web01.fireside.fm Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:06:31 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Unwritten Earths Symposium - Episodes Tagged with “Game Discovery” https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/tags/game%20discovery Wed, 13 Aug 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 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 Cursed Episode https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/04 4a84ebdd-e816-498f-b8b2-5d946d7a6d66 Wed, 18 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0800 Unwritten Earths Symposium 04 The Cursed Episode full Unwritten Earths Symposium In this Cursed Episode, despite being interrupted by a power outage we talk about some juicy Arcane Gems within our game discovery homework, and talk about our current works in progress. 1:13:44 no In this Cursed Episode, despite being interrupted by a power outage we talk about some juicy Arcane Gems within our game discovery homework, and talk about our current works in progress. Show Notes: From the Guardian: "‘It’s game over for facts’: how vibes came to rule everything from pop to politics" (https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/dec/14/how-vibes-came-to-rule-everything-from-pop-to-politics) The Ashcan Front (http://www.halfmeme.com/theashcanfront.html) Games We Talked About: Acts of Evil (http://www.halfmeme.com/evil.html) by Paul Czege Atlantis: the Second Age (https://kheperapublishing.com/khepera-publishing-home/atlantis-the-second-age/) (this looks like an updated edition from the one Eppy has - that one is here (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/2881/atlantis-the-second-age?src=also_purchased)), by Kephera Publishing The Arcanum / The Atlantean Trilogy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantis_(role-playing_game)), by Bard Games Talislanta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talislanta), a rich and varied history Omni System (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/2862/the-omni-system) was the system developed for the Morrigan Press version of Talislanta 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 Cursed Episode, despite being interrupted by a power outage we talk about some juicy Arcane Gems within our game discovery homework, and talk about our current works in progress.

Show Notes:

Games We Talked About:

And there's more:

]]> In this Cursed Episode, despite being interrupted by a power outage we talk about some juicy Arcane Gems within our game discovery homework, and talk about our current works in progress.

Show Notes:

Games We Talked About:

And there's more:

]]> Mounts, Death and Music https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/03 53c9ddd9-fb29-4e2e-a44d-be9acdb676a5 Wed, 04 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0800 Unwritten Earths Symposium 03 Mounts, Death and Music full Unwritten Earths Symposium In this episode, we talk about mounts and companions, death in RPGs, and follow a Train of Thought about translating sheet music into playable patterns before delving into our game discovery homework. Have we designed a game yet? 1:07:18 no Show Notes: * Horse Armor (https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/horse-armor) (from Elder Scrolls, not World of Warcraft) * The box that turns itself off is also called a useless machine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useless_machine) * Eppy tried to calculate the number of deck shuffle possibilies in The Shrike but it was too many (https://bsky.app/profile/epidiah.bsky.social/post/3lbxwjatgns2g) Games We Talked About: * The game where you play a sword is Wield (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/131729/wield) by John Wick and Gillian Fraser * the d1 RPG (https://snepshark.itch.io/the-d1-rpg) * The Shrike (https://sadpress.itch.io/the-shrike) 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 Show Notes:

  • Horse Armor (from Elder Scrolls, not World of Warcraft)
  • The box that turns itself off is also called a useless machine
  • Eppy tried to calculate the number of deck shuffle possibilies in The Shrike but it was too many

Games We Talked About:

And there's more:

]]> Show Notes:

  • Horse Armor (from Elder Scrolls, not World of Warcraft)
  • The box that turns itself off is also called a useless machine
  • Eppy tried to calculate the number of deck shuffle possibilies in The Shrike but it was too many

Games We Talked About:

And there's more:

]]> Enter the Symposium https://unwrittenearths.fireside.fm/01 058c42b2-1513-4409-b187-fd4f2d924e3c Tue, 19 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0800 Unwritten Earths Symposium 01 Enter the Symposium full Unwritten Earths Symposium Welcome to the Unwritten Earths Symposium Podcast! On Episode 0, game designers Nathan D. Paoletta and Epidiah Ravachol introduce themselves, talk about the Symposium, and then uncover some arcane games from their game discovery homework. Have we designed a game yet? 1:00:57 no Welcome to the Unwritten Earths Symposium Podcast! On Episode 0, game designers Nathan D. Paoletta and Epidiah Ravachol introduce themselves, talk about the Symposium, and then uncover some arcane games from their game discovery homework. Have we designed a game yet? In this episode, we mentioned: * Land of Nodd (http://ihousenews.pbworks.com/w/page/7707031/Land%20of%20Nodd) * Stories From the Grave (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/196326/stories-from-the-grave) * the d1 RPG (https://snepshark.itch.io/the-d1-rpg) * The Shrike (https://sadpress.itch.io/the-shrike) 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 Welcome to the Unwritten Earths Symposium Podcast! On Episode 0, game designers Nathan D. Paoletta and Epidiah Ravachol introduce themselves, talk about the Symposium, and then uncover some arcane games from their game discovery homework. Have we designed a game yet?

In this episode, we mentioned:

And there's more:

]]> Welcome to the Unwritten Earths Symposium Podcast! On Episode 0, game designers Nathan D. Paoletta and Epidiah Ravachol introduce themselves, talk about the Symposium, and then uncover some arcane games from their game discovery homework. Have we designed a game yet?

In this episode, we mentioned:

And there's more:

]]>