Crucible of Realms

Episode 29 - Apex Convergence

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Mon, 23 May 2022 13:18:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent
Guest: Keith Baker

In February of 2014, we sat down and built a world with Keith Baker, the creater of Gloom and Eberron!

In this episode, we create a world where massive elemental beings fight for dominence while posing a constant threat to the human populace, who make use of special forms of magic to survive.

You can find some of Keith's work here:

Web Site: https://keith-baker.com/
Twogether Studios: https://www.twogetherstudios.com/
DMs' Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Keith%20Baker

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 29 - APEX CONVERGENCE

Episode 28 - Tide Shift

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 10:08:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent
Guest: Drew Meyer

(NOTE: The original MP3 file had a bit of a hiccup late in the episode, but it's since been replaced and the new file should be available to grab now!)

In this episode recorded in December 2013, we welcome podcaster and game designer Drew Meyer! Together, we hammer together a world permeated with dimensional waves that change the laws of reality. The ones living there have founded very different civilizations, each suited to their circumstances.

You can find Drew's podcasts and other work here:

The Never Say Die! Podcast - https://theneversaydiepodcast.podbean.com/

Who & Company - https://whoandcompany.libsyn.com/

The Doctor Who Podcast - https://thedoctorwhopodcast.com/

Scaldcrow Games - https://scaldcrow.com/

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 28 - TIDE SHIFT

Episode 27 - Children of the Fury

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 19:58:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent
Guest: Dave Robison

Ever have one of those personal eras when your life turns upside down a few times and then a pandemic happens and then you look up and realize the audio edit you've been stressing over for the past decade doesn't have to be as perfect as your inner critic insists and it's okay if the final product runs over two hours after all?

Sometimes it takes a very long time to get one's inner critic to back down.

But when it happens? It can be a thing of wonder.

At long last, here is the next episode of Crucible of Realms. In it, our guest Dave brings us a massive concept to play with - a world split into three parts, each experiencing a different environment and each with a different relationship with magic.

You can find more about Dave and his work at these places:

Dave Robison: Vocal Performer - https://butterymanvoice.com/
ARCHIVOS - https://www.archivos.digital/

Archivos Podcasts - https://www.roundtablepodcast.com/

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 27 - CHILDREN OF THE FURY

Episode 26 - Pinewood Cove

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 18:04:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent
Guest: David Sobkowiak

It appears we've returned!

This episode was one of a handful coming up that we thought gone to the mists of time. Thankfully, we've finally managed to recover the audio and are delighted to present it to you!

In this episode we create a PERFECTLY NORMAL town deep in the Hundred-Mile Wilderness where ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is amiss. Nothing. At all.

Well, except during glider season...

Here are some links for David online:

Blog: http://www.davidsobkowiak.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dsobkowiak
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/David-Sobkowiak/e/B004OXCA52
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4443153.David_Sobkowiak

Also mentioned in this Episode:

Portal Cake Mix
Dubstep Kitty
Broken Sea
Gypsy Laura
Twin Peaks
Appalachian Trail
Innsmouth / HP Lovecraft
Super8
Mt Katahdin
Baxter State Park
Hundred-Mile Wilderness
The Shining
Dot-com Bubble
Sasquatch
Call of Cthuhlhu RPG
Hunting and Trapping in Maine
Jackalope
Doctor Moreau
Sugar Glider
Loch Ness Monster
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Jonathan Higgins/Robin Masters
Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve
Igor
Fenrir
Owlbear
Presley Lake / Moose Head Lake / Seboomook Lake
Rocky IV / Dolph Lundgren
Sprockets
Valhalla
Northern Exposure
X-Files

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 26 - PINEWOOD COVE

Epoch Iteration 17 - I Bought a Monster

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Mon, 8 Jun 2015 19:40:00 -0700

RECORDED LIVE AT CONCAROLINAS 2015!

Kent and I met up at ConCarolinas to do a live podcast this year, marveled at the fact that the room was nearly empty and practically gave up hope. Then, as we were getting ready to pack it all in, we were bolstered by the arrival of a single audient (quite possibly by accident), so we decided to do an Epoch Iteration with her.

So here's that. Enjoy!

LINKS

ConCarolinas

Extra-Life, Team Intelsat

Sabrina's DeviantArt Site

Tenebrous

CypherCaster Magazine, Issue 001

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 17 - I BOUGHT A MONSTER

Epoch Iteration 16 - Running and Screaming and Giant Frogs

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 17:24:00 -0700

For the first time, we have a guest on an Epoch Iteration! Author Eden Royce returns to talk about her upcoming novella release, Containment 2: Unleashed, a good portion of which takes place in our own Hell Noir setting. She also reads an excerpt from the book! In addition, we talk a bit about RPGs (as usual) and recent losses in the worlds of sci-fi and fantasy entertainment.

LINKS

Eden Royce

- Web Site

- Blog

- Facebook Author Page

- Twitter

Containment Part 1 on Amazon Kindle

Charles White of Fabled Environments (whom you may remember from our Epilareus episode) is running a new Kickstarter: Wild West Floor Plans. Check it out!

In this Iteration, Jim also mentions he will be appearing as a guest at ConCarolinas 2015!

RECOMMENDATIONS

Jon recommends The Martian by Andy Weir.

Jim recommends The Film Reverie Podcast.

Also Mentioned in this Iteration:

Center Lovell Inn Contest
The Vampire Chronicles
Gator People
D&D / FATE
Giant Frog/Toad
Deadlands / The Flood / Deadlands Noir
Dawn of Worlds
"Keep watching the skies!"
Terry Pratchett
Leonard Nimoy
Discworld / Star Trek
xkcd Tribute
MACE
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
"Excellent"
Water on Ganymede
Stephen Hawking
Lizard People
Ewan McGregor / RAF / Colin McGregor
Majel Barrett

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 16 - RUNNING AND SCREAMING AND GIANT FROGS

Episode 25 - Western Evolution

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 18:52:00 -0800

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent
Guest: Scott Roche

Our latest world is a mashup of the Western, Sci-Fi and Horror genres with a slight touch of Steampunk thrown in for flavor. Not long before the turn of the 20th century, a group of scientists led by Nikola Tesla are caught in a war. To one side are the carriers of a lycanthropic virus - some want a cure, but others want only to take advantage of their newfound transformations. To the other are hordes of dead soldiers reanimated by the US government. Some say it's only a matter of time before the whole thing erupts into a second Civil War.

Want to find Scott online? Here ya go:

Blog - http://www.scottroche.com/blog/
Fiction - http://www.amazon.com/Scott-Roche/e/B004KS1U6Q
Patreon - http://www.patreon.com/scottroche
Twitter - https://twitter.com/spiritualtramp

Also mentioned in this Episode:

Leper Colony
Being Human
Frankenstein
The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein
Nikola Tesla / Colorado Springs
Werewolf Belt
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Thomas Edison / Tesla vs Edison
Apache / Geronimo
Deadlands
Hypochondria
Hulk
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Apache Wars
Fort Apache
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Mark Twain
Boris Karloff
Mike Mignola
Topsy the Elephant
Washington Monument / Arlington National Cemetery
Battle Droids
The Island of Dr. Moreau
Ulysses S. Grant / George Armstrong Custer
Teddy Roosevelt / Rough Riders
Browncoats
Giant Mechanical Spider
Super 8
Area 51
Fargo
Difference Engine / Guglielmo Marconi
Magneto / Homo Superior / New Mutants
Nietzschean Superman / New Gods / Herculoids
Promethean: The Created
Transformers
Boomstick
Evolutionary War

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 25 - WESTERN EVOLUTION

Episode 24 - Terror

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 20:00:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent
Guest: Mark

And now, as we get ever closer to Halloween, we bring you a realm of chilling darkness where fear is the greatest commodity. This is a place in which all of the world's worst nightmares are embodied. A strange, supernatural dimension where factions of living nightmares fight for dominance, each trying to force their own paradigm on each other even as they harvest the fear of mortals. Don't fall asleep, or you may find yourself there...

Image courtesy of Imgur

Unlike last month's extra-long episode, this one is a bit shorter than usual. We had a devil of a time with Skype on this particular episode, with calls dropping right and left, so we didn't have quite as much time to detail the world as we usually do, but I think we managed to put something pretty cool together. Along with making WAY more Frank Langella references than is generally recommended...

Also mentioned in this Episode:

Final Jeopardy
Rice-a-Roni
Monsters, Inc.
Ronald Reagan
Max Schreck / Nosferatu
Frank Langella / The Box / Good Night and Good Luck
Remora
Coulrophobia
Marcel Marceau
Snowman Holocaust
Se7en
Mephistopheles
Warwick Davis / Leprechaun
Rumplestiltskin
Albert Finney / Peter O'Toole
Inception
Manticore
Morlock
Will-o-the-Wisp
Doc Holliday
Knots Landing
F. Lee Bailey
The Fountainhead / Ayn Rand
Planet Terror

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Episode 23 - Azure Tears

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 18:47:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent
Guest: Jason Bulmahn of Paizo Publishing and Minotaur Games

We brainstorm up a world so full of ideas that we had to bleed into an extra half hour! In a Conan-esque world where magic waxes and wanes in centuries-long cycles, the one who has the most power is the one who is best prepared for change. And when the next wave of magic comes, who will come out on top? The barbaric humans who hold Stoneshadow Valley? The forces of the High Imperator, who - it is said - can never die? The dwarves who live deep in the mountains and hold a terrifying secret? Or the much-maligned elves who live outside of civilization, yet may hold the key to changing everything? The seasons are turning, and when the Azure Tears appear in the sky once more, the die will be cast!

Jason's Kickstarter for his card game Pirate Loot can be found HERE! Check it out!

Also mentioned in this Episode:

Yoda / Midi-Chlorians
Pathfinder
V
Matt Forbeck
Oxy Acne Medication
Conan the Barbarian
Ziggurat
Lich
Hero's Journey
Sparta / Mongol Empire
Incan Terrace Farming
Helm's Deep
The Hobbit
Medici Family
Doctor Doom
Amway
To Serve Man
Cassandra
Night of the Comet
Mass Hysteria
Vlad the Impaler
Magic Jar
Dalai Lama
Thundarr the Barbarian / Gundark
Corona
Behind the Name

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 23 - AZURE TEARS

Epoch Iteration 15 - Collating Data Between Our Various Selves

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 18:14:00 -0700

Nope, we're still not dead. Listen in as we talk about recent events, the current state of affairs, upcoming releases and how to get rich using time travel. We also read listener feedback!

Believe it or not, ACTUAL EPISODES ARE COMING SOON!

LINKS:

Think Baby Names

Jim's interview with Storium's Stephen Hood

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Kent recommends the Fairy Behind the Door Kickstarter project (ENDS AUGUST 2nd, 2014!). Jon recommends the Monster Hunter series by Larry Correia. Jim recommends The Big Red Couch, an RPG brainstorming podcast from New Zealand.

Also Mentioned in this Iteration:

Loitsu
24
Jennisodes
D&D Basic Rules
TableTop Day
Doctor Who / Blinovitch Limitation Effect
Reddit Worldbuilding
Storium
Suspended Animation Trials
Plan 9 from Outer Space
Dragon*Con
World of Warcraft
Good Night and Good Luck / Strength and Honor

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 15 - COLLATING DATA BETWEEN OUR VARIOUS SELVES

Epoch Iteration 14 - Kobolds & Super Heroes

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 1 Mar 2014 18:03:00 -0800

A quick Iteration to talk about our guests' upcoming projects!

Image courtesy of Imgur

LINKS:

Eloy Lasanta's Kickstarter for Third Eye Games, AMP: Year One, can be found HERE.

Wolfgang Baur's projects for Kobold Press, Deep Magic and The Kobold Guide to Magic, can be found HERE and HERE.

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 14 - KOBOLDS & SUPER HEROES

Episode 22 - The Brilliance

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 15:36:00 -0800

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Eden
Guest: Eloy Lasanta of Third Eye Games

We create a future Earth in which some of the human population have begun to evolve into beings of light. These new types of humans have made significant gains in equality, but there are always those who refuse to accept them, and some who even seek their destruction!

Image courtesy of Imgur

Eloy's podcast, Rolling 20s, can be found HERE. You can also visit his own site and the site of his company, Third Eye Games.

Eden Royce's author site can be found HERE.

Also mentioned in this Episode:

Gatorade
Paranoia
Douglas Adams / Hooloovoo
Cocoon
Green Lantern / Emotional Spectrum Rings
Battlestar Galactica
The Speed of Light
ROYGBIV
Red Dwarf / Hard Light
Superman vs the Elite / All-Star Superman / Lex Luthor
Star Trek
Singularity
World of Warcraft
Firefly
Dr. Manhattan
Green Party
Black Panthers
Cloud City
Iron Man
Nyan Cat
Whig Party / Bull Moose Party
Thesaurus.com
Terminator

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 22 - The Brilliance

Epoch Iteration 13 - A Frozen Wasteland

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 13:29:00 -0800

This Iteration was recorded on Groundhog Day! We talk about the recent Snowpocalypse/Snowmageddon (which seems to have repeated itself) and read listener feedback.

Image courtesy of Imgur

LINKS:

The Walking Dead comparison page can be found HERE.

Jim's story was published in Tales from the Front, available at Amazon and DrivethruRPG.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Jon recommends the Peter Grant series by Ben Aaronovitch.

Also mentioned in this Iteration:

Punxsutawney Phil
Eloy Lasanta / Third Eye Games
The Walking Dead
Polar Vortex / Sharknado
Kaiser's Gate / Savage Worlds / True20
SHIELD
Final Fantasy
Doctor Who
The Dresden Files / Hot Fuzz
The Met

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 13 - A FROZEN WASTELAND

Epoch Iteration 12 - We Demand Sanitation Ninjas

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 12:55:00 -0800

We are not dead! In this Iteration we go off on many a tangent about D&D, Doctor Who and conventions in addition to reading some listener feedback.

Image Courtesy of Imgur

LINKS:

Scaldcrow Games' Worlds of Pulp (DrivethruRPG, Kickstarter)

AetherCon

The Probably Questionable Podcast

Kent's Extra-Life team, Team Intelsat

Jim's appearances on RPGRoundtable (Episode 1: Audio, YouTube) (Episode 2: Audio, YouTube)

Jim's appearance on Happy Jack's RPG Podcast (Audio, YouTube)

In the Bloodstream: an Anthology of Dark Fantasy and Horror
(Jim's story in it is titled "Lady of the Manor")

RECOMMENDATIONS: Jon recommends the TV show Parks and Recreation. He also recommends Agent to the Stars and Redshirts, both by John Scalzi.

PROMO: Ideology of Madness - Ghosts of Reignsboro AP Podcast

Also Mentioned in this Iteration:

Wired Images
Dragon*Con
D&D 2nd, 3rd & 4th Edition / Epic Destiny
D&D Next / Against the Giants
Dresden Files RPG
MACE
Davey Beauchamp
Parsec Awards / Sylvester McCoy
The WEIRD Show
Doctor Who / The Day of the Doctor / The War Doctor
The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot
Final Fantasy
Creative Commons
Sin City
Fig Newtons
Principia Mathematica
Bacon Cat
Wil Wheaton
Douglas Adams
Old Man's War
Thanksgivukkah

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 12 - WE DEMAND SANITATION NINJAS

Episode 21 - Epilareus

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 15:57:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

Guest: Charles White of Fabled Environments

We create a fantasy city where the holy orders are involved in almost every level of society. The various factions of Epilareus are each guided by their religion, and it is up to the king to keep everything moving along and prevent the various orders from seizing too much power. All while seeing to the needs of the populace and protecting them from invasion.

Image courtesy of Imgur

Fabled Environments' products can be found on DrivethruRPG.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Poseidon
Pantheon / The Pantheon
Sandman / The Endless
Theocracy
George RR Martin / Faceless Men
The Fates
Forgotten Realms / Forgotten Realms Deities
Lankhmar
Mongols
Constitutional Monarchy / Parliament / Primogeniture
Constantine
Artificial Island
Colossus of Rhodes / Lighthouse of Alexandria
Commune / Collective
Ganesha
Necropolis
NCIS
Thanatology
Parliament / House of Lords / House of Commons
Plebeian Council
The People's Court
Illyria
Behind the Name / 20,000 Names
Rudolph Valentino
Ophiuchus
Monsignor
Eberron / The Sovereign Host / The Dark Six
Kris

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 21 - EPILAREUS

Epoch Iteration 11 - Find a Naked Singularity

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Thu, 1 Aug 2013 19:38:00 -0700

In this Iteration we talk about recent events, read listener feedback and go off on many a tangent.

Image Source: Northern Arizona University

You can find Jim's other podcast, Transmissions From the Ninth World, HERE.
You can find Kent's video podcast at the Distorted Order site, HERE.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Jon recommends the comic Fables and the book Anathem by Neal Stephenson. Jim recommends the book The Reckoning: the Murder of Christopher Marlowe by Charles Nicholl and the game Dungeon World.

Also Mentioned in this Iteration:

Steel-Toed Shoes
Mythbusters
ENNie Awards
Monte Cook / Numenera
GenCon
Dragon*Con
Pacific Rim
Ron Perlman / Sons of Anarchy
Guillermo del Toro / Hellboy
Charlie Hunnam
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey / Legolas
Matthew Wayne Selznick
WotC / Paizo
Gern Blanston / Steve Martin
Bill Willingham / Scourge of the Slave Lords / Vault of the Drow
Vertigo
Mentat
Christopher Marlowe
Ken & Robin Talk About Stuff / Kenneth Hite / Robin D. Laws
Castle Amber (X2)
FATE Core / FATE Accelerated / FATE Core Kickstarter
Naked Singularity / Andromeda

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 11 - FIND A NAKED SINGULARITY

Episode 20 - Sorcerer's Gambit

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 16:40:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

Guest: THE Jim Harris

In this episode, we create a Steampunk / Victorian Fantasy mashup setting. As the British Empire rolls out its engines of industry, the indigenous populations of its colonies call upon ancient magics to drive them out! Meanwhile, the Druids watch and wait and a sinister figure playing all sides against each other watches from the shadows...

Image courtesy of Imgur

Join Jim Harris' cult on Facebook!

RECOMMENDATIONS: Jon recommends The Mongoliad by Neal Stephenson.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Steampunk
Ornithopter
The Da Vinci Code
British Empire
Boxer Rebellion
The Royal Society
The League of S.T.E.A.M.
Ghostbusters
Druid
Oxford University
Bursar
National Geographic Society
Wicker Man
Glastonbury
The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
D&D Druid
Field Marshal Kitchener
Gaia
The Green Man
Cernunnos
Celtic Pantheon
Brigid
Arithmancy
Yog-Sothoth
Cthulhu
"The only winning move is not to play."
Boudica

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 20 - SORCERER'S GAMBIT

Epoch Iteration 10 - Walk the Fire

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Mon, 6 May 2013 18:45:00 -0700

Another quick Kickstarter-related Iteration this time. Upcoming guest David Sobkowiak talks about an ongoing Kickstarter campaign for Walk the Fire, a shared world sci-fi anthology series. Check it out HERE.

And stay tuned at the end for outtakes from Episode 19!

Mentioned in this Iteration:

David Sobkowiak
John Mierau
Twin Peaks
Texas Instruments
Brian Aldiss / Helliconia
Game of Thrones / World of A Song of Ice and Fire
The Hudsucker Proxy
The Man in the Moon
J.R.R. Tolkien / Middle Earth Languages
Goldilocks Zone
Slurpee

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 10 - WALK THE FIRE

Episode 19 - Ptemos

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:14:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

Guest: Matthew Wayne Selznick

Finally, a new episode with actual world-building in it! Though in this episode, we go about it a little differently. Our guest, creator Matthew Wayne Selznick, walks us through the process of building a truly habitable planet, as detailed in his book World-Building for Writers, Gamers and Other Creators, Volume One: Star, Planet, Moon. We develop the world, and from there we brainstorm up a sentient species with a primitive culture.

Image courtesy of Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

During the course of recording, we found a pretty cool site about language: Edenics.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Jon recommends SimEarth.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Brave Men Run / Brave Men Run Podcast Novel
7th Son / 7th Son Podcast Series
Anyman: The John Smith EP
Tee Morris
Vulcan
Io
Torus / Hypercube
Shelob
Semaphore
Pueblo
Gila Monument
Opluridae
Spore

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 19 - PTEMOS

Epoch Iteration 9 - Throw Yourself at the Ground and Miss

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 17:47:00 -0700

We discuss recent strange turns of events related to the podcast. We also go back and talk about some listener feedback we neglected to cover earlier. (This show was recorded in late February.)

The fateful promise Jim made in the Comments section of the FATE Core Kickstarter update can be found HERE.

Brennan Bishop's Storm Battalion Indiegogo Project is HERE.

Eden Royce's Dark Fantasy Voodoo Story "Rhythm" Appears in the February 2013 issue of the Siren's Call E-Zine - currently available for free download!

Kent's new podcast appears on the Distorted Order web site. His sponsorship page for Extra Life can be found HERE.

Volume I of Matthew Wayne Selznick's Worldbuilding for Writers, Gamers and Other Creators can currently be found HERE on Amazon.

RECOMMENDATION: Jon recommends the web comic Snow by Night.

Mentioned in this Iteration:

Dragon*Con
D&D Next Playtest
Gen Con
FATE Core
Third Eye Games / Eloy Lasanta
Eden Royce
Douglas Adams / Flying
Santa Claus: The Movie / NORAD Tracks Santa
Doctor Who
Kickstarter / Do: Pilgrims of the Flying Temple / Deadlands Noir
Game of Thrones
Reddit Worldbuilding Community
Matthew Wayne Selznick

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 9 - THROW YOURSELF AT THE GROUND AND MISS

Epoch Iteration 8 - The Internet Stares Long Into You

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:35:00 -0800

We ramble on about recent events, continue pondering the apocalypse and pine away after movies and kickstarters.

Mentioned in this Iteration:

Asteroid Meme
Maya / 2012 Apocalypse / Maya Calendar
Apocalypse List
Jeane Dixon
Apophis / Apophis
Clint Black
Dragon*Con
Friedrich Nietzsche
The Metaverse
Ready Player One
The Hobbit / The Hobbit
The Tolkien Professor
Sylvester McCoy
Hell Noir / Gregory Weir / Eden Royce
Hard Magic
D&D Next
Fate Core / The Dresden Files RPG
Atomic Robo
Matthew Wayne Selznick
JJ Abrams / Star Wars Sequel Trilogy / Star Trek

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 8 - THE INTERNET STARES LONG INTO YOU

Epoch Iteration 7 - Release the Christmas Bears!

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:00:00 -0800

We talk about current events, make announcements, discuss feedback and develop a strange fascination with spices and animal attacks.

The Worldbuilding Subreddit Jon mentions can be found HERE.

You can find the Transmissions from the Ninth World Podcast HERE.

Andante's link for the wiki entry on Dejima is HERE.

And Scott Roche's Indiegogo campaign for his upcoming anthology, The Way of the Gun, can be found HERE.

Mentioned in this Iteration:

Catfish Attack
Trident
Dolphins Leaving Earth
D&D
Christmas Town USA
The Dresden Files / Cold Days
Reddit
Transmissions from the Ninth World
Monte Cook / Numenera
House Greyjoy / A Song of Ice and Fire
Dejima
Ellis Island
Tachyon
Matthew Wayne Selznick
Scott Roche
Indiegogo
Mur Lafferty / Jared Axelrod
A Fistful of Dollars / Seven Samurai
Way of the Gun

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 7 - RELEASE THE CHRISTMAS BEARS!

Episode 18 - Accord

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:36:00 -0800

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

Guest: John "Scooter" Weaver

In this episode we create a burgeoning city full of humans making its way in the world on the edge of three nonhuman lands. In this fantasy world, the human kingdoms do all they can to get a leg-up on their competition, and political backstabbing is the norm. And all the while, the elves, dwarves and orcs watch them as they move closer and closer to danger.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Jim recommends Trader Tales: Quarter Share by Nathan Lowell. Jon recommends Giant in the Playground & Order of the Stick.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Dungeons & Dragons
Thieves' World
Fritz Leiber / Fafhrd & the Gray Mouser
Black Hills Gold Rush
Convicts in Australia
DUNE / The Spice
Balance of Terror
The Fisher King
Houses of the Blooded
Wicker Man
Britannia
Chivalry / Courtly Love
The Bishop!
Leviathan
Star Trek / Kirk Womanizing
Dark Sun
Chargé d'affaires
Hooverville
Dyson Sphere / Dyson Vacuum Cleaners
Lowe's
Stilgar / House Atreides / Muad'dib
Presidio / The Presidio
Solomon's Porch / Colonnade
Primate / Metropolitan / Magisterium
Caratacus
Lich
Magus
Nathan Lowell / Quarter Share
Giant in the Playground / Order of the Stick

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 18 - ACCORD

Epoch Iteration 6 - Help the Walking Eye

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 15:20:00 -0800

A quick iteration discussing the fire that happened recently at the home of two of the hosts of the Walking Eye Podcast.

Here is a link to the ChipIn fund that's been set up to help them out:

http://ortiz.chipin.com/kevin-weiser-and-jen-dixon

Give to it if you can! Please help spread the word!

Mentioned in this Iteration:

The Walking Eye Podcast
RPGPodcasts.com

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 6 - HELP THE WALKING EYE

Epoch Iteration 5 - Wondrous Feedback

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 09:47:00 -0700

We read listener feedback, freely toss around Avengers spoilers like they're Halloween candy, and acknowledge the wonders of video game exhaustion.

The plant growth time-lapse video discussed in the episode can be found HERE.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Jim recommends Achtung Cthulhu! - Zero Point Part 1 - Three Kings and the History of Rome podcast. Jon recommends Death Throes of the Republic, Wrath of the Khans, and The Immortal Iron Fist Vol 2: The Seven Capital Cities of Heaven.

Mentioned in this Iteration:

Skype
The Avengers
Agent Coulson
SHIELD Series
The Hunger Games
Tyler Perry
Extra Life
Pong
Space Invaders
Borderlands 2
Saints Row
SWTOR
Starcraft II
Children's Health Care of Atlanta Pediatric Hospital
MACE
Savage Worlds
Fiasco
Achtung! Cthulhu
Modiphius
Call of Cthulhu / Chaosium
Realms of Cthulhu / Reality Blurs
Trail of Cthulhu / Pelgrane Press
DrivethruRPG
King Arthur (Welsh Legend)
Roman Empire
Alexander the Great
Star Trek / Bread and Circuses
The History of Rome
Hardcore History
Genghis Khan
The Gutter Skypes
Monkeys Took My Jetpack
Young Frankenstein
"But I can't say Sylvester, George."
Abraham Lincoln (Assassination)
The Warriors
The Anabasis / Xenophon
The Immortal Iron Fist
Mortal Kombat
Galaga / "That man is playing Galaga!"
The Computer is Your Friend

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 5 - WONDROUS FEEDBACK

Epoch Iteration 4 - Dragon*Con Post-Mortem

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:54:00 -0700

We talk a little about show notes, read listener feedback and then talk for quite a while about what we did at Dragon*Con 2012!

In October, Kent will be participating in the charity Extra Life - check it out!

RECOMMENDATION: Jon recommends the web comic Clockworks.

My most surreal moment at Dragon*Con 2012.

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 4 - DRAGON*CON POST-MORTEM

Epoch Iteration 3 - Not Going to GenCon

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 16:57:00 -0700

We may not have made it to GenCon, but we *will* be at Dragon*Con! We touch a bit on that, recent feedback, upcoming episodes, World of Warcraft, The Dark Knight Rises and more!

UPDATE - HERE is the worksheet I (Jim) use to track information as an episode progresses. (Sorry about the delay in getting it up here - PDFCreator conked out on me and I didn't have a chance to redo it until after Dragon*Con.)

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 3 - NOT GOING TO GENCON

Episode 17 - GLADIUS Sanction

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 19:16:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

Guest: Jon Carmody

We present a world where everything is EPIC! A Michael Bay-ish world overflowing with testosterone. A world where even the smallest things are cranked up to 11! In this world, the biggest problems are handled by a team of experts who fight against the endless forces of a powerful arch-villain.

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 17 - GLADIUS SANCTION

Epoch Iteration 2 - The Michael Rohan Memorial Fund Charity Bundle

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:49:00 -0700

A quick announcement about a charity bundle that upcoming guest Charles White of Fabled Environments has helped put together. It's $12.00 for nearly $300 worth of gaming PDFs and it will only last until the end of July! Links are below - check it out!

The Michael Rohan Memorial Fund Charity Bundle at DrivethruRPG.com

Fabled Environments' Info Page on the Bundle

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 2 - THE MICHAEL ROHAN MEMORIAL FUND CHARITY BUNDLE

Epoch Iteration 1 - Recapturing Life Pieces

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Wed, 4 Jul 2012 09:21:00 -0700

Here's a new thing - a show-between-the-shows! Just some announcements, listener feedback and general banter to tide folks over until the next full setting-creation episode is released.

Recommendations: Jon recommends Brave and the Crankcast. Jim recommends Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 1 - RECAPTURING LIFE PIECES

Episode 16 - The Arcane Impurity

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:03:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

Guest: Matt Forbeck

Fantasy and sci-fi collide as a medieval world inhabited by magical creatures and practitioners of the arcane is beset by cyborg invaders from another world. Little do the defenders of the realm realize how much in common they have with their strange enemies.

Matt's Kickstarter (12 for `12) can be found here. Check it out while there's still time!

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 16 - The Arcane Impurity

Episode 15 - The Midgard Precedent

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 18:40:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

Guest: Edward Boudreaux

We construct a setting in which Viking-inspired space fleets must deal with an Earth government that no longer wants them. Now that first contact with an alien race has been made, the rules have changed. What will happen when the fleet's replacements arrive?

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 15 - The Midgard Precedent

Double Header

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 16:07:00 -0700

You may have noticed there hasn't been a new episode for a few weeks. Our schedules have been crazy lately and the editing process has slowed down a bit as a result.

But luckily, there are still more new shows on the horizon!

Tonight we'll release a new episode. Then, within the next few days, look for a second new episode!

In the mean time, check out our awesome new title banner, sent in by listener Joe!

Episode 14 - Perdition's Hold

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 12 May 2012 22:06:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

Guest: Clint Black of Pinnacle Entertainment Group

We create a penal colony that exists in a medieval world where magic is outlawed and demons manipulate the future of mankind.

On an unrelated note for the gamer listeners out there, the 2012 RPG Podcast Listener Survey is going on right now! Check it out here.

00 Tomfoolery
06 Door # 2
02 Intro
39 Savage Worlds / Pinnacle Entertainment Group
01 Necessary Evil
15 Deciding Basics
35 Megalopolis
43 Gormenghast / Gormenghast Series
52 Fritz Leiber
02 Determining Scale
18 D&D
37 Discussing Structure & Resources
10 Convicts in Australia
18 Discussing Geography
38 Discussing Magic, Demons & Logistics
18 Jabba the Hutt
19 Discussing Religion & Church Structure
28 Inquisition
59 Planes of Existence
51 Discussing City Districts
57 The Five Boroughs (NYC)
52 Discussing Rules of Magic
39 Discussing History
54 Discussing Groups
34 Hannibal Lecter
16 Naming Titles & Places
04 Promise / I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
35 Raistlin / Dragonlance / Jacques Chirac
51 Malfeasance
34 Proctor & Gamble
49 Tarot
35 Naming Groups
25 Aufero
42 Naming Characters
11 Hector / Hannibal
16 Umbra
55 Pelagic
49 Phyllis Diller
04 Boris Yeltsin
18 Naming Geographic Items & Institutions
15 Naming the Setting
39 Devil's Island
07 DOOM / Perdition's Gate
29 Conclusion & Outro

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 14 - PERDITION'S HOLD

Episode 13 - Kiklos

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Thu, 3 May 2012 21:09:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

Guests: Tuna & Nick the Savage Greek

In this episode we create an artificial world where the inhabitants fight each other for resources on the inside of an enormous sphere as part of an ages-long experiment.

Recommendations: Jim recommends Dark City. Jon recommends John Carter.

Wiki entry to follow!

00 Tomfoolery
23 Jim's Icon
39 Intro
29 Come Play With Us
19 Savage Worlds / Fiasco / Call of Cthulhu / Shadowrun
42 Pathfinder / Slipstream
02 A Song of Ice and Fire / A Dance with Dragons / Game of Thrones
23 Daniel Suarez / Demon / Freedom TM / The Hunger Games Series
45 Altered Carbon / Takeshi Kovacs
10 Robert E. Howard / Conan the Barbarian / Solomon Kane
17 Listener Feedback
54 Game Geeks / Game Geeks YouTube Channel
08 Deadlands
34 Savage Worlds Deluxe

14 Savage Worlds Test Drive v 6
30 AMBER Diceless RPG / Roger Zelazny / Chronicles of Amber
48 Neptune's Reich
51 Determining Basics
33 Dyson Sphere
55 Deciding Genre
37 Discussing Physical World Aspects
54 Discussing Issues for Native Life
42 Discussing Geographic Features
56 Circumference of the Earth
25 Supercontinent
10 Discussing Technological Levels
46 Industrial Revolution
45 Coca-Cola / The Gods Must Be Crazy / Coca-Cola Bottle Scene
59 Discussing Outside Influences
29 PETA / Greenpeace
12 Star Trek / "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky"
23 The Truman Show / Dark City
32 Discussing Complications
38 Discussing Species
46 Voldemort
22 Trinity
42 Heavy Metal 2000 / Zeek
16 Oompa-Loompas
27 Triceratops
08 Hubwards
40 Hive Mind
18 Dirigible / Zeppelin
47 Inca / Aztec
31 Salamander
38 Lizardfolk / The Lizard
04 Discussing History
40 Krakatoa
31 Discussing Locations
48 Discussing Political Structures
03 Naming Species, Groups & Locations
10 Pinnacle Entertainment Group
55 Pleistocene / Tarantian
50 Quad Core
30 Pokemon / Charizard
46 Isthmus
13 Recommendations
37 Kiefer Sutherland
43 John Carter / Barsoom Series
57 Conclusion & Outro
28 BONUS CONTENT: A Tale of Ice-Smashery 

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 13 - KIKLOS

Upcoming Delay

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:39:00 -0700

Just wanted to let everyone know the release scheduled for this weekend will be a bit late as I've got a wedding to attend. But no need to panic! I'll be returning home early next week, and I'll post episode 13 as soon as I've had time to finish editing it. -- Jim

Episode 12 - Acondus Spiral

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 23:03:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

Guest: Darin Kennedy

We slap together a setting in deep space, in which a struggling federation of worlds attempts to push back threats from all sides.

Recommendation: Jon recommends Dan Carlin's Hardcore History

Wiki entry to follow!

00 Tomfoolery

01 Star Wars / The Force / George Lucas

08 Mitochondria / Midi-chlorians / Dragonball Z

39 Pigs in Space / Sharks with Lasers

57 Intro

12 Listener Comments

01 Deciding Basics

30 Discussing Species

34 The Micronauts

00 THEM! / Square Cube Law

38 Emergence / Hive Mind

48 Mercury

31 Contact

25 Dune / Spacing Guild

08 Clarke's Laws

47 The War of the Worlds / Martians

33 Superman / Vulcan / Dwarves

53 DC Comics / Apokolips

58 Marvel Comics / Guardians of the Galaxy / Charlie-27

51 Red Lobster

24 Relativity

33 Red Alert

36 Discussing Relations & Motives

48 Xenophobia

21 Discussing Societal Structures

55 The Borg

23 Discussing History

58 "That's no moon..."

42 Discussing Ships

46 Termite Mound

33 Krull

40 D&D / Formians

25 Warp Drive

31 Discussing Space Creatures

55 Mako Shark

17 Discussing Locations

31 Discussing Council Organization

30 Naming Species & Locations

21 Hymenoptera

32 Mandelbrot / Bratwurst

57 Manifold / Manifold

09 Gaussian Curvature

46 Shiva

53 Magic: the Gathering / Shivan Dragon

40 Naming Groups & Titles

43 Occupy Movement

06 Naming the Setting

36 "So let it be written, so let it be done..."

44 Recommendations

54 Dan Carlin's Hardcore History

32 darinkennedy.com / Apple

49 Conclusion & Outro

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 12 - ACONDUS SPIRAL

Episode 11 - Hell Noir

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 13:51:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Gregory

Guest: Eden Royce

In this episode we create a vision of a hell in which daemons try to live better lives, but are plagued by crime and corruption. And of course the occasional kidnapping by humans from another world.

00:00 Tomfoolery
00:12 Megalopolis
00:21 Mr. Snuffleupagus
00:37 Barghest / Darth Vader / Black Dog / Geist
00:52 The Hound of the Baskervilles / Baskerville
01:06 Intro
02:47 Listener Feedback
03:10 Happy Jack's RPG Podcast
03:37 Creative Commons
04:12 Determining Basics
04:38 Atlas / Atlas Shrugged
05:04 Demon / Devil / Hell
06:11 Hellevator
08:27 Fedora
08:57 Film Noir / Hardboiled Fiction
09:14 Faustian Bargain
09:37 "This is my boomstick!"
10:53 Drug Fiend
11:58 Drug Mule
12:09 Mephistopheles
13:37 Art Deco / Succubus / Femme Fatale
14:03 Determining Physical Properties
14:13 Dark City
14:59 Superman / Kryptonians
15:55 Discussing Social Aspects
16:16 No One Can Eat Just One
17:07 Discussing Supernatural Rules
18:47 Discussing Inhabitants & Society
20:43 Discussing Powers
22:29 Prohibition / Speakeasy / Eliot Ness
23:34 Devil in a Blue Dress
24:24 Imp / Incubus
25:10 Discussing Wild Life
25:38 Terrarium
25:56 Arthropod / Arachnid / Crustacean
26:35 Discussing Environment
27:24 Futurama / New New York
27:51 Zeppelin / Steampunk
29:15 Industrial Revolution
29:43 Sulfur Dioxide / Acid Rain
32:14 Discussing History
32:50 Elder Things
33:23 Yog-Sothoth / Elder Gods / Great Old Ones
37:12 Egalitarianism
38:58 Discussing Religion
39:33 Lovecraftian / Hastur
40:13 Humanism / The King in Yellow
40:30 Gothic Architecture
41:41 Gaslighting
42:14 Drinking the Kool Aid / Heaven's Gate
42:20 Discussing Crime
43:09 Discussing Souls
44:31 Scarab
45:05 Discussing Government & Organizations
45:43 Fidel Castro
47:01 Byakhee
48:03 Arkham / Mikatonic University
49:03 Wall Street
49:17 Coney Island / Renaissance Faire
50:20 Naming Beings, Titles & Organizations
50:33 Daemon
52:20 Body Politic / Constabulary / Constable
53:27 Clot
54:02 Humours / Bile
55:25 Naming Places
55:59 Furlong
56:25 Naming Deities
57:28 Naming More Groups & Movements
58:17 Walker, Texas Ranger
59:37 Naming More Places
61:08 Naming the City
62:04 Naming the Setting
63:23 www.EdenRoyce.com
63:39 LudusNovus.net
63:45 Conclusion & Outro

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 11 - Hell Noir

Episode 10 - The Ashes of Albion

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 23:17:00 -0700

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

Guest: Eric

On this episode, we create an Earth of the near future scarred by a mystical, fiery apocalypse. From the ashes of this world rise heroes of the Arthurian legends and Egyptian mythology to battle an undead horde.

Wiki entry to follow!

00 Tomfoolery

03 Wikipedia / Philosophical Zombie

36 Intro

04 Determining Basics

15 Dresden Files RPG

42 King Arthur / Cthulhu / Rpg.net

30 Arthurian Legend / Avalon

53 Lovecraftian

17 Grendel / Beowulf

49 British Empire

04 Knights of the Round Table

14 Victorian Era

33 Reincarnation

49 Merlin

40 Knight Rider / KITT

47 The Mummy / The Scorpion King

22 Sarcophagus / British Museum

37 Morgan le Fay

40 Egyptian Empire / Red Sea

10 Horus / Evil Foreigner

22 Getting the Band Back Together

48 Solar Flare

22 Arthurian Dragons / Pendragon

20 Reign of Fire

00 Discussing Major Players

12 Aton (Aten) / Ra

42 Amenhotep IV / Akhenaten

04 Great Hymn to the Aten

49 Hitler

12 Nefertiti

55 Black Sea / Aegean Sea / Transylvania

16 Strait of Gibraltar / English Channel

38 The Chunnel

53 Excalibur / Lady of the Lake

28 Highlander / Illuminati

12 Sir Percival

48 Osiris / Set

59 Pharoah

08 Monotheism / Isis / Avatar

16 Sons of Horus / Canopic Jars

40 Do You Wanna Date My Avatar / You Can Call Me Al / Paul Simon

39 Ptah

20 Discussing Groups & Strength of Forces

43 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight / The Black Knight

19 The Fisher King

18 Greymalkin

48 Bast

08 Indiana Jones

20 Alexandria / Library of Alexandria

48 Tefnut / The Nile

15 Imuit Fetish

43 Anubis

41 Lich / Phylactery

31 Shadow People

17 Keku

30 Discussing Monsters & Devestation

04 Terra Incognita / Here Be Dragons

16 Vikings / North Sea

07 Mad Max

12 Kraken

27 Istanbul / Constantinople / Istanbul (Not Constantinople) / They Might Be Giants

00 Constantine

17 Richard Wagner / Parsifal

44 Discussing Magic Level

09 J.R.R. Tolkien / Middle-Earth Magic

02 Discussing Seats of Power

14 Glastonbury Tor  / Salisbury / Stonehenge

19 Carpathia

31 Naming Places

51 Britannia / Albion

36 Naming Groups

34 Paladin

00 Bard

24 Naming Events

36 Big Brother

05 The Colosseum

19 Ritalin

08 Naming the Setting

44 Conclusion & Outro

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 10 - THE ASHES OF ALBION

Episode 9 - Outlandia

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Thu, 8 Mar 2012 16:01:00 -0800

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

Guest: Chris

We build a galactic spiral arm in which magic and technology co-exist and humans and other strange species band together to defend against a threat that seeks dominion over all. WARNING: This setting combines Science Fiction and Fantasy. If that's not your cup of tea, you may want to skip this one to avoid having to crawl into a corner and rock yourself back and forth to comfort yourself against the sacrilege. In the mean time, we'll be having fun riding our magical space ships. ;)

Recommendation: Jon recommends Community.

Wiki entry to follow!

00:00 Tomfoolery
00:15 NyQuil
00:28 Alderaan
00:39 Intro
01:14 D&D
01:45 AD&D 2nd Edition
01:52 Dark Sun / White Wolf
03:32 Determining Basics
04:59 Spelljammer / Windjammer
05:38 Exo-Space (E-Space)
07:11 Isaac Asimov / Clarke's Three Laws
07:40 Spiral Arm
07:50 Determining Star Systems & Species
12:35 Red Giant
16:49 Will-o-the-Wisp
17:31 White Dwarf
18:58 Stargate
21:04 Discussing Means of Interstellar Travel
22:31 Astral Plane / Hyperdrive / FTL Drive
25:08 Introducing Humans to the Setting
25:44 Charlton Heston / Planet of the Apes
27:12 Enterprise
29:05 Interstellar Conflict
31:45 Ship Design
33:45 Technomancer / Artificer
35:00 Determining Timeline of Events
36:12 Determining Locations
37:16 Deadwood
38:34 Revisiting Culture & Technology
40:16 Explorers
41:47 Adjusting the Timeline
42:34 Discussing Weapons
43:19 Greek Fire
43:38 Revisiting Locations & Borders
45:03 The Empire Strikes Back / Exogorth
45:47 Klingons
47:02 Sargasso Sea
47:29 Naming Things
48:34 Dross
49:13 Oni
50:00 Dwimmer / Dweomer
50:22 Jingoism
50:54 Falafel
51:10 The Gray
52:05 Xhosa
54:22 Ekam
54:56 Nyakyusa / Three Stooges / Bantu
56:22 Puma / Aztecs
56:45 Asterisk / Asterix / Babylon 5
57:20 Naming the Setting
57:26 Pigs in Space
57:46 Outlandia
58:45 Recommendation / Community
58:54 Conclusion & Outro

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 9 - OUTLANDIA

Slight Delay

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sun, 4 Mar 2012 20:28:00 -0800

Hey, folks. Just wanted to let you know the next episode of Crucible of Realms is on its way. I got a bit behind in editing because I've had a lot going on, but with any luck it should be up and available within the next couple of days. So be sure to check back!

-- Jim

Episode 8 - The Realms of Bennu

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 19:58:00 -0800

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

Guest: Mike of Sick & Twisted Productions

We delve into a fantasy world in which the living and the dead are tied to each other in an unending cycle of birth, life, death, afterlife and reincarnation. In the Realms of Bennu, what comes after death is just as important as what happens beforehand!

Recommendation: Jon recommends A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

Wiki entry to follow!

00:00 Tomfoolery
00:24 Imperial March
01:05 Intro
02:53 Sick & Twisted Productions
03:09 GenCon
03:22 White Wolf / Vampire: the Masquerade / Changeling: the Dreaming
03:44 Listener Feedback
04:03 Universalis
06:42 Tyranids / Warhammer 40,000 / Galactus / Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer
07:30 D&D
08:16 Gaia Hypothesis
09:00 Deciding Basics
10:25 Necromancy
11:50 Resurrection (D&D)
12:24 Ghost Rock (Deadlands)
15:02 Discussing Rules for Magic
16:39 Deciding Races & Monsters
18:09 Deciding Civilizations
18:56 Maori
19:08 Incas / Aztecs
20:44 Gypsy / Romani
21:31 Vikings / Roman Empire
22:29 Deciding Cosmology & Afterlife Details
24:04 Edvard Munch / The Scream
24:24 Princess Mononoke
27:22 "I see dead people."
28:38 Graveyard / Respawn
32:08 Discussing Afterlife Civilizations
34:03 Dalai Lama
39:09 Valhalla
42:33 Discussing Important Locations
43:22 Necropolis
43:42 Discussing History
45:36 Revisiting Monsters / Manticore
46:04 Chimera
46:58 Naming Civilizations
47:39 Koken
48:29 Chu Nom
48:42 Han Empire
48:51 Quoc Ngu
50:02 Supay / Uku Pacha
50:38 Scrabble
51:07 Wheel of Fortune / Volga
51:47 Vendel
52:17 Sara
54:22 Dresden Files / Ectomancer
55:29 Merlin / The Mists of Avalon
55:40 Naming the Afterlife
57:08 Naming the Setting
57:28 Chaldea / Sabians
57:53 Phoenix / Phoenix / Bennu
58:36 Ursula K. Le Guin / A Wizard of Earthsea / Earthsea Trilogy
59:26 Conclusion & Outro

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 8 - THE REALMS OF BENNU

Episode 7 - Neptune's Reich

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 4 Feb 2012 12:55:00 -0800

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

Guest: Reece Ambrose

We take an alternate look at World War II, imagining a world in which the Nazis found a mystical artifact that would lead them to conquer Europe and change the face of global politics forever.

Wiki entry to follow!

00 Tomfoolery

36 Intro

15 Nazis

00 Determining Basics

07 World War II

27 Deciding Era & Society

27 American Civil War

59 Atomic Bomb

25 Pearl Harbor

00 Determining Rules & History

12 Rome / Carthage / Rome vs Carthage

18 Hiroshima / Nagasaki

55 Hermetic Magic

46 Vulcan / Neptune

06 Hermes Trismegistus / Hermes / Thoth

22 Alchemy / Astrology / Theurgy

38 Thule Society

18 Axis / Allies / Axis vs Allies

24 Afrika Korps / Virgil

36 Stormtrooper

52 Mars

07 Fifth Column

16 Sodom & Gomorrah

32 Poseidon / The Kraken / Hermann Göring

08 Hadrian's Wall

26 Winston Churchill

09 Picts

55 Navajo / Code Talkers

42 Determining Locations / Machu Picchu

54 Navajo Cliff Dwellings / Area 51

10 Trinity / Alomogordo

56 Heinrich Schliemann / Troy

28 Gibraltar / Pillars of Hercules

56 Victoria Falls / Niagara Falls / Zambezi

27 Mount Fuji / Ulan Bator / Genghis Khan

53 Gobi Desert / Mount Everest / Taroko Gorge

15 Dreamtime

31 Fighting Monks

52 Determining Factions

21 Albert Einstein

05 Pineapple Grenade

14 Imperial Japan / Communism

34 Chinese Gunpowder

03 Panacea / Elixir Vitae

31 KGB

15 Cheka / Vladimir Lenin / NKGB

33 Political Directorate (OGPU) / Joseph Stalin

20 Rwandan Genocide

54 Vodoun (Voodoo)

24 Grigori Rasputin / Bolshevik

50 Naming Groups

02 Manhattan Project

13 Dynasty

57 Naming the Setting

27 3rd Reich

27 Conclusion & Outro

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 7 - NEPTUNE'S REICH

Episode 6 - Utopia Horizon

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:21:00 -0800

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

Guest: Gregory Weir of Ludus Novus

We travel out into the depths of space to create a science fiction setting in which humanity has transcended physical needs. Factions within this utopian society wish to bring the joy of this state of being to others - whether they want it or not.

Wiki entry to follow!

00:00 Warning
00:38 Tomfoolery
01:06 Introduction
02:10 Ludus Novus
02:25 Listener Feedback
02:39 Happy Jack's RPG Podcast
03:26 Deciding Genre & Concepts
03:38 Space / The Final Frontier
04:00 Star Trek / Star Wars
04:58 Deciding Era & Tech Level
07:01 Singularity
09:05 Deciding Scale & Location
09:53 Luddites
14:03 Detailing Civilizations
15:11 The MCP
16:32 The Borg
21:14 Warp Drive
24:23 Dyson Sphere
26:18 Frankenstein / Cyborg
27:31 Green Women
29:23 Red Queen / Alice
29:58 William Shatner
31:38 Babylon 5 / Minbari
34:40 Freemarket
36:00 The Computer Is Your Friend
36:57 Facebook
43:04 Developing Group Structures
43:27 Mass Driver
43:50 Vogons
45:33 James Bond / M / Q
45:55 John le Carre
47:33 Farscape / Moya
48:42 "This Concludes Our Broadcast Day..."
50:28 Babylon 5 (Station)
51:20 Spawning
52:57 Orson Welles / Unicron
53:18 Naming Civilizations
55:11 Naming Entities & Locations
57:02 Vulcan / Haphaestus / John Milton
57:49 Return-to-zero
58:52 Naming the Setting
59:31 Conclusion & Outro

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 6 - UTOPIA HORIZON

Episode 5 - The Civil Engagement

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 7 Jan 2012 11:12:00 -0800

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

We tackle the Superhero, Steampunk and Historical Fiction genres all at once by leaping into a world in which the Civil War is being fought not only with armies, but with strange technology and stranger heroes. Find it in the wiki here.

Recommendations: Jon recommends World War Z by Max Brooks. Jim recommends Matthew Wayne Selznick's World Building series.

00:00 Tomfoolery
00:22 Mr. Rogers / HAL 9000
00:55 Introduction
01:32 Recommendations / World War Z
03:10 Matthew Wayne Selznick
04:07 Deciding Genre
04:38 DC / Marvel
05:09 The New Gods
05:16 Green Lantern / Superman / The Flash
05:24 Thor / The Incredible Hulk / The Silver Surfer / X-Men
06:10 Deciding Superhero Power Level & Geographic Scale
07:15 Gambit (Remy LeBeau) / Rogue
07:33 The Civil War
08:34 Hat with Gears
09:27 Confederate Ironclads / Submarines
10:34 Washington, D.C. / Richmond, VA
11:20 Creating Characters
12:44 Kentucky Fried Chicken / Colonel Sanders
13:27 Snow Crash
13:45 Captain America / Golden Age of Comics
14:13 Professor X
15:23 Dime Novel
15:46 Battle Hymn of the Republic
17:16 Batman
17:42 D&D / Cavalier / The Cavalier
18:25 Colt Dragoon
18:55 Sergeant Major
20:08 Benjamin Franklin
20:19 Q / Futurama
21:28 Fu Manchu
22:20 Abraham Lincoln / Pinkerton Detective Agency
22:41 Allan Pinkerton / Secret Service
23:22 Locations
23:52 Georgetown, SC
24:09 Tuskegee Airmen
24:28 Deadlands
31:13 S.H.I.E.L.D.
32:28 Tuskegee, AL
34:09 Percy Jackson / Ares
34:54 Poseidon
35:16 Leonidas / Menelaus
35:46 Odysseus
36:08 Ulysses S. Grant
36:20 Captain Nemo
38:44 Geomancy
39:58 Acadians
42:11 Joan of Arc
43:30 Catching Up on Names
45:05 Gone With the Wind / Scarlett O'Hara / Vivien Leigh
46:15 Geomancers
46:44 Butte
47:32 Ursa Major
49:18 Highlander
50:18 Conclusion & Outro

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Episode 4 - The Scablands

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 22:57:00 -0800

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

It is the middle of the 1800's and out in the Oregon Territory, as the British and American invaders continue to defile the lands of the Nez Perce and argue heatedly over which side will claim the area, dark forces from a demonic realm also seek to take the land in fulfillment of their own twisted Manifest Destiny. WARNING: This episode contains Googling. Lots and lots of Googling. Find it in the wiki here.

00 Tomfoolery

21 Introduction

00 Deciding a Genre

04 Cowboys & Aliens

20 Weird Western

28 Deadlands

51 The Proposition

39 Quigley Down Under

00 Deciding a Scale

10 Washington State

19 Rain Shadow Effect

59 Lewis & Clark

15 Colville Reservation

35 Eastern Washington Wiki Page

25 Palouse Hills

05 Lake Missoula / The Channeled Scablands

00 Noah's Ark

38 Oregon Territory

03 Niagara Falls / Missoula Floods

40 Salishan / Sahaptin / Shoshone

21 54-40 or Fight! / Captain George Vancouver

42 Vancouver, Canada

52 Chinese Explorers

41 Deciding the Time Period

10 Oregon Boundary Dispute

21 Manifest Destiny

36 James K. Polk

55 Walla Walla

18 Ft. Colville

25 Ft. Okanogan / Ft. Nez Perces

58 Snake River / Columbia River / Willamette Valley

22 Astoria

13 Northwest Company

22 Kennewick

38 Pasco

47 Nez Perce

07 Oregon Treaty

12 Hudson's Bay Company

30 Origin of the Nez Perce

36 Weyekin

04 Creating Groups

33 Spiritualism

54 Blackwater

28 British Military

18 Chief Looking Glass

28 Provisional Government of Oregon

54 The Heart of the Monster

29 Nez Perce National Historic Park

42 Heart of the Beast: a Novel

44 Thomas Simpson / Sir George Simpson

14 Ophidian

07 Dr. John McLoughlin

29 Hell Gate

06 James Sinclair

31 Champoeg

25 Religious Conflict in the Setting

20 Naming the Setting

49 Oregon Trail / The Oregon Trail

22 The Great Flood of 1862

22 Conclusion & Outro

39 "And there was much rejoicing." / Monty Python

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 4 - THE SCABLANDS

Episode 3 - Aurelia

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:27:00 -0800

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

In this episode we create the world of Aurelia, a distant ice planet. There, a mysterious and distant race of religious penitents carry out their holy obligation in repayment of their horrific crime. Find it in the wiki here.

Recommendation: Jon recommends "In Blackest Night," a story by Alan Moore from Tales of the Green Lantern Corp Annual Vol 1 # 3 (1987)

00:00 Tomfoolery / "Think of a number." / Pi
00:20 Introduction
01:28 Battlestar Galactica / Star Wars
01:56 Writing Prompt / Random Word Generator
02:33 Babylon 5
02:45 Setting the Scale
03:22 "Wrong!"
03:32 Theocracy
04:00 Star Trek
04:12 Alderaan
04:25 Inhabitants
04:33 Kaminoans (not Geonosians - sorry, our mistake!)
04:56 AI / Supermecha
05:33 UrSkeks / The Dark Crystal
06:10 Terraforming
12:18 Planetary Conditions / Geography
16:45 History
17:19 Utopia
20:24 Thri-Kreen
21:42 Geode
27:42 More Inhabitant Details
29:27 Younglings
29:50 George Lucas
31:31 Sects
36:53 Flagellant / Zealotry
41:00 Population Size (aka Fixing Our Math)
43:41 Vatican
54:44 Monsters
54:56 Roper
55:52 Bulette/Landshark
57:00 Naming
60:00 The Silence / Omega
61:31 Opus / Staff / Clef / Canon
62:04 Coda
62:40 Aureus / Staphylococcus Aureus
63:13 Aurelia
63:50 Recommendation / Green Lantern / Alan Moore / Rot Lop Fan / "In Blackest Night"

65:30 Conclusion & Outro

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 3 - AURELIA

Episode 2 - The EarthTech Trials

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 15:19:00 -0800

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

The focus of this episode is a dystopian future setting called the EarthTech Trials. Want a world with corporations controlling everything, cybernetics running rampant and popularity of web presence deciding government policy? This is it. Find it in the wiki here!

00:00 Tomfoolery
01:13 Introduction
02:00 World Concept
02:16 The Running Man
03:23 The Hunger Games
04:12 Orwellian
04:40 Deciding the Era
06:55 Dystopia / Media Influence
07:12 Max Headroom
07:37 Rupert Murdoch
07:57 McDonnell Douglas / McDonald's
08:13 Taco Bell
08:30 World War Corporation / War on the Web
08:56 Google / Facebook
09:30 Baidu
10:31 William Shatner's TekWar
11:16 Nike / Squad Combat / Paintball
11:39 How Things Changed
11:55 One World Government
13:40 Factions
14:06 Marshal Josip Broz Tito
16:27 Alien Threat Conspiracy
19:00 Setting the Level of Devastation
19:28 Earthborne Devastation
19:37 The Day After Tomorrow
20:29 48th Parallel
21:00 World Dome
22:52 Brain-Computer Interface
22:57 Transhumanism
23:50 Beyond the Fringe / "Civil War"
24:50 Faction Locations
26:51 Allegiance by Online Votes / Foursquare / +1
27:09 Technology
27:42 Naming Factions
28:32 Intel
30:19 Prime Numbers
31:22 Star Trek Aesthetic
32:18 The Games
32:23 The Olympics
34:59 The World Cup
35:37 Do You Like Movies About Gladiators?
36:18 Mechs
36:45 Apple
38:18 Nikola Tesla
38:30 Light Teleportation / Fiber Optics / Quantum Entanglement
39:32 Solar Mirrors
41:41 Corporate Structure
42:26 Virtual Baronies
45:22 Cult of Personality
45:29 Steve Jobs
46:15 Virgin Galactic
49:22 Naming Media Outlets
49:50 The Prime Directive
50:13 Madison Avenue
50:26 Important Locations
51:45 Ouroboros
52:22 The Phoenix
52:44 Fenghuang
55:30 Uluru
55:52 Casablanca
56:13 Tombstone, AZ
56:36 Deadlands
58:29 Conclusion & Outro

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 2 - THE EARTHTECH TRIALS

Episode 1 - Aegis

podcast@crucibleofrealms.com (Jim Ryan) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:49:00 -0800

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent

In this first episode we create Aegis, a fantasy world dominated by the element of Air. Find it in the wiki here!

00:00 Introduction
00:41 World Concept
02:13 Google Documents
02:33 Google Christ
03:00 Air Theme
03:28 Bespin
03:44 George Lucas
03:55 Holo-Cube
04:30 World Rules & Geography
08:00 Elementals
09:00 Balance of the Elements
10:13 Winged People
11:33 Hawk People / Flash Gordon
11:44 Brian Blessed / Prince Vultan
12:05 Harpy
12:30 Lizard People
12:54 Airborne Jellyfish
12:55 Arthur C. Clarke / A Meeting with Medusa
13:09 The Beatles
13:25 Beholder
13:55 Bodies of Water
14:50 Poles, Temperature, Day & Night
16:17 Huge Water Spout
16:58 Up is Bad, Down is Good
21:00 The Thing at the Center
21:43 Government / Parliaments of Birdfolk / Sultanates of Lizardfolk
23:53 History, Magic & Technology
27:45 The Opener
28:29 D&D / Elemental Plane of Air / Demiplane
30:50 Present Day Conflict
32:17 Clothing, Population and Biology
37:00 Naming Things
37:44 Ouroboros
38:13 Thesaurus.com
38:38 Red Dwarf / "Ouroboros"
40:02 Komodo Dragon
41:54 Wikipedia / Medusozoa / Scyphozoa
45:49 Aegis Shield
46:24 Conclusion & Outro

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 1 - AEGIS