What happens if we embrace combat as the focus of the roleplaying game? Is it possible to make fighting enjoyable? And what difference does it make to use miniatures and maps? Around the turn of the century, while I was working on Games Day in the U.K., I was lucky enough to be invited to get involved in playtesting several projects. The one I want to mention today is Inquisitor. But, in addition, I wanted to mention two additional matters: the first is regarding call-ins to the show and the...

Growing up, I was introduced to tabletop hex-and-chit board wargames from a very early age. The source of my wargaming roots came from my father’s interest but I have never been entirely clear on how he got involved. While I delved off into roleplaying games around sometime around 1980, Dad has always been a wargamer and this was an interest that served as an anchor home through most of my life.  This episode is a recording of a chat with my Dad. We’re sitting at the dining table at the...

What would happen if I took the Classic hexcrawl game structure, Rob Conley’s revised Wilderlands of High Adventure hex maps, the Dungeon Fantasy Roleplaying Game rules, Doug Cole’s excellent Delvers To Grow quick character creation templates, and the forthcoming Nordland Bestiary, also produced by Doug Cole’s Gaming Ballistic? Well, I want to find out. Thank you to Frank, Brian, and Jason for the call-ins! Game on! Roleplay Rescue Details: Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the...

Today I have a short rant on the idea that what we do, each of us, is inherently valuable. My assertion is that whatever we do - individually or collectively - as gamers, friends, and curious onlookers, it all has value. It’s valuable because you made it. Because you thought it. Because you shared it with us. We might not like it, agree with it, or want it… but you gave of yourself. It’s valuable because being a human being is inherently valuable. You don’t have to earn anything, do or say...

Talking about five steps that lead to lasting joy, how to apply this to roleplaying games, and what I've learned from ADD/ADHD experts Edward Hallowell and John R. Ratey. It's a call to get back to the real reasons I got into roleplaying in the first place. Thanks to Richard, Brian, Trev, and Jason for the call-ins! Game on! Delivered From Distraction book from Amazon.co.uk here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Delivered-Distraction-Getting-Attention-Disorder/dp/0345442318/ or click Delivered...

Signal boost for #RoleForCharity! Link for #RoleForCharity t-shirt:https://rphaven.co.uk/product/roleforcharity  Text of this episode: Tabletop Role-Playing Games Industry comes together to support NHS Charities Together in #RoleForCharity The Role Play Haven has teamed up with a whole host of UK publishers to raise money for NHS Charities Together through a bespoke charity t-shirt fundraiser which launches on Wednesday 2nd February at 2:00pm. The pressure on our National Health...

Having talked a lot about playing games with the rules behind the GM's screen, the GM rolling the dice, and the players encouraged to be in-role and in descriptive mode, I decided to dive into an experiment to find out how that might work. This episode shares part of our Session 6 conversation reviewing the player's experiences so far and reflecting back their thoughts on the Northern Isles game we are creating. Our hope is that you'll find this interesting too. Thanks to Evil Jeff, Bob aka...

What’s our role in this roleplaying game? How do we fit into the team? And what kind of expectations am I holding for the group? Talking about the struggles I face in coming up with decent character ideas - in finding my role at the table - as well as reflecting on the nature of the roleplaying group as a team. Also talking a little bit about opening up the table. Thanks to Rob (aka Menion) and Jason for the call-ins! Game on! Roleplay Rescue Details: Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen...

What do you do when you don’t know what to do? How do you react when you feel stuck? And what’s stopping you from doing what you need to do in the first place? I want to share a message a listener wrote to me and I want to talk about the impact it had. From there, I have a few thoughts on how to unstick myself and I’m hoping that you’ll find some value in those ideas too. Many thanks to the callers: Jason and Frank - your generosity is appreciated! Byron Katie's website: The Work of Byron...

How do you get a regular game started? Why is it that, very often, I quickly get overwhelmed by anxious panic? How can I keep playing long enough to enjoy the game I want to play? Turns out it's pretty simple. Many thanks to the callers: Jason, Runeslinger, Spencer, Karl, and emailer Micheal - your generosity is appreciated! Game on! Roleplay Rescue Details: Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore: Tale of The Manticore, a Dark Fantasy Dungeons & Dragons...

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. This time we're talking about his March 2021 release, "Realm Management" which we both believe could be used by any roleplaying game GM. Yes, this is...

Why do most gamers prefer the regular kind of roleplaying game? What do you do if you want something more? And what can we say to the majority who tell us we are playing bad wrong fun? Welcome to the regular kind of roleplaying game... which I no longer wish to play. Big thanks to Rob (aka Menion) for the call-ins! Roleplay Rescue Details: Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore: Tale of The Manticore, a Dark Fantasy Dungeons & Dragons Audiodrama (podbean.com)...

What would happen if I just started a new season with very little in the way of a plan? Well… we’re about to find out. Big thanks to today's callers: Menion (aka Rob), Brian, and Jason C. Roleplay Rescue Details: Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore: Tale of The Manticore, a Dark Fantasy Dungeons & Dragons Audiodrama (podbean.com) or https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/  Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/message Email: [email protected] Patreon:...

Here's a bonus episode featuring and interview with Christopher R. Rice talking about the soon-to-be-published Dungeon Fantasy Thieves book for GURPS. It's a good listen, even if you're not into GURPS... but it's gold for those who are. Hope you enjoy! Game on! Big thanks to Christopher R. Rice for talking about it. Check out his Patreon here: Christopher R. Rice is creating Role-Playing Games and Fiction | Patreon or https://www.patreon.com/Ravenpenny Wanna add to the Movember...

In November 2021 I am once again shaving off my beard and growing a moustache in solidarity with my MoBros across the world. I am inviting you to help me turn this into a fundraising event for Movember. I am supportive of Movember because of their multi-faceted approach. What particularly appeals is their efforts in working toward a world where men and boys are comfortable having conversations about the big things in life. My experience has been that we don’t talk to each another enough in...

As promised, this is the final episode of Season 9. The plan is to collate and respond to the call-ins that I have received over the past six weeks or so. I am hugely grateful to the generously shared questions and comments that come from you - the listeners. Thank you for taking the time to listen to Roleplay Rescue; thanks also to the many many listeners who keep downloading the episodes and giving them a go. Thank you.  Especial thanks to the callers: Frank, Brian, Jason, Spencer, Colin,...

What do you do when you realise that you don’t want to play the way that most other people are playing? Do you give up, say `that’s it, I’m done”? It’s tempting. It’s easier. Or do you double down, accept you are different, and play on regardless? Thanks to Barney from Loco Ludus for his call-in. Game on! Roleplay Rescue Details: Roleplay Rescue Theme Song by TJ Drennon and incidental music by Jon Cohen. Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/message Email: [email protected] Patreon:...

In 1986, the Professor Emeritus of history and literature of religion at New York University wrote that, “There are at least two types of games. One could be called finite, the other infinite. A finite game is played for the purpose of winning, an infinite game for the purpose of continuing the play.” The author was James Carse and he has something rather useful to teach us about roleplaying games. Game on! Roleplay Rescue Details: Roleplay Rescue Theme Song by TJ Drennon and incidental...

Ever since I can remember, a big part of my hobby experience has revolved around combat - martial and magical combat against the foes of our characters. When I was a teenager, the older gamers called me a Munchkin and accused my games of being focused too much on combat and not including enough exploration or character interaction - the interaction sometimes erroneously being referred to as “roleplaying”.  Today I am asking: What’s wrong with combat focused gaming? Roleplay Rescue...

WARNING: This episode is intended for a mature audience. Listener discretion is advised. Topics of fear, horror, threat, illness, and general unpleasantness. As I headed out of the summer holiday period, I was fortunate to be able to record a sequence of intriguing conversations with people from across the community. Today you’ll be listening to the third and final conversation. This one is on the topic of fear and my guest is, of course, Peter Laws. For those not in the know, Peter Laws is...

As I headed out of the summer holiday period, I was fortunate to be able to record a sequence of intriguing conversations with people from across the community. In this second conversation, I was invited to talk about Trickster's Net. Find the Trickster's Net website here: https://8743x.de/tricksters-netz Grab your copy of the final Trickster's Net product here: https://tricksters-net.itch.io/ Further discussion of Trickster's Net can be found on Loco Ludus. Listen to Barney's podcast:...

Another bonus call-in episode focused on the conversation I had with Lieren on labels, play styles, and communication. These are responses to Season 9 Episode 12 (912). Big thanks to the callers: Jason C., Safer, Barry, Jason C., Frank, Brian, and Jason C. Loved it all - thank you! Game on! Roleplay Rescue Details: Roleplay Rescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon. Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/message Email: [email protected] Patreon: patreon.com/rpgrescue  Blog:...

As I headed out of the summer holiday period, I was fortunate to be able to record a sequence of intriguing conversations with people from across the community. The first of these was with Daniel Jones, whom long time listeners might remember first introduced me to the concept of Otherworld-immersion. Daniel Jones is a self-confessed IT nerd and the man behind the Eudaimonic Geekery blog, musing on the Art of RPGs, and the Primaeval Fantasy podcast. He describes himself as an Idea-Tinkerer,...

Another bonus call-in episode focused on Basic Roleplaying, aka BRP. These are responses to Season 9 Episode 11. Big thanks to the callers: Evil Jeff, Graham aka First Age. Arlen, Brian, and Jason C. Highly appreciated stuff! Game on! Roleplay Rescue Details: Roleplay Rescue Theme Song and incidental music by TJ Drennon. Voice Message: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/message Email: [email protected] Patreon: patreon.com/rpgrescue  Blog: roleplayrescue.com  MeWe Group:...