The Whispering GM

Reviews, Rants, and Old School Gaming

Bronze Age Adventure

-- Description -- Bronze Age Adventure! Literature, history, and other reasons why antiquity is a good time to set your campaign - followed by some call ins! Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 00:46 - Theme 01:07 - Bronze & Mud 02:58 - Appendix N: Classical Antiquity 07:50 - High Level Games & History Books 12:19 - Heroism in the Bronze Age 17:58 - Misconceptions: Bronze-Core, not Mud 22:02 - And That's About All I Have to Say About That 23:01 - Call In: Nerd's Variety Jason - Chainmail Bikinis: Mechanically 29:23 - Call In: M. W. Lewis - East Tennessee 32:05 - ...M. W.'s Flip DN Screen 32:33 - ...Player Trust & a Quality Table 36:01 - ...On Loincloth Barbarians 37:20 - Outro -- Links -- * Masters & Treasure Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/monsters-and-treasure/id1659703332 * Nerd's Variety Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 * Worlds of M. W. Lewis: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mwlewis - City of Kingsport: https://www.kingsporttn.gov/ - Foldy DM Screen: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006HWLFE?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

09-18
38:52

Make Bikinis Armor Again!

-- Description -- Does your campaign look like a Frazetta painting? Why not?! Make bikinis armor again: an exposé on the cultural reasoning behind playing a character who doesn't wear armor, but does like to get stuck in! Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn Thumbnail generated on https://www.craiyon.com -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 00:40 - Theme 01:00 - Historical Loincloth Barbarians 06:42 - The Bikini Armor Esthetic 08:26 - The Item Dependence Problem 11:01 - An Evolving Appendix N 18:51 - Whispers Concludes 20:29 - Call In: Bos - On Scaling 24:51 - Call In: Jason - GM Screens 26:21 - Call In: "Highway Star" M. W. Lewis - Kitchen Sink of Topics 37:35 - Outro -- Links -- MagicMan Meme - https://x.com/ejemek3/status/1818690382344962537 Down in a Heap - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/down-in-a-heap/id1446315881 Greek Marine Panoply Study - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/soldiers-put-an-ancient-greek-suit-of-armor-to-the-test-and-it-passed-180984411/ Bos at Border Baronies - https://borderbaronies.bearblog.dev/ Nerd's Variety Podcast - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Worlds of M. W. Lewis - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mwlewis

08-21
39:06

In Defense of the Screen

-- Description -- The Dungeon Master Screen: do you use one? I do - but some other folks don't: why would they eschew this time-tested tool and why I think DM screens are great. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 00:08 - Theme 00:28 - The Dungeon Master Screen 01:19 - A Case Against: Transparency in Dice Rolls 02:18 - Some Rolls Should Be Secret 06:06 - What about the RAW? 08:19 - Rolling in the Open: A Guard against Fudge 09:18 - The ACTUAL Point of the DM Screen 13:04 - The Best of Both Worlds 13:40 - Some Secrecy is Good for the Players 15:07 - But What about Low Prep / No Prep? 17:25 - Call in: Red Dice Diaries John - Scheming Players & Fudging Dice 19:54 - Call In: Diagetic Advancement Riley - Active Defense 23:24 - ...A Final Word on Ghouls 24:08 - ...LBB-ified Thief vs Greyhawk Thief 25:32 - Ghouls! What constitutes a Touch? 26:43 - Why Specify a Wand of Paralysis? 29:20 - Where did Con-Based Resurrection Survival Come From? 30:52 - What actually IS Ghoul paralysis? 32:15 - Thank You, Callers, Listeners, and Other Interacters 32:45 - Outro -- Links -- Aug's Entirely Too Long Custom Screen: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/2024/01/0e-reference-sheets.html Confessions of a High Prep GM: - Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/episodes/Confessions-of-a-High-Prep-GM-e2dr5lp - YouTube: https://youtu.be/3omIW4201EQ Red Dice Diaries: https://reddicediaries.bearblog.dev/ Diagetic Advancement: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diegeticadvancement Wight Box: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/473031/wight-box-original-medieval-fantasy-adventure-campaigns

08-07
34:16

Talking Time

-- Description -- Listeners call in to talk about time - some podcast friends call in and talk about timekeeping in their games as well as timekeeping in their lives: figuring out when to fit in the hobby and figuring out how to make the most of it while we're there; most in response to 1:1 Turn Tracking. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Theme 00:30 - Daniel Norton, Bandit's Keep: Solo Gaming 01:17 - Encouragement from Whispers for Busy Gamers 05:35 - Daniel: Traps Attacking 06:48 - ...Magical Traps 08:30 - ...Mundane Traps 10:10 - ...Ability Scores and Traps 12:23 - Audio Quality Note 12:44 - Riley: On Timing Combat Rounds 13:58 - ...On Players Feeling Targeted 16:30 - ...But Isn't Turn Timing Adversarial Refereeing? 21:23 - Evil Jeff: What Kind of Game do you Want to Run? 27:12 - John Large: Time Tracking and Shadowdark 29:28 - ...On Life Getting in the Way: West Marches and Solo Games 30:43 - ...On Keeping Up with Podcasting 32:02 - Signing Off and Audio Retro 32:37 - Outro -- Links -- 1:1 Turn Tracking - Original Episode: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/episodes/11-Turn-Tracking-e2k7r2k Bandit's Keep: - Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeep - YouTube Actual Play: https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeepActualPlay Diagetic Advancement: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diegeticadvancement Evil Jeff: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/eviljeff Red Dice Diaries: https://reddicediaries.bearblog.dev/ Spike Pit: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/spikepit

07-25
34:08

Ghouls Just Want To Have Fun

-- Description -- Follow up episode - additional insights and answers, as pertaining to Ghouls and Ghoul Paralysis: less dangerous (or more?) than you think. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn Show thumbnail was generated using Craiyon.com (http://craiyon.com/) -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 00:52 - Theme? 01:22 - Call In: D.A. Riley 06:12 - Call In: Pink Phantom 27:29 - ODD74 Perspective 30:59 - Call In: Daniel Norton 36:45 - But What Did Wight Box Say? 39:09 - Outro -- Links -- Wight Box: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/473031/wight-box-original-medieval-fantasy-adventure-campaigns Diagetic Advancement: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diegeticadvancement Pink Phantom: - Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/phantomthoughts - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePinkPhantom Mr Wargaming AD&D Mass Combat: https://youtu.be/9OD484CsTBI ODD74 Thread: https://odd74.proboards.com/thread/462/ghoul-paralysis?page=2 Bandit's Keep: - Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeep - YouTube Actual Play: https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeepActualPlay

07-11
40:40

Lunch with Lungfungus

-- Description -- I had the distinct privilege over Father's Day weekend to meet up with Lungfungus - author of Actual Dungeon Mastering and the Melancholies & Mirth blog - to have a beer and chat about gaming until my wife dragged me home. Wash of topics - keep delving! Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 01:02 - Theme 01:22 - Lunch with Lungfungus 01:40 - The Implications of Presenting a Map in VTT 05:06 - Tabletop Simulator for Chainmail 07:08 - Purple Prose in Text Game Prep 07:22 - Text vs Voice Experience with VTTs 09:43 - How's Been Gamin? (Wild West OD&D) 13:00 - The Wild West, Hex Crawling, and Challenging the Mapper 17:17 - On Being Lost and the Horizon 18:52 - Touch Grass; DM Better! 20:00 - Sight Lines 22:52 - Briefly Bloviating about Beer 23:31 - Flat Earth Elves 25:37 - Lost as Impeded rather than Lost as Lost 29:47 - Hex Maps as Mazes 34:11 - Influencing the Amount of Communication 36:21 - Granularity of Weather: Engaging with the Material Reality 38:30 - Where are the Hinges? 42:33 - Player Skill and Asking Questions: Diverse Application of Common Articles 44:26 - Reputation: How Fast does News Travel? 45:57 - Great Lakes Scale 46:38 - Random Castles, Random Lairs, & PVP Chainmail 48:00 - Incorporating Hex Characteristics as Resources to Manage 50:29 - Thank You, Lungfungus! 51:43 - Outro -- Links -- Melancholies and Mirth - https://melancholiesandmirth.blogspot.com/ OSR Simulacrum - https://osrsimulacrum.blogspot.com/ Gucci Fuligan Cloak - https://guccifuligincloak.blogspot.com/ - https://www.youtube.com/@gfcsdnd205 Luke Gearing - https://lukegearing.blot.im/

06-19
53:13

1:1 Turn Tracking

-- Description -- Do you time your players' actions in combat? You should! And here are three reasons why - from my table to yours, direct through the earbuds. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - 1:1 Turn Tracking 00:22 - Intro 00:45 - How long is a turn? 02:01 - Basic Method: Counting Seconds 05:32 - Eliminates Hesitation: Keeps Things Moving 09:38 - Helps Participation: Keeps Players Paying Attention 13:49 - Helps Immersion: Feels Chaotic 17:10 - Conclusion and Call-Out 20:26 - Outro -- Links -- Immersion: Spotify - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/clerics-wear-ringmail/episodes/Immersion-e1jqhfr YouTube - https://youtu.be/L8ajqIMJPbA

05-29
21:57

Ghouls: Not as Scary As you Think

-- Description -- Ghouls - the iconic paralyzers and low-level party enders: capable of wrecking shop even on a mid level party! Or... are they? I revisit the rules as worded and cross reference them to concepts in Chainmail, revealing that in 0e, at least - Ghouls might not have been as powerful as they would, in later editions, become. Then, some call-ins regarding adversarial play (among which is a great example of adversarial play from Daniel over at Bandit's Keep) and a concept (new, to me) of treating traps like monsters - at least where THAC0 is concerned. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Ghouls: Not as Scary as you Think 00:18 - Theme 00:39 - Ghouls in the Little Brown Books 02:09 - "Normal" Figures 03:46 - Wights in Chainmail 06:18 - An Introduction to Moldvayan Revisionism 07:51 - Save vs Paralysis in the Text 09:13 - What About Withstand Adversity? 14:22 - Call In: Nerd's Variety Jason - Reliability 17:28 - Call In: Nerd's Variety Jason - Traps as Monsters 19:19 - Traps as Monsters of HD Equal to Dungeon Level 21:08 - Call In: DA Riley - Episodes, Life, and Listening 23:34 - Call In: Bandit's Keep Daniel - A Tale of Adversarial Play 30:23 - Call In: Bob - Enjoying the Surprise of a Plotting Player 33:08 - Outro -- Links -- The Basic Expert: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBasicExpert Wight Box: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/473031/WightBox-Original-Medieval-Fantasy-Adventure-Campaigns Nerd's Variety Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Nerd's Variety Blog: https://nerdsrpgvarietycast.com/ Diegetic Advancement: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diegeticadvancement/ Bandit's Keep: - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton - https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeep - https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeepActualPlay Bos' Bear Blog: https://borderbaronies.bearblog.dev/

03-13
34:39

Adversarial Play and Adversarial Prep, Revisited

-- Description -- Call in show - listeners debate the fine points of adversarial play, as well as toss in some tokens for how prep influences their games - or vice versa: how their games have influenced their prep. Then - at the end - a quick promised health and sanity update from me for folks who were listening and concerned as of last time around. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Theme 00:21 - Jason: Feedback on Classic Adventure Gaming 04:38 - Jason: On Adversarial Gaming 11:32 - Riley: Conspiratorial Players 18:14 - Mirke the Meek: Adversarial Play and Representing the Table 24:22 - Karl: Evolution of Your Campaign 28:22 - Riley: Regarding Prep and Story Games 31:36 - Mirke: Experiences with Prep 36:46 - Personal and Health Update 48:56 - Outro -- Links -- Nerd's Variety Jason - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Evil Jeff - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/eviljeff Jason Hobbs - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-hobbs Riley - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diegeticadvancement Mirke - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mirke-the-meek Karl - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karl-rodriguez

02-28
50:27

Confessions of a High Prep GM

-- Description -- Talking about prepping for your game. How much is too much? How much is too little? And how much can you learn from the mistakes of someone who has gone entirely off the deep end before? Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Prepper's Anonymous 00:09 - Theme 00:39 - On Campaign Prep 02:51 - Advocating for Zero Prep 05:15 - Why Then do I Prep? 12:18 - The Dangers of Too Much Prep 16:40 - Prep According to your Play 17:35 - Side Note on the Joy of Prep 21:58 - At the End of the Day... 22:24 - Outro & Theme -- Links -- Just Three Hexes: https://chgowiz-games.blogspot.com/2017/11/just-three-hexes-campaign-starters.html

12-31
23:24

Adversarial Players

-- Description -- Having spent some time figuring out adversarial referees - what would then make a player an adversarial player? Exploring some experiences, ideas, and behaviors that may - or may not - make a player into an enemy instead of an ally. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Adversarial... Play 00:43 - Theme 01:13 - Player vs. Referee 01:40 - Rules Lawyering? 04:25 - Munchkining (Rules Abuse)? 08:08 - Derailing? 14:53 - Player vs Other Players 15:05 - PvP? 20:30 - Filibuster your Friends? 26:36 - In Conclusion 29:12 - For Next Time 30:16 - Outro & Theme -- Links -- * Kalmata: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCJihWQoKqzZdxeL1LHkr-YJ_hewIFOyx * Karl of the GMologist Presents: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karl-rodriguez * Secrets of Brovenloft: https://youtu.be/A5QdvJDLUvM?si=b45eAgZ-hPZ_zm-o

12-21
31:17

Did You Really?

-- Description -- "I've been playing for 45 years and we never played that way back in the day!" A common refrain for long-timers trying to discourage playstyles differing from their own, I explore the possibility that the arguer might be remembering yesterday just as much as 1975. Then, following up, a note on my personal health, how it's been holding me back a bit from participating in the hobby like I want to, and what I'm doing about it to fix that problem. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Dedication 00:12 - Theme 00:42 - Did you really? 01:51 - Playing with Chainmail 04:47 - First Edition for the First Time 06:21 - Playing Multiple Games 08:08 - Learning and Growing 10:31 - Call In: Nerd's Variety Jason! 10:54 - Health Update 20:55 - Outro -- Links -- Obituary: Aaron M. Koelman https://www.gearty-delmore.com/obituary/Aaron-Koelman Solo Dungeon Crawler: OD&D Combat with Chainmail https://youtu.be/5vLp5gtfDTw?si=D5I5X8c88TXpltLU Nerd's Variety Cast https://anchor.fm/jason376

12-06
21:55

Where Are You, Whispers?

-- Description -- Happy Thanksgiving! Catch up and call in episode: talking about mercenaries, advancement, but mostly - maps, tokens, and VTTs. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - I'm Still Alive! 00:52 - ANNOUNCEMENT: Adventure Site Contest 02:37 - Theme 03:07 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Renown System 06:02 - Bandit's Keep Daniel: Mercenary Players? 14:47 - ...: On XP in OD&D 21:45 - Gamerhood Jason: The Map is Reality 25:27 - Nerd's Variety Jason: VTTs are the Devil! (On Token Control) 29:51 - Bandit's Keep Daniel: On Battle-Maps and Tokens 33:35 - ...: Map... as a Character! 35:36 - Where Are You Whispers? Update on Life & Empire 38:17 - Outro -- Links -- Cold Light Press: https://coldlightrpgpress.weebly.com/home/spread-the-wordadventure-site-contest Classic Adventure Gaming Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tcagp Nerd's Variety Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Bandit's Keep: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeep Hobbs, Friends, & Gamerhood: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-hobbs https://www.twitch.tv/hobbs665

11-23
39:17

Maps & Minis

-- Description -- User feedback focused on the use of maps - in the campaign, in the dungeon, in real life, and in virtual - as well as the implications of maps and all of the above on hirelings and henchmen. Bit of a variety show - very relevant to the OSR player experience. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Cockatrice Nuggets and the NPC Player 00:39 - Intro 01:09 - Why Play? (On NPC Players) 01:46 - Roles & Henchmen with Hobbs 05:57 - Role vs Role (vs Role) with Daniel 09:51 - Using Henchmen (and Miniatures For Them!) with DarkFluid 16:27 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Maps, at least, are RAW 19:16 - Bandit Maps! Making, Ciphering, and Using Maps with Daniel 25:47 - Maps & Ciphers with the Pink Phantom 29:34 - Pink Scroll Cases? (Guarding them, at Least) 31:34 - Hobbs Asks: Who Controls your VTT Map Tokens? 35:37 - Outro -- Links -- Cockatrice Nuggets: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rich-fraser Jason Prime: Hobbs & Friends: https://hobbsnfriends.com/ Random Screed: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-hobbs Bandit's Keep Daniel: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton The Pacific Crest Trail: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Crest_Trail Audio Dungeon Discord: https://discord.gg/FBP7CjA6G (Valid through Rosh Hashanah) Nerd's Variety Jason: https://anchor.fm/jason376 Phantom Thoughts (Pink Phantom): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-pink-phantom

08-30
36:38

Beyond Advancement

-- Description -- Listener feedback exploring character advancement - first, talking a bit about gold for XP, classic D&D, and how procedural generation facilitates OSR dungeon design and frees your mind to make more interesting experiences; and then, moving into alternative advancement: not alternative mechanisms, necessarily, but new ways to interpret and play out character advancement in your old school campaign. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - D14s 01:14 - Intro 01:44 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Golden Railroads 06:19 - Jason Prime: On Gold and Experience 09:00 - ...Layers of Play: Character Layer vs Design Layer 10:20 - Bandit's Keep Daniel: Procedural Generation and Scroll Cases 11:46 - Red Dice John: General Feedback and the Benefits of Procedural Generators 15:16 - Call In! Nick from DSTP - Substitutionary Treasure 20:33 - Hindsightless Joe: Isn't it All Milestones? 24:05 - Chicago Wiz Michael: Beyond Advancement 33:13 - Outro -- Links -- Nerd's Variety Jason: https://anchor.fm/jason376 Hobbs & Friends Hobbs: Hobbs & Friends: https://hobbsnfriends.com/ Random Screed: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-hobbs Bandit's Keep: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton The Red Dice Diaries: https://reddicediaries.substack.com/ Don't Split the Party: Blog: http://harbingergames.blogspot.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/vgDF6QZ Hindsightless: https://anchor.fm/joe-richter9/ Chicago Wiz: https://chgowiz.substack.com/

08-23
34:14

Maps Aren't Real!

-- Description -- Vanishing Tower Jay is back to defend his honor! Spar once more with the metaphorical mapper: where he makes his case once more for maps as communication tools - not as physical artifacts! Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Murphy Strikes Back! 00:31 - Theme 01:01 - Real Life Maps Don't Translate 01:40 - Purchasing Maps? 02:49 - Maps and Inaccuracy 04:04 - Alternative: Hiring Guides 05:03 - Treasure Maps 06:45 - On Getting Lost 08:27 - To Conclude on Maps as Physical Artifacts 08:48 - Call In! Bandit's Keep Daniel: Mapping from Beads 13:47 - Call In! Pink Phantom: Lost Maps and Player Notes 16:28 - Call In! Bandit's Keep Daniel: Con Games 21:29 - Quick Apology and Quicker Thank You 22:52 - Outro -- Links -- Jay, Vanishing Tower Press: https://vanishingtower.blogspot.com/ Or on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vanishingtowerpress2786 Daniel Norton, Song of The Mapper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSmx06Tb47U&list=PLLWlyyPUNLSxVSJUJ5hxyqKMDZnE5LQ9M Rick Stump Episode: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/episodes/Regarding-Player-Skill-e1mse9p A Real Treasure Map - Olivier Levasseur: https://explorersweb.com/exploration-mysteries-treasure-olivier-levasseur/ Daniel, Bandit's Keep: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton Phantom Thoughts, the Pink Phantom: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-pink-phantom

07-26
23:52

The Role Divide

-- Description -- There has always been a divide between Role Players and Roll Players - but what about Role Players and Players of a Role? This episode delves in to what "role playing" meant - or would have meant - to the original crew on the original game... and how it differs from what we think of when we say "role playing" today. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - The Role Divide 01:16 - Theme 01:46 - The Role You Serve 03:56 - The Role of the Fighter 06:03 - The Role of the Cleric 08:29 - The Role of the Magic User 10:50 - Bob the FIGHTER, not BOB the Fighter 12:18 - The Proof is in the Training 15:17 - Should You Speak in Funny Voices? 16:26 - Call In: The Trapper of Scroll Cases Speaks! 17:00 - ...Emergent World-Building through Procedural Generation 20:15 - Call In: Bos Bossman - Crunch & Flow 20:46 - ...Character Customization & Archetypal Dynamic 24:04 - ...The Benefit of Predictability in Maintaining Flow 25:45 - The Calls of M. W. Lewis! 26:01 - ...for Love of Henchmen 30:08 - ...on The Rogue's Gallery 32:08 - Outro -- Links -- Don't Split The Party, Roles: http://harbingergames.blogspot.com/search/label/monks Mr Hobbs: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-hobbs Splitting the Party with Procedures: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/2021/08/do-split-party.html The Worlds of M. W. Lewis: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mwlewis/ The Rogue's Gallery: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=tsr+the+rogues+gallery

07-19
33:08

Creative Railroading?

-- Description -- A call from the Pink Phantom posits a true conundrum. Does gold for XP create a creative railroad for player interaction? Listen on to hear my defense of Gold for XP as the ultimate de-railer. Then, some call ins on recent episodes in the podcast-verse! Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: ⁠https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/⁠ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast⁠ ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message⁠ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Pink Phantom: Stylistic Railroading 01:00 - Theme 01:30 - Gold is the Anti-Railroad 02:40 - Collaborative Failed Novelist Syndrome 04:00 - A Case for Gold 04:40 - Archetypes and Inspirations of Appendix N 05:53 - Stylistic Paradigms: why NOT Gold? 09:23 - Liberation of Advancement 09:54 - Pink Phantom: There is no Winning or Losing at RPGs 11:07 - You Can Win at the Clerics Wear Ringmail table! 12:02 - Nerd's Variety Jason: On Milestones 15:28 - GMologist Karl: Handfuls of Dice 17:45 - ...on Lookups and Running DCC 21:50 - Bandit's Keep Daniel: The Identify Spell! 34:24 - ...on Gary and Sages 26:32 - ...on Scroll Cases: Trap 'Em or Lock 'Em? 31:32 - Outro -- Links -- Phantom Thoughts, Pink Phantom: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-pink-phantom How to Win at D&D: https://pilumpress.com/products/how-to-win-at-d-d Nerd's Variety Podcast, Jason: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 The GMologist Presents, Karl: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karl-rodriguez Bandit's Keep, Daniel: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton Gary's House Rules, Blogosphere: http://cyclopeatron.blogspot.com/2010/03/gary-gygaxs-whitebox-od-house-rules.html Gary's House Rules, OD&D '74: https://odd74.proboards.com/thread/3906/gygax-house-rules-2005 Gary's House Rules, Dragonsfoot: https://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=43849 Car Alarm: https://improbable.com/2023/01/18/a-look-back-at-the-prize-winning-anti-hijacking-flamethrower/

07-12
32:33

The Importance of Gold for Experience

-- Description -- Exposition on the importance of gold for experience, and a quick glance into the method behind the madness. Simply put: Gold for XP is the Best Way to Be. Then some miscellaneous user calls - pacing, mapping, and adversarial preparation! Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - GP for XP? 01:25 - Theme 01:55 - The Weight of Milestones 03:07 - Experience as a Motivator 04:18 - How you "Win" at D&D 05:17 - The Essential Importance of GP for XP 08:13 - Call in! GMologist Karl on Adversarial Prep 13:39 - Call in! Nerd's Variety Jason regarding Pacing in the Dungeon 15:35 - Call in! CapnCarberry from Discord! 15:47 - ...Deceive the Enemy 16:26 - ...Mapping by Pace and Ranger Beads 17:26 - ...Knowing what to Bring and How to Use It 18:30 - Outro -- Links -- The GMologist Presents (Karl): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karl-rodriguez Nerd's Variety Podcast (Jason): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376

06-28
19:31

Crunchy Feedback

-- Description -- Further discussion as requested and as recieved in prior episodes: what's more important - crunch or flow? Some insights and experiences from listeners. Part two of call-in/response. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Theme 00:30 - Jason's Experiene with Crunch & Flow 06:16 - Bandit's Keep Daniel on the Rebrand 07:05 - ...and Speaks to Flow and New Players 10:35 - ...and Defends Page Flipping? 13:54 - Free Thrall: To OSR or Not to OSR 19:08 - Daniel on Appropriate Traps and Curses 22:09 - Outro -- Links -- Nerd's Varity Podcast (Jason): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Bandit's Keep (Daniel): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton/ Monsters & Treasure: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monsters-and-treasure Keep Off the Borderlands (Spencer): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/free-thrall

06-21
23:09

Recommend Channels