A third (and final) instalment of call-ins responding to Episode 2, "13 Game Master Rules", first released back on January 2nd. In Episode 2, I wanted to explore the Rules that I have - over a lifetime of gaming and roleplaying - constructed around the concept of being the Game Master. As I stated at the beginning of that episode, these Rules are all open to challenge and, in fact, are already undergoing challenge. My purpose has been to rock the foundations of these GM Rules and share with you ...
Feb 20, 2021•34 min•Season 8Ep. 9
A second instalment of call-ins responding to Episode 2, "13 Game Master Rules", first released back on January 2nd. In Episode 2, I wanted to explore the Rules that I have - over a lifetime of gaming and roleplaying - constructed around the concept of being the Game Master. As I stated at the beginning of that episode, these Rules are all open to challenge and, in fact, are already undergoing challenge. My purpose has been to rock the foundations of these GM Rules and share with you the journey...
Feb 13, 2021•43 min•Season 8Ep. 8
Barney from Loco Ludus has been encouraging me to embrace the concept of the Manifesto as a means to discussing my new approach to gaming and I rather like that idea. To my mind, there will be two major parts to my Manifesto For Roleplay Gaming - the first being the principles, policies and intentions of the Game Master, and the second being the principles, policies and intentions of the Player. Today, I am beginning to write my Manifesto and we begin, as they say, at the beginning: I am going t...
Feb 06, 2021•31 min•Season 8Ep. 7
Today is the first official call-in episode of Season 8 - by which I mean an episode constructed around the audio messages sent in from loyal listeners. In Episode 2, I wanted to explore the Rules that I have - over a lifetime of gaming and roleplaying - constructed around the concept of being the Game Master. As I stated at the beginning of that episode, these Rules are all open to challenge and, in fact, are already undergoing challenge. My purpose has been to rock the foundations of these GM ...
Jan 30, 2021•31 min•Season 8Ep. 6
A journey into 2021 with the specific aim of approaching the question of how I might imagine my roleplaying hobby to develop this year. It’s a sketch of the possibilities and I am going to refrain from allowing the Worry to rise up and get in the way of the project: the goal, of course, is to give myself direction; to place myself upon the pathway towards better gaming; to imagine how I would like it to be. I know that the reality, when now catches up to this imagined future, that each moment wi...
Jan 23, 2021•27 min•Season 8Ep. 5
Call-ins and response to the Bonus Episode from December entitled, "Am I Stuck In A Loop"? Lots of good feedback in response to the original messages from Andy Goodman - thanks to Barney, Spencer, and Barry for taking the time to call-in. On top of that, I share a new piece of the great puzzle of life - the idea of The Cycle of Change. Big thanks once again to my friends, Andy Goodman included, for being honest with me and helping me to find my way back into the roleplaying hobby. Game on! "Role...
Jan 18, 2021•26 min•Season 8Ep. 4
This episode is about my first steps into trying a totally different way of roleplaying and being the Game Master. Now, when I say “totally different way” I mean totally different for me. There is perhaps nothing new here for the GM who is secure in their approach to roleplaying games. On the other hand, if you are - like me - a bit of an old grog who has never really grasped the so-called “New School” ways of doing things, then maybe you’ll be curious to find out how I got on when I dove headlo...
Jan 16, 2021•30 min•Season 8Ep. 4
Hot on the heels of talking about my own vision for the kinds of roleplaying games I want to play came a rush of energy and enthusiasm to go out and make that vision become a reality. Of course, being human, with a bold vision comes big doubt. If there is something I can rely on in life it’s that I cannot rely on my level of motivation. That being said, and knowing full well that focus on motivation is not as useful as most people tend to think, I have noticed that three motivators give me a muc...
Jan 09, 2021•25 min•Season 8Ep. 3
Last time I shared my vision for approaching roleplaying games as a sacred imaginary birthright, a means to transcend - if only for a little while - the mundane rush of everyday life and replace it with worlds of wonder shared through collaboration with other human beings. Collectively, we have the ability to imagine and create for ourselves shared secondary worlds, inhabit them with characters whom we individually care about, and share their stories through the medium of the roleplaying game. B...
Jan 02, 2021•35 min•Season 8Ep. 2
Hailing from Portsmouth, Virginia, Christopher R. Rice is constantly writing, tinkering with, and running GURPS. A frequent contributor to Steve Jackson Games’ Dungeon Fantasy and Pyramid, if he's not writing for GURPS, he's blogging about it. His site “Ravens N' Pennies” is well-stocked with more GURPS goodies than you could shake a stick at. Christopher kindly agreed to come on the show back in November and talk about GURPS, GMing, and why GURPS is his go-to system. Thanks Christopher - it is ...
Dec 30, 2020•51 min•Season 8Ep. 1
Unscripted thoughts provoked by a very challenging call-in from Andy Goodman of the Expedition to the Grizzley Peak podcast. The calls triggered my anxiety which, it turns out, I was ready to notice and examine. I called Andy back and this bonus episodes shares the exchange. I then added further thoughts and invite your feedback. I realise that some listeners don't like call-in shows and also that some don't enjoy when I talk about myself and my mental health challenges either - this is probably...
Dec 29, 2020•20 min•Season 8Ep. 1
Although I have been gaming for more than 40 years and podcasting for the past 2 years, in recent months I almost lost my hobby. I know that I am not alone in this experience because, in the weeks since I stopped making new episodes, I’ve received many emails and social media messages, not to mention audio call-ins, that bear witness to the fact that many people have lost their hobby to the vagaries of modern life. As I begin this fresh season, my eyes are set on a single goal: I want to run gam...
Dec 26, 2020•31 min•Season 8Ep. 1
Publish and be damned, I say! Here's Season 8, Episode 0 (the "trailer"). The rough plan is that I will release Episode 1 on Saturday 2nd January 2021, kicking Roleplay Rescue back on the air to begin a fresh new year!Frankly, this is a little bit indulgent but heart-felt. It's been a few weeks in the making too but I think it sets things up for a positive ride forward. Thanks for believing, everyone! If you want to do me a favour, call in with some comments/questions so I've got content for the...
Dec 19, 2020•18 min
A few people have been asking how I am doing since the close of Season 7 and, coincidentally, I finally got around to listening to this DM Diary episode from last week which answers that question quite well. I think it's a good episode for content too because in this episode you'll hear how my coming to terms with anxiety intersects with me being a GM. For newcomers, the Roleplay Rescue Dungeon Master’s Diary features me, a microphone, and whatever gaming-related nonsense flows from my mind. Thi...
Dec 09, 2020•33 min•Season 7Ep. 22
In the last week that I was at work, I hopped onto Zoom for a chat with a member of the team responsible for updating a seminal science-fiction roleplaying game. David Soruco is one of the partners at 23rd Century Productions, LLC. His focus area is gaming rules including ship combat and general rules. He has been playing RPGs since the 70's. What I didn’t know is that he turned out to be one of the most pleasant and patient guests I have ever had the honour to interview. This interview has been...
Nov 28, 2020•57 min•Season 7Ep. 20
Griff Morgan is a writer, director, and gamer whose collaboration on the “Secrets of Blackmoor” film - released in 2019 - has shone a bright light on the origins of roleplaying games rooted in the work of David Wesley and Dave Arneson. About three weeks ago now, I hopped onto Skype for a chat with Griff, ostensibly to talk about Good versus Evil. As chance would have it, a few days earlier I had received my Backer’s .PDF of the Tonisborg draft - a bonus book that was part of the Kickstarter for ...
Nov 21, 2020•41 min•Season 7Ep. 19
It is with a heavy heart that I announce I am pressing pause on RPR for the foreseeable future. Details are in this episode. Please bear with me. I hope everyone will understand. Be well and game on! Roleplay Rescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJD Contact Details: Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/message Email: hello@rpgrescue.com Patreon: patreon.com/rpgrescue Blog: roleplayrescue.com MeWe Group: mewe.com/join/roleplayrescue (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Faceboo...
Nov 11, 2020•18 min•Season 7Ep. 18
Roleplay Rescue is primarily about encouraging the lapsed roleplaying game enthusiast - those of us who perhaps played Dungeons & Dragons sometime in the past - to come back to the gaming table. Today, my guest is just that: a lapsed roleplayer who has found a path back to play… but perhaps not by the traditional route. It’s a great honour for me to welcome one of the most creative minds in the community to tell us a little bit about himself and the fantastic project he’s been working on in ...
Nov 07, 2020•54 min•Season 7Ep. 18
Douglas H. Cole is the owner of Gaming Ballistic, the first licensed third-party publisher for the Dungeon Fantasy Roleplaying Game and The Fantasy Trip, working in support of Steve Jackson Games’ popular roleplaying games. It’s simply terrific to welcome Doug back to the show… and this time it’s all about helping me to think through a specific issue I believe I might have solved with my GURPS Dungeon Fantasy campaign. Roleplay Rescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJ...
Oct 31, 2020•46 min•Season 7Ep. 17
A short bonus episode in which I talk about where Roleplay Rescue is going plus take some call-ins from Frank T, Jason C, and Safer. To end, I share an ambition to get more voices onto the show, inviting folk to get in touch if they'd like an opportunity to shout about their favourite RPGs from the RPR rooftop. Thanks for listening! Game on! Roleplay Rescue Theme and incidental music by TJ Drennon: patreon.com/TJD Contact Details: Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/message Email: hello@rpgrescue...
Oct 29, 2020•20 min•Season 7Ep. 16
The Roleplay Rescue Dungeon Master’s Diary features me, a microphone, and whatever gaming-related nonsense flows from my mind. This is recorded in short snippets throughout the week and then roughly edited together to form a diary of one man’s journey in gaming, shared week-by-week. It’s raw, glaringly personal, and not everyone’s cup of tea. This is the end... well, the last episode of the DM Diary... the end of this rambling mess. Game on! Dear Diary Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drenn...
Oct 26, 2020•29 min•Season 7Ep. 16
Brian Jamison’s “Gamemastering”, self-published in 2011, has had a major impact on me over the years. Initially, the book intrigued me and I tried to take the advice to heart. Doing so, I quickly ran into some genuine resistance from fellow gamers. This past week or so, I began to re-read it and re-visit it. It seems I am still niggled by the style and tone but I am also trying to mine the book for useful methodology. It’s really the first and only book on methodology that I have found useful th...
Oct 24, 2020•34 min•Season 7Ep. 15
The Roleplay Rescue Dungeon Master’s Diary features me, a microphone, and whatever gaming-related nonsense flows from my mind. This is recorded in short snippets throughout the week and then roughly edited together to form a diary of one man’s journey in gaming, shared week-by-week. It’s raw, glaringly personal, and not everyone’s cup of tea. Somehow, we've made it to 50 episodes of this tripe, so that is some kind of an achievement. This week I have split it in to three halves: this is Part 3 w...
Oct 20, 2020•35 min•Season 7Ep. 14
The Roleplay Rescue Dungeon Master’s Diary features me, a microphone, and whatever gaming-related nonsense flows from my mind. This is recorded in short snippets throughout the week and then roughly edited together to form a diary of one man’s journey in gaming, shared week-by-week. It’s raw, glaringly personal, and not everyone’s cup of tea. Somehow, we've made it to 50 episodes of this tripe, so that is some kind of an achievement. This week I have split it in to two halves: this is Part 2 whi...
Oct 18, 2020•32 min•Season 7Ep. 14
The Roleplay Rescue Dungeon Master’s Diary features me, a microphone, and whatever gaming-related nonsense flows from my mind. This is recorded in short snippets throughout the week and then roughly edited together to form a diary of one man’s journey in gaming, shared week-by-week. It’s raw, glaringly personal, and not everyone’s cup of tea. Somehow, we've made it to 50 episodes of this tripe, so that is some kind of an achievement. This week I have split it in to two halves: this is Part 1 whi...
Oct 17, 2020•23 min•Season 7Ep. 14
Peter Laws is an ordained minister with a fascination for the macabre, an author, journalist, film critic, public speaker, and regular writer for Fortean Times. He is the creator of the Matt Hunter novel series and the host of the Creepy Cove Community Church podcast - an immersive, horror-themed ‘church service’, broadcast from the mysterious fishing town of Creepy Cove. Besides from horror, Peter is said to hail from somewhere down south and enjoys retro TV and Krispy Kreme donuts. This episod...
Oct 10, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Season 7Ep. 13
Finishing what I started on Monday when I super-early-released the first part of this episode. The Roleplay Rescue Dungeon Master’s Diary features me, a microphone, and whatever gaming-related nonsense flows from my mind. This is recorded in short snippets throughout the week and then roughly edited together to form a diary of one man’s journey in gaming, shared week-by-week. It’s raw, glaringly personal, and not everyone’s cup of tea. Special thanks to Judd and ShandyAndy for their contribution...
Oct 03, 2020•35 min•Season 7Ep. 12
Super-early release of the first part of this week's DM's Diary because I want to help promote the Glorantha Games 2020 online convention I am attending on Saturday 3rd October. Details for that event below. The Roleplay Rescue Dungeon Master’s Diary features me, a microphone, and whatever gaming-related nonsense flows from my mind. This is recorded in short snippets throughout the week and then roughly edited together to form a diary of one man’s journey in gaming, shared week-by-week. It’s raw...
Sep 28, 2020•36 min•Season 7Ep. 12
An episode sharing call-ins responding to my Addendum episode from some weeks ago. Thanks to Spencer, Lieren, Rob, Dave, Judd, Tim, and John. Music by John from Tale of the Manticore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 27, 2020•42 min•Season 7Ep. 11
Rather ironically, I am experiencing some of the work-induced, invasive, and destructive feelings that inspired the podcast in the first place. In short, I feel like work is killing my hobby. This episode arises from the challenges that I’ve been facing in my hobby, to which Judd refers in his opening call-in. I talk about what’s been happening and what I am doing to tackle these challenges. After that, I share few more call-ins from Jason and The Lonely Adventurer, responding to both. There's a...
Sep 26, 2020•30 min•Season 7Ep. 11
