Escape Vector Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Part 9, FINALE. Around a crackling fire, hearts and loyalties are put on the table and, as farmerlings might say, the henducks come home to roost. Has Casper found his cure? A departure. The end of an adventure... 

++ Plus: Get your official Escape Vector  x  Came To Play Podcast Bingo Card(tm) ready, since in a shocking twist, we have some foot-stuff this episode! Footclan(?), come grab your fanservice and have a seat next to the furries and pee-pee-posse. Don't worry, you can find God later--you have this banger of a finale to enjoy!

This is an Actual Play mini-series that combines a hexcrawl and an adventure supplement. Hop on your Packsquab and explore the world of Cloud Empress with us! 

Content Warning: Sexually Suggestive Themes, Language; Fictional Violence, Giant Psychic Bugs.

CAST:
GM: the voice of the Escape Vector Podcast

Casper Cloudshot (Magician) is played by Trevor Brookes
Bek Fallows (Sellsword) is played by Kaitlyn Meloche Ratz
Hog Heartbreaker (Courier) is played by Dakota Burgin

Kaitlyn and Dakota are 2/3 of the Came To Play podcast, often about indie and cult favourite video games. Trevor is a recurring guest. They are so much fun! I love every episode. 

TTRPG Material Used:
"The Seed Vault" is a scenario written by Samantha Leigh for the Cloud Empress Ecological Science Fantasy RPG created by watt. This Actual Play is also based on material from watt's Cloud Empress hexcrawl setting book, "Land of Cicadas". Both can be found on DriveThruRPG.com at the following affiliate links: The Seed Vault [part of the Year One Bundle] and Cloud Empress: Land of Cicadas. Using our affiliate links helps the show via commission without drawbacks for you--please consider it! Visit Cloudempress.com for more info on the RPG! 

!! Check out "What Stirs Below", an Escape Vector adventure for Mothership !!
At the time of episode release, it can be found at the links belows (thank you!).

> Follow the FREE Escape Vector newsletter ("TRANSMISSIONS")!
> See our Linktree for how to reach us/follow our work.
> Visit and follow the Escape Vector DriveThruRPG page [affiliate link] for "What Stirs Below" and future Escape Vector publications. 
> The Print+PDF bundle for "What Stirs Below" is BACK IN STOCK (while supplies last) on the Tuesday Knight Games webstore. If SOLD OUT, use the "Notify Me When Available" button. Please also leave a review! 
> Visit https://www.mothershiprpg.com/ or the Mothership DriveThruRPG.com page [affiliate link] for more Mothership.

++ Music from Epidemic Sound, by Marten Moses, Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen, and William Benckert. SFX also from Epidemic Sound. 7 DAYS LEFT: Get 25% percent off an annual plan after your free trial and help our show by using our our Epidemic Sound affiliate link AND promo code COMMUNITY25 

++ Thanks to our listeners for supporting the show! Please consider downloading our episodes; it helps us out even more! 

Part 8. Berry sorry for the delay, my dearest listeners... Be(e)hold, the penultimate episode! The Seed Vault is a mess, and so are its occupants (recent guests included). In awe and terror of the Imago's presence, the party attempts a daring escape with their new traveling companion and cargo--time to #LegIt4TheExit. Hog has an idea. Some survivors speak ill of the dead.  Neon Genesis Empress-gelion 8.0: Things Might (Not) Be OK.  

++ Plus: We have some hot mikes in the cold open and body of the episode--Trevor leaves his camera and mic on for too long... We have a bit of theory-crafting post-credits. We definitely recorded one of our sessions on an April 20th and this might have been it. Remember: Enjoy responsibly. 

This is an Actual Play mini-series that combines a hexcrawl and an adventure supplement. Hop on your Packsquab and explore the world of Cloud Empress with us! 

Content Warning: Sexually Suggestive Themes, Language; Fictional Violence, Giant Psychic Bugs; Male-Pattern Baldness (Trevor's).

CAST:
GM: the voice of the Escape Vector Podcast

Casper Cloudshot (Magician) is played by Trevor Brookes
Bek Fallows (Sellsword) is played by Kaitlyn Meloche Ratz
Hog Heartbreaker (Courier) is played by Dakota Burgin

Kaitlyn and Dakota are 2/3 of the Came To Play podcast, often about indie and cult favourite video games. Trevor Brookes is a recurring guest. They are so much fun! I love every episode.

TTRPG Material Used:
"The Seed Vault" is a scenario written by Samantha Leigh for the Cloud Empress Ecological Science Fantasy RPG created by watt. This Actual Play is also based on material from watt's Cloud Empress hexcrawl setting book, "Land of Cicadas". Both can be found on DriveThruRPG.com at the following affiliate links: The Seed Vault [part of the Year One Bundle] and Cloud Empress: Land of Cicadas. Using our affiliate links helps the show via commission without drawbacks for you--please consider it! Visit Cloudempress.com for more info on the RPG! 

!! Our first Mothership RPG adventure has been published !!
Check out the cinematic trailer for "What Stirs Below", an adventure scenario written by us, for the Mothership Sci-Fi Horror RPG published by Tuesday Knight Games. At the time of episode release, it can be found at the links belows (thank you!).

> Follow the FREE Escape Vector newsletter ("TRANSMISSIONS")!
> See our Linktree for how to reach us/follow our work.
> Visit and follow the Escape Vector DriveThruRPG page [affiliate link] for "What Stirs Below" and future Escape Vector publications. 
> The Print+PDF bundle for "What Stirs Below" is BACK IN STOCK (while supplies last) on the Tuesday Knight Games webstore. If SOLD OUT, use the "Notify Me When Available" button. Please also leave a review! 
> Visit https://www.mothershiprpg.com/ or the Mothership DriveThruRPG.com page [affiliate link] for more Mothership.
> Follow/watch the SCRAW WoW guild: https://www.warcraftlogs.com/guild/id/595892

++ Music from Epidemic Sound, by Marten Moses, Bonnie Grace, and Silver Maple. Sound FX also from Epidemic Sound. Sign up and try a subscription with our Epidemic Sound affiliate link to help the show!

++ Thanks to our listeners for supporting the show! Please consider downloading our episodes; it helps us out even more! 

We review the Mothership RPG adventure scenario, "Piece by Piece". This episode is player-friendly—we give a spoiler warning for the only spoiler near the end. We hope you walk away with an idea on whether you would like to run this yourself or ask your GM to run this!

"Piece by Piece" is an adventure scenario written by DG Chapman for the Mothership Sci-Fi Horror RPG published by Tuesday Knight Games. It can be purchased affordably at this  DriveThruRPG link [affiliate link]. Using our affiliate link helps the show via commission, without downsides to you--please consider it! Visit https://www.mothershiprpg.com/ or the Mothership DriveThruRPG.com page [affiliate link] for Piece by Piece and more Mothership. 

!! Our first Mothership RPG adventure is being published !! 

Check out the cinematic trailer for "What Stirs Below", an adventure scenario written by me, the Escape Vector, for the Mothership Sci-Fi Horror RPG published by Tuesday Knight Games. Spider00x (known best for RANE IN BLOOD, MIAMI LASER CUTTER MASSACRE, and more) contributed graphic design and some art. 

> Visit and follow the Escape Vector DriveThruRPG page [affiliate link] for "What Stirs Below" and future Escape Vector publications. 
> Visit https://www.mothershiprpg.com/ or the Mothership DriveThruRPG.com page [affiliate link] for more Mothership. 

++ Music from Epidemic Sound, by Marten Moses. Sign up and try a subscription with our Epidemic Sound affiliate link to help the show!

Thanks to our listeners for supporting the show! Please consider downloading our episodes; it helps! Follow and reach us via Instagram (@escape_vector), email (escape.vector.TTRPG@gmail.com), or even leave us a voice message on SpeakPipe (https://www.speakpipe.com/escapevectorpodcast)!

!! Our first Mothership RPG adventure is being published !! 

A geological survey station on a distant moon fell silent after logging anomalous readings. Three contractors are tasked with investigating what happened, rescuing priority personnel, and securing other station assets. This site visit will be more than they bargained for. 

This is a spoiler-free cinematic trailer using recorded gameplay of our original adventure scenario, "What Stirs Below", coming soon to the webstores listed below. Want to play or run this adventure? GMs, share this trailer with your prospective players! Players, share this trailer with your GM! And let us know what you think about this format! Part 1 of the Actual Play will release soon.

"What Stirs Below" is an adventure scenario written by me, the Escape Vector, for the Mothership Sci-Fi Horror RPG published by Tuesday Knight Games. Spider00x (known best for RANE IN BLOOD, MIAMI LASER CUTTER MASSACRE, and more) contributed graphic design and some art. It is coming soon to the official Mothership/Tuesday Knight Games webstore as a PDF+PRINT BUNDLE (supplies limited) and on DriveThruRPG as PDF!

> Visit and follow the Escape Vector DriveThruRPG page for "What Stirs Below" and future Escape Vector publications. 
> Visit and follow Spider00x's DriveThruRPG page for baddass TTRPG publications. 
> Visit https://www.mothershiprpg.com/ or the Mothership DriveThruRPG.com page for more Mothership. 

++ Music from Epidemic Sound, by Dream Cave. Sound FX also from Epidemic Sound. Sign up and try a subscription with our Epidemic Sound affiliate link to help the show!

**NOTE: To complete the story and have more context, we recommend checking out our prior interview with watt.**

We have a follow-up chat with watt, a TTRPG writer and designer, as well as the creator of the Cloud Empress Ecological Science Fantasy RPG. On this new "watt-Talk" (working title) segment, we discuss the first Cloud Empress RPG Kickstarter, the first year of Cloud Empress (so far), what is on the horizon for the new Cloud Empress expansion and beyond, crowdfunding, and project management. Again, we talk about some in-game lore and interesting creative choices in published Cloud Empress material, but no spoilers! 

++ Cloud Empress is an alternate ruleset and setting in the lineage of the Mothership Sci Fi Horror RPG. Imagine a rules-light RPG that evokes Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind, Dune, Final Fantasy, Full Metal Alchemist, and more.

  The new Cloud Empress RPG expansion is titled, "Cloud Empress: Lands of Life and Death". The Kickstarter campaign ends April 25, 2024. Check it out here:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/watt/cloud-empress-life-and-death. At the time of episode release, the Cloud Empress rulebook PDF is FREE on DriveThruRPG.com .  Visit Cloudempress.com for more info on the RPG!

++ Music and SFX from Epidemic Sound, by Marten Moses, Guustavv, and SFX Producer. Sign up and try a subscription with our Epidemic Sound affiliate link to help the show!

Thanks to our listeners for supporting the show! Please consider downloading our episodes; it helps us out even more! Follow and reach us via Instagram (@escape_vector), email (escape.vector.TTRPG@gmail.com), or even leave us a voice message on SpeakPipe (https://www.speakpipe.com/escapevectorpodcast)!

Part 2, FINALE. Our four funeral crashers hear the beckoning call of a disembodied voice from down the corridor. Who will they side with? What will they discover? Time is short--the Imago vortex outside is restless, the funeral will begin in less than an hour, and the next Anti-Saint must be named! FORECAST: Blood showers with a chance of pain. 

This time, we have watt, the creator of the game system as a special guest GM! 

Content Warning: Violence, Language, Giant Psychic Bugs, Familial Conflict, Hauntings. 

GM: watt, creator of the Cloud Empress RPG

Griffin (Sellsword) is played by Andersaucey (aka Anderwhy)
One-Shot Rose (Sellsword) is played by Dakota Burgin
Sacha Sprout (Courier) is played by Kaitlyn Meloche Ratz
Kernel the Kid (Magician) is played by the voice of the Escape Vector Podcast

++ Kaitlyn and Dakota are 2/3 of the Came To Play podcast, about (often indie) video games. Andersaucey is a gamer. You can find him on Youtube or PSN (as andersauce). 

++ "Funeral Fit for the Anti-Saint" is a new introductory adventure written by watt for their Cloud Empress Ecological Science Fantasy RPG. It is set in the upcoming expansion, "Cloud Empress: Lands of Life and Death". The Kickstarter campaign launched April 2, 2024. Check it out here:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/watt/cloud-empress-life-and-death. At the time of episode release, the Cloud Empress rulebook PDF is FREE on DriveThruRPG.com .  Visit Cloudempress.com for more info on the RPG!

++ Music from Epidemic Sound, by Marten Moses, Jay Varton, and Martin Klem. Sign up and try a subscription with our Epidemic Sound affiliate link to help the show!

Thanks to our listeners for supporting the show! Please consider downloading our episodes; it helps us out even more! Follow and reach us via Instagram (@escape_vector), email (escape.vector.TTRPG@gmail.com), or even leave us a voice message on SpeakPipe (https://www.speakpipe.com/escapevectorpodcast)!

Part 1. While traversing the ash- and dust-choked Deadlands, four adventurers take refuge in a strange house. Sheltered from the ominous storm brewing outside, they learn it is the day of a folk hero's funeral... and they just stepped into a family affair that could shape the world's fate. FORECAST: mystery, treachery, and slippery conditions. 

This time, we have watt, the creator of the game system, as a special guest GM! 

Content Warning: Violence, Language, Giant Psychic Bugs, Familial Conflict, Hauntings. 

GM: watt, creator of the Cloud Empress RPG

Griffin (Sellsword) is played by Andersaucey (aka Anderwhy)
One-Shot Rose (Sellsword) is played by Dakota Burgin
Sacha Sprout (Courier) is played by Kaitlyn Meloche Ratz
Kernel the Kid (Magician) is played by the voice of the Escape Vector Podcast

++ Kaitlyn and Dakota are 2/3 of the Came To Play podcast, often about indie and cult favourite video games. Andersaucey is a gamer. You can find him on Youtube or PSN (as Andersauce). 

++ "Funeral Fit for the Anti-Saint" is a new introductory adventure written by watt for their Cloud Empress Ecological Science Fantasy RPG. It is set in the upcoming expansion, "Cloud Empress: Lands of Life and Death". For a non-spoiler trailer to send to your players and GM, check out our previous episode! The Kickstarter campaign launches April 2, 2024. Sign up to be notified here:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/watt/cloud-empress-life-and-death. At the time of episode release, the Cloud Empress rulebook PDF is FREE on DriveThruRPG.com .  Visit Cloudempress.com for more info on the RPG!

++ Music from Epidemic Sound, by Marten Moses, Polar Nights, and Jay Varton. Sign up and try a subscription with our Epidemic Sound affiliate link to help the show!

Thanks to our listeners for supporting the show! Please consider downloading our episodes; it helps us out even more! Follow and reach us via Instagram (@escape_vector), email (escape.vector.TTRPG@gmail.com), or even leave us a voice message on SpeakPipe (https://www.speakpipe.com/escapevectorpodcast)!

Four adventurers take refuge in a strange house. Sheltered from the ominous storm of sorts brewing outside, they learn it is the day of a folk hero's funeral... and they just stepped into a family affair that could shape the world's fate. FORECAST: mystery, treachery, and slippery conditions. 

This is a spoiler-free cinematic trailer using gameplay from a recorded session of the upcoming adventure, "Funeral Fit for the Anti-Saint". Want to play or run this adventure? GMs, share this with your prospective players! Players, share this with your GM! And let us know what you think about this format!

Part 1 of the actual play will release VERY soon. watt, the creator of the game system and author of the adventure was our special guest GM! 

Content Warning: Violence, Language, Giant Psychic Bugs, Familial Conflict, Hauntings. 

PCs: One-Shot Rose (Sellsword), Griffin (Sellsword), Sacha Sprout (Courier), Kernel the Kid (Magician).

GM: watt, creator of the Cloud Empress RPG

One-Shot Rose is played by Dakota Burgin
Griffin is played by anderwhy (aka andersauce)
Sacha is played by Kaitlyn Meloche Ratz
Kernel the Kid is played by the voice of the Escape Vector Podcast

Kaitlyn and Dakota are 2/3 of the Came To Play podcast, about (often indie) video games. anderwhy is a gamer. You can find him on PSN or Youtube (as andersauce). 

"Funeral Fit for the Anti-Saint" is a new introductory adventure written by watt for their Cloud Empress Ecological Science Fantasy RPG. It is set in the upcoming expansion, "Cloud Empress: Lands of Life and Death". The Kickstarter campaign launches April 2, 2024. Sign up to be notified here:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/watt/cloud-empress-life-and-death. At the time of episode release, the Cloud Empress rulebook PDF is FREE on DriveThruRPG.com .  Visit Cloudempress.com for more info on the RPG!

++ Music from Epidemic Sound, by Fredrik Ekstrom.

Thanks to our listeners for supporting the show! Please consider downloading our episodes; it helps us out even more! Follow and reach us via Instagram (@escape_vector), email (escape.vector.TTRPG@gmail.com), or even leave us a voice message on SpeakPipe (https://www.speakpipe.com/escapevectorpodcast)!

In our first 'Escape Vector Podcast Exclusive', we sit down with Andrew Sheridan, the creator and developer of the Mothership and CyberpunkRED companion apps. This is his first (and at the time of release) only public appearance!! We talk about his biography, activities, the making-of the apps, challenges, successes, the business-side of app development, and advice for aspiring developers.  Some things about these apps are not as straightforward as they might appear! We also get a bit personal and talk about parenthood and family life balance. 

++ Check out the Mothership Companion and Cyberpunk RED Companion apps on your favourite mobile app stores. A user can get a lot of great use out of the free versions but a user might also wish to support the apps by purchasing premium features or content. Additionally, the Cyberpunk RED Companion has a Patreon.

++ Many Mothership adventures, game tools, and other content can be purchased affordably at this  DriveThruRPG link [affiliate link]. Using our affiliate link helps the show via commission, without downsides to you--please consider it!

++ Music from Epidemic Sound, by Marten Moses. Sign up and try a subscription with our Epidemic Sound affiliate link to help the show!

Thanks to our listeners for supporting the show! Please consider downloading our episodes; it helps us out even more! Follow and reach us via Instagram (@escape_vector), email (escape.vector.TTRPG@gmail.com), or even leave us a voice message on SpeakPipe (https://www.speakpipe.com/escapevectorpodcast)!

Curious about playing or running Mothership Sci Fi Horror RPG? We give you an overview of what you need to know, from the perspective of having run it for a year and throughout the draft updates. Plus, we offer important cautions about 0E (aka Zero Edition, the beta version). 

Although we talk about the overall experience of running Mothership 1E (aka First Edition, the latest version), in future episodes we'll talk about specific scenarios, adventures, and campaigns...

++ Many Mothership adventures, game tools, and other content can be purchased affordably at this  DriveThruRPG link [affiliate link]. Using our affiliate link helps the show via commission, without downsides to you--please consider it!

++ At the time of episode release, Mothership Sci Fi Horror RPG 1E (First Edition) has officially released. Kickstarter backers and pre-order purchasers should have received digital versions of the game (we have) and should be receiving physical goods soon.  Visit https://www.mothershiprpg.com/ or the Mothership DriveThruRPG.com page [affiliate link] for more info on Mothership, and other Mothership content.

++ The Mothership Companion App, created by Andrew Sheridan, is an incredible tool to generate and manage player characters. It is free but you can pay a one-time fee to unlock premium features like ultra rapid character randomization and unlimited character slots. I think it's more than worth it but try out the free version to see if you like it and might want to support it that way. It can be found on the Apple and Google Play mobile app stores. It helps to add "Sheridan" as a search term. While it is still totally usable, at the time of episode release, it has not yet been fully updated for the final release draft of First Edition (1E)--users may still see things like old damage values (e.g., see the shotgun or frag grenade). The dev, Andrew is working on updating the app. 

> Follow the FREE Escape Vector newsletter ("TRANSMISSIONS")!
> See our Linktree for how to reach us/follow our work: https://linktr.ee/EscapeVector
> Visit and follow the Escape Vector DriveThruRPG page [affiliate link] for "What Stirs Below" and future Escape Vector publications. 
> The Print+PDF bundle for "What Stirs Below" is BACK IN STOCK (while supplies last) on the Tuesday Knight Games webstore. If SOLD OUT, use the "Notify Me When Available" button. Please also leave a review! 

++ Music from Epidemic Sound, by Marten Moses. Sign up and try a subscription with our Epidemic Sound affiliate link to help the show!

Thanks to our listeners for supporting the show! Please consider downloading our episodes; it helps us out even more!