Explore every episode of the podcast The Indie Game Talk Club

We’ve been threatening to do a podcast for years. That time has finally come. Let us know what you think: email us at hello@indiegamereadingclub.com.

Meet your hosts, Paul Beakley and Dusey (Mike Van Dusen).

• Paul Beakley
• Dusey Van Dusen

Huge, huge thanks to our friend Tim Denee for our swanky logo. Go buy his games!

Introduction to Paul and Dusey, what our goals for the podcast are, running games for money, and what even is “indie” these days?

Episode 1 Show Notes Weird Terminology and Acronyms

LDS: The Church of Latter-Day Saints, ie Mormonism

OGL: the Open Game License created by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that led to an explosion of D20-compatible games.

PBTA: Powered by the Apocalypse, the meta-platform pseudo-concept not-a-license game design framework that arose with the publication of Apocalypse World. 

GNS: Gamism, Narrativism, Simulationism. A version of the “Three Fold Theory” of roleplaying.

Big Box Model: A theory of gameplay and game design formed by Ron Edwards and others on The Forge

Fruitful Void: A Forge-era concept that says systems frame and outline the central concept, idea, premise, whatever of a game but do not directly mechanize it. 

OSR: Old School Renaissance/Revolution/Revival (depends on who you ask), a game design, play and publishing movement that formed around resurrecting the very oldest functional rules of Dungeons & Dragons.

Trad: Short for traditional roleplaying. Usually means party-based, GM-facilitated, one player per character, system rooted in mostly physical, literal concerns.

Indie: Short for independent. The core question of the Indie Game Talk/Reading Club!

Trindie: Portmanteau of traditional and indie. Games that incorporate strengths from both trad and indie gameplay and design.

Still have questions? Email us and we’ll add more notes!

Games and RPG products referred to in this episode. 

These are affiliate links to DriveThruRPG, where hopefully we can earn enough pennies to defray the cost of acquiring these games. The Indie Game Reading Club does not accept free or promotional copies of games!

• AD&D
• B/X D&D
• D&D Beyond
• D20 Modern
• Star Wars D20
• Shadowrun
• GURPS
• Tiny Dungeon
• Dungeon World
• Top Secret
• Warhammer
• Traveller
• Deadlands
• Deadlands: Hell on Earth
• Savage Worlds
• Mutant Chronicles RPG
• Kult
• Burning Empires
• Exalted
• The Burning Wheel
• Fading Suns
• Zombie World
• Dragon Town
• Pathfinder
• Call of Cthulhu
• Avatar Legends
• Tales From The Loop
• The Electric State
• Alien
• Dune: Adventures In The Imperium
• John Carter of Mars
• Beyond the Pale
• Urban Shadows
• For The Queen
• The Quiet Year
• Still Life

Contact Us

As always: If you have questions, comments, ideas or complaints, email us at hello@indiegamereadingclub.com!