The GROGNARD Files

This time we return to the topic of Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC) with Judge Blythy, our resident zealot. Appendix G, our never-ending list of influences, expands with the wonderful Swords Series from Fritz Leiber nominated by Dave Paterson. We talk about our preparation for a busy September of gaming. Paul Fricker has released Gatsby and The Great Race for 7th Edition Call of Cthulhu. Please support us on Patreon. The post Dungeon Crawl Classics Continued (Ep.85) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

It was 10 years ago today, that we first came out to play! In this episode we jump every shark in sight by reflecting on the past ten years of the podcast. We invited listeners to ask us anything, as long as it was looking back over the past 10 years, so we could lean back in our armchairs and reflect on what we have done. Also, joining the fun is @dailydwarf, who looks back on Small Ads and letters in White Dwarf, in an adapted essay that first appeared in the GROGZINE. We head to the shed at the end of the garden to see Eddy the Armchair Collector in Chief, who hasn’t appeared for a while. Meanwhile in the Room of Role-Playing Rambling Judge Blythy works through the Thunderphase questions at a medium-fire pace. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years. Especially anyone who has contributed to the Patreon, or commented, given us a review and passed it on. The post 10 Years of The GROGNARD Files first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

In this GROGPOD, Judge Blythy talks about his initiation into the cult of DCC. We look at what makes it work. Goodman Games, the publisher of DCC, is hosting DCC Day on 19th July 2025. We are joined by Brendan LaSalle who talks about DCC and his futuristic variant, XCrawl Classics where you can have a spectator sport in the dungeon. Next time we will look at some more settings. You can support the GROGNARD Files on Patreon. The post Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG (with Brendan LaSalle) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

In this episode, we continue our examination of magic in Role-Playing Games with a look at Ars Magica with Science Fiction author Adrian Tchaikovsky. He talks to us about the setting, the rules and the way that magic works in the game. We haven’t had chance to play it yet, so Dirk and Blythy meet in the Lass O Gowrie pub in Manchester and discuss the difficulties of ‘fitting it all in’. We have been to UK Games Expo so we give our initial views of attending the event this year. Dirk has been on Orlanth Rexes Gaming Vexes and What Would the Smart Party Do? recently. Patreon has been refreshed – annual contribution at discount and ‘it’s your birthday’ award for the top level of support. Thanks for all who listen and contribute. The post Ars Magica RPG (with Adrian Tchaikovsky) Ep 82 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Returning guest Stephen Brotherstone, co-author of the Scarred for Life series of books and shows, joins us in the zoom of Role Playing Rambling to examine the witchcraft and horrors that haunted our childhood years. You can see Ste as his show is on the road during 2025 and the latest volume of the series is now available. Highly recommended as it is packed with gaming nostalgia content. Also in this episode, Dirk and Blythy watch The Hammer House of Horror (1980) together and consider what impact it had on them at the time and how it can inform our games now. We also reflect on the games that we played at virtual GROGMEET, including Liminal, Mutant Year Zero, The Dee Sanction and Savage Worlds. You can see Tim Olsen interviewed by Toni Arthur. If you want to support the podcast and get access to additional podcast content, then please consider supporting us at Patreon. The post Scarred by Magic in the 70s & 80s (with Stephen Brotherstone) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Magic in RPGs is a continuing obsession for Dirk the Dice and Blythy in this latest episode of the podcast. We talk about Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (AD&D) and Powers and Perils (Pee & Pee) and marvel at how we played in the early 2000s, when we didn’t know any better and were more willing to freeform and ‘make stuff up’. Also in this episode, we are pleased that GROGSQUADer China Miéville provided his first, last and everything. I think that I need to find out more about Tales of Argosa . Mike and Roger over at Improvised Radio Theatre with Dice have an interesting discussion about magic – following our mention of it last time. Please consider supporting what we do on Patreon. The post More Magic in RPGs (with China Miéville) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

It’s a kind of magic, in RPGs. This time we are joined by Stu Horvath, podcaster (Vintage RPG Podcast) and writer, who talks about his book Monsters, Aliens and Holes in the Ground, which takes us decade by decade through the history of RPGs. He also contributes to our discussion about magic in RPGs. What would we like to play, stay on our shelves or give away? Virtual GROGMEET is available to register on Warhorn. Support us on Patreon. The post Magic in RPGs (with Stu Horvath) Ep.79 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

This time we are talking about GROGMEET our annual Role Playing Games meet up in Manchester. We were joined by game designer, publisher and entrepreneur Paul Baldowski who talks about Dangerous Journeys, PBMs and his game Sanction. Blythy shares his experiences and how we played Gatsby and The Great Race by Paul Fricker. If you want to find out more about Dice on the Borderlands you can find it at Warhorn. Please support what we do at Patreon, thanks. The post Sanction RPG (with Paul Baldowski) Ep 78 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Join us in the Room of Role-Playing Rambling as we investigate the highs and lows of role-playing in 2024. Thanks for supporting us. Why not consider tipping a couple of coins in the beret over at Patreon. The post 2024: A Year in RPGs Ep. 77 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

This GROGPOD features a special recording of an interview with writer Ben Aaronovitch, the creator of The Rivers of London series of books. An RPG has been developed by the team at Chaosium. Ben talks about the project, his formative years in gaming and gives insight into his creative process. The interview was recorded live as part of GROGMEETish which took place in November. It features additional questions from the GROGSQUAD. Dirk the Dice gives a quick review of the game based on his experience of playing the game over recent months. Music is by Static Music Club. Please support what we do at Patreon The post Rivers of London RPG (with Ben Aaronovitch) Ep76 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Following Part 1, we are now ready to open the spurious envelopes on our 1984 experiences. We also issue a challenge to listeners to help us discover new enthusiasms. At Daily Dwarf returns with an overview of what was happening in the pages of White Dwarf. Please pass on The GROGNARD files to your RPG friends and consider supporting us at Patreon. The post 1984: A Year in RPGs Ep75 Pt2 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Welcome to the zoom of role-playing rambling where we are looking backwards to look forwards. This time we are transporting you back to the heady days of 1984. We are joined by the fabulous Bob Fischer who shares the highlights from his 1984 diaries. Judge Blythy, our resident rules lawyer, joins Dirk to determine the RPG Highlights of 1984, but get distracted (see part 2) Make sure you check out the wonderful projects from the Haunted Generation. You can support the podcast at Patreon. The post 1984: a year in RPGs (with Bob Fischer) Ep75 Pt 1 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

En garde! Yes, this time we are investigating the worlds of 17th Century Europe and asking, “is this the true mode of all fantasy role-playing high-adventure?” We are joined by Graham Kinniburgh, who tells us about his Oscar night triumph with An Irish Goodbye and what it was like being at The Battle of the Bastards. He is adding The Three Musketeers to Appendix G. In the Zoom of Role-Playing rambling we talk about Flashing Blades. You can read more from the author, Mark Pettigrew, in this interview. We also cover En Garde!, 17th Century Minimalist, Seventh Sea, and Barbarians of Lumuria. You can join the Patreon by following this link. The post Flashing Blades RPG Ep. 74 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Welcome to the third and final part of our Monsters in Role Playing Games (RPGs) episode. This time we are joined in the Room of Role Playing rambling by Tomas Harenstam from Free League. He talks about his formative years in Swedish role playing and how to create a great Bestiary. Dirk and Blythy answer listener Monster questions before having a chat about When we were Wizards. Support the Patreon for access to exclusive content. The post Bestiaries in Role Playing Games (with Tomas Harenstam) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

We continue to explore the worlds of monsters in role-playing games (RPGs). In this episode, we are joined by James Holloway, from the Monster Man podcast. He adds a new entry into the ever expanding Appendix G. Judge Blythy and Dirk talk about the famous monsters of Hollywood and beyond and consider what we can learn from them. The end music is Concrete by Omari, from Phunk Media Please support us on Patreon and update your podcatcher feed with the Patreon audio – RSS feed to get some additional content. The post More Monsters in RPGs Ep 73 Pt 2 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

This time we are looking at bestiaries from our book shelves. We talk about: Numenera, Forbidden Lands, Call of Cthulhu, Dragon Warriors, 13th Age, Vaesen, This was at the request of GROGSQUADer China Miéville who Dirk talked to at an RPG Symposium earlier this year. Next time, James Holloway, Monster Man joins us, because monsters are great. Support the podcast on Patreon. The post Monsters in RPGs Ep.73 Pt.1 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Image by Lee Williams Following our podcasts about home computing in the 1980s, we turn our attention to the emerging culture of ‘Cyberpunk’ and how it shaped a new imaginative space – especially for gaming. We look at Neuromancer by William Gibson, with writer Alister Davison who has added the novel to Appendix G, the list of media that has inspired us. Do you have any suggesions? Judge Blyhty is in to Roome of Role-Playing Rambling to look at Cyberpunk Red and its influnce. Please support us on Patreon The post Cyberpunk RPG Ep.72 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

We’ve talked about our formative years in RPGs, what about computers? They were as important as a common-ground to become friends. In this episode Dirk and Blythy talk about their exposure to computers in the 80s. Also, we discuss Rippers for Savage Worlds and the crisis of confidence when creating a setting. Please consider supporting us on Patreon. The post 80s Computers and RPGs Ep71 Pt2 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

At this year’s virtual GROGMEET we were joined by Dan Whitehead, the author of Speccy Nation, who took us on a tour of The ZX Spectrum. The 8-bit computer was a staple of our every day lives in the 1980s. There’s an advert for Third Floor Wars which recently featured Burn After Running’s Guy Milner. The next season of the Book Club features classic science fiction. Please support us on Patreon. The post ZX Spectrum Games (with Dan Whitehead) Ep.70 Pt. 1 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Welcome back, just when you knew you had enough of Dirk the Dice and Judge Blythy rambling on and on about TTRPGs, they’re back with more. These are the answers to the GROGPOD listener questions that didn’t fit into the first part. There’s also a Post Bag section, where we talk about to the favourite covers of White Dwarf identified by our listeners. Please support us on Patreon The post ThunderPhase! TTRPG Questions and Answers Ep.70 Pt.2 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.