Author: upturnedtable

Episode 30: Hardboiled

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Good evening, hepcats, greasers and squares. We got the skinny on playing hardboiled in La La Land in the early ’60s, a land of queens, dreams and inbetweens. Dig Lyal laying on some heavy RPG experiments. Dig Wayne going talk, talk, talk (over Lyal). Dig Chris offering some funky advice.

So, tune in and dig the baaaad vibe we lay down. It’ll be a gas. From the podcast that’s on the record, off the QT and never very hush-hush.

Correction: Elfenland is actually like the travelling salesman problem, not “dilemma”.

Special Note 1: The Ryan and Matt mentioned in the podcast are the forum’s very own Ryan and Matt.

Special Note 2: It’s not mentioned in the episode, but we used the World of Darkness system.

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Episode 29: It’s About Time!

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In this episode, we discuss time travel and what makes for a good time travel story. We have a mechanic suggestion that can be used in any time travel game and with any system. It’s quite possibly the greatest time travel RPG idea of all time.

We apologize for the sound quality. We messed up the microphone setting, so Wayne and Lyal sound a bit distant. We’ve figured out the problem, so it won’t be problem in future episodes. If only we could go back in time and put it to the correct setting before recording this episode.

Correction: The Adam Sandler movie Chris talks about is called Click, not The Remote. And this is the host you can hear clearly.

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Episode 28: Giving Props to Props

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In this episode, we look at props. Do they help to propel a story or just dress up a table? Does the use of props encourage metagaming? Should the gamemaster get the players involved in creating props? Why did Wayne choose a purple horse to represent his Vampire character? All these questions and more will be answered over the next hour.

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Episode 27: Pantheon Pandemonium: We Do Voodoo

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In this episode, we debut Pantheon Pandemonium, where we look at a specific pantheon and discuss how to incorporate it into your games. For our first installment, we talk about the spirits of the voodoo religion, the Loa.

Also in this episode, Wayne reveals a shocking secret about his dad.

At a certain point, it may sound like we’re joined by a surprise guest host. It’s just Lyal’s spot-on Haitian accent. The man has a gift.

Warning: Chris returns from the dead. (This joke would probably work better in a episode about Romero zombies.)

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Episode 26: A Review of Thrones Part 2

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In part 2 of our review of HBO’s Game of Thrones, we continue with our picks for best and worst scenes. We also give our general impressions and predictions, and we share our tips on how to add a little Westeros to your fantasy game.

Despite Richard Madden having a bit of a fan club in Japan, we still don’t mention Robb Stark. (Don’t get your hopes up, Mr. Madden; they’re all dudes.)

Warning: Chris was unavailable for the recording of this episode, so it’s a touch more engaging and entertaining than usual.

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Episode 25: A Review of Thrones Part 1

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It’s our 25th episode, and we celebrate with our most self-indulgent one to date: a two-part review of our current passion, HBO’s Game of Thrones. This makes you wonder what’s in store for episode 50. A look at the mechs of Lyal’s Ghost Bear trinary? Chris’s guide to the peanut butters of the world? Wayne’s glowing review of Warmachine and Hordes? (Oh, wait. We’re doing that last one before episode 50. Spoiler!)

As promised, Waymar Royce was played by Rob Ostlere.

Correction: Peter Dinklage was in The Station Agent, not “The Stationmaster”.

Episode 24: Campaign Confessions: You Gotta Have FATE

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“What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of FATE.” – Donald Trump

Out of the mouths of real estate moguls authors presidential candidates reality TV stars.

In this addition to Campaign Confessions, we discuss the FATE RPG system and Chris’s weird war campaign. What made it so weird? Listen to the episode.

As an added bonus, we also review the Dominion card game.

Episode 23: Licensed to Vill(ain)

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“So, Pureheart, we meet again. I always knew it would come down to us: you, the epitome of good, and me, the embodiment of evil. But am I evil? Is it evil to protect what is precious to you? Growing up in the ghettos of the East, I learned many things, and one of those things was that if you play the game of…”

“I got a 16 for initiative. I charge.”

“Hey! I’m monologuing here!”

In this episode, we run down the questions that every gamemaster should consider when making their villains. You’ve been warned, players.

Kristos sits in for his first non-board game episode. You’ve been warned, listeners.

Episode 22: Accessorizing Your Character

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Idle Fashion Weekly

Turn Excalibur to ExFABulur in 7 easy steps

How to tell if they love you for you or for your power ring

HOT summer magic items that will make you the envy of your party

Plus: Choosing the right +3 sword for your face shape

In this episode, we look at how to make your equipment the stuff of legends. We also give a few underrated items some much needed attention.

Episode 21: Elevator Pitch

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When Hollywood runs out of Saturday morning cartoons to make into movies, we suggest a new source for shaky ideas: pen and paper roleplaying games. (Because, really, The Smurfs?)

In this episode, we discuss the few RPG movies out there, and then we pitch our own ideas for RPG movies.