The GROGNARD Files

In the latest episode of the podcast, we look at the use of chaos in RPGs. The post Chaos in RPGs and beyond (with Tomas Rawlings) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

In this episode, Kalum from the Rolistes Podcast is in the zoom of role-playing rambling to talk about French speaking RPGs. He has spoken about Nephilim elsewhere and he tells us more in this episode. He’s also Kickstarting his game The Magic of Inventorying which will be familiar to attendees of virtual GROGMEET. Blythy and … Continue reading "The GROGGIES Review of 2025 (with Kalum)" The post The GROGGIES Review of 2025 (with Kalum) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Rick Meints, President of Chaosium, joins us in the room of role-playing rambling to find five items from the history of the company. The post Five Items that Made Chaosium (with Rick Meints) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

This is a collection of off-cuts from recent episodes, normally for Patreons, but a festive gift for you. The post Dirk’s Dossier – More Gladiator Chat and more first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

This time we talk to Magnus Seter about Swedish RPG games The post Swedish RPGs (with Magnus Seter) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

The return of The GROGNARD files, we talk about stuff we are playing The post Arion Games and other RPGs (with Graham Bottley) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

We return to DCC and look at some of games that belong to the family The post Dungeon Crawl Classics Continued (Ep.85) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Join us as we jump every shark in the neighbourhood, we look back at 10 years of podcasting The post 10 Years of The GROGNARD Files first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

The GROGPOD looks at Dungeon Crawl Classics and reflects on our play experience The post Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG (with Brendan LaSalle) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

We're still talking and not talking about magic at the same time. Ars Magica seems a fascinating game, but how do we fit it in? The post Ars Magica RPG (with Adrian Tchaikovsky) Ep 82 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Where did our idea of magic come from back in the day? We look at witchcraft and folk horror of the 70's and 80s. The post Scarred by Magic in the 70s & 80s (with Stephen Brotherstone) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Back in the room of roleplaying rambling, still banging on about playing magic. The post More Magic in RPGs (with China Miéville) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

What do we want to Play, Stay or Giveaway when it comes to Magic in RPGs? Stu Horvath adds his thoughts too. The post Magic in RPGs (with Stu Horvath) Ep.79 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Join us in the Room of Role-Playing Rambling with Paul Baldowski talking about Dangerous Journeys RPG, Play by Mail and Sanction. The post Sanction RPG (with Paul Baldowski) Ep 78 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Join us in the Room of Role-Playing Rambling as we investigate the highs and lows of role-playing in 2024. Thanks for supporting us. Why not consider tipping a couple of coins in the beret over at Patreon. The post 2024: A Year in RPGs Ep. 77 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

This GROGPOD features a special recording of an interview with writer Ben Aaronovitch, the creator of The Rivers of London series of books. An RPG has been developed by the team at Chaosium. Ben talks about the project, his formative years in gaming and gives insight into his creative process. The interview was recorded live … Continue reading "Rivers of London RPG (with Ben Aaronovitch) Ep76" The post Rivers of London RPG (with Ben Aaronovitch) Ep76 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Following Part 1, we are now ready to open the spurious envelopes on our 1984 experiences. We also issue a challenge to listeners to help us discover new enthusiasms. At Daily Dwarf returns with an overview of what was happening in the pages of White Dwarf. Please pass on The GROGNARD files to your RPG … Continue reading "1984: A Year in RPGs Ep75 Pt2" The post 1984: A Year in RPGs Ep75 Pt2 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Welcome to the zoom of role-playing rambling where we are looking backwards to look forwards. This time we are transporting you back to the heady days of 1984. We are joined by the fabulous Bob Fischer who shares the highlights from his 1984 diaries. Judge Blythy, our resident rules lawyer, joins Dirk to determine the … Continue reading "1984: a year in RPGs (with Bob Fischer) Ep75 Pt 1" The post 1984: a year in RPGs (with Bob Fischer) Ep75 Pt 1 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

All for one and one for all! We are swashbuckling into this episode with a flurry of our blades and a jaunty feather in our hat. The post Flashing Blades RPG Ep. 74 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

The final part of the epic Monster episode features Free League's Tomas Harenstam. The post Bestiaries in Role Playing Games (with Tomas Harenstam) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

We are still looking at the role of monsters and how we can learn from screen monsters in our TTRPGs The post More Monsters in RPGs Ep 73 Pt 2 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

The first part of an Episode all about Monsters. Which Bestiary should stay? Which should we play? And which could go away? The post Monsters in RPGs Ep.73 Pt.1 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

In this episode we look at the culture of cyberspace and cyberpunk in the world of RPGs The post Cyberpunk RPG Ep.72 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Following the interview with Dan Whitehead, we discuss our formative years with computers The post 80s Computers and RPGs Ep71 Pt2 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Special Guest of virtual GROGMEET, Dan Whitehead takes us to the Speccy Nation The post ZX Spectrum Games (with Dan Whitehead) Ep.71 Pt. 1 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

More listener questions are answered by Dirk and Blythy. The post ThunderPhase! TTRPG Questions and Answers Ep.70 Pt.2 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Let's look back at the wonderful worlds created by White Dwarf covers. The post White Dwarf RPG Covers (with ThunderPhase) Ep. 70 Pt. 1 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

In this episode, we have a very special guest. Marc Miller is the creator of the Traveller Role-Playing game and in this interview he talks to Dirk the Dice about his first encounter with Dungeons and Dragons. He also talks about the origins of Traveller and his trip UK Games Day. Judge Blythy, our resident … Continue reading "Traveller RPG Revisited (with Marc Miller) Ep 69" The post Traveller RPG Revisited (with Marc Miller) Ep 69 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

This episode follows the theme of the previous one, where we looked at Adventure Design. This time at the book club we have the amazing Johnn Four who shares his Five Room Dungeon method and explains how story techniques can add to our gaming. Judge Blythy and Dirk the Dice look back at the games … Continue reading "Five Room Dungeons (with Johnn Four) Ep. 68" The post Five Room Dungeons (with Johnn Four) Ep. 68 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

A review of the highs and lows of gaming in 2023 with a Book Club visit from Gaz from The Smart Party podcast. The post Review of 2023 in RPGs (with Gaz Bowerbank) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Live from GROGMEET 23, join us as we roll back the years with Mike Mason. We look at the key moments in the history of Call of Cthulhu: its origins and its early campaigns. In Library Use, Blythy and Dirk look at Cults of Cthulhu and Different Worlds and consider the world populated by people … Continue reading "Cults of Cthulhu (with Mike Mason) Ep 66" The post Cults of Cthulhu (with Mike Mason) Ep 66 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

A homecoming. The GROGNARD files returns to Glorantha, the setting where our RPG life began. 4mins – Jeff Richard joins us at the Book Club to talk about The King of Sartar, Greg Stafford’s epic book of The Dragon Pass. The discussion also includes The Cults of RuneQuest. 26 mins – Judge Blythy and Dirk … Continue reading "Glorantha (with Jeff Richard)" The post Glorantha (with Jeff Richard) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Behold the man! Michael Moorcock joins us in the room of role-playing rambling to talk about memoir, the multiverse, movies and much more. I recommend Sanctom Secorum and Appendix N Bookclub interviews too. I have appeared on Breakfast in the Ruins talking about Letters from Hollywood. I recommend Moorcock’s latest trilogy The Sanctuary of the … Continue reading "Michael Moorcock Ep. 64" The post Michael Moorcock Ep. 64 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Continuing to find inspiration from urban horror/fantasy, in this episode we look at The Stranger Times and Children of the Stones The post Liminal Inspirations Ep.63 (with C.K.McDonnell) (Part 2) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Join us as we discover the places and people 'between' with Paul Mitchener, creator of Liminal RPG The post Liminal (with Paul Mitchener) Ep.63 (Part 1) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Another repeat! This the next in the ongoing campaign to remaster the files from the early GROGPODs. Some of the early ones are difficult to hear, so this has been equalised. It does result in some strange gaps and distortions, but nothing too distracting I hope. The roll of dice are missing from here because … Continue reading "Call of Cthulhu Ep.2 (Part 2) – REMASTERED" The post Call of Cthulhu Ep.2 (Part 2) – REMASTERED first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

You'll need at least two brews and a whole packet of Hob Nobs while we go on and on about UK Games Expo 2023. The post UK Games Expo Report 2023 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Join Dirk the Dice, climbing to the top of Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh for an episode that we used to label ‘extra’ but who cares if they have an episode number? Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore joins us to share his First, Last and Everything. He mentions Mythic and The Quiet Year in … Continue reading "Tale of the Manticore (with Jon Cohen) ep.62" The post Tale of the Manticore (with Jon Cohen) ep.62 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

The early episodes are steadily being remastered with an extra segment reflecting on the episode eight years on. The post Call of Cthulhu Ep.2 (Part 1) – REMASTERED first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Star Frontiers returns. This time we are looking for adventure! The post Star Frontiers Ep 61 (Part 2) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

This time we look at a TSR classic and consider the history of the company post Gygax The post Star Frontiers (with Ben Riggs) Ep.61 (Part 1) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Don't panic, it's only a game, sit back have a hob nob, as we explore satan, RPGs and Tom Hanks .... Aye! The post Dangerous Games (with Joseph Laycock) Ep.60 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

We enter the strange world of the cult movies and the macabre in this episode with the help of Hypnogoria Podcast. The post Vaesen (and Moviedrome with Hypnogoria) Ep.59 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

The Armchair Adventurers have had another incredible year of gaming. Dirk and Blythy roll out the red carpet to the GROGGIE awards. At the Book Club, Bud talks about Viral: A Modern Call of Cthulhu Scenario. The post Review of 2022 (with Bud’s RPG Reviews) Ep 58 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Join us at GROGMEET22 where we meet Chris McDowall, author of Into the Odd and Electric Bastionland. The post Into the Odd RPG at GROGMEET22 (with Chris McDowall) Ep. 57 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

This is the GROGPOD naked. There’s no interviews or GROGSQUAD sections, it is just Dirk and Blythy talking bobbins. Swordbearer was a game that we played a lot for a brief period. We liked it, but for some reason it didn’t connect and become a game that did not stick in our repertoire. Why not? … Continue reading "SwordBearer RPG Ep.56" The post SwordBearer RPG Ep.56 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

This time we explore the worlds of Savage Worlds from Deadlands to Slipstream and beyond. The post Savage Worlds (with Christian Nommay) Ep55 (Part 2) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

"Moby Dick as a Slasher pic" Paul Fricker talks to The Great Library of RPGs Book Club about Full Fathom Five for Call of Cthulhu. The post Full Fathom Five (with Paul Fricker) Book Club – Extra first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Exploring the very best that Savage Worlds RPG can offer the gamer. Personal insights from The Armchair Adventurers (Dirk, Blythy and The Daily Dwarf) and special guest Eric Lamoureux The post Savage Worlds (with Eric Lamoureux) Ep 55 Pt. 1 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

This is the second part of our exploration of Scarred for Life, the fantastic series of books about growing up in the dark decades of the seventies and eighties. Gen X-rated popular culture shaped our imaginations and informed our gaming. Buy the books here. Content warning for this one as we quote directly from a … Continue reading "Scarred for Life by RPGs (with Stephen Brotherstone) Ep. 54 (Part 2)" The post Scarred for Life by RPGs (with Stephen Brotherstone) Ep. 54 (Part 2) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.