What Is Roleplay?

What is Roleplay #26 Crits with Steph Windross

Welcome to Episode 25 of ‘What Is Roleplay?’ This episode CM Lowry [https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:lknr4zntap3ueuwo65spkmwd] is joined by Steph Windross [https://bsky.app/profile/fistfulofcrits.bsky.social] to discuss Crits * To start the conversation CM Lowry asks Steph to define what the meaning of a Crit in roleplay games * Crit is short for Critical Roll, either a Critical Success or a Critical Failure. In short that means you have a rolled either the highest (success) or lowest (failure) number on the dice. These usually have interesting results which impact on the game as you continue to play. * CM reminds us that if your unsure about dice you can revisit Episode 1 [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/podcast/what-is-roleplay-1-the-basics-with-cm-lowry/] of What Is Roleplay [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/series/what-is-roleplay-podcast/] * Most games and systems will require that the dice actually land on a natural 20 in order for that to be considered a Crit Success – so if you roll 18 and add some sort of bonus that makes your score 20 that would not count as a Crit. * Steph shares some  about a brilliant Crit Success from her real life adventures in roleplay games such as DnD and Blades in the Dark. * In Blades in the Dark Crits create narrative currency for collaborative story telling moments * CM & Steph chat about some of the things that can happen when you roll a critical fail – a sort of doubling down on the things that go wrong. * CM asks Steph to chat about some games that don’t use Crits. Steph mentions lots of the current batch of OSR (Old-School Renaissance) games * CM chats about the exploding dice mechanic, in which a Crit Success means that you get to roll again and add further details to the game story. * Steph brings up ICRPG (Index Card Roleplaying Game) as a game that has a set of really interesting mechanics for dice rolling and crits. * CM & Steph totally nerd out on MOTHERSHIP and the Panic Engine System that it’s built on. * CM asks Steph if there are any card games that use Crits * They discuss The Wretched by Chris Bissette and it’s use of a Jenga Tower. If the tower falls that’s a huge Crit Fail and ends the game! * CM and Steph agree that they enjoy the rolling dice and allowing chance to determine how the game processes and how the story unfolds. * Listen as CM and Steph enjoy an actual play involving Crits, the city of Manchester and trying to park your car without getting a fine from a civil service demon!! Actual Play Quick-Map drawn by Jog Brogzin * Steph chats about her latest project, CALPINI [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fistfulofcrits/calpini?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=Calpini&total_hits=14], which is based on the rules light A Dungeon Games [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/a-dungeon-game/] by Chris Bissette, which is also compatible with MORK BORG [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/mork-borg/] Links to things we discussed: Games: * Dragonbane [https://freeleaguepublishing.com/games/dragonbane/] * Dungeons & Dragons [https://www.dndbeyond.com/] * Blades in the Dark [https://bladesinthedark.com/] * OSR [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_School_Renaissance] * GURPS [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GURPS] * Cairn [https://cairnrpg.com/] * Mausritter [https://mausritter.com/] * Savage World [https://peginc.com/savage-settings/savage-worlds/] * ICRPG [https://www.runehammer.online/index-card-rpg] * Mothership [https://www.tuesdayknightgames.com/pages/mothership-rpg?srsltid=AfmBOoquW-_RtF_FDeMOxCkpn0sDyyJkKvywGrUdHiFHfxWwGKgVUoav] * Call of Cthulhu [https://www.chaosium.com/call-of-cthulhu-rpg/?srsltid=AfmBOooWFyIAzAXMl3UltzGBXkgrF1svpn3Mk8vrf5q4_5w9NSpeXFPJ] * The Wretched [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/the-wretched/] * Bloody & Alone in Appalachia [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/bloody-alone-in-appalachia/] * Dread [https://whodaresrolls.com/rpgs/dread/] * The Sealed Library [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/the-sealed-library/] * MORK ORG [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/beyondcataclysmgames/mork-org-wretched-office-space-in-a-hopeless-place] * SOLO BORG [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thesoloist/solo-borg-a-toolkit-for-playing-mork-borg-without-a-gm] More about Steph * Fistful of Crits on ETSY [https://www.etsy.com/shop/FistfulofCrits] * Fistful of Crits on BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/fistfulofcrits.bsky.social] * Fistful of Crits on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/fistfulofcrits/] * Fistful.ink [https://fistful.ink/] for all your printing needs More about Us * Beyond Cataclysm on Bluesky @beyondcataclysm.bsky.social [http://@beyondcataclysm.bsky.social] * CM Lowry’s website –  All About Chris [https://allaboutchris.org/blog/] * Website – beyondcataclysm.co.uk [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/] * Patreon – Patreon.com/beyondcataclysm [https://www.patreon.com/beyondcataclysm] * Our most recent project is Mork Org [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/beyondcataclysmgames/mork-org-wretched-office-space-in-a-hopeless-place] * Our upcoming project is Lucky for None in Space [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/beyondcataclysmgames/lucky-for-none-in-space-theres-an-entire-galaxy-to-wreck] Actual Play Quick Map drawn by Jog Brogzin [https://www.jogbrogzin.com/] * Jog on Social Media: Instagram – @jogbrogzin [https://www.instagram.com/jogbrogzin/] Bluesky – @jogbrogzin.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:v644i2yxm3lswwqq5usr4rpg] Patreon – patreon.com/jogbrogzin [http://patreon.com/jogbrogzin] With music generously provided by: Powerplant [https://ppowerplant.bandcamp.com/] & Imploders [https://neontasterecords.bandcamp.com/album/imploders] Actual Play Soundscape by Traveling Light [https://visionspress.bandcamp.com/album/vp42-in-town] The post What is Roleplay #26 Crits with Steph Windross [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/podcast/what-is-roleplay-26-crits-with-steph-windross/] first appeared on Beyond Cataclysm [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk].

What is Roleplay #25: No Prep Play with David Blandy

Welcome to Episode 25 of ‘What Is Roleplay?’ This episode we are joined by artist and tabletop roleplay game designer David Blandy [https://davidblandy.itch.io/] to discuss No Prep Play * Chris asks David what No Prep Play is * Simply put it is playing without preparation – creating an adventure on the fly as you’re playing. Instead of having a preset scenario or adventure, you just make things up as you go. * It helps to have a sourcebook for inspiration, perhaps one with lots of tables that you can roll on to randomly generate ideas. * The Opposite of No Prep Play usually takes one of two form * Either a pre-written module in which everything for the adventure is set out – maps, settings, non player characters, creatures, everything that the players are going to encounter is contained within the book or booklet * Or something homebrewed that takes on a similar format to the adventure module. Something you’ve spent hours (or years) thinking up, writing and illustrating. Everything is set out for the player. This can be a very exciting thing for a GM to create and is a form of play within itself. You might choose to use tables from other RPGS. * David shares some tips for those who might be scared to lead a No Prep game * Trust yourself – you have the answers because you know the world you are working with, as someone who is running the game. Have a shape in your head of how you’d like the game to play out – trust this vision. * Throw questions at the group to buy time and give you ideas of what comes next * Don’t be scared of the players – they’re there to have fun with you! Have confidence that everyone is there to have fun so relax. * No Prep Play is a nice solution to the problem of the Forever GM. As the Games Master in a No Play Game you’ll get to play along with the other players, rather than having to refer to the big book and keep players on track. It’s far more organic and can make for lots of fun. * David shares some stories from No Prep games that he has really enjoyed leading * Whilst using the spark tables from Lost Eons as inspiration one party broke through the side of a cavern and discovered a whole new universe. Of course this could have been created with prep before hand but having that spontaneous moment of discovery alongside the players rather than railroading them into a fix scenario was just a really beautiful thing for David to be part of. *  David also shares some of the difficulties of leading a No Prep game *  The most challenging thing is just committing to doing it – as much as it’s freeing there is a sense of danger – you don’t have the safety net of a module to fall back on. * David suggests that there is a middle ground between Prep and No Prep games * Create tables before hand that you can roll on during the game. You can also pre-select these from game books that you already have on your self. Here is an example, written by Chris McDowell and intended for use with 2d20 * David makes the point that No Prep Play is just a heap of fun – give it a shot * Let your party know that this is the type of game your playing and ask them to be patient with you * Chris and David enjoy an actual play, with No Prep involved! * David opts to use the Eco Mofos system, which is based on rolling d6s. Chris’s punk, William Smith, goes by the monika JET, and is a 50+ year old hacker, who is arrogant, smokes and wears a cool leather jacket. * Listen as David and Chris figure out how JET overcomes wolves, spiders webs and rats to encounter a hermit and unlock the secret to finding a new safe place to call home. Actual Play Quick Map by Jog Brogzin Links to things we discussed: Games: * Lost Eons [https://davidblandy.co.uk/lost-eons] by David Blandy * Lone Eons [https://www.thelostbaystudio.com/products/lone-eons] by David Blandy * Eco-Mofos [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/eco-mofos/] by David Blandy * Dungeons & Dragons [https://www.dndbeyond.com/] by Wizards of the Coast * Into the Odd [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/into-the-odd/] by Chris McDowell * Isle of Ixx [https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/isle-of-ixx-pdf?srsltid=AfmBOooB-ijUADfp6Z7ZXCNT9GnABFDm1-_FKWKnPCvCWVKUGQDs961I] by Skullfungus * Ultra Violet Grasslands [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/uvg-2nd-edition/] by Luka Rejec * Savage Worlds [https://peginc.com/savage-settings/savage-worlds/] by Pinnacle Entertainment * Fiasco [https://bullypulpitgames.com/products/fiasco] by Bully Pulpit Games Books, Authors, Etc. * Chris McDowell [https://www.bastionland.com/] Author / RPG Designer * J R R Tolkien [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien] Author * Between To Cairns [https://www.patreon.com/betweentwocairns] Podcast * Robinson Crusoe [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Crusoe] by Daniel Defoe More about David * Itch.io – David Blandy [https://davidblandy.itch.io/] * BlueSky – @davidblandyrpgs [https://bsky.app/profile/davidblandyrpgs.bsky.social] * Instagram – @davidblandyrpgs [https://www.instagram.com/davidblandyrpgs/] * Copy-Paste Co-op Website [https://www.copypastecoop.com/] More about Us * Beyond Cataclysm on Bluesky @beyondcataclysm.bsky.social [http://@beyondcataclysm.bsky.social] * CM Lowry’s website –  All About Chris [https://allaboutchris.org/blog/] * Website – beyondcataclysm.co.uk [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/] * Patreon – Patreon.com/beyondcataclysm [https://www.patreon.com/beyondcataclysm] * Our most recent project is Mork Org [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/beyondcataclysmgames/mork-org-wretched-office-space-in-a-hopeless-place] * Our upcoming project is Lucky for None in Space [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/beyondcataclysmgames/lucky-for-none-in-space-theres-an-entire-galaxy-to-wreck] Actual Play Quick Map drawn by Jog Brogzin [https://www.jogbrogzin.com/] * Jog on Social Media: @jogbrogzin on IG, FB and X Bluesky – @jogbrogzin.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:v644i2yxm3lswwqq5usr4rpg] Patreon – patreon.com/jogbrogzin [http://patreon.com/jogbrogzin] With music generously provided by: Powerplant [https://ppowerplant.bandcamp.com/] & Imploders. [https://neontasterecords.bandcamp.com/album/imploders] The post What is Roleplay #25: No Prep Play with David Blandy [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/podcast/what-is-roleplay-25-no-prep-play-with-david-blandy/] first appeared on Beyond Cataclysm [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk].

What is Roleplay #24: Space with Marco Serrano

Welcome to Episode 24 of ‘What Is Roleplay?’ This episode we are joined by Games Designer and Spicy Tuna RPG head honcho Marco Serrano [https://www.backerkit.com/c/users/2122872/profile] to discuss Space * After a brief opening chat Chris asks Marco ‘Why is Space brilliant’? To which Marco answers that it creates  a realm of endless possibilities within the game. Sci-fi gives us input from the science and technology that we currently have available and also the possibility to extrapolate how things might look in the near future. The unknowns of Space gives us room to explore, within our games, all the possibilities that could come from life as we know it improving or getting worse! * Marco shared his experiences of playing MOTHERSHIP, the first game he ever played that was based in space. Like in many games your health can dwindle, but you also have stress that builds up and can lead to long lasting conditions. Narratively your character is forever changed, but without necessarily affecting the mechanics of how you roll and whether you can still actually achieve things. This builds into the horror aspect while allowing the game to continue to run – something that’s especially great if your running longer campaigns rather than just one-shots. * Chris asks Marco if there are any other kinds of stories that space lends itself well too, other than just horror. Marco points out that there are lots of stories from the Ray Bradbury era that are more Thriller than Horror. Many stories based in space are about experiencing the unknown – coming across things that are eye opening and beyond our abilities, that maybe make the reader think ‘wow, we shouldn’t do this again!’ * Chris agrees that the vastness of space tends to make the mind boggle, as explored in the Ringworld Series by Larry Niven. The Ad Astra expansion to Mutant: Year Zero by Free League Press has a wonderful engine that explores this by factoring in the decay caused by year adrift in space. * Marco also mentions Orbital Blues, another game that takes place in space and does really interesting things with the concept of space, scratching the itch of space cowboys and focusing on shore leave rather than big missions. * Chris makes the point that Space themes are far less common in roleplaying games than fantasy themes, whilst its the other way round when it comes to other media such as TV and Films, and asks Marco if he has any comment as to why that might be the case? Marco feels that, with the popularity of Mothership, we’re at the beginning of a new revival of the sci-fi games niche. *  There is a discussion regarding the fact that most space based games are also horror, with the general understanding that you’re going to die a horrible death * Marco tells us a little bit more about his game Greenhorns * It uses some familiar adventuring game play mechanics and would appeal to fans of old-school gaming and mixes in narrative storytelling as well. When you build a planet in Greenhorns and begin to explore it feels a lot like dungeon diving. In Greenhorns you serve a god-machine and go out on missions to build planets. It’s focused on the chaos of creation and the ramifications of that chaos. Your job is to stabilise the planet, via different narrative options, and bring peace to the inhabitants. It’s a collaborative world building experience. * There is also a Loot system, which is the way the characters make money, but these items of loot also carry recordings and enable the players to build the lore of the planet and wider solar system too. * Chris and Marco move into a real play in which they play two characters in a space based adventure. Listen as the dice determine how things will go with them as they fly through a wormhole at hyper speed smuggling a cargo of unrefrigerated luxury fruit past the intergalactic Police to a resort planet, before it goes bad! Actual Play Map drawn by Jog Brogzin in 1 Hour Links to things we discussed: Games: * Constant Downpour [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/constant-downpour-remastered-mothership-module/] by Spicy Tuna RPG * Greenhorns [https://spicytunarpg.itch.io/greenhorns-resources] by Spicy Tuna RPG * MOTHERSHIP [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/?s=mothership&post_type=product] by Tuesday Knight Games * Dread [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dread_(role-playing_game)] by Epidiah Ravachol and Nathaniel Barmore * Jenga [https://jenga.com/] by Hasbro * Ad Astra [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/mutant-year-zero-ad-astra/] by Free League Press * Orbital Blues [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/orbital-blues/] by Soul Muppet Games * Traveller [https://www.mongoosepublishing.com/collections/traveller-rpgs?srsltid=AfmBOoonMC74kq1lHXZIkaVaQ3KSsLjbLzolP6RrIwmc8lfTueEK26H6] by Mongoose Publishing * Stars without Numbers [https://chrispwolf.blot.im/rpg-review-stars-without-number-revised-edition] by Kevin Crawford * Death in Space [https://deathinspace.com/] by Stockholm Kartell * Alien RPG [https://freeleaguepublishing.com/games/alien/] by Free League Press * Star Trek RPG [https://modiphius.net/collections/star-trek-adventures?srsltid=AfmBOorJ6IaKBHTzXYx6SNR5L7a9eQy2s5gQnM6uYSVgKrjuxXOjKM3c] by Modiphius Entertainment * Star Wars RPG [https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/starwarsrpg/] by Fantasy Flight * Cloud Empress [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/cloud-empress-core-rules-bonus-zine/] by Watt * Down We Go [https://rpggeek.com/rpg/72506/down-we-go] RPG System * Microscope [https://lamemage.com/microscope/] by Ben Robins * Micro Circuits [https://alexandersheep.itch.io/microcircuits] by Alexander Sheep * Cryo Drakus [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marcoserrano/cryo-drakus-an-alien-reconnaissance-rpg] by Spicy Tuna RPG * Blackthorn [https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/spicy-tuna-rpg/blackthorn] by Spicy Tuna RPG * Follow our impending Kickstarter page for Lucky For None IN SPACE  [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/beyondcataclysmgames/lucky-for-none-in-space-theres-an-entire-galaxy-to-wreck] Books, Authors, Etc. * Ray Bradbury [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bradbury] Author * Ringwork Series [https://www.goodreads.com/series/50225-ringworld] by Larry Niven * ISBN Coffee [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/isbn-coffee/] by Beyond Cataclysm * Warhammer 40K [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Warhammer_40,000_novels] Novel Series More about Marco * Spicy Tuna Website – spicytunarpg.com [https://spicytunarpg.com/] * More about Us * Beyond Cataclysm on Bluesky @beyondcataclysm.bsky.social [http://@beyondcataclysm.bsky.social] * CM Lowry’s website –  All About Chris [https://allaboutchris.org/blog/] * Website – beyondcataclysm.co.uk [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/] * Patreon – Patreon.com/beyondcataclysm [https://www.patreon.com/beyondcataclysm] Actual Play Quick Map drawn by: Jog Brogzin [https://www.jogbrogzin.com/] With music generously provided by: Powerplant [https://ppowerplant.bandcamp.com/] & Imploders. [https://neontasterecords.bandcamp.com/album/imploders] Actual Play music is from the Constant Downpour OST by: Blake Suarez [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HapRXTRyQs] The post What is Roleplay #24: Space with Marco Serrano [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/podcast/what-is-roleplay-24-space-with-marco-serrano/] first appeared on Beyond Cataclysm [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk].

What is Roleplay #23: Monsters! with Paul Baldowski

Welcome to Episode 23 of ‘What Is Roleplay?’ This episode we are joined by Author and Game Designer Paul Baldowski [https://www.facebook.com/paul.baldowski] to discuss Monsters! * Chris asks Paul why Monsters are so important in roleplaying games? * Paul states that they are far more than just a character to slam down – they add a level of challenge and complexity that wouldn’t be present without them. * Chris makes the point that monsters are an important device for storytelling, a fork in the road of the journey that the players are on. * A discussion using Hansel & Gretel as an example of a monster being at the heart of a really complex story * Chris asks ‘What defines a monster’? * Paul chats about this idea, suggesting that monster do not have to be animate – anything that presents a barrier or delay can be monstrous, such as a wall or door. * Paul sights the British TV series ‘Knightmare’ as a great example of inanimate monsters. * The lifeforce meter for ‘Knightmare’ can be viewed HERE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyOE00E5K40] * In other approaches Monsters can be complex tasks that require lots of dice-rolls. * Paul points out that Monsters and Obstacles are the same unless the game mechanics make them different * Orc level 3 and locked door level 3 are the same in that they both require the player to overcome them using storytelling, dice rolling or some other tool or strategy *  Cypher System deals with obstacles like this well – the levels allow for an increase or decrease complexity. So new players can face challenges that aren’t too hard and experienced players can enjoy more challenging encounters. *  Chris chats about some systems that allow for Monsters to have some agency and react to the actions of characters – attacking back * This becomes like a war game, like a game of Chess, and pretty complex, especially for the Games Master (GM). * Dragonbane is a good example of a old-school game like D&D that has simpler mechanics for monsters – the GM roles on a table, making monster management much easier and simplifying play. * Chris asks Paul if he has played again games that have no monsters at all? * Paul mentions that it depends on how you define monster, since we all have monstrous characteristics but suggests that Behind Enemy Lines is one example. * Chris mentions a few games that don’t have any monsters and are worth playing such as Wanderhome and Fiasco. In both games there is an exploration of what a monster is and how we journey with our own personal demons. * Paul and Chris then move into an actual play * Using a d6 they build a dark lair in which the monster, The Paul, dwells. The Chris encounters clawed creatures and the twisted glass portal into a yawning maw of shadow and darkness. Will Chris survive the encounter? Listen to find out… Actual Play Map drawn by Jog Brogzin in 1 Hour Links to things we discussed: Games: * Cthulhu Hack [https://www.allrolledup.co.uk/product-category/books/the-cthulhu-hack/] by Paul Baldowski * The Dee Sanction [https://www.allrolledup.co.uk/product-category/books/the-dee-sanction/] by Paul Baldowski * MÖRK ORG [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/beyondcataclysmgames/mork-org-wretched-office-space-in-a-hopeless-place] by CM Lowry * RONIN [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/ronin-bundle/] by Slightly Reckless Games * Cypher System [https://cypher-system.com/] by Monte Cook Games * Dungeons & Dragons [https://www.dndbeyond.com/] by Wizards of the Coast * Pathfinder [https://paizo.com/pathfinder] by Paizo * Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warhammer_Fantasy_Roleplay] by Games Workshop * Dragonbane [https://freeleaguepublishing.com/games/dragonbane/] by Free League Games * Alien [https://freeleaguepublishing.com/games/alien/] by Free League Games * The Walking Dead RPG [https://freeleaguepublishing.com/games/the-walking-dead-universe-roleplaying-game/] by Free League Games * Zombicide Chronicles [https://www.cmon.com/product-line/zombicide-chronicles-rpg/] Boardgame by CMON * Behind Enemy Lines [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behind_Enemy_Lines_(role-playing_game)] by FASA * Twilight: 2000 [https://freeleaguepublishing.com/games/twilight-2000/] by Free League Press * Wanderhome [https://possumcreekgames.com/en-gb/pages/wanderhome] by Jay Dragon * Fiasco [https://bullypulpitgames.com/products/fiasco] by Bully Pulpit Games * Quest [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quest_(role-playing_game)] RPG by T.C. Sottek * Lucky for None in Space [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/beyondcataclysmgames/lucky-for-none-in-space-theres-an-entire-galaxy-to-wreck] by CM Lowry Books, Authors, Etc. * Grimm’s Fairy Tales [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimms%27_Fairy_Tales] by the Brothers Grimm * Knightmare [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knightmare_(TV_series)] TV Series * Squid Games [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid_Game] TV Series More about Paul * All Rolled Up Website – allrolledup.co.uk [https://www.allrolledup.co.uk/] * Paul on BlueSky – @paulbaldowski.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/paulbaldowski.bsky.social] * Paul on Mastodon – @PaulBaldowski [https://dice.camp/@PaulBaldowski] * Paul’s Blog – justcrunch.com [http://www.justcrunch.com/] More about Us * Beyond Cataclysmon Bluesky @beyondcataclysm.bsky.social [http://@beyondcataclysm.bsky.social] * CM Lowry’s website –  All About Chris [https://allaboutchris.org/blog/] * Website – beyondcataclysm.co.uk [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/] * Patreon – Patreon.com/beyondcataclysm [https://www.patreon.com/beyondcataclysm] Actual Play Quick Map drawn by: Jog Brogzin [https://www.jogbrogzin.com/] With music generously provided by: Powerplant [https://ppowerplant.bandcamp.com/] & Imploders. [https://neontasterecords.bandcamp.com/album/imploders] The post What is Roleplay #23: Monsters! with Paul Baldowski [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/podcast/what-is-roleplay-23-monsters-with-paul-baldowski/] first appeared on Beyond Cataclysm [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk].

What is Roleplay #22: Rules Light RPG with Dan Sumption

Welcome to Episode 22 of ‘What Is Roleplay?!  This episode we are joined by RPG designer and author Dan Sumption [https://www.instagram.com/dansumption/] to discuss Rules Light Roleplaying Games * Rules light Roleplaying Games (RPGS) are games that have a very simple rules framework so that the learning curve is nice and easy and the players are more free to approach and enjoy the game. * There is a stronger emphasis on imagination and freedom, rather than being stifled by heavy rules. * Episode 15 [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/podcast/what-is-roleplay-15-diceless-roleplay-games-with-come-martin/] of What Is Roleplay would be a helpful listen for those interested in Rules Light RPG. * Dungeons & Dragons is a game that many people have heard of and is the introductory game for many people getting into roleplaying games. Unfortunately it has very complicated rules, also known as crunch, and can be quite off putting. * Rules light games involve a lot more imaginative play, something we all naturally did as children but have often forgotten since. * Dan chats with Chris about Into The Odd, a game that has no hit rolls, meaning you don’t have to roll to check if your attacks actually hit them. This changes combat a great deal, and bring a great gravity and consequence to fighting. This inspires players to think about non-combative ways of dealing with conflict. * Chris mentions the real-time mechanic used in NOVA by Spencer Campbell, whereby the GM keeps the game moving by telling players they’ve taken too long to complete there turn. * The key difference between traditional RPGs and rules light RPGs is that the creator is leaving more scope for imagination and making things up on the fly. You’re going to write your own rules as you play the game. * Some games within the rules light category lend themselves to quickplay and short games session, sometimes know as one-shots. One such example that Dan enjoys is Lasers & Feelings. * Dan feels that there is a certain level of trust needed within the group of players to play a rules light game. If there are people in your party that are super competitive you might need a few more rules in place to make sure they don’t bulldoze the rest of the party. * Dan also introduces us to some of the games that have been created using the Into the Odd system such as Cairn, Mausritter, Electric Bastionland & Weird North. Because these rules light systems are so simple your really encouraged to do your own world building and make your own hack of the original system. The simplicity really encourages your own creativity. * Dan Shares some tips on how to run a rules light games session: * Don’t be afraid – just lean into the experience and enjoy it. Even if you think your ideas are rubbish they may well lead to something really interesting during play. * Allow for collaborative play – everyone should be free to contribute ideas and build the world and wider rules together. * If there isn’t a rule for it don’t just say no – figure out what works for your group and then go for it! * Don’t bog the game down in too much mathematics * Chris makes the point that rules light RPGs usually enable players to set up, have an adventure and finish in around about 3hrs. This is incredibly helpful when you only have one evening together. And the simplicity usually allows for hilarious adventures to unfold with gonzo stuff like bags of teeth and death by nose bleed! * Dan & CM Lowry enjoy at Rules Light Actual Play set in a snowy cottage and using a standard deck of playing cards * Clubs = Other People * Diamonds = Riches * Hearts = Magic * Spades = The Land * By drawing cards the story unfolds – a lonely wizard lives in a remote cottage on a hill after being banished from the local town after the people rose up against them. They are drawing on the power of the land through Geomancy. Listen in to see what’s on the cards for our wizard and the towns folk. Quick Map of the Lonely Wizards Cottage by Jog Brogzin (Drawn in 1 Hour) Links to things we discussed: Games: * Mostly Harmless Meetings [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/mostly-harmless-meetings/] by Dan Sumption * Nice Weather for Fish [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dansumption/nice-weather-for-fish-an-rpg-adventure] by Dan Sumption * DnD 5th Edition [https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/BookIndex] * Itch.io [https://itch.io/] * Into The Odd [https://freeleaguepublishing.com/games/into-the-odd/] by Chris McDowall * Nova [https://gilarpgs.myshopify.com/products/nova] by Spencer Campbell * Lasers & Feelings [https://johnharper.itch.io/lasers-feelings] by John Harper * Cairn [https://yochaigal.itch.io/cairn] by Yochai Gal * Mausritter [https://mausritter.com/] by Losing Games * Electric Bastionland [https://bastionlandpress.com/products/electric-bastionland-hardback-book] by Chris McDowell * Cyberpunk RED  [https://rtalsoriangames.com/cyberpunk/] * Knave [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/250888/knave] by Ben Milton * Loot Goons [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/loot-goons/] by Chris Bissette * CVLT of the Hadron Lamb [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product/cult-of-the-hadron-lamb/] by Christian Eichhorn [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/product-tag/christian-eichhorn/] * Kingdom [https://www.lamemage.com/kingdom/] by Ben Robbins * In My End Is My Beginning [https://peakrill.itch.io/in-my-end-is-my-beginning] by Dan Sumption Books, Authors, Etc. * Matter of Britain [https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1845924596/crab-bees-matter-of-britain-mythlands-of] by Crab & Bee * Learning to Draw Trees [https://iglootree.com/products/gme217?srsltid=AfmBOoq90900s8UyvtFoSC-r6e8JOJAM7fWg9wtBGxd9Wo4GfmYCnOiW] by Dan Sumption * Contingency [http://www.con-tingency.uk/] RPG Convention * This Book I Read [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/podcast/viriconium-with-dan-sumption/] Podcast Episode with Dan Sumption More about Dan * Dan on Instagram – @dansumption [https://www.instagram.com/dansumption/] * Peakrill Press Website – peakrill.com [https://peakrill.com/] * Peakrill Press Linktree  [https://linktr.ee/peakrillpress] More about Us * Beyond Cataclysmon Bluesky @beyondcataclysm.bsky.social [http://@beyondcataclysm.bsky.social] * CM Lowry’s website –  All About Chris [https://allaboutchris.org/blog/] * Website – beyondcataclysm.co.uk [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/] * Patreon – Patreon.com/beyondcataclysm [https://www.patreon.com/beyondcataclysm] Actual Play Quick Map drawn by: Jog Brogzin [https://www.jogbrogzin.com/] With music generously provided by: Powerplant [https://ppowerplant.bandcamp.com/] & Imploders. [https://neontasterecords.bandcamp.com/album/imploders] The post What is Roleplay #22: Rules Light RPG with Dan Sumption [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/podcast/what-is-roleplay-22-rules-light-rpg-with-dan-sumption/] first appeared on Beyond Cataclysm [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk].