web01.fireside.fm Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:27:14 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Unwritten Earths Symposium - Episodes Tagged with “Arcane Gems” https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/tags/arcane%20gems Wed, 17 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0700 Welcome to the Unwritten Earths Symposium! In each episode, tabletop RPG designers Nathan D. Paoletta and Epidiah Ravachol try to trick each other into designing a game they wouldn't otherwise make. en-us episodic Discovering and designing genre-defining tabletop RPGs. Unwritten Earths Symposium Welcome to the Unwritten Earths Symposium! In each episode, tabletop RPG designers Nathan D. Paoletta and Epidiah Ravachol try to trick each other into designing a game they wouldn't otherwise make. no TTRPG, tabletop, games, rpg, design, game design Unwritten Earths Symposium provost@unwrittenearths.com The TBR Pile Episode https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/23 a30f55ab-bd51-4a66-9803-f13920a3be6e Wed, 17 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0700 Unwritten Earths Symposium 23 The TBR Pile Episode full 1 Unwritten Earths Symposium In this episode we tackle our to-be-read piles of recent game acquisitions for our homework, highlighting more recent work that we've both been digging and finding some common themes across different genres and types of game. We then talk about "instructional" and "non-instructional" text in games, what that divide even means, and pursue some questions that that brings up for our own work. 1:03:14 no In this episode we tackle our to-be-read piles of recent game acquisitions for our homework, highlighting more recent work that we've both been digging and finding some common themes across different genres and types of game. We then talk about "instructional" and "non-instructional" text in games, what that divide even means, and pursue some questions that that brings up for our own work. Show Notes: * Check out the Adventure & Hobbyist Annual 2025 (https://unwrittenearths.itch.io/annual-2025) * The latest Possible Worlds Games Kickstarter funding 3 new games (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crum/cckhcc?ref=creator_tab) runs through Friday, 9/26 Games Mentioned: * Knight Forlorn (https://blackfiskpub.itch.io/knight-forlorn) (Blackfisk Publishing) * Usagi Yojimbo (2nd Edition) (https://rpggeek.com/rpg/60813/usagi-yojimbo-role-playing-game-sanguine-2nd-editi)(Sanguine Productions - it looks like it's no longer available for purchase) * The Price of Coal (https://jen-adcock15.itch.io/the-price-of-coal) (Jennifer Adcock) * The Crawling Chaos (https://planetsmashergames.itch.io/the-crawling-chaos) (Plant Smasher Games) * Tacklebox (https://possible-worlds-games.itch.io/tacklebox)/Better Strangers (https://possible-worlds-games.itch.io/better-strangers) (Possible Worlds Games) * 5-Star Match (https://leafydragongames.wpcomstaging.com/shop/) (Leafy Dragon Games) * Growing Thylacine (https://pidj.itch.io/growing-thylacine) (Pidg Sorensen) * Necronautilus (https://www.worldchamp.io/store/necronautilus-hardcover-book) (World Champ Game Co) * Brinkwood: The Blood of Tyrants (https://brinkwood.net)(from the Far Horizons Co-Op) * Tide Breaker (https://www.tidebreakerrpg.com) (Nick Butler) * God's Gonna Cut You Down (https://kstetson.itch.io/gods-gonna-cut-you-down) (Keith Stetson) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co) game design, ttrpgs, indie games, indie game publishing, playtesting, rpgs, challenges In this episode we tackle our to-be-read piles of recent game acquisitions for our homework, highlighting more recent work that we've both been digging and finding some common themes across different genres and types of game. We then talk about "instructional" and "non-instructional" text in games, what that divide even means, and pursue some questions that that brings up for our own work.

Show Notes:

Games Mentioned:

And there's more:

]]> In this episode we tackle our to-be-read piles of recent game acquisitions for our homework, highlighting more recent work that we've both been digging and finding some common themes across different genres and types of game. We then talk about "instructional" and "non-instructional" text in games, what that divide even means, and pursue some questions that that brings up for our own work.

Show Notes:

Games Mentioned:

And there's more:

]]> The Ludography Episode https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/21 aa2a6228-3421-4add-9200-e28f8e6ac924 Wed, 13 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0700 Unwritten Earths Symposium 21 The Ludography Episode full 1 Unwritten Earths Symposium In this episode we do our game design homework of looking through game ludographies to chase down a chain of influence. It's a fun journey and we end up in very different places for our arcane gems! We also give an update on the Adventurer & Hobbyist Annual 2025, coming out soon! 54:51 no In this episode we do our game design homework of looking through game ludographies to chase down a chain of influence. It's a fun journey and we end up in very different places for our arcane gems! We also give an update on the Adventurer & Hobbyist Annual 2025, coming out soon! Show Notes: * You can still late pledge for the 2025 Annual (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unwrittenearths/adventure-and-hobbyist-annual-2025?ref=e1y1hq) * Original Story Now Essay (https://www.indie-rpgs.com/_articles/narr_essay.html) * Atmosfear (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosfear_(series)) VHS/DVD Games * Art & System: Games For Expanded Play (https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/b2acaafc-6009-4565-9ef4-54b97b09e193/landing) is the upcoming project that includes a Dog Eat Dog re-release Games Mentioned: * Spione: Story Now in Cold War Berlin (https://payhip.com/b/Y0aO), by Ron Edwards (oh, and it is available auf Deutsch (https://payhip.com/b/OqTx)) * Champions Now (https://www.herogames.com/store/category/67-champions-now/) (Hero Games), Ron's take on Champions * Gray Ranks (https://bullypulpitgames.com/products/grey-ranks)(Bully Pulpit Games) * Dog Eat Dog (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_Eat_Dog_(role-playing_game)), by Liam Liwanag Burke * Puppetland by John Tynes (1995 text (https://johntynes.com/revland2000/rl_puppetland.html)/2013 edition (https://arcdream.com/home/puppetland/) from Arc Dream Publishing) * Burning Wheel (https://www.burningwheel.com/burning-wheel/) (Burning Wheel Gold is the current edition) * My Life With Master (http://www.halfmeme.com/master.html) (Half Meme Press) * Dialect: A Game About Language and How It Dies (https://thornygames.com/pages/dialect)(Thorny Games) * Code of Unaris (https://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/reviews/codeofunaris.html) (Goldleaf Games) * Sock Puppets: An RPG (https://a-smouldering-lighthouse.itch.io/sock-puppets) by A Smouldering Lighthouse And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co) game design, ttrpgs, indie games, indie game publishing, playtesting, rpgs, challenges In this episode we do our game design homework of looking through game ludographies to chase down a chain of influence. It's a fun journey and we end up in very different places for our arcane gems! We also give an update on the Adventurer & Hobbyist Annual 2025, coming out soon!

Show Notes:

Games Mentioned:

And there's more:

]]> In this episode we do our game design homework of looking through game ludographies to chase down a chain of influence. It's a fun journey and we end up in very different places for our arcane gems! We also give an update on the Adventurer & Hobbyist Annual 2025, coming out soon!

Show Notes:

Games Mentioned:

And there's more:

]]> The Spiralbound Episode https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/19 88676336-d421-4e50-92f3-4d2be2a6f9ca Wed, 16 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0700 Unwritten Earths Symposium 19 The Spiralbound Episode full 1 Unwritten Earths Symposium In this episode we go to the copyshop to dig up spiralbound games for our game discovery homework, and get deep into the weeds on both format and substance of our picks. 1:03:59 no In this episode we go to the copyshop to dig up spiralbound games for our game discovery homework, and get deep into the weeds on both format and substance of our picks. Games Mentioned: * Black Cadillacs (Steel Toe'd Edition) (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/52070/black-cadillacs-steel-toed-edition) (here's the Wayback Machine archive (https://web.archive.org/web/20130725043307/http://achtung-spiel.com/black_cadillacs.html) of the game page) * Tunnels & Trolls (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnels_%26_Trolls), and specifically 7th-7.5 Edition (https://boardgamegeek.com/rpg/2313/tunnels-and-trolls-7th-75-editions) Adventure! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure!) Aberrant (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberrant_(role-playing_game)) and Aeon: Trinity (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_(role-playing_game)) Little Grey Cells (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/307617) InSpectres (https://memento-mori.com/books/inspectres-book) Mechaton/Mobile Frame Zero (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/122435/mobile-frame-zero-rapid-attack) carry. a game about war. (https://www.ndpdesign.com/carry-a-game-about-war) kill puppies for satan (https://payhip.com/b/auUx) Primetime Adventures (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primetime_Adventures) Nine Worlds (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/47608/nine-worlds) Show Notes: * Wanderlust notebook (https://bsky.app/profile/epidiah.bsky.social/post/3ltd7rgiiik2u) that Eppy saw * Ashcan Front * Tim O’Brien/The Things They Carried (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Things_They_Carried)/How To Tell a True War Story, * Our paraphrased quote “you can’t make an anti-war film” seems to come from François Truffaut (https://quoteinvestigator.com/2025/04/12/antiwar-film/) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co) game design, ttrpgs, indie games, indie game publishing, playtesting, rpgs, challenges In this episode we go to the copyshop to dig up spiralbound games for our game discovery homework, and get deep into the weeds on both format and substance of our picks.

Games Mentioned:

Show Notes:

And there's more:

]]> In this episode we go to the copyshop to dig up spiralbound games for our game discovery homework, and get deep into the weeds on both format and substance of our picks.

Games Mentioned:

Show Notes:

And there's more:

]]> The Nat Barmore Episode https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/17 72c07b65-1247-4cc4-8387-98fca97a86b2 Wed, 11 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0700 Unwritten Earths Symposium 17 The Nat Barmore Episode full 1 Unwritten Earths Symposium In this episode, we welcome Dread co-creator Nat Barmore to the show, try to surprise each other with Arcane Gems from deep cuts in our collections, and talk about Nat's current projects. We talk about Dread, keeping horror campaigns going in long-term play, and approaching real-world cultural conflicts in game design. Thanks for joining us, Nat! 1:21:14 no In this episode, we welcome Dread co-creator Nat Barmore to the show, try to surprise each other with Arcane Gems from deep cuts in our collections, and talk about Nat's current projects. We talk about Dread, keeping horror campaigns going in long-term play, and approaching real-world cultural conflicts in game design. Thanks for joining us, Nat! Show Notes: * Find Nat at his blog (https://woodelf.wordpress.com) and The Impossible Dream website (https://www.tiltingatwindmills.net). * We also mention Neverwhere (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neverwhere_(novel)), GLOW (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLOW_(TV_series)) (the Netflix series), and the original Storyteller System Botch mechanic (https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Botch). Games Mentioned: * Michtim: Fluffy Adventures (http://www.michtim.com) * Urchin (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/48199/urchin) * Amaranthine: Romance, Vendetta, Forever (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/93074/amaranthine-romance-vendetta-forever?src=newest_recent) * Kingdom of Nothing (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/93798/kingdom-of-nothing) * Lacuna Part 1: The Creation of the Mystery and the Girl from Blue City (second attempt) (https://memento-mori.com/books/lacuna-part-1-second-attempt-book) * Don't Rest Your Head (https://evilhat.com/product/don-t-rest-your-head/) * UnderWorld (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/45312/underworld) * HōL (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/44201/hol) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co) game design, ttrpgs, indie games, indie game publishing, playtesting, rpgs, challenges In this episode, we welcome Dread co-creator Nat Barmore to the show, try to surprise each other with Arcane Gems from deep cuts in our collections, and talk about Nat's current projects. We talk about Dread, keeping horror campaigns going in long-term play, and approaching real-world cultural conflicts in game design. Thanks for joining us, Nat!

Show Notes:

Games Mentioned:

And there's more:

]]> In this episode, we welcome Dread co-creator Nat Barmore to the show, try to surprise each other with Arcane Gems from deep cuts in our collections, and talk about Nat's current projects. We talk about Dread, keeping horror campaigns going in long-term play, and approaching real-world cultural conflicts in game design. Thanks for joining us, Nat!

Show Notes:

Games Mentioned:

And there's more:

]]> The Hidden Information Episode https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/15 aea59531-b0f3-4c4f-9ff5-51fdbd08cd06 Wed, 14 May 2025 03:00:00 -0700 Unwritten Earths Symposium 15 The Hidden Information Episode full 1 Unwritten Earths Symposium In this episode we give a production update on the Annual 2025 before measuring our shelves for game discovery. Our homework happened to have a shared theme of hidden information, and we end up discussing the idea of "sleight of hand" to create moments of magic in play. 1:05:53 no In this episode we give a production update on the Annual 2025 before measuring our shelves for game discovery. Our homework happened to have a shared theme of hidden information, and we end up discussing the idea of "sleight of hand" to create moments of magic in play. Games Discussed: * Lacuna Part 1: The Creation of the Mystery and the Girl from Blue City (second attempt) (https://memento-mori.com/books/lacuna-part-1-second-attempt-book) * Castle Falkenstein (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Falkenstein_(role-playing_game)) * Burning Wheel (https://www.burningwheel.com/burning-wheel/) * Tunnels and Trolls (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnels_%26_Trolls) * InSpectres (https://memento-mori.com/books/inspectres-book) * Egyptian Ratscrew/Slap (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Ratscrew) And there's more: * The Adventurer & Hobbyist Annual 2025 (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unwrittenearths/adventure-and-hobbyist-annual-2025?ref=e1y1hq) (still accepting late pledges!) * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co) game design, ttrpgs, indie games, indie game publishing, playtesting, rpgs, challenges In this episode we give a production update on the Annual 2025 before measuring our shelves for game discovery. Our homework happened to have a shared theme of hidden information, and we end up discussing the idea of "sleight of hand" to create moments of magic in play.

Games Discussed:

And there's more:

]]> In this episode we give a production update on the Annual 2025 before measuring our shelves for game discovery. Our homework happened to have a shared theme of hidden information, and we end up discussing the idea of "sleight of hand" to create moments of magic in play.

Games Discussed:

And there's more:

]]> The Trends Episode https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/14 d372d760-13c6-48e2-8549-c8a5a55eb226 Wed, 30 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0700 Unwritten Earths Symposium 14 The Trends Episode full 1 Unwritten Earths Symposium In this episode we come back from game discovery sabbatical to talk about some esoteric picks from our itch.io libraries, and then discuss how we approach and interact with trends in the larger ttrpg industry, in game design, and in how those intersect for us. 1:01:53 no In this episode we come back from game discovery sabbatical to talk about some esoteric picks from our itch.io libraries, and then discuss how we approach and interact with trends in the larger ttrpg industry, in game design, and in how those intersect for us. Show Notes: * We are now recording on Discord, in case things sound different * Dissidia Final Fantasy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissidia_Final_Fantasy) (2008) * The Lost Room (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830361/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_the%2520lost%2520room) (2006) (shoutout to Richard Hatem!) * Warehouse 13 (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1132290/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1) Games Mentioned: * One-Time Journal of Findings in RPG Game Design (Epimas Edition) (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/390653/the-one-time-journal-of-findings-in-rpg-design) - Note that this may not be publically available, sorry! * Victor’s GMless Oracle (https://cursenightgames.itch.io/victors-gm-less-oracle) by CurseNightGames * One Page Dungeons (https://www.dungeoncontest.com) * Traverser (unreleased) & The Clay That Woke (http://www.halfmeme.com/clay.html) * Fiasco (https://bullypulpitgames.com/products/fiasco) by Bully Pulpit * Mythic (https://www.wordmillgames.com/mythic-rpg.html) by Word Mill Games * Ironsworn (https://tomkinpress.com/pages/ironsworn) by Tomkin Press * 13th Age (https://pelgranepress.com/13th-age/) by Pelgrane Press * Nathan's Mech Game Vesna Thaw (https://ndpdesign.itch.io/vesna-thaw) * Solo Wrestling Game - 5- Star Match (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/leafydragongames/5-star-match-a-solo-pro-wrestling-ttrpg) And there's more: * The Adventurer & Hobbyist Annual 2025 (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unwrittenearths/adventure-and-hobbyist-annual-2025?ref=e1y1hq) (still accepting late pledges!) * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co) game design, ttrpgs, indie games, indie game publishing, playtesting, rpgs, challenges In this episode we come back from game discovery sabbatical to talk about some esoteric picks from our itch.io libraries, and then discuss how we approach and interact with trends in the larger ttrpg industry, in game design, and in how those intersect for us.

Show Notes:

Games Mentioned:

And there's more:

]]> In this episode we come back from game discovery sabbatical to talk about some esoteric picks from our itch.io libraries, and then discuss how we approach and interact with trends in the larger ttrpg industry, in game design, and in how those intersect for us.

Show Notes:

Games Mentioned:

And there's more:

]]> The Eras Episode https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/11 3a88c456-f531-41c2-93b2-838f3f2ed85d Wed, 19 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0700 Unwritten Earths Symposium 11 The Eras Episode full Unwritten Earths Symposium Oops, all Game Discovery! In this episode we do a brief overview of the history of TTRPGS (truly-true roleplaying games), each picking a game to highlight from our birth years in each decade from the 1970s to the 2020s. We delve into some 2010s highlights for Arcane Gems, but this is a good framework for us to talk about our personal game histories as well as chart high-level changes in game design since the beginning. 1:20:01 no Oops, all Game Discovery! In this episode we do a brief overview of the history of TTRPGS (truly-true roleplaying games), each picking a game to highlight from our birth years in each decade from the 1970s to the 2020s. We delve into some 2010s highlights for Arcane Gems, but this is a good framework for us to talk about our personal game histories as well as chart high-level changes in game design since the beginning. Show Notes: * Vincent's Bluesky thread about Dogs in the Vineyard (https://bsky.app/profile/lumpley.bsky.social/post/3ljv33azyh22s) * Bears Ears Intertribal Coalition (https://www.bearsearscoalition.org) * Diana Jones Award Trophy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Jones_Award) and actual Award website (https://www.dianajonesaward.org) Games Mentioned: * 1974 - Dungeons & Dragons * 1983 - Palladium Fantasy RPG (https://palladiumbooks.com/fantasy/palladium-fantasy-rpg) * 1984 - Chill (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chill_(role-playing_game)), Marvel Super Heroes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Super_Heroes_(role-playing_game)), Paranoia (https://www.mongoosepublishing.com/collections/paranoia), Middle-earth Role Playing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth_Role_Playing) * 1993 - Amazing Engine: Once and Future King (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_%26_Future_King_(Amazing_Engine)), Chill: The Beast Within (https://chillroleplaying.shoutwiki.com/wiki/The_Beast_Within) * 1994 - Wraith: the Oblivion (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wraith:_The_Oblivion) * 2003 - Cartoon Action Hour (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartoon_Action_Hour) * 2004 - Chronicles of Darkness/Vampire: the Requiem (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire:_The_Requiem), Dogs in the Vineyard (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogs_in_the_Vineyard) * 2013 - Myriad Song (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/118669/myriad-song-role-play-adventure-of-ten-thousand-worlds) (Eppy’s Arcane Gems) * 2014 - 5th Edition D&D, The Clay That Woke (http://www.halfmeme.com/clay.html), Mars Colony: 39 Dark (https://www.tckroleplaying.com/39dark/index.html) (Nathan’s Arcane Gem) * 2024 - That Rug (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/478107/that-rug-a-game-of-midnight-investigations), D&D One, Yazeba’s Bed & Breakfast (https://possumcreekgames.com/pages/yazebas-bed-breakfast) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co) game design, ttrpgs, indie games, indie game publishing, playtesting, rpgs, challenges Oops, all Game Discovery! In this episode we do a brief overview of the history of TTRPGS (truly-true roleplaying games), each picking a game to highlight from our birth years in each decade from the 1970s to the 2020s. We delve into some 2010s highlights for Arcane Gems, but this is a good framework for us to talk about our personal game histories as well as chart high-level changes in game design since the beginning.

Show Notes:

Games Mentioned:

And there's more:

]]> Oops, all Game Discovery! In this episode we do a brief overview of the history of TTRPGS (truly-true roleplaying games), each picking a game to highlight from our birth years in each decade from the 1970s to the 2020s. We delve into some 2010s highlights for Arcane Gems, but this is a good framework for us to talk about our personal game histories as well as chart high-level changes in game design since the beginning.

Show Notes:

Games Mentioned:

And there's more:

]]> The Convention Slot Episode https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/10 9fad459b-75bf-448c-9199-fc15bc06b490 Wed, 05 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0800 Unwritten Earths Symposium 10 The Convention Slot Episode full Unwritten Earths Symposium No, it's not a 4-hour episode! After talking about our game discovery homework guided by games we'd be excited to play at a convention (or elsewhere), we dive into how our experiences going to conventions and playing games in specific time slots has shaped our game design. 1:07:28 no No, it's not a 4-hour episode! After talking about our game discovery homework guided by games we'd be excited to play at a convention (or elsewhere), we dive into how our experiences going to conventions and playing games in specific time slots has shaped our game design. Out inaugural project, the Adventurer & Hobbyist Annual 2025 set of time-spanning game scenarios, is coming to Kickstarter soon. Click here to get notified on launch! (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unwrittenearths/adventure-and-hobbyist-annual-2025?ref=e1y1hq) Show Notes: * Double Exposure Conventions (https://www.dexposure.com/home.html) * Audio Hijack (https://rogueamoeba.com/audiohijack/) * Brain Trust Podcast (https://linktr.ee/thebraintrust) Games Discussed: * Black Mass by Will Jobst (2019) (https://goodluckpress.co/products/black-mass) * Marvel Universe Roleplaying Game (2003) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Universe_Roleplaying_Game) * Polaris by TAO Games (2005) (https://www.tao-games.com/polaris/) * GURPS by Steve Jackson Games (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/) * The Clay That Woke by Paul Czege (2014) (http://www.halfmeme.com/clay.html) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co) game design, ttrpgs, indie games, indie game publishing, playtesting, rpgs, challenges No, it's not a 4-hour episode! After talking about our game discovery homework guided by games we'd be excited to play at a convention (or elsewhere), we dive into how our experiences going to conventions and playing games in specific time slots has shaped our game design.

Out inaugural project, the Adventurer & Hobbyist Annual 2025 set of time-spanning game scenarios, is coming to Kickstarter soon. Click here to get notified on launch!

Show Notes:

Games Discussed:

And there's more:

]]> No, it's not a 4-hour episode! After talking about our game discovery homework guided by games we'd be excited to play at a convention (or elsewhere), we dive into how our experiences going to conventions and playing games in specific time slots has shaped our game design.

Out inaugural project, the Adventurer & Hobbyist Annual 2025 set of time-spanning game scenarios, is coming to Kickstarter soon. Click here to get notified on launch!

Show Notes:

Games Discussed:

And there's more:

]]> The Constraints Episode https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/08 7ba382b5-197a-48eb-a40a-01686ed0e428 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0800 Unwritten Earths Symposium 08 The Constraints Episode full Unwritten Earths Symposium In this episode we discuss the arcane gems found within games we would play with our moms, give some updates on what's happening in the discord, and field a great question about productive constraints in design and play. 1:14:52 no In this episode we discuss the arcane gems found within games we would play with our moms, give some updates on what's happening in the discord, and field a great question about productive constraints in design and play. Show Notes: * Iron Game Chef: Historical - Summary (https://rpggeek.com/rpgseries/20337/game-chef-2005-historical) * Iron Game Chef: Historical - Forum (http://www.1km1kt.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=22) Games We Talked About: * Zombie Cinema (https://www.arkenstonepublishing.net/zombiecinema) * Grey Cells (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/307617/grey-cells) * Swords Without Master (https://www.worldswithoutmaster.com/swords-without-master) (in Issue 3 of Worlds Without Master) * Dread (https://www.tiltingatwindmills.net/games/dread/) * Apocalypse World (http://apocalypse-world.com) * Annalise (https://www.ndpdesign.com/annalise) * Otherkind Dice (https://lumpley.games/2022/03/14/otherkind-dice/) * Psi Run (https://lumpley.itch.io/psirun) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co) game design, ttrpgs, indie games, indie game publishing, playtesting, rpgs, challenges In this episode we discuss the arcane gems found within games we would play with our moms, give some updates on what's happening in the discord, and field a great question about productive constraints in design and play.

Show Notes:

Games We Talked About:

And there's more:

]]> In this episode we discuss the arcane gems found within games we would play with our moms, give some updates on what's happening in the discord, and field a great question about productive constraints in design and play.

Show Notes:

Games We Talked About:

And there's more:

]]> The Purple and Yellow Episode https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/06 dda3e846-2725-4d15-886a-6e0b3431060a Wed, 22 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0800 Unwritten Earths Symposium 06 The Purple and Yellow Episode full Unwritten Earths Symposium In this episode we do our color-guided homework, explore the realm of rpg fiction written by people who haven't played rpgs (?), and talk about Epidiah "The Night Writer" Ravachol's handwriting strategy. 1:08:18 no In this episode we do our color-guided homework, explore the realm of rpg fiction written by people who haven't played rpgs (?), and talk about Epidiah "The Night Writer" Ravachol's handwriting strategy. Show Notes: * Hobgoblin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobgoblin_(novel)) by John Coyne * Witch and Wombat (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1417057.Witch_and_Wombat) by Carolyn Cushman * The CATS method is by Patrick O'Leary (https://proleary.com/games/the-cats-method/), and can be found in the TTRPG Safety Toolkit (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1S-6ScLR_XaZRfgX502QsYL3pfmyJGL0C)  Games We Talked About: * Necronautilus (https://www.worldchamp.io/store/necronautilus-hardcover-book) by Adam Vass/World Champ Game Co (https://www.worldchamp.io) (2020) * Gamma World (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_World) (Seventh Edition, 2010) * Code of Unaris (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/54182/code-of-unaris) by Gary Pratt/Goldleaf Games (and here's John Kim's review of it (https://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/reviews/codeofunaris.html)) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co) game design, ttrpgs, indie games, indie game publishing, playtesting, rpgs, challenges In this episode we do our color-guided homework, explore the realm of rpg fiction written by people who haven't played rpgs (?), and talk about Epidiah "The Night Writer" Ravachol's handwriting strategy.

Show Notes:

Games We Talked About:

And there's more:

]]> In this episode we do our color-guided homework, explore the realm of rpg fiction written by people who haven't played rpgs (?), and talk about Epidiah "The Night Writer" Ravachol's handwriting strategy.

Show Notes:

Games We Talked About:

And there's more:

]]> The Coffee & Game Design Episode https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/05 97c10a6a-f525-4390-9d05-eec807d870ff Wed, 08 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0800 Unwritten Earths Symposium 05 The Coffee & Game Design Episode full Unwritten Earths Symposium In this episode we lay out the template for Coffee & Game Design, assign some homework, delve into the archives for some Arcane Gems, share a war story and field a listener question about promoting our games. 1:10:04 no In this episode we lay out the template for Coffee & Game Design, assign some homework, delve into the archives for some Arcane Gems, share a war story and field a listener question about promoting our games. Show Notes: * Color Contrast Bot on Mastodon (https://botsin.space/@randomColorContrasts) * Spencer Campbell's Unsung Hero thread on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/gilarpgs.bsky.social/post/3lesi7xuqrc2b) Game We Talked About: * The Shadow of Yesterday (html page with full text of the game) (https://zork.net/~nick/loyhargil/tsoy2/book1--rulebook.html) * The Shadow of Yesterday (full text on github) (https://mattmachell.github.io/minimum-viable-ebook/examples/tsoy/index.html#pools) * Solar System (https://www.arkenstonepublishing.net/solarsystem) * Hunter: the Reckoning (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter:_The_Reckoning) * Bullwinkle and Rocky Role-Playing Party Game (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullwinkle_and_Rocky_Role-Playing_Party_Game) * Tunnels & Trolls (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnels_%26_Trolls) * Usagi Yojimbo Role-Playing Game (Sanguine Games, 1st edition) (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/59525/usagi-yojimbo-role-playing-game) * Incarnadine Press (With Great Power, Serial Homicide Unit (https://ipressgames.com) * TCK Roleplaying (Mars Colony, Hero's Banner (https://www.tckroleplaying.com/index.html) And there's more: * Unwritten Earths Symposium (http://unwrittenearths.com) * Our Patreon (https://patreon.com/UnwrittenEarths) * Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/cgJa5hWcVq) * Nathan's games (https://www.ndpdesign.com) * Eppy's games (https://www.dig1000holes.com) * Music by Will Jobst (https://willjobst.carrd.co) game design, ttrpgs, indie games, indie game publishing, playtesting, rpgs, challenges In this episode we lay out the template for Coffee & Game Design, assign some homework, delve into the archives for some Arcane Gems, share a war story and field a listener question about promoting our games.

Show Notes:

Game We Talked About:

And there's more:

]]> In this episode we lay out the template for Coffee & Game Design, assign some homework, delve into the archives for some Arcane Gems, share a war story and field a listener question about promoting our games.

Show Notes:

Game We Talked About:

And there's more:

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