Pulp Gamer Out of Character

PGOC 200: Season 1 Finale

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:00:00 -0500

We've made it, folks. Two hundred episodes of Out of Character. The crew takes an extra long episode to celebrate their survival, and to bid the old times farewell before we make the jump to video. This one's full of nostalgia--if you're new to the show, we recommend going back a few episodes before listening to this one.

We also receive some well-wishing from various friends of the podcast, including:

Dave Hat from Hat's Games
Ron and Veronica Blessing
Tom Gurganus
Marcelo Figaro from Warpath Games
Jess Hartley
Wayne from Spare Brains Games
Gerri Creason from Game Daze
Jeremiah Lynch

We also remind our listeners of the upcoming Creative Play Day on April 28th for the Creative Play Project. And if you're looking for other ways to donate to the project, don't forget to check out the Board Gamer Charity T-Shirt from OffWorld Designs

This episode is dedicated to you, the fans who have seen us through to 200 episodes. Thank you for all your support, and we'll see you on Youtube.

PGOC 199: First Contact

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:00:00 -0500

You've assembled your notes, you've prepared your world, you've polished your dice. It's the first session. For some, it's the first foray into this particular campaign. For others, it's the first time they've ever held dice. How do you kickoff the first session? The Pulp Gamer Crew discusses how to make that first step memorable, understandable, and--above all--repeatable. Along the way, we drop a few names, including:

In news, we discuss the upcoming fifth "iteration" of D&D, the upcoming Creative Play Day, and the extended preorder for John Wick's Big Book of Little Games. We also take a peek at some behind the scenes shenanigans from The Bob & Angus Show, and give a shoutout to the Canon Puncture podcast.

We'd like to thank our sponsor, Gamer Adventures--cruising Mexico, the Caribbean, and Alaska with gamers and their families.

PGOC 198: Sample This

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Pulp Gamer's had a bit of a turf war with video games these past few years, but it's time to acknowledge that electronic media has some vital lessons to teach the traditional gamers. This week, we discuss the lessons we've learned from video games, and how they can be incorporated into the pen and paper world. But in turn, we also point out some things our digital cousins could still stand to learn from us. Along the way, we drop a number of titles both electronic and analogue, including:

In addition, we discuss some interesting upcoming releases, including John Wick's Big Book of Little Games, the new editions of Grimtooth's Traps, the newly-kickstarted releases for The Dance and the Dawn, and the ongoing campaign for Streets of Bedlam. We also hear back from Listener Dave on Episode 195.

And in news, Paizo announces their Pathfinder MMO. The Southern Arizona Gamers Association is holding elections. And OffWorld Designs releases a charity T-shirt for the Creative Play Project.

We sponsor ourselves this week with Accent Your Character--dialect training for roleplayers and other casual pretenders!

PGOC 197: Board Game Bonanza

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:39:57 -0500

With the upcoming change to Out of Character, the Crew is using this week to clear out all the board games we've had waiting in our queue. We scale a mountain of plastic and cardboard, including:

And speaking of Phone Frenzy, we take the opportunity to pester our friend Marcelo over at WarPath Games Distribution. We also get a thank you from listener Dave with Gamers for Cures. We talk about the upcoming Worldwide Creative Play Day for the Creative Play Project. And we challenge you to compare how many of the Games Magazine Games 100 you've played. (You can see the whole list here at Board Game Geek

We'd like to thank our sponsor, Gamer Adventures - cruising the Caribbean, Mexico, and Alaska with gamers and their families.

PGOC 196: From the Shadows

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:00:00 -0500

Stealth-based challenges have always been tricky in tabletop games, for numerous reasons--the strict pass/fail nature of most challenges, the difficulty of "group-stealth," and the risk of inadvertently bypassing the meat of the game.. This week, the Pulp Gamer Crew discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using these challenges, games with good stealth mechanics, and ways to make sneaking through the shadows satisfying for your players. Along the way, we mention a few games, including:

Black Seven
Shadowrun
Spycraft
Gumshoe
Smallville
Leverage
Ninja Burger
Nuns on the Run
The Target
Scotland Yard
Fury of Dracula
Mr. Jack
Cadwallon: City of Thieves
and Jason's GURPS homebrew, based on Thief: The Dark Project

In addition, Jason takes the opportunity to rant about one of his GM pet peeves, the concept of "training your players" through negative play experiences. We also receive some mysterious feedback on Episode 193: It's a Conspiracy.

PGOC 195: Ripped from the Headlines

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:00:00 -0500

This week, the Crew discusses the sensitive issue of bringing current events into your game. When is it appropriate and when is it too much? What about recreating similar events in more removed, fantisifal settings? We share our experiences and perspectives, dropping a few names along the way:

Fishing for Terrorists
Victoriana: Beastmen of Britain
Dungeons and Dragons: Forgotten Realms
Brenda Brathwaite's The Mechanic Is the Message project

We also discuss the best games for playing at the various Occupy protests, including Pit, Zombies, Poo, and Zombie Dice.

In news, John Nephew has lost his city council seat. Once Upon a Time comes out with a new edition. And Gerri brings in a copy of Sentinels of the Multiverse to drool over. We also get feedback (and errata!) from Robin Laws on Episode 192, and Listener Wayne on Episode 193.

PGOC 194: Weird New Worlds

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:00:00 -0500

The Crew takes a turn for the bizarre, heading straight for the "weird" roleplaying settings. What makes a setting weird? What are the benefits of having a setting divorced from reality--or even fantasy--as we know it? What are the challenges with running a game in a world so far afield? Along the way, we namedrop a few settings, including:

Meanwhile, some interesting projects on Kickstarter catch our attention , including:

Adventures in OZ: Beyond the Deadly Desert
The Play's the Thing
Ghost Pirates
Quantum
DiceAFARI
Matt Forbeck's 12 for '12 project

We also take a look at City Square Off, Catan: Oil Springs, the Mutants and Masterminds: Threat Report series, and Deadlands: Weird White North

PGOC: 193: It's a Conspiracy

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:00:00 -0500

Alrighty! This week, we check in withhhhhhhhhhhhhhl101010110

***ACTIVATING DRONE CONTROL PROTOCOL. BROADCAST INTERCEPTED***

Directives received from the secret masters: Sleeper agents among Pulp Gamer Crew are to be activated, begin broadcasting subliminal messages. Disguise hypnotic transmission as podcast about conspiracies in gaming. Raise topics about games featuring conspiracies, how to use conspiracies as antagonists, and how to run conspirator characters. Direct attention from true goals. Induct listeners into following mass-produced disinformation campaigns:

Illuminati
GURPS Illuminati
Conspiracy X
World of Darkness
Android
Shadowrun
Diplomacy
The Skeptic's Guide to Conspiracy by Monte Cook

***RESUME NORMAL TRANSITION***

Huh? Did I fall asleep on the keyboard? Weird. Anyway, we hear from Marcelo Figueroa from Warpath Games Distribution as he reports in from Spieltag in Essen! He gives us a rundown of the event, and gives us the heads up on some exciting games, including

Speaking of Monte Cook (were we talking about Monte Cook? I can't remember...), we talk about his upcoming web series, GeekSeekers!

We'd like to thank our sponsor this week PETE THE FRIENDLY BEVERAGE DISPENSER. PLEASE CONTINUE CONSUMING THE DELICIOUS MIND CONTROL FORMULA.

PGOC 192: Just Say No

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 02:00:00 -0500

One of the first rules of improv, and of roleplaying, is "never negate." But sometimes, you have to put your foot down. Prompted by Ryan Macklin at Evil Hat Productions, we discuss when GMs and players should say no to the game events, both at convention games and at our weekly game table.

Also, Thanksgiving is upon us here in the U.S., and we've got families to entertain. We discuss our thoughts on games to play with your guests--the kids, the adults, and even the disaffected teenagers. Some notable names that come up include:

Don and Jason finally explore the Gumshoe system with a playthrough of Mutant City Blues. Jason talks about the upcoming Marvel RPG--as much as his playtest NDA will allow, anyways. And we take a quick look at the Savage Worlds Horror Companion, Mouse Guard, The One Ring, Eminent Domain, Eruption, and Math Twister.

We sponsor ourselves this week: Accent Your Character--dialect training for roleplayers and other casual pretenders!

PGOC 191: DEATH

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:00:00 -0400

In honor of the Halloween/All Saints/All Souls Day trifecta, the Pulp Gamer Crew tackles the subject of death in games. How should a system and/or a group address character death and ressurection? At what point is it a burden, and at what point is it a speed bump? We also discuss death and elimination mechanics in board games, and a few games that concern themselves primarily with death and the afterlife. Along the way, we drop a few names, including

Dungeons and Dragons
Wraith: the Oblivion
Geist: the Sin-Eaters
The Walking Dead (both the Cryptozoic game and the Z-Man game)
Paranoia
Shadowfist
The Lord of the Rings Board Game
Forbidden Island

In news: Both Stronghold Games and Fantasy Flight Games announce they've acquired the rights to the same game, Merchant of Venus. Most of the staff at White Wolf suffers layoffs. And a woman stabs her boyfriend over a game of Monopoly.

We also give a heads up to NutaCon in Medellin, Colombia, which launches us into a discussion on language support for various games, including White Wolf's Spanish and French releases for its back catalog at DriveThruRPG, as well as the fan-provided resources at Board Game Geek.

We'd like to thank our sponsor this week, the Peculiar Magpie: creatively acquiring items since 1894!

PGOC 190: Cheating!

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 02:00:00 -0400

Partly inspired by Angus's shenanigans on this week's Bob & Angus Show, the Pulp Gamer Crew holds a philosophical discussion on the nature of cheating. What defines cheating? What motivates it, especially in cooperative games and RPGs? How do you handle it? And are there occasions when cheating is perhaps acceptable or even encouraged? (For example, is it cheating when the GM does it?) We share our cheating stories, experiences, and ultimate conclusions.

Along the way, we namedrop a few choice games--the first three of which actually encourage "cheating" in some capacity!

In addition, we take a look at the Square Shooters dice game and the new electronic release for A Song of Ice and Fire. We also help patron the arts--listener Jeremiah (not ours) points us towards the Into the Dark Wood kickstarter page, and Drew plugs his upcoming show at The Comedy Playhouse. Finally, we talk about the upcoming changes to the format of Out of Character.

We'd like to thank our sponsor, Gamer Adventures--cruising the Caribbean, Mexico, and Alaska with gamers and their families.

PGOC 189: Where Is Your Hall Pass

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:00:00 -0400

Alrighty class, sit down. Please open your textbooks to page 20, "High School Settings and Roleplaying Games." Everyone, take notes on the salient points as we respond to listener Christopher's prompt: How can high school settings be used in games? How do you mock up the social realities of the environment? What kind of adventures can be found in the setting? How has the setting changed since the days of The Breakfast Club? Your homework for tonight is the following games:

For extra credit on the test, you can attend some of the following upcoming events: Essen, NeonCon, Tucson Comic Con, TusCon, and International Catan Day. We'll also be hearing your book reports on Haunted: 11 Tales of Ghostly Horror, which includes a story from Pulp Gamer alumnus Jess Hartley. And Don, you still need to make up work for missing last week's podcast.

Also, letters of recommendation are out this week for all of our volunteers, for all their tireless work in making Pulp Gamer and the Creative Play Project great.

Class dismissed.

PGOC 188: Outside Looking In

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 02:00:00 -0400

In honor of National Coming Out Day, we discuss the experiences of marginalized groups in the gaming and geek communities--women, LGBT gamers, people of color, religious minorities. What issues still remain prevalent in our community, and how do we address the problem and reach out to the excluded? In addition, we namedrop Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress and address the crucial question: How does a transgendered individual play Munchkin?

We also take a quick glance at Dreadfleet, Ashen Stars, and 0one Games' Virtual Boxed Sets.

This week's episode is dedicated to the community, and to everyone on the outside looking in.

PGOC 187: Tearing Down the Wall

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 02:00:00 -0400

This week, we take a look at roleplaying game plot structures, from the one shot wonder to the fifteen year D&D game and everything in between. How does each type flow? How do you keep your group interested in the three year campaign, and how do you bring new players in two years on? And how do you switch your story from one form to another--turning the surprise hit one-shot into an ongoing storyline, for example? Along the way, we mention:

We also take a look at the Vampire: 20th Anniversary Edition, Cosmic Patrol, and Star Fluxx.

We'd like to thank our sponsor, The Peculiar Magpie--creatively acquiring items since 1894

PGOC 186: Colonization

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

We come in peace. Now where do you keep your gold and magic fountains?

Colonization is a popular theme in board games, and colonial frontiers make fascinating roleplaying settings. The Pulp Gamer crew ponders the appeal of colony games--from the skill of resource management, to the thrill of braving the undiscovered and untamed, to the satisfaction of building civilization from nothing. At the same time, however, we devote attention to a theme that often goes uncommented or is pushed aside in many games--the sensitive topic of native populations. In our discussion, we drop a number of titles, including:

We also take a quick gander at Spontuneous, and turn a critical eye to this Chicago Tribune article.

This episode is dedicated to the many charitable donors in the gaming community. Don't forget about NOTACON in Tucson, AZ (benefiting The Creative Play Project), the 24-Hour Board Game Marathon in Cary, NC (benefiting Gamers for Cures), and FlatCon in Bloomington, IL (benefiting the American Cancer Society).

PGOC 185: Cold War

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 02:00:00 -0400

We can't let there be a podcast gap! Spurred on by some 80's nostalgia, this week Pulp Gamer discusses games set in the Cold War era. We recommend a few of our favorites and how they've transitioned into the post-Soviet world. We also discuss the tone of the era--both the seriousness of the looming nuclear threat and the absurdity of superspies and Strangelove--and how to bring it to life in your games. Along the way, we mention:

We also field some feedback from our listeners. Listener Steve offers some advice for the pirate-ship problem from last episode. Foolster proposes a solution to Stupid Fantasy Name syndrome. Eric asks about game modification and house rules. And Don G takes us up on our accent challenge.

We also discuss Luke Crane's acquisition of the Dark Crystal license, and toss out another reminder for Can't Stop the Serenity and NOTACON.

We sponsor ourselves this week: Accent Your Character--dialect training for roleplayers and other casual pretenders!

PGOC 184: Let's Vary Gaming With a Little Piracy

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Ahoy, Matey! Talk Like a Pirate Day be comin' into port this week, and ye don't want your gaming crew caught without shot and powder. Good thing for you, Cap'n Pulp Gamer be feelin' generous today, and be sharin' a couple pirate-themed games from the chest. The crew be diggin their hands in deep, and comin up with some gems from the high seas and the frontier stars, including:

We also be takin' a gander at Eclipse Phase: Panopticon, Don shanghais himself some airtime to talk about Scott Nicholson's Everybody Plays at the Library, and Jason invites you all aboard his multimedia Smallville game--the Tumbler page be here.

We be awful grateful to our sponsors, Gamer Adventures--cruising the Caribbean, Mexico, and Panama with gamers and their families!

PGOC 183: Ain't No Party Like a Labor Party

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Labor Day is over, and it's back to the salt mines for you. But despair not, because now you can work like a dog in your games, too! This week, we look at labor and employment themes in games. Along the way, we talk about:

In charity news, we hear from listener Dan and his organization, Gamers for Cures, about the 24-hour game day at Gamer's Armory in Cary, NC on November 12th. For our listeners who can't attend but want to show their support, you can donate here at TurnerSyndrome.org. Meanwhile, Pulp Gamer is hosting the gaming room at Cant Stop the Serenity in Tucson, AZ. Likewise, we announce Not-A-Con, a game day to benefit The Creative Play Project.

We also talk about Hollowpoint, Risk Legacy, Do: Pilgrims of the Flying Temple, and Space Alert. We field a couple questions for listener Eric. And we bring a little gaming multimedia to the table, as we take a listen to a bit of Midnight Syndicate (Don's current favorite source for table music) and discuss the upcoming horror film The Dead Matter.

We'd like to thank this week's sponsor, The Peculiar Magpie--creatively acquiring items since 1894.

PGOC 182: Thunderstorms!

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 02:00:00 -0400

Our recording this week was cut short due to thunderstorms and flooding in the Tucson area, and several of our correspondents weren't able to brave the maelstrom, so this week's episode is a short one. We'll be going on hiatus until our next recording session, but we'll be back with our full length show in two weeks!

We focus on some great charities this week, including some updates on the efforts of the Creative Play Project! We also talk about Extra Life 2011, the Jack Vasel Fund, and Can't Stop the Serenity. (A correction, though: The fan-driven Help Nathan Buy Firefly drive is no longer running as of this episode's publication.)

In addition, we take a look at Vampire Werewolf Fairies (the expansion to Ninja Pirate Zombies), as well as Martian Dice.

PGOC 181: Are We There Yet?

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:00:00 -0400

One of the quintessential thrills of roleplaying games lies in exploration. You put some graph paper in your hands and some unfamiliar world beneath your feet, and you trace a line with your boots and your deeds until you circumscribe a world.

In this week's episode, the Pulp Gamer crew talks about setting, maps, and geography and how they can bring a roleplaying game to life. Along the way, we drop a few names, including:

Nuclear Sunset: The Southwest
The Waterdeep setting for Dungeons & Dragons
The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones
The Sandstorm and Frostbite supplements for D&D 3.5
ProFantasy's various mapmaking tools

In news, everything old is new again! New editions are out for several great games, including:

We also take a look at Hope Prep, Into the Void, and In Flames.

Pulp Gamer sponsors itself this week with Accent Your Character--dialect training for roleplayers and other casual pretenders!

PGOC 180: Gen Con 2011

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 02:00:00 -0400

This week, Pulp Gamer reports straight from the field at Gen Con 2011! We're joined by Mike Selinker from Lone Shark Games, James Ernst from Cheapass Games, Marcelo Figueroa from WarPath Games, Alex Yeager from Mayfair Games, and Steve Jackson from Steve Jackson Games. as well as Pulp Gamer alumnus Jeremiah Lynch and listener Jeff Ide!

Our motley crew gives their impressions of the show and the shiny new games on display.

Impact! Miniatures' Band of Orcs figures
Remnants
Mistborn
Fiasco, winner of the Diana Jones Award
Stomple!
Quarriors!
Lords of Vegas and its upcoming expansion

In charity news, we talk some more about the Creative Play Project as well as the Cardhalla event for Schools on Wheels.

We also discuss the upcoming Kobold Guide to Board Game Design, and the upcoming PAX seminar "Ten Reasons We Don't Want to See Your Game (And a Few Reasons That We Do). And for those who missed our Origins episode, Mike Selinker's song can be found here.

We'd like to thank our sponsors this week, Gamer Adventures--cruising the Caribbean, Mexico, and Alaska with gamers and their families! And we'd also like to thank GameSalute.com for all their help with the podcast this week.

(Editor's Note: There were some technical issues with the microphones early on during the recording of this podcast. Please forgive the occasional jumps in audio quality.)

PGOC 179: Gamer Burnout

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 02:00:00 -0400

Our topic this week is prompted by (read: stolen wholesale from) our friends Game On! with Cody and John.

Burnout. It strikes everyone in the hobby sooner or later, the feeling that the hobby has become a chore. The weekly session becomes an appointment as dreaded as a doctor's visit, you're getting sick of your friends, and you just can't give anymore to the game. The Pulp Gamer discusses their own experiences with burnout, its causes and ways to hopefully prevent or cure it. Along the way, we drop a couple names, including Space Alert, Forbidden Island, and Lord of the Rings.

We also have a few announcements this week:

First, Pulp Gamer is also proud to announce the Creative Play Project, a charity dedicated to putting board games in youth programs and after-school organizations. Chairman Don Dehm says a few words about the CPP's purpose, and how you can help.

In addition, Pulp Gamer will be running the game room at the Arizona Browncoats' Can't Stop the Serenity event. For the dedicated fan who has already seen the movie too many times to count, you can come try your hand at the all-night poker table, join a session of the Serenity RPG, try out the Firefly-based Munchkin variant, and much more.

And of course, we can't forget GenCon next week. We hope to see you at the Pulp Gamer Media Party, a get together for podcasters and their fans. You can find more info at the Facebook event page.

We also take some feedback from listeners Gary and "Evil Bruce," and namedrop the Hat's Games auction and the possible Game Swap Days coming to Game Daze in Tucson.

We'd like to thank our sponsor, OffWorld Designs--bringing you the best shirts in gaming!

PGOC 178: Organizational Tools

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 02:00:00 -0400

"Hold on, guys, just need to find which book that table was in. It'll just take an hour, two tops."

For roleplaying games, miniatures games, and some of the larger boardgames, organization and pre-prep are the crucial difference between a fast, flowing experience and a jarring slog. The Pulp Gamer Crew discusses some of their favorite tools and practices, from the old, practical standbyes to accidental discoveries to the magic of PDFs and wikis. We also touch on how these tools and their use can influence character, setting, and mood in your games. Along the way, we drop a few names:

Berin Kinsman's Campaign Tiddlywiki (formerly The Ten Foot Wiki)
Army Builder
Infrno
Arkham Horror and the Toolkit for iPhone
Strands of Fate
Houses of the Blooded

In news, Alpha Omega has started releasing game-fiction through RPGNow, including "One Ten-Thousandth" by our own Jason Corley and Little Yoshida by Jess Hartley.

And in games, we take a look at Space Alert and Masks: 1,000 Memorable NPCs for Any Roleplaying Game. We also discuss--of all things--chess variants, from Chess960 to Khet.

We sponsor ourselves this week: Accent Your Character--dialect training for roleplayers and other casual pretenders!

PGOC 177: Tell Us Your Fantasy

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 02:00:00 -0400

With the grand finale of the Harry Potter franchise upon us, and Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings revival receding into the distance, the Pulp Gamer crew ponders what the next big movement in fantasy is going to be, both in entertainment and in games. Along the way, we namedrop a few titles, including:

The Pulpsters also talk about their favorite fantasy works, including:

The works of Louis de Bernières
Eden of the East
The Legend of the Five Rings Clan War and Four Winds novels
Glen Cook's Black Company series
Cast a Deadly Spell

We also take a look at a few different fantasy games and supplements that have caught our eye:

The Hacklopedia of Beasts for Hackmaster Basic
Storm of Magic for Warhammer Fantasy Battles
Rule of Fear for Pathfinder
Amethyst Evolution, a third party D&D 4th Edition supplement

And in news, we talk about the cancellation of RinCon 11, the Pulp Gamer Media Party at GenCon 11, and season 2 of The Bob & Angus Show.

We'd like to thank our sponsor this week, The Peculiar Magpie--creatively acquiring items since 1894.

PGOC 176: But I See You Won First Prize

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 02:00:00 -0400

With the Origins Awards still fresh in our memories, we devote our attentions to the topic of gaming awards. What impact do they have on the industry? What do we expect from them? Recently, there's been some conversation on the fact that the Origins Award for Best Historical--a category traditionally taken by a historical wargame--went to Settlers of America: Trails to Rails, and this sparked discussion.

Along the way, we also talk about:

Jason calls in to ask us to consider the concept of "the party" in a roleplaying game, which prompts a whole discussion on cohesive party roleplay versus split-party roleplay. We namedrop a couple of games, including

In news, we examine the recent sale of Z-Man Games to Filosofia Games. What does it entail for Z-Man's current releases, future projects, and Zev himself?

We also have a chat with Alex Yeager from Mayfair Games, the head writer for the Bob & Angus Show.

Thanks again to our sponsor this week, Offworld Designs, makers of the best shirts in gaming--including Sheep Rule!

PGOC 175: Going to War

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 02:00:00 -0400

Listener Ken from Wyoming asks us a complex question: Is there a profile for the average gamer, and how do you introduce gaming to those who don't fit the profile? This little question launches the crew into an in-depth discussion of typing and stereotyping in the gaming community How are gamers viewed as a whole? Within the community, how do we stereotype our own subgroups--board gamers, role-players, wargamers, and so forth? Are their any truisms within these stereotypes? And, of course, how do we bring gaming to those who "just aren't the type?"

Amidst the discussion, we drop a few names:

In addition, Dave continues his quest to bring wargames to Pulp Gamer. One of the most daunting aspects of the hobby is the cost and the scale, but we talk about some smaller, skirmish-level wargames that won't break your bank or your back, including:

Malifaux
Hell Dorado
Anima
WizKids' various Clix series
Mercs
Pulp City

We also take a little sightseeing trip with Hike from Moosetache Games.

We'd like to thank our sponsors this week, Gamer Adventures and Her Royal Majesty's Steampunk Symposium!

PGOC 174: Origins 2011

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:44:00 -0400

This week, Pulp Gamer reports in from the Origins Game Fair! Rather than our usual crew, we're joined by Alex Yeager from Mayfair Games, Mike Selinker from Lone Shark Games, and James Ernest from Cheapass Games.

We talk about the race for the prize (coverage of which can be found at Critical-Hits.com). particularly the tense struggle for Best RPG this year between outstanding notables like Gamma World, Fiasco, and The Dresden Files RPG (the winner, as well as winner of Best RPG supplement).

And it just so happens that our three guests are the team behind the Best Board Game Nominee Lords of Vegas. They share a little about the game, its showing at the awards, and a tiny teaser for the upcoming first expansion. In addition, Alex talks a bit about Settlers of America (winner of Best Historical). James and Mike talk about the game designer panel, the Kobold Quarterly Guide to Game Design (Vol 1), and shameful youtube videos. And we test James's boast that he can design and release a game in six minutes.

We also touch on the new Hall of Fame inductees, the eulogies for Jim Roslof and Charles S. Roberts, and the radio broadcasts from the Big Bar on 2!

And of course, we can't help but talk about the new products and nifty events, including:

Mage Wars
IRONDIE
Flippin' Cornholes
Donkey
The Star Trek Deck Building Game
Looney Labs games against Andy Looney himself

This week's episode is brought to you by the Bob & Angus Show - our two newsrams bring you the latest in-depth reporting from the world of Mayfair Games!

PGOC 173: Why We Game

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 02:00:00 -0400

It's not always the same motivation that brings your players to the table. One is here to socialize. One is here to explore. One is here to perfect. One is here to conquer. And why are you here? In this week's episode, the Pulp Gamer Crew discusses what draws them to games, how to identify (and satisfy) the needs of the players at the table, and how to discover the motivation that might pull a "non-gamer" into the fold.

Along the way, we drop a few names:

And as per listener Itamar's request, we also devote some time to the topic of converting RPGs from one system to another: Why do it? What advantages does it bring, and what pitfalls can you stumble into? We bring up a few notables:

Dragonlance into Cartoon Action Hour
Legend of the Five Rings RPG transitions between Alderac Entertainment Group and Wizards of the Coast
John Wick's Flux
Trail of Cthulhu and Call of Cthulhu
FATE
Expedition to the Barrier Peaks
The San Angelo: City of Heroes multi-system setting

We also take a look at some games, including Rivals for Catan, Junta: Viva el Presidente, and the WatchGuard sourcebook.

We'd like to thank our sponsor, Gamer Adventures--cruising the Caribbean, Mexico, and Alaska with gamers and their families!

PGOC 172: Crowd Control

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:00:00 -0400

From six-man brackets at the friendly local to the massive, game-defining regional slugfests, tournaments are central to the gaming community, but actually staging one is an even greater struggle. Our crew talks through tournament essentials, discussing what sort of games lend themselves to tournament play, how to manage the atmosphere of the event, and maybe even explaining why you'd want to run one of these madhouses in the first place.

Along the way, we touch on a few tournament memorables, including

We also turn our attention to some charity efforts in the gaming community. Fear the Boot is auctioning off a set of signed Dresden Files rulebooks, the proceeds of which will go towards the March of Dimes. Also, Marcelo from WarPath Games tells us how we can provide tornado-relief to local game stores. Check out his Twitter for more info.

Listener Luis talks to us about the postage issue in getting the Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition to Europe. If you live in Europe and would like to join the bulk order, visit V20-Europe.com!

We also take a look at Mortal Coil and Faces of the Tarnished Souk.

A big thanks to this week's sponsor, Moosetache Games, makers of Rowboat: the bidding, trick-taking card game where trump changes at every turn! Fan of the game? Join the Inaugural Rowboat Championship this year at GenCon!

PGOC 171: Outside the Game

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 02:00:00 -0400

At some point, you have to leave the table, but that doesn't have to end the fun. This week, we discuss the strange sorcery of doing non-gaming activities with your gaming group, and how they can strengthen your game and even bring in new players. Along the way, our crew namedrops some of their favorites, both local to our Tucson studios and beyond, including:

Our absentee Jason calls in from the playtest of the new edition of Prime Time Adventures.

We also take a look at the free gaming primers written by Leslie Shepherd, a great resource for introducing non-gamers to the hobby.

We'd like to thank our sponsor, Offworld Designs, makers of the best shirts in gaming!

PGOC 170: Minutia

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 02:00:00 -0400

The world of miniatures is changing! Several major miniatures manufacturers, including Games Workshop and Privateer Press, have begun to change out their metal miniatures for new resin replacements. What's motivating this shift? How do the new resin minis hold up to their metal counterparts in quality? And what does this mean for the future of old metalhead companies like Reaper Miniatures?

We're also joined by a newcomer to the show, Dave's wife and co-owner of Hat's Games, Sam Hat! Of course, we put her through a round of Stump the Chump and provoke some intriguing insights into the "community" behind the gaming community.

We also take a gander at Faux-Cabulary and talk about two big upcoming events: Origins and Free RPG Day.

This week's episode is dedicated to all the game retailers out there, manning the front lines of our hobby. This one's for you!

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Out of Character moves to Tuesday mornings! Check back here or on iTunes for your friends at Pulp Gamer earlier in the week, starting June 7. Welcome to our new gaming table.

PGOC 169: Convention Survival Guide

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 26 May 2011 02:00:00 -0400

The summer convention season is upon us! For those of you venturing out into your first few conventions, Pulp Gamer offers this guide to getting the most out of your experience. Why go to a convention? What should you expect to see? How do you get the most out of your experience without burning yourself out? Our crew of con-hall fixtures offers their take on the necessities of convention survival.

We also take a look at two new games: The Resistance and Microscope.

We also take a look back into the history of the show and reminisce on our first few interviews with the likes of Mur Lafferty and Margaret Weis.

This week's sponsor is Pulp Gamer's own Accent Your Character: dialect training for roleplayers, storytellers, and other casual pretenders.

PGOC 168: Roleplay and the Law

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 19 May 2011 02:00:00 -0400

In honor of Police Week, we put out an APB on games that deal with law enforcement We talk about the police as both antagonists and protagonists, about their changing role in history and the permutations they may take in the far future. Along the way, we snap the cuffs on these suspicious characters:

Shadowrun
Mutant City Blues
Serenity
Vampire
Paranoia
Pathfinder's Cheliax setting
Scotland Yard
Murder City
Bang!
and the Star Wars, Star Trek, and Stargate franchises

Jason also points us towards a handy resource for GMs wanting to seem knowledgeable about the law: the West Academic Nutshell series.

From the fans: Listener Tim asks our interrogators how to deal with an in game interrogation that has gone too far. And Listener TJ asks us to point out some other quality RPG podcasts, and we deliver:

We take a look at two new one-shot LARPS from Flying Monkeys: But Nobody Loses an Eye and Super Sparkle Action Princess GX. (Yes, you read that right.) We also spotlight the new free material for Godlike.

Big thanks to this week's sponsor, Offworld Designs, bringing you the best shirts in gaming.

PGOC 167: The Reality of Fantasy

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 12 May 2011 02:00:00 -0400

Prompted by a question from listener William, we take a look behind the scenes of brick-and-mortar games retail and distribution. How do game distributors work? Why does some product take weeks to get a special order through when the online stores have it right there? Can stores deal directly with the publishers? Drew and Gerri from Game Daze weigh in on the subject.

We also bring an armful of game awards news: the 2010 winners of Dr. Toy's Green Toy Awards (including Gerri's personal favorite, Gobblet) and the MENSA Mind Games Awards. Also, Spiel des Jahres announces a new third award category--the Kennerspiel des Jahres, an award specifically for hardcore "gamer" games.

In other news, the government of Armenia is making chess education compulsory in its public schools.

And we also follow up on Adamant Entertainment's discontinued app-pricing model, as Vigilance Press weighs in on their experience with adopting the model.

We'd like to thank our sponsor The Peculiar Magpie, "creatively" acquiring items since 1894! They have goggles! And rayguns!

PGOC 166: Destruction and Disaster

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Fri, 06 May 2011 02:00:00 -0400

For this week, we pull from current events.

Drawing from international news, we discuss terrorism and counterterrorism in games, and discuss how different games handle this delicate subject. Along the way, we touch on Labyrinth: The War on Terror, Fishing for Terrorists, Strike Force Seven, the Wargames series, James Bond 007, and War on Terror: The Boardgame

And from US news, listener Marcelo from Warpath Games Distribution brings our attention to members of the games industry displaced by the recent disaster in Alabama. You can help out Avalanche Press--as well as everyone else harmed by the tragedy--through the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. And game designer Jamie Chambers points us towards other ways you can help.

In lighter news, we finally track down the other half of the Bob and Angus news team, Dean Steeves, and put him through his paces with a round of Stump the Chump! If you're a fan of the newsram on the right, you can see more of Dean through the Laughingstock Comedy Company.

This episode is dedicated to the American Red Cross.

PGOC 165: PVP

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:00:00 -0400

This week, we tackle the tricky issue of inter-character conflict--both the bad and the good. How do you discourage it when it becomes disruptive, and how can you make it a beneficial part of your game? Along the way, we take some examples from games that have done it well:

In other news, Jason tears into some exciting horror games that he's been...hungering to talk about: Zombie Cataclysm, Abandon All Hope, Dark Harvest, and John Wick's Yellow Sign Trilogy.

We also give a review of the board game London, and talk about the Origins Awards Nominees for 2011. Plus, we have a brief chat with Angus McPeters himself, Drew Kallen.

We'd like to thank our sponsor, Gamer Adventures! Cruising the Carribean, Mexico, and more with gamers and their families!

PGOC 164: Heroes Wanted

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 02:00:00 -0400

What does it mean to play a hero? The Pulp Gamer Crew tackle this deceptively tricky question this week. What defines a "heroic" character? And how can you encourage and reward players who want to be heroic--both in your situation and your mechanics? Along our way, we draw inspiration from In A Wicked Age, Scion, Necessary Evil, and Dark Sun.

We also have some fun with two other excellent podcasts: The Flop House and Read It and Weep!

In news:

At long last, we discuss the newest Pulp Gamer Studios project, The Bob and Angus Show!
We discuss two light and fun family games with interesting mechanics, Shake & Take and FlipOut.
White Wolf releases two new books: Danse Macabre and the the Forsaken Chronicler's Guide.
Adamant Entertainment discontinues the "app-pricing" digital distribution experiment (which we discussed previously in Episode 159), and we give our thoughts on the final data. Gareth-Michael Skarka's blog post on the matter can be found here.
And our own Derek Rex is running for Relay for Life! His donation page can be found here.

Thanks to our sponsor, Offworld Designs, makers of the best shirts in gaming!

PGOC 163: Over the Rainbow

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 02:00:00 -0400

Our recent discussions about novels and games lead to a special presentation about one of the most enduring and beloved settings in American literature: the Land of Oz! Rather than the typical Pulp Gamer crew, Jason Corley instead hosts a round-table discussion with three designers who've worked on bringing Baum's landmark work into the world of gaming.

Jason's three guests include F. Douglas Wall, creator of the Adventures in Oz RPG, S. Alexander Gentry, creator of the Oz: Dark and Terrible RPG and Dave Gilbert, creator of Emerald City Confidential.

Additionally:

We give a nod to another Oz game in the show, Heroes of Oz
In the show, we reference this Adventures in Oz playthrough, complete with the dreaded Yakuza-Palooza!
Dave's most recent game, mentioned in the show, is Gemini Rue.

PGOC 162: A Novel Idea

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:00:00 -0400

This week, we discuss adapting novels into games and the inherent advantages (and disadvantages) of using print as your source material. Which games have made the transition with flourish, and which shouldn't have made it past the editor? We namedrop quite a few examples this week, including:

Lord of the Rings
The Dresden Files RPG
Pillars of the Earth
The various Discworld games
Dream Park
Cyberpunk 2020
The Wheel of Time Roleplaying Game
A Game of Thrones
Call of Cthulhu
Arkham Horror
Cthulhu Tech
Delta Green
Fantasy Flight's Living Card Games line

(Jason also throws in a shout out to Read It and Weep, the bad-book podcast. Hi guys!)

In Gaming News, we talk about the 20th Anniversary Edition of Vampire: the Masquerade, the relentless kudzu that is Munchkin, and Khet.

We also issue some errata on our previous podcasts, and come to terms with the unfathomable idea that Jason might be wrong. (Two podcasts on religion and gaming, and we can't remember Dogs in the Vineyard and In Nomine?)

Pulp Gamer continues to expand, and we want your help! If you're interested in joining our growing forces, send your resume to the email mentioned in the podcast, or give us a call!

We'd like to thank our sponsor, Gamer Adventures! Mention the Pulp Gamer name when you book your cruise for a free bottle of wine!

PGOC 161: My God Is Bigger Than Your God

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:00:00 -0400

Still abuzz with listener Ryan's question from Out of Character 158, we dedicate an episode to discussing religion in role playing games--how religion operates within games, how fictional religions interact with real world beliefs, and approaches on designing religions into your game.

And on the subject of the all-powerful, godlike war-machines return to board games with the new edition of Ogre and the new Classic Battletech Box Set~

We conjure into existence the newest member of the Pulp Gamer order: our sound engineer, Aaron! You've heard his name in the credits of the show, now listen to his initiation with a round of Stump the Chump! (Think you can stump Aaron better than we can? Call in with your question to 520-908-7782.)

We also give a shout out to the winners of the 2011 GAMA Trade Show Top Retailer Awards. Congratulations to Titan's Entertainment Cafe (Battle Creek, MI), Gnome Games Tournament Center (Green Bay, WI), and King's Games (Brooklyn, NY)!

We sponsor ourselves this week! Accent Your Character: dialect training for roleplayers and other casual pretenders, available from Pulp Gamer!

PGOC 160: GAMA Trade Show 2011

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 02:00:00 -0400

This week's show comes to you straight from the field at the GAMA Trade Show in Las Vegas! We discuss all the shiny new things that have us excited for this year. We're also joined by Rachael Griffin from Spin Master, who gives us the scoop on their upcoming card game, Redakai.

Some of our big notables this year:
Mercs (up for an Origins Award!)
The new Battletech box set
Settlers of Catan tables
CollectA Miniatures
Crystal Caste's new dice accessories
Fortune and Glory
Orbit
Resident Evil
Atlantis Rising from Z-Man Games
The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Dungeons & Dragons
Glowfly Games
New Cthulu Tech releases
Giant Treehouse Games
Powerz
Logan Stones
Alderac Entertainment Games's presentation
Super Dungeon Explore
The Lookouts Board Game
And more!

Thanks again to our sponsor this week, Offword Designs, makers of the best shirts in gaming!

PGOC 159: Bring in the Bad Guys

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 02:00:00 -0400

Fools! Your pathetic attempts cannot stop us from unleashing our episode on Villainy! Our evil masterminds ponder how to create better campaign villains, what makes a lame villain, and how to make villainous PCs (robbing borrowing a few ideas from Pinnacle Entertainment Group's Necessary Evil). And once again, we're joined by our loyal ~~henchman~~ listener Kevin.

Adamant Entertainment causes a stir with their experimental new business model - offering digital RPG supplements at the price of smartphone apps! Check out the controversial new approach for yourself at DriveThru RPG.

Lego builds anticipation at the Nuremburg Toy Fair with the announcement of Heroica, a Lego-based dungeon crawl boardgame.

Days of Wonder announces a $10,000 contest to make a new map for Ticket to Ride.

We also give a nod to the financier of our dastardly schemes, Gamer Adventures! Remember, drop the Pulp Gamer name when you book your cruise to get a free bottle of wine.

Would you like to work with Pulp Gamer? We're expanding! We're looking for writers and production assistants for our newest project, and have both volunteer and paid positions available. Get in touch with us via our contact page!

PGOC 158: Powered by Steam

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 02:00:00 -0500

In the wake of Wild Wild West Con here in Tucson, we bring you a show all about Steampunk! We namedrop far too many games to list them all here! Let us know how many you've played--tweet your Steampunk Kung-Fu score to #pulpgamer! Some notables we do bring up include the playtest of Tephra (which we played at the convention!) and the "shareware" game Forgotten Futures.

We're also joined by one of our listeners! Kevin Grimm joins us all the way from Kentucky for this one, and puts up an impressive fight in a game of Stump the Chump!

Listener Ryan sparks a discussion about gaming, religion, and ethics--our thoughts on the morality of games, and a discussion of introducing a strongly religious group to roleplaying. We'd love to hear from you on the matter! Chime in in the comments, or call us at 520-908-7782!

Ryan also asks us about starting a gaming club, and our resident store owners from Game Daze and Hat's Games weigh in!

Finally, we'd like to thank our sponsor The Peculiar Magpie, "creatively" acquiring items since 1894! They have goggles! And rayguns!

PGOC 157: Playing God

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:00:00 -0500

As we're kicking off March with both Game Master's Day and the 4th annual First Gamemaster's Conference, we're dedicating this week to the art of being a GM. We're sharing our thoughts on improving sessions, spicing up NPCs, making players feel like their actions matter, and training new GMs. Along the way, we namedrop suggestions derived from the FATE System and Big Eyes, Small Mouth. We also tell you how to set up a GM's Conference in your home city, ncluding the all important step: plugging your conference on Pulp Gamer!

Dave from Hat's Games tells us about Privateer Press's summer escalation league. (Find your local Press Ganger here!)

Listener Mike chimes in with some interesting ideas for linguistic puzzles, based on Lera Borodotski's article "How Language Shapes Thought" in the February issue of Scientific American.

We'd like to thank our sponsor (and one of our favorite activities), Gamer Adventures! Drop the Pulp Gamer name when you book your cruise, and our good friend Kim Maita will set you up with a free bottle of wine!

PGOC 156: Getting Personal

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:25:19 -0500

We have small group today, so we thought we would give you a peak into our game and talk about some pieces that work.

We brought up Museum of Man, The Cloisters, the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court.

This episode is brought to you by Offworld Designs. We specifically brought up the T's, This Quest Sucks and I Threw Up On Your Sanity a Little.

PGOC 155: New York Toy Fair 2011

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:58:00 -0500

We had a great time and made a lot of discoveries at the New York Toy Fair. David Miller joins us from Purple Pawn. Marcelo Figueroa is again with us. He was there representing our friends from Neon Con. We also spent some time with Gen Con and the Mayfair Games crew, and horsed around with Play Happens.

Links as we find them:

PGOC 154: Running Without Scissors

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:37:55 -0500

Scott makes it back in the studio to answer some fantasy linguistic questions, though our main topic is about intensifying your non-combat action scenes. Jason had some very helpful tips on that front.

Angry Birds is to be released as a table-top game.

Parsely Games announced some great deals.

Law and the Multiverse is a great blog to check out for super heroes and the law.

This episode is brought to you by Accent Your Character. Dialect training for roleplayers, storytellers, and other casual pretenders.

PGOC 153: The Chinese New Year - the Rabbit

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:39:39 -0500

In honor of the Chinese New Year, we rattle off a list of games with an Oriental theme. How many do you know? Announce your #pulpgamer Kung-Fu score on Twitter.

Industry Watchman, Michael Stackpole, joins us to share his thoughts on the banning of Dungeons & Dragons in Prison. The GAMA Trade Show and Origins was also mentioned in this segment.

Settlers of Catan Online helps to track down a criminal mastermind on NBC’s Chuck.

Today’s episode is brought to you by OffWorld Designs, the best shirts in gaming. We had particular fun with the Wood 4 Sheep T-Shirt on today’s show.

PGOC 152: Blood Donations

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:49:20 -0500

Today’s theme is blood - your blood. Give today. In honor of blood donor month, we are spilling our thoughts over a few bloody titles, such as Vampire, Blood Games, Slasher Flick, Van Helsing, and GURPS Blood Types, and Violence. Other topics give rise to the games Weinhandler, and Candamir. Here is that Candamir Character Editor.

Alex Yeager is still with us and continues to lend his expertise to the topics at hand. We know him from Mayfair Games and the White Glove Movies.

We also shout out to Knights of the Night, an actual play podcast that now has a few episodes under their belt.

Adamant Entertainment has some news about their new pricing model.

We have teamed up with Hat’s Games and CataVinos in Tucson to bring you a taste of games with a taste of wines on the 3rd Wednesday of every month.

Dave found a video that follows a comic superhero thread that was started in today’s topic list.

We continue to cruise with Gamer Adventures. Be sure to see a piece of our experience in this video, and don’t forget to ask Kim for your free bottle of wine when you go!

If you have any bloody games you would like to share, please do so in the comments below. For coming episodes, we are looking for games with a steam punk theme, and games with an oriental theme.

PGOC 151: Across the Network

The Pulp Gamer Crew — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:48:00 -0500

We are extremely pleased to have Alex Yeager of Mayfair Games join us in the studio today. With Alex’s new responsibilities of product acquisition, he gives us some great insight on getting your board game published. He also helps us answer SpyderRev’s question on teaching an old gamer new tricks.

We give you a look across a lot of the shows on the network. Be sure to browse them all and find something new. With Alex here, we get a little bit of an inside look on the White Glove Movies. Definitely check that one out.

Brenda shares her experience on her visit to a games exhibit in the Museum of Man in San Diego, called Counter Cultures: The Secret Lives of Games. Look for the pictures on our Facebook page.

Jason gives us a glimpse of his experience roleplaying on infrno.net.

Coming conventions include Fear the Con in St. Louis, and Wild Wild West Con in Tucson, Arizona.

Speaking of steampunk, here is that band we talked about, Steam Powered Giraffe.

This episode is brought to you by Accent Your Character: Dialect Training for Roleplayers, Storytellers, and Other Casual Pretenders.