Shane Plays Geek Talk
A journey into the things we love: D&D / RPGs, tabletop games, wargames, video games, comics and comic books, Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, fan films, movies, TV, books, sci-fi, fantasy, more! Hosted by a fellow geek that supports and encourages geeks and our fandoms in all of their various splendor! Come along and get your geek on (or maybe even discover you inner geek)!
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Banquet For Fools With Game Developers Hannah And Joseph Williams - Episode 281 - 11/26/2024
11/26/2024
Banquet For Fools With Game Developers Hannah And Joseph Williams - Episode 281 - 11/26/2024
Game developers Hannah and Joseph Williams join to chat about their new “Dark Crystal”-like CRPG Banquet For Fools. Shane jokingly laments a missing element from the game, but Joseph promises they won’t duck out from putting it in. Now that ten years have passed, how do they feel Serpent in the Staglands performed? Thoughts on Mechajammer (previously Copper Dreams) and the hopes versus the reality. The pros, cons and pitfalls of Early Access. Shane gets recruited as a voice actor. A tangent into severe weather and the importance of escapism. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #281 - 11/26/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Banquet for Fools on Steam Hannah and Joseph Games Website The Dark Crystal A Wizard of Earth Sea by Ursula K. Le Guin Chicago by Carl Sandburg Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Star Trek Video Games With Mat Bradley-Tschirgi - Episode 280 - 10/23/2024
10/23/2024
Star Trek Video Games With Mat Bradley-Tschirgi - Episode 280 - 10/23/2024
Star Trek Video Games: An Unofficial Guide to the Final Frontier with author Mat Bradley-Tschirgi. There are a LOT of Star Trek video games and Mat had some hard decisions and set boundaries on what games to cover in his book (by the way, a “notable” game doesn’t necessarily mean a good game). What is Mat’s favorite and least favorite Star Trek game? Star Trek has one of the saddest stories of vaporware in PC gaming. Mat had an unusual entry into Star Trek fandom, but it still grabbed him. What are Shane and Mat’s thoughts on some of the more recent Star Trek TV shows? What is one redeeming aspect of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier? Podcasting takes a lot of work and time. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #280 - 10/23/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Mat Bradley-Tschirgi’s Books on Amazon Star Trek Video Games: An Unofficial Guide to the Final Frontier Star Trek Games list on Trekcore Star Trek Games list on Wikipedia Star Trek: Secret of Vulcan Fury trailer Matt Chat (Matt Barton’s interview channel) Sequelcast 2 Podcast Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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RPG & Gaming Scholar Jon Peterson - Episode 279 - 9/27/2024
09/27/2024
RPG & Gaming Scholar Jon Peterson - Episode 279 - 9/27/2024
RPG and tabletop gaming historian Jon Peterson returns for a fantastic conversation on D&D and RPG history, and his related current books and projects. A new edition of Playing at the World and Dungeons & Dragons - the Making of Original D&D: 1970-1977 are on the shelves. D&D 4E has its hardcore fans. Jon has a seriously impressive collection of documents related to RPG history. Jon’s first on-screen RPG game, ever. Does the role of the Caller in D&D get an unfair reputation (and what exactly does the Caller do)? DNA from non-RPGs like Outdoor Survival made it into early D&D. Be careful of the question “what is a role-playing game”, the debate can sideswipe an entire conversation. Plus much more. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #279 - 9/27/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Previous Shane Plays Geek Talk episode with Jon: D&D History – Game Wizards: The Epic Battle for Dungeons & Dragons with Jon Peterson – Episode 250 – 11-9-2021 Playing at the World, 2E, Volume 1: The Invention of Dungeons & Dragons (Game Histories) Playing at the World, 2E, Volume 2: Three Pillars of Role-Playing Games (Game Histories) Dungeons & Dragons - the Making of Original D&D: 1970-1977 Celebrating 50 Years of Dungeons & Dragons - Week #1 - OD&D with Jon Peterson Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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RPG Designer Merle M. Rasmussen - Episode 278 - 8/14/2024
08/15/2024
RPG Designer Merle M. Rasmussen - Episode 278 - 8/14/2024
Merle M. Rasmussen, the man in the tux himself, joins to talk about the Top Secret RPG and his game design career. What was his first (mistaken) understanding of what D&D was? Memories of working at TSR. A no-nonsense discussion about the financials of his agreement with TSR for Top Secret. Financial lessons he has learned in his career. The perils of lead poisoning in making miniatures (and accidental improvised bombs). Jon Peterson’s Quagmire! D&D module article and Merle’s involvement in making it happen. Top Secret set multiple RPG precedents. What existing RPG was used for Top Secret’s firearms rules? The FBI visited TSR because of Top Secret’s playtest. You’re not just paranoid, the HackNoia RPG is coming. I Choose To RISE, Merle’s card game that helps teach about Black heroes. Merle’s wife Jackie has often been his writing partner and sounding board. Moments of fan feedback Merle has had that will get you right in the feels (including, I kid you not, being asked to bless a gamer’s ashes). Bad James Bond jokes. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #278 - 8/14/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Merle M. Rasmussen on Wikipedia Merle M. Rasmussen on RPG Geek Top Secret RPG on Wikipedia Quagmire! The Making of a 1980s D&D Module by Jon Peterson Sqwurm Card Game Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Zombie Movies with Chris Holmes and Mike Stewart - Episode 277 - 7/22/2024
07/22/2024
Zombie Movies with Chris Holmes and Mike Stewart - Episode 277 - 7/22/2024
Shane, Chris Holmes, and Mike Stewart aka DM Mike (Save for Half podcast, Found in the Ruins podcast) shamble relentlessly through over 40 zombie and zombie-ish flicks in their inhuman hunger for horror. Plus a brief detour into the best on-screen Joker and multiple bad zombie jokes. True or false: Marcel Marceau starred in a zombie flick. What is Shane’s most annoying zombie movie? What would you do if you were the last person on Earth and could do whatever you want? Shane offers a rare trigger warning. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #277 - 7/22/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Found in the Ruins podcast (FITR releases on the SFH podcast feed) Found in the Ruins Facebook Group Return of the Ripper for DCC RPG with a cover by Jeff Dee and illustrations by Chris Holmes Chris Holmes’s Zombie Movie List (if an entry is numbered, Chris recommends it. If it’s not numbered, he feels it’s worth discussing but doesn’t “rank” for his top 15) Last Man on Earth USA 1964 Dir. Sidney Salkow Based on I Am Legend Richard Matheson Stars Vincent Price Plague of the Zombies UK 1966 Dir. John Gilling Stars Andre Morell Hammer Film 1. Night of the Living Dead USA 1968 Dir. George Romero Writ. John Russo Stars Duane Jones Tombs of the Blind Dead Spain-Portugal 1972 Dir. And written Amado de Ossorio Stars are unimportant 2. Omega Man USA 1971 Dir. Boris Sagal Based on I Am Legend Stars Charlton Heston, Rosalind Cash Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things USA 1972 Dir. Bob Clark written and starring Bob Clark! Shanks USA 1974 Dir. William Castle probably written by him too Stars Marcel Marceau! 3. Dawn of the Dead USA 1978 Dir. And Writer George Romero Stars Ken Foree Stunts and makeup by Tom Savinni Zombi 2 Italy 1979 Dir. Lucio Fulci Writ. Dardeo Sacchetti Released in U.S. as Zombie Nightmare City Italy 1980 Dir.Umberto Lenzi Stars Hugo Stieglitz and many attractive women. Extremely silly. 4. The Evil Dead 1981 USA Dir. Sam Rami also written by him Stars Bruce Campbell First in a great Trilogy Dead and Buried 1981 USA Dir. Gary Sherman Writtten by Dan Obannon Stars James Farentino, Jack Albertson 5. Re-Animator 1985 USA Dir. Stuart Gordon written by him and Brian Yuzna Stars Jeffry Combs, Barbara Crampton 6. Return of the Living Dead 1985 USA Dir. Dan OBannon also written by him Stars James Karen, Clu Galagar, Linea Quigley, Day of the Dead 1985 USA Dir. George Romero also written by him Stars Lori Cardille A great disappointment Night of the Creeps 1986 USA Dir. Fred Dekkar also written by him Aliens create zombies 7. Evil Dead 2 1987 USA Dir. Sam Rami also written by him Stars Bruce Campell More fun and no tree rape Night of the Living Dead 1990 USA Tom Savini remake of original Stars Patricia Tallman 8. Dead Alive (Brain Dead) 1992 N.Z. Dir. Peter Jackson Writ. S. Sinclair Stars Timothy Balme, Diana Penalver Army of Darkness 1992 USA Dir. Sam Rami Written by Sam and Ivan Rami Stars Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz 9. Cemetery Man 1994 Italy Dir. Michele Soavi Stars Rupert Everett, Franscois Lazaro, Anna Falchi 10. Bio Zombi 1998 Hong Kong Dir. Wilson Yip Stars Jordan Chan Very funny. 11. Stacy ( Attack of the School Girl Zombies) 2001 Japan Dir. Naoyuki Tomomatsu Possibly the weirdest Shawn of the Dead 2004 England Dir. Steven Wright Stars Simon Pegg, Mark Frost Dance of the Dead 2008 USA Dir. Greg Bishop Written Joe Ballarini D&D players die in this film Dead Snow 2009 Norway Dir. Tommy Wirkola Stars Charlotte Frogner 12. Wyrmwood (Road of the Dead) 2014 Australia Dir. Kiah Roache Turner Stars Bianca Bradey -Features car chases on the outback Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse 2015 USA Dir. and written Christopher Landon Stars Tye Sheridan 13. One Cut of the Dead (Zombie One Cut) 2017 Japan Shinichiro Ueda No spoilers please 14. Little Monsters 2019 Australia Dir. Abe Forsythe Stars Lupita Nyoung’o Heartwarming 15. Night Eats the World 2018 France Dir. Dominique Rocher Stars Anders Danielsen Bleak and realistic Shane’s Additional Worth Mentioning List (for better or for worse) Train to Busan World War Z Assault on Precinct 13 The Crazies The Sadness Zombieland REC The Returned Demons Army of the Dead Land of the Dead Diary of the Dead Survival of the Dead The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue Honorable Mention: Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Comics & Comicsgate With Preston Poulter - Episode 276 - 4/29/2024
04/30/2024
Comics & Comicsgate With Preston Poulter - Episode 276 - 4/29/2024
Preston Poulter of Pocket Jacks Comics joins to talk comic books, the current status of his Comicsgate trademark lawsuit, and his reasons for pursuing it. Plus the economics and challenges of self-publishing comics, some tabletop RPG chat and we learn what a pocket jack is. Shane gets upstaged during the bad joke of the week. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #276 - 4/29/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Pocket Jacks Comics Preston Poulter Trademarks Comicsgate Timeline of Comicsgate Trademark Lawsuit: Common Sense Press Inc DBA Pocket Jacks Comics (Poulter) vs Sciver / Malpica The Standoff at Sparrow Creek Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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MASSIVE GEEKOUT With David Finn Of Signal Of Doom - Episode 275 - 3/29/2024
03/29/2024
MASSIVE GEEKOUT With David Finn Of Signal Of Doom - Episode 275 - 3/29/2024
Wide-ranging geekout with David Finn of Signal of Doom!! Lots of comic book and MCU chat (like, a lot). Pi Day. Doctor Who, old and new. Google Gemini vs. ChatGPT. Judge Dredd satirizes fascism but can tell multi-layered stories. Godzilla finally wins an Oscar. Godzilla as a metaphor. The essence of the Punisher. It’s been a while, but Shane rants a bit (and David loves it). The Krakoan X-Men scare Shane and David’s ready for the era to move on. Current Beast makes David pine for Dark Beast. Three Jokers?? The 80s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles RPG and real-life urban ninja action. Shane’s defining Han Solo moments. David recommends Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre. A key to being an adult is being able to separate the creator from the creation in terms of enjoying entertainment. What D&D-related incident made a young Shane cry? Shane and David love the old-school CRPGs. The Asanti Series is a continuing series of fantasy books by David. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #275 - 3/29/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Signal of Doom Podcast Signal of Doom: Ed Greenwood Interview Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness RPG ‘Godzilla Minus One’ Makes Franchise History With First Oscars Win Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre Circle of Eight Modding Community - The Temple of Elemental Evil The Asanti Series (David’s Books on Amazon) Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Greyhawk With Allan "grodog" Grohe - Episode 274 - 2/29/2024
03/01/2024
Greyhawk With Allan "grodog" Grohe - Episode 274 - 2/29/2024
Despite what you might think from its famous box art, Greyhawk (the first D&D setting published by TSR) isn’t just knights and chivalry… so what is it then? Major Greyhawk fan Allan T. Grohe Jr. aka “grodog” joins to fill us in on all the setting’s fantastic details! Also: Greyhawk is a setting with plenty of room to homebrew within the established details. Why the name Greyhawk? Some discussion of the Greyhawk novels (Gary Gygax’s and others). The Moathouse vs. the Temple… which is remembered more fondly? Is Greyhawk “real” to Allan? Militant neutrality. Alignment and worldbuilding. Does Lawful Good have to be Lawful Stupid? Discovering The Hobbit. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #274 - 2/29/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Why Greyhawk in 2023? - grodog's Thoughts “The Grey in the Hawk” by Nitescreed Greyhawk on Wikipedia Circle of Eight Modding Community - The Temple of Elemental Evil Video Game OSRIC & The OSR with Allan T. Grohe Jr. – Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode 264- 11/30/2022 Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Strat-O-Matic Baseball with Champion Bill Meinhardt - Episode 273 - 1/31/2024
02/01/2024
Strat-O-Matic Baseball with Champion Bill Meinhardt - Episode 273 - 1/31/2024
Strat-O-Matic Baseball might be one of the biggest games you’ve never heard of, and three-time champion William “Bill” Meinhardt joins to share his passion for playing it. How long has the game been around, and how many people play it? What’s the one mechanic Bill wishes was in this beloved game? Is there a link between Strat-O-Matic Baseball and Fantasy (Rotisserie) Baseball? Is there a link between Strat-O-Matic and tabletop roleplaying games? At its heart, what is the game of baseball? And for the really hard-hitting question, does Bill do the Chicken Dance?? Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #273 - 1/31/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Strat-O-Matic on Wikipedia Strat-O-Matic Baseball Review Strat-O-Matic: Dungeons & Dragons For The Rotisserie Set Bill Meinhardt: World’s Largest Fantasy RPG Collection! – Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode 206 – 12/21/2019 Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Star Fleet Battles With Bill Barsh - Episode 272 - 12/29/2023
12/29/2023
Star Fleet Battles With Bill Barsh - Episode 272 - 12/29/2023
Star Fleet Battles is the Star Trek-based wargame that’s been in constant publication since 1979, leading to an expanded range of games and lore known as the Star Fleet Universe. SFB fan, expert, and contributor Bill Barsh of Pacesetter Games and Simulations joins to talk all about it and take us into the final frontier of wargames! Is SFB for wargamers, Trekkies, or both? Which SFB weapons do Shane and Bill most hate to be on the receiving end of? Speed is life. SSDs, phasers, and hellbores, oh my! Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #272 - 12/29/2023 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Star Fleet Battles on Wikipedia Star Fleet Battles at Amarillo Design Bureau Pacesetter Games & Simulations Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Stan Lee With Comics Creator Tom Scioli - Episode 271 - 11/20/2023
11/20/2023
Stan Lee With Comics Creator Tom Scioli - Episode 271 - 11/20/2023
Discover the real Stan Lee (not the public PR persona) and his story in Tom Scioli’s amazing I Am Stan biographical graphic novel. Plus: Simple comic book character design versus convoluted and complicated design. Working for the big comics companies versus being an independent creator. The one time Tom got a taste of the editorial dark side of comics. The indefinable magic of the monthly comic. A comic with a lot of issues doesn’t necessarily make money. The changing fiscal and distribution of the comics industry over time always keeps it the best of times and worst of times. Should the New Gods and the Eternals have been kept separate from the main continuity of their respective publishers? Shane doesn’t buy DC’s reason for Crisis on Infinite Earths (but loves the series). What is Shane’s dream project for Tom? (hint: it’s The Land of the Lost). Make sure to track down Tom’s newest superhero comic Witchman. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #271 - 11/20/2023 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES I Am Stan Graphic Novel A Comic Book Creator’s Journey: From 8-Opus to WITCHMAN with Tom Scioli Tom Scioli’s Patreon WITCHMAN: A New Superhero Comic Book Zot! Online: "Hearts and Minds" Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Zombie Bytes with James T. Wilson - Episode 270 - 10/23/2023
10/23/2023
Zombie Bytes with James T. Wilson - Episode 270 - 10/23/2023
All-around groovy geek and author Tracy Wilson (aka James T. Wilson) on his indie horror novel Zombie Bytes, also chatting about cool things like his involvement with the Star Wars costuming association the 501st Legion. The pain and timeline of writing a novel. What is “success”? What’s the real threat of a zombie apocalypse? Thoughts on when it was time to stop watching The Walking Dead. World War Z: the book versus the movie. Shane is currently into On Patrol Live. Shane confesses to a geek heresy as a child. Multiple bad zombie jokes. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #270 - 10/23/2023 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Zombie Bytes Novel 501st Legion Rebel Legion Police Pursuits YouTube Channel James T. Wilson on Instagram James T. Wilson on Facebook Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Incredible Cosplay With Simple Tricks & Nonsense - Episode 269 - 7/16/2023
07/16/2023
Incredible Cosplay With Simple Tricks & Nonsense - Episode 269 - 7/16/2023
Johnny Havoc (John McDonald) and Newt (Rebekah McDonald) of Simple Tricks & Nonsense join to discuss their incredible cosplay. What does cosplay mean to them? The economics of cosplay, including material and labor. Cosplay includes the challenge of taking something two-dimensional and making it work practically in three dimensions. For people who create cosplay as art, cons are like their art galleries. It’s very OK to ask cosplayers to take a pic with them, truly. What famous movie quote inspired ST&N’s moniker? How big is the Masters of the Universe fandom? Newt has literally lived up to her nickname. We’re hoping Johnny will Gorn it up someday. Cobra-La, yes or no? The Venture Bros. Kids locking themselves in the bathroom when their toys die. The startling connection between Robocop and a trash dumpster. Cartoon villain smack-talk contest. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #269 - 7/16/2023 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Simple Tricks & Nonsense on Facebook Simple Tricks & Nonsense on Instagram Simple Tricks & Nonsense on YouTube Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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The Legend of Drizzt with Mike Witwer – Episode 268 – 5/30/2023
05/30/2023
The Legend of Drizzt with Mike Witwer – Episode 268 – 5/30/2023
Author and D&D historian Mike Witwer shares the details on his newest book The Legend of Drizzt Visual Dictionary, which is not only chock full of goodness on everyone’s favorite drow but the Forgotten Realms in general (as Mike puts it, "the Drizzt books are the greatest tour of the Forgotten Realms that the setting has ever gotten"). Mike has several other projects going as well, including a sequel to Art & Arcana focusing on 5E, and a young adult novel featuring a historic game and a town that might seem familiar to D&D fans! Some D&D movie discussion. The importance of documenting D&D and RPG history. Shane poses a tough question to Mike on what magic items he would choose from the Drizzt books. What books would Mike recommend to introduce someone to Drizzt? Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #268 - 5/30/2023 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Drizzt trivia: First novel: The Crystal Shard in 1988 38 books as of August 9, 2022 39th book releasing in August 2023: Lolth's Warrior Over 35 million copies of Drizzt books sold Drizzt Do'Urden on Wikipedia The Legend of Drizzt series on Wikipedia Dungeons and Dragons The Legend of Drizzt Visual Dictionary Lore & Legends: A Visual Celebration of the Fifth Edition of the World's Greatest Roleplaying Game Vivian Van Tassel and the Secret of Midnight Lake --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Holmes Basic D&D, John Eric Holmes & Edgar Rice Burroughs with Chris Holmes - Episode 267 - 5/12/2023
05/12/2023
Holmes Basic D&D, John Eric Holmes & Edgar Rice Burroughs with Chris Holmes - Episode 267 - 5/12/2023
Chris Holmes has a unique historical perspective on fiction writer John Eric Holmes and Holmes Basic D&D, given that he’s JEH’s son. Chris is doing cool stuff in his own right, including his fantasy art and a day job where he gets to introduce kids to D&D. Chris’s posthumous RPG project with his father called Things Better Left Alone. How much did JEH make for creating the first D&D Basic edition? Chris and Shane have different approaches to playing with alignment. What is Chris’s favorite D&D edition (it’s a trick answer). Edgar Rice Burroughs. Send in the Pinkertons! Tarzan’s super power. Weresharks. Ask Cthulhu. Zombie movies, Rob Zombie, Dragula, and Sherlock Holmes. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #267 - 5/12/2023 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES John Eric Holmes on Wikipedia Chris Holmes Website: Things Better Left Alone module from Pacesetter Games based on J. Eric Holmes map from Holmes Basic D&D -Chris Holmes contributes art, which Bill Barsh calls “Holmesian” --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Betrayal at Krondor 30th Anniversary & Fan Film Challenge with Neal Hallford - Episode 266 - 3/14/2023
03/14/2023
Betrayal at Krondor 30th Anniversary & Fan Film Challenge with Neal Hallford - Episode 266 - 3/14/2023
Hey there, friend! If you're into classic games and fascinating stories, you'll love our latest podcast episode featuring the multi-talented Neal Hallford. Join us as he shares insider details on the renowned Betrayal at Krondor CRPG, and get excited about the game's 30th-anniversary celebrations! This innovative game was truly ahead of its time, and Neal takes us on a journey to explore the bold choices that made it such a hit. Discover the game element that needed a makeover but ultimately turned out even better! Did you know that Neal's incredible work on the game led Raymond E. Feist to include it in his iconic Riftwar Saga novel series? Hear about their collaboration and get an insider's perspective on Feist's impressive business acumen. But wait, there's more! Brace yourself for some juicy behind-the-scenes stories of the BAK sequel drama, complete with corporate antics and a dash of Machiavellian mischief. You won't want to miss it! Neal also shares his thoughts on his Krondor Remastered project and reveals what he'd do differently if he had the chance to remake the game today. Plus, find out which lessons from his Swords & Circuitry game development textbook still hold true and what he'd update for the modern age. And if you're a budding filmmaker, get inspired by the Betrayal at Krondor Fan Film Challenge, where even your trusty smartphone can be your ticket to success! Lastly, uncover a surprising connection between Betrayal at Krondor and the legendary BioWare. Tune in now for an enthralling and engaging conversation that's sure to spark your curiosity! Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #266 - 3/14/2023 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Krondor Fan Film Challenge - Opening Day Announcement Video Betrayal at Krondor Fan Film Challenge Promo Video for Betrayal at Krondor Meetup in Eugene, OR on June 23, 2023 Facebook Event page for Betrayal at Krondor Meetup in Eugene, OR on June 23, 2023 Bak Bits Every Tuesday and Thursday until the meetup in Eugene on June 23rd, Neal is releasing new Bak Bits about the history of Krondor. Follows can find them by the hashtags #BAK30, #KRONDOR30, and #KRONDORFFC Neal’s Blog Betrayal at Krondor Pack on GOG Swords & Circuitry: A Designer's Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games Betrayal at Krondor Remastered & Lumberyard! – Shane Plays Ep. 45 (April 2016) --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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They Came for the OGL: 3rd Party RPG Publishers Share Their Experience - Episode 265 - 2/9/2023
02/09/2023
They Came for the OGL: 3rd Party RPG Publishers Share Their Experience - Episode 265 - 2/9/2023
Zach Glazar (Frog God Games), Bill Barsh (Pacesetter Games) and Levi Combs (Planet X Games) share the personal impact (here’s a hint: "existential threat") and professional impact that Wizards of the Coast’s recent OGL announcements had on them, and where they’re going from here. "Unprofessional" and "ham-fisted" is mentioned a lot by our guests. Third-party publishers have been publishing the strong stuff for 5E in recent years. Was WotC's final decision enough to get things back to what they were with 3rd party TTRPG publishers and creators or is the relationship over? What options are on the table if someone wants to leave WotC and their OGL behind? OGLs versus SRDs. ORCs and Black Flags. Finer points of TTRPG legal warfare. What the heck does irrevocable mean, anyway? Our guests have firm theories on what level in WotC this all came from (and the theories might surprise you). Shane Plays gets a HOT SCOOP from Pacesetter Games. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #265 - 2/9/2023 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Dungeons & Dragons’ New License Tightens Its Grip on Competition https://gizmodo.com/dnd-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-1-1-open-gaming-license-1849950634 An Update on the Open Game License (OGL) Cached version Frantic backpedaling (and attempted spin) on OGL 1.1 Summary of creator and fan response to WotC's OGL 1.1 official statement "It has become clear that it is no longer possible to achieve all goals" - Wizards of the Coast address Dungeons & Dragons OGL 1.1 backlash A Working Conversation About the Open Game License (OGL) Cahed version D&D maker still wants to revoke earlier versions of "open" gaming license D&D Beyond: OGL 1.0a & Creative Commons 88% do not want to publish TTRPG content under OGL 1.2. 90% would have to change some aspect of their business to accommodate OGL 1.2. 89% are dissatisfied with deauthorizing OGL 1.0a. 86% are dissatisfied with the draft VTT policy. 62% are satisfied with including Systems Reference Document (SRD) content in Creative Commons, and the majority of those who were dissatisfied asked for more SRD content in Creative Commons. Ryan Dancey -- Hasbro Cannot Deauthorize OGL Goodman Games Announces January Is Best Sales Month In Its History Paizo Announces System-Neutral Open RPG License - Open RPG Creative License (ORC) Kobold Press's Black Flag Blog Posts (new SRD / open fantasy RPG system project) Kobold Press releases new details for Project Black Flag --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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OSRIC & The OSR with Allan T. Grohe Jr. - Episode 264- 11/30/2022
11/30/2022
OSRIC & The OSR with Allan T. Grohe Jr. - Episode 264- 11/30/2022
RPG developer and publisher Allan T. Grohe Jr. (aka "grodog") joins to talk AD&D retroclone OSRIC, the OSR, Black Blade Publishing, John Eric Holmes, and RPG goodness in general. Allan LOVES him some Greyhawk. The skills he learned tracking down early information on Greyhawk helped lead to his main non-RPG career. How active is the current AD&D 1E and/or OSRIC scene? What is Allan’s definition of OSR, and does he feel it’s important? The legal importance of OSRIC to the OSR community. ‘zines are often lauded, but at one time Dragon magazine was a sort of “D&D website” in its day as well. Watching an RPG project happen behind the scenes. Shane offers a mild defense of rules lawyers. “Vanilla” fantasy is not a derogatory term. Cthulhu and Delta Green. Look, just hit Cthulhu with a boat. Shane has figured out Lovecraft’s indescribable color. Thunderdome match: Strongheart versus Warduke. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #264 - 11/30/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES OSRIC: First Edition Fantasy Roleplaying Game Black Blade Publishing THE 1001 TREASURES OF BLACK BLADE PUBLISHING AND GOODMAN GAMES: GARY CON 2018 REPORT, PART II Allan at Greyhawk Online D&D Retroclones List Single Volume Edition of OD&D by Greyharp Fight On! Magazine Knockspell Magazine --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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The Valley Out Of Time & Skeeter Green Productions - Episode 263 - 10/19/2022
10/18/2022
The Valley Out Of Time & Skeeter Green Productions - Episode 263 - 10/19/2022
Skeeter Green joins to talk RPGs, Skeeter Green Productions, the Independent Publishers Union of small RPG publishers, and his new Kickstarter. The Valley Out of Time is a series of 'zine-sized RPG adventures borrowing heavily from classic dinosaur art, books, and movies (think Frazetta and Harryhausen). Tips and advice for small RPG publishers from Skeeter’s seminar series with Zach Glazar. The chances of making a living working in the RPG industry full-time. Defining success. RPG authors versus developers versus editors versus designers. The correct way to pronounce “bulette” according to Tim Kask. The secret origin of the name Skeeter. Favorite sitcoms of the past. Rob Zombie’s movies. NASA probing asteroids. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #263 - 10/19/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Kickstarter: The Valley Out of Time for S&W DCC MCC Part 5&6 FINAL! from Skeeter Green Productions Skeeter Green Productions Skeeter Green Productions on DriveThruRPG Independent Publishers Union A NASA Spacecraft Is About to Collide With an Asteroid. Watch Live Here | Science Alert --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Reaper's Dungeon Dwellers RPG with Joseph Wolf - Episode 262 - 9/24/2022
09/25/2022
Reaper's Dungeon Dwellers RPG with Joseph Wolf - Episode 262 - 9/24/2022
Joseph Wolf of Reaper Miniatures talks Dungeon Dwellers, Reaper’s old-school style RPG using modern design. Also: some ReaperCon chat. Joseph has some interesting RPG design highlights, including Forgotten Realms, Deadlands, and Blood of Heroes. Love it or hate it, 5E is very successful at what it does. Which Dungeon Dwellers came first, the minis or the RPG? “Tolkien Orcs” versus “Warhammer Orcs.” Super quick hot takes on Rings of Power. Shane freely admits to and doesn’t apologize for being RPG system promiscuous. Innovation in RPG design is groovy, but you don’t have to innovate just to be cool. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #262 - 9/24/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Dungeon Dwellers RPG ReaperCon Reaper Miniatures Joseph C. Wolf | RPG Designer | RPGGeek --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Champions RPG with George MacDonald - Episode 261 - 9/9/2022
09/09/2022
Champions RPG with George MacDonald - Episode 261 - 9/9/2022
Champions superhero RPG co-creator (and HERO Games co-founder) George MacDonald with guest co-host Michael Stewart (Victorious RPG creator; Save For Half and The Crusader podcasts co-host). The origins of Champions from the why, to the playtesting to the launch and beyond. Was the initial reception to Champions disappointing or encouraging? George came out of wargaming and his RPG mechanics reflects that. Did early players prefer to play licensed characters or their own superheroes? Crunchy versus streamlined game mechanics. Estimating the damage between wet and dry avalanches. Why did George decide to do superheroes for his first RPG game genre? The difference in adventure structure between RPG genres (fantasy, cyberpunk, superheroes). Some of the business thinking behind printing a game and creating a company (two different things!). Game distributors dangled the carrot a lot back in the day. The great Hero Games Box Shuffle of the Early Eighties. A speed round of Champions questions for George from Facebook. The pros and cons of wearing a cape. Foxbat’s secret identity REVEALED! What term in sci-fi RPGs has always bugged Shane? A little bit of chat about George’s time in computer games including Pool of Radiance. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #261 - 9/9/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES George MacDonald (game designer) Save For Half Podcast Episode 17: Champions 1st Edition Matt Chat 490: George MacDonald World of Supers RPGs Facebook Group I tried to recreate a comic book using DALL-E and Alan Moore’s script --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Terrain-Tronics: DIY Gaming Terrain Electronics - Episode 260 - 8/15/2022
08/15/2022
Terrain-Tronics: DIY Gaming Terrain Electronics - Episode 260 - 8/15/2022
Dafydd Roche of Terrain-Tronics doesn’t just want to make cool terrain, he's helping DMs and GMs bring delight to their players with easy DIY gaming terrain electronics for D&D and other RPGs. Game terrain as part of the storytelling. Theatrical D&D. The no-solder wire wrapping technique is good enough for NASA! Pretty soldering jobs versus ugly soldering jobs. Smart ways to compete with big business as a small business. Shane does his usual thing of getting into the business reality behind the creativity. Terrain-Tronics products are open source. Do horses really go to the glue factory? What chain of events had to happen for many of the inventions and innovations in human history? A minor tangent into casinos, pit bosses, and getting comped. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #260 - 8/15/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Terrain-Tronics website Terrain-Tronics on YouTube Terrain-Tronics on Facebook “Endor Tree Platform” Lighted Forest Camp Diorama Tutorial - bringing electronics to your build! Recommended Starter Project - Conwy Castle - Simple 4ch LED Driver Tabletop Witchcraft Youtube Channel *Uses Terrain-Tronics electronics Nat1 Videos: How to build a BALINS TOMB - BOOK NOOK Adobe Medium - VR 3D Modeling Software --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Grindhouse Cinema With Levi Combs of Planet X Games - Episode 259 - 7/18/2022
07/17/2022
Grindhouse Cinema With Levi Combs of Planet X Games - Episode 259 - 7/18/2022
Grindhouse cinema with RPG publisher and cinephile Levi Combs. What is Grindhouse, and why is it called that? The market forces that led to the rise of Grindhouse theaters. Gritty movies, violent movies, Foreign movies, exploitation movies, Kung fu movies, BRUCEsploitation movies, more! New York City as a character in movies. Sho'nuff, The Shogun of Harlem can chew scenery on a level with Darth Vader. What’s Levi’s favorite fight scene in any movie, period? Is the first Friday the 13th movie a Grindhouse movie? Plus: The RPG adventures and ‘zines of Planet X Games… hear the call of the Skeleton of the Black Lake and behold the Big Eye Chungus! Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #259 - 7/18/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Grindhouse definition from Merriam-Webster: an often shabby movie theater having continuous showings especially of pornographic or violent films. Grindhouse on Wikipedia: According to historian David Church, this theater type was named after the "grind policy", a film-programming strategy dating back to the early 1920s which continuously showed films at cut-rate ticket prices that typically rose over the course of each day. Grindhouse on Wiktionary: Perhaps from the grinding or cranking motion employed by early projectionists. Perhaps from bump and grind (dubious). The term may originally have been used for burlesque houses in the 1940s. Planet X Games & The Phylactery ‘zine The 20 Best Grindhouse Movies Ranked | SlashFilm Grindhouse Data Base Top 20 Book recommendation These Fists Break Bricks: How Kung Fu Movies Swept America and Changed the World Troll 2 on Tubi Best Worst Movie (Documentary about Troll 2) on Tubi Shane's list of Grindhouse favorites: Night of the Living Dead Dawn of the Dead Death Race 2000 Gator Bait Honorable Mention: Zombie (for the zombie vs shark fight!) Levi’s Favorite Grindhouse Movies: Evil Dead 2 Troll 2 Samurai Cop Killer Klowns from Outer Space --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Mongoose and Meerkat with Author Jim Breyfogle - Episode 258 - 6/17/2022
06/17/2022
Mongoose and Meerkat with Author Jim Breyfogle - Episode 258 - 6/17/2022
Thrilling fantasy stories of the swashbuckling duo Mongoose and Meerkat with author Jim Breyfogle. Adventure fiction as opposed to “pulp” fiction (and what exactly does “pulp” mean, anyway). Who is Jim’s number one favorite writer from the past? Shane’s dirty little secret when it comes to Robert E. Howard’s fiction. Robert A. Heinlein was both amazing AND sketchy. Fair Witnesses are cool. The Odyssey Writing Workshop. Some love for CIRSOVA magazine and its publisher P. Alexander. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #258 - 6/17/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Kickstarter for Tales of the Mongoose and Meerkat Vol 2: The Heat of the Chase Tales of the Mongoose and Meerkat, Vol 1: Pursuit Without Asking Jim Breyfogle’s Website CIRSOVA Magazine Odyssey Writing Workshops Appendix N Book Club Podcast --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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JAQ: Journey Adventure Quest - Episode 257 - 5/27/2022
05/27/2022
JAQ: Journey Adventure Quest - Episode 257 - 5/27/2022
JAQ: Journey Adventure Quest is the new drafting board game with resource management, cool mechanics, challenging monsters, fun lore, and multiple paths to victory. Jesse Stacy, Tommy Noel and Brandon Beam from Triceratops Games join Shane to talk all about it (and demonstrate some actual play)! Also: Why the name Triceratops, wait until you hear about the artist, shout-outs to favorite board games, reminiscing on the early days of Magic: The Gathering, and of course more. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #257 - 5/27/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Journey Adventure Quest Kickstarter Triceratops Games JAQ at Board Game Geek Board game shout-outs: Thanos Rising: Avengers Infinity War Mystic Vale Wingspan Ankh Fantastic Factories Libertalia Lords of Waterdeep Star Trek Expeditions Ticket to Ride Small World Tokaido Lost Cities (2 player) Jaipur (2 player) --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Comics Artist Brian Shearer - Episode 256 - 5/12/2022
05/12/2022
Comics Artist Brian Shearer - Episode 256 - 5/12/2022
Comics artist (and self-described art hobo) Brian Shearer has worked on such high-profile properties as Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Doctor Who as well as his own creations Gunship Thunderpunch and William the Last. How did Brian become a professional artist? Tips for creators to build an audience online. What’s the line you have to cross on a late crowdfunding project fulfillment before Shane gets annoyed? Working on G.I. Joe pages while with your wife in the delivery room. SDCC and many other big cons aren’t for comics creators and fans anymore. Transformers toy history, and Bob Budiansky and Jim Shooter’s vital contributions to Transformers lore. Some Classic Who and New Who discussion. Favorite entertainment properties from the 80s. Shane was NOT down with the Ghostbusters cartoon that had an ape. 80s anime and those sweet, sweet Star Blazers twisty laser cannons. Catching episodes of Dragon Ball and Ranma 1/2 in Japanese and trying to make sense of it. What’s that certain unique something that Cowboy Bebop has? Favorite breakfast cereals, cereal toys of yore, and Saturday morning cartoons. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #256 - 5/12/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Shane Plays Geek Talk is carried on Krypton Radio! Krypton Radio is SciFi for your Wifi Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Brian Shearer’s website Gunship Thunderpunch Indiegogo On Demand Link Brian’s YouTube Channel William the Last Bob Budiansky at the Transformers Wiki 50 Greatest Cereal Box Prizes --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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RPG Designer Bruce Nesmith - Episode 255 - 4/15/2022
04/15/2022
RPG Designer Bruce Nesmith - Episode 255 - 4/15/2022
RPG designer Bruce Nesmith discusses his career as a TSR veteran (Ravenloft 2E, Gamma World 4E, Dragonlance), Elder Scrolls Skyrim lead designer, and now novelist. Bruce’s first day at TSR was an experience, to say the least. What does he consider his biggest achievement while at TSR? Bruce’s opinion of TSR under Gary Gygax versus Lorraine Williams and what he considers TSR’s “glory days”. What was his job description as lead designer on The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim? Why did Oblivion have a big celebrity but Skyrim didn’t? Bruce was years ahead of the game when it came to his revamp of the Armor Class system for Gamma World 4E. What do you do when you want to play D&D but you don’t have the rules? You invent it, including simulating the d20 with d6s. Writing for games versus writing prose. Bruce’s Loki in his novel Mischief Maker is not the MCU Loki. Shane laments the lack of a werecow in TSR publications. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #255 - 4/15/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Shane Plays Geek Talk is carried on Krypton Radio! Krypton Radio is SciFi for your Wifi Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Bruce Nesmith on Wikipedia Bruce's novel "Mischief Maker" Me And Steve Talk RPGs Episode 75: Bruce Nesmith I’m A Werecow --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Staged Heroism RPG - Episode 254 - 3-25-2022
03/25/2022
Staged Heroism RPG - Episode 254 - 3-25-2022
RPG designers John Kennedy (Star Trek Adventures, Stargate 5E) and Sharene "Madfishmonger" Gilchrist (Capers, Vast Kaviya) join to talk their new Staged Heroism RPG: A Comedic RPG of Super-Heroics, Super-Villainy, and Failure at its Best inspired by shows like The Venture Bros. Plus: Designing not to fail forward, but to embrace the fail. The Roger Rabbit style of gameplay. Flashback scenes as a game mechanic. Venomous monarch butterflies. Where did Sharene get her nickname? Cops raiding a Vampire LARP session. The design philosophy behind Star Trek Adventures. John gets a no-prize. Everyone is entirely too amused by the Burger King Kids Club. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #254 - 3/25/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Shane Plays Geek Talk is carried on Krypton Radio! Krypton Radio is SciFi for your Wifi Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Staged Heroism on Kickstarter Nerdburger Games The Venture Bros. Changeling: The Dreaming NFL SuperPro Burger King Kids Club --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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Comics Writer Paul Kupperberg - Episode 253 - 3-11-2022
03/11/2022
Comics Writer Paul Kupperberg - Episode 253 - 3-11-2022
Comics writer Paul Kupperberg is the very definition of prolific! He has written 1,400 comics over 4 decades, wrote for and was the editor of the Weekly World News, wrote Mad Libs, and is still staying busy writing books and novels. Paul’s credits include the Doom Patrol, Peacemaker, Vigilante, and the first comic book miniseries (1979’s World of Krypton), as well as being the writer who killed Archie (after simultaneously marrying him off to both Betty AND Veronica). Also: In the real world, superheroes would be NUTS. The willing suspension of disbelief versus the art style. What Archie means to Paul. Target audiences for comic books over different eras. Does Paul prefer the JSA or JLA? Armchair quarterbacking by comics fans.The challenges of continuity in serialized fiction over time (with some insight behind Wonder Woman, Wonder Girl and Wonder Tot). Which classic silver age DC comics issues didn’t have a number on the cover, and why? One positive early benefit of the direct market in the comics industry. What was the first comics miniseries (and why was it a last-minute thing)? What did James Gunn think of Paul’s version of Peacemaker? Which comics character has Paul had the strongest fan feedback to? What does he consider his strongest sustained comics work? What’s the one comics character he would love to return to? More! Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #253 - 3/11/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Shane Plays Geek Talk is carried on Krypton Radio! Krypton Radio is SciFi for your Wifi Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Paul Kupperberg on Wikipedia Paul Kupperberg: My 13 Favorite Comic Book Stories I’ve Written | 13th Dimension, Comics, Creators, Culture Paul’s books on Amazon Paul Kupperberg’s Website --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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The Wit & Wisdom of Troll Lord Games - Episode 252 - 2-4-2022
02/04/2022
The Wit & Wisdom of Troll Lord Games - Episode 252 - 2-4-2022
Stephen Chenault aka the Troll Lord of Castle & Crusades publisher Troll Lord Game joins to talk about what’s new with C&C and some wise principles he uses to run TLG that have helped them tremendously while other companies have encountered severe disruption during COVID. Plus: Steve has to do daily battle with Skynet for sales. The perfect timing of the emergence of crowdfunding for TTRPG companies. Steve’s honesty when asked if he’s ever considered giving up. Dissecting the current massive popularity of RPGs. What is Steve’s favorite monster, and why is it the Gibbering Mouther? How did Troll Lord Games get its name? Some comic book industry discussion. Tribute to David Middleton aka The Digital Dungeon Master. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #252 - 2/4/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! Shane Plays Geek Talk is carried on Krypton Radio! Krypton Radio is SciFi for your Wifi Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle DriveThruRPG.com SHOW NOTES Troll Lord Games: The Current State of Affairs Castles & Crusades Players Handbook 7th Printing - Free (Digital Version) Troll Lord Games Continues to Leave a Mark | The Parallax Blog DAVID MIDDLETON, The DIGITAL Dungeon Master 1973 - 2021 - "THANK YOU, DAVE!" --- Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
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