Episode 0029: Storygaming

We are joined in the Lair by one Mick Bradley, who can be heard on the Canon Puncture podcast discussing all manner of things related to tabletop gaming. These are apparently games that can be played using little more than the top of a table and your boundless imagination. From what I’ve heard the whole thing smacks of a scam, as neither the table nor the boundless imagination are included in the purchase price.

If Mr. Bradley’s name resonates with some of you, it is likely because the conditioning wears off over time and you should report to the nearest Retcon Reinforcement Center for additional therapy. I assure you that Overlord Miller and I never, ever appeared on a podcast known as The Round Table from the House of the Harping Monkey, and on such podcast we never discussed the monomyth as it applies to gaming and popular culture. Not ever.

Staff Reports

• Voicemail from Captain Tortuga of the S.S. Isopod. Our RCPJs have been delivered! Our RCPJs have been delivered! Royal Canadian Painted Jackalopes? Oh, no. Far more insidious.
• Ken Newquist reviews Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers for the Xbox 360. Sounds great, but is there an add-on that allows me to slip the digital cards into mylar sleeves to keep them in near-mint condition?
• Chief Medical Officer’s Progress Report. The bad doctor reports that we had a bit of a run-in with NASA (again). Meanwhile, if that ointment were any closer to our Minister of Crackpot Schemes and Unfortunate Synergies it would bite him.

Discussion

One word: storygaming. I still think that’s two words, but the man threatened to hack off my thumbs if I hit the spacebar when I typed it, so we’ll leave it as written. Long time listeners may know that Overlord Miller and I have been carrying around a chip on our should regarding so-called “story games” (shut up; that’s totally two words) for some time now. We’ve brought Mick Bradley in to hug…er, talk…it out and see if we can’t get over it already.

• Ron Edwards. Game designer (Sorceror). Co-founder of The Forge, and indie-RPG community. Author of “System Does Matter“.
• Vincent Baker. Game designer (Dogs in the Vineyard).
• Storn Cook. Artist. Former co-host of the Sons of Kryos podcast. Rabble rouser.
• Judd Karlman. Former co-host of the Sons of Kryos podcast.
• Jeff Lower. Former co-host of the Sons of Kryos podcast.
• Paul Tevis. Upstanding citizen. Host of the Have Games, Will Travel podcast.
• World of Darkness. Vampires and Werewolves and Wraiths, oh my! Role-playing game/world originally conceived by Mark Rein-Hagen.
• Dungeons & Dragons. The mother of all Lord of the Rings rip-offs and the stereotypical “traditional” RPG. Created by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
• Primetime Adventures. The story game that started the whole kerfuffle. Created by Matt Wilson.
• Story Games. An Intartube forum where hemp-shirt-wearing hippies gather in drum circles to talk about their feelings. Allegedly.

Promo

• 7th Son: Descent by J.C. Hutchins.

Lair Keeping

• Our theme music is “Skullcrusher Mountain” by Jonathan Coulton.
• Join our new anti-social network, The Secret Community.
• Follow us on Twitter.

Staff

• Secretary of Artistic Propaganda: Natalie Metzger.
• Minister of Crackpot Schemes and Unfortunate Synergies: Jay “The Kingfish” Lynn.
• Chief Medical Officer: Dr. John Cmar.
• Commandante of Airborne Legions: David Moore.
• Minister of Suspicious Substitutions and Unreasonable Facimiles: The Cynical Optimist.
• Minister of Secrets and Subterfuge: Classified.

Story gaming. Ha! OW!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:07:40 — 62.0MB)

1. 

   Mick Bradley says:

   October 26, 2009 at 8:22 am

   Well of course I HAD to harp about this on the Monkey:

   http://www.harpingmonkey.com/2009/10/waypoints-the-one-where-im-kidnapped-by-evil-overlords/