This Ol’ Dungeon Podcast

Episode 25: Levi Combs Returns! We also mention Planescape...

What happens when Levi Combs comes back on This Ol' Dungeon while all 3 hosts are there to jibber-jabber?  Well, not much talking about Planescape -that's for sure!  Still, we got to learn a lot about what's going on at Planet X Games (https://www.facebook.com/planetxgamecompany/) and some great discussion about lots of design-side stuff, AND got through a pretty nice chunk of listener mail INCLUDING AN AUDIO MESSAGE of a mysterious origin!  We also got some fun bumpers from Banjo Destructo at The Heavy Metal RPG Podcast (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs01Fh2P77XDNzKWIA4_46A).  Planescape is mentioned, but we have to pledge to come back to it to give it its fair due in a future episode...

Epsiode 24 Fiend Folio with James Holloway

Had a lot of fun on this episode getting educated by James Holloway, the Monster Man, himself!  We talk a lot about the importance of the original Monster Manual in setting the stage for these sorts of books and have an interesting debate on whether The Fiend Folio is or isn’t a big departure from what that book had set us up for back in the 1e days.  You can catch James’s podcast “Monster Man” at: https://monsterman.libsyn.com/, and you’ll want to sign up for his Patreon feed which has all sorts of great bonuses (like picking episode topics and getting access to the “Patron Deities” show) at: https://www.patreon.com/monsterman.  You can enjoy some of his published game content like the “Pamphlet of Pantheons,” and the “Magonium Mine Murders” and more here: https://james-holloway.itch.io/ or at Exalted Funeral in the US: and https://iglootree.com/ in the UK

 

You might also notice the fun little bumper sent to us by listener Banjo Destructo of the Heavy Metal RPG podcast (https://rumble.com/v1c3ux3-heavy-metal-rpg-podcast-episode-0000-dcc-rpg-and-level-0-funnels.html) who has done lots of cool bits (here’s one of my favorites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvR1O_l03gc).  Give him a listen, the guy’s a hoot!

Ben Burns and The Zeta Complex

This is a side quest for our podcast, where Ben Burns was kind enough to come on again and talk about his new Kickstarter, "The Zeta Complex" -a product I've been antsy for him to release since playing an early version at North Texas in 2020.  As a bonus, Bill Barsh talks about gearing up to launch his Kickstarter for "Tome of Quests" a remastered anthology of his company's early hits.  We talk (in general) about Kickstarting, trying to get product out, and the pitfalls of shipping.  If you are a small publisher or longing to be, there are plenty of gems of advice thrown out in this discussion.  Otherwise, you get to hear about some great RPG products you're not going to want to miss out on!

Episode23 Jason Hobbs and The Secret of Bone Hill

In this installment we all have a great time talking low fantasy gaming (and "Low Fantasy Gaming"), West Marches, great Kickstarters/Drivethru bundles, end boss battles, and even get around to talking about L1: The Secret of Bone Hill.  If you've never read/played this classic, or if it's been awhile; join us for a discussion of all its gems and all its blemishes-there's a lot to be mined from this old exemplar!  To end it all, we see if Jason can get his Geek credit with 5 questions dealing with Conan, Paintball, West Marches, and Classic D&D Hexcrawling...  Don't forget to write in before next episode to be matched up as a "at home winner" for the next playing of "Geek Credit."

Episode 22 Chris Holmes and The Tower of Zenopus

This episode we are joined by Chris Holmes: artist, writer, hobby game designer, and all-around renaissance man.  Chris recounts his father's, John Eric Holmes, creation of the original D&D basic boxset as well as telling us about his own "made for the con" game designs-that he does as a way to express his interests and creativity.  He tells about an up-coming re-release of his father's Pellucidar books and hangs with us for the This Ol' Dungeon segment where we revisit "The Tower of Zenopus"-also known as the sample dungeon from the Holmes D&D boxset.  So, hang with us for another great episode!

-Oh, don't forget to send us some mail to get entered in for a chance to be the "at home winner" on the next episode's "Geek Credit" segment.  Our address again is thisoldungeon@gmail.com.  Happy gaming folks!

Episode 21 Tim Connolly, Benchleydale, and AD&D 1st Edition Rules

In this episode we had some equipment issues/user errors that lead to a first half containing an interview between Luau Lou and Tim Connelly of the Benchleydale Academy and a second half where the usually crew (Bill, Edwin, and Lou) are together discussing what makes the AD&D 1st Ed rule set unique and then sliding into user mail and OUR FIRST EVER Geek Credit wipeout...  You'll have to listen to find out who didn't make it home with their credentials still hanging in the hall of geekdom...  Don't forget, if you want to get in on Benchleydale-you have to get on Facebook and ask around or approach Tim (or other members) it is a curated group for a reason!  So go find that secret passage into some AD&D goodness...

Tomb_of_Horror_with_Skeeter_Green

On this episode Skeeter Green of SGP Games joins us as we talk about the classic Tomb of Horrors and the difference between arbitrary mechanics and deadly mechanics.  Bill joins us (here and there) as he hexcrawls the eastern US and we have our first winner for the "at home" version of Geek Credit.  Remember, you too can get enter for being an "at home player" by simply sending us some mail to read online, or just a message saying you want to be a player.  Send both to "thisoldungeon@gmail.com" or message us on our Facebook page.  Also, check out Skeeter's recent Kickstarter for the next set of Valley out of Time books: Valley out of Time 3&4

Exploring Urban Campaigns with Brett Bloczynski

On this mega episode we get to talk city campaigns with legendary podcaster Brett Bloczynski from Gaming and BS.  He tells us all about his Avalon campaign, what makes it work, and gives some great advice on how to bring these urban environments to life for your players.  We got a few Letters from the Homeowners Association, and announce a new "play at home" version of Geek Credit where we will select one at home winner of fabulous RPG prizes IF the guest makes their Geek Credit.  To be part of this, just write in with your name and contact information to: thisoldungeon@gmail.com.  All contributors to the Letters to the Homeowners Association segment will be automatically entered as well.

Episode 18 Legion of Gold with Matt Gullett

In this episode we discuss Gamma World's first adventure, GW1: Legion of Gold with Matt Gullett of Long Con and No Class RPG Podcast fame.  We talk a little Hobbit and some RPG art and YES, Bill even gets to report on some actual gaming he's done!  Here's the link to the Long Con, to the No Class Podcast (soon to be on Twitch) and you'll have to keep your eyes peeled for for Matt's Kickstarter, "Caverns of the Dead God."  https://longconrpg.com/ https://soundcloud.com/no-class-rpg-podcast

Episode 17 Brian Shutter Neon Lords and Orcbusters

This is a great one, folks!  We had a blast with the very talented Brian Shutter-a name to watch as he will definitely be making his mark in the industry!  He tells about his epic quest to bring the "cassette-apocalypse" mystique to life in his hot new game, "Neon Lords of the Toxic Wasteland" (available at Exulted Funeral https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/search?q=neon+lords and DriveThru https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?keywords=neon+lords&x=0&y=0&author=&artist=&pfrom=&pto= ).  Next, we give the "This Ol' Dungeon" treatment to an adventure from one of my favorite systems, Paranoia's "Orcbusters."  Hopefully you'll enjoy this as much as we did!  Oh, don't forget to write in if you figure out the "wizard's names" mystery...  And finally, here's a real cool resource/channel Edwin had mentioned: The Monster Man podcast (https://monsterman.libsyn.com/) hosted by James Holloway (and currently running a crowd funding for an adventure I helped him play test at https://james-holloway.itch.io/the-magonium-mine-murders).