Roll to Save

Iain Wilson

Three middle-aged nerds dive deep into the golden age of tabletop RPGs, covering the classics from the 80s and 90s that shaped the hobby we love today. Iain and Jason banter their way through gaming history while Steve desperately tries to keep them on topic—and occasionally succeeds. Whether you're a grognard who lived through THAC0 or a newcomer curious about what to do with all those lovely polyhederal dice you've aquired, we've got you covered with historical deep-dives, roundtable discussions fueled by questionable nostalgia, and actual play episodes where our players' competence is... variable.  All of this released on a schedule that can charitably be called "flexible" at best. Grab some dice and join us for a trip down memory lane—just don't ask us to commit to when the next episode will drop.

  1. Clay, Cards, and Character Deaths - an Interview with Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore

    08/10/2025

    Clay, Cards, and Character Deaths - an Interview with Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore

    Get in touch with us! Stakes make stories breathe. We sit down with Jon Cohen - writer, host, and designer behind Tale of the Manticore and One Shot in the Dark - to explore why consequence beats comfort, how a hybrid format turns solo play into gripping audio drama, and what it takes to build a one-shot that actually ends in one sitting. Jon walks us through the creative risks, the craft, and the quiet discipline that keeps a polished episode shipping every 10 days without losing the sting in its tail. We also talk about One Shot in the Dark, John’s rules ultra-light dungeon crawl where cards prompt the map you draw, four hapless adventurers push forward through three levels, and a final boss waits at the end. It’s emergent narrative with real replay value and a surprisingly welcoming on-ramp for kids and new players. If you're interested in checking out One Shot in the Dark it can be found here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/366526/one-shot-in-the-dark Likewise, Tale of the Manticore is here: https://www.taleofthemanticore.com/ Contact us at: EMAIL: roll.to.save.pod@gmail.com FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/rolltosavepod WEBSITE: https://rolltosave.blog HOSTS: Iain Wilson, Steve McGarrity, Jason Downey BACKGROUND MUSIC: David Renada (Find him at: davidrendamusic@gmail.com or on his web page). TITLE, BREAK & CLOSEOUT MUSIC: Xylo-Ziko (Find them on their web page).

    57 min
  2. Ordinary People, Unseen War -A History of Hunter: The Reckoning

    02/10/2025

    Ordinary People, Unseen War -A History of Hunter: The Reckoning

    Get in touch with us! To: hunterlist@hunter-net.org From: witness1 Fellow imbued, I must report a disturbing incident. Our latest transmission regarding the Mission was compromised. The audio files were corrupted - the music loud, blaring, almost as if something didn't want this information shared. You know what I'm talking about. They got to it. But the Messengers work in mysterious ways. The tainted files have been purged. A clean recording has been restored and is being redistributed as we speak. The truth will be heard. The mission continues. Stay vigilant. Check your audio equipment. They're always watching... and apparently, now they're listening too. Inherit the earth -- Witness1 EDIT: yes, the sound gremlins did their thing again so we had to upload a new recording - sorry! --- The cover promised chainsaws and gun-fu; the text delivered conscience, fear, and the price of seeing too much. We dive deep into Hunter: The Reckoning as it was meant to be experienced: a grounded horror RPG about ordinary people who wake up to a world that doesn’t want to be seen, and the fragile choices that follow. From edges and second sight to conviction and creeds, we trace how the mechanics hardwire moral perspective into play, and why that makes every victory feel earned and every misstep costly. If this kind of human-centred horror speaks to you, hit follow, drop us a rating, and share the episode with a friend who still thinks Hunter is a superhero game.  Contact us at: EMAIL: roll.to.save.pod@gmail.com FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/rolltosavepod WEBSITE: https://rolltosave.blog HOSTS: Iain Wilson, Steve McGarrity, Jason Downey BACKGROUND MUSIC: David Renada (Find him at: davidrendamusic@gmail.com or on his web page). TITLE, BREAK & CLOSEOUT MUSIC: Xylo-Ziko (Find them on their web page).

    49 min

About

Three middle-aged nerds dive deep into the golden age of tabletop RPGs, covering the classics from the 80s and 90s that shaped the hobby we love today. Iain and Jason banter their way through gaming history while Steve desperately tries to keep them on topic—and occasionally succeeds. Whether you're a grognard who lived through THAC0 or a newcomer curious about what to do with all those lovely polyhederal dice you've aquired, we've got you covered with historical deep-dives, roundtable discussions fueled by questionable nostalgia, and actual play episodes where our players' competence is... variable.  All of this released on a schedule that can charitably be called "flexible" at best. Grab some dice and join us for a trip down memory lane—just don't ask us to commit to when the next episode will drop.

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