Explore every episode of the podcast Down in a Heap

The Thaumaturgical subject today involves a method for creating minor magic items and scrolls in your OSR game through the spell, Embed.

Listening back to my last Monday Milieu, I realized I had completely forgotten one of my favorite settings, and maybe the best one created in the OSR era - the Midderlands by Glynn Seal of Monkeyblood Design. I also do a thumbnail on his adventure, Chewer of Fingers. Sounds pretty creepy for Halloween! 🎃

A ramble about published campaign settings, both in the “official “ TSR era, plus the independent and OSR sphere. I talk about what I look for (and dislike) in a setting, and why I usually decide to make up my own.

What do you think about the whole prime requisite idea in old versions of D&D? Isn’t having a high score in an attribute already its own reward?

What happens when you’re playing games designed for 6-8 PCs and you only have 3-4 players?

I talk about another aspect of classic D&D that I don’t like and don’t use in my games: energy level drain.

In Thursday Thaumaturgy I describe a potential new spell for your OSR game. Today is Spirit Track.

In today’s Wednesday Wandering I take a look at a little adventure from an old Dungeon magazine that’s had an outsized influence on my adventure and campaign creations: The Secrets of The Towers by Larry Church.

In today’s Tuesday Tinkering, I share a blog post from Rich Forest (one of the creators of A Visitor’s Guide to the Rainy City) where he provides guidelines for a “quick and dirty “ alchemist class. This is especially useful in a world where the gods don’t answer the prayers of priests with divine magic (like the Rainy City). Check out the complete post at superheronecromancer.blogspot.com.

It’s Monday Milieu and today I review the setting, A Visitor’s Guide to the Rainy City by Superhero Necromancer Press. You can get a pdf at Drivethru RPG, or print and pdf from Indie Press Revolution.

Check out the author’s blog at superheronecromancer.blogspot.com.

3d6 Down the line is not for me.

A brief look at what fantasy books, movies and art developed my tastes in fantasy gaming. These are possibly what keep me focused on what you might call OSR gaming. My (abbreviated) Appendix N?

I go through some current crowd funding campaigns: Castle Zagyg (Troll Lords), Ryecroft (Monkeyblood Design), Shadowdark Western Reaches (Arcane Library), Castles & Crusades Reforged. And I also run through the naughty list; projects I backed that are late: Mythic Bastionland, Scientific Barbarian, The Many Crypts of Lady Ingrade, and Harrowed Ground.

The first in a deep dive series looking at the OSR game, Ambition & Avarice 1e by Greg Christopher of Chubby Funster Games published in 2012. I’m delving into what’s different about this compared to a more traditional TSR era game like Moldvay Cook/Marsh B/X (or Old School Essentials if you prefer). There are substantial differences, yet this is still very compatible with your old school adventures and supplements. In this episode, I focus on base task resolutions, and player characters. Both Ambition & Avarice 1e and 2e are available in print and pdf via DrivethruRPG. I’m confident you can all find them easily :).

When I recorded this, there wasn’t a real object, but after listening back, this is the start of a series I’ll keep doing as a sort of campaign diary. This will entail both the planning for The Forsaken North, and discussions about the new (for me) system I’ll be using: Ambition & Avarice 1e by Greg Christopher of Chubby Funster Games. Later entries might include session recaps or updates that develop out of our game sessions. Enjoy!

A tentative return to podcasting for OSR October, 2024. This is a rough one as I try to navigate the new recording approach without the benefit of my familiar Anchor app. A thumbnail look at the new system I’m going to try out: Ambition & Avarice by Greg Christopher.

You can get a copy at DrivethruRPG: Chubby Funster Games.

An armchair QB review of Knave 2e by Ben Milton of Questing Beast. It’s “ a flexible, classless rule set for players who scheme, strategize, and seek adventure.” It’s also closely compatible with most adventures and supplements of your favorite old school fantasy RPG. I go over the good, bad, and uncertain aspects I see (keeping in mind I haven’t played it) in this last ride of Down in a Heap. Thanks for all the fun over the years! Stay in touch: bigbalboni “at” gmail.com.

I look back at my Frankenstein’s Monster of a hack from 2017, Halberds & Henchmen. What circumstances led to it, what the design goal was, what’s good, bad, and ugly about it? Also how I squandered the opportunity for it and what its future might be. Email me at bigbalboni “at” gmail to get any updates and/or PDFs of my work after the podcast.

Add depth and uncertainty to your game setting by throwing in an occasional calamity that changes the landscape (political or actual). Inspired by the Advanced Civilization board game. Also calls from Jason & Spencer. Check out current Kickstarters for Castles & Crusades “Reforged” by Troll Lord Games (ends 7/9/24) and Gary’s Appendix Issue 6 by Jeffrey Jones of RPG Ramblings (ends 7/10/24).

Spotify extended the mobile app life until July 9th, so Down in a Heap lives on for another month. Calls from Jason and Riley provide discussion on attribute gains & losses, training, what’s going to happen after the podcast, and just why the heck is wearing helmets and armor not cool, and when, how, and why did this trend emerge? Send messages to bigbalboni “at” gmail. Thanks!

I finally wrap up the deep dive into Bard Games’ Compleat Adventurer with MaryAnne, the Professor, and Wrongway Feldman: I mean the Knight, Martial Artist, and Swordsman. Definitely the weaker links in this supplement, but I promised a thorough deep dive, so….😁

In this installment, I compare the Compleat Adventurer’s Rogue & Spy class to what we get in classic D&D from the Thief (and Assassin). What doesn’t work for some with the Thief, and are these alternatives any better? Will they spice up the criminal characters in your game? Listen and decide…

I get back to my deep dive into Bard Games’ The Compleat Adventurer from 1983. This time it’s the Hunters!: the Scout, Bounty Hunter, and Witch Hunter. Are these more interesting (or better fantasy archetypes) than the Ranger (which was essentially making Aragorn for D&D)? Listen up and decide for yourself. Last call for calls! Send by 5/30 to bigbalboni “at” gmail.

Calls from Mirke, Jason, Daniel, and Joe react to and spark conversation about: character attribute generation in B/X: OSE and AD&D; Animal Companions in games and a potential method to mechanize their use in B/X; the Compleat Adventurer classes and how exclusive should “class abilities” be; a pack of monkeys on Planet Eris; How optimal character abilities can lead to boring encounters; the Creature From The Black Lagoon; Boat Nerd action from Duluth, MN; Thanks guys!

Once again I’m joined by Jason of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast to talk about our beloved Universal Monsters! This time we dive into the Black Lagoon to swim with the iconic gill-man. Load up your speargun, check your air tanks, and grab a bag of rotenone (just don’t sprinkle it on your popcorn), and join us one last time. Enjoy!

A call from Jason and continuing the Compleat Adventurer deep dive with the Gladiator and Harlequin.

Part 2 of the Deep Dive continues with a look at the Beastmaster & Buccaneer. Also calls from Daniel and Keith and a special big thank-you! to Jason of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast who has announced the upcoming end of the show.

I begin a deep dive into an RPG supplement from Bard Games in 1983: The Compleat Adventurer. Plus a call from Spencer regarding my review of Cairn and Jason with a call on post apocalyptic gaming.

Review of the post apocalyptic, “postdiluvian” RPG, The Big Wet, by Sam Sorensen. Physical copies available at Exalted Funeral (along with pdf), or pdf only at Sam’s Itch page.

A couple ideas were popping in my head this morning. Sacrificing a level as meta currency, and magical healing at a cost. Just throwing spaghetti at the wall…

I dig into the Cairn RPG by Yochai Gal per the request of AaronNPC. Get a free pdf of the game at cairnrpg.com or Drivethru RPG. Questions, comments, requests to bigbalboni “at” gmail.

The Anchor-pocolypse finally has arrived in June. Jason from Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast calls to ask my podcasting fate. And new caller Riley from Diogetic Advancement recommends the game, Swyvers, now live on Kickstarter.

I blabber a bit about how the fiction I want my games to emulate is much more grounded, small scope & slow burn than most. I’m weird…🤪 Plus some conversations with Spencer from Keep Off the Borderlands and Daniel from Bandit’s Keep.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Calls from BJ of Arcane Alienist, Jason of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast, Michael from Mirke the Meek, and Daniel from Bandit’s Keep about my Into the B/oX smash up. Five years of podcasting - thanks everyone! 👍

Ideas for PCs restricted in weapon choice by class using weapons outside those lists in classic D&D. Inspired by conversations on recent episodes of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast. Plus, last day chance to back Mythic Bastionland KS: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bastionland/mythic-bastionland-rpg-before-into-the-odd

I run through a small low-level skirmish between a party and group of Hobgoblins to see how a mash-up of B/X and Into the Odd might be different from straight B/X. Plus calls from Jason and Aaronnpc. Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

Jason from Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast calls in to describe how three old games dealt with the Rock’em Sock’em Robots effect. Plus some talk about my bitchin’ Camaro and the great ‘91 Halloween Blizzard.

I take a look at the Halloween themed Issue 3 of Gary’s Appendix by Jeff Jones of the RPG Ramblings podcast and do a little wrap up of OSR October 2023. Happy Halloween!🎃

I noodle about a mash-up of B/X with combat inspired by Chris McDowall’s game Into the Odd. Will two great flavors create a new taste sensation ala Reese’s, or would it be like topping your Count Chocula with sauerkraut?

I take a look at the supplement, A Guide to Thieves’ Guilds by Todd Leback of Third Kingdom Games. It’s part of his Filling in the Blanks Populated Hexcrawl Series. Available at Drivethru RPG. Also a call from Jason from Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast.

A cold has dropped my voice an octave, so please forgive my froggy delivery. Today I look through Gary’s Appendix Issue 2 from Jeff Jones at RPG Ramblings Publishing. Check it out at DrivethruRPG.

Calls and conversation from John Large of Red Dice Diaries, Rich Fraser of Cockatrice Nuggets, and Jason Connerly from Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast. Thanks guys! Wanna get in the fun? Email me a voice file to bigbalboni at gmail dot com.

Spicing up the vanilla fighter is a common house rule in OSR games. Here’s one method (Fighting Tricks) from Dice Roll Zine #3 by Steve Cook of Hog Town Games.

It’s been a while, but already that time of year again: OSR October! I blabber about how it came about, what’s happening, what I have planned, and has gamer wanderlust always existed? Plus I drink a blue cheese flavored soda...

There’s a new KS for Gary’s Appendix issue 3 from Jeffery Jones. And calls from Evil Jeff, Joe, Pink Phantom, Taylor, Jason, and Darkfluid prompt me to a deep dive into procedural treasure placement in B/X (among other topics). It’s a bonanza!

I take a look at the zine, Gary’s Appendix by RPG Ramblings Publishing available in pdf/print direct at rpgramblings.com or pdf at DrivethruRPG.com plus calls from Jason & Daniel about bugs, traps, treasure, and granularity. A new caller (Joe from Dekahedron podcast) takes issue with my use of “lazy design”. What do I mean by that, and is combat part of a game’s “story”? Leave a voice message at bigbalboni at gmail. Thanks!

Originally meant to be a call-in show, with updates on playing FTF for the 1st time since 2020 morphs into a screed against giant bugs. But through venting, perhaps wisdom, and a place for the bugs is found? Still have the calls too! from Rob (Menion) of Confessions of a Wee Timrous Bushi; Jason from Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast, and The Pink Phantom from Phantom Thoughts.

Calls from Jason of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast prompts discussion about Knave 2e, mass battle systems, Advantage/Disadvantage, Thieves, and a strong recommendation for the movie, The Last Valley. Released in 1971, Directed by James Clavell, starring Michael Caine and Omar Sharif. Set during the 30 Years War. A breathe of fresh air if (like me) you’re tired of “EPIC “ CGI nonsense.

Hey. It’s been a while. Talk about what I’ve been up to and thoughts about the Knave 2e Kickstarter (9 days left to go if you want to back it) as well as about the Shadowdark & S&W KS...and why I haven’t seen the D&D movie.

I go over my method for providing starting PCs with campaign Lore & Rumors. Plus calls from Jason, Joe, and Daniel. “Whumming” by Goblin’s Henchman and another song from Chaos Warband.