-- 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/

-- 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

-- 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

-- 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

-- 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

-- 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

-- 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

-- 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/