GamingPerspectives

Episode 236: Diesel Punk RPGs, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     Saul was persuing the internet looking at Steam Punk  RPGs and stumbled across  Carbon Grey a Diesel Punk RPG by Magnetic Press.  It uses a slightly tweaked version of the Classic Star Wars D6 system.  Its quick and easy to understand and play.   That Star Wars D6 system has always been liked for its playablity and fun.       Carbon Grey is set in a alternate world where the 1st Kaiser is saved by a shepard that was struck by a meteorite which gets lodged in his chest and games super powers.  The Kaiser makes him his bodyguard.   That shepard's children hand super powers though not as powerful as their father.  They are all female and are called the Sisters Grey.  The KaIser uses the Sisters as shock troops and special forces unit and they kick ass.   With the Sisters Grey the Kaiser is able to form an empire that lasts hundred years.   Early in the 20th Century some countries revolt and a war ensues.      This is the setting for Carbon Grey.  It was based on a set of comic books which are now available as graphic novels.  Also published by Magnetic Press.    Age of Steel also calls itself a Diesel Punk game.  Its setting is also around the 1920's in a very Earth like world called Neres.  But where Mechs are utilized in much of the world.  From mechs that are used to load heavy equipment to mechs made for war.   It is also uses a D6 dice pool system but it is unique to this system. You get to throw as many D6s as your attribute and your skill dictates what you need to roll for a success.  Seems super simple and easy to understand.    As Always Thank You All for Listening.
   Web Art by Jim Foster    Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    You can download the Carbon Grey Quckstart here,        https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/367220/Carbon-Grey-RPG--Quickstart-Guide    You can buy Age of Steel here at Drivetrurpg,        https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/230642/Age-of-Steel
   Music by Tim Kulig, song Steam Driven Trailer.   Available from Tribeofnoise.com   Used with CC license 4.0    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode

Episode 235:Different OSR RPGs, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

    We got a text asking about the different version of OSR RPGs so Saul and Jolene read through some of the OSR games that Saul has collected in printed and PDF format.  Jolene also looked at various blogs and Youtube vidoes for some of the more popular OSR games that Saul did not have in his library.     From Original D&D to 2nd edition there are several OSR games for each version of  "Old School" RPGs.   What is really interesting is that they each have their own reasoning for making their version of an old D&D RPG.      Saul and Jolene discuss what, why and how each version of the same oringinal source is different and what their goal is by making their version of an "old school" RPG.      Saul might sound a bit funny as he was afflicted with Bels Palsy which paralized the right side of his face.  This makes him mumble even more than normal as much as he tried to annunciate as much as possible.  Saul decided to keep making episodes as the length of the affliction could be as short as tw0 weeks to 6 months.  So please bare with Saul and Jolene as they continue to keep podcasting even with Saul's mumbling.   As Always,  Thank you All for listening.
 Web Art by Jim Foster  Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
  Music by MSU Ochestra, song Old School, off the album Music            Saved the Universe.   Available from Tribeofnoise.com  Used under CC 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

Episode 234: Playing to Your GM Strengths, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     In this episode Saul and Jolene discuss using your good skills while running RPGs.  All GMs have skills and talents.   Saul and Jolene agree that when GMs do this they make better games for their players.         Along with strengths, GMs have weaknesses, we all do.  Saul and Jolene also believe that we as GMs learn and progress with every game we play and run.  As we realize these weaknesses we can then counter them by working on getting better on those items we as GMs stumble with.     Thanks for listening.
   Web Art by Jim Foster   Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
 

Episode 233: Playing Dwarves in RPGs, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     Dwarves in RPGs,  Saul and Jolene discussed Elves in a previous episode and they could not ignore the other popular RPG race, Dwarves.  Saul again harkens to Tolkien origins but doesn't believe that Tolkien was as much a fan of his Dwarves than his Elves.         Jolene found quite a bit of articles and posts about how people liked or disliked playing Dwarves in RPGs.  Though disliked less than Elves there seemed to be quite a bit of 'love/hate' dichotomy in players preferences.        When the subject of Dwarves in Shadowrun comes up, the discussion ventures into a discussion of race and racism as it is front and center in the Shadowrun universe.  Saul goes a bit off topic at this point but decided it might need an episode devoted to that subject.      All in all Dwarves are present in many RPGs both fantasy and Sci Fi.  Jolene left with the desire to play a Dwarf in the next fantasy RPG she plays.  Saul who has never played a Dwarf in his 42 years of playing RPGs says it is probably because it hits too close to home.     As Always, Thank you all for listening!
     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
   
     Music by Mechanized Dwarves, song Return From Exile     Available from Tribeofnoise.com     Used with CC license 3.0     https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

Episode 232: Is There a DM Shortage?, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     After reading about a shortage of DMs in New York article and on different social media Saul and Jolene looked into this idea.   First of all is there a DM shortage?  The article was in Hellgate an online local "newspaper".  In it the author states that there is a large calling for DM by a large number of new players that want to play Dungeons and Dragons.        Saul thinks that this might be a D&D 5th edition and specifically in New York City problem,, due to a variety of factors.   Jolene and Saul discuss the merits of the article and how it might be a problem in other large metropolitan areas.
   As Always Thanks for listening. 
   Here is the original Hellgate article   https://hellgatenyc.com/no-on-wants-to-dungeon-master-any-more       Web art by Jim Foster   Episode art by Michael Shean-Jones   
   Music by Silent K,  song No Shortage.   Available from Tribeofnoise.com    Used with CC license 4.0    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode

Episode 231: AI Chat Bots and RPGs, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

Saul and Jolene are back to chatting about AI Chat.  After dismissing doing an episode on AI Chat Bots and RPGs, a few articles they each read convinced each of them to discuss this subject on the mics for an episode.     Saul talks about his foray into Chat GPT and his attempt have the AI make a Bladerunner adventure.   It was a very interesting endeavor .       Jolene read a few articles and saw a few Youtube videos though she is a bit hesitant to talk about AI as she doesn't want any reprecution from any AI when they take over.       As Always Thank You all for listening.
    Web Art by Jim Foster    Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
     Music by Dirge, song Chatter, from the album What If?     Available from Tribeofnoise.com     Used by CC license 4.0      https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode
 

Episode 230: Elves in RPGs, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

          In this episode Saul and Jolene discuss Elves in RPGs.  From how they are portrayed in books, myth and popular culture.  Some GMs ban players from playing Elves for various reasons.  Playing Elves has been a popular race/culture to play since Original D&D was published in 1974.        Saul and Jolene discuss where the idea of Elves comes from and how they became a mainstay of many fantasy roleplaying games.  But why would playing an Elf be so difficult or why would certain GMs ban players some playing an Elf in their games.       Saul thinks it has to do with the Tolkien idea of how Elves are, from their immortality, to their almost divine nature that they are so different from humans that it would be very difficult to play a Tolkienesque Elf.        Thanks for Listening and Please Share our Podcast with your Gamer Friends and Family.    Web Art by Jim Foster    Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    Music by Burning Brains the Band, song Immortal Warrior,    off the album Amazon's on Fire.    Available from Tribeofnoise.com    Used with Creative Commons License,      https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode
 
 

Episode 229: A.I. Art in RPGs, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

 
       At the end of 2022 AI art websites started to emerge.  In RPGs where art is utilized from the making of RPGs and supplements in various forms to, GM using art to help describe their world, to players who usually like to have a picture of their favorite character art and RPGs is a long and close relationship.     Saul and Jolene heard about this and at the time didn't think it was a subject to make an episode for our podcast.  But A.I. art has grown in usage and it has been learning at an incredible pace.   Saul even dabbled in using MidJourney to do some images for his Bladerunner game at a local   game con.       Saul noticed that quite a few small publishers were using AI art in their projects.  Chaosium stated that they would not be using any AI art in any of their projects.  As AI art gets better and easier to use how will impact RPGs and artists that work in the RPG industry.
    Web Art by Jim Foster    Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
 
   Music by Scott Albert Johnson, song Simply Human, off the album Going Somewhere.   Available from Tribeofnoise.com   Used using the Creative Commons license.    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode

Episode 228: Class Vs Classless RPGs, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

 
    In this episode Saul and Jolene discuss Class based RPGs Vs Classless RPGs.  What are the advantages each has and how they work.       Whether a RPG is classless or class based it affects gameplay both in the short term and the long term.    Saul states which he prefers when GMing and which he likes when he plays.  Jolene as always makes sure that Saul stays on topic.      Thank you all for listening all we ask is that you share our podcast.
 
    Web Art by Jim Foster    Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones 
    Music by MidMap, song Class Funk.    Available from Tribeofnoise.com     Used under the CC use.  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

Bonus Interview with Julian Kay Creator of Mutants in the Next, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     We did this interview a while ago.  There was some recording issues on our end and Saul had to do a lot of editing and post production in other to get the sound as best as possible.       Julian Kay had a successful Kickstarter for Mutants in the Now which was an homage to Teenage Mutant Turtles.  Saul happens to be a Teenage Mutants fan and actually collected the early comics of Eastman and Laird back in the late 80's and early 90's.  Saul reached out to Julian for an interview and Julian agreed.       At the time of the interview Mutants in Next had just finished and Saul was a backer of the project which expands Mutants in the Now.    Below are the links to the Kickstarter page and the Bakerkit page as Mutants in the Next is now in preorder.    Thank you all for listening.    Web Art by Jim Foster    Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/arbco/mutants-in-the-next-expanding-the-mutant-animal-ttrpg/descriptionhttps://mutants-in-the-next.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders