Episode 127: Emergent Play

Posted on March 19th, 2012

Hosts: Megan, Scott, Todd, Timo

Important Links:
Walking Eye Con

What did we play(10:35)
Enworld Chicago! Misspent Youth, Dread, Lacuna Coil: Megan, Scott, Todd
Psi*Run: Megan, Scott, Todd, Timo

Main topic: Emergent Play (24:45)
On the cast we talk a lot about how detail about the characters, the world or the theme come out during play, what is called emergence. We take this episode to talk directly about that aspect of gaming.

Rants (1:13:25)
Todd: The hellishness of St Patrick’s day in Chicago
Timo: Wish I had gotten in on the Mobile Frame Zero Kickstarter earlier… Le sigh.
Megan: Subtle sexism makes me angry
Scott: I want to nap on my new couch and these damn people are in my living room.

Other Links
D&D
Long form Improv
The Harold
Apocalypse World
Fiasco
Burning Wheel
DeGenesis
The Pool
Night’s Black Agents
Palladium
BASH
Story Now!
Sorceror
Mars Colony
The Mountain Witch

You have been listening to The Jank Cast, copyright under the creative commons license. You can find out more about us at jankcast.com. You can send comments and feedback to feedback@jankcast.com We are sponsored by Chicagoland Games, and encourage you to get in touch with us via our Facebook page, Spooky Outhouse Forum (it’s a little quiet, but we’d love to get it going again), Twitter or Google+. You can also listen to us via Stitcher Radio. Now go out and roll some dice!

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Bonus AP: Psi*Run

Posted on March 15th, 2012

Players: Joe, Megan, Scott, Timo, Todd

This is a bonus one-shot we did of Meg Baker’s sweet new game Psi*Run.

The game starts right away after a short intro by Todd, then we play for about 2 hours and end with a review/discussion of the game that starts at 2:07:35.

The game is about amnesiacs who wake up remembering very little about who they are, but discovering that they have psychic powers and are being chased by some nefarious force who wants to do them harm. The mechanics revolve around trying to answer a series of questions the players have about who their characters are.

Joe GMs (which in this game means he plays the chasers and frames scenes) and Megan, Scott, Timo, and Todd play the totally anti-social bunch of jerks who are the amnesiacs in this game.

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Episode 126: Ensemble Casts

Posted on March 12th, 2012

Hosts: Megan, Scott, Todd, Timo

Important Links:
Chicago Game Day
Walking Eye Con

What did we play(8:29)
4th Ed D&D: Megan
Apocalypse world hack – Todd
Lady Blackbird – Scott
In a Wicked Age – Todd, Megan, Timo

Main topic: Ensemble Casts (18:45)
When gamers sit down around a table with a bunch of characters and start playing the game, the stories that come out of it can take a variety of different paths. With this in mind, we delve in to the nature of the ensemble cast, and what it means at the table: what characteristics and aspects come out, how do the character stories develop, and how different games handle different types of inter-PC relationships.

Rants (1:14:00)
Timo: I’m done with the Zombie Apocalypse
Megan: Don’t choose me last for kickball, people.
Scott: My job does not want me to date the walking eye
Todd: You actually don’t have to call it baserape. Seriously. Quit it.

Other Links
At the Table Games
Clone Wars Shorts
Lost
Buffy – Xander Episode
Battlestar Galactica
Heroes
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern
The Breakfast Club
The Walking Eye
Farscape
Topher Grace’s Star Wars
The Machete Order
Game Of Thrones TV Show
Misspent Youth
Sorceror
Shock: Social Science Fiction
Primetime Adventures
Dread

You have been listening to The Jank Cast, copyright under the creative commons license. You can find out more about us at jankcast.com. You can send comments and feedback to feedback@jankcast.com We are sponsored by Chicagoland Games, and encourage you to get in touch with us via our Facebook page, Spooky Outhouse Forum (it’s a little quiet, but we’d love to get it going again), Twitter or Google+. You can also listen to us via Stitcher Radio. Now go out and roll some dice!

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Bonus Interview: Josh Mannon

Posted on March 10th, 2012

This is a bonus interview Todd conducted with Josh Mannon: Father, Husband, and Game Designer!

Josh runs At the Table Games and has been playing, designing, and hacking games for a long time. Todd and Josh discuss discovering new and different games, how to hack games successfully, what makes fictional worlds worth gaming in, Josh’s sweet idea about getting 12 games into playtesting this year, and Josh’s upcoming Dungeon World adventures pack, which is in Kickstarter right now. Go help him reach his goal!

And he’s hacking Apocalypse World for little kids. That’s right. Get on board.

Also, you might hear Todd’s cat or Josh’s laundry making noise. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

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Episode 125: Co-operative Boardgames

Posted on March 5th, 2012

Hosts: Todd, Timo, Scott

Important Links:
Chicago Game Day
Walking Eye Con

What did we play
Defenders of the Realm
Apocalypse World
In a Wicked Age…
Psi*Run

Main topic: Cooperative Board Games (21:42)
We talk about our favourite cooperative board games, and some of the design and play characteristics of these games. We discuss Defenders of the Realm, Arkham Horror, Elder Sign, Star Trek: Expeditions, Yggdrasil, Battlestar Galactica, Forbidden Island, Pandemic, Mansions of Madness, Descent, House on Haunted Hill, and more.

Rants (1:00:20)
Timo: Storm of Souls is too complex by itself.
Scott: My people don’t know fireworks.
Todd: Hooray for apps!

Other Links
Car Wars
Ta-te Wu: Sunrise Tornado

You have been listening to The Jank Cast, copyright under the creative commons license. You can find out more about us at jankcast.com. You can send comments and feedback to feedback@jankcast.com We are sponsored by Chicagoland Games, and encourage you to get in touch with us via our Facebook page, Spooky Outhouse Forum (it’s a little quiet, but we’d love to get it going again), Twitter or Google+. You can also listen to us via Stitcher Radio. Now go out and roll some dice!

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Bonus AP: Final Apocalypse World Session

Posted on March 2nd, 2012

Players: Joe, Megan, Timo, Todd

Our final session with the crew of the Leviathan. Thanks for listening.

We begin with a review of previous sessions.
The AP starts around 21:30.
We conclude with a deconstruction of the campaign.
That starts around 3:17:40.

Important Links:
Chicago Game Day
Walking Eye Con

Enjoy!

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Posted in Actual Play Episodes, Podcasts | 3 Comments

Episode 124: Triggering the Mechanics

Posted on February 28th, 2012

Hosts: Todd, Megan, Timo, Joe

Important Links:
Chicago Game Day
Walking Eye Con

What did we play (10:20)
Apocalypse World, In a Wicked Age…: Todd, Megan, Joe, Timo
Defenders of the Realm: Timo

Main topic: Triggering the Mechanics (23:00)
Deciding how and when the mechanical aspects of a game should be used can be a complex topic. Even with newer games providing clearer guidelines as to what should trigger mechanics, there’s often a decision to do just that. We hijack this episode with a discussion of how that choice shakes down, and how different games provide different guidance and methodology

Rants (1:09:00)
Timo: I dream of Demon Ninja’s.
Megan: Dear Food, let’s just be friends.
Todd: People, don’t be dicks about religion.

You have been listening to The Jank Cast, copyright under the creative commons license. You can find out more about us at jankcast.com. You can send comments and feedback to feedback@jankcast.com We are sponsored by Chicagoland Games, and encourage you to get in touch with us via our Facebook page, Spooky Outhouse Forum (it’s a little quiet, but we’d love to get it going again), Twitter or Google+. You can also listen to us via Stitcher Radio. Now go out and roll some dice!

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Episode 123: What game for this context?

Posted on February 20th, 2012

Hosts: Megan, Todd, Timo, Kevin, Allegra

What did we play (3:30)
Jank on Demand: Murderland, Dungeon World, Psi*run, Resistance
A whole bunch of Apocalypse world!

Main topic: What game for this context? (36:15)
There’s a mantra that Ron Edwards espouses as being key to playing a successful game: “I want to play this game with these people at this time.” Another way that could be phrased is “What game do I want to play with these people at this time?” When you know you’re going to be playing with certain people, we discuss how you choose which game to play?

Rants (1:20:00)
Kevin: Recruit non gamers, it’s better than dealing with old players
Timo: I want a more generally appealing twosie game
Todd: There is always a reason to be jerks.
Megan: Timo has stolen my old cat Fatboy.
Kevin (part deux!): Role playing games can be a fantastic early date.

Other Links:
The Walking Eye
John the Revelator (On Sons of Anarchy!)
Werewolf, Mafia, Do You Worship Cthulhu?
Clue (The board game, and the movie)
Scarface
Remember Tomorrow
In a Wicked Age…
The Mountain Witch
Vincent baker on making games more accessible
Epidiah Ravachol’s footprint
It Was a Mutual Decision
Bachannal
Shooting the Moon
Blazing Rose
The Shab-Al-Hiri Roach
Fiasco (Break A Leg playset)
Pathfinder
Dogs in the Vineyard
Agon
Primetime Adventures
Chronicle
Steal Away Jordan
Kagematsu
Amped
Murderous Ghosts
James Bond RPG

You have been listening to The Jank Cast, copyright under the creative commons license. You can find out more about us at jankcast.com. You can send comments and feedback to feedback@jankcast.com We are sponsored by Chicagoland Games, and encourage you to get in touch with us via our Facebook page, Spooky Outhouse Forum (it’s a little quiet, but we’d love to get it going again), Twitter or Google+. You can also listen to us via Stitcher Radio. Now go out and roll some dice!

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Bonus AP: Apocalypse World Part 7

Posted on February 17th, 2012

Players: Joe, Megan, Timo, Todd

Our second to last session of the Apocalypse World campaign.

Shit gets real.

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Posted in Actual Play Episodes, Podcasts | 5 Comments

Episode 122: Scott and Timo Talk

Posted on February 14th, 2012

Hosts: Scott, Timo

Main topic: Scott and Timo Talk
This weeks episode is a conversation between Scott and Timo, talking about the role of the GM and the structure of play as they each approach it.

You have been listening to The Jank Cast, copyright under the creative commons license. You can find out more about us at jankcast.com. You can send comments and feedback to feedback@jankcast.com We are sponsored by Chicagoland Games, and encourage you to get in touch with us via our Facebook page, Spooky Outhouse Forum (it’s a little quiet, but we’d love to get it going again), Twitter or Google+. Now go out and roll some dice!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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