Roleplay Rescue

This one's a treasure-trove of lovely call-ins mixed with the usual snippets from the DM's Diary. As ever, it's unashamedly personal, raw, and poorly edited. Massive thanks to the callers - Spencer, Colin, Lieren, Jason, and Andy! It's a good-un!Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueBlog: roleplayrescue.comMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s episode is about my sudden return to the Fifth Edition of Dungeons & Dragons and the profound impact this has had on me over the past week and a half. I also want to take the time to share a whole bunch of great call-ins that I’ve received, most of which are in praise of episode 518 in which Andy Goodman and I shared a deep conversation about the Fear and Freedom of Improvisation. I'm not entirely sure if this makes a whole bunch of sense but there you go. Game on!Thanks to Spikepit, Evil Jeff, Jason C, Lieren, Menion, and FreeThrall for the call-ins!Roleplay Rescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueBlog: roleplayrescue.comMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week is an unusually energetic blast through my thoughts on narrative, description, what happened at the school club, D&D5e, what's going on in my Traveller gaming, and how Dolmenwood is going. As usual, it's a raw and largely unedited collection of random thoughts collected through the week and assembled into a rough diary. Take from it what you will - but it's pretty candid and personal, you have been warned!Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueBlog: roleplayrescue.comMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I’ve been thinking an awful lot about what it means to be a Referee - or Game Master, Dungeon Master, Storyteller, whatever - running your own game. With our theme of getting back to the table firmly in mind, I sat down to jot out a list of the key Referee Tools that I would seek to bring to the table for almost any game I run. I am not necessarily good at remembering to assemble these items, but I do strongly feel like they help me to run a positive session for my friends - both face-to-face and online. I thought it might be interesting to share those notes with you and invite anyone with additional things they use to call in to let me know.Big thanks to Andy Goodman and Barry Dewey-Robertson for their barrage of great call-ins! Keep 'em coming, folks!Rescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueBlog: roleplayrescue.comMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week was half-term for me and I was off work with my wife. We spent a fair bit of time zipping out to nice places and in-between I got to do some travelling myself. Alone. Fabulous call-ins included. Many thanks to Andy Goodman, Goblin's Henchman, Rob C, and Menion for taking the time to shoot me a message. Game on!Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueBlog: roleplayrescue.comMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following on from recent thoughts on questions surrounding the role of story and narrative in tabletop roleplaying games, I hopped online to chat with fellow Anchor podcaster, Andy Goodman from Expedition to The Grizzley Peaks. We had a fairly unstructured natter about the role of emergent play, improvisation, and prepared narrative structure in gaming. It was a very illuminating conversation.Thanks to the call-in callers: Jason, Mr Henchman, and Rui - you are amazing and I am, as ever, deeply grateful for your thoughts.Especial thanks to Frank T for editing this interview and saving me  the embarrassment of not having an episode this week. Thank you!Andy Goodman's podcast: anchor.fm/andy-goodman8Frank T's Patreon: patreon.com/FrankTRescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueBlog: roleplayrescue.comMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This was the week I ran my first-ever game of Old-School Essentials in Dolmenwood. Call-ins from Jason, ShandyAndy, and Menion kick us off and then we dive through the past week's DM's Diary entries. It all culminates in the outcomes from Dolmenwood and a new project for Traveller entering my consciousness. Remember: this is the DM's Diary so it's raw, uncut, and meandering. Enter at your own risk! Game on!Old-School Essentials: necroticgnome.com/collections/old-school-essentialsLearning How To Play Traveller blog post: roleplayrescue.com/2020/02/16/learning-how-to-play-travellerDear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueBlog: roleplayrescue.comMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catching up on my DM's Diary, this episode brings you through to about the turn of the month in February 2020. Lovely call-ins from Goblin's Henchman, John Alan Large, Josh Beckelhimer, and Menion aka Rob. Thanks to all of them! Remember: this is the DM's Diary so it's raw, uncut, and meandering. Enter at your own risk! Game on! Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJD Contact Details: Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/message Email: [email protected] Patreon: patreon.com/rpgrescue Blog: roleplayrescue.com MeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if roleplaying games aren’t about storytelling? What if we stop thinking about our games as collaborative attempts to create coherent narratives? What if, after all, we consider that RPGs are - at their roots - actually just games? I’ve been thinking a lot about the assumptions that we tend to have about roleplaying games. There is one particular oft-repeated phrase that has long niggled at me and which, if I am honest, I am not entirely sure is true. Or, at least, I don’t think it HAS to be true. I think it might be true only if we want it to be. You’ve heard it said, I am sure: “Roleplaying games are a form of collaborative storytelling.” Thanks to all the callers in this episode: George, Rob, Rui, and Josh. This feedback and sharing of thoughts is what makes Roleplay Rescue and Anchor podcasts generally compelling. Thank you!Rescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueBlog: roleplayrescue.comMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This has been a tough week with a lot going on. I've been essentially bed-bound for several days, but I have had a lot of time to read and think in the hours during which I wasn't asleep. There is a kind of wondrous freedom in that, despite the fact that I can skant remember a time when I have been more ill. Well, that seems to be coming to an end. I am grateful for my immune system and the wisdom of my doctor. This episode focuses on just a handful of the wonderful call-ins made because I also wanted to share the somewhat rambling initial impressions I have formed around Old-School Essentials as a game. Thanks to Jason Connerley, John Alan Large, and Conrad Kinch for their generous words and comments. Two of those are first-time callers and, as ever, I deeply appreciate the time taken to make the calls. Thank you all.Remember: this is the DM's Diary so it's raw, uncut, and meandering. Enter at your own risk! Game on!Old-School Essentials: necroticgnome.com/collections/old-school-essentialsDear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueBlog: roleplayrescue.comMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a very special and yet highly experimental episode: Josh Beckelhimer, from JB Publishing, emailed in an extended audio response to Dungeon Master's Diary #22. At the end of that episode, I had asked for help in relation to Sword & Wizardry as a game system and Josh responded. It's a heartfelt and, frankly, amazing testimony to the S&W game system and its designer, Matt Finch. I felt I had to share it because it sits at the heart of what Roleplay Rescue stands for. Thanks to Josh... and many thanks to Arlen Walker, Frank Turfler Jnr, Jason Connerley, Ray Otus, Rui Lourenco, and ShandyAndy for the ton of call-ins in this episode because, without you guys, there really wouldn't have been a show this weekend. Game on!JB Publishing podcast: anchor.fm/jbpublishingJB Publishing blog: fantasticalbeckelhimer.blogspot.comSwords & Wizardry Complete (the .PDF is free): froggodgames.com/product/swords-wizardry-complete-rulebookSwords & Wizardry Boxed Set Kickstarter: kickstarter.com/projects/froggodgames/swords-and-wizardry-limited-and-collectors-edition-box-setsRescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueBlog: roleplayrescue.comMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything has changed inside about 40 hours or so. Hear my reaction to Gavin Norman's invitation to playtest the Dolmenwood Player's Guide, how this has catalysed a whole host of insights and emotions, and what I have decided to do. This is either one of the biggest breakthroughs in my gaming or the most rash decision from the World's Flakiest Dungeon Master. Time will tell. Be warned - this is very raw, very emotional, and very much off the cuff. Thanks also to the wondrous Barney (Loco Ludus), Jason (Nerd's RPG Variety Cast), and Joe (Hindsightless) for the call-ins. Game on!Old-School Essentials: necroticgnome.com/collections/old-school-essentialsDolmenwood: necroticgnome.com/collections/dolmenwoodDear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueBlog: roleplayrescue.comMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week has been foul: the UK exited the European Union, I went down with a nasty bout of a flu-like illness, and I had a lot of time to think. Is it time to finally transcend my current hobby expectations and try Swords & Wizardry? You tell me. Game on!Thanks to Frank T and Andy G for the call-ins!Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueBlog: roleplayrescue.comMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This one's a rather fabulous chat I had with fellow Anchorite podcaster, Dave Aldridge about the issues around using RPGs in education. He's a lecturer at a prestigious British university and I'm a classroom teacher in a mainstream UK high school. It seems Dave has some misgivings about using RPGs in the educational setting which led me to engage him in a deeper conversation about those issues. It's a deep, philosophical, and ever-so-slightly technical chat and I sincerely hope we managed to maintain an accessible level of educational jargon. I hope you find it useful.Thanks must go to the fantastic call-ins from Cory, Rui, and Andy G that lead the show - skip to about 10 minutes in if you want to avoid those.Especial thanks to Frank T for editing this interview and saving me the embarrassment of not having an episode this week. Thank you!Frank T's Patreon: patreon.com/FrankTRescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This was the week in which I prepped for the Traveller "High and Dry" scenario, talked to the school club kids about one-shots, figured out how I would run a science-fiction Open Table, and found out that the Satanic Panic is back. It's an emotional roller-coaster made all the better by call-ins from ShandyAndy, Jason Connerley, and Colin Spikepit. Enter at your own risk! Game on.Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three major call-ins from three top Rescuers allow me to talk you through three very neat ideas. What's a Game Structure and why should you care? Can you run a module on the fly? How can we find non-5e gamers in an age of D&D5e? All worthy questions tackled off-the-cuff and (hopefully) with good humour. It must be another episode of Roleplay Rescue. Game on!The Alexandrian on Game Structures: thealexandrian.net/wordpress/15126/roleplaying-games/game-structuresMany thanks to Andy Goodman, Joe Richter, and Rui Lourenco for their call-ins... and also to ShandyAndy for his. Enjoy!Rescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another collection of top-notch call-ins followed by my rough and ready DM's Diary entries. Thanks to all of the callers! As ever, you guys make my show better. This one has had one entry removed due to time and you can find it over on my Patreon very soon. I hope you find something useful and thanks for taking the time to listen to my ramblings. Game on!Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catching up on a host of great call-ins makes this episode slightly longer than I usually prefer... but it's good stuff from the community and definitely overdue. Following the first 15 mins or so of call-ins, I dive into a discussion around the question of whether it's better to be a Roleplayer or a Rollplayer. I've being hearing this dichotomy talked about in several places lately, so I decided to chip in my two-penneth on the question. I hope you find it useful... or, at the very least, interesting. Rescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Squeezing in as many of the fantastic call-in that I can within my self-imposed 25-35 minute episode length, there are still more to come. Thanks to everyone who called in and sorry that my responses are a little brief. This episode I go back to work, get snubbed by teenagers, delve into Star Trek Adventures, and we find out what lay beyond The Iron Door in Thaarl. Game on!Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brilliant interview with Necrotic Gnome's Gavin Norman, the creator of the Old School Essentials RPG! This one has some announcements about projects coming through 2020 and there's a major scoop about the "big project" of the year. If you want to skip to the "what's next" question, you'll find that at about 34:33. Massive thanks to Gavin for giving me an hour and sharing the latest in the world of OSE. Game on!Necrotic Gnome: necroticgnome.comRescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catching up on the New Year diary entries, this one is short and (hopefully) sweet. A collection of musings over the period from 1st-3rd January. This also resets the DM's Diary back to running from Saturday to Saturday so that we can have but one episode per week again. Hope you enjoy!Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This was not an easy episode to put together. Key diary entries running up to and including New Year's Eve are prefaced with responses to DM's Diary #16. I've tried to be honest and respond to people's comments / questions with openness. That said, I fear that what I say will be (once again) misunderstood. But , hey, publish and be damned, eh?Game on!Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just had a weird moment typing "2020" into the date field for the episode tags. Are we really here? This one's a cool conversation with the artist behind my recent Artefact Cards and several successful Kickstarter campaigns. Many RPG creators will appreciate his work and it was an honour to catch up with him in his studio just before the New Year. The sound is sometimes patchy but what James has to say is golden. Game on! Jeshields' Patreon: patreon.com/jeshields Rescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This one's unashamedly personal and open. I have begun to come to terms with a sense of being wrong about the roleplaying hobby and decided to tackle that sense of wrongness with some experimentation. This is probably one of those "important moments" which, in actual fact, was probably facilitated by my awareness of you guys out there listening. Without you guys, I doubt I would have grasped this one and begun to move through it. Just be warned: this one's pretty rambling. Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJD Contact Details: Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/message Email: [email protected] Patreon: patreon.com/rpgrescue MeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last one for 2019, folks. This is another one of my rough and raw collections of random gamer musings. You should listen with caution and understand that the Diary is very personal, something not for the faint hearted. In this episode, there's a lovely call-in from Jason and then me bumbling about in the run-up to Christmas Eve. Game on!Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I want to begin an ongoing discussion about getting started with tabletop roleplaying games by talking about some things you definitely should NOT do - even though I and most other GMs almost always seem to do them - if you want to get a good game going. Because I am a teacher - someone who knows that the human brain tends to ignore negative instructions - I am going to turn those negative statements around and state them as positives - things to do. I hope you’ll bear with me and consider my points fairly. Game on!Rescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Merry Christmas to everyone! As we close in on the Western celebration of the Nativity, I wanted to say thanks to everyone who has supported and listened to the show in 2019 - thank you! On top, you can hear Frank T's call-in about Monster Manuals. Then we dive into my exploration of Pathfinder 2e, a lot of musing about why I buy and read RPGs, and finishing with a Traveller proposal. As ever, it's a collection of my weekly audio diary entries - be warned: this is raw and rough. Game on!Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gribsnak grabs the mic. An email about GM Accreditation from Luderati. Call-in from Evil Jeff. Reports from Thaarl. Unboxing some boxes. Oh, and running down a side-track. As ever, this is raw and unedited journalling from my personal RPG hobby. Listen with caution!Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A bunch of call-ins which inspired me, a long reading from one of my favourite RPG gaming books, and a dollop of my random musings makes this episodes a wild mash-up of ideas... and I am desperately hoping it hangs together. This one's unscripted, not very well thought-through, and unapologetically all I've got this week. Hope you find something useful in here. Game on!The Angry GM's book: theangrygm.com/gameangryRescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three very welcome call-ins from the community to lead us into the diary of the week past. This was the week in which work got VERY intense, the UK had a General Election, and I almost lost my mind. Salvation came in the form of a Saturday night online game in the Dungeons of Thaarl. Once again, it's me warbling on - rough, largely unedited, and very candid. Listen at your peril!Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Shorts is responsible for this one: he laid down a challenge to the Anchorites to revisit an episode from December 2018 and allow it to inspire a retrospective... so, here's mine. I've gone back and listened to Ep103, "On Rediscovery & Roots" from Season 1. This episode revisits the recipe for an Open Table game that I talked about last year, updates you on the journey I've been on throughout the year, and ends with a pledge to re-open my gaming tables once again. Along the way, there's call-ins from fellow podcasters seeded in to add some further thought-provocation. Here's hoping you enjoy the show! Game on!Old School Essentials (OSE): necroticgnome.comOSE Freebie Basic Edition (free): drivethrurpg.com/product/272802/OldSchool-Essentials-Basic-RulesRescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another collection of diary entries and call-ins from the week past. Opening with a big question on trust, we delve into the raw and unedited ramblings from my past week. Plenty to reflect on for me but do remember: this is a pretty raw and rough ramble. Game on!Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All the talk across several Anchor podcasts about Fighting Fantasy got me thinking this week. I've been messing around with the idea of playing one or two of those game books and it occurred to me that this was a great way back the table for anyone who's having trouble making a start. Featuring call-ins from Jason Connerley and ShandyAndy, both offering some great general tips on coming back to gaming, this one's largely about taking a delve into what Fighting Fantasy game books might offer when you're away from a regular group. Hope you find it useful.Do you want to know more? Check out fightingfantasy.comRescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Continuing on from DM's Diary #9, I share thoughts on Reich 5 inspired by a popular TV series, get excited about Fighting Fantasy for the first time in about 25 years, and reveal a "Special Project" that got teased in DMD#9. Game on!Dear Diary Theme Song and all incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDdPercentile Podcast: anchor.fm/dave-aldridgeContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another collection of gaming thoughts from my mind rampage into the ether... but not before Tim and Josh lay some cool NPC tips at my feet. A call in from Jason reminds me why my Naked GURPS project is cool, and I drop a spoiler for players in my Dungeons of Thaarl campaign. Oh, and this episode ran out of time so there's another coming tomorrow. Game on!Dear Diary Theme Song and all incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDJB Publishing Podcast: anchor.fm/jbpublishingContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I want to revisit a few thoughts on how to make a start in coming back to the roleplaying game table. I also wanted to do something that I believe is a first for Roleplay Rescue - to build an episode almost entirely around the call-ins that I have received following last Saturday’s very popular episode 505, "Never Go Back?" It seems fitting that we periodically revisit the core questions that come up anytime I am talking to a lapsed gamer about coming back to the gaming table. This time, instead of my somewhat limited viewpoint, I am delighted to be able to share some thoughts from a cool array of podcasters and listeners, all of whom have been generous enough to pick up their phones and make a call. I reckon many of these comments work quite well for newbies to the entire roleplaying game shebang too, so you get a fair bit of bang for your buck.Rescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDCrooked Staff Publishing 2.5D .PDFs: drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/3785/Crooked-Staff-Publishing/subcategory/6576_29751/Print--PasteCrooked Staff Terrain: youtube.com/channel/UC1cnHiqtsuMk9NwJNj8SmpAContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode features about 20 minutes of Friday Night's session in which Andy, Dave, and myself sat down to play a one-off Dungeons of Thaarl game using my cobbled together quick start "Naked GURPS" approach for beginning a dungeon fantasy type game. It's raw and unedited. There's loads of background noises. But, overall, I hope that it gives anyone curious about the stuff I talked about in DM's Diary #8 an insight into that session and approach. Hope it's of value! Game on!Music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Had a couple of really good call-ins this week in response to DM Diary #7 - thank you, sincerely, to those callers! Given that these calls and the replies plus entries over the past two days were enough to (over)fill another episode, I felt it was best to release this one quickly. There's a nice cameo from my wife, Mrs W, in which she shares her commentary on collecting RPGs. Hope you enjoy!Dear Diary Theme Song and all incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDKeep Off The Borderlands: anchor.fm/free-thralldPercentile: anchor.fm/dave-aldridgeSquarehex Pre-Printed 2.5D Dungeon Tiles: squarehex.myshopify.com/collections/accessories/products/2-5d-dungeon-starter-kitCrooked Staff Publishing 2.5D .PDFs: drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/3785/Crooked-Staff-Publishing/subcategory/6576_29751/Print--PasteContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do people give up their hobbies? Should you ever go back? Is trying to recapture the past simply a big mistake? This episode is having a think about the phenomenon of giving up hobbies and the value of reclaiming them years later. As I think I’ve said before, my biggest bugbear is seeing people give up playing tabletop roleplaying games and never quite returning to the table. Is there anything we can do to help? Rescue Theme Song and all incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDD&D Basic (free): dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules?x=dnd/basicrulesExcerpts included are from episodes 104 (Gavin Norman), 205 (Mike Mason), and 306 (Janet Forbes). Contact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mid-way through the week and I've already racked-up a whole 25 minutes or so of DM's Diary content. I thought I'd better kick it out and share it before tomorrow's work day eats my energy and the weekend looms. As ever, this is my unedited audio diary and the quality varies wildly... not to mention, it's unashamedly personal - you have been warned! Oh, and there's a rather weird tale about my Old School Essentials Black Box too.Dear Diary Theme Song and all incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Forced myself to edit together this week's episode. Not feeling good after a very rough work week and missing this last weekend's online game. :-(Dear Diary Theme Song and all incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Connerley is the voice behind the Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast podcast and a regular caller to several Anchorite shows, including this one. Jason started gaming around 1983 with the "Dungeon!" board game by David Megarry. His first RPGs were the Mentzer Red Box D&D Basic set and the original TSR Marvel Super Heroes RPG. Hailing from Virginia, USA, he’s a family man and, judging from the background noise during his call-ins, the owner of some awesome dogs who are almost as famous as he is. He’s one of the most self-effacing voices in the pod-o-sphere and I am delighted to be able to have a chat with him today.Rescue Theme Song and all incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDNerd's RPG Variety Cast: anchor.fm/jason376The Angry GM, Eight Kinds of Fun: theangrygm.com/gaming-for-fun-part-1-eight-kinds-of-funMDA Game Theory: cs.northwestern.edu/~hunicke/MDA.pdfContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Remember: Dungeon Master's Diary is my unashamedly personal and raw recorded audio diary entries mashed up to create a rough outline of  what's going on in my gaming head. Listen at your peril! That said, there's some GREAT call-ins in this one... especially the one from Goblin's Henchman! Game on!Dear Diary Theme Song and all incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Remember when Frank T called in and suggested we work on our own version of GURPS Ultralite? This is the audio conversation - back and forth - that we had a few weeks back and which led to a whole raft of further writing, thinking, and chatting. Not sure it's of interest to everyone, so I'm sticking it out as a bonus episode. Enjoy!Rescue Theme Song and all incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDFrank T's Liner Notes: anchor.fm/frankt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Diving head first into an experimental approach which seeks to open up discussion around some pretty big questions that relate to our tabletop roleplaying game passion. Today’s question was chosen simply by way of piloting the format. We are hoping that listeners will call in and suggest new and better questions for our panel to answer. What’s that, I hear you ask, a panel? Yes, today I want to begin what we hope will become a once per month episode featuring three different voices answering the same big question. The panel consists of Frank Turfler from Frank T.’s Liner Notes, Paris Conte - formerly of the Wild Die Podcast, and myself. Game on!Rescue Theme Song and all incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDParis’ Interview on Gaming With Gage: sgadpod.com/gamingwithgage/2019/9/2/paris-conteFrank T's Liner Notes: anchor.fm/franktThe Angry GM, Eight Kinds of Fun: theangrygm.com/gaming-for-fun-part-1-eight-kinds-of-funContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Twitter: @ubiquitousrat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My week has been all over the place and this DM's Diary is a little shorter than usual. Hear my initial thoughts on the second session of the Friday Night Game plus a lengthy fessing-up on my beliefs and feelings around magic. I also (rather cheekily) include a recording from a visit to the Royal Armouries in Leeds in which we hear the final confrontation between Dracula and Van Helsing... sort of. As ever, this is my personal Dungeon Mastering Diary and roughly recorded, badly edited, and very raw. You have been warned!Many thanks to Mike and Rich from the Royal Armouries at Leeds: royalarmouries.orgDear Diary Theme Song and all incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First of a couple of interviews I've managed to record over the past week or so, this one with Doug Cole of Gaming Ballistic is on the topic of why GURPS is a game worth looking at and what the Dungeon Fantasy RPG offers the curious onlooker. Doug creates licensed products for both the DFRPG and The Fantasy Trip, giving us an excellent insight into the world of gaming with 3d6 that is hard to get from the outside. Many thanks to Doug for coming back for a second chat! Oh, and big thanks to Spencer (aka Free Thrall) for the rather... interesting call-in that leads the episode.Rescue Theme Song and all incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDDouglas Cole's Gaming Ballistic: gamingballistic.comSteve Jackson Games' GURPS: sjgames.com/gurpsDungeon Fantasy RPG: sjgames.com/dungeonfantasyContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been a busy week - first week of half-term for me, away from work - and I've been dropping diary entries daily. Some nice call-ins from some good people in here too. Thanks to Frank T, Jason, and ShandyAndy for the messages! Enjoy!Dear Diary Theme Song and all incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bit of a weird one but inspired by Simon Sinek's latest book, "The Infinite Game" (which is totally NOT about gaming), I was feeling inspired. Actually, a call-in from Paul Stoneman nudged this along and I couldn't suppress the topic any longer. Sometimes the thoughts bubble up from my unconscious and scream to be heard. Hope you find it useful.Rescue Theme Song and all incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDSimon Sinek's stuff: simonsinek.comThe Secrets of Blackmoor documentary: secretsofblackmoor.comJon Peterson's "Playing At The World" on Amazon: amazon.co.uk/Playing-World-Simulating-Adventures-Role-Playing/dp/0615642047Contact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two episodes on one week? Yes! The Dungeon Master's Diary returns with a fabulous call-in from Frank T, news on some online gaming, and my initial reaction to listening back to the Friday night session. I've also got a couple of questions for Patrons in there. Oh, and we open with something special from TJ Drennan - could it get any better? (Probably.)Dear Diary Theme Song and all incidental music by TJ Drennan: patreon.com/TJDContact Details:Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/messageEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/rpgrescueMeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue")Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.