Unwritten Earths Symposium

In this episode, Nathan and Eppy report back on their recent work on PET CRIMES, centering on making digital tools for play. This leads into a discussion of the concept of designing the "surfaces" of your game - what are the things (physical, relational, temporal) that you need to design in order to enable someone to play? This is just the start of this conversation, but it feels like a useful framework as we continue to make games in this season of the podcast! Patrons are getting access to PET CRIMES and it's associated digital tools as we develop them. Join them for just $3/month over at our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths)! Show Notes: * One More Thing online playspace (https://tinyurl.com/OMTplayspace) (Google Sheet) * Eppy's game Vast and Starlit (https://epidiah.itch.io/vast-starlit) * Jason Morningstar's The Skeletons (https://bullypulpitgames.com/products/the-skeletons) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

In this all-homework episode, we each bring an initial sketch of the cards that could drive each of our card-based game concepts. Nathan's "Big Lore" game explores using card decks to reveal things about the game world and guide character progression, while Eppy's "Exploration Legacy" game uses cards to map out geography as well as encounter types for a game that becomes more unique the more its played. This is early-stage concept stuff, so listen in to hear how the vegan sausage is made! Check out our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) for a post that includes the images of the cards we describe in this episode (no subscription required!) Games Mentioned: * Search for the Emperor's Treasure (http://www.tomwham.com/search.html), by Tom Wham * Minion Hunter (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/679/minion-hunter)from GDW Games * The Best of Dragon Magazine Games (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5811/the-best-of-dragon-magazine-games) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

We're moving into the next season of our podcast! In this one, Nathan and Eppy talk about how we're turning from the scholarly side of our project to the instructional side, and how our show homework is changing to match. What this means for our listeners is that you'll be hearing more about new game designs and works in progress, and less research and hunting out arcane gems from other games. Thanks for listening, Scholars! Remember to sign up for the Swords Without Master fixup campaign (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unwrittenearths/swords-without-master?ref=9uxdgk), coming early 2026. And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

The Season of Swords is upon us! Nathan and Eppy talk about Eppy's sword & sorcery classic Swords Without Master, how it came to be, how it works, and what's next for the game: a full standalone release, coming early 2026! Show Notes: * Swords Without Master is in Worlds Without Master, Issue 3 (https://www.worldswithoutmaster.com/bazaar/worlds-without-master-issue-3) (for now...) * We're pumped to welcome Shel Kahn (https://www.portablecity.net/art-direction/) as our Art Director for the project. And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

In this episode we tackle our to-be-read piles of recent game acquisitions for our homework, highlighting more recent work that we've both been digging and finding some common themes across different genres and types of game. We then talk about "instructional" and "non-instructional" text in games, what that divide even means, and pursue some questions that that brings up for our own work. Show Notes: * Check out the Adventure & Hobbyist Annual 2025 (https://unwrittenearths.itch.io/annual-2025) * The latest Possible Worlds Games Kickstarter funding 3 new games (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crum/cckhcc?ref=creator_tab) runs through Friday, 9/26 Games Mentioned: * Knight Forlorn (https://blackfiskpub.itch.io/knight-forlorn) (Blackfisk Publishing) * Usagi Yojimbo (2nd Edition) (https://rpggeek.com/rpg/60813/usagi-yojimbo-role-playing-game-sanguine-2nd-editi)(Sanguine Productions - it looks like it's no longer available for purchase) * The Price of Coal (https://jen-adcock15.itch.io/the-price-of-coal) (Jennifer Adcock) * The Crawling Chaos (https://planetsmashergames.itch.io/the-crawling-chaos) (Plant Smasher Games) * Tacklebox (https://possible-worlds-games.itch.io/tacklebox)/Better Strangers (https://possible-worlds-games.itch.io/better-strangers) (Possible Worlds Games) * 5-Star Match (https://leafydragongames.wpcomstaging.com/shop/) (Leafy Dragon Games) * Growing Thylacine (https://pidj.itch.io/growing-thylacine) (Pidg Sorensen) * Necronautilus (https://www.worldchamp.io/store/necronautilus-hardcover-book) (World Champ Game Co) * Brinkwood: The Blood of Tyrants (https://brinkwood.net)(from the Far Horizons Co-Op) * Tide Breaker (https://www.tidebreakerrpg.com) (Nick Butler) * God's Gonna Cut You Down (https://kstetson.itch.io/gods-gonna-cut-you-down) (Keith Stetson) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

In this episode Eppy leads off with a hot take about playtesting, leading us to a discussion of the multiple purposes of playtests, playstorming, techniques for effective playtests, and an introduction of a new feature of the Unwritten Earths Symposium Discord: Playtest Tuesdays! Show Notes: * Playtest Tuesdays are on the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) - you do not need to be a Patreon member to join, and we're aiming at short bursts of targeted play for anyone who would find that helpful. * The JiffyCon (https://jiffycon.blogspot.com) Community site still exists, for posterity! And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

In this episode we do our game design homework of looking through game ludographies to chase down a chain of influence. It's a fun journey and we end up in very different places for our arcane gems! We also give an update on the Adventurer & Hobbyist Annual 2025, coming out soon! Show Notes: * You can still late pledge for the 2025 Annual (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unwrittenearths/adventure-and-hobbyist-annual-2025?ref=e1y1hq) * Original Story Now Essay (https://www.indie-rpgs.com/_articles/narr_essay.html) * Atmosfear (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosfear_(series)) VHS/DVD Games * Art & System: Games For Expanded Play (https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/b2acaafc-6009-4565-9ef4-54b97b09e193/landing) is the upcoming project that includes a Dog Eat Dog re-release Games Mentioned: * Spione: Story Now in Cold War Berlin (https://payhip.com/b/Y0aO), by Ron Edwards (oh, and it is available auf Deutsch (https://payhip.com/b/OqTx)) * Champions Now (https://www.herogames.com/store/category/67-champions-now/) (Hero Games), Ron's take on Champions * Gray Ranks (https://bullypulpitgames.com/products/grey-ranks)(Bully Pulpit Games) * Dog Eat Dog (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_Eat_Dog_(role-playing_game)), by Liam Liwanag Burke * Puppetland by John Tynes (1995 text (https://johntynes.com/revland2000/rl_puppetland.html)/2013 edition (https://arcdream.com/home/puppetland/) from Arc Dream Publishing) * Burning Wheel (https://www.burningwheel.com/burning-wheel/) (Burning Wheel Gold is the current edition) * My Life With Master (http://www.halfmeme.com/master.html) (Half Meme Press) * Dialect: A Game About Language and How It Dies (https://thornygames.com/pages/dialect)(Thorny Games) * Code of Unaris (https://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/reviews/codeofunaris.html) (Goldleaf Games) * Sock Puppets: An RPG (https://a-smouldering-lighthouse.itch.io/sock-puppets) by A Smouldering Lighthouse And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

In this episode we talk about handling multiple ongoing projects as full-time working creative people, and then Nathan brings a game idea for discussion: a game that creates or invokes the simultaneous closed-in-ness and open-ness of sailing. We have some fun ideas for creating slow-burn drama with constrained resources. Have we.... made a game yet? Show Notes: * A&E's Hornblower series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornblower_(TV_series)) * Tower of Hanoi math problem (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_Hanoi) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

In this episode we go to the copyshop to dig up spiralbound games for our game discovery homework, and get deep into the weeds on both format and substance of our picks. Games Mentioned: * Black Cadillacs (Steel Toe'd Edition) (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/52070/black-cadillacs-steel-toed-edition) (here's the Wayback Machine archive (https://web.archive.org/web/20130725043307/http://achtung-spiel.com/black_cadillacs.html) of the game page) * Tunnels & Trolls (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnels_%26_Trolls), and specifically 7th-7.5 Edition (https://boardgamegeek.com/rpg/2313/tunnels-and-trolls-7th-75-editions) Adventure! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure!) Aberrant (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberrant_(role-playing_game)) and Aeon: Trinity (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_(role-playing_game)) Little Grey Cells (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/307617) InSpectres (https://memento-mori.com/books/inspectres-book) Mechaton/Mobile Frame Zero (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/122435/mobile-frame-zero-rapid-attack) carry. a game about war. (https://www.ndpdesign.com/carry-a-game-about-war) kill puppies for satan (https://payhip.com/b/auUx) Primetime Adventures (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primetime_Adventures) Nine Worlds (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/47608/nine-worlds) Show Notes: * Wanderlust notebook (https://bsky.app/profile/epidiah.bsky.social/post/3ltd7rgiiik2u) that Eppy saw * Ashcan Front * Tim O’Brien/The Things They Carried (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Things_They_Carried)/How To Tell a True War Story, * Our paraphrased quote “you can’t make an anti-war film” seems to come from François Truffaut (https://quoteinvestigator.com/2025/04/12/antiwar-film/) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

In this laid-back episode we chat about greeting cards and inspiration from non-games for game formats, follow a train of thought about using Valentine's Day exchange as a game mechanic, and check in with each other about how ideas and inspiration from previous episodes are coming together for new game projects. Games Mentioned: * Kagematsu (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/55827/kagematsu) * Timeline (https://www.zygomatic-games.com/en/game/timeline-classic/) * Microscope (https://www.lamemage.com/microscope/) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

In this episode, we welcome Dread co-creator Nat Barmore to the show, try to surprise each other with Arcane Gems from deep cuts in our collections, and talk about Nat's current projects. We talk about Dread, keeping horror campaigns going in long-term play, and approaching real-world cultural conflicts in game design. Thanks for joining us, Nat! Show Notes: * Find Nat at his blog (https://woodelf.wordpress.com) and The Impossible Dream website (https://www.tiltingatwindmills.net). * We also mention Neverwhere (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neverwhere_(novel)), GLOW (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLOW_(TV_series)) (the Netflix series), and the original Storyteller System Botch mechanic (https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Botch). Games Mentioned: * Michtim: Fluffy Adventures (http://www.michtim.com) * Urchin (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/48199/urchin) * Amaranthine: Romance, Vendetta, Forever (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/93074/amaranthine-romance-vendetta-forever?src=newest_recent) * Kingdom of Nothing (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/93798/kingdom-of-nothing) * Lacuna Part 1: The Creation of the Mystery and the Girl from Blue City (second attempt) (https://memento-mori.com/books/lacuna-part-1-second-attempt-book) * Don't Rest Your Head (https://evilhat.com/product/don-t-rest-your-head/) * UnderWorld (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/45312/underworld) * HōL (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/44201/hol) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

In this episode we talk about our "white whale" game design projects, both those we're currently in pursuit of and those we managed, at long last, to catch. Show Notes: * We talk about these Robin Hoods: Howard Pyle's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood of Great Renown in Nottinghamshire (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Merry_Adventures_of_Robin_Hood) (1883), Robin of Sherwood (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_of_Sherwood) (1984-1986), Disney's Robin Hood (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood_(1973_film)) (1973), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood:_Prince_of_Thieves)(1991), Robin Hood: Men in Tights (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood:_Men_in_Tights)(1993), Robin Hood and Other Outlaw Tales (https://metseditions.org/editions/0pA5QGajC2P8qU3LrhVA5RIRGyYR6aMq)(1997) Games Mentioned: * Imp of the Perverse (https://www.ndpdesign.com/imp) * Swords Without Master (https://www.worldswithoutmaster.com/swords-without-master) * Monkeydome (https://dig1000holes.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/monkeydome_screen.pdf) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

In this episode we give a production update on the Annual 2025 before measuring our shelves for game discovery. Our homework happened to have a shared theme of hidden information, and we end up discussing the idea of "sleight of hand" to create moments of magic in play. Games Discussed: * Lacuna Part 1: The Creation of the Mystery and the Girl from Blue City (second attempt) (https://memento-mori.com/books/lacuna-part-1-second-attempt-book) * Castle Falkenstein (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Falkenstein_(role-playing_game)) * Burning Wheel (https://www.burningwheel.com/burning-wheel/) * Tunnels and Trolls (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnels_%26_Trolls) * InSpectres (https://memento-mori.com/books/inspectres-book) * Egyptian Ratscrew/Slap (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Ratscrew) And there's more: * The Adventurer & Hobbyist Annual 2025 (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unwrittenearths/adventure-and-hobbyist-annual-2025?ref=e1y1hq) (still accepting late pledges!) * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

In this episode we come back from game discovery sabbatical to talk about some esoteric picks from our itch.io libraries, and then discuss how we approach and interact with trends in the larger ttrpg industry, in game design, and in how those intersect for us. Show Notes: * We are now recording on Discord, in case things sound different * Dissidia Final Fantasy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissidia_Final_Fantasy) (2008) * The Lost Room (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830361/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_the%2520lost%2520room) (2006) (shoutout to Richard Hatem!) * Warehouse 13 (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1132290/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1) Games Mentioned: * One-Time Journal of Findings in RPG Game Design (Epimas Edition) (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/390653/the-one-time-journal-of-findings-in-rpg-design) - Note that this may not be publically available, sorry! * Victor’s GMless Oracle (https://cursenightgames.itch.io/victors-gm-less-oracle) by CurseNightGames * One Page Dungeons (https://www.dungeoncontest.com) * Traverser (unreleased) & The Clay That Woke (http://www.halfmeme.com/clay.html) * Fiasco (https://bullypulpitgames.com/products/fiasco) by Bully Pulpit * Mythic (https://www.wordmillgames.com/mythic-rpg.html) by Word Mill Games * Ironsworn (https://tomkinpress.com/pages/ironsworn) by Tomkin Press * 13th Age (https://pelgranepress.com/13th-age/) by Pelgrane Press * Nathan's Mech Game Vesna Thaw (https://ndpdesign.itch.io/vesna-thaw) * Solo Wrestling Game - 5- Star Match (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/leafydragongames/5-star-match-a-solo-pro-wrestling-ttrpg) And there's more: * The Adventurer & Hobbyist Annual 2025 (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unwrittenearths/adventure-and-hobbyist-annual-2025?ref=e1y1hq) (still accepting late pledges!) * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

In this episode we talk about building rituals in and for play, follow a train of thought about building in "blessings" for each other into gameplay, discuss the joy of dice, and come back from sabbatical to assign game discovery homework. Reminder: The Adventurer & Hobbyist Annual 2025 Kickstarter is live (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unwrittenearths/adventure-and-hobbyist-annual-2025?ref=e1y1hq) through the end of April! Show Notes: * Primetime Adventures (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primetime_Adventures) * Star Trek: Lower Decks (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9184820/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1) * Time and Temp (https://unwrittenearths.itch.io/time-temp) * Masks of the Mummy Kings (https://unwrittenearths.itch.io/masks-of-the-mummy-kings) * Our itch.io storefront (https://unwrittenearths.itch.io) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

Welcome to the Adventurer & Hobbyist Annual 2025! In this episode, we discuss the scenarios in our inaugural Unwritten Earths Symposium publication, design considerations for making these "system-adventurous" scenarios, and the origins of the project. Check out the show notes for a link to the Kickstarter, and thanks for all your support so far! Back the Annual on Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unwrittenearths/adventure-and-hobbyist-annual-2025?ref=e1y1hq) (live through the end of April, 2025) Check out the preview scenario One Night Only at the Veteran's Lodge (https://unwrittenearths.itch.io/annual-2025). And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

Oops, all Game Discovery! In this episode we do a brief overview of the history of TTRPGS (truly-true roleplaying games), each picking a game to highlight from our birth years in each decade from the 1970s to the 2020s. We delve into some 2010s highlights for Arcane Gems, but this is a good framework for us to talk about our personal game histories as well as chart high-level changes in game design since the beginning. Show Notes: * Vincent's Bluesky thread about Dogs in the Vineyard (https://bsky.app/profile/lumpley.bsky.social/post/3ljv33azyh22s) * Bears Ears Intertribal Coalition (https://www.bearsearscoalition.org) * Diana Jones Award Trophy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Jones_Award) and actual Award website (https://www.dianajonesaward.org) Games Mentioned: * 1974 - Dungeons & Dragons * 1983 - Palladium Fantasy RPG (https://palladiumbooks.com/fantasy/palladium-fantasy-rpg) * 1984 - Chill (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chill_(role-playing_game)), Marvel Super Heroes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Super_Heroes_(role-playing_game)), Paranoia (https://www.mongoosepublishing.com/collections/paranoia), Middle-earth Role Playing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth_Role_Playing) * 1993 - Amazing Engine: Once and Future King (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_%26_Future_King_(Amazing_Engine)), Chill: The Beast Within (https://chillroleplaying.shoutwiki.com/wiki/The_Beast_Within) * 1994 - Wraith: the Oblivion (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wraith:_The_Oblivion) * 2003 - Cartoon Action Hour (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartoon_Action_Hour) * 2004 - Chronicles of Darkness/Vampire: the Requiem (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire:_The_Requiem), Dogs in the Vineyard (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogs_in_the_Vineyard) * 2013 - Myriad Song (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/118669/myriad-song-role-play-adventure-of-ten-thousand-worlds) (Eppy’s Arcane Gems) * 2014 - 5th Edition D&D, The Clay That Woke (http://www.halfmeme.com/clay.html), Mars Colony: 39 Dark (https://www.tckroleplaying.com/39dark/index.html) (Nathan’s Arcane Gem) * 2024 - That Rug (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/478107/that-rug-a-game-of-midnight-investigations), D&D One, Yazeba’s Bed & Breakfast (https://possumcreekgames.com/pages/yazebas-bed-breakfast) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

No, it's not a 4-hour episode! After talking about our game discovery homework guided by games we'd be excited to play at a convention (or elsewhere), we dive into how our experiences going to conventions and playing games in specific time slots has shaped our game design. Out inaugural project, the Adventurer & Hobbyist Annual 2025 set of time-spanning game scenarios, is coming to Kickstarter soon. Click here to get notified on launch! (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unwrittenearths/adventure-and-hobbyist-annual-2025?ref=e1y1hq) Show Notes: * Double Exposure Conventions (https://www.dexposure.com/home.html) * Audio Hijack (https://rogueamoeba.com/audiohijack/) * Brain Trust Podcast (https://linktr.ee/thebraintrust) Games Discussed: * Black Mass by Will Jobst (2019) (https://goodluckpress.co/products/black-mass) * Marvel Universe Roleplaying Game (2003) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Universe_Roleplaying_Game) * Polaris by TAO Games (2005) (https://www.tao-games.com/polaris/) * GURPS by Steve Jackson Games (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/) * The Clay That Woke by Paul Czege (2014) (http://www.halfmeme.com/clay.html) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

In this Plus Expenses we talk about:Articulating the Unwritten Earths Symposium and how it gives us productive constraints, repetition is the brevity of the soul, Voyagers! (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083500/), The Lies of Locke Lamora (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-lies-of-locke-lamora-scott-lynch/15278593?ean=9780593725429&next=t&next=t) by Scott Lynch, King Con (https://bookshop.org/p/books/king-con-a-novel-stephen-j-cannell/sZNe5FSNEdeD5WRQ?ean=9780062034694&next=t&digital=t) by Stephen J. Cannell, Scarecrow and Mrs. King (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085088/), Samurai Champloo (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0423731/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1), coming full circle on physical media, preserving obscure media, pulp fiction literally pulping, the Rockford Files is a good show, we’re trying out Ellipsus (https://ellipsus.com), setting up stuff outside of free tools and avoiding AI, game publishing is a lot of skills, a thought on another WWWRPG Promotion, some thoughts on a Swords/WWW mashup, shout out to Zine Month, and stay strong out there!. Plus Expenses is a second biweekly show that is normally for our patrons. And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)

In this episode we discuss the arcane gems found within games we would play with our moms, give some updates on what's happening in the discord, and field a great question about productive constraints in design and play. Show Notes: * Iron Game Chef: Historical - Summary (https://rpggeek.com/rpgseries/20337/game-chef-2005-historical) * Iron Game Chef: Historical - Forum (http://www.1km1kt.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=22) Games We Talked About: * Zombie Cinema (https://www.arkenstonepublishing.net/zombiecinema) * Grey Cells (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/307617/grey-cells) * Swords Without Master (https://www.worldswithoutmaster.com/swords-without-master) (in Issue 3 of Worlds Without Master) * Dread (https://www.tiltingatwindmills.net/games/dread/) * Apocalypse World (http://apocalypse-world.com) * Annalise (https://www.ndpdesign.com/annalise) * Otherkind Dice (https://lumpley.games/2022/03/14/otherkind-dice/) * Psi Run (https://lumpley.itch.io/psirun) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co)