In the final episode before the Gameable hiatus, Meganbob joins Kris to discuss the characters, settings, and surprisingly compelling storytelling possibilities of 1985’s She-Ra: Princess of Power ! Listen to find out who we’d cast as Hordak in a live-action film, to learn what fanfic can teach us about managing tone, and to hear possibly the first use of the adjective “Wittgensteinian” in a gaming podcast. Plus: Grape-Nuts again! Check out the episode here!...
Before there was Netflix’s fantastic 2018 She-Ra and the Princesses of Power , there was 1985’s She-Ra: Princess of Power , which was… also a show. In this episode, MeganBob joins Kris to discuss the campy, magical, ridiculous plots of the original 80’s cartoon. Plus: Grape-Nuts! Check out the episode here!
Wondering where M.A.S.K. part 2 is? Here’s a quick update on what’s happening with Gameable . Listen to the update here.
This week, David McBride joins Kris to discuss the classic, toyetic 1980’s cartoon M.A.S.K. ! This episode focuses on the show’s bizarre plots, such as the theft of the Statue of Liberty, the abduction of a baby dinosaur, and a cross-country flying auto race for microfilm. Check out the episode here!
In the second part of our Young Justice coverage, Rich Howard and I talk about our favorite romantic pairings from the show, the dual challenges of creating a superhero “family” and a huge heroic ensemble, the value of time-skips in Young Justice and in gaming, and some ideas of tweaking the tone and subject matter of YJ for your table. Check out the episode here!...
Rescued from the cutting room floor, it’s 15-or-so minutes of Kris and Rich Howard from Whelmed making tough choices between the characters of Young Justice and the equally-great protagonists of Gargoyles . Check out the episode here!
This week, Rich Howard of Whelmed joins me to discuss Young Justice ! We dig into character-driven plots, open-ended character growth, the perils of using big characters in small and quirky roles, and much more. Check out the episode here!
In part 2 of our Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood discuss, we discuss the wide array of PC options in Amestris and beyond, the balance between freeform narration and tactical depth in emulating anime combat, and the bewildering cosmology of the series. Check out the episode here!
Its anime time once again! In this bonus episode, we discuss the plots (and story) of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood , from the straightforward first episode to the series’ baroque climax. Along the way, we discuss player on-boarding, dead end subplots, MacGuffin abuse, pacing a grand finale, and much more. Check out the episode here!...
In part 2 of our discussion about adapting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with RPG rules, Kris and Dr. G go into detail about using the Powered by the Apocalypse system to represent the teenage , mutant , ninja , and turtle aspects of the franchise. Check out Dr. G’s notes on the adaptation here . Check out the episode here!...
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles month concludes (kind of) with a discussion about RPG rules and systems for adapting TMNT , including Palladium’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles And Other Strangeness . Dr. G, the erstwhile Man of Nerdology, joins Kris to discuss the pros and cons of Palladium, using XP incentives to address the relationships that are key to TMNT , and how to achieve kung-fu fun without excessive crunch. Check out the episode here!...
As TMNT month continues, Claire Mulkerin joins Kris to discuss the tone, themes, and iconic settings of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles across the franchise’s history. Topics include 1980’s New York, black & white & gray morality, and the turtles’ very gameable take on life in the margins. Check out the episode here!...
Our month-long Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle series continues with an episode about characters featuring Tom and Rachael Kolar. After a discussion of which turtles we are and which turtles we’d like to be in an RPG, we hash out the point (if any) of cartoon Michelangelo, why April isn’t as cool as Lois Lane, Shredder’s place among the top cartoon villains, and the egregious Poochiness of Carter. Plus: We solve the Mystery of Family. Check out the episode here!...
All month long, we’re discussing the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. This week, Crystal Frasier joins Kris for a fun recap of the show’s first season arc, plus the memorable one-off The Case of the Killer Pizzas . Along the way, we discuss the plight of Baxter Stockman, the civic virtues of the Foot Clan, and some general observations about RPG plot construction. Plus: TMNT cereal, reborn! Check out the episode here!...
During a recent recording, Kris had an interesting (if off-topic) discussion with Claire Mulkerin about the controversy surrounding RuPaul’s Drag Race . For those following that controversy, here’s our discussion, barely-edited and salvaged from the podcast equivalent of the cutting room floor. Check out the clip here....
It’s Pride Month, and that means it’s time for Gameable Drag Race ! In this bonus episode, characters from all of this year’s Gameable episodes compete in a fantasy season of Rupaul’s Drag Race . Check out the episode here!
In part 2 of our Fireball XL5 discussion, we peel back the show’s shiny 1960’s veneer to discuss its pulp adventure heritage, to question the logic of Space City, and to detail the dystopia simmering all around these happy, Caucasian marionettes. Plus: Can a robot be governor? Check out the episode here!
In this very 60’s episode about Fireball XL5 , we discuss rocket ships, square-jawed heroes, and uncomfortable ideology; it’s more fun than it sounds! We discuss formulaic plots, old-school gaming, pulp adventure, and much more. Check out the episode here!
In our second Jem discussion, we discuss the (mutually exclusive?) joys of playing the Holograms and the Misfits, the importance of the 90’s zeitgeist to the show’s setting, the teme of responsibility vs. selfishness, and more. Plus: Which of Jem’s two outrageous theme songs is best? Check out the episode here!
