Merely Roleplayers Foggy Outline

Act One of Four: Mick struggles to wake from a nightmare, and the earth under Sherrydown shakes.

Coming next on 14 May – Dream team (Vigil Backstage)

PROGRAMME NOTES
This production includes a natural disaster, fantasy violence, blood, and dismemberment (the dismemberment is not bloody).

Nominations are open for the CRIT Awards 2024! https://www.critawards.org/

Merely Roleplayers is eligible for Best Podcast, Matt Boothman for Best Podcast Host and Best Game Master – Indie, and the following series are eligible for Best Series (which also means the characters in these series are eligible for Best NPC or Best Villain, and the players are all eligible for Best Player – Indie):

- Main House: Vigil: The Great Fire, Vigil: Chief/Exec, Vigil: Fear Itself
- Studio: Falling Cadence, The Queen’s Dead, The Office Party

Luvvie alert! We simply must introduce you to The Thorne Files, a fellow Monster of the Week actual play podcast detailing the exploits and mysteries explored by agents of Thorne Investigations, a paranormal investigations agency, in 1952. https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/the-thorne-files-podcast

DRAMATIS PERSONAE AND OTHER DEFINITIONS
MICK MASON: Sherrydown’s favourite builder and bricklayer. His life has been getting weirder since he dug too deep and hit a leyline.
MELODY BANTHAM: The owner of Melodies, the cosy cafe and vinyl shop on Market Street. Melody is an ageless patchwork person animated by music, who fled her creator ages ago and has owned a music shop on this spot ever since.
BRIER: A mischievous shapeshifting púca, the fae guardian of Sherrydown’s Rosebrier Forest.
DEPARTMENT OF OMISSIONS (DO, DoOm): The UK government department tasked with preventing harm to citizens from supernatural phenomena. Severely defunded under Tory austerity policies and currently prioritising major urban population centres.
SHERRYDOWN, BRACKSHIRE: A historic English market town. One of the first towns to lose its DoOm office.
OMISSION EFFECT: The rejection of certain beings and phenomena by long-term memory. Can be suppressed by concentration, mnemonic techniques, hypnosis, trauma, or the light of the full moon.

CREDITS
COMPERE: Matt Boothman
STARRING:
- Dave as Mick Mason, the Mundane
- Helen Stratton as Melody Bantham, the Constructed
- Strat as Brier, the Monstrous
ROLEPLAYING GAME SYSTEM: Monster of the Week, designed by Michael Sands https://genericgames.co.nz/motw/
MUSIC BY: Alexander Pankhurst
SOUND DESIGN BY: Matt Boothman
EDITED AND PRODUCED BY: Matt Boothman

FIND US
On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/merelyroleplayers/
On Tumblr https://merelyroleplayers.tumblr.com/
www.MerelyRoleplayers.com

It’s only going to take one song to get everyone to stand up and take notice, and then your career will open wide in front of you. You all work so perfectly together. How hard can it be?

Coming next on 7 May – Vigil: Dream Big, Act 1

PROGRAMME NOTES
This episode contains strong language, underage drinking, references to drugs, and friend group infighting.
Throw us a rose emoji on Instagram or Tumblr if you enjoyed this production! Or leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

For behind the scenes updates (including what’s coming up after Vigil: Dream Big), subscribe to the Foggy Outline newsletter. https://buttondown.email/FoggyOutline

CREDITS
FACILITATOR: Matt Boothman
STARRING:
- On vocals, Matt Boothman as Skinny Steve
- On lead guitar, Strat as Jimmy Danger
- On the keys, Ellie Pitkin as Pixie Dust
- On rhythm guitar, Josh Yard as Sludge
- On the bass, Natalie Winter as Spacy Stacy
ROLEPLAYING GAME SYSTEM: Wonders by Alex Flanigan, published in The Ultimate Micro-RPG Book, edited by James D’Amato https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/James-D-Amato/144640563
MUSIC BY: Alexander Pankhurst, inspired by Horse Elevator
SEASON PLANNED BY: Strat
EDITED AND PRODUCED BY: Matt Boothman

FIND US
On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/merelyroleplayers/
On Tumblr https://merelyroleplayers.tumblr.com
www.MerelyRoleplayers.com

Before getting thrown face-first into school, cling to your final summer break with family and defend your childhood fort from dangers that are definitely not allegories for adulthood!

Coming next on 23 April – Wonders, a microgame

PROGRAMME NOTES
This episode contains child endangerment and harm to children (not described in detail), themes of growing up, and divorce.

CREDITS
FACILITATOR: Natalie Winter
STARRING:
- Natalie Winter as Max, aged 10 ¾
- Strat as Billy, aged 10 ½
- Ellie Pitkin as Cara, aged 12
- Josh Yard as Sam, aged 14
- Matt Boothman as Ani, aged 8
ROLEPLAYING GAME SYSTEM: Summer Break by Joey Barranco, published in The Ultimate Micro-RPG Book, edited by James D’Amato https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/James-D-Amato/144640563
MUSIC BY: Alexander Pankhurst, inspired by Horse Elevator
SEASON PLANNED BY: Strat
EDITED AND PRODUCED BY: Matt Boothman

FIND US
On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/merelyroleplayers/
On Tumblr https://merelyroleplayers.tumblr.com
www.MerelyRoleplayers.com

Go inside the writers’ room of your favourite canine adventure show, then join four lost dogs as they trick, trial and treat their way home.

Coming next on 16 April – Summer Break!, a microgame

PROGRAMME NOTES
This episode contains strong language, animal endangerment, and animal attacks.

CREDITS
FACILITATOR: Strat
STARRING:
- Ellie Pitkin as Kevin
- Josh Yard as Enzo
- Natalie Winter as Peppercorn
- Matt Boothman as Wallaby
ROLEPLAYING GAME SYSTEM: Hero Dog Saves Town by Alex Roberts and Wild Rovers by Shanna Germain, published in The Ultimate Micro-RPG Book, edited by James D’Amato https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/James-D-Amato/144640563
MUSIC BY: Alexander Pankhurst, inspired by Horse Elevator
SEASON PLANNED BY: Strat
EDITED AND PRODUCED BY: Matt Boothman

FIND US
On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/merelyroleplayers/
On Tumblr https://merelyroleplayers.tumblr.com
www.MerelyRoleplayers.com

Some of the galaxy’s (best?) event planners have gathered to plan the celebration for the Gantrofax’s final moulting. Of course, we have limited time and budget. Everything is fine, though. Happy moulting!

Coming next on 9 April – Good Dogs, a microgame duo

PROGRAMME NOTES
This episode contains strong language, workplace burnout, and speculation about a fictional genocide (that does not happen).

CREDITS
FACILITATOR: Ellie Pitkin
STARRING:
- Ellie Pitkin as Madame Flux
- Josh Yard as Chef Octo-Ramsey
- Natalie Winter as Dee-mar the Vee-spar
- Strat as DJ Clorox
- Matt Boothman as Gravalax the Living Company
ROLEPLAYING GAME SYSTEM: Event Planning in Zero G by Jenn Martin, published in The Ultimate Micro-RPG Book, edited by James D’Amato https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/James-D-Amato/144640563
MUSIC BY: Alexander Pankhurst, inspired by Horse Elevator
SEASON PLANNED BY: Strat
EDITED AND PRODUCED BY: Matt Boothman

FIND US
On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/merelyroleplayers/
On Tumblr https://merelyroleplayers.tumblr.com
www.MerelyRoleplayers.com

It’s time to push the boundaries of modern medicine, and maybe to make out with a bitter rival in the on-call room!

Coming next on 2 April – Event Planning in Zero G, a microgame

PROGRAMME NOTES
This episode contains medical situations, medical malpractice, gross medical mouth noises, drug misuse, gun violence, and bawdy British humour of the knickers-down variety.

CREDITS
FACILITATOR: Josh Yard
STARRING:
- Josh Yard as Dr Artery Hartwell and Penny
- Natalie Winter as Dr Miranda Anderson and Steph O’Scope
- Strat as Dr Henry Mole and Chris Wandsworth
- Ellie Pitkin as Dr Cynthia Cutting and Marjorie Hartwell
- Matt Boothman as Dr Achilles Miles and Jonathan Blackhead
ROLEPLAYING GAME SYSTEM: Heartbeats by Keith Baker and Jenn Ellis, published in The Ultimate Micro-RPG Book, edited by James D’Amato https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/James-D-Amato/144640563
MUSIC BY: Alexander Pankhurst, inspired by Horse Elevator
SEASON PLANNED BY: Strat
EDITED AND PRODUCED BY: Matt Boothman

FIND US
On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/merelyroleplayers/
On Tumblr https://merelyroleplayers.tumblr.com
www.MerelyRoleplayers.com