Crucible of Realms

Hosts: Jim, Jon & KentGuest: Keith BakerIn February of 2014, we sat down and built a world with Keith Baker, the creater of Gloom and Eberron!In this episode, we create a world where massive elemental beings fight for dominence while posing a constant threat to the human populace, who make use of special forms of magic to survive.You can find some of Keith's work here:Web Site: https://keith-baker.com/Twogether Studios: https://www.twogetherstudios.com/DMs' Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Keith%20BakerDOWNLOAD EPISODE 29 - APEX CONVERGENCE

Hosts: Jim, Jon & KentGuest: Drew Meyer(NOTE: The original MP3 file had a bit of a hiccup late in the episode, but it's since been replaced and the new file should be available to grab now!) In this episode recorded in December 2013, we welcome podcaster and game designer Drew Meyer! Together, we hammer together a world permeated with dimensional waves that change the laws of reality. The ones living there have founded very different civilizations, each suited to their circumstances.You can find Drew's podcasts and other work here:The Never Say Die! Podcast - https://theneversaydiepodcast.podbean.com/Who & Company - https://whoandcompany.libsyn.com/The Doctor Who Podcast - https://thedoctorwhopodcast.com/Scaldcrow Games - https://scaldcrow.com/DOWNLOAD EPISODE 28 - TIDE SHIFT

Hosts: Jim, Jon & KentGuest: Dave RobisonEver have one of those personal eras when your life turns upside down a few times and then a pandemic happens and then you look up and realize the audio edit you've been stressing over for the past decade doesn't have to be as perfect as your inner critic insists and it's okay if the final product runs over two hours after all? Sometimes it takes a very long time to get one's inner critic to back down.But when it happens? It can be a thing of wonder.At long last, here is the next episode of Crucible of Realms. In it, our guest Dave brings us a massive concept to play with - a world split into three parts, each experiencing a different environment and each with a different relationship with magic.You can find more about Dave and his work at these places:Dave Robison: Vocal Performer - https://butterymanvoice.com/ARCHIVOS - https://www.archivos.digital/Archivos Podcasts - https://www.roundtablepodcast.com/DOWNLOAD EPISODE 27 - CHILDREN OF THE FURY

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent Guest: David Sobkowiak It appears we've returned! This episode was one of a handful coming up that we thought gone to the mists of time. Thankfully, we've finally managed to recover the audio and are delighted to present it to you! In this episode we create a PERFECTLY NORMAL town deep in the Hundred-Mile Wilderness where ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is amiss. Nothing. At all. Well, except during glider season... Here are some links for David online: Blog: http://www.davidsobkowiak.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dsobkowiak Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/David-Sobkowiak/e/B004OXCA52 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4443153.David_Sobkowiak Also mentioned in this Episode: Portal Cake Mix Dubstep Kitty Broken Sea Gypsy Laura Twin Peaks Appalachian Trail Innsmouth / HP Lovecraft Super8 Mt Katahdin Baxter State Park Hundred-Mile Wilderness The Shining Dot-com Bubble Sasquatch Call of Cthuhlhu RPG Hunting and Trapping in Maine Jackalope Doctor Moreau Sugar Glider Loch Ness Monster Royal Canadian Mounted Police Jonathan Higgins/Robin Masters Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve Igor Fenrir Owlbear Presley Lake / Moose Head Lake / Seboomook Lake Rocky IV / Dolph Lundgren Sprockets Valhalla Northern Exposure X-FilesDOWNLOAD EPISODE 26 - PINEWOOD COVE

RECORDED LIVE AT CONCAROLINAS 2015! Kent and I met up at ConCarolinas to do a live podcast this year, marveled at the fact that the room was nearly empty and practically gave up hope. Then, as we were getting ready to pack it all in, we were bolstered by the arrival of a single audient (quite possibly by accident), so we decided to do an Epoch Iteration with her. So here's that. Enjoy! LINKS ConCarolinas Extra-Life, Team Intelsat Sabrina's DeviantArt Site Tenebrous CypherCaster Magazine, Issue 001 DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 17 - I BOUGHT A MONSTER

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent Guest: Scott Roche Our latest world is a mashup of the Western, Sci-Fi and Horror genres with a slight touch of Steampunk thrown in for flavor. Not long before the turn of the 20th century, a group of scientists led by Nikola Tesla are caught in a war. To one side are the carriers of a lycanthropic virus - some want a cure, but others want only to take advantage of their newfound transformations. To the other are hordes of dead soldiers reanimated by the US government. Some say it's only a matter of time before the whole thing erupts into a second Civil War. Want to find Scott online? Here ya go: Blog - http://www.scottroche.com/blog/ Fiction - http://www.amazon.com/Scott-Roche/e/B004KS1U6Q Patreon - http://www.patreon.com/scottroche Twitter - https://twitter.com/spiritualtramp Also mentioned in this Episode: Leper Colony Being Human Frankenstein The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein Nikola Tesla / Colorado Springs Werewolf Belt Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Thomas Edison / Tesla vs Edison Apache / Geronimo Deadlands Hypochondria Hulk Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Apache Wars Fort Apache League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Mark Twain Boris Karloff Mike Mignola Topsy the Elephant Washington Monument / Arlington National Cemetery Battle Droids The Island of Dr. Moreau Ulysses S. Grant / George Armstrong Custer Teddy Roosevelt / Rough Riders Browncoats Giant Mechanical Spider Super 8 Area 51 Fargo Difference Engine / Guglielmo Marconi Magneto / Homo Superior / New Mutants Nietzschean Superman / New Gods / Herculoids Promethean: The Created Transformers Boomstick Evolutionary War DOWNLOAD EPISODE 25 - WESTERN EVOLUTION

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent Guest: Mark And now, as we get ever closer to Halloween, we bring you a realm of chilling darkness where fear is the greatest commodity. This is a place in which all of the world's worst nightmares are embodied. A strange, supernatural dimension where factions of living nightmares fight for dominance, each trying to force their own paradigm on each other even as they harvest the fear of mortals. Don't fall asleep, or you may find yourself there... Image courtesy of Imgur Unlike last month's extra-long episode, this one is a bit shorter than usual. We had a devil of a time with Skype on this particular episode, with calls dropping right and left, so we didn't have quite as much time to detail the world as we usually do, but I think we managed to put something pretty cool together. Along with making WAY more Frank Langella references than is generally recommended... Also mentioned in this Episode: Final Jeopardy Rice-a-Roni Monsters, Inc. Ronald Reagan Max Schreck / Nosferatu Frank Langella / The Box / Good Night and Good Luck Remora Coulrophobia Marcel Marceau Snowman Holocaust Se7en Mephistopheles Warwick Davis / Leprechaun Rumplestiltskin Albert Finney / Peter O'Toole Inception Manticore Morlock Will-o-the-Wisp Doc Holliday Knots Landing F. Lee Bailey The Fountainhead / Ayn Rand Planet Terror DOWNLOAD EPISODE 24 - TERROR

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent Guest: Jason Bulmahn of Paizo Publishing and Minotaur Games We brainstorm up a world so full of ideas that we had to bleed into an extra half hour! In a Conan-esque world where magic waxes and wanes in centuries-long cycles, the one who has the most power is the one who is best prepared for change. And when the next wave of magic comes, who will come out on top? The barbaric humans who hold Stoneshadow Valley? The forces of the High Imperator, who - it is said - can never die? The dwarves who live deep in the mountains and hold a terrifying secret? Or the much-maligned elves who live outside of civilization, yet may hold the key to changing everything? The seasons are turning, and when the Azure Tears appear in the sky once more, the die will be cast! Jason's Kickstarter for his card game Pirate Loot can be found HERE! Check it out! Also mentioned in this Episode: Yoda / Midi-Chlorians Pathfinder V Matt Forbeck Oxy Acne Medication Conan the Barbarian Ziggurat Lich Hero's Journey Sparta / Mongol Empire Incan Terrace Farming Helm's Deep The Hobbit Medici Family Doctor Doom Amway To Serve Man Cassandra Night of the Comet Mass Hysteria Vlad the Impaler Magic Jar Dalai Lama Thundarr the Barbarian / Gundark Corona Behind the Name DOWNLOAD EPISODE 23 - AZURE TEARS

Nope, we're still not dead. Listen in as we talk about recent events, the current state of affairs, upcoming releases and how to get rich using time travel. We also read listener feedback! Believe it or not, ACTUAL EPISODES ARE COMING SOON! LINKS: Think Baby Names Jim's interview with Storium's Stephen Hood RECOMMENDATIONS: Kent recommends the Fairy Behind the Door Kickstarter project (ENDS AUGUST 2nd, 2014!). Jon recommends the Monster Hunter series by Larry Correia. Jim recommends The Big Red Couch, an RPG brainstorming podcast from New Zealand. Also Mentioned in this Iteration: Loitsu 24 Jennisodes D&D Basic Rules TableTop Day Doctor Who / Blinovitch Limitation Effect Reddit Worldbuilding Storium Suspended Animation Trials Plan 9 from Outer Space Dragon*Con World of Warcraft Good Night and Good Luck / Strength and Honor DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 15 - COLLATING DATA BETWEEN OUR VARIOUS SELVES

A quick Iteration to talk about our guests' upcoming projects! Image courtesy of Imgur LINKS: Eloy Lasanta's Kickstarter for Third Eye Games, AMP: Year One, can be found HERE. Wolfgang Baur's projects for Kobold Press, Deep Magic and The Kobold Guide to Magic, can be found HERE and HERE. DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 14 - KOBOLDS & SUPER HEROES

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Eden Guest: Eloy Lasanta of Third Eye Games We create a future Earth in which some of the human population have begun to evolve into beings of light. These new types of humans have made significant gains in equality, but there are always those who refuse to accept them, and some who even seek their destruction! Image courtesy of Imgur Eloy's podcast, Rolling 20s, can be found HERE. You can also visit his own site and the site of his company, Third Eye Games. Eden Royce's author site can be found HERE. Also mentioned in this Episode: Gatorade Paranoia Douglas Adams / Hooloovoo Cocoon Green Lantern / Emotional Spectrum Rings Battlestar Galactica The Speed of Light ROYGBIV Red Dwarf / Hard Light Superman vs the Elite / All-Star Superman / Lex Luthor Star Trek Singularity World of Warcraft Firefly Dr. Manhattan Green Party Black Panthers Cloud City Iron Man  Nyan Cat Whig Party / Bull Moose Party Thesaurus.com Terminator DOWNLOAD EPISODE 22 - The Brilliance

This Iteration was recorded on Groundhog Day! We talk about the recent Snowpocalypse/Snowmageddon (which seems to have repeated itself) and read listener feedback. Image courtesy of Imgur LINKS: The Walking Dead comparison page can be found HERE. Jim's story was published in Tales from the Front, available at Amazon and DrivethruRPG. RECOMMENDATIONS: Jon recommends the Peter Grant series by Ben Aaronovitch. Also mentioned in this Iteration: Punxsutawney Phil Eloy Lasanta / Third Eye Games The Walking Dead Polar Vortex / Sharknado Kaiser's Gate / Savage Worlds / True20 SHIELD Final Fantasy Doctor Who The Dresden Files / Hot Fuzz The Met DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 13 - A FROZEN WASTELAND

We are not dead! In this Iteration we go off on many a tangent about D&D, Doctor Who and conventions in addition to reading some listener feedback. Image Courtesy of Imgur LINKS: Scaldcrow Games' Worlds of Pulp (DrivethruRPG, Kickstarter) AetherCon The Probably Questionable Podcast Kent's Extra-Life team, Team Intelsat Jim's appearances on RPGRoundtable (Episode 1: Audio, YouTube) (Episode 2: Audio, YouTube) Jim's appearance on Happy Jack's RPG Podcast (Audio, YouTube) In the Bloodstream: an Anthology of Dark Fantasy and Horror (Jim's story in it is titled "Lady of the Manor") RECOMMENDATIONS: Jon recommends the TV show Parks and Recreation. He also recommends Agent to the Stars and Redshirts, both by John Scalzi. PROMO: Ideology of Madness - Ghosts of Reignsboro AP Podcast Also Mentioned in this Iteration: Wired Images Dragon*Con D&D 2nd, 3rd & 4th Edition / Epic Destiny D&D Next / Against the Giants Dresden Files RPG MACE Davey Beauchamp Parsec Awards / Sylvester McCoy The WEIRD Show Doctor Who / The Day of the Doctor / The War Doctor The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot Final Fantasy Creative Commons Sin City Fig Newtons Principia Mathematica Bacon Cat Wil Wheaton Douglas Adams Old Man's War Thanksgivukkah DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 12 - WE DEMAND SANITATION NINJAS

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent Guest: Charles White of Fabled Environments   We create a fantasy city where the holy orders are involved in almost every level of society. The various factions of Epilareus are each guided by their religion, and it is up to the king to keep everything moving along and prevent the various orders from seizing too much power. All while seeing to the needs of the populace and protecting them from invasion. Image courtesy of Imgur Fabled Environments' products can be found on DrivethruRPG. Mentioned in this Episode: PoseidonPantheon / The PantheonSandman / The EndlessTheocracyGeorge RR Martin / Faceless MenThe FatesForgotten Realms / Forgotten Realms DeitiesLankhmarMongolsConstitutional Monarchy / Parliament / PrimogenitureConstantineArtificial IslandColossus of Rhodes / Lighthouse of AlexandriaCommune / CollectiveGaneshaNecropolisNCISThanatologyParliament / House of Lords / House of CommonsPlebeian CouncilThe People's CourtIllyriaBehind the Name / 20,000 NamesRudolph ValentinoOphiuchusMonsignorEberron / The Sovereign Host / The Dark SixKris   DOWNLOAD EPISODE 21 - EPILAREUS

In this Iteration we talk about recent events, read listener feedback and go off on many a tangent.  Image Source: Northern Arizona University You can find Jim's other podcast, Transmissions From the Ninth World, HERE. You can find Kent's video podcast at the Distorted Order site, HERE. RECOMMENDATIONS: Jon recommends the comic Fables and the book Anathem by Neal Stephenson. Jim recommends the book The Reckoning: the Murder of Christopher Marlowe by Charles Nicholl and the game Dungeon World. Also Mentioned in this Iteration: Steel-Toed ShoesMythbustersENNie AwardsMonte Cook / NumeneraGenConDragon*ConPacific RimRon Perlman / Sons of AnarchyGuillermo del Toro / HellboyCharlie HunnamThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey / LegolasMatthew Wayne SelznickWotC / PaizoGern Blanston / Steve MartinBill Willingham / Scourge of the Slave Lords / Vault of the DrowVertigo MentatChristopher MarloweKen & Robin Talk About Stuff / Kenneth Hite / Robin D. LawsCastle Amber (X2)FATE Core / FATE Accelerated / FATE Core KickstarterNaked Singularity / Andromeda DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 11 - FIND A NAKED SINGULARITY

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent Guest: THE Jim Harris   In this episode, we create a Steampunk / Victorian Fantasy mashup setting. As the British Empire rolls out its engines of industry, the indigenous populations of its colonies call upon ancient magics to drive them out! Meanwhile, the Druids watch and wait and a sinister figure playing all sides against each other watches from the shadows...  Image courtesy of Imgur Join Jim Harris' cult on Facebook! RECOMMENDATIONS: Jon recommends The Mongoliad by Neal Stephenson. Mentioned in this Episode: SteampunkOrnithopterThe Da Vinci CodeBritish EmpireBoxer RebellionThe Royal SocietyThe League of S.T.E.A.M.GhostbustersDruidOxford UniversityBursarNational Geographic SocietyWicker ManGlastonburyThe Hermetic Order of the Golden DawnD&D DruidField Marshal KitchenerGaiaThe Green ManCernunnosCeltic PantheonBrigidArithmancyYog-SothothCthulhu"The only winning move is not to play."BoudicaDOWNLOAD EPISODE 20 - SORCERER'S GAMBIT

Another quick Kickstarter-related Iteration this time. Upcoming guest David Sobkowiak talks about an ongoing Kickstarter campaign for Walk the Fire, a shared world sci-fi anthology series. Check it out HERE. And stay tuned at the end for outtakes from Episode 19! Mentioned in this Iteration: David SobkowiakJohn MierauTwin PeaksTexas InstrumentsBrian Aldiss / HelliconiaGame of Thrones / World of A Song of Ice and FireThe Hudsucker ProxyThe Man in the MoonJ.R.R. Tolkien / Middle Earth LanguagesGoldilocks ZoneSlurpee DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 10 - WALK THE FIRE

Hosts: Jim, Jon & Kent Guest: Matthew Wayne Selznick   Finally, a new episode with actual world-building in it! Though in this episode, we go about it a little differently. Our guest, creator Matthew Wayne Selznick, walks us through the process of building a truly habitable planet, as detailed in his book World-Building for Writers, Gamers and Other Creators, Volume One: Star, Planet, Moon. We develop the world, and from there we brainstorm up a sentient species with a primitive culture. Image courtesy of Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net During the course of recording, we found a pretty cool site about language: Edenics. RECOMMENDATIONS: Jon recommends SimEarth. Mentioned in this Episode: Brave Men Run / Brave Men Run Podcast Novel7th Son / 7th Son Podcast Series Anyman: The John Smith EPTee MorrisVulcanIoTorus / HypercubeShelobSemaphorePuebloGila MonumentOpluridaeSpore DOWNLOAD EPISODE 19 - PTEMOS

We discuss recent strange turns of events related to the podcast. We also go back and talk about some listener feedback we neglected to cover earlier. (This show was recorded in late February.) The fateful promise Jim made in the Comments section of the FATE Core Kickstarter update can be found HERE. Brennan Bishop's Storm Battalion Indiegogo Project is HERE. Eden Royce's Dark Fantasy Voodoo Story "Rhythm" Appears in the February 2013 issue of the Siren's Call E-Zine - currently available for free download! Kent's new podcast appears on the Distorted Order web site. His sponsorship page for Extra Life can be found HERE. Volume I of Matthew Wayne Selznick's Worldbuilding for Writers, Gamers and Other Creators can currently be found HERE on Amazon. RECOMMENDATION: Jon recommends the web comic Snow by Night. Mentioned in this Iteration: Dragon*ConD&D Next PlaytestGen ConFATE CoreThird Eye Games / Eloy LasantaEden RoyceDouglas Adams / FlyingSanta Claus: The Movie / NORAD Tracks SantaDoctor WhoKickstarter / Do: Pilgrims of the Flying Temple / Deadlands NoirGame of Thrones  Reddit Worldbuilding CommunityMatthew Wayne Selznick DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 9 - THROW YOURSELF AT THE GROUND AND MISS

We ramble on about recent events, continue pondering the apocalypse and pine away after movies and kickstarters. Mentioned in this Iteration: Asteroid MemeMaya / 2012 Apocalypse / Maya CalendarApocalypse ListJeane DixonApophis / ApophisClint BlackDragon*ConFriedrich NietzscheThe MetaverseReady Player OneThe Hobbit / The HobbitThe Tolkien ProfessorSylvester McCoyHell Noir / Gregory Weir / Eden RoyceHard MagicD&D NextFate Core / The Dresden Files RPGAtomic RoboMatthew Wayne SelznickJJ Abrams / Star Wars Sequel Trilogy / Star Trek  DOWNLOAD EPOCH ITERATION 8 - THE INTERNET STARES LONG INTO YOU