Episode 91 – Dungeon Master’s Guide – Part One
(a.k.a. Generic Cleric)
Arguably one of the most overlooked, under-read RPG books of recent years, the Dungeon Master’s Guide has lots of interesting parts and deserves a more thorough look. Gaz and Baz take a wander through the first few chapters of this D&D staple and offer insights on the pages found therein! New DMs or old hands alike could gain something from delving into a staple of the RPG library.
Episode 90 – Plans For 2019
(aka Your Motivation Is Down The Gym)
Stuck for what to do in the New Year? Does it all seem to much? Too many games, not enough time? It’s exactly the same at Smart Party Towers. This week the lads look at what 2019 might hold, how to get the most out of gaming hours, which books to read, corralling gamers and choosing systems and settings. Let’s get some games in and all be even better players in 2019!
The lads are joined by Dirk the Dice and Blythy off of The Grognard Files and Mat Hart from Steamforged Games to play some of the new Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay from Cubicle 7. The brave adventurers failed Baron Von Horgen in a previous endeavour and now find themselves in Schmutziger, attempting to bring back the black sheep of the Von Horgen flock. Having had an encounter with the Stevedores’ Guild, (you can hear more about that here), our plucky band start to form a plan – although best laid plans and all that…
Let the guys know if you like what you hear and they’ll see what they can do about more special episodes!
Do The Smart Party a favours and head on over to the EN World site to vote for them (and anyone else you fancy, it’s multiple choice) as a great podcast of 2018! It’d be an amazing festive present for everyone.
Episode 89 – 2018 In Review
(aka A Lot of People Give a Monkeys About This)
It’s that time of the year again – another one survived! Baz and Gaz and go through the games of the year, themes and what’s hot right now in the industry. A sojourn through the upcoming games as well – discussion on why the new Savage Worlds might be more anticipated the Pathfinder 2 – and the proliferation of second editions, sequels and franchises.
Episode 88 – B. Dave Walters Interview
(aka Shine on You Crazy Diamond)
Live gaming actor, streamer, DM, comic author, life coach and all round great guy B. Dave Walters has more strings to his bow than a harpist. You may know him from LA By Night, The Uncommon Trust, D&D, or various Geek & Sundry or other outlets (Top Ten links below). Gaz and Guest Host and good friend of the show Iain McAllister of The Giant Brain and Brainwaves podcast chat to Dave about streaming games, running D&D in a castle, writing a comic, diversity in gaming and much more!
A special treat dear listeners! This week the lads were down in London Village to attend Dragonmeet – a one day convention. They teamed up with old pals The Good Friends of Jackson Elias to have a verbal wrestle on whether all RPGs were essentially just customised versions of Dungeons & Dragons.
Episode 87 – Rob Schwalb Interview
(aka All Hail the Demon Lord)
Rob Schwalb, our special guest this time is a veritable game-producing machine, prolific output for Shadow of the Demon Lord is added to by Occult Philosophy in Kickstarter. One of the designers of D&D, involved in everything from A Song of Ice and Fire to WFRP second edition – Rob has plenty to talk about and intriguing thoughts into game design and where inspiration comes from.
The prolific and talented Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan joins the lads for some gaming chat and excellent advice on writing scenarios. We cover the writing process, collaborating with others, creating specifically for convention games and why gaming books should be useful at the table, among other things. A lot of what Gar says makes perfect sense and our glorious listeners may wonder, as we did, why it’s not just this obvious for everyone – but that’s the mark of someone good at what they do – making it all seem to easy!
The guys chat to Arc Dream head honcho Shane Ivey about the Ennie-award-winning Delta Green, GODLIKE, British small press games, publishing in the modern world many other things. Not only a prolific producer of games, but well-read fan of RPGs too, Shane has plenty to say on what’s happening on Arc Dream and tidbits on other games and insights into how to run a game company.
