As our heroes review the past, the Golden Branch Star sector moves forward without them. And it moves towards instability. New corporate initiatives seek to re-establish the status quo. Old heroes come out of retirement, hoping to change things dramatically for the better. Masterminds move chess pieces and pawns contemplate their sacrifices. And above the planet Sage, Grace tightens her fist. This week COUNTER/Weight: The Broken Branch On a long enough timeline, every orbit decays. Hosted by Aus...
Jan 14, 2016•1 hr 35 min
Military water running down stainless steel cookware. The rustling of paperwork, yet unsigned. The warm hum and soft glow of engines alight. Distance and purpose, intermingling in the space between stars. A hand on a shoulder. A choice that makes itself. Eyes and voices, hearts and threats, and our familiar hesitation. This week: Crisis! (A Solemn Vow Above The Sea of Counterweight) Some things last a long time. Featuring Keith J Carberry ( @KeithJCarberry ), Jack de Quidt ( @notquitereal ), Ali...
Jan 08, 2016•2 hr 59 min
The Chime lay on medical beds on the surface of Counterweight, hooked into a simulation to learn as much as they can about Ibex, candidate of Righteousness. Inside the simulation, members of the Kingdom, a coalition fleet lead by The Kingdom Come, are unsure whether or not to keep Ibex at a distance. Just what is it that makes Ibex a threat, and is he more dangerous near or far? This week on COUNTER/Weight: The Glimmer Incident: The Executive Enters! Keep your friends close... Hosted by Austin W...
Jan 01, 2016•2 hr 34 min
With Ibex's threat in the air, an old ally reaches out to The Chime with an offer: Learn about your enemy before you suffer the same fate I did. The group--with a few surprise additions--steps into the past to find out what exactly happened ten years ago. Before she was Queen-Captain of the Weightless, who did Tea Kenridge command? What did Addax mean when he said he hurt Cassander? Who piloted the Kingdom Come before it was decommissioned? Why didn't the Rapid Evening stop the war? And what eve...
Dec 24, 2015•2 hr 13 min
The desert winds of Counterweight are broken by the sound of gunfire, as The Chime face foes new and old in the settlement of Seabed City. While Aria Joie finds herself tangled up in a mess of problems (and lasers), Cass proves his mettle as a soldier (and a doctor). Elsewhere, Mako confronts a living godhead and AuDy confronts the grey space between programming and feeling. This week on COUNTER/Weight: "The Order of Things” It’s so quiet out here... Hosted by Austin Walker ( @austin_walker ) Fe...
Dec 17, 2015•1 hr 28 min
The Chime takes off towards the abandoned dome to carry out their mission: Deceive Sister Rust and steal a mysterious golden orb from her Iron Choir. Unfortunately for them, they're not the only ones en route to Seabed City. Aria loses her footing, Cass confronts a truly awesome presence, Mako puts his training to the test, and AuDy makes a sacrifice. This week on COUNTER/WEIGHT: "Metal that Has Died Twice" Ready to pull the trigger? Hosted by Austin Walker ( @austin_walker ) Featuring Keith J C...
Dec 11, 2015•1 hr 21 min
This week, we bring our attention back to The Chime who have been hired to take a mysterious artifact from a familiar group... The Iron Choir. Dealing with them was easy enough last time so there will be no problems for our heroes this time around, right? AuDy debates who to confide in, Mako calls an old friend, Aria supports a small business and Cassander learns the value of good antivirus software. This week on COUNTER/Weight: "The Rear Left Engine" Got no teeth to lie through...? Hosted by Au...
Dec 04, 2015•1 hr 41 min
Tensions rise throughout the Golden Branch star sector. OriCon megacorporations maneuver for advantage, striking with deniable operatives, market manipulation, and the finest in advertising campaigns. The remnants of Apostolos hope to find a secret strength on the seemingly abandoned planet of Torru. Horizon Tactical Solutions, stretched thin but no less hungry for retribution, strikes at the Odamas Fleet, itself in motion towards vengence at Kalliope. And in the orbit of Sage, the Divine Grace ...
Nov 25, 2015•1 hr 51 min
The Chime have tracked down the mysterious Gnosis virus, but they're not the only ones who want it! Two high powered, hard hitting mercs are between our heroes and a payday. Can Aria turn the tables on Jaqi Green? What will Mako find in Horizon's most secure servers? Can Audy keep the Kingdom Come flying under fire? When a conflict of loyalties emerges, will Cass be able to keep his plan from falling apart? Find out this week on COUNTER/Weight: "We've All Killed People" Watch your back... Hosted...
Nov 20, 2015•1 hr 21 min
Even though they're not quite sure what it is (or what they should do with it), the Chime continues to track down the mysterious Gnosis virus. Cass and Mako dive deeper into the Horizon Tactical Solutions R&D labs, Aria Joie runs into a fan, and AuDy enjoys the algorithmically handcrafted atmosphere of the most corporate coffeeshop franchise in the galaxy. But they're not the only ones on the case... This week on COUNTER/Weight: "Our Customer of the Month" Let's dance! Hosted by Austin Walker ( ...
Nov 13, 2015•1 hr 7 min
The Chime continues their hunt for the Gnosis virus, as Cassander and Mako infiltrate the Snowtrak facility, AuDy finds a nice cafe and Aria goes to a concert. Will Cassander be able to keep their head down? What will Mako find in the mesh? Is Aria the best Aria Joie cosplayer!? This week on COUNTER/Weight: A Home After A Wake... Every dog has their day! Hosted by Austin Walker ( @austin_walker ) Featuring Keith J Carberry ( @KeithJCarberry ), Jack de Quidt ( @notquitereal ), Ali Acampora ( @ali...
Nov 07, 2015•56 min
This week, we enter into The Sprawl in earnest. Big Cass finds himself pulled between familial duty and personal safety, AuDy calls in a favor from a fellow sentient machine, Mako goes digging for information, and Aria finds, to her surprise, that she has a new hit record. This week on COUNTER/Weight: "A Thing You Know About Nightclubs" Get ready to feel the beat! Hosted by Austin Walker ( @austin_walker ) Featuring Keith J Carberry ( @KeithJCarberry ), Jack de Quidt ( @notquitereal ), Ali Acamp...
Oct 30, 2015•1 hr 37 min
After 10 or so episodes of using Jeremy Keller's excellent MechNoir , we're switching our game of giant robots, neon hair, and gig economies over to Hamish Cameron's upcoming game The Sprawl . This week, we transfer Aria, AuDy, Cass, and Mako to the new system, but it's also a lot more than just shifting stats around! After the food crisis that struck Counterweight, tensions between OriCon, the Diaspora, and the remnants of Apostolos are high. The Chime has gone to ground, giving them a chance t...
Oct 23, 2015•2 hr 54 min
Throughout the Golden Branch sector, a dozen little pieces begin to move all at once, each one causing two dozen to move, and each of those, four, and suddenly the whole sector is... What will happen to those loyal souls on the abandoned world of Sage? What tricks does the manipulative headmaster of the September Institute have up his sleeves? What do the disenfranchised do when they find themselves in power? And what force sleeps, buried in the ice of Ionias? All of that and more... This time o...
Oct 15, 2015•2 hr 25 min
The battle continues as The Chime tries to rescue Orth Godlove but they aren't the only ones with their sights set on him... between the Iron Choir and the Netted Wave, this Orth guy is pretty popular! Who knows what they want with him, but who's asking questions when his life--and more importantly, kredits are on the line? This time on COUNTER/Weight: "Our Hostage Below" Ready for action? Hosted by Austin Walker ( @austin_walker ) Featuring Keith J Carberry ( @KeithJCarberry ), Jack de Quidt ( ...
Oct 01, 2015•1 hr 48 min
The Chime's sometimes-employer Orth Godlove has gone missing and the group is on the hunt... but the mysterious Netted Wave is just a few steps behind them. A key witness, who is both familiar and strange, leads them to a brand new line on the Starlight Straights MagLev System. Will they find Orth out in the the desert wastes of Counterweight... or will they run into something else altogether? This time on COUNTER/Weight: "I Am Not Allowed" Keep your head down, Orth! Hosted by Austin Walker ( @a...
Sep 19, 2015•1 hr 27 min
After a few weeks of recovery and dry times, The Chime finally gets a new job from Orth Godlove: to investigate his own disappearance. Stakes are high but tensions are even higher as protesters fill the streets around the Consolidated Counterweight Technocracy. Just what, if anything, do the protests have to do with Orth? Where is Orth and what else can The Chime learn about him while they have the chance? This episode of COUNTER/Weight: "Here's Your Bribe Tip" Things are heating up! Hosted by A...
Sep 19, 2015•1 hr 25 min
In this episode of Friends at the Table, we introduce the "second layer" to our MechNoir campaign, combining elements from Microscope and Stars Without Number to get a fuller picture of the powers that be in the Golden Branch star sector. Find out what Snowtrak Industries is digging up from the icefields of the planet Ionias. Listen in on EarthHome Entertainment as they put wicked machinations into action. And get ready to meet the slickest pirate fleet you've ever heard of. This time on Friends...
Sep 11, 2015•2 hr 7 min
The Chime continues their rescue of Cene Sixheart, the brilliant roboticist kidnapped by Snowtrak Industries and forced to work on a mysterious project in a research and development facility. Surely things couldn't get any worse — or ridiculous — for our heroes, right? AuDy (Jack de Quidt) makes a scene, Aria Joie (Ali Acampora) makes a statement, Mako Trig (Keith Carberry) pushes the limits of his charm and Cassander (Art Tebbel) tests his skills as a doctor. This episode of COUNTER/Weight: "Th...
Sep 03, 2015•2 hr 19 min
The Chime, our intrepid group of freelance investigators and problem solvers, managed to survive their encounter with the mercenary band known as The Weightless. But many questions remain unanswered: Who are The Weightless. What have they done with Cene Sixheart? What does Orth Godlove of the Consolidated Counterweight Technocracy know about all of this? And who, or what, are the angels of Counterweight? Mako Trig (Keith Carberry) and Aria Joie (Ali Acampora) devise a cunning (and absurd) plan t...
Aug 01, 2015•1 hr 53 min
In their search for the missing roboticist Cene Sixheart, Cassander Timaeus Berenice (Art Tebbel) and Mako Trig (Keith Carberry) have tracked down the secret hanger of a mysterious mercenary group. But elsewhere on counterweight, AuDy (Jack de Quidt) and Aria Joie (Ali Acampora) find themselves pursued by the specialized mechs from that very paramilitary outfit! This episode of COUNTER/Weight: "Soldier Game." Get ready to launch! Hosted by Austin Walker ( @austin_walker ) Featuring Keith J Carbe...
Jul 25, 2015•1 hr 37 min
In the first session of our new MechNoir game, the freelancer problem-solving crew known as The Chime begins an investigation into the disappearance of their friend, the genius roboticist Cene Sixheart, and the destruction of the recently completed BluSky Dome. Mako Trig (Keith Carberry) and Cassander (Art Tebbel) deal with increasingly absurd robots. Meanwhile, the robotic AuDy (Jack de Quidt) tests the limits of their spaceship, and Aria Joie (Ali Acampora) launches! This time on COUNTER/Weigh...
Jul 17, 2015•1 hr 58 min
Whether you're a brand new listener or a long time fan, welcome to Friends at the Table, an actual play podcast about critical worldbuilding, smart characterization, and fun interaction between good friends. This season, we'll be using a combination of games to explore the relationship between individuals, society, and technology. Oh, and uh, there will be lots of giant robots and explosions, too. All of this will happen across two "tiers" of play. First, in a game of Jeremy Keller's MechNoir , ...
Jul 15, 2015•2 hr 48 min
Since we've reached the finales of both boat party and ice party's arcs, we take some time to discuss the show and answer some questions during a live stream. Hosted by Austin Walker ( @austin_walker ) Featuring Keith J Carberry ( @KeithJCarberry ), Jack de Quidt ( @notquitereal ), Ali Acampora ( @ali_west ), Nick Scratch ( @drevilbones ), Andrew Swan ( @andrewleeswan ), and Art Tebbel ( @atebbel ) Produced by Keith J Carberry Cover Art by Craig Sheldon ( @shoddyrobot) Intro Music by Jack de Qui...
Jun 19, 2015•1 hr 40 min
In the season finale of Friends at the Table: Dungeon World, The Great Fantasmo (Nick Scratch) makes a new friend, Thorondir (Andrew Swan) tries to keep his friends safe, and Hadrian (Art Tebbel) finishes a chase he didn't realize he'd started. Featuring Nick Scratch ( @drevilbones ), Andrew Swan ( @andrewleeswan ), Art Tebbel ( @atebbel ), and Austin Walker ( @austin_walker ) Produced by Keith J Carberry ( @KeithJCarberry ) Cover Art by Craig Sheldon ( @shoddyrobot) Intro Music by Jack de Quidt...
Jun 01, 2015•2 hr 13 min
In this season finale of the "Boat Party" group, Lem is torn, Fero is frustrated, and Hella finds herself face to face with the last scion of the line of Tristero. Featuring: Ali Acampora ( @ali_west ), Keith J Carberry (@KeithJCarberry ), Jack de Quidt ( @notquitereal ), and Austin Walker ( @austin_walker ) Produced by Keith J Carberry Cover Art by Craig Sheldon ( @shoddyrobot ) Music by Jack de Quidt A transcription is available for this episode here. A full list of completed transcriptions is...
May 23, 2015•1 hr 25 min
Hadrian recommends splitting up, Thorondir grows uneasy, and the Great Fantasmo finally finds his voice . Featuring Nick Scratch ( @drevilbones ), Andrew Swan ( @andrewleeswan ), Art Tebbel ( @atebbel ), and Austin Walker ( @austin_walker ) Produced by Keith J Carberry ( @KeithJCarberry ) Cover Art by Craig Sheldon ( @shoddyrobot) Intro Music by Jack de Quidt ( @notquitereal ) A transcription is available for this episode here. A full list of completed transcriptions is available here. Our trans...
May 16, 2015•1 hr 24 min
The court proceedings continue. Lem leans into conspiracy theory, Fero tries to save his friends by throwing them under the bus, and Hella takes the stand. The crowd reacts. The life of the case comes to a close. Featuring: Ali Acampora ( @ali_west ), Keith J Carberry (@KeithJCarberry ), Jack de Quidt ( @notquitereal ), and Austin Walker ( @austin_walker ) Produced by Keith J Carberry Cover Art by Craig Sheldon ( @shoddyrobot ) Music by Jack de Quidt A transcription is available for this episode...
May 08, 2015•44 min
Hadrian learns it's a tough thing to be obliged, Thorondir waits patiently, and the Great Fantasmo won't turn down a free meal. And something about Sting Featuring Nick Scratch ( @drevilbones ), Andrew Swan ( @andrewleeswan ), Art Tebbel ( @atebbel ), and Austin Walker ( @austin_walker ) Produced by Keith J Carberry ( @KeithJCarberry ) Cover Art by Craig Sheldon ( @shoddyrobot) Intro Music by Jack de Quidt ( @notquitereal ) A transcription is available for this episode here. A full list of compl...
May 02, 2015•1 hr 13 min
Hella receives words from the outside, Lem tries to play his part and Fero starts the show with a show stopper. Featuring: Ali Acampora ( @ali_west ), Keith J Carberry (@KeithJCarberry ), Jack de Quidt ( @notquitereal ), and Austin Walker ( @austin_walker ) Produced by Keith J Carberry Cover Art by Craig Sheldon ( @shoddyrobot ) Intro Music by Jack de Quidt A transcription is available for this episode here. A full list of completed transcriptions is available here. Our transcriptions are provid...
Apr 24, 2015•1 hr 14 min
