Out of Character

OOC 222: You're Nothing But a Pack of Cards

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:07:19 -0400

You need two action chips and a Queen of Hearts to kill the orc.

This week, the crew take their adventurers and investigators into the land of meeples and cardboard. Do board game elements improve or hinder role-playing games? We approach the topic from several angles--the power of tactile learning tools, the power to control outcomes, and the effects on suspension of disbelief.

We'll be going on a brief hiatus after this episode. We'll be back in a couple weeks to wrap up season two with our very first live episode of Out of Character! Join us, along with game designer John Wick, on our Livestream channel on August 21st at 7PM Pacific. See you there!

OOC 221: We're Not In College Anymore

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:59:46 -0400

Sometimes, the real world refuses to step aside for your make-believe one. Gerri's babysitter cancelled and she can't make the game. Jonathan's new job has an erratic schedule, and he can't guarantee his weekends will always be free. Erin's on the run from the cops again. And next week you won't have time to prep the adventure.

What can you do to accommodate scheduling issues? The Crew offer their solutions--from whole campaigns designed around irregular schedules to patches for your existing game.

Whatever you do, though, make sure to clear your schedule for our live episode on August 21! Join us on our Livestream channel at 7PM Pacific. We'll be fielding your questions live on the air, along with special guest John Wick. Don't miss it!

OOC 220: Someone To Look Up To

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:44:50 -0400

Ever since the audio days, the Crew's tried to smooth the way for new players. One of Don's favorite suggestions is to have an experienced player mentor the new recruit, in addition to the GM. This week, we delve into this concept: How can you be a good mentor?

In addition, we're thrilled to announce the upcoming live episode of Out of Character! Join us on Livestream on August 21, 2012, where we'll answer your gaming questions live on the air! We'll also be joined by game designer John Wick!

OOC 219: Off the Rails - The Martian Stand-Off

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 13:15:26 -0400

Viewer Brendan's players seem to have stumbled into a tricky situation, and he's come to the Pulp Gamer Crew for help!

[My players] have taken captive a man in control of a horde of aliens who have been devastating a ship. The aliens are way too powerful to fight as a group but because the man needs to be brought in alive...The only thing stopping the aliens from tearing the group apart is that the group can take the leader out with one shot before his aliens would attack.

We're at a stand off, the villain has no motive to keep them alive if they released them and doesn't want to be taken to the authorities and so will not let them take him off the ship without a fight.

We put our best GMs to the task this week, and also consult a certain figure of the industry who might have some advice of his own...

Has your game gone off the rails? Tell us about it! We might just feature your quandary in a future episode.

OOC 218: Background Check, Part III

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:52:02 -0400

We loved the topic so much, we had to come back to it: How do you make a good character background?

We love colorful character histories, but sometimes they get so involved that they interfere with the actual game. One character can't pursue the plotline, because they're too preoccupied with rescuing their sister. Another refuses to be hooked because the macguffin isn't something he'd go after. And a third is too busy angsting and "being a lone wolf" to do much of anything with anyone! How do you create an interesting background that supports the GM's plot, instead of hobbling it?

Would you like to be on the show? We're looking for guests to bring fresh topics and fresh insights to the show. If you can provide your own travel expenses, we can provide you with a chair, a camera, and a Jason to argue with. Contact us today!

OOC 217: Stump the Chumps - Far From Home

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:57:48 -0400

Can you Stump the Chumps? Last week, Scott rose to listener Chad's linguistic challenge. This week, Chad sets his sights on our resident geography nerd, Don.

Given a hard-edged space exploration scenario, what are some interesting ways that the first stages human development might change or put pressure on a pristine environment? Does environmental geography identify stages that might help in crafting a timeline? Anything surprising or counter-intuitive?

And while we're on the subject of alien colonies, we explore a few other challenges your players might face as space colonists--including a distant chain of command and dealing with native species or native sentients.

We want to hear your questions! Leave them in the comments below, or on Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube, and we'll do our best to answer them in a future episode!

OOC 216: Stump the Chumps - Creole Cookin'

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 16:14:53 -0400

You've clamored for its return. Can you Stump the Chumps?

An old favorite from the audio days, we put our various fields of expertise on the line to answer your gaming questions. And if we can't answer it, we'll find someone who can!

Listener Chad takes the first swing: Hey, Language Guy (Scott)! You gave a good answer previously about how to invent a whole new language. What about guidelines for creating a patois or pidgin? How might English syntax change in an isolated or uneducated community? And separately, got any good rules of thumb for inventing a few words of credible slang for a sci-fi (or any) setting to add color.

We want to hear your questions! Leave them in the comments below, or on Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube, and we'll do our best to answer them in a future episode!

OOC 215: The Foot in the Door

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:02:04 -0400

You've found an amazing new game, with innovative mechanics, a rich setting, a thrilling concept, something that grabs you by the shirt and demands you try it out. Great! The only problem is, your group's been playing the same dungeon crawler since the dawn of time. Why can't we just play that?

This week, the Jason and the Crew share their tips for getting your group excited to try something new. Whether through old familiar hooks or the promise of shiny new toys, we'll help you finally start that expedition into uncharted gaming territory.

OOC 214: Ladies, Gentlemen, and Otherwise

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:34:00 -0400

Dave shows up to the table with the new elf fighter he just rolled. Her name is Sandra. She says hi.

Playing across gender has been a controversial topic in the gaming community for most of its history, and comes with all manner of connotations and cultural baggage. Why are cross-gender characters an issue? How do you portray one in a realistic and respectful manner? What are the inherent dangers and pitfalls? Why is a cross-gender PC different from a GM playing a cross-gendered NPC, and is online roleplay somehow different? This week, the Crew tries to sort through these tangled questions.

OOC 213: Tailoring to Fit

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:14:31 -0400

Sometimes, you don't have the time to pull the machinery of a universe out of your own head. Conveniently, they have adventures waiting on the book shelf at your friendly local game store, ready for consumption with minimal preparation. And straight out of the box, they're also as flavorless as a cup of ramen, full of plot decisions you wouldn't have made and character decisions your players will never make. This week, the Crew shows you how to rebuild a published scenario and make it something more than generic box text and a few encounters.

We also give a shout-out to the Canon Puncture podcast this week. Check them out!

OOC 212: Success and Failure

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:08:14 -0400

What makes a roleplaying game a success, both on your table and in the greater games market? And what keeps other games from greatness? The Pulp Gamer Crew tackles this elementary question.

We also welcome back Jonathan Strootman, better known as orc storyteller Grok Bloodface. Check out his work with us at Tales of an Orc, or find Grok on Facebook and Twitter.

OOC 211: Casual Players - Threat or Menace?

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:32:35 -0400

You know that player. The one who sits in at the far end of the table, plays around on their phone, and occasionally throws the (sometimes wrong) dice when prompted. They never remember the rules, they aren't involved in any subplots, and they just bob along after the rest of the party. But when you ask them why they aren't engaged with the game, they respond, "Are you kidding? I'm having a blast!"

As casual gaming become more and more a part of our culture, many GMs face the challenge of creating a game that can appease both their casual and hardcore players. This week, Jason and the crew discuss their own experiences with casuals and the solutions they've found.

We'd also like to welcome Jonathan Strootman to the crew! Jonathan is the man behind Grok Bloodface's intimidating scowl. Go check out his work at the Tales of an Orc kickstarter page!

OOC 210: Chaotic Neutral Blues

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:01:34 -0400

It was cute the first time she slew the princess and saved the dragon. You all laughed when he decided to kiss the villain right on the face. But the antics are getting out of hand, you haven't seen the plot in a month, and you'd really like to work for a king once in a while without Captain Fruitloops attempting an impromptu assassination or showing up to the banquet naked.

How do you manage "the crazy character" in your group? How can they become problematic? How can you channel their shenanigans into a net positive? And at what point do you have to issue an ultimatum?

We'd like to thank Stephanie Pegg of Flying Monkeys for this week's question. Be sure to check out their game, Super Sparkle Action Princess GX!

OOC 209: Background Check, Part II

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:33:48 -0400

We switch up a few seats and finish our discussion on character backgrounds. This week: How much physical description is a good idea, or is it necessary at all? How do you build personal goals for your characters, and how do you keep them aligned with the main plotline? What do you do with NPCs related to the player characters? And more!

OOC 208: Background Check, Part I

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:49:30 -0400

A character begins with a simple question. Not "What did you roll for Dex?" or "How many points did you put in Interpretive Dance?" Rather, "Who are you? Where have you been? What did you see?" How do you craft a background that is engaging and full of plot hooks without creating a boring brick of useless and unnecessary details? We couldn't squeeze all our thoughts into one episode (or all the crew members behind the desk), so we're making this one a two-part series!

We also give a shout-out to John Wick's Wicked Fantasy project for Pathfinder. Check it out!

OOC 207: You Have Chosen...Wisely

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:08:17 -0400

You've just wrapped your last campaign, or maybe you've gathered your friends for the first time, and it's time to decide on a new game. How do you choose your next game? Do you just go along with the GM? Do you democratically elect the next one? Does the choice rotate within the group? The crew explores all of these options, and how they've worked out.

Also, we discuss the release of The Play's the Thing, the new Shakespearean RPG from Magpie Games.

OOC 206: Whodunnit?

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:19:46 -0400

This week, we inflate Jason's ego a bit more by conflating him with Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Three of Pulp Gamer's GMs weigh in--how do you run a murder mystery? How do pace the adventure? How do you handle clues? How do you keep your players from getting completely lost or figuring out the culprit in the first ten minutes?

Plus! We're gearing up for a new batch of Stump the Chump, and we need your questions! Ask us anything from any field of expertise, and we'll find someone who can stumble their way into an answer. (Please note however, these episodes are recorded in large batches a month in advance. So if we don't get to your question right away, don't think we haven't heard it! We're just waiting for a chance to slip it in.)

OOC 205: The Definition of "Gamer"

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:06:11 -0400

The definition of the term "gamer" is a hotly-debated topic in the gaming community. Who is a gamer? Who isn't? Why does it matter so much to so many of us? The crew tries to weight in on the matter...and in the process, the term itself comes under attack!

OOC 204: Prep Time

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:51:58 -0400

Whether you're running a boxed adventure, a tightly-plotted personal epic, or an off-the-cuff sandbox game, every gaming veteran knows the value of adventure preparation. This week, the GMs on the crew share and compare their own prep techniques.

OOC 203: Unexpected, Disagreeable Outcomes

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:37:00 -0400

This week, a quote from Vincent Baker of Lumpley Games sparks the crew--to paraphrase, "A roleplaying system exists to create unexpected, disagreeable outcomes." Is this a valid assessment?

OOC 202: Kill It Before It Dies

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 02:00:00 -0400

We've all suffered the slow death of a campaign at some point or another. This week, the crew tries to identify when a campaign is better put to rest, and how to end it gracefully.

Also, we give a shoutout to the brand new Marvel Heroic Roleplaying.

OOC 201: The Good Game Day

Jason Corley & The Pulp Gamer Crew — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:23:00 -0500

What makes a successful "Game Day" event? The Pulp Gamer Crew discuss their experiences running Notacon for the Creative Play Project.

We also namedrop our new sister show, Pulp Gamer Prime, as well as our Facebook page.

PGOC 200: Season 1 Finale

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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!

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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!

Jason Corley & 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?

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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

Jason Corley & 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!