Explore every episode of the podcast The Splatbook
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play testing your game | 19 Sep 2024 | 01:03:44 | |
John and Ben are joined by Tim Saucer to talk about running your own games at conventions. We also talk about creating emotional experiences in RPGs, and our RFTCON experience in general. Contact Us! | |||
| Player's Handbook 2024 | 12 Sep 2024 | 00:48:07 | |
John is joined by his two new co-hosts, Ben Donaldson and Jess Rhiannon, to talk about the new Players Handbook 2024. Who will play it? Are we converting our campaigns to the new edition? Ooooo the mysteries contained herein! NOTES: Contact Us! | |||
| Actual Play: Star Borg - The Ship of Doom, Part 1 | 13 Jun 2024 | 01:05:26 | |
Somewhere... in space...this could all be happening RIGHT NOW! Star Borg: Episode 1 - The Ship of Doom John and Kyle are joined by Andy Rau and Ben Donaldson for an epic actual play of Star Borg! The new TTRPG collaboration between Kyle and JP Coovert. Contact Us! | |||
| The History of D&D Combat with Evan Torner | 30 May 2024 | 01:10:48 | |
Kyle is joined by his "favorite person in the whole wide world (!?)", Evan Torner. Which is fine. John is not the least bit jealous. He is just over here working his fingers to the bone editing this podcast. Toiling away on the show notes mines. It’s fine. Everything is fine. But then at the end Kyle says he is sad John was not here, so John just does not know how to feel. They talk about D&D combat or something. Oh, and Matt is here. JK! Evan is awesome, and this is a really insightful episode. Check out his article from 50 Years of Dungeons & Dragons. Contact Us! | |||
| Zines, Star Borg, and YouTube with JP Coovert | 16 May 2024 | 01:14:57 | |
YouTuber JP Coovert join John and Kyle to talk about a new Mork Borg hack he and Kyle are working on, making a living creatively, comic books, and making art as process. Contact Us! | |||
| RPGs and Internality | 02 May 2024 | 00:58:29 | |
Jess returns to the show and we breakdown some of Wraith Curse of the Night Sword. Kyle claims that Jess is now his favorite game master, John is sad, but then we all talk about our therapists. Contact Us! | |||
| ADHD and RPGs | 18 Apr 2024 | 00:57:02 | |
Kyle and John talk about ADHD and RPGs. This very rapidly devolves into absolute silliness. Avery Alder Politicizing and Queering Game Mechanics Contact Us! | |||
| Game Design 101: Rules Platforms | 04 Apr 2024 | 00:59:54 | |
Kyle and John do a deep dive into the "rules platforms". What are they? What makes them useful? or limiting? Contact Us! | |||
| Re-Release: Running Games in Middle Earth | 21 Mar 2024 | 00:34:59 | |
Please enjoy this re-release our first ever published episode! Contact Us! | |||
| Actual Play: Wraith Curse of the Night Sword, Part 2 | 08 Mar 2024 | 01:11:41 | |
The Splatbook Players present: Wraith Curse of the Night Sword, Part 2. Being an actual play of The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying for Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition. Featuring Jess Rhiannon the Ranger "Telconiel", Kenny Webb as "Gorf" the dwarven story teller, John Corey as the Bardling "Ulfar", and Kyle Latino as The Loremaster. Wraithcurse of the Nightsword is an original scenario developed by Kyle Latino. The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game for 5E was adapted from The One Ring RPG 2nd Ed by Michele Garbuggio. The One Ring RPG 2nd Ed was created by Francesco Nepitello and Marco Maggi. Published by Free League Press. All based on the work of J.R.R Tolkien Music for this Episode by Francis Roberts Contact Us! | |||
| Actual Play: Wraith Curse of the Night Sword, Part 1 | 22 Feb 2024 | 01:17:37 | |
The Splatbook Players present: Wraith Curse of the Night Sword, Part 1. Being an actual play of The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying for Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition. Featuring Jess Rhiannon the Ranger "Telconiel", Kenny Webb as "Gorf" the dwarven story teller, John Corey as the Bardling "Ulfar", and Kyle Latino as The Loremaster. Wraithcurse of the Nightsword is an original scenario developed by Kyle Latino. The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game for 5E was adapted from The One Ring RPG 2nd Ed by Michele Garbuggio. The One Ring RPG 2nd Ed was created by Francesco Nepitello and Marco Maggi. Published by Free League Press. All based on the work of J.R.R Tolkien Music for this Episode by Frances Roberts Contact Us! | |||
| Kyle and John VS The OSR: The Enchanted Wood | 08 Feb 2024 | 01:10:35 | |
Kyle and John honor the work of game designer Jennell Jaquays today by talking about one of John's all time favorite adventure modules: The Enchanted Wood, for SPI's DragonQuest RPG from 1981. The DragonQuest Players Association Contact Us! | |||
| Tony Vasinda on GenCon, Zines, and when the OSR works | 05 Sep 2024 | 01:05:52 | |
Tony Vasinda (aka Plus One Tony) joins John to talk about their GenCon experience, how to iterate your game's design, and why zines are the best! And we sneak in some rumblings about the OSR, of course. BECAUSE THAT IS ALL ANYONE TALKS ABOUT Notes:
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| We're back baby! | 25 Jan 2024 | 01:06:03 | |
Kyle is back, refreshed, and ready to go! We discuss some wonderful email and Splatphone messages, and generally have a silly time. Happy 2024! The Elusive Shift by Jon Peterson Parker Series by Richard Stark Parker Graphic Novels by Darwin Cooke The Transcendental Gallery of Anti-Realism by Kyle Latino The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany Flame and Crimson by Brian Murphy Contact Us! | |||
| What is the difference between two 8th level fighters? | 11 Jan 2024 | 01:24:34 | |
Kyle is off hatching nefarious plans with the Cloud Curio Cohort, so Andy and Matt join John to talk about early RPG influences, and how they shapes the games we run today. Flame and Crimson - A History of Sword and Sorcery
Contact Us! | |||
| Appendix N: The Apocalypse According to John Carpenter | 28 Dec 2023 | 01:22:40 | |
With Kyle busy, busy, busy with the final Monstrous illustrations, John invites two former guests (Andy Rau, and Matt Wilson) to talk about three John Carpenter movies: "The Apocalypse Trilogy". Please enjoy this bonus episode. Delta Green: Impossible Landscapes The King in Yellow - Project Gutenberg
Contact Us! | |||
| 2023 is a wrap! | 14 Dec 2023 | 01:03:55 | |
Kyle's dander is up about what he has been hearing about the MCDM RPG on the internet. We reluctantly wander into the "OGL Fiasco", and then review our gaming life for 2023 Contact Us! | |||
| Game Design Corner - Wick and Wander | 30 Nov 2023 | 01:05:09 | |
Our friend Ben Donaldson joins the show to talk about the game he is working on: Wick and Wander - A post-post-apocalypse pastoral punk PbtA card based table top RPG. Say that five times fast.
Contact Us! | |||
| WE TALK ABOUT TABLE TOP RPG DESIGN | 16 Nov 2023 | 01:13:35 | |
It is finally here folks. We talk about Table Top RPG design, using Free League's Lord of the Rings Roleplaying for 5E as a lens for our discussion. Seth Skorkowsky - Quantum Ogres Map Crow - Map Making Playlist Matt Colville - Your First Adventure Contact Us! | |||
| Mail Bag! | 02 Nov 2023 | 01:02:50 | |
Kyle and John answer a great email and a couple of juicy Splatphones. Check the show notes for a couple of important fundraisers! Jennell Jaquays has a long road back Eliminate Medical Date in Michigan Monster Man. A Show about Monsters because Monsters are great The Good Friends of Jackson Elias
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| Monstrous Funded! | 19 Oct 2023 | 01:00:16 | |
John and Kyle take a follow up splatphone message, talk about "play to lose" games, and celebrate the fact that Monstrous has funded! Whoo hoo! Today's "And Remember" is from Tales of the Lone Lands. A supplement to Free League Publishing's The One Ring RPG Contact Us!
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| Splatbook Live(ish)! | 05 Oct 2023 | 00:58:08 | |
This episode of The Splatbook was recorded on 10/1/2023 as part of Map Crow's live YouTube stream to promote the Monstrous Kickstarter. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed recording it. THE MONSTROUS KICKSTARTER IS LIVE!!!! NSFW Clips of people being mean to Kyle in the movie Renfield Contact Us!
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| I got a bad case of diegesis | 21 Sep 2023 | 00:54:31 | |
Listener Ryan calls in a Splatphone that requires our full attention. What is Diegesis? Is narrative immersion possible? or even desirable in an RPG? John and Kyle discuss THE MONSTROUS KICKSTARTER IS LIVE!!!! Contact Us!
SHOW NOTES
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| Appendix N: Alien: Romulus | 28 Aug 2024 | 01:13:34 | |
In honor of the release of Alien: Romulus, Andy Rau from Roll for Topic joins John for a discussion of the Alien franchise. What makes a great Alien movie? And does Alien:Romulus hit the mark? Plus an update on the Alien RPG from Free League Contact Us! | |||
| Wait, what?! there is a Blade Runner RPG? | 14 Sep 2023 | 01:00:38 | |
Well, well, well... It turns out there is a Blade Runner RPG and no one bothered to tell John. We discuss the first Blade Runner film, and the new Blade Runner RPG Kyle Campaign just started. THE MONSTROUS KICKSTARTER IS LIVE!!!! Contact Us!
SHOW NOTES
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| Appendix N: Baldur's Gate 3 | 07 Sep 2023 | 01:21:01 | |
Kyle recruits a kindred soul to his party to discuss Baldur's Gate III. Andy Rau from Roll for Topic joins Kyle to breakdown the latest D&D video games. John takes the episode off, which is probably best for everyone. THE MONSTROUS KICKSTARTER IS LIVE!!!! Contact Us!
SHOW NOTES
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| The RFTCon Splatacular! | 24 Aug 2023 | 01:04:30 | |
This week John talks almost non-stop about the games he played at RFTCon! They were all amazing, and Kyle is sad he could not be there. Contact Us!
Show Notes: I'm sorry did you say street magic? | |||
| Mr Latino Goes to GenCon | 10 Aug 2023 | 00:54:55 | |
Kyle goes to Gen Con and talks about all the amazing stuff he saw, and heroes he met. John pitches some ideas for an upcoming James Bond RPG one shot, and Kyle shares an email from a fan - his mom! Old School Essentials: Dolmenwood Running Games in Middle Earth OR "Strider was a Hobbit" Email Us: splatbookpod@gmail.com | |||
| Choosing a creative pursuit | 27 Jul 2023 | 00:53:05 | |
Listener Gabe sent John and Kyle a Splatphone so thoughtful, we based this entire episode around it: How do you choose a satisfying hobby or creative pursuit? Email Us: splatbookpod@gmail.com | |||
| Appendix N: The Dark Tower Showdown | 20 Jul 2023 | 00:43:34 | |
Kenny and John spoil the sh$t out of The Dark Tower. The WHOLE THING. John fails to convince Kenny that he is wrong about the ending, Kyle takes Kenny's side and John gets sooooo angry. Then John thinks it might just be that he is broken. Frank Muller (Dark Tower Narrator) Moira Quirk (The Ninth Narrator) Episode 119 – Audio Equipment, Mysteries, Aliens, and Repetition Email Us: splatbookpod@gmail.com | |||
| Cloud Curio Interview | 13 Jul 2023 | 01:11:51 | |
Kyle and John are joined by some of his Cloud Curio collaborators, Amber and Kenny! We discuss their recent trip to Origins, projects they are working, asking strangers for eggs, and the impending launch of Monstrous! Email Us: splatbookpod@gmail.com | |||
| Post Game: Alice is Missing | 29 Jun 2023 | 00:43:38 | |
Kyle is recovering from Origins fatigue, so Jess and Brandon step in to save the day. We talk about a recent session of Alice is Missing we all participated in. Enjoy this post game discussion of this excellent "silent RPG". Actual Play! The Wizard's Grimoire with Brandon Carruth Actual Play! Moose Trip with Jess and Keeley Email Us: splatbookpod@gmail.com | |||
| PAWFTT | 15 Jun 2023 | 00:59:56 | |
Murph! joins us to discuss Play AWay From The Table (PAWFTT!). Kyle tries to make PAWFTT a thing, Murph! enables him, and John is powerless to stop it. Email Us: splatbookpod@gmail.com | |||
| Life after 5e | 01 Jun 2023 | 01:14:42 | |
Hello comrades! Kyle and John bust out the soap boxes and ask: What is with all the new games? And why can't we talk about the creative aspects of these new games, instead of business moves? Spoiler: Because social media and capitalism ruin everything. Email Us: splatbookpod@gmail.com | |||
| Just the Bitlets | 22 Aug 2024 | 01:10:37 | |
| Our Favorite RPG Quotes | 19 May 2023 | 01:07:51 | |
Kyle and John exchange and discuss some of their favorite passages from RPG books. Call us on the Splatphone! Send us an email splatbookpod@gmail.com!
Email Us: splatbookpod@gmail.com | |||
| Game Design 101: Play, Toys, Games, and Sims-Oh my! | 04 May 2023 | 01:33:01 | |
Kyle takes John back to school to discuss how RPGs fit into our ideas of play, games, and other strange creatures.
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| GM Tips: Player Vacations | 20 Apr 2023 | 00:57:44 | |
What do you do when part of your game group takes some time off? Try new games? Try new ways of playing old games? John and Kyle discuss. | |||
| The Year Zero SRD | 06 Apr 2023 | 01:05:09 | |
This week John and Kyle take a deep dive into Free League publishing's Year Zero SRD. Kyle goes full professor on John, and then they talk about Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. | |||
| Bonus Episode: Gettin' good at stuff | 30 Mar 2023 | 00:13:39 | |
Kyle tells John about a programming project he designed for his students, and what he hopes they will learn from it: When acquiring new skills, you have to get comfortable sucking at them at first. John says he has always struggled with this, and somehow does not say the phrase "learn to play tennis with a wooden racket" even though this was the right episode to say it. | |||
| Kyle and John VS The OSR: Winter's Daughter | 23 Mar 2023 | 00:42:02 | |
John and Kyle dig into one of their favorite OSR modules: Winter's Daughter by Gavin Norman | |||
| Kyle and John VS The OSR: Sailors on THE Starless Sea | 09 Mar 2023 | 01:11:32 | |
Kyle and John talk about the Dungeon Crawl Classics adventure Sailors on the Starless Sea and ask: "Why is it so dang good?" They also answer a listener's question left via the Splatphone! Hang around for the cut-bitlets to hear in-depth discussion of Kyle's new cat. | |||
| Melancholy In RPGs - The Neverending Story | 23 Feb 2023 | 01:13:12 | |
What is that ringing sound!? Could it be... THE SPLATPHONE! Listener Jake recorded some thoughts on melancholy in RPGs. This prompted John and Kyle to enter the Swamp of Sadness, and discuss the topic through the lens of the film The Neverending Story. | |||
| GM Tips: NPC and Character Voices | 09 Feb 2023 | 00:52:53 | |
Kyle and John take a break from talking about favorite media to give some tips on doing NPC and characters voices. Or maybe they just needed an excuse to be silly? | |||
| The Gunslinger - Personal Appendix N | 26 Jan 2023 | 01:50:23 | |
Roll for Topic's own Andy Rau joins Kyle and John to talk about the first book of the Dark Tower series: The Gunslinger. Will the podcast survive this titanic show down? | |||
| John and Kyle at GenCon 2024 | 08 Aug 2024 | 00:25:37 | |
Are you tired of all the RPG podcasts publishing their "GenCon Reflections" episodes? Well tooooo baaaad. Here is ours. We have an interview with Amber Seger, and a special guest appearance from Kyle's mom. Plus, Kyle shares some huge life changing news. Contact Us! | |||
| The Fortress Unvanquishable, save for Sacnoth - Personal Appendix N | 12 Jan 2023 | 01:13:46 | |
Kyle finally tricks John into talking about the story The Fortress Unvanquishable, save for Sacnoth. After many attempts, John learns how to pronounce Tharagavverug and Wong Bongerok. Kyle compares the story to the Legend of Zelda, and points out that Leothric teaming up with Tharagavverug is kinda like Spiderman teaming up with Venom. Spoiler: We love this story. | |||
| Holiday Spectacular! | 29 Dec 2022 | 00:43:29 | |
John and Kyle wrap up 2022 with a discussion of what they are grateful for, what they learned, and what they are looking forward to in 2023. And then they sing! | |||
| Emergent Podcasting - Kyle and John vs The OSR | 15 Dec 2022 | 00:54:50 | |
This week Kyle and John tackle two excellent articles from the OSR Canon. Kyle realizes that John is old enough to have played D&D when the OSR style was just called... playing D&D. John gets cranky, and Kyle calms him down. Pleasures of the OSR: Secrecy and Discovery Episode 126 – Pleasures of the OSR: Secrecy and Discovery, by Ben L. Episode 19 – The Ogre and the Golden Bird by Patrick Stewart | |||
| The Last Defender of Camelot - Personal Appendix N | 01 Dec 2022 | 01:01:12 | |
In this episode John and Kyle talk about the Beatles, The Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen, The Twilight Zone, and OH YEAH, the actual story listed in the title of this episode. We also totally talk about RPGs a whole bunch. The Last Defender of Camelot (Wikipedia) The Last Defender of Camelot - Twilight Zone | |||