Episode 23: Licensed to Vill(ain)

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Idle Red Hands

“So, Pureheart, we meet again. I always knew it would come down to us: you, the epitome of good, and me, the embodiment of evil. But am I evil? Is it evil to protect what is precious to you? Growing up in the ghettos of the East, I learned many things, and one of those things was that if you play the game of…”

“I got a 16 for initiative. I charge.”

“Hey! I’m monologuing here!”

In this episode, we run down the questions that every gamemaster should consider when making their villains. You’ve been warned, players.

Kristos sits in for his first non-board game episode. You’ve been warned, listeners.

Episode 22: Accessorizing Your Character

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Idle Red Hands

Idle Fashion Weekly

Turn Excalibur to ExFABulur in 7 easy steps

How to tell if they love you for you or for your power ring

HOT summer magic items that will make you the envy of your party

Plus: Choosing the right +3 sword for your face shape

In this episode, we look at how to make your equipment the stuff of legends. We also give a few underrated items some much needed attention.

Episode 21: Elevator Pitch

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Idle Red Hands

When Hollywood runs out of Saturday morning cartoons to make into movies, we suggest a new source for shaky ideas: pen and paper roleplaying games. (Because, really, The Smurfs?)

In this episode, we discuss the few RPG movies out there, and then we pitch our own ideas for RPG movies.

Episode 20: Creature Feature: Gangsters

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Lyal

It’s only our second Creature Feature and we’re already pushing the premise to include occupations. We discuss criminal organizations and how to include them in your games.

Oddly, we don’t mention Scarface at all. While this means we don’t mine this rich source of ideas, you’re spared listening to our versions of “Say hello to my little friend.” Chris does do The Godfather 3 quote. Yeah, that one.

To law enforcement: This episode is not an endorsement of crime or an attempt to glamourize it.

To criminal organizations: We’re obviously not talking about you. Are we cool?

Episode 19: Making History

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Idle Red Hands

Oscar Wilde once said, “(A)ny fool can make history, but it takes a genius to podcast about it.” At least, he would have said that if he’d listened to this episode (and had known what a podcast was).

In this episode, we look at how to give your setting a history and a background by using names, prejudices, quotes, forgotten monuments and other tricks.

Wayne reveals a trick of his own when he uses his precognition to critique Lyal’s points before Lyal actually makes them.

Episode 18: Sands of Twine

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Lyal

There are three things you don’t bring up at the Idle Red Hands dinner table: religion, politics, and the definition of a sandbox game. (Actually, you could probably bring up the first two.)

In this episode, we compare sandbox games to ball of twine games, and the analogies and metaphors fly. (Hey! Another metaphor.) I think we even manage to work in a snowclone. We talk about what these types of games are (and, boy, does that get heated, metaphorically speaking) and the pitfalls (metaphor) to avoid.

Episode 17: Conventional Wisdom

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Lyal

Kristos is back and so is talk of rape. It’s not a coincidence.

Back from the Kansai JIGG Golden Week Convention, we talk about the convention and the board games we played there. There is a clear favourite. We also discuss Wayne’s Hollow Earth Expedition convention game.

Episode 16: Once Upon a Time…

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Idle Red Hands

In a land very much like your own, but with more Sailor Moon uniforms, three podcasters did an episode on Changeling: The Lost. Lyal thought it was too dark. Wayne thought it wasn’t dark enough. Chris thought, well, that was never quite clear.

So, the three podcasters decided to look for gaming inspiration from real fairy tales. Chris collected ladies’ shoes until his wife caught him. Wayne looked for his sleeping beauty until hospital security barred him from the coma ward. Lyal ordered a “living doll” from the Internet, but he never actually said what happened with that.

Then, the three little trolls found the comic Fables and a podcast episode took shape.

Episode 10: Losing my Religion

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Idle Red Hands

No guest stars this episode; we stick with the Holy Trinity of Lyal, Chris and Wayne. (Did you see what we did there?)

Rather than focus on specific faiths, myths and rituals in this episode, we look at how religion, in general, would impact your game setting. This includes the tendency to tie faith to power and the idea that “science is the new religion”. We also discuss whether it’s fair to spring setting and rule surprises on players.

We hope to revisit this topic in the future because it’s so big.

Although we talk about religion, we manage to not offend any world faiths. Chris does cost us our creationist listeners, however.

Episode 8: The Art of Seduction

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Idle Red Hands

You’d think that a bunch of guys who spend their weekends playing games would have nothing to say about seduction. Well, you’d be wrong. You’d think that a bunch of (mostly) heterosexual guys coming on to each across a table would get awkward. Well, you’d be right.

In this episode, we discuss how to incorporate romance and seduction into your games.

“Interesting” was apparently Lyal’s word of the day. He has since bought a thesaurus.

Idle Red Hands

A Podcast From Japan About Games and Gamer Culture

Category Archives: General (RPG)