The GROGNARD Files

https://thegrognardfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/episode-12-part-1-games-workshop-and-citadel-with-tim-olsen-31.m4a Download Episode INTRO (15 secs) This is an unusual episode as it is about a place more than a thing. This is about the remembered place that was Games Workshop, when we were kids, and the magical lead figures we found there. POTTED HISTORY (6.32) The story about how school friends came together to form Games Workshop and how it grew and grew … OPEN BOX (WITH TIM OLSEN) (10:17) I am joined by Tim Olsen who was instrumental in the early days of GW. He was the manager of Dalling Road branch, then Manchester, before taking the first stores to America. He is a fascinating and lovely guy. You’ll enjoy his contribution. WHITE DWARF (31:35) The first part of @dailydwarf ‘s contribution to the episode where he talks about his experience of using figures in his games. OPEN BOX (46:08) Blythy joins me to talk about minis, memories and how we consume games. There’s a riot going on in the background, sorry about that, it is the sound of Bolton I’m afraid. THERE ISN’T A LAST BIT (1:20) A call for the submission of your memories of Games Workshop and a thank you to Patreons.  The post Episode 12 (Part 1) Games Workshop & Citadel (with Tim Olsen) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

https://thegrognardfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/episode-11-top-secret-rpg-17_03_2017-23-07.m4a Download Episode For your eyes only. Don’t accept this Podcast if the seal is broken. INTRO: I love the world of espionage and this is the first in our ‘Spy Sequence’ that we’ll be peppering through the next year. We’ve had another iTunes review too – please give us one if you haven’t already. OPEN BOX: Top Secret was one of those games that we only played a few times, but it made a lasting impression on us. In this section we remember those early games and I challenge Blythy about whether or not he really likes spy-based games. POTTED HISTORY: The game emerged from a single vision, born from a college dorm, in this section I talk through the history of the game. If you want to hear the story from Merle Rasmussen’s mouth, then seek out The Dead Game’s society’s interview with him from 2014. JUDGE BLYTHY RULES!: We roll a character and Judge Blythy complains that there are far too many tables. In a thrilling exchange, there is a transformation as Judge Nutmeg transforms into Mr Hand-Wavey Davey. THE WHITE DWARF  DRAGON: Top Secret didn’t appear in White Dwarf, so we turn to Dragon – a magazine that fully supported the development of Top Secret. STARBURST MEMORIES: Blythy and I discuss our favourite spy moments from films and television in a brand new feature that includes an overly complicated audience participation feature. OUTRO: There’s a chance to play Top Secret if you join our Patreon campaign. This is a thank you bit for all those who are already supporting us.The post Episode 11 – Top Secret RPG first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

https://thegrognardfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/episode-10-part-2-more-runequest-rpg-with-rick-meints-14_02_2017-23-59.m4a Download Episode INTRO Blimey Charlie! This is the twentieth podcast! 1:53 GAMESMASTER’S SCREEN Rick Meints, President of Chaosium, joins us once again. This time we roll on a special ‘plunder’ table to search his fabled collection as he recounts past adventures from back in the day. 42:08 OPEN BOX Borderlands is Chaosium’s classic campaign from 1982 – we’ve played it twice, once in ’83 and again in ’13 – find out why this is very much our ‘foundational document’. 1.25 POSTBAG We’ve revamped the Patreon campaign – join now and get access to the ‘zine PDF  – also, you can join the Valhalla agents at Convergence …The post Episode 10 (Part 2) More RuneQuest RPG (with Rick Meints) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

https://thegrognardfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/episode-10-part-1-more-runequest-rpg-with-rick-meints-17_01_2017-23-41.m4a Download Episode INTRO We’re back for more podcasts in 2017! We’re returning to our origins and looking again at the game that we began with back in 1981. OPEN BOX 4.31 – the only President from the USA who really matters is the President of Chaosium, Rick Meints, who joins us to open the box on his early years of play and to talk about how he transformed from a player and collector of Chaosium games, to running the company. WHITE DWARF 36.50 – @dailydwarf examines my favourite department of White Dwarf – RuneRites with its new creatures, magic and rules for combat. JUDGE BLYTHY RULES! 50.00 – RuneQuest 6 has been rebranded as MYTHRAS . Ahead of Dirk running his Luther Arkwright scenario at Convergence in March, Blythy casts his critical eye over the rules. OUTRO: I’ve been appearing on various podcasts as a RuneQuest zealot – Dissecting Worlds and the RPG Academy as well as appearing wild-eyed on Twitch. The Patreon campaign is being reviewed and renewed for 2017.The post Episode 10 (Part 1)More RuneQuest RPG (with Rick Meints) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

https://thegrognardfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/episode-9-part-2-imagine-paul-cockburn-12_12_2016-18-54.m4a Download Episode RSS Feed INTRO Special thanks to Paul Cockburn for his contribution to these podcasts. This podcast is dedicated to Joe Dever, creator of The Lone Wolf adventure books, who sadly passed away in November. GAMESMASTERS’ SCREEN with Paul Cockburn Paul Cockburn is behind The GamesMaster’s Screen to pick out some of the regular highlights from Imagine Magazine: Nick The Novice, Pelinore, and more. He also tells the story of the rise and the untimely fall of the magazine. THE GROGGIES 2016 Our review of the a year in gaming: Roll 20, Dungeons and Dragons, Tunnels and Trolls, Nights Black Agents, Call of Cthulhu and Numenera are all discussed. The Last Bit Thanks to Patreons, reviewers and listeners. Have a great holiday and all the very best for 2017 to you and yours.The post Episode 9 (Part 2) Imagine Magazine (Paul Cockburn) and RPG Review 2016 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

https://thegrognardfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/episode-9-part-one-imagine-magazine-paul-cockburn-18_11_2016-18-20.m4a Download Episode RSS Feed 0 INTRO We have been hard at work producing the GROGNARD files fanzine for Patreon backers. There are still a few hard copies available for new $3.50 backers. They are limited. Once they’re gone they’re gone. PDFs are available for download for $1 backers from 21st November. 6:33 SHOW AND TELL Blythy joins me in the attic to look at some of the issues of IMAGINE in our collection. I will be running the Luther Arkwright adventure THE FIRE OPAL OF SET at Convergence in Stockport on 18th March 2017. 43:50 OPEN BOX – PAUL COCKBURN We are pleased to join Paul Cockburn, editor of Imagine, and he talks about his gaming experiences and how Imagine got off the ground. He’s back in the next part looking at specific features of the magazine. 01:09 THE WHITE DWARF @dailydwarf reflects on CRITICAL MASS and Dave Langford’s contribution to White Dwarf and the SF literary hinterland. 01:20 POSTBAG DM Mike from Save or Die podcast, asks a sensory Pelinore question …  The post Episode 9 (Part 1) Imagine Magazine (Paul Cockburn) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

“Don’t mess with me, I’ve been corrupted by Space Monkeys”https://thegrognardfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/episode-8-the-traveller-adventure.m4a Download Episode RSS Feed Wednesdays 21:00 – 23:00 Fortnightly, between Sept 15 and July 16 was Traveller Time. During this period we played Traveller online using Roll 20. INTRO: I put out an advert for players on the site to play the classic 1983 adventure from GDW. OPEN BOX: 4:27 We discuss some of the benefits and pitfalls of playing online POTTED HISTORY: 31:57 A run down of the history of the supplement and the characters and players. GAMESMASTERS SCREEN: 38:22 Blythy and Dirk discuss some of the highlights and lowlights of the adventure ED’S SHED 01:26 Not bargain hunting this time, instead he offers his views on the adventure. POST BAG 01:30 Other players offer their views and thanks to new Patreon backers.The post Episode 8 The Traveller Adventure first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

    https://thegrognardfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/episode-7-part-2-tunnels-and-trolls-rpg-16_09_2016-02-06.m4a Download Episode RSS Feed We return to ‘blast away the fiends of boredom’ with another T&T episode. This time we are joined by Big Jack Brass, Jon Hancock. 0.15 Introduction. We had feedback from non-other than Ken St Andre himself… 4.05 Open Box. Jon talks about his early life in role playing and why he was drawn to T&T. 24.04 Actual Play. Jon is the GM for Monsters! Monsters!, where the ill-kin are the heroes. You’ll find more from the Whartson Hall gaming group at UK Roleplayers forums. 34.01 Gamesmasters Screen. Why is T&T so good? Jon counts the ways. 1.17 Actual Play. Blythy joins Dirk for a solo game and a reluctant example of actual play. 1.31 Postbag. Feedback and thank you to new Patreons.The post Episode 7 (Part 2) Tunnels and Trolls RPG first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

https://thegrognardfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/episode-7-part-1-tunnels-and-trolls-rpg-14_08_2016-10-15.m4a Download Episode RSS Feed Yes, it’s time for Solos and … satisfaction? It’s time for Tunnels and Trolls. Intro: Caroline is in big hair and specs, because we’ve had another iTunes in America! Potted History (4.00): A quick run through of the origin story of T&T. Open Box (8.23): Brought to you from a replica of Dirk’s teenage bedroom, as we bring memories of the early games, until the dog signals that it’s time to leave. The White Dwarf (30.22) @dailydwarf has light pickings from the early days of White Dwarf, but there are some great St Andre pieces. Judge Blythy Rules! (44.36) We take time to delight in elegant simplicity. Ed’s Bargain Shed (1.15) The first games that Ed played were with T&T. Sister Barbara could prevent the discovery of Trolls and Girls at school. There isn’t final section (1.22) Update on the Patreon campaign. Send in your Traveller questions and comments. Details of the next part of the episode which will feature Big Jack Brass, Jon Hancock, in interview. -Dirk    The post Episode 7 (Part 1) Tunnels and Trolls RPG first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

  https://thegrognardfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/episode-6-part-4-add-rpg-unearthed-arcana-15_07_2016-14-43.m4a   Download Episode   RSS Feed This episode includes odds n’ sods, Old Scroates and Points of View about AD&D. Introduction 00.15  Dirk muses over the ridiculous, complicated numbering strategy adopted by the podcast and introduces Ric and Tim, the stars of this part of the episode. Old Scroates (Part 1) 04.15 It’s not a proper theGROGNARDfiles episode without a cheeky mention of Runequest. Tim tells the story of playing with John Quaife, contributor to White Dwarf, back in the day. Potted History (Part 1) 15.17 The original story of D&D. Old Scroates (Part 2) D&D Tales 25.04 Tim and Ric share their experiences of playing D&D with reports of games they have played. Potted History (Part 2) 36.29 What happened to D&D during our deep freeze. Old Scroates (Part 3) 40.31 Tim and Ric address some of the issues that have been raised in our AD&D episode. Post Bag 01.02 Blythy joins Dirk as we rifle through the bag of holding to pick out some interesting points of view. Please be aware that your head may rattle when the Demon Overlord appears. Outro 01.28 Updates on the latest news from the Patreon projects. Please note that contrary to what is said in this bit, GROGMEET is not taking place 10 years ago. Thank you to all of our supporters and listeners. If you get chance, please pop a review on iTunes. Thanks Dirk.      The post Episode 6 (Part 4) AD&D RPG UnEarthed Arcana first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.