The Esoteric Order of Roleplayers

What's a Cyberpunk campaign without a caper? Infiltrating Stuart Hospital turns up some "vital" clues—but also raises other questions... The Screamsheet referenced in the episode. Shoutout to Ramblin' Mike's Tarot channel, topic of many an in-joke this episode. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: David S. as WHiM Des as Miracle Worker Rainy as Dually Santiago as Skoden

After the Night Market Shootout, the Edgerunners begin unravelling the mystery of Skoden's strange visions and find out that there's a lot more than meets the augmented-reality eye! Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: David S. as WHiM Des as Miracle Worker Rainy as Dually Santiago as Skoden

In this, the first episode of our new campaign, we get fitted for the future: going over the setting, base mechanics, introducing characters, and then a little bit of shopping interrupted by a firefight. And then there's the minor matter of a stowaway AI inside one of the character's heads... Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: David S. as WHiM Des as Miracle Worker Rainy as Dually Santiago as Skoden

Art by @HeyGMKenny Man-Eater is home at last! But as winter descends over the Wolfen Empire, she must figure out a way to fit in as a stranger amongst her own people—and come to terms with her family's legacy. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Des as Man-eater

CW: Grief, loss We wanted to take a moment before we return to a regular posting schedule to acknowledge the passing of Desiree's father Frank late last year. She recorded a few words in memoriam, and talks a bit about how he influenced her love of storytelling and imagination.

Things have been busy, busy, busy here at EOR HQ, but unfortunately not a lot of content we can release at the moment. As this month closes out and we move into spring (and the one-year anniversary of the EOR's in-person meetings halting), we thought we'd share a short update on where we're at and what to look forward to. Until then!

Art by @HeyGMKenny With the colony of Falcon Crest in ruins, Man-eater is free to begin her journey home at long last. But can she survive the perilous trek across the trackless Northern Wilderness? And what secrets of her past will be revealed along the way? Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! The new campaign's wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Des as Man-eater

Art by @HeyGMKenny In the first of a series of mini-campaigns, we return to the world of Palladium Fantasy for a duet catchup as we discover what Man-eater has been up to since we wrapped up the "By the Sword" campaign back in the summer. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! The new campaign's wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Des as Man-eater

In which the Dramatic Characters undertake a search for Dracula's gold, and encounter Enemies old and new. But what happens when they become Unstuck in Time? Find out in this thrilling conclusion! Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Alex as Frederick Haas Rainy as Astrid Yrsa Faraday Santiago as Iskander Ozan Kenny as "Grizzly" Grant Morgan

In which the Dramatic Characters take a Strange Journey through the very Strands of Time! Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jade as Breksta Boland Alex as Frederick Haas Rainy as Astrid Yrsa Faraday Santiago as Iskander Ozan Kenny as "Grizzly" Grant Morgan

In this episode, Lucky gets to know his femme fatale a little better and flashes back to the first time he met the Prince of Los Angeles. Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram

In which the Dramatic Characters uncover many unsavory truths which haunt the Hall and Hedge Maze of Brodick Castle! "The Lady of Brodick Castle" Adventure Entertainment may be had Free of Charge at this Fine Establishment. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jade as Breksta Boland Alex as Frederick Haas Rainy as Astrid Yrsa Faraday Santiago as Iskander Ozan Kenny as "Grizzly" Grant Morgan

Lucky crosses paths with some of the most powerful Kindred in Los Angeles—and soon finds himself in over his head, with a dire threat to his steady blood supply looming. Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram

In this inaugural Prelude episode, we meet César "Lucky" Berganza and trace the course of his life—and unlife—in Los Angeles and points abroad. Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram

In which the Dramatic Characters see Justice Done before setting off on a Haunted Honeymoon! "The Lady of Brodick Castle" Adventure Entertainment may be had Free of Charge at this Fine Establishment. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jade as Breksta Boland Alex as Frederick Haas Rainy as Astrid Yrsa Faraday Santiago as Iskander Ozan Kenny as "Grizzly" Grant Morgan

In which the Dramatic Characters take ship for Old Blighty in order to help One of Their Own break up a most injust wedding! Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jade as Breksta Boland Alex as Frederick Haas Rainy as Astrid Yrsa Faraday Santiago as Iskander Ozan Kenny as "Grizzly" Grant Morgan

In which the Dramatic Characters at last put the pieces together and uncover the Shocking Truth! Loose Ends are wrapped up; Future Plans laid. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jade as Breksta Boland Alex as Frederick Haas Rainy as Astrid Yrsa Faraday Santiago as Iskander Ozan Kenny as "Grizzly" Grant Morgan

In which the Dramatic Characters dig deeper into the Dark Conspiracies surrounding a most Unfortunate Murder—which Great Powers would see Paris plunged into Chaos? Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jade as Breksta Boland Alex as Frederick Haas Rainy as Astrid Yrsa Faraday Santiago as Iskander Ozan Kenny as "Grizzly" Grant Morgan

In which the Dramatic Characters continue with their Investigation and come perilously close to uncovering the Perfidious Truth! Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jade as Breksta Boland Alex as Frederick Haas Rainy as Astrid Yrsa Faraday Santiago as Iskander Ozan Kenny as "Grizzly" Grant Morgan

In which the Dramatic Characters pursue a variety of leads in their attempt to clear the Good Name of their friend Astrid and discover the True Identity of the perfidious Assassin! Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jade as Breksta Boland Alex as Frederick Haas Rainy as Astrid Yrsa Faraday Santiago as Iskander Ozan Kenny as "Grizzly" Grant Morgan

In which the Dramatic Characters settle down in Paris, for Good and for Ill, and in which one of their number is Implicated in a Murder! Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jade as Breksta Boland Alex as Frederick Haas Rainy as Astrid Yrsa Faraday Santiago as Iskander Ozan Kenny as "Grizzly" Grant Morgan

In which the Dramatic Characters continue their efforts to foil the Mad Schemes of Lord Anton Dire, leading eventually to a Battle in the Air. Not all escape Unharmed! Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jade as Breksta Boland Alex as Frederick Haas Rainy as Astrid Yrsa Faraday Santiago as Iskander Ozan Kenny as "Grizzly" Grant Morgan

In which the Dramatic Characters embark upon Babbage's Engine after a spot of Mayhem on the Platform. But will this Historic Journey turn into a Tram of Terror? Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jade as Breksta Boland Alex as Frederick Haas Rainy as Astrid Yrsa Faraday Santiago as Iskander Ozan Kenny as "Grizzly" Grant Morgan

A party of heroes and heroines assembles to play the Great Game! In this, the first EOR campaign selected from our round robin Twitter tournament earlier this year, we take another crack at Castle Falkenstein. Join us as we go over the setting of the game and create characters for what promises to be more fun than the Wild Hunt! Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jade Santiago Kenny Rainy Alex

Join us for a duet one-shot of Call of Cthulhu, taking one of the recent "one-to-one" scenarios from the Does Love Forgive? scenario pack for a spin. We talk a bit about our history with duets at the top, make a custom character, dive in to the scenario, and then debrief at the end. All in all, a fun and unexpected experience! Intro and outro music by Ute Lemper. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Des

We wrap up our two-part Zorro escapade with a good old-fashioned caper! But will our heroes pull it off, or meet a grizzly end at the hands of Captain Delacorte and his men? And just who is this mysterious "La Pizon"? Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Des as Guillermo Jen as Isabella

In this, the first of a two-part scenario, we kick things off with the tutorial adventure from the rulebook before plunging ahead with the action, as we get to know Sister Isabella and Guillermo the Gravedigger and the mysterious goings-on in and around Mission San Fernando. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Des as Guillermo Jen as Isabella

Join us as we take a tour of the setting and rules that power the Zorro RPG in preparation for a short adventure arc! The Native Lands app mentioned in this episode. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Des Jen

The infamous campaign binder This past week we sat down to talk about our impressions of our recently-concluded Palladium RPG campaign. We discuss impressions of the Palladium system, high fantasy and the Palladium world, favorite memories, world-building, and the charm of not giving a flip about "game balance." Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! The new campaign's wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Alex Des

Our Palladium RPG campaign wraps up in suitably epic fashion, complete with farcical body swaps, Cyclopean lightning magic, battles in the sky, and true romance! Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! The new campaign's wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Alex as Lazlo Klopek Des as Man-eater

Events take a wild and unexpected turn as the heroes encounter the Emperor and go their separate ways. The penultimate session of the campaign! Note that we spend the first half-hour or so talking about the philosophy (and frustrations) behind Palladium's world-building choices in its sourcebooks and why there aren't a lot of Wolfen in our version of the Western Empire. If you want to skip straight to the game, start at minute 31:00. The illustration referenced during the session. This month, we will be donating a portion of our Patreon income towards Black Visions Collective, which works towards healing and transformative justice principles. If you're able, please consider giving as well—any amount helps. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! The new campaign's wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Alex as Lazlo Klopek Des as Man-eater

The heroes continue their journey to the regional capital of Arcadia, finding romance and intrigue on the road. Arriving in the capital at last, however, brings tempers to a breaking point... This month, we will be donating a portion of our Patreon income towards Black Visions Collective, which works towards healing and transformative justice principles. If you're able, please consider giving as well—any amount helps. The legendary "Cream of the Crop" Macho Man promo mentioned in the episode. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! The new campaign's wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Alex as Lazlo Klopek Des as Man-eater

This session sees Lazlo come to Maneater's defense and the two set out to clear her name. But first, a "secret solo session" in which your intrepid GM finds out exactly what became of Trigom the Chaotic after last week's wild street brawl... Thanks to our patrons for their support last month, which enabled us to make a donation to the Pueblo Relief Fund . This month, we will be donating a portion of our Patreon income towards Black Visions Collective, which works towards healing and transformative justice principles. If you're able, please consider giving as well—any amount helps. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! The new campaign's wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Alex as Lazlo Klopek Des as Man-eater

This week's session sees plenty of thrills, chills, and spills as the heroes go after Trigom the Chaotic—but there are other factions who would like to get their hands on the sword every bit as much, and are more than willing to see blood spilled in pursuit of their quest! And who is this mysterious impresario known only as Kallus Tandu...? Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! The new campaign's wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Alex as Lazlo Klopek Des as Man-eater

It's the Esoteric Order versus Just Barbarian Things! A few weeks ago, some members of the EOR got together with Rainy and Santiago of the Just Barbarian Things podcast to play through a one-shot of Unknown Armies, the game of weird horror in the occult underground. We ran through the classic scenario "Jailbreak," updated to the current third edition rules. Enjoy this fun crossover event, and check out JBT when you get a chance! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jen Des Rainy Santiago

This session is equal parts system discussion and actual game play—I decided to leave in the former, as it forms a classic part of the old-school fantasy gaming experience! This month, we will be donating a portion of our Patreon income towards the Pueblo Relief Fund to help Native communities hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you're able, please consider giving as well—any amount helps. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! The new campaign's wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Alex as Lazlo Klopek Des as Man-eater

The heroes follow a jester down a dark alley, but instead of getting shanked in the dark they are instead rewarded with an interesting and rewarding twist in the ongoing story. Come along, join the circus, and meet the likes of Edrin, Inka, Annelis, and many more! This month, we will be donating a portion of our Patreon income towards the Pueblo Relief Fund to help Native communities hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you're able, please consider giving as well—any amount helps. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! The new campaign's wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Alex as Lazlo Klopek Des as Man-eater

Our heroes continue their explorations of the old Reynard place, finally descending into the basement, where they find the subject of Salek Reynard's most infamous sketch... This month, we will be donating a portion of our Patreon income towards the Pueblo Relief Fund to help Native communities hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you're able, please consider giving as well—any amount helps. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! The new campaign's wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Alex as Lazlo Klopek Des as Man-eater

Hello folks, David Larkins here. Usually I come to you as the voice of the collective whole of the Esoteric Order of Roleplayers, but today I’m speaking to you from a more personal space. The EOR came together in late December 2012, a combination of new faces and old friends who I’d been gaming with in Santa Fe, New Mexico over the prior couple years. Jen and I both enjoyed listening to actual-play podcasts and thought it might be fun to start recording our own sessions and putting them out there for anyone who might be interested. On January 13th, we had our first recorded session. By the summer of 2013, the most stable lineup of the EOR was established with Des, Jen, Jade, Renae, Schimpff, and me. I didn’t start the EOR with the intention of turning it into a Patreon-funded podcast with thousands of listeners around the world. I still remember the excitement I felt when I saw our first episode had been downloaded once! Back then, I was working a job with the Santa Fe Public Library and gaming was still just a hobby for me. A “lifestyle hobby,” to be sure, but something I did in my spare time and strictly for fun. Nowadays, as some of you are aware, tabletop RPGs are also my profession. We have maintained the EOR as a weekly group for seven years. Over the years, everyone in the group has grown; circumstances have changed. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a lot of these changes into stark relief, particularly for me. All these changes did not necessarily spell the end of the EOR, but having to suddenly pause everything has given me time to re-evaluate how the group and the podcast have been serving my needs and goals. The demands on my time and creative output, in particular, have changed radically over the past two years. My responsibilities alone as Pendragon line editor have me working on gaming-related material and running play-tests not intended for public consumption throughout the week, and looking back I see 2019 was a year of struggle for me as I sought a balance the public-facing gaming of the podcast and my career-related gaming tasks. And then, of course, there’s the public health issue of physical distancing, all but guaranteeing a lack of face-to-face local gaming for some time to come, which has radically upended our established format. All these factors have been much on my mind over the past few weeks. I’ve been in touch with the other regular members of the EOR and have come up with a plan for how the group and the podcast will move forward. First and foremost, the podcast will remain as an online-format show for the time being. Des and I, when we get back to our duet games, will play in person, of course, but all other games will be run online. This actually presents an exciting opportunity to grow the “Order” beyond the core group of locals as initially established, beyond the confines of my game room. We can feature some new voices along with the old, both as players and GMs. Once regular face-to-face gaming becomes practicable again, we may even see some new “groups” coalescing with our old members serving as GMs. We’ll see how that pans out; obviously, things are still very much in flux for our world right now. In the meantime, I am planning a seasonal structure of shorter campaigns (say, 10-20 sessions each), much like our World of Darkness duets, each with a rotating cast of old and new voices. Consider our current Palladium Fantasy campaign as the pilot program for this new format. To carry on from the pilot program, I am looking backwards to move forwards. I’ve come up with a scheme that puts some agency into the hands of the listeners to help me select some other favorites from days of yore. Taking a cue from the Palladium campaign, I have assembled a list of 36 other “classic” games or settings I owned back during my personal RPG golden age of the 1990s and broke them down into four categories: Fantasy, Science-Fiction, Horror & Supernatural, and Historical & Miscellaneous. Starting today, I will run polls on our Twitter account (@esoteric_rp) to determine the top game in each category, which will in turn form the basis of a seasonal campaign run over the coming year. Be sure to check back daily to cast your vote and follow us on Twitter if you aren’t already! Final results will be announced after 30 days of voting, on June 1st. And check out our Patreon page for more details on how I plan to go about turning those results into campaigns. I'm quite excited about this new format, as it will allow me to continue running games I know and love and perhaps revisit some I never got a chance to play properly back in the day. I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who has participated in our games over the past seven years. The EOR would not be what it is today without each of your creative contributions. And, of course, that single download back in 2013 has grown into an online community of fans and supporters, all of whom are directly responsible for keeping this silly littl

As we continue to settle into online gaming (and overcome various technical hurdles), we find the heroes of our little tale venturing into a strange old mansion, even as our players explore the exciting virtual environment of Tabletop Simulator. Behold! This week's recording is much cleaner than last's, but unfortunately we did lose the last 10-15 minutes of the session due to a technical error on the part of OBS. Starting next week, we switch to Zoom, which has proven much less prone to technical screw-ups. Fingers crossed... Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! The new campaign's wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Alex as Lazlo Klopek Des as Man-eater

A short episode this week as we get back into the campaign after a real-world gap of three weeks between the first session and this one. The PCs take stock of the pickle they're in and get to know their mysterious rescuers a bit better before seeking out a place to lie low. Audio quality for these first couple episodes is going to be a little dodgy. Please bear with us as we work out the kinks of online gaming/recording. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! The new campaign's wiki may be found here. Featuring: Alex Des Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram

We're back! As discussed last episode, we're getting a little nostalgic and a little experimental here on the EOR Quarantine Edition; old stalwarts David L. and Des are joined by an old friend (and ACTION INTERNATIONAL! co-author) Alex as he and David return to an old system favorite from their high school days. Audio quality for these first couple episodes is going to be a little dodgy. Please bear with us as we work out the kinks of online gaming/recording. Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! The new campaign's wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram

Is this thing on...? We're back with a short announcement of how the pandemic has affected our campaign plans, and announcements about the future of the podcast in the short term. And stick around as we unveil our "pandemic special" campaign, kicking off next week. Take care, everyone! Join Our Discord Server! Support our Patreon! The new campaign's wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram

Yuletide festivities see the Player-squires lords of the hall for a day—and, later, participating in a local tradition they will not soon forget... Duchess Ygraine's embroidery (actually done by Des's mom) Intro music by Adrian von Ziegler Support our Patreon! The campaign wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jen as Bartholomew Des as Maurice Renae as Cadoc David S. as Belletor

A small group means a shorter session this week and a side quest intended to focus on the players' backup knights. Instead, we learn a valuable lesson in what happens when squires try to act above their station and put their lives on the line in the same manner as their lords... Intro music by Adrian von Ziegler Support our Patreon! The campaign wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: David S. as Livesy Renae as Sir Bran Jade as Sir Taran

After another rollicking Winter Phase, we join our Player-squires on yet another campaign as King Uther leads an ill-advised invasion of Summerland. What strange sights will they encounter in the fairy-haunted mists? Intro music by Adrian von Ziegler Support our Patreon! The campaign wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jen as Bartholomew David S. as Livesy Renae as Cadoc Jade as Uradach

We jump into our first extended Winter Phase, where an ongoing theme of forbidden romance soon emerges. Then, as we get into year 481, more romantic shenanigans ensue before the Player-squires meet their new king... Intro music by Adrian von Ziegler Support our Patreon! The campaign wiki may be found here. Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jen as Bartholomew David S. as Livesy Renae as Cadoc Jade as Uradach Des as Maurice

After creating the group's backup characters/the squires' knights, we wrap up Part II of the Year 480 with consequences following from last week's episode, and strange portents in the sky heralding profound changes to come... Intro music by Adrian von Ziegler Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jen as Bartholomew David S. as Livesy Renae as Cadoc Jade as Uradach Des as Maurice

After too long of a delay thanks to hectic holidays and persistent head colds, we are back for the second installment of our two-part finale. The final fate of Aaron Evans is decided in a truly apocalyptic finale! The wiki may be found here. Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram

This week, we wrap up family histories and jump into creating the Player-squires that comprise the first generation of our new campaign! At the end, a short vignette ("The Lost Hound") plants seeds that will reap many a strange and bitter harvest in the years and decades to come... For those wishing to skip the nuts and bolts of character creation, we introduce the squires and begin our little mini-intro scenario at 2:02:30. Intro music by Adrian von Ziegler Support our Patreon! Follow us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Featuring: Jen David S. Renae Jade Des And...Edie the Dog