Ken and Robin remember a 90% scale replica of the façade of the Alamo in this episode themed around their recent sojourn in Austin, TX. In the Gaming Hut we recapitulate a Chupacabracon panel with talk of villains and how to portray them. The Food Hut has us munching on barbecue, Tex Mex and the wonder that is In and Out Burger. The Eliptony Hut has a classic bit of carny cryptozoology in it—the Minnesota Iceman, now resident in Austin’s Museum of the Weird. And finally Ken’s Time Machine has hi...
Jan 30, 2015
Join Ken and Robin for this live episode recorded at Chupacabracon in beautiful Austin, TX. The best audience ever, per capita, punch above their weight to keep us supplied with incisive questions. We discover that the Nerdtrope game is exceptions-based as Ken draws a historic quintuple Trope. Or is that Nerd? I forget. Vicissitudes of the road had their way with our audio quality this time out, but hey, quintuple. We couldn’t not release that. Attention, class! Anchor sponsor Atlas Games wants ...
Jan 23, 2015
Verily and anon, adopt the cloak of darkness as Ken ducks into the Elizabethan tavern that is the Gaming Hut to discuss his School of Night GUMSHOE setting. Violence and mayhem disrupt the tranquil comfort of the Food Hut as we examine America’s Whiskey Wars and riff some dystopian futuristic equivalents. Should that scene end with a jump or a slide? How to Write Good mulls the art of transitions. The Conspiracy Corner situates itself in a hotel room—the so-called Illuminati hotel room at Housto...
Jan 16, 2015
The Magicians’ Guild turns out to be rife with factions and competing interests as the Gaming Hut looks at ways to add realistic messiness to your game’s imaginary institutions. In Ken and/or Robin Talk to Someone Else , Robin asks up-and-coming illustrator Rachel A. Kahn how an artist breaks into the roleplaying game market these days, and what her must-have tools and resources are. The Cartography Hut unfurls this map of global criminal trading activity , and we wring gaming ideas from it. Fin...
Jan 09, 2015
Our voices are as froggy as London used to be foggy in our first episode back after our UK sojourn. Inspired by the Museum of London’s current Sherlock Holmes exhibit , we usher a certain consulting detective into the Gaming Hut . As listeners know, every trip to the UK occasions a raid by Ken on London’s book purveyors. So we peer deep into the unsorted pile of Ken’s Bookshelf for an epic vicarious cataloguing of his latest plunder. Finally we wrap up our Dreamhounds of London inspired Culture ...
Jan 02, 2015
Just like sugar plums and figgy pudding, the annual live podcast from London’s Dragonmeet is here to warn us that December holds us in its thrall. Ken nerdtropes Genghis Khan and alien artefacts. Robin ups the ante on the tradition of live episode f-bombs. We contemplate Sigil’s thorniest immigration issues. And we tell you what the most expendable character type is. Which brings our podcast to a close for another year. Have a happy and safe holiday of your choice. We’ll be back on January 2nd w...
Dec 19, 2014
In Ask Ken and Robin , we answer an Ian Porell question about how much writing should go into a GUMSHOE NPC, and move on from there to supply other tips on creating supporting players for investigative games. From there we take a short hop to the Gaming Hut to look at post-mortems and other ways of eliciting player feedback. Our Dreamhounds of Paris -inspired visits to the Consulting Occultist continue with a consideration of mystical seeker George Gurdjieff. Finally we pick up the lobster phone...
Dec 12, 2014
In Ask Ken and Robin , Jeff Jones seeks advice on running an anti-Nazi campaign set in 30s America. We oblige in both pulp and occult genre modes. Become conscious of an enticing aroma in the Gaming Hut as we look at creature senses. The Consulting Occultist continues his Parisian sojourn with an examination of uxurious bookseller Nicolas Flamel, to whom later rumor and Harry Potter imputed alchemical mastery. That segment draws inspiration from our Dreamhounds of Paris book, which also takes us...
Dec 05, 2014
In Ask Ken and Robin , Stephanie asks Ken and Robin to find gaming ideas in the disappearance, and much later resurfacing, of Henry IV’s long-dead head. The Gaming Hut has us looking at moments where player choice conflicts with character believability. Back to matters Gallic, the Consulting Occultist details the life, thought, and possible Dreamlands influence of fin de siècle writer, ritualist and schmoozer Gerard Encausse. Finally, our Dreamlands of Paris inspired sojourn in the Culture Hut c...
Nov 28, 2014
The Tradecraft Hut takes an unusual lead slot as Ken answers an FMGuru request for the tale of WWII Soviet spy Richard Sorge. Horatio stands to our right and Laertes to our right as the Gaming Hut contemplates the use of supporting characters as foils. Blasting his trumpet for Dreamhounds of Paris , the Consulting Occultist begins a mini-arc delving into the French occult, starting with scientist, spiritualist and polymath Charles Richet. Even more brazenly touting Dreamlands , our just-opened C...
Nov 21, 2014
The hats in Among My Many Hats are bowlers, and green apples obscure our faces, because we’re talking about Dreamhounds of Paris , now available for preorder, and its companion volume, The Book of Ants . In the Food Hut we answer a Ryan Macklin request to talk about herbs. Which delicious plant will we name as monarch over all the others? We are pursued by a bear into the Gaming Hut for a discussion of Shakespearean gaming, as part of our nod to birthday celebrant Dina Katz. Finally the Consulti...
Nov 14, 2014
Gallop into the Gaming Hut as we discuss a term from documentary filmmaking, chasing story, and how it might relate to roleplaying games. Take a seat in the Cinema Hut as Ken discusses his top picks from the 2014 Chicago International Film Festival. Begin at the beginning as How to Write Good looks at constructing compelling opening scenes. Then puzzle through a chronological controversy in the Eliptony Hut , with our examination of the centuries of darkness thesis. Attention, class! Anchor spon...
Nov 07, 2014
In the Gaming Hut we consider the dividing line between fun character customization and tiresome homework, and whether it’s moving lately. Still in a Draculanean mood, Ken enters the Book Hut for a vantage on the career of Bram Stoker. We rev up the Recommendation Engine for its sophomore run to talk about a movie, a record, some books, and one of our favorite leaves. Then Ken’s Time Machine essays a daring escape as Ken rescues Marie Antoinette. Attention, class! Anchor sponsor Atlas Games want...
Oct 31, 2014
In the Gaming Hut we look at ways to add nuance to your setting’s faiths by considering the split between official and popular religion. Ken spills blood-red beans on the coming Dracula Dossier Kickstarter in Among My Many Hats . The Food Hut takes on a bookish sheen as we recommend our favorite food writing. Finally, the Consulting Occultist looks at the witch-related thoughts of once-influential scholar Margaret Murray. Attention, class! Anchor sponsor Atlas Games wants to enroll you in Mad Sc...
Oct 24, 2014
We kick off with a Gaming Hut riffed adventure premise, as heavily armed lords come from miles around to claim their share of a holy man’s ashes. How to Write Good stacks its deck in favor of the protagonists to show you how to avoid Mary Sue syndrome. Ask Ken and Robin leaves Robin as puzzled as the questioner as we tackle a persistent GUMSHOE fallacy. Venus flies over the Eliptony Hut as Ken serves up the 101 on Immanuel Velikovsky. Atlas Games again devotes its coveted anchor sponsor slot wit...
Oct 17, 2014
In the Gaming Hut Robin asks Ken to resolve Robin’s ambivalence toward creativity rewards. The Politics Hut puts one of Ken’s rules distinctions to real life use as we contemplate Stability, Sanity, and ISIL. Another lightning round flashes its electrical mayhem in Ask Ken and Robin . Finally Chris Huth prompts Ken’s Time Machine to journey to an even worse version of WWI. Atlas Games again devotes its coveted anchor sponsor slot to windmill-kicking promotion for Robin’s Hong Kong action movie r...
Oct 10, 2014
Ask Ken and Robin starts us in a murderous frame of mind as Dreaming Johnny wonders about settings and play styles for games where you play assassins. In The Business of Gaming we helpfully collate all of our advice on breaking into game design as a career in one handy segment. How to Write Good finds us looking at contrivances and how to avoid them. Finally the Consulting Occultist gives us the real lowdown on synarchy. Atlas Games again devotes its coveted anchor sponsor slot with windmill-kic...
Oct 03, 2014
Before getting to the main meat of the episode, a Preamble Hut seems necessary to update a few stories of interest to KARTAS listeners. So gather round as Ken dispatches fresh claims of a DNA solution to the Jack the Ripper mystery, and Robin covers the latest bizarre twist in the Rob Ford saga. Or is that now the Doug Ford saga? Then nestle in with your popcorn as Robin reports back from the Toronto International Film Festival for the 2014 edition of an obligatory Cinema Hut . Ken’s Time Machin...
Sep 26, 2014
Join us for another Ken and Robin live episode, this time from beautiful and now slightly better smelling Indianapolis, Indiana. We nerdtrope magical slave revolts, fit the Fords into the Cthulhu mythos, riff on our favorite spice, and more. Hurtle back into mid-August with us! Lead sponsor Atlas Games alerts you to a project near and dear to Robin’s heart, not to mention a good chunk of his year so far. That would be the freshly inaugurated Kickstarter for Feng Shui 2 ! Head on over and help ad...
Sep 19, 2014
Questions of pacing kick us into fall, as Ask Ken and Robin tackle a query from listener Michael Bowman. In Crime Blotter we hunker down in our tarmac-damaging humvee to consider the trend of police militarization that catapulted to world attention in the wake of the Ferguson protests. Ken and Robin Recycle Audio serves up the promised second helping of GUMSHOE scenario design master class. Then in Ken’s Time Machine our intrepid chrononaut shortens the US Civil War. Lead sponsor Atlas Games sha...
Sep 12, 2014
In Ask Ken and Robin , we field a Tuukka Heimola question about running great one-shots and convention games. The History Hut reveals itself to be a series of rapidly constructed forts as we look at the Battle of Poltava. Joined by co-panelist Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan, Ken and Robin Recycle Audio in part one of a two-part excerpting of their Gen Con GUMSHOE adventure master class. Finally, Sarah Helen Whitman, spiritualist and jilted fiancee of Edgar Allen Poe, summons herself into a particularly g...
Sep 05, 2014
It’s Gen Con, Gen Con and more Gen Con as we issue our usual bumper Travel Advisory in the wake of the big show. Robin comes home wreathed in Hillfolk glory, Ken and Robin snag gold, Ken makes the flipper motions of supreme pleasure in the presence of Greg Stafford, and we limn unmistakable evidence of the Roleplaying Golden Age. All that and a slightly bleary much, much more. Lead sponsor Atlas Games announces a project near and dear to Robin’s heart, not to mention a good chunk of his year so ...
Aug 29, 2014•1 hr 23 min
Ken slaps down suggestions of a Gaming Hut renovation, but that poses little impediment to Robin as he sets out the four key components that make for an engaging obstacle. For more, see Robin’s latest publication, a fundraiser chapbook for the Kraken Convention called Sharper Adventures in HeroQuest Glorantha , available to the public soon after that con wraps. Cartography Hut finds Ken searching for Dracula’s castle, finding not one site but many, each dripping with gore and story potential. As...
Aug 22, 2014
Ask Ken and Robin tackles a Tim Isakson question on ways to handle tone as a GM. Among My Many Hats tips its pith helmet to Ken’s new GURPS Horror book, The Madness Dossier . How to Write Good sits in the chair to examine discipline, morale, the value of routine, and the hazards of self-doubt. Thanks to a reminder from listener Joe Taylor, we finally let the Consulting Occultist loose on the Cathars, as we’ve been planning to do all along. From the magical land of sponsors comes Atlas Games, who...
Aug 15, 2014
Our multi-episode arc about the underwater dead who sell life and buy dreams comes to a conclusion in the Gaming Hut as we break out specific scenario ideas for our riffed setting. In a new segment called Recommendation Engine we tell you what’s catching our fancy in the worlds of books, TV, movies, and food. Rob Ford is back from rehab and onto the Toronto mayoralty campaign trail, and you know what that means: a midsummer night’s Politics Hut . Finally Ken’s Time Machine takes a trip to 7th ce...
Aug 08, 2014
Let the bells ring out and the banners fly. It’s the landmark 100th episode of our humble podcast! To celebrate, we’ve collected from listeners across the social media landscape a cornucopia of lightning round questions, which we dispatch with varying degrees of efficiency. Also in a celebratory mood are our ever-reliable anchor sponsors and fine friends at Atlas Games. With a twinkle of fairy dust they pop the champagne cork and give you another shot at their 2nd Edition Once Upon a Time cleara...
Aug 01, 2014
We are honored and delighted to say that Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff has been nominated for a 2o14 ENnie Award for Best Podcast. If you are seeing this before Aug 1st, and want us bounding up to that podium on Friday night at Gen Con, please do us a huge solid and go to the ENnies voting booth and pull the virtual lever. Watch out for wandering monsters as the Gaming Hut looks at random tables. In the Mythology Hut we answer the call of listener Genus Unknown to examine the roots of the Faust...
Jul 25, 2014
Often in the Gaming Hut (and other huts arrayed around it) we riff a ton of quick ideas in Gatling gun fashion. This time out we take one of those riffed ideas, that of the city of underwater dead who sell longer lives to mortals, as we demonstrate the process of fleshing out a concept into a setting. The Tradecraft Hut takes on the seminal story of 20th century espionage, Kim Philby and the Cambridge Five. In Ask Ken and Robin , Robin fields a Steve Hammond question on setting changes between t...
Jul 18, 2014
All hail the audio majesty of editor Rob Borges, who rescued this and last week’s episodes from the scourge of electronic interference, leaving only a touch of distortion in Robin’s sibilants. A mystery questioner Asks Ken and Robin how they handle red herrings. Ken flips on the projector in the Cinema Hut to get us started on the new Indian crime film. The Cartography Hut looks at the aesthetic and propagandistic impact of legendary map artist Richard Edes Harrison . We close with the Consultin...
Jul 11, 2014
All hail the audio majesty of editor Rob Borges, who rescued this and next week’s episodes from the scourge of electronic interference, leaving only a touch of distortion in Robin’s sibilants. It’s time to talk terms in the Gaming Hut , as we toss around the distinction between simulation and modeling. In the Conspiracy Corner we review the disputed death of Indian independence leader turned Axis ally Subhas Chandra Bose. Inspired by this piece by Leigh Alexander on Gama Sutra , How to Write Goo...
Jul 04, 2014
