Oren is a grumpy old man whose physical age hasn’t quite caught up with him, at least that’s what the kids who won’t get off his lawn keep saying. He’s been into roleplaying games since he was knee-high to a d10, and into prose writing for nearly as long. He loves stories and games that push the envelope of storytelling, like the Discworld series and the RPG Primetime Adventures. He’s also a huge Star Trek fan, though his rants on the mistakes of Voyager and Enterprise might make you think otherwise.
Mike, Oren and Chris talk about what makes fairy tales unique and how they have changed over time. They look at recent reincarnations in comics, book, and movies, evaluating whether recent changes have improved or harmed the timeless stories. Read more »
The subject of player versus player conflict (PVP) has always been a difficult one. In a roleplaying game, you feel like you should be able to do anything within your character’s ability, including stab that annoying elf in the face. However, if that elf happens … read more »
Mike, Oren, and Chris explore how science fiction is used to comment on contemporary issues. From dystopian novels to Vietnam War analogies, they share the stories that brought their message home, and deconstruct those that missed their mark. Read more »
No matter how many bonuses a character possesses, the dice will eventually turn against them. They will fail an important roll at a critical moment. This can be a good thing, because success means nothing without the possibility of failure. Unfortunately, it can also be … read more »
The Mythcreant Podcast dabbles into the depths of worldbuilding. Dash discusses how she starts the process for new stories, and Mike puts some of his military history knowledge to work in spec fic. Plus examples from Star Trek and Discworld, laser catapults, and other short topics. Read more »
In my last post, I talked about dice pool systems and why you might use them. With the basics explained, it’s time to examine a few specific roleplaying systems and see what they did with the idea. Each of these systems exemplify a different way … read more »
In this installment of the Mythcreant Podcast, our hosts recall moments of scarring drama, delightful strangers, extreme boredom, and sublime triumph at the gaming table. Read more »
Dice have been an integral part of tabletop roleplaying games since the beginning. After all, how else can someone know if their black arrow will hit the dragon in his secret weak spot, or if it will miss terribly and then said dragon will eat … read more »
In this introduction to the Mythcreant Podcast, our hosts discuss how they came to be geeks, tout their greatest geek achievements, and prepare for the battle over which roleplaying system should rule them all. Read more »
When an uninitiated friend or relative asks what I do on Saturday nights, I will sometimes tell them that I play Dungeons & Dragons to save time and explanations, even if the actual game in question is Vampire: The Sparkling. Read more »
