In this episode we discuss the question of racial ability bonuses in D&D and other TTRPG systems. Is race the best way to give the flavor of the setting or does it just bring with it uncomfortable stereotypes drawn from the real world? Which will win in our discussion nature or nurture? If you roll a muscle wizard does that save you from the Tolkien hole?
Tag Archives: Wizards of the Coast (game company)
Video: Unboxing D&D 5E Starter Set
Poll: Best Company of 2018
Best Game Company of 2018. Tell us your reasons why below! @USNAGames @Modiphius @Wizards_DnD @FriaLigan #RPG #TTRPG #Bestof2018
— Idle Red Hands (@IdleRedHands) January 1, 2019
Episode 214: Race vs. Ancestry in Fantasy RPGs
We discuss Paizo changing the word “race” to “ancestry” in Pathfinder 2.0. What does that mean for Dungeons and Dragons? Will WotC follow Paizo’s lead? Now that “ancestry” is taken, what would be some other alternatives? Is this a case of modern sensibilities triumphing over tradition? Enjoy our lukewarm hot take!
Episode 212: Campaign Confessions: D&D 5E Part One
Continuing our Campaign Confessions series, we look at our recent pirate-themed Dungeons and Dragons 5e campaign. Part one focuses on 5e itself and the reasons why this edition has become so successful. We try to put our finger, and maybe some blame, on who dragged D&D kicking and screaming out of the basement and made it appealing to a whole new generation of players. Is it the system itself or is it social media savvy?
First comic books have become cool and now D&D. There’s hope for you toy collectors yet.
Episode 159: Subculture: Punk
Prof. Harriet “Gears” Hamilton: “Was that London calling?”
Lord Nigel Hollingsworth III: “Yes. Something about engines not running and the city drowning.”
Hamilton: “That sounds dreadfully excessive.”
Hollingsworth: “What do you expect from Lady Annie Christian?”
Hamilton: “The anarchist? I say, she certainly doesn’t know what she wants.”
Hollingsworth: “But she knows how to get it.”
Hamilton: “Oh, how droll! Well, let’s assemble the League. It seems we have some thrashing to do.”
– Another reason why steampunk isn’t that punk.
In our first installment of our subcultures series, we discuss punk. Put your game to our Punk Test, a series of questions on what is punk.
Episode 157: Game Stores
I’m gonna pop some tags,
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket.
I – I – I’m leaving, looking to come ba-ack.
The book was fifty dollars.
“Game Shop” – Idlemore & Red Lewis
In this episode, we discuss what makes a good game store, based on some observations we made during some recent trips to North America, and what could entice people away from online retailers.
Game stores in your area:
Toronto
401 Games
Ottawa
Fandom II
The Comic Book Shoppe
Los Angeles
The War House
Philadelphia
Atomic City Comics
Schaumburg
Gamer’s World
Episode 146: Campaign Confessions: Pathfinder Part 1
“Fighting a dragon is always a challenge. They are the kind of problem that calls for an A-10 Thunderbolt II and lots of rockets. Unfortunately, these things won’t be invented for another thousand years or so. In a pinch, you can get by with some household cleansers, rope, and magic, the duct tape of the fantasy world.”
-Michael West(en), Burned Rogue/Illusionist
In Part 1 of our latest Campaign Confessions, we give our thoughts on the Pathfinder system.
Episode 79: Creature Feature: Femme Fatales
Episode 78: Non-D&D Fantasy
Should D&D be everyone’s gateway into RPGs?
After about ten minutes of listening to us talk about D&D, you may start to question the “Non-D&D” part of the title, but we do move on to other games. We look at Exalted, A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying, Runequest, and Dragon Age. We evaluate each game’s system, setting, and presentation. We also discuss which ones would be good gateway games. At the end, we talk about an out-of-print game that presented fantasy races in new and badass ways.