What Is Roleplay? Beyond Cataclysm
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- Skönlitteratur
Welcome to What is Roleplay: a podcast from Beyond Cataclysm exploring the very basics of Roleplay, Role Play Games, and what it means to be part of this awesome hobby.
We will be exploring the nuts and bolts of how to play role play, with each episode themed on a particular concept or idea. Even if you know literally nothing about role play games currently, this podcast is at a level that assumes no prior knowledge.
We will have interviews with leading designers from the indie scene, and take a look into games you may have heard of, and others you haven’t heard of, but should.
Each episode ends with some short live-play examples too, to put flesh on the bones we've laid out earlier on.
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What is Roleplay #16: Dungeons with John Dodd
Welcome to Episode 16 of ‘What Is Roleplay?!
This episode we are joined by John Dodd to discuss dungeons
The intrigue of The Dungeon – why would someone build this, what was it for, how did it get here? You’re not supposed to be there!
Maps as promises – they guarantee excitement, adventure and maybe treasure
Mega-dungeons – Architecturally impossible structures that might prove impossible to explore in one lifetime
The joys of having almost too much space and level of detail to explore
The beauty of sci-fi and fantasy allowing you to bend the realms of what is reasonable to create impossible mega-structures
Dungeons are a nightmare – you’re in the dark with no idea what you are doing or where you are going. Perfect fodder for an adventure.
Key Things A Dungeon Needs:
Light – Yet there is an absence of it and the dungeon doesn’t want you to have it! The contrast of light & dark. Dark as a representation of the unknown.
Treasure – If someone has gone to all the trouble of building a dungeon there must something interesting down there! A great evil? A King’s ransom? Why is it there? There has to be something that draws people in to the dungeon, where they know they shouldn’t be
What Now? – So you have a reason to be there and you’ve used light to find the treasure. But you’ve got to wonder what now? Something or someone has taken over this Dungeon, as they’re never being used for their original purpose. What happens next? Most dungeons don’t have a back door! How are you getting out?
Actual Play: Chris & John explore a Dungeon deep under modern day London, found by accident during tunnelling works for the Elizabeth line. It’s an icehouse build by a chryomancer (the assistant to the regional Chyromancer), who set out to make a million from selling ice to rich Victorians. Look out for the monstrous subway trains and the hidden entrances in the grounds of the abandoned Mansion! Ice-locks abound!!
Here are the beautiful maps John draw of this Dungeon during the actual play chats with Chris. Download images & scenario here
Links to things we discussed:
Games:
Dungeons & Dragons
Fighting Fantasy by Steve Jackson & Ian Livingstone
Fighting Fantasy: Deathtrap Dungeon
D&D: The Temple of Elemental Evil
D&D: Forgotten Realms – Menzoberranzan
Warhammer 40K – Space Hulk
Delve & Rise by Anna Blackwell
Dungeon Master (Atari Game)
Moria, from The Lord of the Rings
Shadow of Mogg
CY_BORG
Paranoia
Books, Authors, Publishers etc:
Wizards of the Coast
Games Workshop
The Big Book of Battle Mats
Subterranea Britannica
Neverwhere by Neil Gaimon
Adventure Tourism Podcast by Chris Bisette
The Time Machine by HG Wells
Dragonmeet Convention
Worldcon
More about John
Twitter – @AutomaticDodd
Facebook – facebook.com/john.dodd.9022
Website – TheDodd.com
Luna Press Publishing – .lunapresspublishing.com
More about Us
CM Lowry on Twitter – @cmlowryauthor
CM Lowry’s website – All About Chris
Website – beyondcataclysm.co.uk
Patreon – Patreon.com/beyondcataclysm
With music generously provided by:
Powerplant & Imploders.The post What is Roleplay #16: Dungeons with John Dodd first appeared on Beyond Cataclysm. -
What is Roleplay #15: Diceless Roleplay Games with Côme Martin
Welcome to Episode 15 of ‘What Is Roleplay?!
This episode we are joined by Côme Martin to discuss diceless rpg
Chris & Côme discuss many different Roleplaying Games that don’t use dice & explore the spectrum of games from completely controlled by fate, to the other end of the spectrum where the only narrative input in the game is the things your saying to one another around the table.
The mechanics of dice use and how they can be replaced with other items such as a pack of cards
The ways that a deck of cards can be broken into different groupings for use in roleplay. Côme prefers cards to dice as it gives you a wider range of options
The option that cards give you for editing – you can change the deck by writing on the cards as you go through them so that they next time you use that card it has a different effect.
Using pick up sticks, Jenga, runestones, Tarot cards or tokens as help prompts as part of roleplay instead of dice.
Diceless roleplay gives the players and the Games Master (GM) a little more power over outcomes, rather than being ruled by chance.
Games play without any prompts & GM-less play – the joys of improvisation.
Worldbuilding and lore writing – how diceless play can make for really interesting world building experiences
Actual Play: Christof & Martin star in a spring time coming of age adventure set in the Viking era. Magic spells and finger bones abound!
Links to things we discussed:
Games:
Meanwhile on the Subway
Two Summers
Lucky for None
Unbound
Feathered Adventures
3 Games about Life
Dread
Star Crossed
Fate of the Norns
Not The End
Millennial Apartment Hunters
Dixit
Mysterium
Fiasco
Microscope
A Set of Scrubs
ISBN Coffee
Belonging Outside Belonging [System]
Free Kriegsspiel Roleplaying (FKR) [System]
Lost & Found [System]
Books, Authors & Publishers:
Wanderhome by Jay Dragon
Possum Creek Games
Bully Pulpit Games
More about Côme
Twitter – @comemartin_
Itch – comemartin.itch.io
Instagram – instagram.com/comemartin_/
Website – Ludosphere
More about Us
CM Lowry on Twitter – @cmlowryauthor
CM Lowry’s website – All About Chris
Website – beyondcataclysm.co.uk
Patreon – Patreon.com/beyondcataclysm
With music generously provided by:
Powerplant & Imploders.The post What is Roleplay #15: Diceless Roleplay Games with Côme Martin first appeared on Beyond Cataclysm. -
What is Roleplay #14 – Design with Johan Nohr
Welcome to Episode 14 of ‘What Is Roleplay?!
This episode we are joined by Johan Nohr to discuss design
Everyone can draw – as adults we stop being creative because we fool ourselves into thinking that we cannot do it.
How the independent games scene allows people to explore new ways of designing and laying out games that go against the safe mainstream game publishing norms
How good graphic design helps to communicate the feel of the game and draws the player in
The beauty of getting something hand drawn or hand made in the era of digital design
Over the top art-punk designs that skew all design norms vs minimalism and the use of white space
How tactility helps improve the player’s experience of role playing games – use of techniques such as foiling, embossing, gloss vs matt papers and printing on the book ribbons.
The differences between screen readers & printed books. The problem with PDFs being set up as if they were books when they could be better designed for onscreen use. The plus’ of digital versions when it comes to accessibility.
Listen as Chris & Johan do an actual play where they design a ridiculously meta game entitled ‘GamePOD’, intended to be published on an editable 8-track tape
An encouragement to experiment with and enjoy roleplay and roleplaying games.
Links to things we discussed:
Games:
MÖRK BORG
Delve
Umbra
Mausritter
Old School Essentials
CY BORG
Gozr
Medieval Margin-agerie
MORK ORG
ISBN Coffee
Books, Authors & Publishers:
Stockholm Kartell
SquareHex Publishers
All Rolled Up Press
More about Johan
Twitter – @artbynohr
Itch – jnohr.itch.io
Website – Stockholm Kartell
More about Us
CM Lowry on Twitter – @cmlowryauthor
CM Lowry’s website – All About Chris
Website – beyondcataclysm.co.uk
Patreon – Patreon.com/beyondcataclysm
With music generously provided by:
Powerplant & Imploders.The post What is Roleplay #14 – Design with Johan Nohr first appeared on Beyond Cataclysm. -
What Is Roleplay? #13 – Melee Combat with Rugose Kohn
Welcome to Episode 13 of ‘What Is Roleplay?!
This episode we are joined by Rugose Kohn to discuss Melee Combat
Trigger warning for violence and body horror!
Melee combat is usually gritty and visceral hand to hand combat as opposed to more removed and antiseptic approach such as aerial bombardment.
How early roleplaying games have sort of set the standard of combat as just charging in headlong and hoping for the best where as more modern systems make that approach obsolete and involve more subtilties.
Experimentation as an exciting approach to roleplaying.
How gravitating towards combat can squash creativity, whilst finding other ways to deal with the encounter can open up really interesting outcomes.
Systems that use interesting mechanics to deal with managing conflict such as Powered by The Apocalypse, Lichoma & Fiasco, which emphasise story telling rather than melee combat.
Rugose shares a fun experience of melee combat in a game of MÖRK BORG at GenCon 2022.
Chris & Rugose get into some actual play featuring a hardware store in Colorado, billy clubs, concealed hammers and a dishevelled criminal known only as Dobie. Broken arms and lost eyeballs ensue…
Links to things we discussed:
Games:
MÖRK BORG
Red Box DnD
Twilight 2000
Into The Odd
Warhammer Fantasy RPG
5e DnD
Powered By The Apocalypse
Lichoma
Lancer
Fiasco
Four Borg
Books, Authors & Publishers etc:
Stockholm Kartell
Bogfolk Co-op
Gen Con
Film
Monty Pythons ‘Holy Grail’
Conan The Barbarian
Rambo
Dumb & Dumber
More about Rugose
Twitter – @RugoseKohn
Itch – rugose-kohn.itch.io
Website – rugosekohn.com
More about Us
CM Lowry on Twitter – @cmlowryauthor
CM Lowry’s website – All About Chris
Website – beyondcataclysm.co.uk
Patreon – Patreon.com/beyondcataclysm
With music generously provided by:
Powerplant & Imploders.The post What Is Roleplay? #13 – Melee Combat with Rugose Kohn first appeared on Beyond Cataclysm. -
What is Roleplay #12 – All Outta Bubblegum actual play
Welcome to Episode 12 of ‘What Is Roleplay?!
Join Chris & Dave as they get very silly in an All Outta Bubblegum actual play special!
A brief explanation of the rules of All Outta Bubblegum
A safety talk
Counting for fun
Setting the scene
Pizza delivery mishaps and corner shop catastrophes
More counting
Listen as the game unravels as we run out of bubblegum
Conclude with us that you don’t always have to spend hours prepping before a fun rpg session – you can take inspiration from things around you and have a great laugh in the process
Links to things we discussed:
Games:
All Outta Bubblegum
FREE PDF Download
Movies:
They Live!
More about Us:
CM Lowry on Twitter – @cmlowryauthor
CM Lowry’s website – All About Chris
Website – beyondcataclysm.co.uk
Patreon – Patreon.com/beyondcataclysm
With music generously provided by:
Powerplant & Imploders.The post What is Roleplay #12 – All Outta Bubblegum actual play first appeared on Beyond Cataclysm. -
What is Roleplay #11 – Design with Guilherme Gontijo
Welcome to Episode 11 of ‘What Is Roleplay?!
This episode we are joined by Guilherme Gontijo to discuss Design
How design is very similar across the board, and how the differences often just come down to execution?
Why does design matter?
It is more than just style or a taste aesthetic
Design is more about translating ideas on the abstract plane into visuals
Good design helps roleplay games (RPG) creators to communicate the ideas, mood and feel of a game visually
You can fit a whole lot of fun into a small amount of space with good design
The DIY ethos and how the punk spirit has influenced the Indie RPG scene
Funding the beauty in both minimalist as well as heavily illustrated RPGs such as MÖRK BORG
The major importance of remaining faithful to ideas – starting at the essence of the idea and allowing it to inform the design. Making an alliance with the idea and not allowing outside influences to change it & allowing open ended questions to remain.
Italian ‘Giallo‘ horror movies and their influence on Gontijo’s game Blurred Lines
Listen as CM Lowry & Gontijo live design a new game where monks fall into temptation to one of the seven deadly sins and end up in a sepia hell where everyone is in perpetual motion. The working title? ‘No Rest for the Wicked!’
Links to things we discussed:
Games:
Vaults of Vaarn
Honey Heist
Lasers & Feelings
MÖRK BORG
Blurred Lines
Books, Authors & Publishers:
Grant Howitt
Johan Nohr
DriveThruRPG.com
itch.io
More about Guilherme
Twitter – @gontijolab
Itch – gontijo.itch.io
Website – gontijolab.com
More about Us
CM Lowry on Twitter – @cmlowryauthor
CM Lowry’s website – All About Chris
Website – beyondcataclysm.co.uk
Patreon – Patreon.com/beyondcataclysm
With music generously provided by:
Powerplant & Imploders.The post What is Roleplay #11 – Design with Guilherme Gontijo first appeared on Beyond Cataclysm.