned how it feels like they wanted to translate a firearm to the system instead of developing the system to use firearms and it’s hard to do that while also making a very deadly weapon seem effective. The table agreed however that, much like ship combat, firearms are hard to translate into a game because of how frightening and deadly they are in real life. Sally put forth the idea that maybe guns could scale up with your character. This would be a great thing for an expansion to cover, or some homebrew to modify!
We also mentioned how advancement is a little iffy in this game as it requires you to complete a story to gain an advancement. Noa brought up that she likes the idea that you don’t need to kill people to advance like most EXP based RPGs, but ultimately we came to the conclusion that when you try to tell a story in a podcast for this system, the method of advancement doesn’t mesh well with a singular narrative. If you are playing at home and have time to focus on story beats for each character, it’s a compelling growth system. Noa brought up playing the game with one player and one GM because focusing the story would be very cool and allows the game to do what it does (swashbuckling heroes) in the best way.
The game also works best when the characters are tightly knit from the start. We found with our crew that forcing together people who don’t trust each other from the start can hinder character advancement from a mechanical standpoint (even if it makes for some juicy roleplay).
Moving on to enemies. The crew agrees that monsters felt real and legitimate. The fact that you can give a monster any number of Monstrous Qualities makes them powerful, if a little frustrating. Giving the players an insurmountable encounter can be fun especially if you make it clear that they will have to find another way to either escape or convince it to leave rather than facing it head-on.
To wrap up, compared to when we played two years ago, we felt that not much has changed in returning to the system. We liked it the same amount for the most part, but we’ve had a lot more experience with a variety of systems in these two years and it’s us who have changed. Ray mentioned having a tough time separating her warm feelings for the characters with the system. Charlotte mentioned that even though the 2nd edition is divisive amongst the 7th Sea community, she stands on the side of enjoying it. Noa praised the game doing swashbuckling very well and Megan loves she was able to make a non-combat-oriented character without difficulty. Marquez would rather be a player than a GM in the future, but still loves the game as a player character. We would all like to play 7th Sea in the future, but maybe not in a narrative podcast form and with a smaller group instead.
To grab a copy for yourself, head on over to https://www.chaosium.com/7th-sea/!
And with that, we want to thank you so much for listening to our podcast and reading this blog! We will be back in 2020 with Season 3 of Tabletop Potluck!
7th Sea: The Return Episode 7: ...Into Day
Mon, 09 Dec 2019 09:00:00 +0000
7th Sea: The Return Episode 6: Long Night's Journey...
Mon, 02 Dec 2019 09:00:00 +0000
7th Sea: The Return Episode 5: Meanwhile on El Cero
Mon, 25 Nov 2019 09:00:00 +0000
7th Sea: The Return Episode 4: Inismore At Long Last
Mon, 18 Nov 2019 09:00:00 +0000
7th Sea: The Return Episode 3: Flirting with Danger... and Assassins
Mon, 11 Nov 2019 09:00:00 +0000
7th Sea: The Return Episode 2: Fire Ze Cannons
Mon, 04 Nov 2019 09:00:00 +0000
7th Sea: The Return Episode 1: Catching Up With The Order
Mon, 28 Oct 2019 08:00:00 +0000
After 2 days fleeing the forces of Regina Modesto, the crew of the One-Sided Die settle down into both familiar and strange roles as they decompress from their past adventure and plan their next move.
CAST
Sally Chan: Ena
Charlotte Elena: Quinn Bailey
Ray Goldberg: Odette
Noa Heinrich: Doctor Andres
Matthew Marquez: GM
Megan Scharlau: Lucine Annabeth Villaine
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Touching Moments Four Melody," "Harlequin," "Anguish," and "Five Armies" by Kevin MacLeod (filmmusic.io), "Set Sail" by Ilya Kaplan & Stan Fomin, "Depleted Heart" by Ceiri Torjussen, and "Open Your Eyes" by Ken Elkinson (audioblocks.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Learn more about 7th Sea at https://www.chaosium.com/7th-sea/
Learn more about Tabletop Potluck at http://tabletoppotluck.com
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Support the show on Patreon
Dream Askew Episode 6: Potluck!
Mon, 21 Oct 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Dream Askew Episode 5: What Happens After?
Mon, 14 Oct 2019 08:00:00 +0000
CW: Guns, Police drawing guns
Every wave must eventually break. The Driftwood Collective is on the verge of tearing apart from forces within and without. Will this queer enclave survive another year, or will it join the rest of the world in ruin?
CAST
Charlotte Elena: Duke
Noa Heinrich: Micaela
Matthew Marquez: Cookie
Megan Scharlau: Nils
SOUNDTRACK
Theme and midroll music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Morgana Rides," "Man Down," "Mystery Sax," "Bittersweet," and "Jet Fueled Vixen" by Kevin MacLeod (filmmusic.io) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Learn more about Dream Askew at https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/dream-askew
Learn more about Tabletop Potluck at http://tabletoppotluck.com
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Support the show on Patreon
Dream Askew Episode 4: Saw, Felt, Experienced
Mon, 07 Oct 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Dream Askew Episode 3: It's All About You
Mon, 30 Sep 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Dream Askew Episode 2: Right Back at Ya
Mon, 23 Sep 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Dream Askew Episode 1: Welcome to the Dream
Mon, 16 Sep 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Starfinder Episode 6: Potluck!
Mon, 09 Sep 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Starfinder Episode Five: Do You Want to Become Pirates?
Mon, 02 Sep 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Starfinder Episode Four: Whiffing Wisps
Mon, 26 Aug 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Starfinder Episode Three: I Have No Idea What That Lever Does
Mon, 19 Aug 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Starfinder Episode Two: I Hate That Sellout
Mon, 12 Aug 2019 08:00:00 +0000
The illustrious celebrity chef Coda Carlisle is missing, and the Wisps have picked up the case. Their first lead points to the jungle Boxes and they're hot on the trail. Or at least, they would be if they could get their ship out of the Absalom Station Impound Lot. That shouldn't be too difficult, right?
CAST
Charlotte Elena: GM
Noa Heinrich: Thread-6
Matthew Marquez: Wallit Phoenkis
Megan Scharlau: Ekoria Fay
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
" Soaring," "Happy Alley," "Cephalopod," "Midnight Tale," and "Envision" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Learn more about Starfinder at https://paizo.com/starfinder
Learn more about Tabletop Potluck at http://tabletoppotluck.com
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Support the show on Patreon
Starfinder Episode One: Absalom Station Blues
Mon, 05 Aug 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Mysteries of the Yokai Episode Five: Potluck!
Mon, 29 Jul 2019 08:00:00 +0000
CAST
Sally Chan: Yue
Charlotte Elena: Yuuya
Ray Goldberg: Rina
Noa Heinrich: GM
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
Learn more about Mysteries of the Yokai at https://www.mysteriesoftheyokai.com/
Learn more about Tabletop Potluck at http://tabletoppotluck.com
Mysteries of the Yokai Potluck Blog
Mon, 29 Jul 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Another day, another disaster averted by the brave operatives of the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Now that we have finished our adventure through the strange streets of Enbashi, it’s time to discuss the game that brought us there. Is Mysteries of the Yokai the right game for you and your tabletop group? Join us once more, as we delve into this unique game, courtesy of Warding Circle.
Yokai is a game that blazes its own trail when it comes to gaming mechanics, using its own original system rather than cribbing off of another established set of rules. This makes it exciting and fresh, but can also lead to frustration for people more used to the classic games.
Take character creation for example. Yokai foregoes having a set list of classes and races to choose from, instead opting for a point-buy system that is used to pick every aspect of your character’s abilities. The players all appreciated the flexibility this offers, but also found themselves suffering from tyranny of choice. There are so many options to pick from that it can feel overwhelming before you get started. Yokai does offer katas, themed packages that can help guide you, but certain aspects, especially signature attacks, were a bit confusing at first glance. Noa mentioned that NPCs used the same point-buy system, which makes for unique threats and allies, but also require a substantial amount of time to implement.
We found the general mechanics to be intriguing and flexible. We enjoyed that skills could be used with different abilities depending on the character’s personality and background. For example, a weightlifter could add Strength to their Athletics skill, while a long-distance runner might use Endurance instead. Flavorfully, this makes a lot of sense, and is an approach that more games should consider in the future.
Conflicts in Yokai are very different from what any of us were used to. The Conflict Tracker (which can be seen here) is an elegant piece of game design, and the fact that combat is ended by forcing the other side to become unwilling to fight rather than outright killing them all is refreshing. However, we underestimated how key signature attacks were to running an engaging battle. If a character doesn’t have a relevant signature move to the situation, then there it can get repetitive. It falls to the GM to make sure that the fights stay fun and inclusive of the PCs, and there can be a learning curve for those used to traditional turn-based fights.
Yokai truly excels when it comes to the world it creates. It’s clear the designers put a great deal of research and love into the setting, combining the action and courtly intrigue of historical Japan seamlessly with the mystery and wonder of Japanese mythology. Charlotte pointed out that a good RPG setting gives the GM with intriguing hooks and plot threads, and Yokai provides those in abundance. Even if you aren’t familiar with the history or mythology that inspired the game, most players should be able to jump right in. If you grew up watching the films of Studio Ghibli, then Yokai is certain to capture your imagination.
Overall, we enjoyed our time playing Mysteries of the Yokai, and would love to play it again one day. The game offers a lot of complexity without devolving into too much crunch. It might be difficult for new players to jump into without the help of an experienced GM, but there’s an amazing world to discover for those who will try it!
Mysteries of the Yokai can be found at https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/229544/Mysteries-of-the-Yokai?affiliate_id=781175.
Mysteries of the Yokai Episode Four: Across the River
Mon, 22 Jul 2019 08:00:00 +0000
CAST
Sally Chan: Yue
Charlotte Elena: Yuuya
Ray Goldberg: Rina
Noa Heinrich: GM
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Evening Fall (Harp)", "Dirt Rhodes", "Eastern Thought", and "Overheat" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Learn more about Mysteries of the Yokai at https://www.mysteriesoftheyokai.com/
Learn more about Tabletop Potluck at http://tabletoppotluck.com
Mysteries of the Yokai Episode Three: Fallen Leaves and Flower Cards
Mon, 15 Jul 2019 08:00:00 +0000
The investigators finally have a concrete lead, but there's one problem; that lead goes through Enbashi's most dangerous gambling den. The Tojo clan plays for keeps, so they'd better hope they have a strong hand.
CAST
Sally Chan: Yue
Charlotte Elena: Yuuya
Ray Goldberg: Rina
Noa Heinrich: GM
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Poolside Gambler", "Japanese Taiko Drum Conference", and "Wang Yang Theme" courtesy of Audioblocks.com
Learn more about Mysteries of the Yokai at https://www.mysteriesoftheyokai.com/
Learn more about Tabletop Potluck at http://tabletoppotluck.com
Mysteries of the Yokai Episode Two: Running Foxes
Mon, 08 Jul 2019 08:00:00 +0000
A shocking murder draws the investigators further into the underworld politics of Enbashi. Questions are asked, more questions are found, and deals are struck. Will the answers present themselves before the sun rises?
CAST
Sally Chan: Yue
Charlotte Elena: Yuuya
Ray Goldberg: Rina
Noa Heinrich: GM
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Big Mojo", "Finding Movement", "Indore", and Cartoon Battle" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Learn more about Mysteries of the Yokai at https://www.mysteriesoftheyokai.com/
Learn more about Tabletop Potluck at http://tabletoppotluck.com
Mysteries of the Yokai Episode One: City of Spirits
Mon, 01 Jul 2019 08:00:00 +0000
When a strange rumor surfaces in a strange town, three intrepid investigators answer the call. Little do they know just how deep this mystery runs. Join us as we explore the beauty and danger of Mysteries of the Yokai.
CAST
Sally Chan: Yue
Charlotte Elena: Yuuya
Ray Goldberg: Rina
Noa Heinrich: GM
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"30 Seconds of Kyoto", "Japanese Zen Garden", and "Yokoshima Theme" courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Mysteries of the Yokai at https://www.mysteriesoftheyokai.com/
Learn more about Tabletop Potluck at http://tabletoppotluck.com
Tails of Equestria Potluck Blog
Tue, 25 Jun 2019 15:02:05 +0000
Hey all! Have you ever wondered what friendship could be? Well, come and take this adventure with Tabletop Potluck as we explore the My Little Pony game Tails of Equestria!
Both Megan and Sally thought the book guided you through character creation with ease and everything was laid out very simply but didn’t lack complexity so all the character created could feel different
Megan felt the system was inviting despite her lack of knowledge of My Little Pony. She had to read up on the Elements of Harmony, but the book provides definitions so that wasn’t too much of a problem. Marquez felt that the character creation was about halfway between a playbook system and a crunchier game, making it a good entry level game as it was designed for both children and adults.
Both quirks and talents were easy to understand. Talents are basic powers and are akin to Dungeons and Dragons feats which are great but don’t really stand out. Sally loved talents and love the variety of powers these ponies can have, as well as making sure they all were different from one another.
Quirks, on the other hand, stood out especially as interesting role-playing prompts that despite being things that would hold your character back, provided no negative mechanical aspect to your character sheet and by confronting your quirk through role playing opportunities has a positive mechanical spin, which really fits in well with such a positive game system. Your quirks set you apart but they are what make you you! The fantastic character you are!
Friendship tokens are GREAT! The crew all agreed that the friendship token mechanic felt really well developed. The fact that you start off with friendship tokens equal to the people at the table INCLUDING the GM is really nice as it emphasizes that the GM wants you to succeed and is also your friend. The idea that you use the friendship tokens to re-roll and change the narrative really emphasizes the subtitle of the show that friendship IS magic and by using these tokens you can just succeed! But be careful not to hoard your friendship tokens like a dragon, friendship is meant to be shared! And if you spend them, they are easy to get back as the game rewards you with them for being a good friend.
The test, challenges, and scuffle aspects of the game (the main reason you roll dice) seemed fair. You just roll one die to determine success and when the challenges you face are at your level all the dice rolls are fair. This also allows the GM to showcase when a threat seems insurmountable, like when Marquez pulled a d12-- the atmosphere changed at the table, but with enough friendship tokens, anything is possible.
Leveling is really easy, just finish an adventure! Though we didn’t level up here, we noted that it is so nice knowing that instead of a complicated experience system and easier to explain while teaching kids to play the game.
We would all play Tails of Equestria, though Megan would want to watch My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic before playing again but mostly so she’d be as excited as Sally was during the game! We recommend Tails of Equestria definitely for parents who want to teach their kids, or even as a first time RPG for all ages provided you want to have fun! If you don’t take yourself too seriously take some time and play this game! It’s a breath of fresh air!
Tails of Equestria can be found at: https://riverhorse.eu/our-games/my-little-pony-tails-of-equestria/
Tails of Equestria Episode 7: Potluck!
Mon, 24 Jun 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Tails of Equestria Episode 6: Final Curtain
Mon, 17 Jun 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Tails of Equestria Episode 5: Opening Night
Mon, 10 Jun 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Tails of Equestria Episode Four: Friendship Found
Mon, 03 Jun 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Tails of Equestria Episode 3: Love Lost
Mon, 27 May 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Wed, 22 May 2019 17:36:40 +0000
“[The] tome in your hands holds many of the secrets of the beings known as spirits. Drawn from a wide collection of resources, it can be a powerful tool in the right hands. Or it can be a source of entertainment. How it is used is up to you”
-Tome of Spirits, Page 1
The TTPL crew were lucky enough to get a working copy of Tome of Spirits, the new source book for Endless Realms, from our friends at Lunar Games! They're in the last stretch of their kickstarter, which you can check out here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lunargames/endless-realms-tome-of-spirits
Here are some of our thoughts!
For GMs and players alike, Tome of Spirits is a beautiful piece of worldbuilding for Endless Realms. Belief and mythology is important to any culture, and this book gives you the tools to incorporate those mythologies into your game.
When we last played the game, we had a lot of questions about the exact power and place of spirits in the world of Lumis, but ToS addresses this in the first two pages! Spirits are described in multiple evolving ways, which gives GMs a chance to use the description that suits their story best. Multiple ranks of spirits, types of energy, traditions, and spiritual aspects are covered.
All of these aspects are bound to inspire countless plot hooks for possible adventures. Variety is the spice of life.
In fact, there’s an entire section on incorporating spirits into adventures-- for instance, multiple roles that spirits can play as NPCs, or how spirits belong in multiple realms. The examples given here are brilliant and diverse.
Our game of Endless Realms also discussed corrupted spirits, which ARE IN THIS. YO. There’s an entire section on corruption, what it does, and how to combat it! We are very excited about this.
The book isn’t only worldbuilding; it also adds mechanics to the system by giving readers new Class Paths and Skills.
We were all really charmed by the class paths. The Divine Advocate path sticks out to us especially; might not expect a law magic class to be focused on the unruly natural world, but the build finds a wonderful synthesis where you could play what is akin to a natural rights lawyer or an activist, which is A+ to nerds like us. Another great one is the Evangelist path for the Dandy. It slots right into what the Dandy is trying to be, and ties into the natural charisma of the class.
The book gives you some spiritually imbued items to incorporate into your game, as well as some more mundane items. The items have a wide range of rarity and power, including cursed items (a fun addition to any game). Want your players to be stuck reading the “Boring Tome” or give them a nice magical fluffy pillow? ToS has you covered.
There is a huge amount of content in this book. It might be daunting at first, especially if you’re new to Endless Realms (our eyes may have boggled at the initial sight of it). However, if you already know and love Endless Realms like us, that shouldn’t be a problem. We would definitely recommend this book as an addition to any Endless Realms game.
Tails of Equestria Episode 2: Following the Lead-ing Mane
Mon, 20 May 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Tails of Equestria Episode 1: Hoofin' It To Canterlot
Mon, 13 May 2019 08:00:00 +0000
A Town Called Malice Episode 6: Potluck
Mon, 06 May 2019 08:00:00 +0000
A Town Called Malice Potluck Blog
Mon, 06 May 2019 08:00:00 +0000
The clouds have passed over Malice. As the rain washes away our fears, we will in turn pour our feelings on this system over your willing eyes and ears. If you don’t have time to listen to the potluck episode, here’s a handy blog post to reference as you decide whether or not you want to click that Buy-It-Now button! So now let’s dig in to A Town Called Malice (ATCM) by David Kizzia and Monkeyfun Studios.
Remember to take our review with a grain of salt since the game is likely to change by the time it is officially released!
Our first discussion topic was the Nordic Horror setting and its effectiveness in this system. Even our players who were not well-versed in Nordic Horror still really enjoyed the setting and the eerie feel made possible in such a small town. We made sure to touch on the fact that although we made the Darkness something supernatural, the game does not specify that; your Darkness can be as terrifyingly real as you wish! The rules and creation guides leave many options to the players while guiding them along an easily spoopy situation.
The game appears to be very open to possibilities. With that in mind, David Kizzia mentions the possibility of a PvP playstyle. The Beta rules do not go into detail on this, but the entire team is very interested in learning more about that choice! We’re personally hoping for some Betrayal at House on the Hill surprise twisty goodness!
Continuing on, the playbooks fit perfectly in the setting (if you want a sneak peak at every playbook, check out our Session 0 at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck). The archetypal structure of the characters lets you take a very specific role and implement it however you’d like to fit your desired story. It’s very easy to make a community through the playbooks, and they’re all made to build a seamless sense of community. You start the game by creating your characters which includes creating a location in town and an NPC that fits with it. This includes everyone in the world building and makes it more of a group activity instead of just running a cut and dry setting guide. We love the inclusion of the players in worldbuilding in any game and were so excited to see it explicitly asked for here.
On the subject of structure, we addressed a unique feature of ATCM. Instead of a singular GM running the game, the system requires a narrator. This can either be one player (who also has a character in the game) or the role can be shared by all players, each taking turn with the role as the spotlight shifts between them. As lovers of secrets and unknown horrors, a lot of us questioned how effectively a scary story can be told if 1. Everyone knows the secrets or 2. No one knows the secrets and it’s all improv. As a sole narrator, Megan found it a bit difficult to balance knowing the hidden information and trying not to meta-game as her PC. That being said, we all agreed that we wouldn’t want to give up the feature of all players taking turns being NPCs. This fits better with a rotating narrator, or at least a narrator who doesn’t take the sole role of GM, and really solidifies this as a game of community. You build the town, you continue to help it grow as you create new locations, and you lend your voice to the community. It’s very rounded out between every player and no .
As much as we believe comparing this game to Fiasco is like comparing apples to oranges, we want to touch on the topic because they’re both technically GM-less games. If you want a bit more structure to your improv TTRPG, ATCM has a lot of it. Fiasco is, as the name suggests, more of a chaotic, comedic whirlwind. It’s the different of wanting a fun, Cohen brothers film or a darker Fargo. If you’re a fan of a bit more structure and darker narratives, you’ll love A Town Called Malice.
Some players might struggle with the fact that the existence of full success/mixed success/ full failure endings leads some people to stray a little bit away from natural roleplay due to the innate desire to win. If you want a full success, you most likely will end up meta-gaming at least a little bit as you head towards the final act and confrontation with the darkness. And that’s fair! But if you want that out of your games, you might take up issue with ATCM. At the same time, this leads to very cooperative play which can be a joy if you’ve had problems with adventuring parties that are constantly questioning why they travel together.
On the subject of Scenes: There are 5 different possible scenes you can choose to run on your turn. These either resolve something personal for your character or address a story pillar of the game. As we’ve seen throughout ATCM, that’s a lot of options to keep you from feeling trapped in only one choice. You can help your friends, fight alone, or just go out and do whatever puts your character ahead. And that’s a good concept. We could see some of the scenes growing more from where they currently are, but other than that it’s a pretty good start! Each brings something different in the evolution of the acts, but their effects are still pretty easy to follow. The change between the acts itself can be very subtle and that can let the importance of the ending sneak up on you. It’s important to remember that this game will eventually end and there can be dire consequences for your choices even from the first act. That being said, you need to stay on your toes if you want to win because one dice roll can change the entire game.
As was just mentioned, this game has an ending. This isn’t really built to be played over years and years (though there are notes in the book for continuing the story). If you feel like you don’t have the time to commit to an RPG campaign, ATCM can be a perfect option for telling deep, dark stories on a busy schedule. The team had a bit of a disagreement on if this game can be picked up and played on a moment’s notice, even though it’s very low commitment (aside from emotional). Marquez thinks it depends on the people you run it with. Ray thinks it still requires setup to be run well. Like the Betrayal at House on the Hill boardgame, it requires a bit of setup and a certain level of investment, so it really is up to you if that’s the type of game you’d go for at a party! If that sounds like a party for you, invite Megan.
This is a game for “spooky binches,” those who like mysteries and thrillers, psychological film nerds (Jacobs Ladder), and serious improv troupes (which should totally exist). If you want to play normal people confronting things far above their understanding and normal wheelhouse, then this is a game for you.
So would we play it again?
-Sally wants to experience mixed success endings and failures.
-Marquez wants to play the other playbooks.
-Ray would possibly play it but isn’t chomping at the bit. She wants to see a PvP playthrough though.
-Megan can’t wait to see what changes will be made when the Kickstarter has done.
Some tips for playing:
-If you want more instances of the darkness having a chance to come in to play, play with more than 4 players! And work on confronting the darkness as much as you can!
-Like any game, play with it. If you want to modify the rules for a certain mechanic to fit your group better, feel free! There are so many options in this game, it feels like optimization really fits the spirit of the system.
-Make sure you’re upping the stakes as you get closer to the ending! The game doesn’t necessarily tell you when to do that (aside from Darkness scene failures), so follow your gut and let that darkness shine!
-Sally thinks that this game is a bit difficult for people who have no experience with tabletop roleplaying games. So if you’ve got newbies in your group, make sure you’re checking in with them to make sure they’re getting the most out of the game! Also, probably shepherd them through it with a selected narrator instead of taking turns with that role.
A Town Called Malice is on Kickstarter from April 23rd-May 24th: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/monkeyfunstudios/a-town-called-malice-a-nordic-horror-story-game
A Town Called Malice Episode 5: Grow
Mon, 29 Apr 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Ray Goldberg: Sigrid Halverson
Matthew James Marquez: Jason Argo
Megan Scharlau: Zackie Marshall and Narrator
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Royal Forester" by Greg Joy, "Beautiful Swirling Acoustic Guitar Background Music". "Underground Ambient Space Locker", "Dark Orchestral Ambience", and "Romance" by Bobby Cole (audioblocks.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
A Town Called Malice Episode 4: To What End
Mon, 22 Apr 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Ray Goldberg: Sigrid Halverson
Matthew James Marquez: Jason Argo
Megan Scharlau: Zackie Marshall and Narrator
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music "Flying Too Close To The Sun" by Brad Prevedoros, Neil Golden, & Greg Joy, "Moving emotional piano hero track" by Daniel Bordovsky, "Died For Love Piano Solo" by C. Zatta, and "Autumn of Life" by Jason Donnelly (audioblocks.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
A Town Called Malice Episode 3: Not Normal
Mon, 15 Apr 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Ray Goldberg: Sigrid Halverson
Matthew James Marquez: Jason Argo
Megan Scharlau: Zackie Marshall and Narrator
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Solace (Acoustic Guitar & Piano) and "The Waiting Game" by Keith Anthony Holden, "Dirty Blues Rock" and "Midnight Backwards Horror" by Bobby Cole, and "Sunrise Without You" by Jason Donnelly (audioblocks.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
A Town Called Malice Episode 2: A Roll of the Dice
Mon, 08 Apr 2019 08:00:00 +0000
CW: DEATH
In the wake of Avery Tennyson’s death, the citizens of Malice work together to try to find any clues into the darkness plaguing their town.
A Town Called Malice Episode 1: Bright, Young Avery
Mon, 01 Apr 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Urban Shadows Episode 7: Potluck
Mon, 25 Mar 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Mon, 25 Mar 2019 08:00:00 +0000
As we came into the light from out of the Urban Shadows, we were successfully able to compile our thoughts from our Potluck into a convenient dossier for you alone, visitor.
We really like the spread of what kind of characters you can make with each playbook. Each of them have a coherent flavor. Playbooks like The Oracle aren't combat-oriented, but that pushes for more creative role playing. Noa thought the playbooks give interesting spins on fantasy tropes and pointed out The Wolf playbook for its unique moves based around their protection of a neighborhood and loved the Faustian bargain aspect of her playbook, the Tainted. Charlotte thought there were some interesting choices for the playbooks outside the regular tropes of Urban Fantasy and we pointed out there are additional purchasable playbooks available if you want to explore different options. Megan mentioned how the corruption helps balance out character types, giving you the option of being more akin to a poltergeist or a nicer ghost. Sally learned that through play rather than getting it right off the bat, but loved how the choices she made through play helped shape her understanding.
Getting deeper into mechanics, we agreed corruption doesn’t really work for one-shots because it matters more in a longer term campaign. Noa mentioned Corruption in general though is amazing and we love having the slippery slope that we can get sucked into the city. As characters get more desperate, they use corruption more and more. Sometimes it's fun to be a little bad. Comparisons were made to the sanity mechanic in Call of Cthulhu and the Doom track in Masks.
The faction and debt mechanics help to further the game’s themes as well. PVP is discouraged in games like Masks, and Bedlam Hall has specific PVP play, but we think that Urban Shadows is a good mix of both. You can both help and mess up each others plans. This is best characterized in the debt mechanics, which color your relationships in the game by what favors you do and what you owe each other. The lend a Hand/Get in the Way moves also help to further the grey area politics in the game. Noa mentioned how the characters play at a micro level but the city is functioning on a macro level, which can be both daunting and exciting.
Our table was divided on our opinions for the faction mechanics in the game. Some thought they are grouped together in a way that the factions function as a singular entity mechanically but there can be many subfactions narratively that can cause dissonance. Noa mentioned how the factions aren’t meant to be monoliths and the she thinks the faction moves are very good, especially the flavor of putting a name to a face.
Delving deeper into basic moves, Marquez felt like there were too many of them. While some agreed and some didn’t, we admitted that the formatting of the playbooks might have also been a trick of the mind where it feels like there are more than there actually are.
The vagueness of the Keep Your Cool move was noted upon. The move doesn’t have a significant storytelling trigger that provides an heavy agency for the player. We may have played incorrectly as the move seems best used when singular characters encountering terrifying situations which we agreed can be better explored probably in a less narrative podcast experience.
The Let It Out move was noted as being not as beneficial for mortal characters but can be used as a catch all move.
We all pretty much agreed that how the stats related to basic moves didn’t feel really intuitive and also the stats names felt strange in relation to what you were doing in game.
When it came to how you advance your character, marking factions didn’t really sit well with most of the table, but Noa gave a good argument about exploring the city and how it encourages world building by connecting advancement with actual experience. Megan noted how easy it is to forget to mark that as experience as opposed to the simplicity of failing a roll in other PBtA games. We all agreed, however, that it should be up to the entire table to remember move triggers and experience triggers.
Ultimately we liked Urban Shadows and most of us would like to play more of it, though it’s completely understandable if it's not your cup of tea. If you are someone who likes to think politically about wheeling and dealing favors and avoiding falling into the moral morass of your own personal agenda, this game is up your dark and foreboding alley.
You can get Urban Shadows at: https://www.magpiegames.com/our-games/urban-shadows/
Urban Shadows Episode 6: Horto in Urbs
Mon, 18 Mar 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Urban Shadows Episode 5: Four Birds, One Stone
Mon, 11 Mar 2019 08:00:00 +0000
Urban Shadows Episode 4: Ghoulfriend
Mon, 04 Mar 2019 09:00:00 +0000
Urban Shadows Episode 3: I Call Shotgun
Mon, 25 Feb 2019 09:00:00 +0000
Wed, 20 Feb 2019 13:00:00 +0000
We can’t believe it’s been a month since PodCon 2 in Seattle. Perhaps it’s time for our take on this new convention!
Seattle can be a somewhat expensive destination, so is PodCon 2 the con for you? Hopefully, our experiences can help you decide when tickets go on sale for PodCon 3!
PodCon is unlike most conventions the Tabletop Potluck team has been to. The location was small and centralized and the convention only lasted 2 days. Unlike many catch-all conventions with a wide variety of topics covered, PodCon only focuses on podcasts.
Our very own Ray Goldberg spoke on a panel discussing Collaborative Storytelling in podcasting with Eric Silver (Join the Party), Arnie Niekamp (Hello from the Magic Tavern), Victoria Rogers (Broadswords), Celeste Conowitch (Venture Maidens), and Griffin McElroy (The Adventure Zone). Eric Silver likened DMing as building a house for his friends to come in a decorate and make feel lived in. A house isn’t a home without a party. Griffin McElroy mentioned how trust is important in collaborative storytelling which is why he started the Adventure Zone with the people he trusts the most, his family. Celeste Conowitch also cited trust as she live-streams with her party, and the joy of living in the moment- though the rest of the panel was astounded at her tenacity in doing so. Overall, it was a wonderful time and a great opportunity to work with other actual-play podcasters we admire.
Pros:
-A great way to possibly meet big podcasters you love and see some interesting live shows
-Wonderful meetups for different groups and fans of shows
-Very warm atmosphere
-There was a quiet room for whenever the con got to be too much for you, but it really should have been made more obvious to everyone
-Small venue size means it’s very manageable
Cons:
- There were some rough scheduling issues leading up to PodCon. It’s hard enough packing in so many panels into only two days, and we would have liked to have had the schedule finalized much earlier than it was for PodCon 2.
- This year they decided to go with wristbands instead of badges. The choice made podcasters lose a perfect, visible spot for their business cards.
-It would be great if PodCon showed more support for indie podcasts and included a more diverse panel of featured guests. (Also, pay your speakers, PodCon! They do SO MUCH work for nothing)
-But really, let’s get more than 2 days for this thing! It was impossible to see everything you wanted to.
-There were no physical copies of the schedule available. While going green is appreciated, the convention center has almost no cell service, signal, or wi-fi and it’s therefore unreliable when you’re trying to get the app to load your itinerary.
-We were so sad to see the Actual-Play podcast meetup taken away this year. So many featured speakers were part of actual-play podcasts, so this was a really surprising loss.
Takeaways and Highlights:
“The Multitude workshops were so incredibly helpful for anyone interested in starting a podcast or improving their pre-existing creations. Everything seemed so manageable, and Amanda was a dream of a presenter. They also put all of the information on the Multitude website for anyone!
The Spirits Live show was thoroughly enjoyable and Lisette Alvarez was a fantastic guest. It’s a shame this was scheduled at the same time as MBMBAM, because it deserved a bigger space with more viewers.
An Evening with Audio Drama Creators. This wasn’t an event that was organized by PodCon. Ada’s Lab was kind enough to welcome a large group of Indi Audio Drama creators for a night of stories, advice, and mutual love. Many tears were shed (for the best reasons) into delicious, podcast-themed cocktails.” -Megan
“All in all, PodCon is a special con because of the vibe. Everyone seemed to enjoy each other’s company for the weekend, all united by a shared interest- especially creators. It’s a highly curated experience, which I count as a good thing. PodCon 2 had a LOT to live up to- PodCon 1 is my favorite con I’ve ever been to. It didn’t surpass the experience of the original, but it still was a damn good con.” -Charlotte
“The Opening Show: I would watch a Symphony Sanders & Simone de Rochefort talk show all day every day.
Finding the Universal in the Diverse: It was incredibly cathartic hearing creators of color talk about their experiences, and now I’ve got a heck of a lot of new podcasts to listen to (but that’s the mantra of the whole weekend, isn’t it?).
Transgender Representation in Audio Drama: All the panelists were lovely and thoughtful and vulnerable, and I want to give a special shout-out to Micah Rollins for their skillful and insightful moderation.
The Fiction Podcast Meetup: Podcon needs a whole lot more excuses for creators of all exposure levels to hang out and incite collaborations.
Managing Your Party- Collaborative Storytelling in Podcasts: I may be biased, but I absolutely loved this panel. Thanks again to all my wonderful co-panelists <3” -Ray
“I loved the many shows I was introduced to including programs made through Multitude and the Whisperforge and trying out new shows thanks to live shows. Welcome to the Party Pod, Caravan, and Pump Up the Jam were specific examples of cool new shows for me. However, the best part of the con was definitely meeting new people outside of the panels and meetups! Modly, PodCon is more of a way to meet up with people in the industry in one place and I wish the con did more to support that than meetups with an amorphous meetup area.” -Marquez
“The opening and closing shows were entertaining. I enjoyed the live shows of MBMBaM and Hello From the Magic Tavern. The Transgender Representation in Audio Drama panel was insanely inspiring, as was Finding the Universal in the Diverse. I also had fun at the meetups I attended, which were a great way to make new friends and network. And of course, Managing Your Party was awesome for obvious reasons.” -Noa
Would we go back to PodCon 3? A lot of us say yes. Whether or not the official event itself had some hiccups, the people at PodCon are what make it special. As long as podcasters meet together, PodCon can be an enjoyable experience for those who create and listen to podcasts.
Maybe we’ll see you next year,
The Tabletop Potluck Team
Urban Shadows Episode 2: Old Acquaintances on the El, The Architect's Will, and the Family Man
Mon, 18 Feb 2019 09:00:00 +0000
Urban Shadows Episode 1: The Possession and the Sword in the Suitcase
Mon, 11 Feb 2019 09:00:00 +0000
Mon, 04 Feb 2019 09:30:00 +0000
Alas, our romp through the fractal role-playing game Microscope has ended. It’s time to take out those slides and call it a day. Here’s what we thought:
Charlotte thinks the layout and design of the book is great and easy to navigate. If you need to find a rule quickly, you can look at the tabs on the side and find it quickly. There are also some great essays in the back about the nature of the game and roleplaying. A physical copy is A+.
We love the idea of the palette. It can be about the players’ personal comfort, but also about pushing the story in interesting ways. You can mash up genres or subvert ideas by including or not including certain ideas. It’s a multipurpose tool.
At first we had a little bit of a hard time playing out of chronological order. However, once we had the basics of our world set up it was nice to fill in the gaps and set a roadmap. Noa pointed out that themes emerge organically the longer you play the game. But in the beginning you are a little adrift. Ray brought up the “tyranny of choice” we talk about oh so often, but it rings true here—there’s a whole world for you to choose from.
Microscope talks about how it forbids collaboration, or at least collaboration as we normally think of it. Being the lens is like being in the hot seat—no one can help you out. We got so into it that it was hard not to interject or try to help out. Megan had some trouble coming up with ideas but she eventually came up with some great ones. You can sit for a long time thinking, but people can really come out of their shell.
On that note, it feels like you can’t get to attached to a concept, because someone else can break it or destroy it, or just take it in a different direction than you wanted. Stepping on toes is slightly inevitable, but you should embrace it. You just have to keep building.
For scenes, the rule is that you must stop once you’ve answered the question that was posed at the start. It can be hard to stop when you’ve answered the question and it feels like things are just getting good, but the opposite can also happen, where you get distracted and get farther away from the question. In Microscope, it’s important to stay focused. However, because it was difficult, the game was better for it. There is a purpose to every scene.
The game supports all sorts of scenes. There are lots of action examples in the book, but we stayed away from that bc that’s not what we were interested in role-playing. And that’s okay! In addition, if you don’t like roleplaying, you can do fewer scenes, or do dictated scenes instead. There are lots of options.
We’d also like to point out a mechanic we literally never used; you can choose to “push” something in a scene. If you think you have a better idea than someone else in a scene, you can bring it up and everyone votes on the new ideas brought to the table. Megan pointed out it’s great for making a world everyone is happy with.
Microscope can be a fun, casual game to play with friends. However, be warned, you will need enough space for all the index cards. We want an official app, if there isn’t one already.
It’s a great game if you want to convert people to TTRPGs. You could play this game with strangers, old friends, new friends, etc. You could also play this game to build a world to play another game in. Or you could play it with people who are new to games, or to get people out of their shell. The possibilities are pretty endless with Microscope.
The goal of microscope is simply to find out what happens. It’s definitely a one of a kind game, and we liked it a lot.
You can get Microscope: a Fractal Role-Playing Game of Epic Histories by Ben Robbins at http://www.lamemage.com/microscope/
Mon, 04 Feb 2019 09:00:00 +0000
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Microscope Episode 3: Little Hairless Monkeys
Mon, 28 Jan 2019 09:00:00 +0000
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Microscope Episode 2: A Mob, A Dream, and a Humble Farmer
Mon, 21 Jan 2019 09:00:00 +0000
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Microscope Episode 1: Accidental Armistice
Mon, 14 Jan 2019 09:00:00 +0000
In our first episode of Microscope, we get acquainted with the rules of the game and define our story with bookends and a palette. Then, we delve deeper to focus on the periods, events, and scenes within this vast expanse. Topics range from accidental armistices, supercomputers, ascending meat flesh, Nikolas Kage, and many, many Nancys.
CAST
Charlotte Elena
Ray Golberg
Noa Heinrich
Megan Scharlau
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Ave Marimba", "Danse Morialta", and "Evening Melodrama" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Microscope at http://www.lamemage.com/microscope/
This episode is supported by Kwest
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Mon, 07 Jan 2019 09:01:00 +0000
Trollbabe is a unique game, even by our standards, and we had a lot of fun unpacking what just happened.
Mechanically-speaking, Trollbabe is the very definition of lightweight. Character creation, for instance, was a quick experience. The only real decision you need to make is to decide your character’s single stat, a number between 2 and 9 that determines how good your character is at combat, magic, and socializing. After that’s decided, everything else is details that help round out your trollbabe’s personality and history.
This one stat system is both Trollbabe’s greatest strength and weakness. On the plus side, all dice rolls are quickly resolved: roll below your stat to fight, roll above it to cast a spell, and roll with the worst of the two, inclusive, to convince somebody. The downside of this mechanic is that your character will either be very good at fighting or magic, or just OK at everything. This feels awfully like min-maxing.
Trollbabe’s most unusual aspect is its approach to conflict. On paper, it looks extremely complicated, but it actually works very smoothly in practice. Deciding the pace of a conflict is a conversation between player and GM, and once the conflict is underway one can breeze through it quite quickly. Most intriguing of all, the reroll system allows players to introduce new plot elements and NPCs on the fly, allowing the narrative to evolve in unexpected ways. At its heart, Trollbabe is a collaborative storytelling game, and the conflict system embodies that fact.
The world of Trollbabe is a mishmash of Germanic history, Norse folklore, and swords-and-sorcery adventure. If this isn’t to your liking, the book gives you plenty of freedom to define the setting in any way you like. One of Trollbabe’s strengths is that it is extremely adaptable, and the setting could conceivably be adapted to suit any setting.
Overall, we were very pleased with our experience with Trollbabe. It’s a game that’s easy to pick up and play with a small group of friends. If you enjoy a rules-lite storytelling experience that can be picked up quickly, then Trollbabe is an experience that you don’t want to miss. However, if you want a more tactical, mechanical system, then maybe stay away.
To find out for yourself, you can purchase it at http://adept-press.com/games-fantasy-horror/trollbabe/
Trollbabe Episode Five: Potluck
Mon, 07 Jan 2019 09:00:00 +0000
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Trollbabe Episode Four: The Althing
Mon, 31 Dec 2018 09:00:00 +0000
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Trollbabe Episode Three: Blood and Barrow
Mon, 24 Dec 2018 09:00:00 +0000
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Trollbabe Episode Two: The Strong Silent Type
Mon, 17 Dec 2018 09:00:00 +0000
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Trollbabe Episode One: Matters of Honor
Mon, 10 Dec 2018 09:00:00 +0000
Three itinerant warriors make their separate ways in a harsh world, united only by their common heritage and a talent for finding trouble. Join Tabletop Potluck as we enter the strange world of Ron Edwards's Trollbabe.
CAST
Sally Chan - Freya
Charlotte Elena - Gertrude
Noa Heinrich - GM
Megan Scharlau - Darby
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Virtutes Instrumenti", "River of Io", "Magic Forest", "Our Story Begins", "Wizardtorium", "Greta Sting", and "Oppressive Gloom" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Trollbabe at http://adept-press.com/games-fantasy-horror/trollbabe/!
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Masks S2 Episode Seven: I Swear I'm Working on My Rage
Mon, 03 Dec 2018 09:00:00 +0000
Winter break is almost over and there are no more threats looming over Halcyon City. The team takes some time to relax, but that's easier said than done; people they care about are still at the mercy of AEGIS and the Rubber Ball, and maybe real heroes can't let that slide.
CAST
Sally Chan - Azure Storm
Charlotte Elena - Pushpin
Ray Goldberg - GM
Noa Heinrich - Roxie Rapid
Matthew Marquez - Dreamdancer
Megan Scharlau - Project Ares Delta
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Christmas Rap", "Dreams Become Real", "String Impromptu Number 1", and "Big Rock" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Masks: A New Generation at http://www.magpiegames.com/masks/!
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Masks S2 Episode Six: What When Why
Mon, 26 Nov 2018 09:00:00 +0000
The team reconvenes to meet Remiel and figure out how to fix them. To do that, they still have to confront Sage once and for all and recover the Mind's Eye scrolls. Sage might be convinced to go quietly, but what's going to become of her once she does?
CAST
Sally Chan - Azure Storm
Charlotte Elena - Pushpin
Ray Goldberg - GM
Noa Heinrich - Roxie Rapid
Matthew Marquez - Dreamdancer
Megan Scharlau - Project Ares Delta
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"8bit Dungeon Level", "Sapphire Isle", "Industrial Cinematic", and "Unlight" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Masks: A New Generation at http://www.magpiegames.com/masks/!
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Wed, 21 Nov 2018 13:40:00 +0000
If you were in Madison, WI at the start of November, we hope you were lucky enough to attend Gamehole Con at the Alliant Energy Center. Megan had the chance to enjoy the first couple days of the con and had a blast!
As a Con-Goer used to the likes of Gencon and NYCC, this con was completely different. Gamehole Con is a tabletop gaming convention with an average of only a few thousand attendees. For example, 2017 brought 3,000 gamers. This year appears to have brought a bump, but was perhaps around 5,000 total.
For such a small convention, there were some absolutely incredible guests. Monte Cook (Numenera), Jeremy Crawford (D&D), Matthew Mercer (Critical Role), Chris Perkins (Wizards of the Coast), and Patrick Rothfuss (The Kingkiller Chronicles) are only a few of the names found among seminar hosts. Her chronicle through the con begins below.
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As per usual, I spent far too much time in the dealer’s hall. But unlike most cons I’m used to, I found some of the most incredible deals on games. That’s the joy of small cons: You actually get to know the publishers and they really want to make everyone’s day. I spent a good deal of time chatting with Atlas Games about Gloom and Once Upon a Time, two card games which I recently fell in love with.
#1 New Game: Betrayal Legacy
I wasn’t fast enough to get my hands on a copy, but this skyrocketed to the top of my birthday wish list. I personally love the Legacy series and having past games affect everything after them. And there were great deals on it even though it’s so new! From this alone, it became obvious just how much money you can save doing your game shopping here.
Game at a Glance: Stuffed Fables
Gamehole Con has an impressive lending library, and my friends and I were able to escape the chill of the night by playing Stuffed Fables by Plaid Hat Games.
I’ve always thought the game sounded adorable, and I was right. I honestly wasn’t sure how I would feel about the game as I spent what felt like ages setting it up. The rules weren’t sticking in my mind, and the amount of tokens was slightly overwhelming.
But after about 30 minutes, it all clicked.
The storytelling aspect, the adorable minis, the cooperative tone… I fell in love. Once again, a new game for my birthday list. Just make sure you keep all your stuffing and buttons close!
Seminar Highlights: Everything You Wanted to Know About D&D (But were Too Cool to Ask)
As a start to my Gamehole Con seminars, I sat in on Rob Wieland, Satine Phoenix, Tom Lommel, Ruty Rutenberg, and James Lowder discussing what they find most important when you’re sitting down to play a game of D&D.
- Satine Phoenix made a point that stuck with me and rang true to our mission statement as a podcast: “When you do something, it gives everyone else out there permission to do it that way too.” Whether it’s using feminine pronouns in your rulebook, making LGBTQ characters, or standing up for what you believe in, stepping out from the “norm” gives others the courage to do the same. It can change expectations and alter the landscape of the streaming platform, which in turn affects how games are approached at home.
- In response to a discussion on living up to your streaming heroes, the entire panel had a lot to say. Tom Lommel pointed out that “every live stream that you watch and enjoy is specifically cast with actors… you have no obligation to fill those shoes.” He wanted to make sure that all players just try to “enjoy the game in your way. You don’t have to be the dungeon bastard.” Chiming in, Rob Weiland added “It’s like picking up a guitar and then being really upset you aren’t Eric Clapton.”
After discussing livestreaming and acting as players, the hosts had some tips for those who would rather control the game as Dungeon Masters.
- “The most dangerous words you can ever say as a DM are ‘you don’t know’ and ‘nothing happens’ when the players give you anything.” Tom Lommel continued, saying GMs should “find something interesting that happens that’s different. It may not be entirely relevant, but give them a specific detail.” For example, if the players are trying to open a portal and mess with a control knob that wasn’t the intended solution, have the temperature drop 10 degrees. This will keep true to the fact that they haven’t solved your puzzle, but gives them something else that they may make use later while keeping the story flowing smoothly.
- Rob Weiland believes that all DMs should “give thought to how they can resolve an encounter physically, mentally, and socially. Don’t choose an option they have to use, but you can turn the dial on if it will be easier one way. As long as you’ve given thought to each approach, you’ll still be able to figure it out.” This way, you’ll keep your game suited to all types of players and quickly learn the playstyle that your group prefers.
Seminar Spotlight: Assembling Imagination
This Friday afternoon seminar, hosted by Matt Finch, Peter Brett, Pat Rothfuss, and Matt Forbeck discussed the tools it takes to build a compelling world and story in both fiction and roleplaying scenarios.
Patrick Rothfuss gave us some sweet insights into his life with his caring child by telling us just how much he learned from listening to his child’s desires and choices in their games. After some very unexpected reactions to the NPCs his son encountered, he realized faults in the typical narrative of looting corpses and taking advantage of the hospitality of those who need your help. As Patrick put it: “What are you teaching people? Are you teaching people that this old man who is lost is an item dispenser? That he’s a disposable bump in your story? Or is he a person worthy of compassion?”
A compelling story doesn’t need to be driven by violent conflict. It doesn’t need a villain who wants to kill everyone. It doesn’t need you to witness the deaths of innocents all along the way. Stories like that can be incredible, but that isn’t the only kind of story. And you should open your mind, especially when tailoring a game to children, to other options. Use the stories to teach them valuable lessons and learn from them in return.
The conversation naturally progressed to discussion of creating diverse worlds. Fellow authors praised Peter Brett for having so many women in his stories. He put his opinion very simply: “It’s not enough to have a woman in the command seat of the starship. Half the people turning knobs behind her have to be women too.”
And as a woman in love with the fantasy and science fiction genres, I have to agree with him.
Spotlight: True Dungeon
I have always loved escape rooms, haunted houses, and any fantasy themed locations. So you can imagine that when I first heard of True Dungeon years ago at Gencon, I was very intrigued. The only problem was my experiences as a woman in gaming. I was scared that I would be treated as an intruder in a place I wasn’t thought to belong. I finally gathered the courage to try True Dungeon at Gamehole con since it is far more approachable. And I was quickly proven wrong for my worries. From the moment I walked in, players and workers alike treated me like a valuable asset to their team and the story. Strangers became temporary friends and everyone worked to make sure that their entire team had the best experience possible. I can’t say if this is the way every True Dungeon experience is, but it gives me so much hope.
Now, True Dungeon itself is gorgeous. The production quality and puzzle/fight variance is out of this world. I couldn’t stop smiling and two hours felt more like twenty minutes. I would play again in a heartbeat. If you’ve been on the fence like I was, you should take the leap. Try it out!
Spotlight: Paint and Take
One beautiful thing about holding a smaller con is the ability to offer experiences that just wouldn’t work in a large con setting. One prime example is the mini painting area. Unlike other cons where you need to pay to paint, Gamehole Con holds a small corner of the convention center where you can take a mini that was donated to the convention, paint it, get tips from pros, let it dry, and take it with you when its ready. The selection might be small, but as long as I was there, there were miniatures available to whoever was interested. I had the pleasure of painting beside Amy Vorpahl, and took my sweet orc boy home to star in my next D&D game.
In conclusion, if you love tabletop games but don’t want to fight the crowds somewhere like Gencon, Gamehole Con is a perfect chance for you to get out there and meet creators you love, play some awesome games, and get your hands on the best new products.
I'll see you next year!
Masks S2 Episode Five: By Any Means Necessary
Mon, 19 Nov 2018 09:00:00 +0000
Azure Storm, Pushpin, and Roxie Rapid visit a notorious supervillain jail called the Rubber Ball to interrogate their old foe Alan Kazam. Dreamdancer and Delta stake out the Green Knight's mansion to figure out what he's planning, and run into his houseguests instead.
CAST
Sally Chan - Azure Storm
Charlotte Elena - Pushpin
Ray Goldberg - GM
Noa Heinrich - Roxie Rapid
Matthew Marquez - Dreamdancer
Megan Scharlau - Project Ares Delta
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Unease Piano", "Fairytale Waltz", and "Twisted" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Masks: A New Generation at http://www.magpiegames.com/masks/!
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TTPL 1st Anniversary: Uranium Chef
Tue, 13 Nov 2018 09:00:00 +0000
It’s Lights, Camera, Action on Tabletop Potluck as we celebrate our 1 year anniversary! We delve into Uranium Chef and the world of the competitive cooking show to see which of our favorite player characters in the past year reigns supreme in the kitchen!
CAST
Sally Chan - Raine Valenti (Stars Without Number)
Charlotte Elena - Quinn Bailey (7th Sea)
Ray Goldberg - Abby Shore (Call of Cthulhu)
Noa Heinrich - Locktapus (MAOCT)
Matthew Marquez - GM
Megan Scharlau - Ginnie (Mouse Guard)
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Furious Freak", "Chillin Hard", "Fantasia Fantasia", "Inspired", "Long Time Coming", and "Future Gladiator" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Uranium Chef at https://www.evilhat.com/home/fate-worlds-and-adventures/!
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Masks S2 Episode Four: Supervillain Lairs 101
Mon, 12 Nov 2018 09:00:00 +0000
Even though scoping out Sage's house was mostly a bust, the team gets tipped off to an imposing mansion where the Amygdalator might be hiding. Most of the team is all geared up for some escapades, but plans get muddied when it's not clear whose side the owner is on. Meanwhile, Roxie gets some career advice from her dad, the former sidekick Rapid Jr.
CAST
Sally Chan - Azure Storm
Charlotte Elena - Pushpin
Ray Goldberg - GM
Noa Heinrich - Roxie Rapid
Matthew Marquez - Dreamdancer
Megan Scharlau - Project Ares Delta
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Dark Pad", "Meditation Impromptu 03", and "Raw" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Masks: A New Generation at http://www.magpiegames.com/masks/!
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Masks S2 Episode Three: Dripping Clock Weird
Mon, 05 Nov 2018 09:00:00 +0000
The surreal nightmare house doesn't seem to provide any tangible clues about the Amygdalator's location, but since Azure Storm is the only one who knows that the house belongs to her ex-girlfriend Sage, she does a little investigating. Meanwhile, the rest of the team has some heart-to-hearts about spelling, Soviets, and self-care.
CAST
Sally Chan - Azure Storm
Charlotte Elena - Pushpin
Ray Goldberg - GM
Noa Heinrich - Roxie Rapid
Matthew Marquez - Dreamdancer
Megan Scharlau - Project Ares Delta
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"The Other Side of the Door", "Reminiscing", and "Getting It Done" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Masks: A New Generation at http://www.magpiegames.com/masks/!
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Masks S2 Episode Two: I Have Many Issues
Mon, 29 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000
The team has been in their fair share of scuffles, but fighting mind-controlled civilians is a whole 'nother mess. While Azure Storm and Roxie Rapid try to find and stop the source of the mass angriness, Pushpin, Dreamdancer, and Delta protect the citizens of Halcyon City from each other and themselves.
CAST
Sally Chan - Azure Storm
Charlotte Elena - Pushpin
Ray Goldberg - GM
Noa Heinrich - Roxie Rapid
Matthew Marquez - Dreamdancer
Megan Scharlau - Project Ares Delta
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Motherlode", "Devastation and Revenge", and "Deep Haze" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Masks: A New Generation at http://www.magpiegames.com/masks/!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
Masks S2 Episode One: Supernatural Nonsense
Mon, 22 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000
For our season 2 premiere, we're returning to fan-favorite Masks: A New Generation! The team is back in action, but they're also a bunch of high schoolers on winter vacation. Let's take a collective breather and see what the kids' home lives are like, before we're all inevitably thrown back into the chaos of superheroics.
CAST
Sally Chan - Azure Storm
Charlotte Elena - Pushpin
Ray Goldberg - GM
Noah Heinrich - Roxie Rapid
Matthew Marquez - Dreamdancer
Megan Scharlau - Project Ares Delta
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Nouvelle Noel" and "Noise Attack" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Masks: A New Generation at http://www.magpiegames.com/masks/!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
Mon, 15 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Our adventure of Dungeons & Dragons is complete, but a more daunting task now lies before us: we have to seriously review D&D. Is that even possible? You'll have to listen to find out!
CAST
Sally Chan - Westa Brightwind
Charlotte Elena - Casey Geiszler
Ray Goldberg - Verthisathurgiesh Jheri
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Crenshaw Puddleriddle
Megan Scharlau - Ward Puddleriddle
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
Learn more about Dungeons & Dragons at http://dnd.wizards.com/, and visit our season 2 Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/272632391/tabletop-potluck-season-2!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
Dungeons & Dragons Potluck Blog
Mon, 15 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Reviewing a game like Dungeons & Dragons is a daunting task. It’s a game with decades of history, it invented a new kind of entertainment, and is literally the reason we are here making this podcast for you. Each of us has personal history with D&D as well, so we all have very strong opinions on the rules and flavor. Nevertheless, we have tried to be as objective as possible in our assessment.
Mechanically speaking, D&D can be summed up as “easy to learn, difficult to master.” The basic mechanic of the game is to roll a 20-sided die, then add any modifiers from your stats and training, and compare the result with the difficulty level. However, the rules have a width and depth that can be daunting for first-time players. There are mechanics for almost anything, and circumstances can complicate a seemingly simple action. For example, combat ground to a halt in our final battle because the DM had to check whether or not the Mad Bard was susceptible to Megan’s Sleep spell.
Character creation is complex, but satisfying. At first it can be quite challenging, especially because the rules for races, classes, backgrounds, and spells are spread throughout The Player’s Handbook, which requires a great deal of flipping back and forth. For many of us, creating D&D characters has become an enjoyable hobby, which speaks to how easy it is to master the art of character creation after that initial confusion.
The biggest complaint we had about D&D was balance, specifically of the classes. There is a sharp divide between spellcasting and non-spellcasting characters. The former tends to start weak, but get almost impossibly powerful by higher levels, while the latter begin strong but don’t get many exciting new class features after level 10 or so. And simply put, some classes are better than others; sorcerers and Rangers are notoriously underpowered in vanilla D&D. Supplementary materials released since then have addressed this balance to some extent, but not everybody uses or has access to those materials.
Flavorfully, D&D has a surprising amount of width. While it is possible to play it as a generic high-fantasy adventure, you can play campaigns that embody every genre from urban fantasy to eldritch horror. It’s not uncommon for a single party to leap from genre to genre in one campaign. There are also several, extremely detailed campaign settings available, but it’s easy to run a game of D&D without one as well.
Dungeons & Dragons has two things that no other game has: it has an iconic feel, and a massive community. It’s difficult to explain why D&D gives us such a strong sense of satisfaction. Perhaps it’s because it is so intrinsic to the history of TTRPGs, but playing it feels a lot like coming home and watching your favorite movie all over again. And while the D&D community is occasionally dysfunctional, it is also one of the most bizarre, surprising places you’ll ever see. If you have never played Dungeons & Dragons, chances are you can find somebody out there who would love to teach you. It is no exaggeration to say that it has created lifelong friendships.
Overall, we highly recommend Dungeons & Dragons, 5th Edition. It is accessible enough for casual and new players, but mechanically deep enough for gaming veterans. We don’t recommend it be the only game you ever play—in fact, we hope you branch out—but you owe it to yourself to give it a try at least once.
Mon, 08 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000
The final battle is at hand. In one corner is our brave adventurers, having just been put through the ringer. In the other is the Mad Bard: what tricks does he have left up his sleeve? Ready: fight!
CAST
Sally Chan - Westa Brightwind
Charlotte Elena - Casey Geiszler
Ray Goldberg - Verthisathurgiesh Jheri
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Crenshaw Puddleriddle
Megan Scharlau - Ward Puddleriddle
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Killers", "Nightmare Machine", "Twisting", and "Rumination" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Dungeons & Dragons at http://dnd.wizards.com/, and visit our season 2 Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/272632391/tabletop-potluck-season-2!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
D&D Episode Four: Behind the Scenes
Mon, 01 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Without time to rest, the party is given a new, even deadlier challenge to overcome. How long can they keep playing this game before it proves too much? And more importantly, what's lurking behind the next door?
CAST
Sally Chan - Westa Brightwind
Charlotte Elena - Casey Geiszler
Ray Goldberg - Verthisathurgiesh Jheri
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Crenshaw Puddleriddle
Megan Scharlau - Ward Puddleriddle
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Rising Game", "Rites", and "Tiny Fugue" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Dungeons & Dragons at http://dnd.wizards.com/, and visit our season 2 Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/272632391/tabletop-potluck-season-2!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
Tue, 25 Sep 2018 18:45:53 +0000
Hey guys!
Our Kickstarter is still up and running, but we only have 14 days left! We are only $166.00 away from our next goal, which is having the Tabletop Potluck crew make and eat Gatorade chicken. That sounds like fun for everyone to watch and hear, but not so much for us, the people eating it.
If you back us now (because you definitely want to see us eat that Gatorade chicken), you can get dice stickers, an NPC named after you, and so much more! We also added a new reward to all the tiers, a PDF recipe book of all the potluck recipes we have had on the show.
The amazing people who have backed us already unlocked the first stretch goal we have, having the Tabletop Potluck crew eat chocolate and M&M spaghetti! We have bought the spaghetti, chocolate sauce, and M&Ms; next step is to make it, eat it, and record all of it for you all to hear and see!
There are add-ons for you all to purchase to make us eat even more disgusting things. At the lower end of the list, you could pay $10.00 to make our very own Sally Chan eat whatever you wish! At the higher end, Ms. Ray Goldberg would be willing to eat anything for a good $30.00. If you want the full list, take a look at our Kickstarter and definitely put that money down to decide what we get to eat.
Coming to the end of this post, we would like to thank you all. We have been absolutely shocked with the amount of support from everyone and we are even more motivated to bring better content and quality to you all. Please leave us a review on iTunes or anywhere you listen to podcasts and check out all of our social media! You can find us at the handle Tabletop Potluck on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr.
We love you all and appreciate all you have done and are continuing to do!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/272632391/tabletop-potluck-season-2/description
Mon, 24 Sep 2018 08:00:00 +0000
In order to save the town of Springmead, the party descends into the depths of the Ars Poetica. The die is cast, and their first challenge awaits. But will this first trial also be their last?
CAST
Sally Chan - Westa Brightwind
Charlotte Elena - Casey Geiszler
Ray Goldberg - Verthisathurgiesh Jheri
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Crenshaw Puddleriddle
Megan Scharlau - Ward Puddleriddle
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Graveyard Shift", "Morgana Rides", "Ossuary 6 – Air", and "Gustav Sting" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Dungeons & Dragons at http://dnd.wizards.com/, and visit our season 2 Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/272632391/tabletop-potluck-season-2!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
Mon, 17 Sep 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Tragedy has struck Springmead; valuables, friends, lovers, and children have been stolen by the mercurial King in Motley. It's up to our five brave adventurers to board his bizarre vessel, and play his twisted games in order to save the day.
CAST
Sally Chan - Westa Brightwind
Charlotte Elena - Casey Geiszler
Ray Goldberg - Verthisathurgiesh Jheri
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Crenshaw Puddleriddle
Megan Scharlau - Ward Puddleriddle
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Derp Nugget" and "Danse of Questionable Tuning" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Contemplating Horror" courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Dungeons & Dragons at http://dnd.wizards.com/, and visit our season 2 Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/272632391/tabletop-potluck-season-2!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
D&D Episode One: Where the Lightning Splits the Sea
Mon, 10 Sep 2018 08:00:00 +0000
The bustling port city of Springmead is no stranger to visitors, but they’ve never seen anything like this. There’s the usual collection of eccentric adventurers and ne'er-do-wells, but nothing can prepare the people of this town for the arrival of the King in Motley.
CAST
Sally Chan - Westa Brightwind
Charlotte Elena - Casey Geiszler
Ray Goldberg - Verthisathurgiesh Jheri
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Crenshaw Puddleriddle
Megan Scharlau - Ward Puddleriddle
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Juniper" and "A Mission" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Chimera" and "Entombed" by Purple Planet, http://www.purple-planet.com/
Learn more about Dungeons & Dragons at http://dnd.wizards.com/!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
Mon, 03 Sep 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Now that we've recovered from our Fiasco, let's take a step back and talk about the system.
Absolutely everything about your characters and the setting is rolled at the table with no preparation, the plot unfolds itself as you go along, and there's no game master to keep you on track, so Fiasco is bound to be a chaotic experience. If you don't mind relinquishing control to the whims of fate and improvisation, you may find that's a good thing.
Most of us enjoyed the character and relationship creation system; it's hugely open-ended and lets you interpret the labels you roll as broadly as you want. However, the tyranny of choice can set in once it's actually time to play, since now you're left to craft a fully realized character based off only a few words.
The fact that you're all just hitting the ground running means that you may not have a satisfying coherent narrative structure, but the point isn't to create the next great American novel, it's to have fun.
Even though Fiasco was designed with heist films in mind, there are hundreds of official and fan-made playbooks for you to explore whatever genre strikes your fancy, from rom-coms to slasher flicks.
We generally liked that the game is broken up into scenes where each character gets their chance in the spotlight. Resolving versus establishing could sometimes be frustrating. For example, maybe you're not a big fan of the premise that was established for you, or something that happened in the scene before yours totally ruined the idea you had. However, within the world you've created the scenes can be whatever you want, even flashbacks, which is an opportunity we enjoyed.
The act and scene system efficiently shepherds the narrative along, especially the inter-act Tilt mechanic which advances the plot by giving the players additional goals to accomplish by the end of play. Some people weren't big fans of the fact that the game has a hard stop of when the game has to end (running out of scene dice), but others appreciated that the game is going to go where it goes and sometimes you have to shrug and make the best of what you have. The ending mechanic of adding up your white dice and black dice was interesting, but it can sometimes add to a sudden swerve ending that you don't think your character deserved, for better or for worse.
Most of us enjoyed the game but emphasized that they enjoyed the game but it's best for loosey-goosey party scenarios and maybe not for a serious tabletop session. If improvising a story from scratch is your idea of a good time, you're gonna like Fiasco. If you're not mentally and emotionally prepared to go in starting from scratch and thinking on your feet, you may be disappointed. You may end up with a more complex game if you play with folks you don't know because of that drive to impress each other and not goof off, but playing with friends will almost result in pushing each other's buttons. And that can be a ton of fun too.
If you're ready for your own capers, get both print and PDF copies of Fiasco at http://bullypulpitgames.com/games/fiasco/!
Mon, 03 Sep 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Now that we've recovered from our Fiasco, let's take a step back and talk about the system. In the immortal words of the great Humphrey Bogart, "Ogres are like onions. They both have layers."
CAST
Sally Chan - Erin Pentangelli
Charlotte Elena - Rosie Phelps
Ray Goldberg - Humphrey Bogart
Noa Heinrich - Marco Pentangelli
Matthew Marquez - Andrew Worthington V
Megan Scharlau - Charles “Baby Cheeks” Hammond
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
Learn more about Fiasco at http://bullypulpitgames.com/games/fiasco/!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
Fiasco Episode Three: Grand Ignominious Failure
Mon, 27 Aug 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Our sordid Hollywoodland Noir comes crashing to an untimely end. With Bogie in critical condition, Baby Cheeks and Andrew on the run, and still no solid leads on Orson Welles' murderer, the city's organized crime reaches new lows of disorganization.
CAST
Sally Chan - Erin Pentangelli
Charlotte Elena - Rosie Phelps
Ray Goldberg - Humphrey Bogart
Noa Heinrich - Marco Pentangelli
Matthew Marquez - Andrew Worthington V
Megan Scharlau - Charles “Baby Cheeks” Hammond
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"The Show Must Be Go", "Fast Talkin", "I Knew a Guy", "Night on the Docks – Sax" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Fiasco at http://bullypulpitgames.com/games/fiasco/!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
Fiasco Episode Two: Baseless Accusations
Mon, 20 Aug 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Baby Cheeks, Marco, and Andrew track down Bogie to get what they're owed, Erin just wants to lead a normal mob-free life, and Rosie continues her private investigation into the death of a celebrity, but there's way too many “who”s in this “whodunnit”.
CAST
Sally Chan - Erin Pentangelli
Charlotte Elena - Rosie Phelps
Ray Goldberg - Humphrey Bogart
Noa Heinrich - Marco Pentangelli
Matthew Marquez - Andrew Worthington V
Megan Scharlau - Charles “Baby Cheeks” Hammond
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Dances and Dames", "Spy Glass", and "Rollin at 5" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Fiasco at http://bullypulpitgames.com/games/fiasco/!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
Fiasco Episode One: Stogies and Bogies
Mon, 13 Aug 2018 08:00:00 +0000
It's 1947 in the city of Los Angeles, where everyone from Hollywood starlets to cutthroat gangsters will do anything to get ahead. Everyone's got something to hide, be it an unscrupulous new gig, an old flame, or a mysterious film reel that folks would kill to get their hands on.
CAST
Sally Chan - Erin Pentangelli
Charlotte Elena - Rosie Phelps
Ray Goldberg - Humphrey Bogart
Noa Heinrich - Marco Pentangelli
Matthew Marquez - Andrew Worthington V
Megan Scharlau -Charles “Baby Cheeks” Hammond
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"In Your Arms" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Going Undercover" courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Fiasco at http://bullypulpitgames.com/games/fiasco/!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
Sat, 11 Aug 2018 21:06:45 +0000
GenCon 2018!
Tabletop Potluck looks forward to GenCon every year. This convention is an incredible experience and involves so many different ways to enjoy our hobby.
We had our panel, Tabletop Potluck’s School for Kids Who Can’t RP Good, on Friday afternoon and it was a blast! Even with some technical difficulties (nothing some theatre-taught projecting couldn’t fix), we loved every minute of interacting with everyone who came. Thank you so much to everyone there! We hope there will be many more to come (fingers crossed for PodCon 2). Keep up your amazing stories and paint those marbles!
Notable New Games:
- The Witcher RPG: Though this looks a bit number crunchy (we would LOVE to see a simpler quickstart guide for this), the character creation is filled with depth to add to your backstory and relationships.
- Pathfinder Playtest: We picked up a copy of the playtest for the long awaited 2nd edition of Pathfinder. Stay tuned to see if we try it out for you all to hear! We hope the system streamlines some stuff from the earlier edition. Also, Goblin is a playable race right from the start which is A+! It’s also available in free PDF copies on their site.
- Just One: A cooperative party game where you all play together to get the best score! Your goal each round is to get one player- the active player- to guess a mystery word based on the clues given by teammates. It’s a fun twist on a classic party game and should hit shelves this November!
- Transformers Card Game: Marquez has been an on and off Transformers fan his whole life and it seems that Wizards of the Coast has made an awesome card with simpler mechanics than Magic The Gathering while including a bunch of fan-favorite characters.
- Tall Pines: A narrative card game where you create and solve a mystery in a sleepy mountain town a la Twin Peaks.
- Infinities: A 4X game. We did a pared down version minus the narrative elements, so we’re curious to go back and explore the story options and see how it works when you’re on teams. Ray had never played a 4X game before and was able to pick up the rules pretty quickly, so this is a great place to start! The Kickstarter launches August 21st!
Non-games to look out for:
- Dungeon in a Box: Owned by our good friend David Crennen from CritJuice and Saving Throw Show, Dungeon in a Box is a growing subscription service that sends you great maps, tokens, and more every month!
- Dryad Tea: They have some fancy artisanal tea blends. Even just smelling their “Ravens in the Library” blend is a heavenly experience.
- Crafting and dancing lessons at the con. Step away from the kitchen table and into a hobby that meshes really well with the games you love. Or learn to dance and get that heart rate up while feeling incredibly fancy.
Entertainment:
- Cosplay Parade: A yearly event for those who want to see the cosplay competition without spending hours in the show. It’s a brilliant way to showcase these amazing costumes without filling up your con!
- Critical Role was all over this con. This included a live show and a few different panels. There were multiple Taldorei campaign games running and the Critical Role booth in the Exhibitor Hall was whimsical and very popular. So if you’re a critter, GenCon is the con for you.
- Burlesque: a less expected way to experience your hobby. If you haven’t seen An Evening of Nerdlesque Burlesque, put on by The Glitter Guild, this should be on your wishlist next year. It’s a real hoot. A real sexy hoot that’s also hilarious and sometimes terrifying.
Favorite purchases:
- Book of the Righteous by Green Ronin Press: Outside of the podcast, a few of us are in a couple of D&D games and this book gives so much beautiful information and spells/class builds revolving around the ever-present gods of the realms.
- Board Game Booster Box: A great deal
- Art prints: GenCon gets some amazing artists who work for games like Magic: The Gathering. Their corner of the exhibit hall is gorgeous. You might even find originals of some of your favorite works!
Personal Highlights:
- Sally: "Artist Alley for sure. So much to see and look for since there isn’t just artists, but books too. I did end up buying a book after I got back home from one of the authors who had a booth there."
- Charlotte: "A extemporaneous pickup game of DnD run by Max from the Drunk and Ugly podcast. I played a drow paladin who talked like Rita Repulsa. Also an amaaazing Masks game. Shout-out to the GM Morgan! And the Delta Green panel! I could listen to those guys talk for a while. All very funny and smart and deserving of all those dang Ennies."
- Megan: "I always have a great time chatting with David Crennen and this year was no different. Besides catching up with him and praying for a CritJuice finale, I treated myself to some Wyrmwood products and enjoyed spending the con in cosplay. OH SHIT! ALSO! Adventures in Time and Space Escape Rooms. Dracula was awesome. And we beat it. SO THERE. They always have stuff running in Champaign/Urbana (which is awesome)."
- Marquez: "Sleepily making our way to the Games on Demand room and signing up randomly for a game I’ve never heard of, Masks of the Mummy King and proceeding to have a blast improving our way through a temple, collecting treasure and figuring out puzzles!"
- Ray: "Enroute Spa had a massage station. Every con needs a massage station. I also got to meet a couple Internet friends in person for the first time, and met a few new friends of friends whom I hope to see a whole lot more. Also the Delta Green dudes gave some fascinating insights into the world of game design and invigorated me to do more designs of my own. You know what else was invigorating? Getting a massage. I’m still not over it."
And that’s a wrap!
TLDR: GenCon is always awesome. If you haven’t gone yet, start planning for next year. The dates are August 1-4, 2019. We’ll see you there!
Bedlam Hall Episode Six: Potluck!
Mon, 06 Aug 2018 08:00:00 +0000
After we buried the last episode of Bedlam Hall, we had a quick memorial with food and discussed how the experience made us feel. We also took this time to discuss the secrets of the Rothchild Estate and all of its workers. Bedlam Hall tells all!
Content warning: mentions of death (including children), suicide, self-harm, cultism, and cannibalism.
CAST
Sally Chan - Faye Eason
Charlotte Elena - Ganymede Gracie
Ray Goldberg - Murphy Wells
Noa Heinrich - Mildred Fitzgerald
Matthew Marquez - Guy Willoughsby
Megan Scharlau - GM
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
Learn more about Bedlam Hall at http://www.monkeyfunstudios.com/products/bedlamhall/!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
Mon, 06 Aug 2018 08:00:00 +0000
After we buried the last episode of Bedlam Hall, we had a quick memorial with food and discussed how the experience made us feel.
If you need a medium length campaign where players are the driving force instead of just reactionary, read on to see whether Bedlam Hall is the right fate for you!
Overall, the entire crew loves the flavor and setting of Bedlam Hall. As fans of Downton Abbey, Lemony Snicket, and the Addams Family, we found similar themes within the depths of this game. It’s very easy to make it very subtly creepy while knowing all along it’s gonna be a scary game. You can lean into either whimsy or terror with your campaign so that it’s the perfect level for your gaming group! As veterans of games like Call of Cthulhu, we felt a stark difference in Bedlam. Instead of striving to solve the mystery, your characters are trapped in a terrible situation that they just need to soldier through. Instead of being a hero, you remain a servant. You do your job. And your job is not to defeat monsters.
That being said, it makes sense that this is the first game we’ve played where there is no system for combat. Cruel moves may have violent effects, but there are no mechanics for fighting monsters or each other. But this is also the first system that has claimed the lives of our characters. We find the choice to leave out combat perfect for the setting. In this day and age of tabletop, it’s very bold to avoid combat mechanics. More games should make this choice and it definitely pays off in Bedlam.
Many of our players had a difficult time fully embodying the spirit of the game; we don’t tend to strive to hurt each other. We’re usually much more cooperative. But Marquez, who embraced it the most, did a great job and had a blast. This is a game where you need to get into the mindset of PvP to fully experience it. Our group was a little torn on this competitive aspect. Those who ever enjoy PvP did not enjoy it here. Those who thrive on competition understandably loved it.
As we often discuss, this game is more of a ROLE-playing game than a ROLL-playing game. Moreso than any other Powered by the Apocalypse games we’ve played, the playbook you choose radically changes the experience of the game for you, what you are able to do, and what your goals will be. Moves are written in such a way as to create beautiful opportunities for scenes.
Tips from the GM:
1. For the sake of story, we wanted this to be the servants’ first day. If you want to really delve into the PvP relationships, do not do this. We could have gotten to a lot of meat and suggested relationships much faster if we had created established members of the household.
2. Spread out the supernatural elements between characters so everyone is having a good bout of creepy experiences.
3. Since the game is PvP and all of the playbooks lead characters to do very different things, make sure you’re keeping track of where every character is and how much “screen time” each player is getting.
A few things we are unsure of or would like to see changed in later editions:
1. The book of Bedlam Hall includes alternate settings, but it does not appear to necessarily be an easily customizable game. Including a section to create your own rooms and family members would be a fantastic addition to this game.
2. The book is incredibly helpful because it includes examples of every concept. But this makes a majority of the book look the same. An index is needed in order to quickly navigating concepts.
3. The character sheets do not include the relationships mentioned in the book. This didn’t affect our game since we skipped that section, but it’s an important reference for character building and roleplay and should be easily referenced during play.
Overall 5/6 of the Tabletop Potluck crew said they would play Bedlam Hall again. This game would be perfect for strangers meeting up at a gaming convention. It’s also an experience that would be great to GM for different groups to see how each react.
Now go out and dive in! Sign a contract! Sell your soul! Get your own copy at http://www.monkeyfunstudios.com/products/bedlamhall/.
Bedlam Hall Episode Five: It Blurs the Lines of Hell
Mon, 30 Jul 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Darkness. Memories. Blood. An end to the dreadful tale. An end.
Content warning for extreme graphic violence and death.
CAST
Sally Chan - Faye Eason
Charlotte Elena - Ganymede Gracie
Ray Goldberg - Murphy Wells
Noa Heinrich - Mildred Fitzgerald
Matthew Marquez - Guy Willoughsby
Megan Scharlau - GM
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Time Passes", "The Reveal", and "Intrepid" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Classical Strings" courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Bedlam Hall at http://www.monkeyfunstudios.com/products/bedlamhall/!
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Bedlam Hall Episode Four: Last Will and Testament
Mon, 23 Jul 2018 08:00:00 +0000
CAST
Sally Chan - Faye Eason
Charlotte Elena - Ganymede Gracie
Ray Goldberg - Murphy Wells
Noa Heinrich - Mildred Fitzgerald
Matthew Marquez - Guy Willoughsby
Megan Scharlau - GM
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Love Song", "Ghostpocalypse – 3 Road of Trials", "Come Play With Me", "An Upsetting Theme", and "Grave Matters" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Bedlam Hall at http://www.monkeyfunstudios.com/products/bedlamhall/!
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Bedlam Hall Episode Three: Heavy Stuff
Mon, 16 Jul 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Invasions of privacy, painful memories, and nefarious plots. Who needs violent spirits when our new staff can do this much damage on their own?
CAST
Sally Chan - Faye Eason
Charlotte Elena - Ganymede Gracie
Ray Goldberg - Murphy Wells
Noa Heinrich - Mildred Fitzgerald
Matthew Marquez - Guy Willoughsby
Megan Scharlau - GM
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Classical Ballroom Horror" and "Pavan the Earl of Salisbury" courtesy of audioblocks.com
"Ghostpocalypse – 4 Temptress" and "Ghostpocalypse – 6 Crossing the Threshold" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Bedlam Hall at http://www.monkeyfunstudios.com/products/bedlamhall/!
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Bedlam Hall Episode Two: Young Master Stephen
Mon, 09 Jul 2018 08:00:00 +0000
CAST
Sally Chan - Faye Eason
Charlotte Elena - Ganymede Gracie
Ray Goldberg - Murphy Wells
Noa Heinrich - Mildred Fitzgerald
Matthew Marquez - Guy Willoughsby
Megan Scharlau - GM
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Cryptic Sorrow", "Ghostpocalypse - 8 Epilog", "Atlantean Twilight", and "Ghost Processional" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Bedlam Hall at http://www.monkeyfunstudios.com/products/bedlamhall/!
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Bedlam Hall Episode One: The Rothchild Estate
Mon, 02 Jul 2018 08:00:00 +0000
A cadre of caretakers begin their tenure at the renowned Rothchild estate. As they acclimate to their new positions, they slowly begin to realize that something may be... off.
CAST
Sally Chan - Faye Eason
Charlotte Elena - Ganymede Gracie
Ray Goldberg - Murphy Wells
Noa Heinrich - Mildred Fitzgerald
Matthew Marquez - Guy Willoughsby
Megan Scharlau - GM
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"The Age Baroque Full 01" and "O Care Thou Wilt Despatch Me" courtesy of audioblocks.com
"Metaphysik", "Fantastic Dim Bar", "Measured Paces", and "Trepidation" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Bedlam Hall at http://www.monkeyfunstudios.com/products/bedlamhall/!
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Stars Without Number Potluck Blog
Wed, 27 Jun 2018 17:16:50 +0000
After we returned to Earth from our trip amongst Stars Without Number, we sat down and discussed our feelings about the game. Read on to see whether Stars Without Number is the system for you to use in your next campaign!
One of the strengths of Stars Without Number is its robust galaxy creation system, which allows you to roll dice to determine where stars fall on a galaxy map, what a planet is like, and what goals and quests for the group are to be offered. We recommend Stars Without Number as a great GM’s tool, even if you don’t want to play the system. The randomization has the capability to produce, well, stars without number (and planets and people). There are also add-ons that we didn’t get to explore including things like transhumanism, AI and alien characters, and even adding magic to your sci-fi world. It truly is an old school treasure box of an RPG.
One of the faults of the randomized/ multi-quest options, was Marquez not realizing that the stakes of one of the missions was a lot more in line with the players sensibilities. Though there are opportunities for many different adventure options at the same time, maybe stick with one for a short form game like the one we played. But all missions that were rolled randomly were certainly interesting and compelling. The open world nature feels more attuned to long term play with friends.
The game tends to be about exploratory adventures rather than story-based adventures. If you want to visit weird worlds and meet interesting people who need help, this game is definitely for you. The options can seem a little daunting, but that’s all a part of the adventure.
We also found that the game has a steep difficulty curve for players. The monster statistics aren’t geared to player level, but instead remain the same no matter what the level of the characters. This provided an interesting playstyle but a consistently difficult one. This also makes the choice to avoid combat more of a valid decision for a party to make, unlike other games. It also makes death very easy, especially at lower levels. We eased up on that rule a little for narrative sake, and because we felt that the hardcore nature of the game wasn’t our style, but it definitely is worth exploring. The tone of the game-- being in a meat grinder of a world where you can die easily and you aren’t big time adventurers-- is super cool. Some of us weren’t about that, but Sally especially was excited because she felt it made every choice important and gave it weight.
Character creation was easy when provided with a guide, which the book handily does. The psychic class proved a little difficult because there are additional rules to go through. Your character having a background and a focus instead of a subclass allows you more variety in character creation, showcasing different personalities. A smoother multiclassing option opens up even more possibilities and was also much loved. The idea that a skill of 0 is required not to have a negative modifier makes sense, though is not inherently intuitive in play, especially in conversation with other similar, skill based RPG systems. It should also be mentioned the Tabletop Potluck crew were all very confused about how rolling HP works when you level up.
Ultimately, we here at Tabletop Potluck loved Stars Without Number, and recommend it if you want to go exploring in space. The full rules are available online for free here:
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/230009/Stars-Without-Number-Revised-Edition-Free-Version. Stay tuned listeners, for our next arc Bedlam Hall!
Stars Without Number Episode Five: Potluck!
Mon, 25 Jun 2018 08:00:00 +0000
The time has come again for another potluck! Now that Heat Death has achieved transcendence and has become the Greatest Band in the Universe, we can discuss Stars Without Number at length. Listen to in-depth discussions of hardcore meat grinder systems, the compartmentalization of character creation, and our fears of character death, around some delicious space-themed foods!
CAST
Sally Chan - Raine
Charlotte Elena - Ellis
Ray Goldberg - Caleb
Noa Heinrich - Staccato
Matthew Marquez - GM
Megan Scharlau - Malware
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
Learn more about Stars Without Number at https://sinenominepublishing.com/collections/stars-without-number/products/stars-without-number-core-pdf!
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Stars Without Number Episode Four: I'm Gonna Die Two Times Today
Mon, 18 Jun 2018 08:00:00 +0000
In the final episode of Stars Without Number, Heat Death has made their way to the planet Spencer where a whole bunch of wacky stuff goes down. Our beloved band learns about robots, video games, and which Star Trek captain is the best. Will they become the Greatest Band in the Universe? Will they finally get paid? Will they get to breathe for just one second? Come travel with us one final time to find out!
Content warning for violence.
CAST
Sally Chan - Raine
Charlotte Elena - Ellis
Ray Goldberg - Caleb
Noa Heinrich - Staccato
Matthew Marquez - GM
Megan Scharlau - Malware
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
“Thunder Dreams”, “Misuse”, “Neo Western”, “Mega Hyper Ultrastorm”, “The Way Out”, and “Intuit” by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
“Fugue for Factory Ass” by Heat Death
And once more, special thanks to Wilkes Oswald for letting us use their song "Space Western"! Hear more from them at https://wilkesoswald.bandcamp.com/.
Learn more about Stars Without Number at https://sinenominepublishing.com/collections/stars-without-number/products/stars-without-number-core-pdf!
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Stars Without Number Episode Three: Settling the Wreckage
Mon, 11 Jun 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Picking up post battle, Heat Death has a lot to deal with before they’re ready to spike jump to their next adventure. Jilted friends, injured loves, and perhaps the most dreaded thing of all...bureaucracy!
Content warning for violence and drug use.
CAST
Sally Chan - Raine
Charlotte Elena - Ellis
Ray Goldberg - Caleb
Noa Heinrich - Staccato
Matthew Marquez - GM
Megan Scharlau - Malware
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Thumping Baltic House", "Sands of Time", and "Double Time" courtesy of audioblocks.com
"Phantom from Space" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Stars Without Number at https://sinenominepublishing.com/collections/stars-without-number/products/stars-without-number-core-pdf!
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Stars Without Number Episode Two: Mankind Provides Its Own
Mon, 04 Jun 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Things heat up in the Lieu Du Bete as Heat Death’s main rival band are here to steal their stage time. But their petty rivalry takes a back seat as a deal with mob boss club owner Milford Greensleeves has a good chance of going south.
Content warning for violence.
CAST
Sally Chan - Raine
Charlotte Elena - Ellis
Ray Goldberg - Caleb
Noa Heinrich - Staccato
Matthew Marquez - GM
Megan Scharlau - Malware
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Laid Back Electro Pop House" and "Combustion" courtesy of audioblocks.com
"RetroFuture Nasty", "Miami Viceroy", and "Deuces" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Stars Without Number at https://sinenominepublishing.com/collections/stars-without-number/products/stars-without-number-core-pdf!
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Stars Without Number Episode One: The Universe Provides
Mon, 28 May 2018 08:00:00 +0000
The stars shine bright in the vastness of space as the Tabletop Potluck crew embark on a new adventure as the space-faring rock band, Heat Death. Can they make it to their gig on time, or will they get distracted when various subplots rear their heads? It’s Stars Without Number!
Content warning for drug use and violence.
CAST
Sally Chan - Raine
Charlotte Elena - Ellis
Ray Goldberg - Caleb
Noa Heinrich - Staccato
Matthew Marquez - GM
Megan Scharlau - Malware
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Space Jazz" courtesy of audioblocks.com
"Orion 300XB", "Doobly Doo", "Voltaic", "Evening Melodrama", and "Suave Standpipe" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Ave Maria" by Briareus, licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
And a special thanks to Wilkes Oswald for letting us use their song "Space Western"! You can find more of their music at https://wilkesoswald.bandcamp.com/.
Learn more about Stars Without Number at https://sinenominepublishing.com/collections/stars-without-number/products/stars-without-number-core-pdf!
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Bonus Episode - Podcast of Foes
Wed, 23 May 2018 08:00:00 +0000
After years apart, an adventuring party reunites for one last simple mission. After all, how dangerous can a gnome warren really be?
This is a repost of our episode of Podcast of Foes, which was previously uploaded to the Dungeon Delve feed; if you haven't listened to it already, now's your chance!
CAST
Sally Chan - Moo
Charlotte Elena - Bean
Ray Goldberg - Ioana
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Quis
Megan Scharlau - Masika
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
“Peaceful Country”, “Mello Renaissance”, “Morrison's Jig”, and “Old Europe” courtesy of audioblocks.com
“Galway”, “March of the Spoons”, “Immersed”, “One-Eyed Maestro”, “Ossuary 2 – Turn”, “Ritual”, “Netherworld Shanty”, “The Path of the Goblin”, “Crowd Hammer” and “Tenebrous Brothers Carnival - Act Three” by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Podcast of Foes at http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/events/podcasts-foes, and about Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes at http://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/rpg-products/mordenkainens-tome-foes!
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Endless Realms Episode Five: Potluck!
Mon, 21 May 2018 08:00:00 +0000
As our odyssey through Endless Realms comes to a close, we reflect over a delicious potluck. Give a listen to get our full opinion on this brand new game; you can also read our blog for the short version.
CAST
Sally Chan - Aska
Charlotte Elena - Be'ryl
Ray Goldberg - Pelu
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Vyn Korsk
Megan Scharlau - Berry Heart
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
Learn more about Endless Realms at http://www.endlessrealms.ca/, and support their Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/787449168/endless-realms-rpg!
If you're not caught up on Podcast of Foes, download our adventure and many more by tuning into Dungeon Delve wherever you get your podcasts!
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Mon, 21 May 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Will Endless Realms by Lunar Games be your new favorite game? We think it could be! To learn more, you should listen to the full potluck episode here, and also to our whole adventure. But reading this blog post is also a good start.
Endless Realms bills itself as a game that balances accessibility and depth, and we found that to be a very accurate description. There were a lot of “crunchy” options for people who like their games to be more tactically complex, but the system was also intuitive enough that players can jump right in. Paired with some truly unique world-building, Endless Realms is a singular game, with only a few potential hiccups to disrupt the experience.
From a mechanical standpoint, Endless Realms was dense without being inaccessible. We found the central mechanic-- all rolls are contested instead of being against a fixed value-- to be easy to learn, and it led to a lot of interesting situations. Daunting situations and simple problems both have possibilities of going surprisingly well or catastrophically bad.
Combat in particular is fast-paced and easy to learn, and often feels like a JRPG; the game even has action points and MP. We did have some mixed opinions on a few mechanics, such as the fact that you don’t roll to deal damage, but overall we appreciated ER’s approach to tactical combat. One thing to keep in mind is that the book specifically calls for playing with a hexagonal grid and miniatures, and we don’t know how well combat runs if you don’t have these tools.
Most of the speed bumps we ran into were during character creation. The process took a long time and was not always intuitive. This game has a lot of stats. There are several blocks of statistics, and each block is populated using a point-buy system. The pool of points was different for each stat-block, and when you are new to the game it can be hard to decide which stats to prioritize. We also hope that the full release of the game will provide a reference of how the stats scale, because we weren’t sure just how strong a character with a Strength of 3 was.
Endless Realms truly shines when you get to the world-building. The world of Lumis is very different from the usual Tolkien-inspired settings you typically see in fantasy RPGs. There are clear influences from games like Final Fantasy, but it’s altogether its own beast. We particularly liked that the racial options weren’t limited to human-like mammals; how many other RPGs let you play as a sentient plant? Because the setting is so unique, we found it odd to find a few familiar faces, including dragons, gnolls, and kobolds. Humans were also a bit underdeveloped as a playable race, and we found ourselves wishing ER would either develop them more or get rid of them altogether.
The class options were also pleasingly refreshing. The classes have very distinct styles of play, and develop interesting paths as you level up. We were also pleased that the classes had mechanics that operated outside of combat, which is an oversight too many games make. However, the classes’ uniqueness was also a bit restrictive. How many different ways are there to play a Ninja?
Overall, we loved Endless Realms. If you prefer a game with lots of statistics and in-depth tactical combat, you will not be disappointed. If you enjoy swords-and-sorcery adventure but are tired of elves and orcs, then this is the game for you. Players who don’t want a lot of dice-rolling may be discouraged, but the mechanics were not so dense as to put off those of us who prefer rules-lite games. As of publication, Endless Realms’ Kickstarter campaign is 94% funded with a little over a week to go. We hope you consider backing it, and playing it when it comes out! Learn more about the game at http://www.endlessrealms.ca/.
Endless Realms Episode Four: From Whence It Came
Mon, 14 May 2018 08:00:00 +0000
After a long, strange journey, Kalima Cave and its mystical denizen await. Will Flikki's Fighters find the mushrooms they've been seeking, or something else entirely?
CAST
Sally Chan - Aska
Charlotte Elena - Be'ryl
Ray Goldberg - Pelu
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Vyn Korsk
Megan Scharlau - Berry Heart
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Interlude for Piano and Quartet" and "The Long Awakening" courtesy of audioblocks.com
"Ossuary 1 - A Beginning", "Air Prelude", and "Earth Prelude" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Endless Realms at http://www.endlessrealms.ca/, and support their Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/787449168/endless-realms-rpg!
Remember, it's week two of the official D&D event Podcast of Foes! Our episode comes out on Tuesday May 15th, so download our adventure and many more by tuning into Dungeon Delve wherever you get your podcasts!
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Endless Realms Episode Three: Return to the Earth
Mon, 07 May 2018 08:00:00 +0000
The path to the mystical cave of Kalima has led the party into the territory of the mysterious Lasahri. Subtle diplomacy will be required to enter the cave, let alone make it out alive.
CAST
Sally Chan - Aska
Charlotte Elena - Be'ryl
Ray Goldberg - Pelu
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Vyn Korsk
Megan Scharlau - Berry Heart
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Crowd Hammer" and "Immersed" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Triage" and "Ambient Bells" courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Endless Realms at http://www.endlessrealms.ca/, and support their Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/787449168/endless-realms-rpg!
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Endless Realms Episode Two: A Little Conflicted
Mon, 30 Apr 2018 08:00:00 +0000
After a rough trip through the jungle, Flikki’s Fighters have located their missing person, the human scientist Helera, but their troubles aren't over yet. First they’ll have to contend with a troupe of mischievous monsters, and maybe even Helera herself.
CAST
Sally Chan - Aska
Charlotte Elena - Be'ryl
Ray Goldberg - Pelu
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Vyn Korsk
Megan Scharlau - Berry Heart
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Dama-May", "Suvaco do Cristo", "Stoneworld Battle", and "Double Drift" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Mouse Trap" by Purple Planet, http://www.purple-planet.com/
"Jungle Warfare Alternative Mix", "Zebra", "My Adventure", "Interlude for Piano and Quartet", and "Unknown Forest" courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Endless Realms at http://www.endlessrealms.ca/, and support their Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/787449168/endless-realms-rpg!
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Endless Realms Episode One: Dangerous and Discreet
Mon, 23 Apr 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Enter a world of adventure with the TTPL crew as we playtest Endless Realms! An immortal scientist needs somebody to find her missing assistant and raid a mystical cavern. She wanted an elite team of professional mercenaries; instead she gets Flikki's Fighters.
CAST
Sally Chan - Aska
Charlotte Elena - Be'ryl
Ray Goldberg - Pelu
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Vyn Korsk
Megan Scharlau - Berry Heart
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Preacher" and "Dramatic Marimba" by Cinematic Waves, https://www.cinematicwaves.com/
"StompDance" and "Night Cave" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Regal Cello Music Cue", "The Days of Old", and "Moonlight Fantasy" courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Endless Realms at http://www.endlessrealms.ca/!
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Call of Cthulhu Episode Six: Potluck!
Mon, 16 Apr 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Once again, we gather for the strange ritual of the potluck. Join us as we dish out our thoughts on Call of Cthulhu, 6th Edition, and dish out a meal worthy of a 1920s dinner party before it gets crashed by zombies. For our abridged thoughts, check out our blog post.
CAST
Sally Chan - Brynne Hardy
Charlotte Elena - GM
Ray Goldberg - Abby Shore
Noa Heinrich - B.B. Logan
Matthew Marquez - Guillermo Nueva
Megan Scharlau - Frank Sawyer
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
Learn more about Call of Cthulhu at https://www.chaosium.com/call-of-cthulhu-rpg/!
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Mon, 16 Apr 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Interested in Chaosium’s Call of Cthulhu? Well, you’ve come to the right place. We’re breaking down all the juicy, fleshy, pulsating bits of 6th edition. For our full thoughts, check out the potluck episode here.
We love the flavor of Call of Cthulhu. There’s something instantly appealing about cosmic horror. Maybe we just like to be reminded of how insignificant we are in the universe. CoC of course also lends itself well to historical fiction, being based off of stories primarily written at the turn of the century.
We also greatly enjoyed the sanity mechanics. It’s the one aspect of the game where the mechanics and flavor match up perfectly- it’s a great synergy. However, we felt other aspects of the game could have been switched out with other rules with little or no effect. The Basic Role-Playing (BRP) system doesn’t really have an effect on the game.
What BRP does have is skills. Lots of skills. 58-60 of them, in fact (depending on what time period you are playing in). On the plus side, being based on percentages makes it straightforward to understand how good you are at each of your 10,000 skills. BRP also has lots of tables. Which is fine if you like tables, but we noticed that the game can come to a screeching halt while the Keeper looks up the resistance table for a ruling. Another common complaint about BRP is something that happened to us quite often. If you miss your spot hidden check, for instance, you don’t spot the clue. Failing a role like that can also grind the plot to a halt. We do admit there is something elegant about the percentages though, you either do it or you don’t. No muss no fuss.
Character creation can take a long time and is designed to be from the bottom up (basing your character and occupation around the skills you rolled as opposed to assigning your rolls to what best fits your character concept), which we did not do. Though we all think it would be really fun to do bottom-up character creation next time. We enjoyed the fact that character creation pushed the fact that you are a person with various skills, like real people. You have occupation points to put into your skills, but you also have hobby points to put into them after you’ve picked your occupation skills. It makes your character well rounded. You took scuba diving lessons one time? You refurbish furniture on the weekends? Took a few Spanish classes? Hobby points! There’s no leveling up in CoC, but you can add points to skills by performing them well. A quick note though: it’s best to create a character who wants to or has a reason to investigate the mythos.
Combat feels like a different game. Combat is something you’re supposed to avoid, as it is supposed to be lethal is Call of Cthulhu. The book mentions that if you’re in a gunfight, you’ve done something wrong. But of course, the rulebook has multiple pages of tables dedicated to all sorts of guns. You can see the dissonance there. The nice thing is that it’s very straightforward: you have your initiative and you take turns, and there’s not much more to it. But here’s our hot-take to Chaosium and other game devs: your game doesn’t need to have combat.
Horror roleplaying itself is an interesting beast. Ideally, you yourself should be scared, but you also have to roleplay your character being scared. What CoC does right is adding mystery. Horror and mystery is a good combination, as you have an impetus for moving forward. If you’ve never played a Horror RPG, you’ll have a lot of new RP opportunities. Temporary insanity is something we didn’t get to showcase this time around but is a perfect example of that.
Would we play Call of Cthulhu again? Yes! However, due to the nature of the game and its time periods, we feel content warnings are a must. Be sensitive to other people’s triggers, especially if you’re the keeper. There’s a fine line between scaring and enticing your players and sending them into a panic attack. If you’re a player, let your keeper know if you have any triggers and if your keeper is a good person, they will adjust their plans accordingly.
Many scenarios take place in older time periods. Be aware of the realities of the time. You can choose to ignore them, or use them to your advantage. Time period shouldn’t stop your from playing a character who you want to play! Luckily, the genre has by and large moved on from its problematic origins, so just do the opposite of what Lovecraft would have wanted you to do, and you should be golden.
And that’s our take on Call of Cthulhu, 6th edition! If you like horror, we recommend it. It’s a cornerstone of pen and paper roleplaying games, for good reason. You can get Call of Cthulhu (6th AND 7th edition!) at chaosium.com or likely at your local game store.
Call of Cthulhu Episode Five: The Vengeful Dead
Mon, 09 Apr 2018 08:00:00 +0000
In the ultimate episode of Call of Cthulhu, our anxious entrepreneurs finally learn the true meaning of Walpurgisnacht. It’s not a good old fashioned parlor scene, but it is the eve of the dinner party. The culprit will be revealed, but not before the lodge has some… unexpected guests.
CAST
Sally Chan - Brynne Hardy
Charlotte Elena - GM
Ray Goldberg - Abby Shore
Noa Heinrich - B.B. Logan
Matthew Marquez - Guillermo Nueva
Megan Scharlau - Frank Sawyer
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Doomed Romance", “The Chase”, and "Last Stand" by Purple Planet, http://www.purple-planet.com/
"Deuces" "Wretched Destroyer", and "Cattails" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Night Attack" by Cinematic Waves, https://www.cinematicwaves.com/
"Such a Swinging Good Time" and "Verge of Discovery" courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Call of Cthulhu at https://www.chaosium.com/call-of-cthulhu-rpg/!
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Call of Cthulhu Episode Four: A Good Night's Sleep
Mon, 02 Apr 2018 08:00:00 +0000
CAST
Sally Chan - Brynne Hardy
Charlotte Elena - GM
Ray Goldberg - Abby Shore
Noa Heinrich - B.B. Logan
Matthew Marquez - Guillermo Nueva
Megan Scharlau - Frank Sawyer
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Sidewalk Shade" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Sneak a Peek" and "Ambient Exorcism" courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Call of Cthulhu at https://www.chaosium.com/call-of-cthulhu-rpg/!
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Call of Cthulhu Episode Three: The Luigi Board
Mon, 26 Mar 2018 08:00:00 +0000
April 29th: In town, the press finally shows its face, asking questions about the events of the other day. Our dear investigators haven’t really had a chance to have a vacation as of yet. In this thrilling episode, they balance investigating with relaxing, outdoor activities, like hunting...and… river photography. A few failed spot hidden checks later, a few heart-to-hearts, and a fateful spirit board reading, perhaps this group of unlikely heroes can finally string together the pieces of this mystery.
CAST
Sally Chan - Brynne Hardy
Charlotte Elena - GM
Ray Goldberg - Abby Shore
Noa Heinrich - B.B. Logan
Matthew Marquez - Guillermo Nueva
Megan Scharlau - Frank Sawyer
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Dark Hallway" and "Shadowlands 1 – Horizon" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Robert From Hibbing (Instrumental)" courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Call of Cthulhu at https://www.chaosium.com/call-of-cthulhu-rpg/!
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Call of Cthulhu Episode Two: They'll Be Here Soon
Mon, 19 Mar 2018 08:00:00 +0000
Wholly unequipped to investigate the strange happenings in Gage, the gang continues forward. The supposed car accident has only left them more confused. Back at the lodge and in town, further investigation only serves to obfuscate. How can our amateur sleuths ever unravel this mystery?
CAST
Sally Chan - Brynne Hardy
Charlotte Elena - GM
Ray Goldberg - Abby Shore
Noa Heinrich - B.B. Logan
Matthew Marquez - Guillermo Nueva
Megan Scharlau - Frank Sawyer
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Fireflies and Stardust" and "Evil Plan FX" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Sunshine Rag" courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Call of Cthulhu at https://www.chaosium.com/call-of-cthulhu-rpg/!
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Call of Cthulhu Episode One: Floyd County, Virginia
Tue, 13 Mar 2018 00:11:42 +0000
April 28th, 1921: A clique of eccentric socialites prepares for a nice getaway at the Grandview Lodge in Floyd County, Virginia. The Grandview Lodge, located just outside the small village of Gage, has all the modern amenities an upper-class egg could want. Unfortunately, Gage also has one other thing: dead and missing persons. Certainly nothing could go wrong.
CAST
Sally Chan - Brynne Hardy
Charlotte Elena - GM
Ray Goldberg - Abby Shore
Noa Heinrich - B.B. Logan
Matthew Marquez - Guillermo Nueva
Megan Scharlau - Frank Sawyer
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Fireflies and Stardust" and "Evil Plan FX" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Sunshine Rag" courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Call of Cthulhu at https://www.chaosium.com/call-of-cthulhu-rpg/!
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Mon, 05 Mar 2018 09:00:00 +0000
It's potluck time again! The team assembles to talk about what we think about Masks, the Powered by the Apocalypse system itself, and even the pros and cons of teen-centric superhero fiction as a genre. For a bite-sized version of our chat, check out our blog at tabletoppotluck.libsyn.com.
CAST
Sally Chan - Azure Storm
Charlotte Elena - Pushpin
Ray Goldberg - GM
Noa Heinrich - Roxie Rapid
Matthew Marquez - Dreamdancer
Megan Scharlau - Project Ares Delta
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
Learn more about Masks: A New Generation at http://www.magpiegames.com/masks/!
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Mon, 05 Mar 2018 09:00:00 +0000
Curious about Masks: A New Generation? You should be, because it's a heckin' good game! For the most in-depth look, we recommend listening to our potluck episode of the podcast, but if you're looking for more of a super-speedy rundown, here it is!
Masks, like most Powered by the Apocalypse games, is fairly mechanics-light and is great for players who are most invested in the roleplaying and storytelling. If you're new to tabletop games, this is a great jumping-on point. You have a limited stable of stats and moves which are streamlined and easy to keep track of.
If you love superhero fiction, especially when it comes to teen heroes, you're going to adore Masks. In between the action and suspense, the system guides you to create some beautiful coming of age stories. Flavorfully it has shades of Teen Titans, Young Justice, Young Avengers, et cetera. But hey, even if superheroes aren't usually your jam, Masks still might have something that grabs you; some of our team members actually don't like comics very much, but they adore Masks because you can bring as much levity and humanity to it as you want.
Masks uses the classic PBTA mechanic of having failures be fun, which is a great plus to storytelling. In this case they have the concept of "potential", where the only way you can level up and grow as a hero is when you fail your rolls. Failures end up being just as narratively interesting as successes, not to mention how fun it is to have the bittersweet "mixed" successes.
Even with a stellar game like Masks, there's bound to be some elements that don't gel as well with everyone. One frustration is that while the potential system is fun, if luck has it that you're consistently rolling high then you won't level up as consistently as your teammates, and if you keep rolling low, you might find yourself with new swag that you don't feel like you've earned yet. Also some of the actions you'll want to take don't neatly line up with any of the predetermined moves, which means it's up to the GM to make up a custom move in the spur of the moment and figure out how that translates mechanically.
If you're interested in GMing Masks, know that you'll have to be extremely flexible and quick on the uptake, but the book is on your side and helpfully outlines all the resources you'll need. Because there's no defined turn order or rounds, PCs can essentially go whenever they want, and so it's on the GM to ensure that everyone's working together and everyone has a fair shot.
Character creation is explicitly itemized, but you get a surprising amount of creative license for just circling attribute options. Certain playbooks will restrict you to certain superpowers, but it's up to you to interpret what that entails. Creating a team also means figuring out your characters' relationships with each other and with the world before you've even started the game, which helps to kickstart camaraderie and motivations.
The podcast episode ends with us playing out the end-of-session roundup where everyone reflects on how their character has changed, and adjusts their stats accordingly, so give that a listen if you want to see how that works. And if you want a closer look at how we created our characters and their relationships, we have a new bonus episode on our Patreon outlining just that!
Let's just say it, we love Masks: A New Generation to little shiny pieces, and we resoundingly recommend it. If you'd like to see more of this story and these characters, let us know, because we'd love to play some more! To play Masks for yourself, get a hardcover copy, paperback copy, or a PDF from http://www.magpiegames.com/shop/., and enjoy!
Masks Episode Four: We're All Trash Fires
Mon, 26 Feb 2018 09:00:00 +0000
In the thrilling conclusion of Masks, our heroes gear up for a climactic confrontation with Bauble the artifact dealer. Can they restore Cilia's powers, put an end to Vector's torment, and defend the citizens of Halcyon City? Tune in and find out!
CAST
Sally Chan - Azure Storm
Charlotte Elena - Pushpin
Ray Goldberg - GM
Noa Heinrich - Roxie Rapid
Matthew Marquez - Dreamdancer
Megan Scharlau - Project Ares Delta
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"The Brightest and the Best", "Dramatic Movie Opening", "The Final Alliance", and "Our Cause is Just" courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Masks: A New Generation at http://www.magpiegames.com/masks/!
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Masks Episode Three: Human Empathy
Mon, 19 Feb 2018 09:00:00 +0000
Even with the Delilah Sphere in their possession, the team still has no idea how to use it or even what the extent of its power is. Until they can get some answers, it's time for some recuperation and heart-to-hearts.
CAST
Sally Chan - Azure Storm
Charlotte Elena - Pushpin
Ray Goldberg - GM
Noa Heinrich - Roxie Rapid
Matthew Marquez - Dreamdancer
Megan Scharlau - Project Ares Delta
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Malicious", "Disco Medusae", "Pepper's Theme", and "The Descent" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Masks: A New Generation at http://www.magpiegames.com/masks/!
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Masks Episode Two: Hashtag Cannot Relate
Mon, 12 Feb 2018 09:00:00 +0000
The action heats up as our heroes pursue the supervillain Glitch and the strange artifact he's carrying, but tensions flare between teammates when they discover Glitch may have some not-so-villainous intentions.
CAST
Sally Chan - Azure Storm
Charlotte Elena - Pushpin
Ray Goldberg - GM
Noa Heinrich - Roxie Rapid
Matthew Marquez - Dreamdancer
Megan Scharlau - Project Ares Delta
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Techno in Space Mashup", "Fight For This Planet", "A Haunted Space Station", and "The Harder They Fall", courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Masks: A New Generation at http://www.magpiegames.com/masks/!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
Masks Episode One: Welcome to the Metacademy
Mon, 05 Feb 2018 09:00:00 +0000
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Tabletop Potluck! In our first issue of Masks: A New Generation, it's just another day at school for our team of superpowered teens. Our heroes have their own heroes to look up to, but there are some problems that not even they can solve.
CAST
Sally Chan - Azure Storm
Charlotte Elena - Pushpin
Ray Goldberg - GM
Noa Heinrich - Roxie Rapid
Matthew Marquez - Dreamdancer
Megan Scharlau - Project Ares Delta
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Memorial Day", "Boogie Chill", "The Deeper You Go", and "Unlock the Code", courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Masks: A New Generation at http://www.magpiegames.com/masks/!
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Tue, 30 Jan 2018 15:28:28 +0000
This is the abridged version of our discussion of Mouse Guard. We encourage you to listen to our full, in-depth potluck, but we understand if you don't have the time. If you want to listen to the podcast AND read these notes, you get a gold star! (Note: Gold stars have no monetary value, and are simply for showing the world that you're a totally awesome being.)
Overall, we enjoyed Mouse Guard, with a few reservations. While we loved the world that it inhabits, and the stories that can be told within it, it is also mechanically dense. The game uses a simplified version of the Burning Wheel system, and the fact that this version of that system gave us this much trouble speaks volumes. There is a large amount of options to keep track of, and knowing when to use which stat is not always intuitive.
Character creation is pleasingly streamlined, and does an excellent job of incorporating your character's background and personality into their statistics. We also loved the incorporation of a Belief and an instinct into character creation. They make for a helpful guide to roleplaying, and give you a benchmark to measure yourself against. However, some of us felt a bit restricted by the premise of the game; your character is by definition a mouse, and a member of the Mouse Guard. If you want to make a Chaotic Evil weasel, you're out of luck.
Mechanically, Mouse Guard often frustrated us. The conflict system in particular, while unique, requires it's own special reference that is included on character sheets. The fact that all of the major decisions in conflict are made by one player can make the other players feel less engaged in the scene. Other mechanics, such as incorporating a character's Nature, required a flowchart to figure out when to roll the die, which stats to include, and if your character suffers a penalty.
If you are worried that you wont understand the game because you have not read the comic books, don't be. The world of Mouse Guard is explained in depth in the sourcebook, and the concept of the game is simple enough for anybody to dive right in. What makes the game really stand out is the sense of scale, an important aspect of the comic that is beautifully translated into gameplay. In Mouse Guard, even something as simple as rainfall is an epic challenge, and just surviving in this world makes for compelling storytelling. No other game we have encountered does this so well.
Overall, our experience with Mouse Guard was positive. We enjoyed making our characters, and having them interact with one another, and the world at large. On the other hand, we lost a lot of time referring to the book and reference sheets, in order to make sure we were playing the rules correctly. If you are a fan of rules-light systems like Fate, or Powered By The Apocalypse, Mouse Guard may not be for you. However, if you don't mind a bit of complexity, and want to play in a unique, fully realized universe, then we can recommend this game wholeheartedly. If you want to play Mouse Guard, it can be found on Amazon, and can also be found in many comic stores.
Mouse Guard Episode Four: Potluck!
Mon, 29 Jan 2018 09:00:00 +0000
The time has come for Mouse Guard to join our potluck! After a meal worthy of Lockhaven’s finest, we delved deep into the Burning Wheel system, and how we felt about using it as our guide through the Mouse Territories. If you’d rather read the rundown than listen, you can also go through our blog on tabletoppotluck.libsyn.com.
CAST
Sally Chan - Amaia
Charlotte Elena - Trevor
Ray Goldberg - Eirianwen
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Thaddeus
Megan Scharlau - Ginnie
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
Learn more about Mouse Guard at http://www.mouseguard.net/book/role-playing-game/!
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Mouse Guard Episode Three: The Sticks Are Down
Mon, 22 Jan 2018 09:00:00 +0000
The patrol has finally arrived at Lone Pine with badly needed supplies, but their troubles are far from over. They still have to deal with rude townsfolk, pungent scientists, and the mystery of what caused the disaster in the first place. It’s the conclusion of Mouse Guard, so be sure not to miss it!
CAST
Sally Chan - Amaia
Charlotte Elena - Trevor
Ray Goldberg - Eirianwen
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Thaddeus
Megan Scharlau - Ginnie
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Lady of the Lake" and “Torn Apart”, courtesy of audioblocks.com
"Ballad of the Ivory Lass" - Lyrics by David Petersen, Music & Performance by Jesse Glenn
Learn more about Mouse Guard at http://www.mouseguard.net/book/role-playing-game/
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Mouse Guard Episode Two: The Angry Thing
Mon, 15 Jan 2018 10:00:00 +0000
The patrol’s route is blocked by a hungry toad, with an appetite for beetles. Will the mice be able to punish the peckish polliwog, or will their beetle become an arthropod hors d’oeuvre? And more importantly, will our players be able to navigate the intricacies of the Mouse Guard conflict system?
CAST
Sally Chan - Amaia
Charlotte Elena - Trevor
Ray Goldberg - Eirianwen
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Thaddeus
Megan Scharlau - Ginnie
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
"Royal Forester" and "When I Was On Horseback" by Greg Joy, courtesy of audioblocks.com
Learn more about Mouse Guard at http://www.mouseguard.net/book/role-playing-game/!
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Mouse Guard Episode One: Spring 1153
Mon, 08 Jan 2018 10:00:00 +0000
Spring has come to the Mouse Territories, bringing danger with it. In the Mouse Guard RPG, mouse-sized heroes must overcome full-sized peril. Can our brave patrolmice save the town of Lonepine from utter ruin?
CAST
Sally Chan - Amaia
Charlotte Elena - Trevor
Ray Goldberg - Eirianwen
Noa Heinrich - GM
Matthew Marquez - Thaddeus
Megan Scharlau - Ginnie
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
“Village Consort”, "Lord of the Land", and "Drums of the Deep" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Mouse Guard at http://www.mouseguard.net/book/role-playing-game/!
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Mon, 01 Jan 2018 14:00:00 +0000
Welcome to our potluck for Monsters and Other Childish Things! We all brought some foods from our childhood (which we ate BEFORE the recording this time) and hashed out what we thought about playing as our kids and their monstrous best friends, regarding both the mechanics and the flavor of the system. For the crib notes, check out our blog on tabletoppotluck.libsyn.com.
CAST: Sally Chan, Charlotte Elena, Ray Goldberg, Noa Heinrich, Matthew Marquez, and Megan Scharlau
SOUNDTRACK: Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
Learn more about Monsters and Other Childish Things at http://arcdream.com/home/monsters-and-other-childish-things/!
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Monsters and Other Childish Things Potluck Blog!
Mon, 01 Jan 2018 12:00:00 +0000
Want to delve into Monsters and Other Childish Things? Want to find out what it’s like to be a monster or a childish thing before you try the game out yourself? Check out our potluck episode where we talk in depth about all the mechanics and flavors contained in the game. If you want the notes from the nerd in your class that sits in the front row, here they are.
For the most part we enjoyed the system, and Charlotte says it’s her favorite game, so that should speak volumes. The very concept (children and their monsters dealing with day to day problems) was a huge plus for every player. We liked that character creation is so open-ended in interpretation as opposed to picking and choosing from a set of options, but it’s a double-edged sword because the number of choices can be paralyzing.
While child creation is pretty simplistic, making a monster can be difficult until you start getting in-depth. Those rules just don’t seem intuitive at first glance and may confuse newer players. Creating a monster requires dividing dice amongst a set number of areas which can feel restricting, but then you have the freedom to decide what those areas are and what they do.
Playing both a monster and a child was entertaining, but us players found it difficult to divide our minds between RPing as two separate characters in the same scene. The rules do give you an option to have the GM play every monster if you prefer, but of course there are pros and cons to either approach. Even with the brain-stretching, the chaos of 5 people speaking for 10 characters lent to some great moments. However, since the monsters we were playing were not our own, some of us were self-conscious about living up to each other’s expectations, even if those fears were unfounded.
When it comes to skills, both for social interactions and combat, dice rolls can be frustrating. You may feel giddy with power jangling ten dice and getting a resounding success (or you’re Marquez and you hate it), but the length times width method and the discrepancy between the order you call your shots and the actual turn order means that your move might be wasted entirely. Additionally, we found that time-honored “boss fights” don’t work well with this system; if you sic five players on one enemy and don’t jailbreak that enemy’s stats to be more of a threat than the rules allow, that boss is going to get creamed. Combat didn’t feel threatening enough as a result, but the game is more about character interaction than kaiju fights anyway.
Overall we love the concept of the game; children are agents of chaos, and for better or for worse, your monsters are your best friends and they’re here to back you up. Most of us would play the system again, so if you’re interested in seeing more from our characters, let us know! High on flavor, with a few hiccups in mechanics, Monsters and Other Childish Things is worth checking out. You can purchase a physical copy or a PDF download of the game at https://shop.arcdream.com/.
MAOCT Episode Three: I Love Screaming
Mon, 25 Dec 2017 14:00:00 +0000
Filled with determination, our heroes and their monsters decide to take down the Faerie Queene and rescue the enslaved kids. They’re mustering up their courage, luck, cunning, and 10 dice hit locations with spray. Can they defeat the Faerie Queene? Yeah, probably, but find out for sure in our conclusion of Monsters and Other Childish Things!
CAST
Sally Chan - Harlow/Scribbo
Charlotte Elena - GM
Ray Goldberg - Jules/Tommy
Noa Heinrich - Stella/Locktopus
Matthew Marquez - Franklin/Beatrix
Megan Scharlau - Millie/Merideth
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
“Ossuary 5”, “Unholy Knight”, and “Teller of the Tales” by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Monsters and Other Childish Things at http://arcdream.com/home/monsters-and-other-childish-things/!
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MAOCT Episode Two: Cyanotype (Is Blue)
Mon, 18 Dec 2017 14:00:00 +0000
Having been whisked away to, well, Fairy World, the kids decide it’s best to explore. After encountering a few other trapped kids, they discover they’re slaves to the Faerie Queene. Naturally, the gang figures if they can get to her they can get themselves and the other kids out. They have to watch out, though; there’s a Banshee out there on the prowl.
CAST
Sally Chan - Harlow/Scribbo
Charlotte Elena - GM
Ray Goldberg - Jules/Tommy
Noa Heinrich - Stella/Locktopus
Matthew Marquez - Franklin/Beatrix
Megan Scharlau - Millie/Merideth
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
“Wizardtorium” and “Temple of the Manes” by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Monsters and Other Childish Things at http://arcdream.com/home/monsters-and-other-childish-things/!
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MAOCT Episode One: Have Fun and Love Each Other
Mon, 11 Dec 2017 14:00:00 +0000
On a hot summer day, the Queen Anne’s Landing Renaissance Faire is in full swing. As we dive headfirst into Monsters and Other Childish Things, five rambunctious kids and their horrible eldritch monster friends are here to have a fun day trip. But what happens when kids suddenly go missing from the faire?
CAST
Sally Chan - Harlow/Scribbo
Charlotte Elena - GM
Ray Goldberg - Jules/Tommy
Noa Heinrich - Stella/Locktopus
Matthew Marquez - Franklin/Beatrix
Megan Scharlau - Millie/Merideth
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music
“Achaidh Cheide” and “Crunk Knight” by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about Monsters and Other Childish Things at http://arcdream.com/home/monsters-and-other-childish-things/!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
Mon, 04 Dec 2017 19:43:17 +0000
Interested in playing 7th Sea? Want to get the Tabletop Potluck squad’s takes on the game before you do? Good thing we’ve got a whole episode of TTPL where we all yell about what we thought! If you just want the crib notes, though, here they are. Again, we used the free online rule set and not the full book, so that’s all we’re discussing here.
We had a blast playing 7th Sea and would play it again in a heartbeat. The rulebook gives you plenty of scene-setting and mechanic guidelines and then hands you the reins to craft whatever kind of story you want within that. The character creation system has some neat quirks that get you thinking about possible conflicts your character might face before you’ve even touched the dice. Plus, the intricacy of Villain creation and handling makes them really juicy characters and formidable opponents, not just garden-variety bosses you have to plow through.
The worldbuilding is fun, but it’s just so darn easy to tease John Wick about how a lot of the game’s historical figures, events, and concepts are really just thinly veiled references to real life history. Still, each of the countries are distinct and flavorful and come with their own pros and cons to playing as a citizen of that country. We just wish we could have worked with some non-European countries. It’s great that John Wick Presents released free rules at all, and we wish more companies would do the same, but it’s pretty darn disappointing that they don’t include a single one of the Asian, African, or New World inspired countries.
The way the rules are written is tough to understand right away, but once you get into it, they’re much more intuitive. If you’re new to tabletop RPGs, 7th Sea might not be the best choice, unless you have a couple more experienced players to help folks put the pieces together. A lot of the mechanics are designed for players to delve into across a longer campaign, so a single session might not feel very satisfying.
All in all, the folks at Tabletop Potluck highly recommend 7th Sea. Check out the free rules here, or purchase the full rulebooks here. And if you’d like to catch more of the One-Sided Die crew and company, never fear, because we’ll definitely be returning to this campaign. In the meantime stay tuned for our Monsters and Other Childish Things session!
Mon, 04 Dec 2017 14:00:00 +0000
Welcome to our first potluck! We topped some tables, and now we’re potting some lucks. There’s plenty of piratical food and love to go around. And also a bunch of gross chewing sounds. You live and you learn. This is where we discuss what we thought of 7th Sea as an RPG system! For a quick summary, check out our blog at tabletoppotluck.libsyn.com. But also listen to the episode, because it's pretty heckin' great.
CAST
Sally Chan, Charlotte Elena, Ray Goldberg, Noa Heinrich, Matthew Marquez, and Megan Scharlau
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com
Learn more about 7th Sea at http://www.7thsea.com!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
7th Sea Episode Five: Greetings From Vestenmannavnjar
Mon, 27 Nov 2017 14:00:00 +0000
The conclusion of our first arc of Tabletop Potluck ends with a high stakes battle on the Baron’s estate as our heroes desperately fight to keep the map and codex from Regina Modesto and Beso Muerte’s clutches. Will they make it out alive? Who knows? It is a one-shot session after all.
CAST
Sally Chan - Ena
Charlotte Elena - Quinn
Ray Goldberg - Odette
Noa Heinrich - Andres
Matthew Marquez - GM
Megan Scharlau - Lucine
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com
“Burnt Spirit” by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
“Action Adventure Bravery Music” by Bobby Cole, courtesy of http://audioblocks.com
Learn more about 7th Sea at http://www.7thsea.com!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
7th Sea Episode Four: Not the Only Reason
Mon, 20 Nov 2017 14:00:00 +0000
At Baron Beaumont’s Birthday Bash, the team hits the dance floor and engages in some social “combat”. Opposing worldviews clash in a dazzling display of conversation and footwork from both heroes and villains alike.
CAST
Sally Chan - Ena
Charlotte Elena - Quinn
Ray Goldberg - Odette
Noa Heinrich - Andres
Matthew Marquez - GM
Megan Scharlau - Lucine
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com
“Angevin B”, “Master of the Feast”, and “Suonatore di Liuto” by Kevin MacLeod, http://incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
“Spanish Morning” by Paul Mitchell Beebe and “The Hero Within (no drums)” by Bobby Cole, courtesy of http://audioblocks.com
Learn more about 7th Sea at http://www.7thsea.com!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
7th Sea Episode Three: The Order of the Stake
Mon, 13 Nov 2017 16:00:00 +0000
The crew decides what’s for dinner as they make plans to investigate the Baron’s manor. After schmoozing with mixed results, they look for leads on the treasure and catch the eye of some powerful opposition in the process.
CAST
Sally Chan - Ena
Charlotte Elena - Quinn
Ray Goldberg - Odette
Noa Heinrich - Andres
Matthew Marquez - GM
Megan Scharlau - Lucine
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com
“Duet Musette” and “Angevin” by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about 7th Sea at http://www.7thsea.com!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
7th Sea Episode Two: Wasn’t Made in a Bucket
Mon, 13 Nov 2017 15:00:00 +0000
We finally get our hands dirty as we tangle with 7th Sea's simple yet weirdly complex rules of combat. The crew of the One-Sided Die (Quinn, Andres, and Odette) face off against a dangerous yet alluring assassin and his sellswords, while Lucine and Ena accidentally stumble into exactly what they were looking for.
(GM's note for those who are interested in learning the gameplay: We messed up combat, you can't use raises to mitigate damage from a Villain. Pobody's nerfect.)
CAST
Sally Chan - Ena
Charlotte Elena - Quinn
Ray Goldberg - Odette
Noa Heinrich - Andres
Matthew Marquez - GM
Megan Scharlau - Lucine
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen
“Crossing the Chasm” and “Parisian” by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about 7th Sea at http://www.7thsea.com!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck
7th Sea Episode One: Vignettes on the Shores of Crieux
Mon, 13 Nov 2017 14:00:00 +0000
It’s morning in the port city of Crieux as we plunge headlong into our exploration of 7th Sea and our first arc on Tabletop Potluck! In our introductory session, a captain gushes over his crew, a doctor makes absolutely no friends whatsoever, a chorus girl struggles against a promotion, a pirate princess gets a mission from her mother, and an archaeologist becomes a babysitter. They all head towards shore, where surely nothing bad will happen to them whatsoever.
CAST
Sally Chan - Ena
Charlotte Elena - Quinn
Ray Goldberg - Odette
Noa Heinrich - Andres
Matthew Marquez - GM
Megan Scharlau - Lucine
SOUNDTRACK
Theme music by Riley Allen, rileyallen59.wixsite.com
“Folk Round” and “Celtic Impulse” by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Learn more about 7th Sea at http://www.7thsea.com!
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Support the show at patreon.com/tabletoppotluck