PODCAST

The Goblins and Growlers Podcast

Goblins and Growlers

Old gaming systems. New gaming systems. Weird gaming systems. Two pro game masters and adventure writers roll deep into the depths of the tabletop role-playing world. Join us as we dive into Dungeons & Dragons history, awesome non-D&D systems, cool gaming Kickstarters, board games, and stories about owning a TTRPG business. Welcome to The Goblins and Growlers Podcast!
Start Here
”The End,” a tabletop RPG about the Christian Apocalypse
”The End,” a tabletop RPG about the Christian Apocalypse
1w ago
42 mins
”The End,” a tabletop RPG about the Christian Apocalypse
”The End,” a tabletop RPG about the Christian Apocalypse
”The End,” a tabletop RPG about the Christian Apocalypse Episode Introduction Josh and Brandon discuss 1995’s “The End” from Scapegoat Games. It’s a role-playing game based on the Christian Apocalypse and was kicked out of GenCon for its use of religious imagery. It’s bleak, interesting, and maybe came before its time. They also start down a rabbit hole of investigation and mystery as they try to get in touch with its creator to talk about how it came to be. Hopefully there will be a Part 2 to this with interviews! - Full show notes after the jump - ----more---- Main Topics We’re chatting about 1995’s “The End,” a tabletop roleplaying game from Scapegoat Games – their only release if I’m right. It’s the end of the world as we know it. Discussing the overall setting and themes of the game. Rapture, the Four Horsemen, all that jazz. Written by Joseph Donka, who we cannot get ahold of. Does anyone out there know him? Because We’d love to talk to him about this.  GenCon controversy and ban.   The cover art is evocative of Planescape from the 90s. The artist, Richard Kane Ferguson, is known for (among many other things) illustrating Magic: The Gathering Cards. His work tends to have themes of dark fantasy. Just this year, the original oil and acrylic he did for Dakkon, Shadow Slayer, was sold for $31,000. There’s also that second-edition revival attempt in the early 2000s from Tyranny Games. A few releases there, but they also appear defunct now. Josh makes some headway finding some information about the principal owner of this new company. The book reads so much like a setting description from “The Walking Dead.” Almost as though it came a few decades too early to ride the wave of post-apocalyptic media popularity.  The investigation begins. Tell us your favorite post-apocalyptic stories @goblinsgrowlers on Twitter. Additional Resources “The End” on Abebooks.com. This list includes the attempted second-edition revival from Tyranny Games in the late 90s/early 2000s, so be sure of which one you’re buying if you decide to make a purchase: https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&cm_sp=SearchF-_-home-_-Results&an=Joseph%20Donka"The End" on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_(role-playing_game)Richard Kane Ferguson's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rkaneferguson/?hl=enRichard Kane Ferguson's portfolio: https://scryfall.com/search?as=full&order=name&q=a%3A%22richard+kane+ferguson%22&utm_source=mci   Listen, rate, and subscribe! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://twitter.com/WayOfBrandolore https://twitter.com/BlackCloakDMhttps://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlershttps://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlershttps://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher)https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, an actual play)JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/goblindiscord The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company dedicated to inclusivity through TTRPGs.
1w ago
42 mins
James Bond 007: Role Playing In Her Majesty’s Secret Service
James Bond 007: Role Playing In Her Majesty’s Secret Service
James Bond 007: Role Playing In Her Majesty’s Secret Service Join Josh and Brandon as they enter a world of espionage, intrigue, and dice-rolling, with Victory Games’ TTRPG “Role Playing in Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. A brief news item about Wizards of the Coast rebooting and retconning in their latest Errata to eliminate more insensitive portrayals and stereotyping from Dungeons and Dragons. Not surprising and another step in their reaction to 2020. It’s a good move.  (01:19)A second item about Ernie (son of Gary) Gygax’s new TSR and its nonsensical lawsuit against Wizards of the Coast for trademarks of old TSR content. They also were demanding removal of WotC’s legacy disclaimer. Come on, now.Main discussion: 1983’s “James Bond 007” roleplaying game from Victory Games. It places you in a world of espionage taken straight from the world of Ian Fleming’s master spy: Bond, James Bond. You can play as known quantities from the movies such as Bond, Felix Lighter, Anya Amasova and others or create your own Double-O agent (or rookie). We also talk about our favorite Bond movies! (10:41) Click here for full show notes, including links to what we talk about and images ----more----   Additional Resources Bell of Lost Souls story about Wizards of the Coast’s Errata changes to the Drow and alignments: https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2021/12/dd-wotc-removes-racial-alignments-retcons-drow-in-new-batch-of-errata.htmlBell of Lost Souls story about the new TSR and their now withdrawn lawsuit against Wizards of the Coast: https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2021/12/dd-tsr-voluntarily-dismisses-their-wotc-lawsuit-vows-to-refile.htmlDicebreaker retrospective on the Bond RPG and how it changed roleplaying games: https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/james-bond-007-rpg/feature/james-bond-rpg-changed-roleplayingJames Bond 007 on Tabletop Simulator: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1528664949“Classified,” a retro clone of “James Bond 007” from Expedition Press: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/128259/ClassifiedJames Bond, Jr. Intro (for anyone too young to remember it): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoWexi-DWFQ Listen, rate, and subscribe! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://twitter.com/WayOfBrandolore https://twitter.com/BlackCloakDMhttps://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlershttps://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlershttps://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher)https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, an actual play)JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/goblindiscord The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company dedicated to inclusivity through TTRPGs.
Dec 27 2021
55 mins
Magic Versus Realism in Your Game Setting
Magic Versus Realism in Your Game Setting
Low Magic? No Magic? No Problem! We Finance! What kind of settings do you enjoy more? Heavy magic, low magic, or a more realistic milieu with near-zero casting? This episode we discuss merits and preferences on the level of magic in a gaming setting. Just a freewheeling discussion about magic levels. Tweet at us or email at contact@goblinsandgrowlers.com to tell us what you think! We also quickly touch base on a new release for "Boy Problems," the Carly Rae Jepsen TTRPG. Go to boyproblems.itch.io to check out "Side B" and support this creator. And you can check out our episode on "Boy Problems," too! --- The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company dedicated to inclusivity through TTRPGs. LINKS! Sister podcast, an actual-play: Quid Pro Roll Support: Patreon, itch.io. Discord: Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord! We've even got a channel dedicated to discussing new episodes of GGP! Twitter: Brandon Josh
Dec 13 2021
40 mins
Can you play a game in your sleep? Interview with game designer Cezar Capacle
Can you play a game in your sleep? Interview with game designer Cezar Capacle
Interview with game designer Cezar Capacle So, we all know you don't necessarily need dice for a fun tabletop experience, but can you get away without waking consciousness? In today's episode, Brandon interviews Cezar Capacle, a game designer from Brazil who's trying to push the limits of what a TTRPG can be. Cezar talked to us while he was in the middle of making a huge trans-Atlantic change in his life, so we really appreciate him taking the time to talk. You can show your appreciation, too, by checking out his itch.io store at https://capacle.itch.io/. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/capacle. If you want all his links, you can grab them at https://capacle.bio.link/ --- The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company dedicated to inclusivity through TTRPGs. LINKS! Sister podcast, an actual-play: Quid Pro Roll Support: Patreon, itch.io, and BigCartel! Discord: Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord at bit.ly/goblindiscord! We've even got a channel dedicated to discussing new episodes of GGP! Twitter: Brandon Josh
Nov 29 2021
1 hr 5 mins
Return to Dark Tower
Return to Dark Tower
Restoration Games' Return to Dark Tower "Dark Tower" is an early electronic board game from way back in the early 1980s. It was pretty revolutionary (and legitimately fun) for the late 70s/early 80s, but you definitely could put it in the category of "reach exceeded grasp." Imagine if someone used the Antikythera Mechanism to play Fortnite. It was expensive, easy to break, and Milton Bradley stole the idea from the original creators. Now it's still expensive, mostly broken, and incredibly difficult to find. Fortunately Restoration Games is bringing it back in a more modern form. Josh and Brandon discuss the game, its history, and spend an awful lot of time talking about Orson Welles. Are you missing out if you've never sat and watched Maurice LaMarche going on and on in his Orson Welles impression? Yes, Always!  Restoration Games: https://restorationgames.com/return-to-dark-tower/ Orson Welles Dark Tower Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxrY7MWEkwE Dark Tower Tabletop Simulator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYV6btuD5-I Orson Welles Frozen Peas Audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyko_oQ0da8 --- The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company dedicated to inclusivity through TTRPGs. LINKS! Sister podcast, an actual-play: Quid Pro Roll Support: Patreon itch.io and BigCartel! Discord: Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord at bit.ly/goblindiscord! Twitter: Brandon Josh
Nov 15 2021
32 mins
Unearthed Arcana: Travelers of the Multiverse
Unearthed Arcana: Travelers of the Multiverse
Unearthed Arcana: Travelers of the Multiverse A couple of things going on here, so we've included some timestamps! First, right before we started recording we found some news about the Star Wars RPG we'd been talking about for a couple of episodes, so we give an update on that. Then next (9:18) we talk about the new Travelers of the Multiverse Unearthed Arcana from Wizards of the Coast -- Giff, Thri-Kreen, Plasmoids, and more. We know there's a multiverse book coming out, but does this mean we're also going to get 5e setting guides for Dark Sun, Spelljammer and Planescape? I sure hope so. Brandon mentions an amazing Dark Sun history video at about the 46-minute mark. Here's a link to that. It's almost three-hours long, but it's absolutely worth it if you want to learn about the setting. --- The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company dedicated to inclusivity through TTRPGs. LINKS! Sister podcast, an actual-play: Quid Pro Roll Support: Patreon itch.io and BigCartel! Discord: Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord at bit.ly/goblindiscord! Twitter: Brandon Josh
Nov 1 2021
1 hr
Halloween Special: How to use gothic horror in your games
Halloween Special: How to use gothic horror in your games
How to use gothic horror in your games Happy Halloweek! We, along with our guest, Gabriel Perez*, talk about TSR's 1994 Second Edition boxset, "Masque of the Red Death" and, more broadly, gothic horror an TTRPGs. "Masque" takes the rules of Second Edition and lays them on top of a Victorian-Era earth filled with subtle mystery and magic. It's under the Ravenloft branding, but it's just different enough that you could argue it's being forced into Second Edition rules when it should have been its own thing. It's available on DriveThruRPG and, for the rest of this week, it's on sale! Check it out -- it's an interesting oddity among 2e products. *You might know Gabriel as the most-excellent audio engineer for our sister podcast, Quid Pro Roll. --- The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company dedicated to inclusivity through TTRPGs. LINKS! Sister podcast, an actual-play: Quid Pro Roll Support: Patreon itch.io and BigCartel! Discord: Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord at bit.ly/goblindiscord! Twitter: Brandon Josh
Oct 25 2021
1 hr 9 mins
Part 2: Fantasy Flight Star Wars RPG - The Goblins and Growlers Podcast Ep.9
Part 2: Fantasy Flight Star Wars RPG - The Goblins and Growlers Podcast Ep.9
Part Two of our discussion/rediscovery of the (former) Fantasy Flight Star Wars RPG. We didn't get cocky. --- SCHEDULING NOTE! We're publishing a new episode next week for Halloween week! We're talking about the Ravenloft: Masque of the Red Death box set from 1994. If you have a favorite spooky/scary/terrifying adventure or module then let us know about it at contact@goblinsandgrowlers.com. --- The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company dedicated to inclusivity through TTRPGs. LINKS! Sister podcast, an actual-play: Quid Pro Roll Support: Patreon itch.io and BigCartel! Discord: Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord at bit.ly/goblindiscord! Twitter: Brandon Josh ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Also, the greatest piece of Star Wars media of all time.
Oct 18 2021
36 mins
Fantasy Flight Star Wars RPG - The Goblins and Growlers Podcast Ep. 8
Fantasy Flight Star Wars RPG - The Goblins and Growlers Podcast Ep. 8
We're talking about Star Wars. Despite making plans for what to talk about, we ended up half-remembering names of planets and totally forgetting names of Jedi from "Knights of the Old Republic." Anyway, we learned that the "Star Wars" RPG has changed ownership at least once in the last year. Josh was especially surprised about this because he loves the game. But I guess we all had some other things to worry about in the last year. The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company. Brandon Dingess (Twitter) and Josh Maltby (Twitter) are fully 50 percent of the team! Check out their other work on Quid Pro Roll, Patreon, and BigCartel! And don't forget to join the Goblins and Growlers Discord at bit.ly/goblindiscord!
Oct 4 2021
35 mins
Expedition to the Barrier Peaks - The Goblins and Growlers Podcast Ep. 7
Expedition to the Barrier Peaks - The Goblins and Growlers Podcast Ep. 7
Take a trip with us to a weird mountain with vegetable creatures, metallic people, and strange weapons that shoot light. It's all beyond your ken, trust us. This is one of the classic D&D modules and has been an inspiration to me (and others) looking to take their games beyond the usual elves-in-the-forest trope of fantasy adventuring. The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company. Brandon Dingess (Twitter) and Josh Maltby (Twitter) are fully 50 percent of the team! Check out their other work on Quid Pro Roll, Patreon, and BigCartel! And don't forget to join the Goblins and Growlers Discord at bit.ly/goblindiscord!
Sep 20 2021
42 mins
Crunchiness and Adaptability in Game Systems
Crunchiness and Adaptability in Game Systems
Crunchiness and Adaptability in Game Systems Sure, 5e is easy, but is it versatile? This episode we talk about adapting the system for other types of games, the evils of dice pools, Powered by the Apocalypse, and more! The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company. Brandon Dingess (Twitter) and Josh Maltby (Twitter) are fully 50 percent of the company! Check out their other work on Quid Pro Roll, Patreon, and BigCartel! And don't forget to join the Goblins and Growlers Discord at bit.ly/goblindiscord!
Sep 6 2021
28 mins
What‘s the best dragon? Fizban‘s Treasury of Dragons
What‘s the best dragon? Fizban‘s Treasury of Dragons
What's the best dragon? One Dragon, Two Dragon, Red Dragon, Blue Dragon. Wizard's of the Coast's upcoming "Fizban's Treasury of Dragons" goes through all the usual dragons: chromatic, metallic, gem. But I ask you where, in this modern age of industry and innovation, are the industrial dragons made of graphene, advanced polymers, and plywood? The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company. Brandon Dingess (Twitter) and Josh Maltby (Twitter) are fully 50 percent of the company! Check out their other work on Quid Pro Roll, Patreon, and BigCartel! And don't forget to join the Goblins and Growlers Discord at bit.ly/goblindiscord!
Aug 23 2021
31 mins
What‘s your most off-the-rails gaming experience?
What‘s your most off-the-rails gaming experience?
What's your most off-the-rails gaming experience? Nothing ever really goes to plan when you're running a game, but what about when it REALLY doesn't go to plan? The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company. Brandon Dingess (Twitter) and Josh Maltby (Twitter) are fully 50 percent of the company! Check out their other work on Quid Pro Roll, Patreon, and BigCartel! And don't forget to join the Goblins and Growlers Discord at bit.ly/goblindiscord!
Aug 9 2021
35 mins
Would you play a Carly Rae Jepsen RPG?
Would you play a Carly Rae Jepsen RPG?
Your staff was glowin' Mage robes, no skin showin' Hot night, dice were rollin' What do you think you're castin', baby? Hey, I just hit you, and this is crazy But what's your number? Did I beat your AC? The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company. Brandon Dingess (Twitter) and Josh Maltby (Twitter) are fully 50 percent of the company! Check out their other work on Quid Pro Roll, Patreon, and BigCartel! And don't forget to join the Goblins and Growlers Discord at bit.ly/goblindiscord!
Aug 9 2021
28 mins
What‘s the value of creative content in gaming?
What‘s the value of creative content in gaming?
What's the value of creative content? What's your work worth? Do people tell you that you shouldn't charge so much for creative work you've sweat and bled for? The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company. Brandon Dingess (Twitter) and Josh Maltby (Twitter) are fully 50 percent of the company! Check out their other work on Quid Pro Roll, Patreon, and BigCartel! And don't forget to join the Goblins and Growlers Discord at bit.ly/goblindiscord!
Aug 9 2021
31 mins
Can you have too much science fiction in your fantasy setting?
Can you have too much science fiction in your fantasy setting?
Can you have too much science fiction in your fantasy setting? Brandon and Josh of Goblins and Growlers are talkin' 'bout mecha as they discuss the AD&D 2e module "Earthshaker!" about a giant robot that just wants to crush kingdoms. Topics: Giant Robots, "You got Sci-Fi in my Fantasy!", Adventure Aesthetics & Theming The Goblins and Growlers Podcast is produced by Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based tabletop-roleplaying-game content and events company. Brandon Dingess (Twitter) and Josh Maltby (Twitter) are fully 50 percent of the company! Check out their other work on Quid Pro Roll, Patreon, and BigCartel! And don't forget to join the Goblins and Growlers Discord at bit.ly/goblindiscord!
Aug 5 2021
31 mins
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