G*m*s Magazine Podcast Channel

Realms of Twilight is a fantasy campaign setting created by Daniel Marshal and BJ Hensley from Silver Crescent Publishing currently being funded in Kickstarter. Now, Pathfinder setting campaigns are three a penny (or a dime, if you will) and it is actually rather hard to find something that’s different and adds something new, not just from the point of view of setting originality, but also to what they add to the rules and feel of the game. Realms of Twilight tried to fund a while ago and, unfortunately, it didn’t hit its target and the authors decided to keep working on it, refine it and now they are back to have a second go. After some trying, we managed to get together for an interview and find out what makes this setting so special. It transpires that it is quite a lot! Warning, I messed up the times and I had to do the interview from my office, so the sound quality from our end is not as good as it normally is. My apologies for that. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy the show!

When Sentinels of the Multiverse came out, it rightly turned some faces. Because the game is rather terrific. Or I think so at least. Not everyone liked it, like my colleague Michael, who found it too bland for his card games tastes. To each their own! Now, after a few expansion, a few more hundred illustrations, more heroes, more villains and more games, Greater than Games has brought to us a new game. Same heroes, same villains, same super powers. Different game. This time is a really tactical game in which superheroes will band together to fight the villains who want to destroy your beloved city. In this game, the story develops as the rules evolve and the challenges become harder and harder as the game advances. But is it any good? We sat around the table and had a go to see how this game plays for the first time. Hope you enjoy the show!

Superhuman: Rise to Power is the super hero based boardgame by newly created company Thought Tank Games LLC, from Alburquerque, NM. Superhuman: Rise to Power puts the players in the shoes of heroes saving a city or villains trying to destroy it. Which is really cool. Shawn Avery, Forest Agee and Russ Sanchez are the three minds behind the game and after having seen the prototype they very kindly sent me for review, I had to have a chat with them to find out more about where the game comes from and where it’s going. And I was really pleased to have spoken to them. As I hope you will too! Hope you enjoy the show!

Fire in the Blood is the second book Erin M. Evans has published for the epic series of “The Sundering”. The Sundering is a collection of novels by some of the best writers out there in which the Forgotten Realms suffer an enormous transformation to bring the world of Dungeons & Dragons into its most recent edition. In this installment of the series, Farideh reaches Cormyr as the war the Sundering brought is raging across Faerun. Needless to say we spoke at length about the book, but we also talked about her relationship with D&D and with the rest of the fantastic writers who have participated in this fantastic project. Oh, and there is a bit of charity that Erin is taking part on and it sounds *amazing*! Please please please visit the Extra Life website and help as much as u can.

It is quite interesting how many people in the games industry have gone to do other things in unsuspected fields. That’s what happened to my guest in this episode of the podcast. He went onto becoming a creative consultant for the series Alias, published more novels I can remember, worked on graphic novels… And he comes with some gaming pedigree too: The CCG Cyberpunk released in 2003 was his design too. And we know that designing a CCG is *far* from easy. Now he’s doing more things. Interesting things, like working with Gunmetal Games in the fantastic Interface Zero 2.0. That’s not the only thing, though… And we find out what else in this interview. Hope you enjoy the show!

Charisma +1: The Guide to Convention Etiquette for Gamers, Geeks & the Socially Awkward is the rather long and descriptive title of the book by Jessica Brawner that aims to give pointers and share experiences at conventions for those who are less skilled at the social interaction. With all the recent – understandable – talk about the matter in the last few months, to have this book at hand is something a lot of people should consider. Never a bad idea to read a few pointers! I was indeed very curious about it and very curious to find out what was inside the book, as I was curious to find out how it’s been written to avoid being patronising or confrontational, so an interview was on order. And find out I did and I now can’t wait to buy that book and have a proper read! Hope you enjoy the show!

Ever since RPGs were published and Gary Gigax and Dave Arneson had a dream of turning Dungeons & Dragons into a commercial product, art has place a huge part in the visual identity of roleplaying games. Probably one of the areas in which Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror has thrived the most and in which it has been taken more seriously. And also probably the one that’s given more chances to new people. A good RPG with good artwork is better. It feels better. There are those who argue art or illustration in RPGs is not necessary.. maybe! But they’re nicer with it. And there are some who argue there is no art in RPGs at all, like Jim Pinto… So I got together with him, and Vickey and discussed the matter. And the link to the image we talk about from Antonio Manzanedo is here.

Since its release, Eclipse has seen a lot of success. It’s *very* highly regarded by people who play it and the digital version of the game is truly superb, it has to be said. Of course it’s not a game for everyone. It’s rules heavy, long and very, very deep with tons of things to do. After all, conquering a galaxy is no easy feat, is it? In this podcast episode we’re changing the format a bit and, instead of reviewing a game we haven’t played before, we review a game that’s one of the favourite games of one of the hosts. Hope you enjoy the show!

Oh no… Invasion! is a small coop game by FableSmith and designer Joost Das, the same clever guy who brought us Ortus. This time, far from being a competitive game, is a cooperative one. And one that holds no punches in being difficult to beat. Our planet is being invaded by a number of aliens that come in many shapes and sizes and we have to ally our forces to defeat them. Sharing resources and taking risks to blow the pesky aliens off the sky will take a lot more effort than the whimsical and silly look of the aliens will make you believe. However how does this game play for the first time? We tell you! Hope you enjoy the show and if you want to buy a copy of the game (you should) you can do so here.

Cimmerian Space is a project by Nick Fallon, a 3D programmer with enough passion for games and the industry to give up his job and create a project that sets the basis for a service boardgamers will be very interested in… Cimmerian Space is a real time browser game that uses the latest technology to render gorgeous spacescapes in which you can fight your enemies and customise your ships and is now in Kickstarter. And this is where Cimmerian Space brings something that boardgamers should keep an eye on: You can create, customise and build your own ship and then get a mesh that can be printed in 3D at various sizes to have your own miniature. Using the Shapeways API, Cimmerian Space doesn’t have to stay in your browser, and the creators have some very good plans in mind… I had a chat with Nick to ask about the past and the future of this game that could end up being very, very huge! Hope you enjoy the show!

Skyway Robbery is the product of designer Philip duBarry, the same Philip duBarrry who designed Canalis, Courtier, Kingdom of Solomon… Yeah… he’s pretty good. This time he’s turned to Kickstarter to try and get the funds and produce Skyway Robbery, a steampunk stravaganza in which the players have to put together the biggest heist they can. Assembling a cast of professional criminals, your task, as the airship you’re in travels from place to place, is to conduct robberies, dodge the authorities and, of course, make sure the other criminals don’t take your loot away. The artwork for this game looks totally terrific and the theme sounds very good fun, there’s no doubt of that. But I wanted to find out more about it and the design and designer behind this game, so I got together with Phil and asked him a ton of questions. Hope you enjoy the show!

The Veranthea Codex is the creation from RPG industry veteran Mike Myler. Ennie winner, Myler has now decided to create a product with a campaign setting, a section with NPCs and yet another section with a whole lot of new archetypes, professions, feats… The interesting thing is the idiosyncrasy of the setting. A world that comprises a whole country of steampunk goblins must be worthy of some attention. Seriously. That sounds amazing. And to make sure you know all you need to know about it, they’ve even created a Tumblr page which you can find here. Also a some free PDFs for you to get a taste of the whole world: Free Preview PDF #1: The Beztekorps Prestige ClassFree Preview PDF #2: Braxthar Grimdrahk Scientific Innovator (Alchemist Archetype)Free Preview PDF #3: Master in Irons Shojo MatsumoFree Preview PDF #4: Spoony Jawz  Top Pilot of TrectoyriHope you enjoy the freebies, the Kickstarter campaign and the show!

Ark of Animals is the most recent game from the Polish company Historical Games Company and the first they target to a younger audience rather that to heavy gamers. In the games, players have to fill Noah’s Ark with animals and be careful where they place them to make sure animals are compatible with each other. No matter how much they need to survive, a lion in close proximity with a gazelle will become food when the lion gets hungry… With a very cutesy look and simple rules, the game has its demographic in a straight aim, but does it deliver? Michael, Max and Cesare sat down and had a go to find out. Hope you enjoy the show!

Cubicle 7 has been for the last few years the flagship of RPG publishing in the UK. Of course that can be argued, but with successful licenses like Dr. Who and The One Ring, it is safe to say they are at the forefront of the RPG publishing business. Now they are back on Kickstarter with a new proposal, this time for younger players, with Lone Wolf. A roleplaying game after the successful adventure books written by Joe Dever. Well, of course an interview with Dominic McDowell and John Hodgson was in order. Who better to talk to than the two people who are responsible for the Kickstarter campaign  and the production of what promises to be yet another fantastic game? Exactly. Enjoy the show!

Interjection Games has created in the last few years some supplements for Pathfinder that have taken Vancian Magic, turned it around, messed with it, added some flavour, put some touches of genius on top and created some really interesting products that really push boundaries. Now, after a long time in development, Bradley Crouch has started a Kickstarter campaign to release Strange Magic. This new supplement contains three new schools of magic: Truename Magic, Musical Compositions and Ethermagic in 20 new classes and archetypes. I got together with Bradley to talk about the product and what this is all about and I have to say it was genuinely interesting! Apologies for the sound quality on this one. Hope you enjoy the show!

The Titanic is probably the sea tragedy that’s capture people’s imagination the most up to date. Movies, books, museums, songs… and games have been created around it. And my favourite French games design company, Ludonaute, has done just that, create a game around the Titanic. Designed by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc, this is a cooperative game for one to eight players. A variant of the traditional solitaire in which the theme of the Titanic has been implemented to create a tense experience. But does it play as well as it says it does? We find out in this episode!

And here we are again, in the RPG Room discussing if games should come with campaign material or just the rules. A lot of games come with a lot of information. Spells, equipment, combat, rules for travel, rules for talking, abilities, skills, bonuses… And some games come with setting and campaign information and others don’t, but do they need them? Should games come with some sort of setting information? Should that information be in a separate book? Do you care? Vickey Beaver, Jim Pinto and myself talk about it.

Pixel Tactics was released by one of my favourite companies, Level 99 a while ago to great success, but not enough because Level 99 deserve a lot of success. They have consistently released good quality games of a variety of styles and genres, including Roleplaying Games, card games and iPad games. Pixel Tactics is a game for two players that plays in about 30 to 45 minutes and offers a heavy gaming experience with tons of tactics (hence the name) and super cute and well crafted characters with a retro 8bit style art direction. But does the game stand up to scrutiny? Michael and Max sat down to have a go and find out! Hope you enjoy the show!

Smash Up, published by Alderac Entertainment Group in 2012, has seen quite a success for a card game that, by just reading its description, shouldn’t work. It sounds totally bonkers. Mix two decks of totally themes that you wouldn’t think of mixing, like Zombies and Fairies, give each Zombie and each Fairy an ability to do something and then send them forth to conquer bases that will give you points to win the game. It does sound very silly and the rules make it look like a very easy to play game. Also there are a fair number of expansions to make the game last even longer. But how does it play for the first time? We’re about to find out! Hope you enjoy the show!

GenCon is for many of us Europeans a Mecca of gaming we’ll never get to see. Though I hope to someday. The biggest four days in gaming, as the slogan aptly announces, has been going more than 45 years. From humble beginnings it’s turned out to be a true giant. And deservedly so. This year it also comes with a very interesting twist that’s made it very exciting for even more people: The re-launch of Dungeons & Dragons, the game that started it all. Wizards of the Coast has this year made a huge effort to bring the excitement to the floor and regain the mantle that it lost quite a while ago. And I hope it works. I truly do. But of course that’s not the only thing that goes on. The Ennies are there and, literally, thousands of games people can join. Vickey Beaver and Jim Pinto join me in this most excellent episode to talk about GenCon, how to manage the schedule, what to do and, just as importantly, what not to do. Hope you enjoy the show!