Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Arcane Alienist
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| If You Give a Giant a Cookie | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:31:36 | |
The party abandons combat for shenanigans in the latest session of Horror on the Hill with theater kids. Plus a call from Mirke the Meek. Send me a message!
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| The People of the Cave (and the Mighty D6) | 05 Jul 2026 | 00:42:56 | |
In this episode I talk about the utility and ubiquitousness of the humble six-sided die. Plus a recap of my home groups first session of Horror on the Hill where they encounter the People of the Cave. We also have calls from Joe of the Highsightless and Mirke of Mirke the Meek. Also a shout out to Daniel at Bandit's Keep and this video at Tenkar's Tavern. Check out the Cerebrevore crew's recent review of the new Masters of the Universe movie. Send me a message!
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| DM Dad | 23 Jun 2026 | 00:40:38 | |
Happy Fathers Day and Happy (belated) Juneteenth! In this episode I have a recap of my ongoing OSR campaign using Swords & Wizardry Complete with a dash of OSE thrown in for good measure. Also, check out the Cerebrevore crew's recent review of the new Masters of the Universe movie. Send me a message!
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| Delve by Bob Wolrd Builder | 19 Jan 2026 | 00:27:47 | |
In this episode, we have an unboxing and short review of Delve, a supplement for Shadowdark and 5E by YouTube legend Bob World Builder. Also, I give a long overdue response to a call from Jason of Nerd's RPG Variety Cast. Send me a message!
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| Knowing is Half the Battle | 11 Nov 2025 | 00:46:07 | |
Here's a special episode in honor of both Veterans Day and Native American Heritage Month, where I create a version of the iconic G. I. Joe character Spirit Iron-Knife using Modern War from Zozer Games. | |||
| OSR October - Into the Moat House! | 12 Oct 2025 | 00:15:21 | |
it's OSR October! What better way to observe it than to dive into my latest Swords & Wizardry game session. Send me a message!
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| Reptilian Encounters Back in the Swamp | 22 Sep 2025 | 00:37:29 | |
The latest D&D with Drama Kids - the party slogs through the swamp in search of an evil priest, but find lizardfolk, hydras, dragons, and even a couple of lost elves. I also have some calls regarding the last episode from podcasters Joe Richter of Hindsightless and the Pink Phantom of Phantom Thoughts. Send me a message!
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| You Are Not Your Character Sheet (and Neither Are YOU)! | 07 Sep 2025 | 00:17:24 | |
In this episode I just have some reflections on how people increasingly thinks of themselves as a collection of identity markers, not unlike the traits on a character sheet in an RPG. Send me a message!
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| RPG a Day 2025, Days 21-31 | 29 Aug 2025 | 00:20:20 | |
It's #RPGaDay2025 Each August, we take some time each day to reflect about the positives of the hobby. This year, I am combining several prompts at a time to create some adventure scenarios. Here's what I have for the days 21-31. Thanks to Autocratik and Casting Shadows for always putting this together for the RPG community. Give a listen to these other creators who have also been participating in RPGaDay this year:
Send me a message!
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| RPG a Day 2025, Days 11-20 | 20 Aug 2025 | 00:13:15 | |
It's #RPGaDay2025 Each August, we take some time each day to reflect about the positives of the hobby. This year, I am combining several prompts at a time to create some adventure scenarios. Here's what I have for the days 11-20. Thanks to Autocratik and Casting Shadows for always putting this together for the RPG community. Send me a message!
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| RPG a Day 2025, Days 1-10 | 15 Aug 2025 | 00:12:20 | |
It's #RPGaDay2025 Each August, we take some time each day to reflect about the positives of the hobby. This year, I am combining several prompts at a time to create some adventure scenarios. Here's what I have for the first 10 days. Thanks to Autocratik and Casting Shadows for always putting this together for the RPG community. Send me a message!
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| Roleplaying the Classics, Part 2 | 12 Aug 2025 | 00:46:27 | |
Wait... Part 2? This is a crossover episode where Karl Rodriguez and I discuss some of the classic modules from the TSR era of D&D. You can find Part 1 of the conversation at The GMologist Presents. Send me a message!
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| Freudian Feedback and Playlists for Characters | 20 Jul 2025 | 00:26:18 | |
In this episode we have calls from Evil Jeff (Minions & Musings) and Mike the Meek with comments about Sigmund Freud and alignment. I also give an update on my "D&D with Drama Kids" campaign and pose a question: What is on your charater's playlist? Check out my review of Superman with Jason on the latest Nerd's RPG Variety Cast. And here's the book Mirke mentions about How to Think Like a Roman Emperor. Send me a message!
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| Sigmund Freud, Alignment, and the Swords & Wizard Book of Options | 30 Jun 2025 | 00:37:52 | |
Inspired by the chapter on alignment in the S&W Book o Options, I present a comparison of Michael Moorcock's cosmic balance and Freud's theory of personality. Also, I have calls from Daniel (Bandit's Keep), Joe (Hindsightless), and Mirke (Mirke the Meek). Here are the other books mentioned in this episode
Send me a message!
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| Process Based Game Mastering? | 23 Jun 2025 | 00:47:30 | |
This episode as some actual "alienist" content as I compare the way psychologists use theory and to make decisions in psychotherapy to the way a GM uses understanding of game design to make rulings at the table. I also have calls from Jason (Nerd's RPG Variety Cast), Karl (The GMologist Presents) and Mirke (Mirke the Meek). Take a look at Mirke's stuff on itch.io! Send me a message!
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| Emergent Gameplay | 18 Jun 2025 | 00:30:32 | |
In this episode I discuss using embracing the emergent stories that come from just playing the game and seeing where it takes you. This is partially inspired by recent discussions by Che Webster and Anthony Boyd about the nature of roleplaying games and characters as protagonists on the past few episodes of Roleplay Rescue. Give them a listen! Also, we have a new episode of Cerebrevore out now, where I am joined by the GMologist and Darkfluid. Send me a message!
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| Review: Black Powder and Brimstone | 30 Mar 2025 | 00:41:05 | |
My quick review of Black Powder and Brimstone by Benjamin Tobitt. I also, this episode's cover art is the map to my Black Sword Hack have solo game, as suggested by a call from the GMologist. I made it using Inkarnate. Send me a message!
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| A Brother's Lament (Part 5) - Black Sword Hack Solo Play | 11 Mar 2025 | 00:51:59 | |
It's the conclusion of my first solo adventure with Black Sword Hack. Dolen and his "niece" Thorn confront the twisted mortician Fedro and uncover his plans for an undead army. But is he the real master or just a minion of Chaos? I also have a call from our good friend Riley, host of the excellent Diagetic Advancement podcast. Be sure to give it a listen! Special music for this episode curtesy of Bleupanda atPond5. Send me a message!
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| A Brother's Lament (Part 4) - Black Sword Hack Solo Play | 24 Feb 2025 | 00:22:27 | |
Part 4 of my solo adventure with Black Sword Hack. Dolen speaks to s suspicious fellow at the Morticians' Guild and seeks help from a former adversary. Special music for this episode curtesy of Bleupanda atPond5. Send me a messag!
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| A Brother's Lament (Part 3) - Black Sword Hack Solo Play | 15 Feb 2025 | 00:36:36 | |
Part 3 of my solo adventure with Black Sword Hack. Dolen enters the city slums in search of a wayward nobleman and answers about his brother's death. Special music for this episode curtesy of Bleupanda atPond5. Send me a message!
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| A Brother's Lament (Part 2) - Black Sword Hack Solo Play | 09 Feb 2025 | 00:24:32 | |
The second installment of solo play featuring Dolen of Ulber, as he says farewell to his brother and reflects on his origins and how he came to be a courier in the service of House Fulluando. Special music for this episode curtesy of Bleupanda atPond5. Thanks toMirke the Meek for his call in this eposiode. Make sure you listen to his podcast. Other great podcasts referenced in this episode were theGMologist Presents andDiegetic Advancement. Send me a message!
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| A Brother's Lament (Part 1) - Black Sword Hack Solo Play | 01 Feb 2025 | 00:19:32 | |
After character generation and word-building, it's finally time for solo play with Black Sword Hack. Meet Dolen, once a barbarian thrall, now an agent of a powerful merchant house, as he prepares to deal with a personal tragedy. Special music for this episode curtesy of Bleupanda at Pond5. Be sure to catch the latest episode of Cerebrevore, where Arlen and Karl join me to discuss Star Wars. Leave a comment here, or reach out to me directly!
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| Worldbuilding with Black Sword Hack - Part 2 | 25 Jan 2025 | 00:22:56 | |
In this episode, we compete our basic worldbuilding with cities, signs of the apocalypse, and a prompt to get the first adventure under way. Leave a comment, or reach out to me directly! You can email me (arcane.alienist@gmail.com) or leave a voice message through my http://www.speakpipe.com/ArcaneAlienist" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Speakpipe account. | |||
| Worldbuilding with Black Sword Hack - Part 1 | 19 Jan 2025 | 00:28:34 | |
In this episode we get one step closer to solo play with Black Sword Hack as I fill in the major factions of the campaign setting and put them on the map using the tools from the rulebook. | |||
| Black Sword Hack Character Creation | 11 Jan 2025 | 00:24:51 | |
Meet my randomly generated Black Sword Hack character. He's not your average piece of Frazetta beefcake. Check out an example of BSH solo play at the Kill Ten Rats RPG YouTube channel. | |||
| An Overview of Black Sword Hack | 07 Jan 2025 | 00:29:17 | |
Here's a relatively quick overview of Black Sword Hack, the sword & sorcery game that ponders the question: "What is best in life?" You can purchase the complete "Ultimate Chaos Edition" or get the free SRD for the game at The Merry Mushmen website. | |||
| A Mörk Borg Christmas - Preview | 30 Dec 2024 | 00:03:50 | |
As we close out the holiday searon and head to the New Year, I want to thank all my listeners. Now go watch our Mörk Borg Christmas Special actual play "Holiday Hellions" at the GMologist YouTube Channel. | |||
| A Grendel Roasting on an Open Fire | 17 Dec 2024 | 00:32:40 | |
I've got calls about Mörk Borg from Riley of Diagetic Advancement and from Karl and Amy of the GMologist Presents, and a recap of the latest D&D with Theater Kids in which we see why random rolls and referee rulings are the raddest route to robust roleplaying. Also, be sure to check out this episode of Analytic Dice, where Kevin and Gabe discuss Black Sword Hack. It really stirred up some interest in that game for me. | |||
| Mörk Borg Solo Play - The Rancid Maze, Part 7 | 07 Dec 2024 | 00:52:46 | |
The final installment of my Mörk Borg solo play using Sölitary Defilement. Eldar Rottentoe discovers the corruption that plagues the Rancid Maze of Chrud Nech. Will he survive? Special music for this episode courtesy of romulosandri, from www.pond5.com. | |||
| Indigenous People's Month 2024 | 30 Nov 2024 | 00:04:18 | |
Happy Indigenous People's Month and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Not much content here, but this month I did appear on two other podcasts discussing Indigenous Americans in fiction and roleplaying games: Nerd's RPG Variety Cast discussion of Steven Graham Jones novel The Only Good Indians The GMologist Presents discussion of Indigenous people in roleplaying games | |||
| Mörk Borg Solo Play - The Rancid Maze, Part 6 | 29 Nov 2024 | 00:47:19 | |
Another installment of my Mörk Borg solo play using Sölitary Defilement. Eldar Rottentoe must survive an encounter with the walking dead deep within the Rancid Maze of Chrud Nech. Special music for this episode courtesy of romulosandri, from www.pond5.com. | |||
| Mörk Borg Solo Play - The Rancid Maze, Part 5 | 23 Nov 2024 | 00:29:07 | |
I've got a call from the GMologist, followed by another installment of my Mörk Borg solo play using Sölitary Defilement. Eldar Rottentoe survives a knife fight and discovers a deadly new magical power. Special music for this episode courtesy of romulosandri, from www.pond5.com. | |||
| Mörk Borg Solo Play - The Rancid Maze, Part 4 | 17 Nov 2024 | 00:42:46 | |
Another installment of my Mörk Borg solo play using Sölitary Defilement. Eldar Rottentoe goes deeper into the Rancid Maze of Chrud Nech and makes a new friend (much to the chagrin of Urm). Special music for this episode courtesy of romulosandri, from www.pond5.com. | |||
| Procedures on Deck | 09 Oct 2024 | 00:17:43 | |
In this episode I recount the latests OSE/Knave game, where I tested out my latest idea - the combat procedure deck. | |||
| Mörk Borg Solo Play - The Rancid Maze, Part 3 | 29 Sep 2024 | 00:26:06 | |
Another installment of my Mörk Borg solo play using Sölitary Defilement. Eldar Rottentoe enters the Rancid Maze of Chrud Nech and must overcome his first battle with its inhabitants. I also have a call from Karl Rodriquez of The GMologist. Be sure to go over to Kickstarter and back Reaver, an amazing game by Joe Salvador of Raven God Games. You can find interviews and actual plays at the GMologist YouTube Channel (linked above) as well as some discussion of Reaver on the latest episode of Cerebrevore. Special music for this episode courtesy of romulosandri, from www.pond5.com. | |||
| One Round With A Grease Dragon | 26 Sep 2024 | 00:29:44 | |
In this episode I have the latest installment of D&D with Theater Kids, wherein an epic battle with a dragon takes only one round to resolve. Also, we have calls from Joe Richter of the Hingsightless podcast and Riley from Diagetic Advancement. September is suicide awareness month. Help is available at 988 Lifeline. Just call or text 988 or visit the website. | |||
| Mörk Borg Solo Play - The Rancid Maze, Part 2 | 22 Sep 2024 | 00:28:08 | |
Here's the second installment of my Mörk Borg solo play using Sölitary Defilement. The story picks up as Eldar Rottentoe confronts a band of goblins guarding the entrance to the Rancid Maze of Chrud Nech. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains a reference to suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact a healthcare professional or go to the closest emergency room. Help is also available through the national 988 Lifeline. Just call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to live chat with someone. Special music for this episode courtesy of romulosandri, from www.pond5.com. | |||
| Yo Ho! International Talk Like a Pirate Day 2024 | 20 Sep 2024 | 00:11:01 | |
Just a short episode to commemorate International Talk Like a Pirate Day with some reflections on two of my most pirate-like characters. Also, anyone up for Pirate Borg? | |||
| Mörk Borg Solo Play - The Rancid Maze, Part 1 | 15 Sep 2024 | 00:28:27 | |
In this episode, I dive into Mörk Borg solo play using the supplement Sölitary Defilement by 1d10+5. Listen as Eldar Rottentoe and his weird little dog approach the Rancid Maze of Chrud Nech! I also have calls from Joe Richter of the Hindsightless podcast and Riley of Diagetic Advancement. Special music for this episode courtesy of romulosandri, from www.pond5.com. | |||
| Making a Mörk Borg Character | 10 Sep 2024 | 00:36:14 | |
In this episode we go dark and experimental with Mörk Borg character creation and first person narrated solo play. Meet the esoteric warlock, Eldar Rottentoe, and his vicious little dog, Urm. It's mud core, but it's good clean fun. Special music for this episode courtesy of romulosandri, from www.pond5.com. It can be found here:
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| RPGaDay 2024 #31 - The Friends We Made Along the Way | 31 Aug 2024 | 00:05:17 | |
It’s time for #RPGaDay2024 Check out all of this year’s prompts at www.autocratik.com | |||
| RPGaDay 2024 #30 - People I’d Like to Game With | 30 Aug 2024 | 00:03:52 | |
It’s time for #RPGaDay2024 Check out all of this year’s prompts at www.autocratik.com | |||
| RPGaDay2024 #29 - Awesome App | 29 Aug 2024 | 00:04:52 | |
It’s time for #RPGaDay2024 Check out all of this year’s prompts at www.autocratik.com D&D Beyond
Demiplane
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| RPGaDay 2024 #28 - An Anecdote (Sort of) About Gadgets (Sort of) | 28 Aug 2024 | 00:03:39 | |
It’s time for #RPGaDay2024 Check out all of this year’s prompts at www.autocratik.com | |||
| RPGaDay2024 #27 - Marvelous Miniature | 28 Aug 2024 | 00:03:05 | |
It’s time for #RPGaDay2024 Check out all of this year’s prompts at www.autocratik.com Owlbear from Nolzur’s Marvelous Minis
ArcKnight flat plastic minis
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| RPGaDay 2024 #26 - Superb Screen | 27 Aug 2024 | 00:03:14 | |
It’s time for #RPGaDay2024 Check out all of this year’s prompts at www.autocratik.com | |||
| RPGaDay 2024 #25 - Dice | 25 Aug 2024 | 00:02:00 | |
It’s time for #RPGaDay2024 Check out all of this year’s prompts at www.autocratik.com | |||
| RPGaDay 2024 #24 - Acclaimed Advice | 24 Aug 2024 | 00:08:52 | |
It’s time for #RPGADay2024 Be sure to check out all of this year’s prompts at www.autocratik.com | |||
| RPGaDay 2024 #22 & 23 - Notable NPCs and Peerless Players | 23 Aug 2024 | 00:08:42 | |
It’s time for #RPGaDay2024 Check out all of this year’s prompts at www.autocratik.com Dugh the Dwarf will appear here on August 24th
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| RPGaDay 2024 #21 - A Classic Campaign | 21 Aug 2024 | 00:02:49 | |
It’s time for #RPGaDay2024 ! Check out all of this year’s prompts at www.autocratik.com U1-U3 Bundle (1e AD&D)
Ghosts of Saltmarsh (5e D&D)
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