RPPR Actual Play

When I was in China, I met up with some RPPR listeners and ran a game of Call of Cthulhu for them. I was fascinated by the rise of Ghost Cities in China, so I decided to run a one shot set in one. Three investigators hired by a western hedge fund head out to Inner Mongolia to assess a newly built city, which is oddly called July Park, as a potential investment opportunity. The investigators find more than they could have imagined but will they survive long enough to understand what they have seen? Please note that this episode was recorded on my phone instead of the usual recorder, so the quality isn't quite as good. I had a blast running the game so I think you guys will still enjoy it.

The saga of Ovid the wizard (and company) continues! After escaping the depths, the band of heroes travel across deadly wilderness in order to outrun the invading army. Their goal is a nearby city they intend to warn of the impending horde, but even if they manage to get there, can they get inside? What other threats lurk in the alleys of the city? Find out what ventures the heroes undertake in this action packed episode!

The Fiendish Four have secured their turf from rival villains, but a new threat may doom Brighter Futures Academy. A horde of zombies marches on the school! Who is behind the shambling undead and what can the defenders of Brighter Futures do to find and stop them, all while protecting the students and faculty? The villains have learned how to cause mayhem and inflict massive collateral damage, but sometimes that isn't the right answer, even when it comes to zombies.

In the distant future, Mars is the home of transhumanity, while earth is a ruined wasteland. Most of the population are corporate wage slaves and are only placated by vapid entertainment produced by hypercorp-contracted celebrities. These musicians, actors, and athletes live under a system not unlike the Hollywood studio system of old. They have money, influence, and an adoring entourage of lackeys but they have little control over their own lives. Gossip bloggers and studio executives manipulate the stars like puppets. Paparazzi and obsessive fans stalk them night and day. However, a ticket on Dr. Felonious Nova's Ark Ship out of the solar system has opened up. When you're a nearly immortal but incredibly jaded and burned out executive or celebrity, a way out of the rat race and into annals of history as a hero is worth more than anything. The ticket will be given to someone at Dr. Nova's party. Yes, this is a Dirty World game set in the Eclipse Phase universe. All hail RPG schizophrenia!

In a distant world where all land is the skeleton of a giant or manta ray, a group of bold adventurers are out looking for trouble. It doesn't take long for them to find it. An invasion from the Manta Ray island pits our heroes against monstrous spiders and other threats. In order to delay the invasion, the heroes undertake a risky mission into the depths of the underground. Will their heroism be enough to save the day? Find out in our first session of Dungeon World!

After saving the school through highly illegal, reckless, and utterly amoral methods, the Fiendish Four want to take it easy for a bit, but new threats emerge! It seems that they aren't the only new superhumans at Brighter Futures and unlike the Four, these interlopers are using their powers directly on the students. Territorial disputes seem inevitable, but how mature will the Fiendish Four be when it comes to resolving conflicts with their colleagues?

News: The Hedge Wizard is now available for sale. Get your copy today! In this episode, the ragtag band of base raiders are given a mission from the Underground to find Peter Silvertail, who is suspected of double murder. The raiders quickly realize there's more to the case than finding a magical rabbit lawyer on the lam. Secret bases, a kidnapped unicorn, and a corrupt federal agent are only the start of their problems. Can they unravel this tangled web or will the blade in the dark catch up to them?

Aaron is back in the GM chair as he takes the RPPR crew through the dark tunnels under New York City! A community of homeless citizens have banded together in an abandoned section of the NYC subway system. They are protected by a mysterious cult of silver-masked acolytes who claim the dead for their own, but otherwise ensure that the homeless remain safe. But when an unnatural danger attacks the community and threatens everyone, several members of the community rise up to put a stop to it. They have little but their own lives to risk, but they won't stop them from finding out what lurks in the dark heart of the city.

The Fiendish Four plan and execute their first major heist! Robbing banks is so lame and not as profitable as ransoming landmark buildings, like a certain major brewery located in their home city. Even though the villains claim to be evil, they don't want to cause too damage. After all, the ransoming is just to raise enough money to save the school. But when you get amateur civilians imbued with demonic superpowers, each egged on by literal inner demons, the situation becomes slightly more...chaotic than planned. Find out how badly their first major act of villainy fares in this must-listen episode!

News: New Base Raiders PDF supplement released. Get Agent Grayson today! In a continuation of the plot from Bayou Beatdown, the group of heroic Base Raiders who rescued Elizabeth have a new opportunity. In order to create a new body for their ghost friend, Lonnie, the base raiders must help the scientist Iconoclast find the location of a base before the FBI does. Only a small time dealer of super soldier drugs knows where the base is and he does not want to share it with others. Furthermore, the FBI is investigating the dealer and it's only a matter of time before they try to arrest him. Before the dealer escapes via teleportation, the raiders need to locate the base. Of course, finding the base is only half the fun!

So this is a game that exists. That I bought at Gencon last year. And decided to run. And the other players agreed to play. This is now a thing. They play cats, who fight the Cthulhu mythos, because reasons. So I chose the scenario seed that involved LOLcat memes because I am a horrible monster. Anyway, enjoy an indie RPG about feline comedy/horror investigation!

The orbital retcannon has struck! Four new superhumans are all that stands between Brighter Futures Academy and bankruptcy. A teacher, librarian, assistant principal, and parent volunteer make for strange supervillains, but they have embraced their new roles. There's no manual for super crime, so the Fiendish Four need help. And money. Find out how this unlikely quartet of villains adapts in the first episode of the campaign reboot.

At last, the secrets of the Long Vault will be revealed. Sheng is now trapped in his hideout on the Plateau of Leng. The Ronin must travel to the heart of the Vault and trap the sorcerer within it. Of course, this is easier said than done. What hidden fortress is without its defenses? And even if the Ronin succeed, will their victory even matter? The cosmic forces at work in this conflict are beyond any of their imaginations. Is victory, or even peace truly possible? Join the Ronin as they open the Long Vault!

In this special one shot, we try out a new indie RPG called Itras By, but instead of using its setting, we explore the wonderful little desert town of Night Vale! A group of students at the local Community College are members of the Traditional Games club and tonight happens to be board game night! Unfortunately, some of the game pieces from the club's accursed copy of Chiromagica are missing, so the players must retrieve them from the abandoned Geology building. What possible horrors could confront them there? Plastic bags, perhaps? An unspeakable presence that lurks out of sight, eternally hungry? The Library of books discarded from other libraries? Difficult test questions? Obscure holy texts? There's only one way to find out... Download Beyond the Vale, starring Thad, featured in this episode.

Caleb's new campaign begins with a bang! A group of unlikely protagonists is imbued with demonic superpowers after a group of supervillains die during an attack on a charter school, the Brighter Futures Academy. Unfortunately, not all of the villains died, so the newly empowered antiheroes must fight an experienced foe only minutes after receiving their powers. What slew the original villains? Who are the new superhumans? There's only one way to find out!

The Ronin have found the secret hideout of Sheng's cult and have called in the authorities for a final assault on the notorious terrorist group 'Empty Five'. Despite the attack helicopters and platoons of heavily armed soldiers on their side, the Ronin know that victory or death will come in their own skills and preparation. They know they have the right weapons and as much knowledge as they can bear, but Sheng always seems to have a secret or two up his sleeve. Then there's the matter of an Iron-Banded Box....

An earthquake links a group of survivors together. If not for a seemingly miraculous event, they should have all died. Drawn to a mysterious professor who seems to know how and why they were saved, the survivors agree to follow him on a trip to a strange city. The city was built by visionaries but has been forgotten by history. Where is it? What secrets lurk within? The survivors know they must answer these questions or the they will never find peace. But once inside, the survivors find that leaving the city may be impossible. What price will they pay to find a way out?

The journey of Xin's Crows is at an end. The assassin must reclaim his cult from a corrupt leader and the remaining Crows agree to help with the final assault. First, they must find the new temple for the death cult and only then can they begin the fight. Are the Crows ready for their last battle as a group? Can the faithful assassin make the right decisions? What about the ex-gladiator? Find out the final destinies of every Crow in the Fortunes of War!

The Ronin have returned to their own time and have decided to take on Sheng. They need critical intel from Sheng's cult. Of course, the cult's headquarters are heavily guarded so gaining access will be no easy task. But the Ronin are nothing if not creative problem solvers. An infiltration plan that includes the use of a popular children's character, sniper rifles, and going undercover as a new cultist will be the last thing Sheng expects.No plan works perfectly though. Can the Ronin escape with the intel before they're caught?

Due to some tactical mistakes on the part of the heroes, the villains know they are in the base. The fight is on! The ragtag group of base raiders will face a serious battle against empowered villains and their nefarious Neo-confederate steampunk gang. Joining the fight is a recently freed vampire named Elizabeth, who may help turn the tide. Unfortunately, Silver Dollar Steve, the mastermind of the gang, is nowhere in sight. Even if the players defeat the gang, they must find the alchemist before he escapes again!

The epilogue continues with a martial arts tournament! Even though only one of the Crows is participating in the tournament, the rest have decided to aid their comrade behind the scenes. Can their schemes guarantee victory? With special guest Tom role playing as the announcer for the tournament, this episode is not to be missed!

It is the year 444 of Sheng the Immortal’s rule. As Sheng has always existed, he had the foresight to find brave warriors and cunning tacticians and send their minds through time so they may be useful long after their natural deaths. Now, as a ruler, Sheng uses Pilgrims for missions of great importance. Most arrivals of the Pilgrims are foretold, but not all of them. Guides wait to greet the Pilgrims, should they arrive unexpectedly. The latest group of Pilgrims is unlike the others though...

In a continuation from Transit, the RPPR crew begins their career raiding bases! After building characters and using the collaborative base creation system, the group decides to venture to Louisiana in order to find a base rumored to have once been owned by David Bowie. Now, the base is held by a rogue alchemist who exploits magical beings in order to make his potions. The party has agreed to track the villain down and stop him before he can create an army of magically enhanced gators and gang members. Before the heroic base raiders can stop him, they first have to find the base. All they know is that is in the bayou, near a town called Paradise. You won't believe what they encounter in this first part of the adventure! BTW, you can totes buy Base Raiders now!

Vo's quest continues in the epilogue! Determined to strike a fatal blow against the Grey Sky Horde, Vo and the rest of Xin's Crows fight to sabotage the food supply of the capital city. Of course, destroying the food is one thing but getting alive is entirely another. Will they make it? There's only one way to find out!

The Ronin have agreed to help John McAfee on a job. It has nothing to do with their quest to stop the vampire conspiracy, but they are men of their word and they need the money. The job, of course, is not so simple. Triad gangsters have kidnapped a sushi chef and are auctioning him off to the highest bidder. The Ronin must rescue the chef but he is being held on a ship run by covert North Korean agents. Infiltrating a ship in international waters held by paranoid and heavily armed soldiers is one thing, but the Ronin are nothing if not cunning. But when they stumble across a panda being held by the North Koreans, they realize they must save the hapless bear, no matter the cost. Find out how this most epic of side missions unravels! Thanks to Crazon for the art!

A group of commuters in a New York subway find themselves stranded after crazed robots start attacking the subway station. Fleeing into the tunnels, the commuters stumble across the base of a masked crime boss. What secrets lurk within it? What are the robots after? This scenario was run using new playtest rules for running origin story adventures, when unlikely heroes answer the call to action and gain superpowers to fight evil (or villains gain superpowers for fun and profit, whatever floats your boat.) Playtest rules are available on the Base Raiders website. Buy Base Raiders for PDF or print. Email proof of purchase of a print copy to get the PDF.

The epilogue adventures begin! The war is over and the Grey Sky Horde has retreated to their capital city but that won't stop Vo from rescuing her husband and getting revenge. Xin's Crows must infiltrate the city, find Locke, get revenge, and get out, without being detected by the garrison of warriors stationed in the city. Brute force cannot win the day. Of course, Vo is far more cunning than the average Grey Sky Horde guard, but will that be enough when she crosses paths with their officers and leaders?

Thanks to Crazon for the art! The Ronin must rescue their comrade from Toru's grasp, but fortunately they have a plan. It requires perfect timing, incredible luck, and the proper application of explosives. Of course, Toru has plans of his own. Who will come out on top in this action packed episode? There's only one way to find out!

Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War was a complex and murky affair, but it did result in many American troops being stationed in Vladivostok in 1919. One company of soldiers was given a mission to bring supplies and munitions to allies near the front, which can only be delivered by an armed and armored train. Little do the soldiers know they will encounter more than cagey 'allied' soldiers, corrupt officials, and bandits. Something dark and monstrous lurks in the wilds, something powerful enough to prey even on a train filled with soldiers. This game was recorded at Gencon 2013 and was run by Pagan Publishing's Adam Scott Glancy. Enjoy!

The final battle of the war is only the beginning of trouble for Xin's Crows! The Grey Sky Horde will finally meet the Imperial army on the field of battle, but Xin's Crows have their own problems. The conspiracy against the Imperial Court must be stopped, not out of love for the Great Empire, but so the Crows can fulfill their own goals. Vo comes up with an ingenious plan to stop the conspiracy, but will it work? Find out how the "Double Hamlet" plan works in this last adventure before the epilogue for the campaign begins!

Toru the vampire seems to be the key to unraveling the conspiracy, so the Ronin investigate his background to gain an edge. This leads them through the seedy underworld of host clubs, cosplayers, and occultists. Of course that isn't the only challenge for the Ronin. The vampires offer them a chance to negotiate for peace. In a rare encounter without violence, the Ronin talk to an older man, apparently the leader of the conspiracy. He offers them an intriguing opportunity to learn the motives of the conspiracy. Can they possibly accept the deal? Thanks to Crazon for the art!

The unlikely pair of investigators are still unraveling a rapidly deepening mystery, but how far does it go? Between murders, lost masterpieces of art, and deformed killers, there seems to be no end. Even if the two find answers, who will believe them and more importantly what can they do about it? The solution may be worse than the problem. Find out what happens in the finale of this scenario!

Xin's Crows have landed on the pirate stronghold island, but taking down the pirates won't be easy. In this double-length episode, the Crows launch a desperate plan to topple the pirates by starting a slave rebellion. The adventurers must split up to achieve their other goal of retrieving certain scrolls from the pirate queen's mansion. It's a gamble, but they must take the risk. Find out how they fare!

The Ronin need to learn more of the mysterious drug peddled by the vampires, but they find a potential lead. A mid-level Yakuza dealer nicknamed American Joe sells a variant drug based on the same flower. The Ronin decide that kidnapping and interrogating him would shine some insight into the situation. However, American Joe is paranoid and well-protected. Getting him out of a hole in the wall bar while he is surrounded by armed bodyguards will not be easy. Fortunately, the Ronin are nothing if not problem solvers. Thanks to Crazon for the art!

The Wives of March is a horror mystery set in Barefoot Crossing, a sharecropping community on the rural outskirts of Savannah, Georgia. Two investigators from opposite sides of society are charged with examining the murder of a Methodist preacher and accidentally reveal an ancient, inhuman conspiracy in the process. Can they overcome a supernatural evil masquerading as the banal atrocities so commonly perpetrated by mankind? This scenario is a playtest of the upcoming PDF release from Hebanon Games.

Xin's Crows have reached a bastion of civilization after their long journey through the wilderness. The port city offers many opportunities and many dangers. Vo needs a line of credit to pursue her destiny, which requires gaining the trust of the bankers. This means dealing with a group of pirates and their island lair. The risks are great but so is the potential profit. But before they leave, each Crow has their own issues to deal with - from personal intrigue to religious conflict. A new chapter begins for the Crows!

After the success of Operation Black Dolphin, it was only a matter of time before the vampires struck back. The family of one of the Ronin is threatened, which reveals a leak in the police department. Who can the Ronin trust now? How can they possibly survive the next confrontation? Why does a Red Ranger costume come into play? Find out in this thrilling episode of Tribes of Tokyo! Thanks to Crazon for the artwork!

Thanks to Bill, we here at RPPR managed to play an entire game of Fiasco, using the rules, more or less. We chose the News Channel Six playset, which led to a dark Anchorman-esque game, as written by Warren Ellis. Drugs, lies, schemes, and man-rooster fights are all part of the news game, especially when Ramble Turducken is the head anchor of the local news. Find out how dark the news can be in this very special one shot!

Xin's Crows must protect the Imperial Army from a dangerous ambush, if they want to get out of the swamp alive and with their fortunes intact. Unfortunately, the Grey Sky Horde has a few tricks up their sleeves and by tricks, I mean advanced war machines. The Crows must sneak into the enemy camp and find a way to disable as many war machines as possible before the ambush starts.

The Ronin decide to strike back at the vampire conspiracy with Operation Black Dolphin, a cunning but risky plan. They must gather many disparate components in order for the plan to work, and a single misstep can ruin it. Part of the plan involves the creation of a fake terrorist group known as the Empty Five. It also involves corpses, Geiger counters and copious amounts of explosives. Will it be enough to change the dynamics of the conspiracy and give the Ronin a chance to catch up or is it too late? Find out in this very special episode of Tribes of Tokyo! Check out this 'shopping list' of items used in Operation Black Dolphin Thanks to Crazon for the art!

The Derek Bishop Chronicles continue! After surviving the events of Anderson Island, Derek and his motley crew of researchers track down rumors of a vampire in the college town of Manhattan, Kansas. Of course, things are not as they seem. Strange wind storms and disturbances plague the small city as Bishop and company pursue their investigation. Even though they have survived the supernatural before, can they survive an evil as strong as the wind itself? (Special note: This is actually the second adventure of Derek Bishop. The Festival was posted out of order.)

In this episode, Xin's Crows have uncovered a new lead to the conspiracy that threatens their host army. In order to pursue it, they must navigate the treacherous swamp and its even more dangerous residents. Plus, the quartermaster adds further complications. Can he be dealt with? The agents of the Grey Sky Horde plan to ambush the army at the river crossing. Can the Crows stop the ambush before it is too late?

The Ronin have decided to track down the source of the mysterious drug, Reverb, which takes them to the sewers of Shibuya. Their mission raises more questions than it answers, but that will have to wait. Their boss has arranged a meeting with the engimatic client, but the Ronin must provide security. Of course, the opposition decides to interfere. Can the Ronin turn the tables on their enemies for once? Find out in this episode! Thanks to Crazon for the art!

Slasher Flick is an indie RPG that models slasher horror films. When former RPPR regular Thad showed up for a visit, I decided to revisit the Derek Bishop Chronicles using Slasher Flick. At South Padre Island, a group of skeptics and college students on Spring Break will soon be thrown into a hellish nightmare when a skeptic inadvertently summons a terrifying monster! As the killer eliminates his victims, one by one, can a group of students, drug dealers, hotel employees, and bros find a way to slay the monster? Has Derek Bishop written his last chronicle? Find out in this special one shot!

Xin's Crows have uncovered a plot against the Great Empire! They could tell the officers of the army, but some of them are traitors. The ragtag merchants and warriors must investigate the plot before they can act. As the army moves into a swampy region, notorious for bandits, they decide to visit a local bandit enclave. They must not only negotiate for protection against thieves, but they must uncover more information on the plot. What secrets lie in wait for them in the swamp and more importantly, how much profit will they make?

The consultants begin their investigation by diving into the seedy underworld of Tokyo night clubs and drug dealers. The mysterious Jungo left behind a trail through the night clubs and the consultants must follow in the dead vampire's steps to find out who he worked for and what they are planning. The Red Emperors, a low level motorcycle gang, distribute a strange new drug called Reverb throughout Tokyo, using dealers at nightclubs to sell them. What is Reverb and why are vampires distributing it? The mystery only deepens in this episode of Tribes of Tokyo! Thanks to Crazon for the art!

The Day After Ragnarok is a new setting for Savage Worlds featuring pulp action, Nazis (who must be punched), super science, and magic! Naturally, we here at RPPR had to give it a test drive. A group of down on their luck mercenaries in Rio de Janeiro are hired to track down a missing man in the depths of the wild jungles of Brazil. Little do they realize what lies in wait for them when they find the target of their search. Can a group of unlikely heroes like a bush pilot, an Wermarcht veteran, and El Matador stop the evil behind the disappearance and perhaps punch a few Nazis?

Xin's Crows take the fight to the abandoned monastery! In order to secure their caravan, they must stop the bandits from attacking once and for all. To their good fortune, the masked assassin who has hounded their every move has shown himself. The heroes must fight their way through to the assassin and then overtake him in a chase across the desert. What secrets does the assassin have and what will Xin's Crows do after that? Find out in this thrilling episode!

Thanks to Crazon for the art! Tribes of Tokyo is the newest RPPR campaign, which uses Night's Black Agents for the system. A game of thrilling espionage action and dark vampiric horror in the bustling metropolis of modern day Tokyo, starts as a normal investigative scenario. A group of security consultants in Tokyo are hired for a typical job, digging up dirt on a mysterious individual by an anonymous client. Unfortunately, the target is not what he seems to be and the consultants find themselves fighting against a conspiracy of inhuman monsters able to climb sheer walls and shrug off gunfire. Who are they and what do they want? More importantly, what will they do to the consultants if they catch them? This group of misfits and washouts from various intelligence and criminal organizations have to find and stop their new adversaries before it's too late.

In this one shot, a group of ronin samurai wander the chaotic and violent countryside of Japan in the turbulent Sengoku era. When they chance upon a village, they stumble upon a hidden darkness far worse than they could imagine. After agreeing to help the villagers, the ronin encounter things beyond their comprehension. Only their blades and strength stand between the innocent and an unknowable evil. Can their skills prevail against their inhuman foes? Find out in this special prequel to the next RPPR campaign, Tribes of Tokyo!