AGC 129 May 11th 2010 (There's An App For That) (59:44)

With Mark Kinney, Carol and Mags. Best wishes for our listeners affected by the floods a few weeks ago. Website revamp. EBook special delayed due to upcoming Kindle updates. P.G. Holyfield's Murder at Avedon Hill coming out this month. Live show coming! A shout out to Order 66! Tonight's topic: electronic gaming aids. PDFs: the good and the bad! And not just documents! Minis, terrain, and floorplans! Planners and character sheets. Applications, both web and portable. iPlay4E. Masterplan. PCGen. InitTracker. Avandra. A few Android apps. The philosophical implications of zero-sided dice. Soundboards. A couple of legacy apps for the Palm: D&D Helper and DicePro! More to come in other episodes! Fan-made versus official.


Download 64kbps mp3 (27.3 MB)


Show links
2010 RPG Podcast Listener Survey
P.G. Holyfield (Murder at Avedon Hill)
Order 66 (d20 Radio)
All Games Considered Ustream Page
Microtactix (Budget Battlefields and 21st Century Heroes)
Modern Floorplans Volume 1: Office Spaces (Fabled Environments on RPGNow)
Modern Floorplans: Adnap Memorial Gardens (Fabled Environments on RPGNow)
Ronin Arts (Campaign Planners)
Mr. Gone's Character Sheets
iPlay4E
Masterplan
PCGen
InitTracker Initiative Tracker
Google Gears (for InitTracker)
Avandra Dice Manager (Greglabs)
D&D Helper
DicePro (Rival Game Labs)


Promos
Zero Fortitude
Safe Haven Podcast

AGC Feedback May 8 2010 (19:08)

AGC Feedback May 8 2010 (19:08)

Recorded May 4th, 2010, with Mark, Carol, and Mags. Drunk dial (?) from the 610. Looking up the voicemail number. What is "old school?" More Doctor Who (SPOILER ALERT FOR "THE END OF TIME"). RPG Buffet thoughts. Congrats and well wishes for Carol. More RPG Buffet talk. Fighting Fantasy iPhone Apps! Live for Five!


Download 64kbps mp3 (8.77 MB)


Show links
RPG Buffet: A Year of D&D
Fighting Fantasy iPhone Apps (iTunes Link)


Promos
The Weird Show

AGC News May 6th 2010 (26:27)

With Mark, Carol, and Mags. Updates on the Catalyst situation. Green Ronin picks up DC license! Wizards brings D&D for the younger player with Monsterslayers! Lords of Gossamer and Shadow. A discussion of patronage. Pelgrane renews Dying Earth license! Goblinoid Games brings back Starships and Spacemen! Survive! returning, and remembering old Parker Brothers games. Plans for Septimus! RPG.Net seeks iPhone app developers! A little iPad chatter at getting toward the end. Live 5th Anniversary show coming!


Download 64kbps mp3 (12.1 MB)


Show links
Geek Related posts on Catalyst situation
Geek Related posts on Catalyst situation
Wildfire LLC blog post
Green Ronin (The eventual DC Adventures)
Mutants and Masterminds (Green Ronin)
RPG.net Post about DC Heroes
Monsterslayers: The Heroes of Hesiod (Wizards of the Coast)
Lords of Gossamer and Shadow patronage project (Rite Publishing)
Dying Earth RPG (Pelgrane Press)
Starships and Spacemen (Goblinoid Games, via RPGNow)
Stronghold Games (Survive: Escape from Atlantis)
Bill Coffin's post on Septimus at WEGFansite
RPG.Net iPhone App Announcement
2010 Podcast Listener Survey (RPGPolls.com)

AGC Going Live for Five!

Longtime listeners will no doubt be aware that All Games Considered is approaching it's five-year anniversary! If you had ever told me it would last this long...

Well, anyway.

We're celebrating with a live show, to run over UStream, on Tuesday, May 18th, 2010, starting at 8pm Eastern time. We expect to do a few reviews, and then reminisce on the last five years, and hope our listeners, past as well as current, will join us! The audio, of course, will go out about a week later.

We're still ironing out a few technical details, so please check back to see what the final process and URL and all will be. In the meantime, if you're a podcaster, we hope you'll play this less-than-30-second promo (it's going out over the feed as well) if you have a show dropping between now and the 18th.

Thank you again, everyone out there -- we couldn't do this without you!

RPG Buffet 8 (Second Helping: Aberrant) (18:58)

With Mags and the RPG Buffet. Guest GM Josh brings a session of White Wold's supers game, Aberrant.


Download 64kbps mp3 (8.71 MB)


Show links
Aberrant (Wikipedia)
White Wolf Game Studio

AGC 128 April 27th 2010 (Share and Share Alike) (47:54)

With Mark Kinney, Carol and Mags. ConGlomeration updates. Future convention plans, and Mark wants your GenCon floor space! Bounty Head Bebop contest update. Ning forums will be closing. An aside about Pathfinder. Sharing narration and world building. Examples, from traditional to story games, and from character to scene based to building a setting. An aside on PC betrayal. Similarities with things already in traditional gaming. Setting boundries (the whole "lines and veils" thing).


Download 64kbps mp3 (21.9 MB)


Show links
ConGlomeration
Death Frost Doom (Lamentations of the Flame Princess)
Fiasco (Bully Pulpit Games)
CthulhuTech (Wildfire LLC)
HyperiCon
All Games Considered Facebook Page
FATE (Evil Hat)
Primetime Adventures (Dog-Eared Designs)
Shab-al-Hiri Roach (Bully Pulpit Games)


Promos
RPG Buffet: A Year of Dungeons & Dragons
KantCon

AGC Feedback April 24 2010 (30:52)

Recorded April 6th and 20th, 2010, with Mark, Carol, and Mags. That's right, two feedback shows for the price of one! +1 Sword reviews. Doctor Who review commentary (with an aside on fanfic and crossovers). Bang! The Bullet Edition. Opening with feedback part two, Ning is ending free services, so the forums are departing once again. Tri Tac and the hobby history episode. Bring back Greg! FATE character generation. More on Jungle Speed! AGC's romantic reputation. The extent of AGC's fan enthusiasm. The purpose of podcasting. Congrats for Carol. Awful Library Books!


Download 64kbps mp3 (14.1 MB)


Show links
Roll For Initiative
+1 Sword Review (The Enthusiast)
+1 Sword Review (Australian Comedy Review)
Bang: The Bullet Edition (Mayfair Games/daVinci Games)
All Games Considered Facebook Page
Tri Tac Games
This Just In From GenCon!
Awful Library Books


Promos
Open Design Podcast
Bear Swarm

AGC News April 22nd 2010 (25:05)

With Mark, Carol, and Mags. Gaming doing well in the recession. Some discussion of what the numbers may or may not mean. Wizards cracking down on fake tournaments in Alabama. New D&D comics! West End Games closing up shop. Erick Wujcik Diceless patronage project! Mongoose exploring the Star Wars license? Double Zero! A Conclave of Wyrms recall. Asmodee updates. Another look at the state of the hobby. Knights of the Dinner Table seeing writers! Livingstone and Jackson to attend UK Games Expo!


Download 64kbps mp3 (11.5 MB)


Show links
About Internal Correspondence (ICv2)
Wizards of the coast fake tournament lawsuit (ICv2)
Dungeons and Dragons comics (Comic Book Resources)
WEG: This is the End (Stargazer's World)
Erick Wujcik's Diceless Role-Playing (Rite Publishing)
Double Zero (Unclebear)
Conclave of Wyrms Recall thread (Board Game Geek)
Asmodee Editions US Site
I-CON
Michael Tresca's State of the Industry coverage (RPG Examiner)
Knights of the Dinner Table (Kenzer and Company)
UK Games Expo
Fighting Fantasy

RPG Buffet 7 (Year of D&D Part 3: 2nd Edition AD&D in Greyhawk) (14:51)

With Mags and the RPG Buffet. Mags runs 2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons for the RPG Buffet, with an adventure set in Greyhawk.

Here is John's lamb stew recipe:

Ingredients:
1 large onion, chopped (or substitute 2 tablespoons of Hing)
3.5 tablespoons of olive oil
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
3 pounds boneless lamb for stew, cut into 2" cubes
2 tablespoons sugar
3 cans (14.5 ounces each) beef broth
3 tablespoons tomato paste
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh chopped thyme leaves
1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary leaves
2 bay leaves
1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into 2" chunks
1 pound potatoes, cut into 2" chunks
1 package (10 ounces) frozen peas

Cook and stir onion in 1.5 teaspoons olive oil in large skillet over medium heat until clarified. Add to slow cooker. (For those with onion allergies, skip this step).

Mix flour with salt and pepper in large bowl. Dredge lamb in flour mixture. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add lamb. (For those with onion allergies, also add Hing). Cook lamb until browned on all sides. Add sugar. Mix well to coat meat. Cook several more minutes until meat is carmelized. Add to slow cooker.

Add broth to skillet and boil over high heat, scraping sides and bottom of pan to loosen browned bits. Add tomato paste, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves. Stir to combine. Pour over meat mixture in slow cooker.

Add potatoes and carrots. Cover. Cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or HIGH for 3 to 4 hours; or until vegetable and lamb are tender.

Add peas and cook 30 minutes more. Remove and discard bay leave before serving.


and Misty's Venison Stew:

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 pounds venison stew meat
3 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon salt
3 cups water

Cook in pressure cooker for 60 minutes at 15 lbs pressure. Then add:
7 small potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 pound carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces

Cooked at pressure for another 25 minutes.

Finally, combine flour and water. Stir into the stew to thicken. Remove bay leaf before serving.


Download 64kbps mp3 (6.82 MB)


Show links
2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (Wikipedia)
Greyhawk (Wikipedia)

AGC 127 April 13th 2010 (Greg Poehlein and Origins Awards) (45:43)

With Mark Kinney, Carol, Mags, and Greg Poehlein. Glad to be back at ConGlom (and to have more audience!). A few special guests in the audience. Greg Poehlein's gaming history, from Metagaming and FASA's Star Trek to Microtactix! Questions on game design. The Origins Awards -- or as many as we could fit into the remainder of the one-hour panel, with our picks! A suprise moment.


Download 64kbps mp3 (20.9 MB)


Show links
Microtactix
Origins Nominees (Tabletop Gaming News)
Origins Game Fair


Promos
The Gutter Skypes

Repost for the April 3rd Feedback Show

We had a glitch with the feedback show posting in the feed, so here it is again.

Download it here!

AGC News April 8th 2010 (22:06)

With Mark, Carol, and Mags. We're recording at ConGlomeration... at some point on Friday. The GAMA summary: the return of HeroClix (with an apparent Blackest Night spoiler), and other new games. Wizards' new Red Box, and more games in general! PAX East a success. GenCon Indy event preregistration opens real soon now! A new edition of Tsuro (and the creation of Funfair)! Tinhouse's gaming articles. The hazards of news gathering in early April. Masks of Nyarlathotep, a Companion, and some goodies from Yog-Sothoth.com! Mark briefly grouses about Changes' non-availability on the Kindle before Carol talks of the Dresden Files RPG Preorder. iPad versions of Small World and Money. Troll Lord Games launches a YouTube channel!


Download 64kbps mp3 (10.1 MB)


Show links
WizKids/NECA (HeroClix et al)
Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set (Wizards of the Coast)
Lone Shark Games (Dust and Sin)
Alderac Entertainment Group (Mad Zeppelin, Thunderstone)
Super Genius Games
PAX East
Wil Wheaton's PAX East Keynote (BoardGameNews)
GenCon Indy
Funfair (ICv2 Article)
Tinhouse Literary Magazine (Current as of 4/08/10)
Rio Grande Games News
Chaosium (Call of Cthulhu, Masks of Nyarlathotep etc)
Yog-Sothoth.com
Dresden Files RPG Preorder Information (Evil Hat)
Troll Lord Games' YouTube Channel

AGC Feedback April 3 2010 (25:27)

Recorded March 23rd, 2010, with Mark and Mags. A little about Lady Blackbird. A Manhattan Ghost Story. Acquire's national origins. Reminsicing about the hobby. Player hate. Conventions and podcasting.


Download 64kbps mp3 (11.6 MB)


Show links
Lady Blackbird (One Seven Design)
Solar Wiki
A Manhattan Ghost Story (Amazon)
Postcards From The Dungeon

AGC 126 March 30th 2010 (126th Edition) (59:33)

With Mark Kinney, Carol, Mags, and Steve. First, the AGC music minute as Mark discovers the Lord Weird Slough Feg's Traveller album, and Mags got up permission to play Sean Moron's "Pretend With Dice." Talking editions. Why a new edition of a game? Why not? Editions over the years. What might attract or repel you from a given edition? A look back at the 1995 TSR Code of Ethics.


Download 64kbps mp3 (27.2 MB)


Show links
Slough Feg's Traveller (Wikipedia)
Slaine RPG (Wikipedia)
Sean Moron's MySpace (Pretend With Dice)
TSR Code of Ethics (Grognardia)
Hays Production Code (Wikipedia)
Comics Code Authority (Wikipedia)


Promos
WIP
Amorphous Blobcast

RPG Buffet: A Year of D&D Promo (1:04)

The promo for the RPG Buffet's big Year of Dungeons and Dragons event. Let us know if you play it!

Donwload 128kbps mp3 here (.99MB)

Needle-drag.wav from Freesound.org, via http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=3536 The freesound project is licensed under the Creative Commons Sampling Plus 1.0 license.

AGC News March 25th 2010 (29:42)

With Mark, Carol, and Mags. Trouble at Catalyst Game Labs. Reports from Steve Jackson Games and Crafty Games. SpyCraft Third Edition. A Keg For Dragon. White Wolf's Grand Masquerade. Cubicle 7 recruiting for their demo teams, and releasing a Laundry Files game. Margaret Weis Productions is bringing Leverage to your tabletop. Steve Kenson takes another stab at the supers genre with ICONS. Fantasy Flight announces Deathwatch! DriveThruRPG begins convention support. I Hit It With My Axe (with an impromptu aside on a little controversy). Geek Chic's 2010 Tour. Jess Hartley's Shattered Glass Project.


Download 64kbps mp3 (13.6 MB)


Show links
Catalyst Game Labs
Steve Jackson Games Stakeholders Report
Crafty Games (Spycraft, FantasyCraft)
Crafty Games State of the Company
A Keg For Dragon (Reality Blurs) (DriveThruRPG)
The Grand Masquerade
Cubicle 7 (The Laundry)
Department 7 Recruitment (Cubicle 7)
Leverage (Margaret Weis Productions)
Leverage Quickstart (DriveThruRPG)
ICONS (Adamant Entertainment)
Deathwatch (Fantasy Flight Games)
DriveThruRPG (Find Convention Support link at bottom left)
Playing D&D With Pornstars
I Hit It With My Axe (Escapist Magazine)
Geek Chic
+1 Sword (Melbourne Comedy Festival)
Dungeon Crawl (Melbourne Comedy Festival)
Tripod vs the Dragon (Melbourne Comedy Festival)
The Shattered Glass Project (Jess Hartley)

AGC Review 4 (Doctor Who: Adventures in Time and Space) (26:37)

With Mark Kinney and Mags. Mark talks about Cubicle 7's Doctor Who: Adventures in Time and Space RPG.


Download 64kbps mp3 (12.2 MB)


Show links
Doctor Who (Cubicle 7)
Unofficial Doctor Who RPG Forum


Promos
Into The Dark

RPG Buffet 6 (Year of D&D Part 2: 1st Edition AD&D) (15:16)

With Mags and the RPG Buffet. The RPG Buffet returns with a look at 1st edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons.

Homemade Pizza Crust and Pizza Sauce (serves 8) Takes about an hour to prep, and 20 minutes to cook. (Note: to save time, there are any number or ready-to-bake pizza crusts and jarred pizza sauces available at your local grocery)

Ingredients
DOUGH:
1 (.25 ounce) envelope active dry yeast
1 cup lukewarm water
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons shortening

SAUCE:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
6 fluid ounces water
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions
1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, salt and shortening. Stir in the yeast mixture. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 45 minutes.
3. Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion until tender. Stir in tomato paste and water. Season with sugar, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, basil, oregano, marjoram, cumin, chili powder and red pepper flakes. Simmer 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Recipe makes 2 (12 inch) pizzas. Divide dough in half, and spread onto pizza pans. Cover with sauce, and desired toppings. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

Recommended toppings: Mozzarella Cheese, Diced Ham, Green Olives, Pepperoni, Italian sausage (pre-cooked), Bell peppers (thinly sliced with stems and seeds removed), Mushrooms (thinly sliced), Black olives, Fresh sweet basil (chopped), Fresh tomatoes (chopped)


Download 64kbps mp3 (7.01 MB)


Show links
1st Edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (Wikipedia)

AGC 125 March 16th 2010 (State of the Hobby) (1:05:14)

With Mark Kinney and Mags. Carol is still sick. Mags' plans for her AD&D2 Greyhawk game for the RPG Buffet. Mark's adventure at ConCave, and a quick look at one of Mark's gaming purchases, Legends of Wrestling. Mark also got a new tech toy (finally). The state of the hobby: where we've been, where we are, and how we got there (from our perspective, of course). A look at a couple of forum discussions (Red Box and the Players episode).


Download 64kbps mp3 (30.0 MB)


Show links
Martian Fluxx (Looney Labs)
Legends of Wrestling (Filsinger Games)
Ryan Dancey on the Acquisition of TSR


Promos
Gamer's Haven
The Jesus Geeks

AGC Feedback March 13 2010 (21:41)

Recorded March 9th, 2010, with Mark and Mags. A quick programming note. Starting with voicemails today. More Zune info, and large game discussion. An AGC LARP episode? Jungle Speed. More apparent AGC matchups, and KantCon. The story behind "Not A Deathtrap." Reminiscing about Shadis. Buttonmen and Frag! Feedback on the Red Box. A cooking tip for the Buffet.


Download 64kbps mp3 (9.95 MB)


Show links
Bang! (daVinci Games)
Memoir '44 (Days of Wonder)
BattleLore (Fantasy Flight Games)
Ten Buck Review
Jungle Speed English Site (Asmodee Editions)
Red November (Fantasy Flight Games)
KantCon
Orgsnization of Gamers and Roleplaying Enthusiasts)
Frag (Steve Jackson Games)
RPG Buffet: A Year of Dungeons and Dragons


Promos
Zero Fortitude

Correction to AGC News for March 11th, 2010

The AGC News Team wishes to apologize to Ms. Adrian Swartout for an error made in our most recent news episode. In the report about GenCon UK being canceled permanently, Mags identified Ms. Swartout as "Mr. Swartout" and consistently referred to "him" in the report.

As many of you are aware, Ms. Swartout is a woman. Mags in particular wishes to express her embarrassment and dismay at this mistake, and offer her personal apologies to Ms. Swartout.

Thank you.

AGC News March 11th 2010 (9:58)

With Mark and Mags. Carol is not well. Neither is GenCon UK, apparently (although there are still alternatives). Robot Chicken D&D videos no longer podcast. 3.5 Monster app for the iPhone. Free RPG Day coming June 19th!


Download 64kbps mp3 (4.58 MB)


Show links
GenCon UK is No More (UK Role Players)
UK Games Expo
DragonMeet
No More Robot Chicken D&D Podcasts (wizards.com)
Robot Chicken D&D Videos (YouTube)
3.5 Monster App (iTunes)
Free RPG Day

AGC Promo 2010 (00:58)

A new promo for the podcasters in our audience. This one is up to date for the new format and the ENnie. Let us know if you play it (and send us your promo, too).

Download the mp3 here.

Thanks!

RPG Buffet 5 (Second Helping: Lady Blackbird) (20:23)

With Mags and the RPG Buffet. Launching a new subset of the RPG Buffet to run concurrent with the Year of D&D, with the steampunk story game Lady Blackbird.


Download 64kbps mp3 (9.35 MB)


Show links
Lady Blackbird (One Seven Design)

AGC 124 March 5th 2010 (Hate The Player, Not The Game) (59:14)

With Mark Kinney, Carol, and Mags. Updates: Carol's new toy, and Mark's still working on Doctor Who stuff. Being a good player. Out of game, in game, and everything in between. Closing up on the question of "It's what my character would do..."


Download 64kbps mp3 (27.1 MB)


Show links
Mags' RPG.Net thread
RPG General Tips


Promos
NerdBound
RPG Podcasts.com

AGC Feedback March 3 2010 (24:40)

Recorded February 23rd, 2010, with Mark, Carol and Mags. "Not A Deathtrap." Shave a Sheep for Mags. The eReader question. Feedback from a Gutter Skype (on QAGS). Answers from Hex Games. More on NPCs. Mulling about gaming for large groups (not sure how helpfully, at least at this point, but we'll come back to it...)


Download 64kbps mp3 (11.3 MB)


Show links
AGC on Zune Marketplace
The Gutter Skypes
Original Rolemonkeys (links to Archive.org)
Hex Games
M-Force (Hex Games)
Quilt City Ogres on YouTube


Promos
Canon Puncture

RPG Buffet 4 (Year of D&D Part 1: Basic Set) (22:12)

With Mags and the RPG Buffet. The RPG Buffet kicks of their Year of Dungeons and Dragons with the Red Box Basic Set.

MISTY'S STUPID-EASY EGG-THINGY (BREAKFAST CASSEROLE)
1. Whip together 1 or 2 eggs per person with a little milk
2. Add any of the following: bacon, sausage, bell peppers, onion, sliced mushrooms, or tomatoes
3. Top with shredded cheese
4. Bake at 350 degrees
5. Insert toothpick or knife--if it comes out clean, the eggs are done.


Download 64kbps mp3 (10.1 MB)


Show links
Dungeons and Dragons Basic Set (Wikipedia)

AGC News February 25th 2010 (23:19)

With Mark, Carol, and Mags. The media tries the D&D murder thing again. Wizards of the Coast making new deals with Stainless Games. Tidbits from the American International Toy Fair. Thunderstone is sold out, and AEG is posting design diaries for the new L5R! Labyrinth Lord Advanced Edition Companion released. OgreCave gets a look at a possible Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG? International Traditional Gaming Week. The Dungeon Masters is now available on Amazon (in the US, anyway).


Download 64kbps mp3 (10.6 MB)


Show links
Suspect in slays [sic] fan of ‘Dungeons’(Boston Herald)
Wizards of the Coast
Stainless Games
Out of the Box Games
Playroom Entertainment
North Star Games
University Games
Thunderstone (Alderac Entertainment Group)
Legend of the Five Rings Design Diaries (EN World)
Labyrinth Lord (Goblinoid Games)
OgreCave post about possible Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG
OgreCave Audio Report from DunDraCon
Traditional Adventure Roleplaying Games Association (International Traditional Gaming Week)
The Dungeon Masters Official Site
The Dungeons Masters (Amazon.com Video On Demand)
The Dungeons Masters Trailer (TwitchFilm)
Kevin McAlester Interview (GeekWeek)

RPG Buffet 3 (2009 Catch Up Show) (1:05:47)

With Mags and the RPG Buffet. These are the games we missed last year, either due to technical or other issues. Deryni, Monkey Ninja Pirate Robot, Geist: The Sin Eaters, and CthulhuTech.

With Deryni, we did grilled lamb. No special recipe as such, but we did butterfly it! See here.

For Monkey Ninja Pirate Robot, we threw Misty a tea party, because (a) she was the GM, and (b) she loves tea! Assorted finger food were served, but the star of the show was the assortment of teas we prepared.
How to make the perfect cuppa

How to make the perfect cup of green tea
How to make the perfect cup of jasmine tea

Geist was chili night! Here's Mags's White Chili recipe:
1 lb large white beans, soaked overnight in water, drained
6 cups chicken broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium onions, chopped (divided)
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 4-ounce cans chopped green chilies
2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
4 cups diced cooked chicken
3 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, chopped (optional)

1. Combine beans, chicken broth, garlic and half the onions in a large soup pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until beans are very soft, 3 hours or more. Add additional water (or watered-down broth), if necessary.
2. In a skillet, sauté remaining onions in oil until tender. Add chilies and seasonings and mix thoroughly. Add to bean mixture. Add chicken and continue to simmer 1 hour. Check seasoning, add jalapeno or serrano to level of desired hotness.
3. Serve topped with grated cheese. Garnish with cilantro, chopped fresh tomato, salsa, chopped scallions, and/or guacamole. Serve with fresh warmed flour tortillas or tortilla chips.
8-10 servings

Finally, Mags made Quick Beef Stew for Cthulhu Tech:
2 pounds boneless sirloin steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 package McCormick® Beef Stew Seasoning
3 cups water
1 bag (24 ounces) frozen vegetables for stew OR 5 cups cut up vegetables

1. Coat beef with flour. Heat oil in large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sirloin cubes and sauté until browned. Drain.
2. Add seasoning, water, and vegetables and stir well. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
Makes 8 servings


Download 64kbps mp3 (30.1 MB)


Show links
Deryni Adventure Game (Grey Ghost Games)
Katherine Kurtz Official Website
Codex Deryianus (Barnes and Noble)
Monkey Ninja Pirate Robot (Atomic Sock Monkey Press)
Monkey Ninja Pirate Robot Board Game (Atomic Sock Monkey Press)
Geist: The Sin-Eaters (White Wolf)
Geist Quickstart (DriveThruRPG)
CthulhuTech (Wildfire)
Editions of Dungeons and Dragons (Wikipedia)


Promos
Wandering Geek Podcast
Sound of Young America
Role Playing Public Radio
Brilliant Gameologists
Nuketown Radioactive
TinyURL
The Bears Grove
The Podge Cast
Vorpal Network

AGC Review 3 (QAGS) (14:33)

With Mark Kinney, Carol, and Mags. Mags gives us a glance at Hex Games' Quick Ass Game System (QAGS).


Download 64kbps mp3 (6.68 MB)


Show links
Hex Games (QAGS and Sourcebooks)


Promos
The Gutter Skypes

New Voice Mail Number!

Well, the voice mail number expired again.

The new one is 206-338-1081.

AGC 123 February 16th 2010 (Non-Playing With Character) (56:48)

With Mark Kinney, Carol, and Mags. Skyping due to Snowpocalypse. Convention talk. A quick look at The Dresden Files. The Boom Effect. The AGC Game Tourney continues to return, and we need your help! The new show: fandom showdowns and stuff like that (and yeah, Mark knows its been done, but we may have a twist). Mark is considering eBook readers. NPCs: what are they and how do you use them. We also present our favorite NPCs from our games. Building an effective major NPC (and how players decide this about as often as the GM). NPC as foil. The mechanical side of NPCs. Books to help with NPCs. The 3x3x3 (or making the players help you create NPCs). Pictures: to use or not? The perils of established setting characters. Next time: being a good player!


Download 64kbps mp3 (26.0 MB)


Show links
PlattCon
Fear The Con
ConNooga
The Dresden Files RPG
The Boom Effect
Hamster Press
RPG Athenaeum
100 Motives for Commoners on the Street (RPG Athenaeum)
100 Descriptors for Nondescript NPCS (RPG Athenaeum)
RPG Athenaeum Downloads
Creating NPCs (Treasure Tables)
One Sentence NPC Generator (Roleplaying Tips)
DeviantArt
Elfwood


Promos
Conjurations 2010
The wandering Geek Podcast

AGC Feedback February 13 2010 (13:44)

Recorded February 9th, 2010, with Mark, Carol and Mags. Still on Skype. Moffet's Who, with a segue into Coupling. Translating media from Britain to the US. Conventions on our to-do list. Guerilla podcasts, Big Trouble, and dungeon crawls. Random dungeons. Settlers on the iPhone.


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Show links
ConGlomeration
Fear The Con
HyperiCon
GenCon
Origins Game Fair
MilleniCon
BashCon
Ben's DragonStorm interview (AGCExtra 6)
The Free RPG Blog
Dyson's Random Morph Map
iPhone Settlers of Catan

AGC News February 11th 2010 (28:47)

With Mark, Carol, and Mags. On Skype, due to Snowpocalypse 2010.3 (or DeathSnow 2010, depending on who you ask). Help for Haiti! Wizards opting out of Star Wars license. Castle Ravenloft, the boardgame, and other bits of news from D&D Experience! Congrats to Ogre Cave! Steve Jackson is the Greatest of the Great Gaming Geeks! New Lego Games. The Natcher-Tucholka Wedding (see pictures below)! A last minute addition for Matt James' RPG Books for the Wounded.







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Show links
Doctors Without Borders
Castle Ravenloft (Amazon.com)
Wizards of the Coast (Dungeons and Dragons, Gamma World, etc.)
Ogre Cave
30 Great Gaming Geeks (geekosystem.com)
Steve Jackson's Statement
Lego Boardgame Info from BoardGameNews
Tri Tac Games
RPG Books For The Wounded (Loremaster.org)
RPG Books For tHe Wounded Amazon Wishlist

AGCExtra 36 February 7th 2010 (Guild of Blades) (27:01)

Ben Balestra talks to Ryan Johnson of Guild of Blades.


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Show links
Guild of Blades

AGC 122 February 2nd 2010 (Down in the Dungeon) (1:03:31)

With Mark Kinney, Carol, and Mags. Mark was on another show. You Can Hack It. Help a podcaster? The return of the AGC Game Tourney? Dice Camera Action coming back as a media review show? League of Gentlemen is legitimately on YouTube (and we drop into Doctor Who as a result). Super Bowl games! Dungeon Crawls! Challenging the definition a little. Reminiscing on dungeon crawls past, and confusion over the ordering of the S series. Board and card games that carry on the dungeon crawl image. Tips for the modern dungeon crawler. A few other program notes.

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Show links
Mark's Kicked in the Dicebags appearance [Explicit]
You Can Hack It
Help for Tee Morris
League of Gentlemen on YouTube
Super Bowl Bingo Cards
Blood Bowl (Games Workshop)
The Free RPG Blog
The Definitive Dungeon Crawl Geeklist (Board Game Geek)
The Adventuring Party


Promos
The Free RPG Blog
NerdBound Podcast

AGC Feedback January 30 2010 (19:53)

Recorded January 26th, 2009, with Mark, Carol and Mags. Yeah, it's late. A little bit about HARP. Tiny Box Sets. Thanks for the new banner and logo (finally)! Talking about Cold City. The Kicked in the Dicebags visit. Voicemails! More bloopers? More about BySwarm. Asides on Google Wave.


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Show links
HARP (Iron Crown Enterprises)
Untold: The Game
DragonStorm
Cold City (Contested Ground Studios)
Mark's Appearance on Kicked in the Dicebags (Explicit and stuff...)
BySwarm


Promos
The Babylon Podcast

AGC News January 27th 2010 (32:02)

With Mark, Carol, and Mags. Gamers give to Haiti. Wisconsin prison D&D ban. Eden Studios returning! The status of Septimus. The One Ring RPG! An aside into The Dresden Files. A free Kobold Quarterly download for a limited time. TARGA's 2010 Pledge and Auction Drive for GaryCon and a Gygax statue. Free RPG Sound Mixer. Reiner Knizia's Money as an iPhone app. Also, Rio Grande brings us Dream Factory. Days of Wonder brings another Mystery Express. Forbidden Island, a new Matt Leacock game coming this spring. A new Heroscape D&D set. A live streaming Biggest Damn Review Show Evar? A new Heroscape D&D set.


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Show links
DriveThruRPG Haiti Relief Special (through January 31, 2010)
Wisconsin Prison D&D Ban Upheld
7th Circuit Court decision pdf
7th Circuit Court oral argument mp3
Slashdot Comment Highlighting Possible Ban Reasons
Eden Studios Returns!
Eric Gibson Posts About Septimus
Cubicle 7 (The One Ring)
Sophisticated Games (The One Ring)
Dresden Files RPG (Evil Hat)
A Free Kobold Quarterly Download (through January 31st, 2010)
TARGA 2010 Pledge and Auction Drive
Traditional Adventure Role Play Game Association (TARGA)
Scene Sound
Reiner Knizia's Money (iTunes Link)
Dream Factory (Rio Grande Games)
Mystery Express Slideshow (Days of Wonder)
Heroscape Dungeons and Dragons Battle for the Underdark (Wizards of the Coast)

RPG Buffet 2 (Army of Darkness... with a Twist) (11:46)

With Mags and the RPG Buffet. RPG BUFFET PRESENTS....Frankenhooker, using Army of Darkness rules from Eden Studios! Recorded live at Louisville's newest gaming store, Role of the Die!

We recorded this back in September, and Rebecca joins us for a review. The unusual background noise is the sound of customers entering and leaving Role of the Die, a comic store which kindly acted as host for our September game. No recipe this month, as we decided to have supper at Sitar, a fantastic Indian restaurant just around the corner from RotD.


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Show links
Eden Studios (Army of Darkness)
About Sitar Restaurant

RPG Buffet 1 (Star Wars Saga Edition) (15:44)

With Mags and the RPG Buffet. We recorded this back in March, and Carol from AGC makes a surprise appearance. The audio isn't fantastic, but our enthusiasm for this excellent RPG shines through.

Beef Fajitas
Via CooksRecipes.com

Marinade:
4 large cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 dash ground oregano
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon kosher or coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Steak:
2 pounds skirt steak, trimmed and cut into large pieces to fit on a grill or broiler pan

Vegetables:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 medium assorted colored bell peppers, seeded, membrane removed, sliced thin
1 large red onion, halved and sliced thin
2 large cloves garlic, finely minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (leaves only)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Kosher or coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Accompaniment:
1 dozen tortillas, warmed

1. In a large zip-lock style plastic bag, combine garlic, lime juice, cumin, oregano, oil, salt and pepper. Add steak to the marinade, seal bag, removing as much air as possible, and turn to coat well. Marinate for at least 1 hour at room temperature, or overnight in the refrigerator, turning occasionally.

2. Remove steak from marinade and drain well. Grill steak on a well-oiled rack set about 5-inches over glowing coals for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until it is just springy to the touch, for medium-rare meat. (Or steak may be broiled on rack of a broiler pan under a preheated broiler about 4-inches from heat for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare meat.) Transfer steak to a cutting board and let it stand for 10 minutes.

3. While the steak is standing, in a large skillet heat oil over medium-high heat until hot, add bell peppers, onion and garlic; sauté the mixture, stirring, for 5 minutes, or until bell peppers are softened. Remove from heat and stir in the cilantro and lime juice; season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Slice steak thin across the grain on the diagonal and arrange slices on a platter with vegetable mixture. Drizzle any steak juices over entire mixture.

5. Serve with warmed tortillas.

Makes 6 servings. Excellent served with Guacamole, Pico de Gallo, sour cream, and your favorite tequila!


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Show links
Star Wars Saga Edition (Wizards of the Coast)

AGC Review 2 (Roman Taxi) (16:27)

With Mark Kinney and Mags. Mark looks at Bucephalus Games' Roman Taxi boardgame.


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Show links
Roman Taxi (Bucephalus Games)


Promos
The Secret Lair

Stepping up...

I know we've run promos for some of author Tee Morris' work (things like Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword, Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Pitcher's Pendant, and Morevi: The Chronicles of Rafe and Askana) at one time or another on AGC. He is also a prolific podcaster, and a big booster of especially the podcast fiction community, and surely people who are seeing this on any of our sites have probably already heard about it elsewhere first. If not, though, I thought I should spread the word here.

As noted over at Phillipa Ballantine's blog, he's had a personal loss recently, leaving him to raise a young daughter alone. She has set up a ChipIn account (the widget is in the blog post linked above) to help out with connected expenses, and gives somewhat more full details there.

If we've somehow helped you to find his work and you've enjoyed his many efforts in writing and podcasting, we hope you'll help a little bit now.

AGCExtra 35 January 4th 2010 (BashCon 2009 Part 2) (21:04)

Ben Balestra talks to the guys from Amorphous Blob Games and the Amorphous Blobcast.


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Show links
Amorphous Blob Games


Promos
RPGPodcasts.Com
The Great Debate

AGC 121 December 29th 2009 (Happy New Year V) (1:57:13)

With Mark Kinney, Carol, Mags, and Carinn Seabolt. Sean Patrick Fannon was supposed to join us as well, but for timing and technical difficulties. Talking about the handfasting. Tents and lights, three gallons of Steak 'n' Shake chili, and wedding night pranks. Character sheet cakes. 2009 Year In Review. Games came to our attention, conventions were attended, our town hosted a succession of natural disasters, and we lost some notables. Ringing in the new year (and a warning about Mags' singing...). Show topics for the future (pulled from the Bounty Head Bebop entries), and discussion of a few of them as we go.


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Show links
Sean and Carinn's handfasting (Livestream)
ConGlomeration
Lady Blackbird (One.Seven Design)



Promos
Wandering Geek Podcast
RPGPodcasts.Com
J.C. Hutchins (7th Son: Descent)

AGCExtra 34 December 26th 2009 (BashCon 2009 Part 1) (21:42)

Ben Balestra brings us interviews from BashCon 2009.


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Show links
Nodwick
HiddenGrid Podcast
Twin Blade Games
Mayfair Games

AGC Review 1 (Cold City) (18:40)

With Mark Kinney and Mags. Mags gives us a reading look at Contested Ground Studio's Cold City.


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Show links
Cold City (Contested Ground Studios)


Promos
Adventures of Indiana Jim

Games You May Never Have Heard Of 2 (Trailer Park Wars) (7:14)

With Ben Balestra. In this "Lost Episode" edition, Ben discusses Gut Bustin' Games' Trailer Park Wars.


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Show links
Trailer Park Wars (Gut Bustin' Games)


Promos
BoardGamePodcasts.Com

AGC 120 December 15th 2009 (Feeding Your Raiding Party) (55:31)

With Mark Kinney, Carol, and Mags. Mark gets confused (because of recording order) and the hazards of recording on a Linux platform. Gaming updates (Traveller, Vampire, Star Wars, Fringeworthy, and the RPG Buffet Card and Board Game Night). Webcomic artist Jennifer "Scraps" Walker joins us to talk about food and her proposed cookbook project, What To Feed Your Raiding Party. Carol brings us Wisdom of the Gamers on epic sessions. ConGlomeration has a new web site! The upcoming New Years Show and the holiday break! See you in (or about) 2010!


Download 64kbps mp3 (25.4 MB)


Show links
Random Acts Comics
What To Feed Your Raiding Party
What To Feed Your Raiding Party (Kickstarter)
ConGlomeration


Promos
The Gamer's Haven
New World Orders (Edward G. Talbot)

AGC Feedback December 12 2009 (12:14)

Recorded December 8th, 2009, with Mark, Carol and Mags. Voicemail calls about visits to our fair city (accompanied by a little gift chatter, and an email about the format. No bourbon was harmed in the production of this episode.


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Show links
4th Street Live
Louisville Game Shop
7th Son: Descent (J.C. Hutchins)
Scott Sigler


Promos
Solid Symbols

AGC News December 10th 2009 (15:45)

With Mark, Carol, and Mags. Games Workshop Cease and Desist letters, including to Board Game Geek! Wizards layoffs. The new Scrabble champion! Black Diamond Games shares its outlook on RPG market share (and allows Mark to mention Negativland). Kobold Quarterly's Adopt-A-Soldier Contest. Troubles at the Power Source.


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Show links
Games Workshop
List of sites send C&Ds (DakkaDakka)
Board Game Geek thread on C&Ds
Chilling Effects page on C&Ds
Gone to Ground (the comic Mark mentions)
Black Diamond Games RPG Market Share article
Kobold Quarterly Adopt-A-Soldier Contest
Adopt-A-Soldier Sponsorship
Power Source Podcast
Scott Rehm's Open Letter

Games You May Never Have Heard Of 1 (GenCon 2009 Gaming Accessories and the First WeddingCon) (20:04)

With Ben Balestra. Ben talks about an assortment of gaming accessories, and WeddingCon '97.


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Show links
GameMastery Combat Pad (Paizo Publishing)
Alea Tools
Dark Platypus Studios
WeddingCon 2009


Promos
The Gutter Skypes

Game Cryer Gift Guide: Mutant City Blues

Find more great holiday gift ideas at the 2009 Game Cryer Gift Guide!

Mutant City Blues by Robin D. Laws, published by Pelgrane Press, 192 pages, $39.95. Book purchased by reviewer (Mark Kinney).


I like a game that scratches multiple itches.

This kind of game can pull flex time, depending on my particular mood, or serve as a gateway from one genre to another. In the case of Pelgrane Press' Mutant City Blues, these are the police procedural and supers genres.

Ten years ago, one percent of humanity developed powers. Since then, society has adjusted around them, with a special police unit formed specifically to deal with these perpetrators, the Heightened Crimes Investigation Unit. This combinaton of "Law and Order" and "CSI" with the postmodern supers style of "Heroes" makes for an interesting mix.

The core of the game is the GUMSHOE system, also created by Robin Laws and first seen in Pelgrane's The Esoterrorists. The system has matured over numerous releases, and this is the first GUMSHOE game not based in some horror setting. This point-based system assumes that characters with the appropriate investigative skills will pick up the clues, insuring that a bad roll won't keep information out of the players' hands. Point spends may reveal even more information, and the players must interpret the data they receive. This game does require preparation, though; a GM approaching this should have an idea of what clues are available in a given scene, and where they're pointing.

The non-investigative skills work similarly, as do powers; these are treated as skills, with point spends added to a d6 roll. Combat does get a little clunky, but everything else runs fairly smooth. A few of these work differently -- Health and (mental) Stability, for example -- but when it comes down to it, the meat of the mechanics are in skills.

Best of all is the highly developed background; ten years of study and people living with these odd powers shows in the setting, complete with forensic details of various power usage and legal ramifications of powers ranging from telepathy to emotion control to self-detonation. Society changed in response to the powers arising, and this game doesn't dodge the issue.

In addition, Mutant City Blues never forgets that it is, at heart, a police procedural, and contains guidance at running a police game, and could easily be used just for that by ditching the powers. At the same time, the home city of the game is kept generic enough to be placed in your group's large city of choice.

The powers are relatively low-key (barring things like self-detonation). There are no time-traveling Hiro Nakamuras or power-aborbing Peter Patrellis in this game; in fact, power development is governed by the Quade Diagram, which shows connections between various powers and limits any multiply-powered characters to some sort of theme. Additionally, certain defects tend to crop up as well, making the life of the Heightened just a little more interesting.

As I've said on the podcast, this is not the game that will take the place of your favorite supers game, if you already have one. What it does instead is give you a terrific investigative engine coupled with legal and forensic considerations of powers, something that almost never comes up in a standard supers story. For me, it's more what I go for when I have that police procedural itch. The super powers are gravy.

AGC 119 December 1st 2009 (Lamentations of the Flame Princess) (55:07)

With Mark Kinney, Mags, and James Edward Raggi IV. A discussion of gaming, inspirations, and the products of Lamentations of the Flame Princess in particular (Death Frost Doom, No Dignity In Death: The Three Brides, People of Pembrooktonshire, and The Grinding Gear).


Download 64kbps mp3 (25.2 MB)


Show links
Random Esoteric Creature Generator For Classic Fantasy Role Playing Games And Their Modern Simulacra (Goodman Games)
Laura Jalo's DeviantArt Page
Lamentations of the Flame Princess
James' Blog


Promos
The Great Debate
J.C. Hutchins (7th Son: Descent)

AGC Feedback November 28 2009 (15:08)

Recorded November 24th, 2009, with Mark and Mags. Names get cleared up, zombie movies get watched the Steven King way, Mark enthuzes about Stargate, wrong numbers get called, Fringe Pirates and Bureau 13, Chill, and more on the new format.


Download 64kbps mp3 (6.95 MB)


Show links
Dark Conspiracy (Wikipedia)
Fringeworthy Podcast
Tri Tac Games (Fringeworthy, Bureau 13)
Chill (OtherWorld Creations)
Empire Games (I Drank What?)


Promos
Narrative Control

AGC News November 26th 2009 (7:02)

With Mark and Mags. Monte Cook to write a Pathfinder adventure. FreeMarket beta is open. Gold Season 1 DVD raising funds. Steve Jackson Games developing some new dice games.


Download 64kbps mp3 (3.24 MB)


Show links
Paizo Publishing (Pathfinder)
Project Donut (FreeMarket)
GOLD The Series
GOLD Season 1 DVD Club (Kickstarter)
Zombie Dice (Steve Jackson Games)
Cthulhu Dice (Steve Jackson Games)

AGC Feedback November 21 2009 (14:21)

Recorded November 10th, 2009. Mark and Mags cover feedback, including: Pirate vs Pirate coming in the near future, the Fringeworthy podcast, chunks, Old School gaming, swine flu, and the Stars being Right.


Download 64kbps mp3 (6.59 MB)


Show links
Out of the Box Publishing (Ninja vs Ninja)
Fringeworthy Podcast
Fringeworthy (Tri Tac Games)
Myriad Games
Museum of Role Playing Games
LouisvilleRPG.Com
Bushido (Wikipedia)
Chivalry and Sorcery (Wikipedia)


Promos
Canon Puncture
Swing and a Miss

AGC Interview 2 (Ron Edwards) (15:08)

At GenCon 2009, Carol talked to Ron Edwards of the Forge.


Download 64kbps mp3 (6.95 MB)


Show links
The Forge
Adept Press


Promos
Podictionary

AGC 118 November 17th 2009 (A Hunting We Will Go Part 2) (28:39)

With Mark Kinney and Mags. A few notes before we continue. Hunting games with independent organizations, and otherwise.


Download 64kbps mp3 (13.1 MB)


Show links
Apocalype Prevention Inc (Third Eye Games)
Hex Games (M-Force)
Ghostbusters (Wikipedia)
Inspectres (Memento-Mori Theatricks)
Chill (Wikipedia)
Margaret Weis Productions (Demon Hunters)
Dead Gentlemen Productions (Demon Hunters)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Eden Studios)
The Esoterrorists (Pelgrane Press)
Call of Cthulhu (Chaosium)
Cold City (Contested Ground Studios)
The Mountain Witch (Wikipedia)
Witch Hunter: The Invisible World (Paradigm Concepts)
Colonial Gothic (Rogue Games)
Demongate High (TremorWorks)
Arkham Horror (Fantasy Flight Games)
Zombie Fluxx (Looney Labs)



Promos
Canon Puncture
Solid Symbols

AGC News November 14th 2009 (11:35)

With Mark and Mags. A possible publishing target for the Dresden Files RPG? Settlements in the WotC Piracy case. Magnum Opus press to serialize Jonny Nexus' Game Night on EN World. MagiQuest. Monty Haul gaming tables.


Download 64kbps mp3 (5.33 MB)


Show links
The Dresden Files RPG (Evil Hat Productions)
Jonny Nexus
Magnum Opus Press (Game Night)
EN World
MagiQuest
Monty Haul Gaming Tables

AGC 117 November 12th 2009 (A Hunting We Will Go Part 1) (24:15)

With Mark Kinney and Mags. Stargate: Universe and V. Some updates and an explaination of the new format, and the first half of a discussion of monster hunting games. We start with an extensive discussion of White Wolf's offerings, then moving on to Bureau 13, Delta Green, and Conspiracy X.


Download 64kbps mp3 (11.1 MB)


Show links
Kicked in the Dicebags
White Wolf Game Studio (Hunter: The Reckoning, Hunter: The Vigil, et al)
Bureau 13: Stalking The Night Fantastic (Tri Tac Games)
Delta Green (Pagan Publishing)
Call of Cthulhu (Chaosium)
Conspiracy X (Eden Studios)



Promos
RPGPodcasts.com
The Babylon Podcast

AGC Interview 1 (Rick Maffei) (19:39)

In the first installment of All Games Considered's new format, Mark talks to Rick Maffei about the writing of Age of Cthulhu: Madness in London Town, horror, and playtesting.


Download 64kbps mp3 (9.02 MB)


Show links
Age of Cthulhu: Madness In London Town (Goodman Games)
Jabberwock's Rest


Promos
7th Son: Descent (J.C. Hutchins)
Yog Radio

AGC 116 October 29th 2009 (Age of Cthulhu Interviews) (1:07:51)

With Mark Kinney and Carol. A little news. Carol interviews Brad and Jessica McDevitt (Interior art and layout for Age of Cthulhu), and Mark talks to Ken Hart and Mike Ferguson (Editor and writer for Age of Cthulhu 3: Shadows of Leningrad). The winners of the Bounty Head Bebop contest!


Download 64kbps mp3 (31.0 MB)


Show links
Diaspora (VSCA Publishing)
Diaspora SRD
NeonCon
bySwarm
Fringeworthy Podcast
Alpha Omega Starter Bundle (Mind Storm Labs)
Age of Cthulhu (Goodman Games)
Brad McDevitt
Emerald Lich (Mike Ferguson's Blog)
Ken Hart's LiveJournal


Promos
Ninjas vs Pirates
7th Son: Descent (J.C. Hutchins)
Zero Fortitude


Contact Us!
allgamesconsidered@gmail.com
gamesyounever@yahoo.com (Ben Balestra)
carolatagc@gmail.com (Carol)
agcmags@gmail.com (Mags)
Mark's Twitter
Carol's Twitter
Mags' Twitter
NachtMedia Twitter
Nachtmedia Community

AGC 115 October 20th 2009 (36 Chambers of Big Damn Review Show) (1:31:44)

With Mark Kinney, Carol, Mags, and Steve. Getting right to business after an interesting week. Carol covers Goblin Markets. Mark talks Ninja vs Ninja. Mags brings us Pandemic. Mark revisits the world of Alpha Omega with The Encountered: Volume 1. Carol reviews Swords at Dawn. Mags talks about Dominion and Dominion: Intrigue. Steve steps in to talk about Geist: The Sin-Eaters. Feedback, and some impending format changes?


Download 64kbps mp3 (42.0 MB)


Show links
White Wolf Game Studios (Goblin Markets, Swords at Dawn, Geist: The Sin-Eaters)
Ninja vs Ninja (Out of the Box)
Pandemic (Z-Man Games)
Pandemic Design Lecture (YouTube)
The Encountered: Volume 1 (Mind Storm Labs)
Rio Grande Games (Dominion and Dominion: Intrigue)
Jess Hartley's Conventions for the Aspiring Game Professional (Flames Rising)
HyperiCon
Man About Town (+1 Sword Review)
Buzzcuts (+1 Sword Review)


Promos
This Modern Death
The Gutter Skypes
International Detective Dragons From Outer Space
Order 66
Quarter Share (Nathan Lowell)


Contact Us!
allgamesconsidered@gmail.com
gamesyounever@yahoo.com (Ben Balestra)
carolatagc@gmail.com (Carol)
agcmags@gmail.com (Mags)
Mark's Twitter
Carol's Twitter
Mags' Twitter
NachtMedia Twitter
Nachtmedia Community

AGC News October 15th 2009 (19:48)

With Mark, Mags, and Carol. Scott Rouse leaving Wizards of the Coast. An advance look at the Games 100 list. Goodman Games 3E "Stimulus Package." Chrysalis Revolt, a free game from Happy Bishop! Arcane Legions. voting is open for the Windhammer Prize. Mark's observation about Q-Workshop's efforts in conjunction with game companies. Skirmisher Press launches the Mythos Society. From the makers of 1960: Making of the President, the chance to relive the 2008 election as well!


Download 64kbps mp3 (9.09 MB)


Show links
Scott Rouse leaves Wizards of the Coast (EN World)
Games Magazine
Games 100 List (Funagain.com)
Goodman Games Tradein Offer
Happy Bishop Games (The Chrysalis Revolt 2709 - 2710)
Arcane Legions (Wells Expeditions)
Windhammer Prize
Q-Workshop
Mythos Society (Skirmisher Press)
Campaign Manager 2008 (Z-Man Games)


Contact Us!
allgamesconsidered@gmail.com
gamesyounever@yahoo.com (Ben Balestra)
carolatagc@gmail.com (Carol)
agcmags@gmail.com (Mags)

A More Intimate Horror: Our Ladies Of Sorrow

Our Ladies of Sorrow, written by Kevin Ross, published by Miskatonic River Press, 2009. www.miskatonicriverpress.com. 152 pages. $34.95 print. Review PDF provided.

Call of Cthulhu is, for good reason, a classic horror RPG, and long the standard by which others are measured. While the concept of investigating the strange and alien backgrounds of the Cthulhu Mythos is classic, on back to Lovecraft's tales and even before, Miskatonic River Press' Our Ladies of Sorrow reminds us it truly is a common element of a lot of horror tales, even the more personal ones presented within. Within the introduction, we see the tropes of such Japanese imports and adaptions as The Ring (Ringu) and The Grudge (Ju-On) set into far more familiar territory, and the Call of Cthulhu mechanics fit them like the layers of slime on a Deep One.

Like these stories, Our Ladies of Sorrow presents a trio of malevolent spirits, often equated with other mythical trios like the Fates, Furies, or Gorgons; we find at their core the Three Sisters, with their focus on the insane, outcast, and mournful. They are also connected to Hecate, or for a full Mythos injection the text even mentions Nyarlathotep, but even this isn't entirely necessary for the story to work, and this series (since, much as the text recommends, this works better interspersed with other stories than run concurrently as a campaign in and of itself) of modern-day horror tales is entirely self contained. Apart from a few possible uses of Mythos knowledge to help move things along in the adventures, the only other solid connection with mainline Call of Cthulhu is some commentary about using these scenarios with Delta Green. With that, we dive into the world of the Three Sisters, wherein we find not just the realm of the supernatural, but touches of our own modern mythologies.

In "House of Shadows," the investigators, in a small college town (left mostly open in the text, but the description of which reminded me very much of Bowling Green, Kentucky, home of my own alma mater -- all it took to fit was changing names and a few other facts), witness the death of an old man in the street. Connecting this to an old woman speaking to him right before the event, clues lead to his home, an old apartment building with a tragic past and an alarming number of "Night Hag" attacks among its population. That which drove the man to death has its grip on others around him, and maybe even an investigator or two before it's over. This scenario not only deals in its own mystery, but sets up the investigators to be pulled into future events.

"Desert of Sighs" places the action firmly in northwestern Arizona, where a group of college students are missing in a stretch of the Mojave Desert known for attracting those seeking spiritual fulfillment, and also for disappearances of those who have entered. Brought to the area to help in the search, the investigators find themselves confronted with the reappearance of the one they went to find, but his friends still lost in the mazes and formations of the Desert of Sighs. With a definite tinge of "otherness" about it, this scenario demands the most pushing by the Keeper to get the group to the meat of the story, but does its best to provide those means from a number of directions.

"River of Tears" takes place in a small river town (the fictional Baleford, Illinois in the text, but any smallish midwestern river town with a sizable Hispanic population will work) haunted by the ghostly child-killer La Llorona. Called in by a contact from a prior scenario, and specifically called out by the ghost itself, the investigators must face this threat to themselves and the children of the town, amid the heightened tension of impending storm and flood.

"The Final Cut" is an epilogue, where the investigators learn more about the background of the Sisters, and come to face a horrific choice.

Each scenario sets the scene, describes the players, and points to an act structure, leaving the Keeper to shape the specifics depending on investigator action and other needs. Connections abound in the adventures, with dreams and events pointing to aspects of future scenarios and the epilogue, and the subsequent scenarios calling back to that old apartment building where the investigators first came to the Sisters' attention. Keepers might struggle a little with the small details, making sure the clues find their way into the investigators' paths, but this allows for the more direct attention the vengeful ghost genre demands, and this series benefits immensely from that kind of careful work.

Additional materials include two new spells, six pages of the handouts expected of a Call of Cthulhu adventure, suggested reading and other media, and a story that inspired (and is mentioned within) this adventure series, Thomas De Quincey's "Levana and Our Ladies of Sorrow."

Our Ladies of Sorrow presents a nice break from the cosmically indifferent entities of more classical tales, and for the Keeper of Arcane Lore looking for something with a slightly different flavor, its intimately creepy series of modern Cthulhu stories is well worth checking out.

Want to learn more about Our Ladies of Sorrow? Read
on...

• Atomic Array: Our Ladies of Sorrow (Atomic Array 033)


• Game Cryer: Review by Chris Perrin


• All Games Considered: A More Intimate Horror


• Apathy Blogs: Modern Maidens of Myth


• Critical Hits: Modern Gaming Scary Women


• Gnome Stew: by Matthew Neagley


• Bartleby: Levana and Our Ladies of Sorrow

Drop by Miskatonic River Press today!

AGC 114 October 6th 2009 (Gaming From The Past In The Future!) (1:26:58)

With Mark Kinney, Carol, and Mags. Illness, Carol's class reunion, and d20 stats for nice shoes. Mark's adventure in the RPG.net Other Media Fantasy Wrestling Draft, and fictional pursuits. Podcast appearances. Old School and the retroclone! What is Old School? Games You May Never Have Heard Of: Mutant Future! Mark reviews some products from Lamentations of the Flame Princess (No Dignity In Death: The Three Brides, People of Pembrooktonshire, and Death Frost Doom). Mags is creeped out by a conflation of horror inspirations. Retroclone games. Reminiscing on old school gaming experiences, and both original and clones. Wrapping up with the legal questions. Shooting FRED. Need some more Bounty Head Bebop entries. In the future, stuff is coming.


Download 64kbps mp3 (39.8 MB)


Show links
Tales of the Children (P.G. Holyfield)
Amorphous Blobcast
The Great Debate
War Pig Radio
Quick Primer for Old School Gaming (Lulu)
Mutant Future (Goblinoid Games)
Random Esoteric Creature Creator (Goodman Games)
Lamentations of the Flame Princess (No Dignity in Death, People of Pembrooktonshire, Death Frost Doom)
Traveller Reprints (Far Future Enterprises)
Traveller (Mongoose Publishing)
Empire of the Petal Throne (RPGNow)
Meanwhile...
HackMaster 4th (Kenzer and Company)
HackMaster Basic (Kenzer and Company)
Epées & Sorcellerie
Microlite74
Microlite20
Searchers of the Unknown
Castles and Crusades (Troll Lord Games)
Swords and Wizardry (Mythmere Games)
Basic Fantasy Role Playing Game
Labyrinth Lord (Goblinoid Games)
Old School Reference and Index Compilation (OSRIC)
Tiny AD&D Book Information
Mazes and Minotaurs
Spellcraft and Swordplay
ZeFRS
4C System
Basic Roleplaying (Chaosium)
Generic Old School Roleplaying Engine (RPGNow/Goblinoid Games)
Dragonsfoot
Knights and Knaves Alehouse
OSRIC Legal Stuff Mark Mentioned (EN World)
Will Hero RPG stop a bullet? (YouTube)

Promos
Canon Puncture
Hamishakia
Solid Symbols
Podictionary


Contact Us!
allgamesconsidered@gmail.com
gamesyounever@yahoo.com (Ben Balestra)
carolatagc@gmail.com (Carol)
agcmags@gmail.com (Mags)
Mark's Twitter
Carol's Twitter
Mags' Twitter
NachtMedia Twitter
Nachtmedia Community

AGCExtra 33 October 3rd 2009 (Bounty Head Bebop and Talismania Revised Part 2) (25:22)

Carol sits down with J.P. deHanaut to discuss Bounty Head Bebop, new rules, supplements, and a new ruleset to add to the spacefaring fun or to play on its own. Chris Heim and Logan Masterson follow up with Talismania Revised! Part 2: The Reaper!


Download 64kbps mp3 (11.6 MB)


Show links
Bounty Head Bebop (Heroic Journey Publishing)
Talisman (Fantasy Flight Games)
Talisman Pics


Contact Us!
allgamesconsidered@gmail.com
gamesyounever@yahoo.com (Ben Balestra)
agcchris@gmail.com (Chris Heim)
carolatagc@gmail.com (Carol)
agcmags@gmail.com (Mags)

AGCExtra 32 October 1st 2009 (Looking Ahead to NeonCon 2009) (33:23)

Mark talks to Doug Daulton of NeonCon, in Las Vegas, Nevada, about planned activities and their GamesU "Unconference." For those listeners who might attend, there is talk of a promo code in there as well...


Download 64kbps mp3 (15.3 MB)


Show links
NeonCon
NeonCon on Facebook
NeonCon 2009 Fan Page on Facebook
NeonCon on Twitter


Contact Us!
allgamesconsidered@gmail.com
gamesyounever@yahoo.com (Ben Balestra)
carolatagc@gmail.com (Carol)
agcmags@gmail.com (Mags)