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The Whispering GM

CWR

Reviews, Rants, and Old School Gaming

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Episodes 20

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  • S6 · E7
    September 20 · 58 min

    Unboxing Outdoor Survival

    -- Description -- Outdoor Survival was the inspiration behind the original default wilderness of Dungeons & Dragons. In this episode - I finally broke down and bought an original, walking through the gameplay, the game modes, and bits and pieces about the game that can have a positive influence on your home 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 come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠(https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn) -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Theme 00:27 - Call In: Nerd's Variety Jason: Sleep Spell and Moldavian Revisionism 04:02 - ...: Player Investment & Community 05:45 - Unboxing: Outdoor Survival! 40:32 - Benediction: On Mission, Last Reflection 56:50 - Outro -- Links -- * Jason (Nerd's Variety RPG Podcast): (https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/jason376/) * The AP in which I Messed Up with Sleep: (https://youtu.be/tPy02qi5mTE) * Mazes in the Mountains: (https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/2022/12/mazes-in-mountains-hex-exploration-as.html)

  • S6 · E6
    July 25 · 58 min

    Emergent Play and Hooking your Players

    -- Description -- An emergent narrative game can be beautiful - with players choosing their own motivations, with the characters planning and executing their own ambition, and with the dice deciding the outcomes. But an emergent table is a cultivated experience: one not everyone has figured out how to manage - and not one in which everyone has been able to play! What is the problem blocking a table from an emergent game style - and what can you do to fix it? 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 come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠(https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn) -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 01:05 - The Problem of Engagement 02:20 - What is "Emergent Play"? 06:53 - Leveraging Player Motivation - not Player Character Motiviation 08:58 - Crafting Player Hooks 13:47 - Ongoing Engagement 17:54 - Counterpoint: Why Play an Adventure Game if you Don't Want to Adventure? 20:05 - Pitfalls to Avoid 30:35 - Immediate Engagement: Starting Your Campaign 38:12 - In Conclusion 38:53 - Benediction: Streets of Lima 56:09 - Outro 57:14 - Theme -- Links -- * Nobleshield on X: (https://x.com/Nobleshield/status/2076759240283435166) * Don't Fudge the Dice (In Defense of the Screen): - YouTube: (https://youtu.be/vSyPOM-qw3E?si=BUCTfOlvra0-dZOR) - Spotify: (https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ulS8YKmSqQFjrT3KWEgaR) * Purple Druid (Wargame Culture): - Substack: (https://substack.com/@wargameculture) - YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/@WargameCulture) * Best Diablo: (https://www.gog.com/en/game/diablo) * Treasure Planet: (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133240/)

  • S6 · E5
    June 27 · 41 min

    Lairs, Dungeons, and Mega-Dungeons

    -- Description -- How large is a dungeon in Dungeons & Dragons? How large should it be? And - when referencing old-school dungeon-delving play: at what point does the dungeon become a Mega-Dungeon? 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 come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠(https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn) -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 00:46 - Theme 01:09 - What is a "Dungeon" and how big should it be? 08:22 - How Big should a Mega-Dungeon be? 12:36 - The Role of "Maintaining Freshness" 15:59 - What is the Difference between Dungeon and Mega-Dungeon? 17:40 - But you mentioned Lairs. 22:47 - What do You think? 24:14 - Benediction: Aug Goes to Peru 28:31 - First Days: Preventive Medicine 35:22 - Outro 40:08 - Theme -- Links -- * Stonehell: (https://www.lulu.com/search?contributor=Michael+Curtis) * Greyhawk Ruins: (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/49110/greyhawk-ruins) * Castle Zagyg: (https://trolllord.com/product/castles-crusades-castle-zagyg-yggsburgh-classic-reprint/) * Tegel Manor: (https://www.froggodgames.com/products/36357)

  • S6 · E4
    May 30 · 22 min

    Paid Game Mastering

    -- Description -- Paid Game Mastering: brilliant? Foolish? Or just ... odd: a peculiarity of our times. 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 come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠(https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn) -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 00:20 - Theme 00:46 - I Don’t Hate It, but I Also Don’t Get It 07:55 - Concerns I would Have if Paying for a GM 16:24 - How about YOUR experiences? 17:15 - Personal Update and Benediction 20:48 - Outro

  • S6 · E3
    March 7 · 20 min

    Bags of Holding

    -- Description -- The Bag of Holding: a classic staple of D&D, a common article sought after by parties on far-afield parties, and a short circuit around one of the core elements of the game: management of inventory and encumbrance. But is it actually a bad item - or have we, as referees, simply been including it wrong? 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 come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠(https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn) -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 00:12 - Theme 00:40 - What is the Bag of Holding - and where did it come from? 03:35 - Why a player would want one 07:27 - What's wrong with the Bag of Holding? 11:55 - But where does the Bag of Holding belong in the game? 17:30 - Benediction and Theme

  • S6 · E2
    January 31 · 28 min

    OSR Tourists

    -- Description -- Tourists in the OSR ecosystem: who are they, why are they here, and is it really appropriate to use the term "Tourist" as an insult? 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 come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠(https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn) -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 00:20 - Theme 00:43 - Defining OSR and RPG Tourism 02:57 - Who is Not a Tourist 05:50 - Are Tourists a Bad Thing? 10:36 - The real threat: Transplants 12:44 - A Call for Transparency 13:42 - Call In: Riley of Diagetic Advancement on Moldvayan Revisionism 16:00 - ... Filling the Gaps in our Knowledge 17:54 - ... Keeping the Game Going 18:54 - ... Relative Digestibility 19:18 - ... Leaking In 20:26 - Call In: Hobbs, Himself! On Bronze Age gaming 20:50 - ... Blood & Bronze 25:24 - Benediction 27:00 - Outro and Theme -- Links -- Diagetic Advancement: (https://open.spotify.com/show/35GgOCNa3LyucnrDdw0sbv)Jason "Dulcet Tones" Hobbs: - Twitch: (https://m.twitch.tv/hobbs665/home) - Hobbs & Friends: (https://hobbsnfriends.com/) - Random Screed: (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/random-screed/id1328949901)Blood and Bronze: (https://bloodandbronze.com/)

  • S6 · E1
    January 14 · 24 min

    Moldvayan Revisionism

    -- Description -- Moldvayan Revisionism: one of the most damaging poxes and plagues of the modern OSR! But not really. ;-) In this episode, I speak to the propensity of B/X to fungate outwards into other games, how it can impact your experience and social media, and weigh whether or not it's a negative force on the hobby. 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 come hang out with all of us on Discord: ⁠(https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn) -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 00:12 - Theme 00:35 - What is Moldvayan Revisionism? 05:03 - Revisionism vs. Plugging Holes 09:22 - Where did it Come From? Where can it be found? 16:32 - Is Moldvayan Revisionism actually a bad thing? 20:06 - No Call-Ins This Episode :-( 22:23 - Benediction and Outro -- Links -- * Ray Otus - Plundergrounds (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plundergrounds/id1436755110) * Gary on Prime Requisite: (https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/page-814#post-3776101)

  • S5 · E3
    Dec 31, 2025 · 30 min

    Lessons on God in Gaming

    -- Description -- DragonRaid was an attempt to connect with RPG enthusiasts and to use that connection to educate and increase their faith. What did it do right? What did it do wrong? What can we do - as Christian gamers - to ensure our tables are authentic both to the game, itself, and to our identities in Christ? 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 00:22 - Mirke the Meek - DragonRaid?!? 02:35 - What is DragonRaid? 07:27 - Does (or Did) DragonRaid Succeed or Fail? 16:50 - Will I be playing DragonRaid? (Spoiler: No.) 20:52 - Does Losing Diminish God? 26:19 - Gratitude and Direction 29:33 - Benediction and Theme -- Links -- * Mirke the Meek Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3C2sM7eSEd6uZoyXlLc0Yo Itch.IO: https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/ * Ode to '74: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/2023/10/ode-to-74.html * Chubby Funster, Cognitive Load: https://youtu.be/M7h0VaWM3fM

  • S5 · E2
    Dec 10, 2025 · 28 min

    Salted Gaming - Flipping and Turning, No. 5

    -- Description -- Product Review: Flipping & Turning Magazine, No 5: Nautical gaming for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, 1st Edition, or other OSR-compatible system, in the age of (or spirit of the age of) sail. 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 00:23 - Theme 00:45 - Art and Authorship 04:44 - New Rules 12:01 - Articles and Coupons 15:49 - Adventure Scenarios 20:39 - Availability and Apology 27:27 - Benediction & Outro -- Links -- Smoldering Dung Games Website: https://www.smolderingdunggames.com/ Amazon Back Catalog: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CY2GH54B?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk GrogTalk Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/grogtalk GrogCon Podcast Official: https://www.grogcon.com/podcast/ GrogTalk Discord: https://discord.gg/AfXtmjn Pulsipher Games: https://www.pulsipher.net/

  • S5 · E1
    Nov 26, 2025 · 24 min

    Calls from the Bronze Age

    -- Description -- Continuing discussions of the Bronze Age from a gaming perspective. What some of its strengths are and how it fits into an OSR 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 - Intro 00:41 - Theme 01:01 - Ben Gibson of Coldlight Press: the Bronze Age as the Perfect D&D Setting 06:12 - PizzaReady: Mazes and Minotaurs 09:23 - ... Malazan as a Modern Fantasy Western 12:04 - ... Mixed Technology Levels among Civilizations 15:31 - ... Civilization as a New Thing rather than Ancient and Forgotten 17:49 - ... On Law and Chaos 20:50 - Benediction 23:30 - Outro -- Links -- * Coldlight Press: https://coldlightrpgpress.weebly.com/ - Adventure Site Contest: https://coldlightrpgpress.weebly.com/home/adventure-site-contest-winners - Drive Thru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/11446/Coldlight-Press * Clark Ashton Smith - Zothique Review: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/2023/07/n-spiration-zothique-final-cycle.html - On Eldritch Dark: http://www.eldritchdark.com/writings/short-stories/ * Mazes & Minotaurs: http://mazesandminotaurs.free.fr/revised.html * The 13th Warrior: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_13th_Warrior * Ricky Pope: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FuApkccHeoQtAqbYyQl97 * Storytelling Ron: https://www.youtube.com/@StorytellingRon

  • S4 · E9
    Sep 18, 2024 · 38 min

    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

  • S4 · E8
    Aug 21, 2024 · 39 min

    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

  • S4 · E7
    Aug 7, 2024 · 34 min

    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

  • S4 · E6
    Jul 25, 2024 · 34 min

    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

  • S4 · E5
    Jul 11, 2024 · 40 min

    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

  • S4 · E4
    Jun 19, 2024 · 53 min

    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/

  • S4 · E3
    May 29, 2024 · 21 min

    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

  • S4 · E2
    Mar 13, 2024 · 34 min

    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/

  • S4 · E1
    Feb 28, 2024 · 50 min

    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

  • S3 · E20
    Dec 31, 2023 · 23 min

    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

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