Plot Points
204 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 58 ratingsPlot Points is a monthly podcast which discusses table-top role-playing games and their supplements as literature. Our quirky panel discusses games old and new, spotlights innovations in the hobby, and links to literature.
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Episodes
When D&D Went Hollywood: The Tragedy of Dragon Strike: Episode 119
November 01, 2018 00:46 - 40 minutes - 45.9 MBOnce upon a time, D&D wanted to make a game for 8-year-olds. It was to include a video tape explaining how to play the game. The story of the game's creation is one of ancient computers, bad acting, disastrous management decisions, and Harry Hamlin. Harken and gather round, and hear of the tragedy of Dragon Strike! Interested in Plot Points? Back us on Patreon! Let others know about Plot Points to help the ‘pod grow! Review us on iTunes to help others find us. To let us know what y...
Gaming Saves the World: Episode 118
October 16, 2018 23:53 - 1 hour - 69.3 MBCat Tobin, Shel Kahn, and Daniel Kwan explain how gaming can make positive change in the world at this seminar from Gen Con 2018! And fair warning, a few cuss words do slip out... To our all our loyal listeners, we have been a bit delayed this month. Ben had a sudden death in the family, which to say the least put a crimp in our recording schedule. We will probably only get two episodes out this month, but will hopefully be back on track in November! Interested in Plot Points? Back us o...
Pelgrane Press Seminar at Gen Con 2018: Episode 117
September 28, 2018 20:54 - 55 minutes - 63.6 MBHere about the good things coming from Pelgrane Press at their 2018 seminar from Gen Con! Interested in Plot Points? Back us on Patreon! Let others know about Plot Points to help the ‘pod grow! Review us on iTunes to help others find us. To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at [email protected]! Find us on Twitter @PlotPointsPod! Find us on Facebook!
A Deep Look at D&D's Dwarves: Episode 116
September 15, 2018 17:00 - 40 minutes - 56.2 MBWhere do dwarves come from? What are the duergar, and why do they burrow into dwarven strongholds and kill all the dwarves they find? Find out as the Plot Points gang takes a deep look at the third chapter of Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes for Dungeons & Dragons from Wizards of the Coast! Interested in Plot Points? Back us on Patreon! Let others know about Plot Points to help the ‘pod grow! Review us on iTunes to help others find us. To let us know what you think about this episode, emai...
A New Genre? Kaleidoscopic Fantasy: Episode 115
September 08, 2018 19:15 - 1 hour - 90.6 MBRenegade Game Studio is attempting to create a new genre of fantasy, which they describe as kaleidoscopic fantasy, in a new RPG: Overlight. The Plot Points crew take a long look at the game, and the adventure in the corebook. Interested in Plot Points? Back us on Patreon! Let others know about Plot Points to help the ‘pod grow! Review us on iTunes to help others find us. To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at [email protected]! Find us on Twitter @Plot...
We Be Super Goblins! Live @ Gen Con 2018! Episode 114
August 27, 2018 12:18 - 51 minutes - 59.4 MBSarah, Brad, and Ben take a look at Pathfinder's fifth adventure in their goblin epic, We Be Super Goblins! And they do it live! At Gen Con 2018 in scenic downtown Indianapolis, Indiana! With an audience of listeners! Interested in Plot Points? Back us on Patreon! Let others know about Plot Points to help the ‘pod grow! Review us on iTunes to help others find us. To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at [email protected]! Find us on Twitter @PlotPointsPo...
Encounter Theory 101: Episode 113
August 18, 2018 19:26 - 56 minutes - 64.9 MBEncounter Theory argues that the encounter, where players interact with the world of the RPG, is the meat & bones of all RPGs. Is this true, & how can it be applied by GMs and designers? This audio is from Gen Con 2018. Interested in Plot Points? Back us on Patreon! Let others know about Plot Points to help the ‘pod grow! Review us on iTunes to help others find us. To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at [email protected]! Find us on Twitter @PlotPoin...
Why Did TSR Fail? Episode 112
August 09, 2018 19:22 - 58 minutes - 66.9 MBTSR was created to make Dungeons & Dragons, yet by 1996, the first RPG company was drowning in debt. How did TSR arrive in this place? Why did it happen? Ben Riggs gives a summary into his book research on these very questions at Gen Con 2018! Interested in Ben’s book on RPG theory? Back us on Patreon at the $2 level to get the current draft, but act now! He’s sending the book out to publishers, and if he gets a hit, he’ll have to take it down! Let others know about Plot Points to help t...
Is it time to remove the Drow? Episode 111
July 30, 2018 16:47 - 58 minutes - 67.2 MBAre the Drow too weighted down by racist associations to be a part of D&D in the 21st century? That's the question we settle in on as Plot Points takes a deep look at Chapter Two of Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. Interested in Ben’s book on RPG theory? Back us on Patreon at the $2 level to get the current draft, but act now! He’s sending the book out to publishers, and if he gets a hit, he’ll have to take it down! Let others know about Plot Points to help the ‘pod grow! Review us on iTune...
Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of: Episode 110
July 21, 2018 18:40 - 1 hour - 87.1 MBBen, Brad, and Sarah tackle Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of this week. Brad does a deep dive on how Modiphius's 2D20 system works in the world of Conan, and Ben frowns hard at an adventure that makes a better short story than RPG. Interested in Ben's book on RPG theory? Back us on Patreon at the $2 level to get the current draft, but act now! He's sending the book out to publishers, and if he gets a hit, he'll have to take it down! Hear more about Conan on Episode 11, "The Towe...
TSR Goes to War Against DC Comics: Episode 109
July 13, 2018 18:37 - 30 minutes - 34.4 MBDid you know DC Comics used to make Dungones & Dragons comics? And that they stopped because TSR went into competition with them? We explore that story in an excerpt from Ben's book this week on Plot Points! Let others know about Plot Points to help the 'pod grow! Review us on iTunes to help others find us. Not a Patreon supporter yet? See what goodness we have in store for you by backing the 'pod here! To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at plotpointsemail@gmail...
Demons & Devils & Dungeons & Dragons: A Brief History Part II Episode 108
June 27, 2018 00:15 - 47 minutes - 54 MBAfter complaints from pulpit, press, and angry mothers, TSR took demons and devils out of Dungeons & Dragons. Or did they? Soon, D&D supplements were describing "fiends" who lived in the Nine Hells and the Abyss... And aren't they prominent parts of Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes? Enjoy the second part of this deep dive on demons and devils in the world's most popular role-playing game. Haven't heard Part 1 yet? Check it out here! New to Plot Points? Check out a few similar narrative epis...
Demons & Devils & Dungeons & Dragons: A Brief History pt. 1
June 18, 2018 13:54 - 36 minutes - 42.2 MBDemons & devils are some of the fiercest foes in Dungeons & Dragons, but did you know there was a time when they were cut out of the game due to complaints? The Plot Points gang of Ben Riggs, Sarah Babe, and Brad Davies takes a deep delve into the history of demons and devils in the world's most popular role-playing game! New to Plot Points? Check out a few similar narrative episodes. For example, this one on the Satanic panic, this one about how the open gaming license freed D&D, or this o...
Best Game About Thieves Ever? Blades in the Dark
June 02, 2018 19:25 - 58 minutes - 80 MBBlades in the Dark is the RPG of broken people breaking and entering in a fog-shrouded steampunk city infested with ghosts. The Plot Points gang breaks down what makes it one of the best new games of 2017, and why it is revolutionary and influential. In further good news, thanks to YOU, we have met our funding goal of $110 per episode! (Thanks to Patreon-backer Sarah Lynn Ross who nosed us over the top!) In return, we will be doing an actual play podcast using the Basic D&D ruleset. Le...
105: What Do We Read? An AMA
May 19, 2018 16:00 - 49 minutes - 67.4 MBThis week, the Plot Points crew lets YOU decide what we talk about! Sarah, Brad, & Ben chew over our favorite wrestler, books we would recommend, and read aloud some listener mail! Like what we do? Let us know by backing us on Patreon! If we reach $110 per episode by May 31st, we’ll do another actual play podcast. The current idea is to play 1st edition D&D, which might prove to be audio gold. Back the ‘pod here! To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at plotpointsema...
104: Become the Dragon in Epyllion
May 12, 2018 18:22 - 1 hour - 114 MBEpyllion, the role-playing game that lets you take wing as a dragon! Brad, Sarah, and Ben discuss its influences, play, and friendship gem economy. Yes, you read that right. The game has a friendship gem economy! Like what we do? Let us know by backing us on Patreon! If we reach $110 per episode by May 31st, we’ll do another actual play podcast. The current idea is to play 1st edition D&D, which might prove to be audio gold. Back the ‘pod here! To let us know what you think about this ep...
103: Ben's Making a Role-Playing Game
May 05, 2018 14:25 - 28 minutes - 39.7 MBThe gang sits down to listen to Ben talking about the role-playing game he's writing tentatively entitled Wands Against the Apocalypse. It is a game of modern magic where only YOU and your friends can kill the most dangerous mage in the world, Irena Katastrofa. Unfortunately, Katastrofa also knows that only you can destroy her, and she will do everything she can to kill you before you kill her. Tomorrow is Gen Con event registration! Click here to preregister for Plot Points live! Ben is ...
102: Behold an OSR Hexcrawl with Eye-Shattering Player Handout!
April 28, 2018 19:38 - 1 hour - 99.5 MBThe Plot Points gang discusses Hot Springs Island, a suite of two books that are an old-school hex-crawl for the 21st century. One of the books is a world-class player handout containing drawings, maps, and accounts from previous adventurers who have survived Hot Springs Island. The other book is The Dark of Hot Springs Island, a system neutral GM book explaining all the little secrets the authors have prepared for players to explore. Like what we do? Let us know by backing us on Patreon!...
101: GaryCon Audio Odyssey
April 21, 2018 16:28 - 18 minutes - 21.2 MBBen went to GaryCon and through the audio magic of the internet, now YOU are there too! He speaks with Jeffrey Talanian of North Wind Adventures about Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea, Lucus Palosaari of Fat Goblin Games, Daniel Fisher of InnRoads Ministries, and Ken Spencer of Why Not Games. Like what we do? Let us know by backing us on Patreon! If we reach $110 per episode by May 31st, we'll do another actual play, patrons choice! Back the 'pod here! To let us know wha...
100: Star Trek Actual Play
April 15, 2018 16:17 - 3 hours - 211 MBWhat happens when someone who has never seen an episode of Star Trek sits down to play a Star Trek role-playing game? The Plot Points gang sets out to discover the answer, joined by friend of show Ryan Smith and celebrity gamer Elyse Hobson. While a bone-deep geek, and award-winning Pathfinder player, Elyse has managed to live her entire life never having seen an episode of Star Trek! But that doesn't stop her from taking on the role of Commander Riker in "Border Dispute", an adventure for...
99: Pathfinder 2nd Edition Seminar at Gary Con 2018
March 24, 2018 15:44 - 1 hour - 109 MBIt broke the internet when Paizo announced a 2nd edition of the beloved behemoth that is the Pathfinder role-playing game, and your friends at Plot Points were interested too! So they went down to scenic and historic Lake Geneva to record what turned out to be an entire seminar by Paizo pundits Jason Buhlman and Stephen Radney-Macfarland on what we can expect in a second edition! New to Plot Points? Check out some of our earlier discussions of Pathfinder's We Be Goblins! in a two part ep...
98: Five Generations of D&D Design
March 17, 2018 19:59 - 2 hours - 139 MBBen recorded a seminar wherein six game designers who worked on Dungeons and Dragons (Skip Williams, Jon Pickens, Zeb Cook, Ed Stark, Steve Winter, and Mike Mearls) talk about game design. During the talk, current lead designer Mike Mearls may very well have let slip what the next classic D&D game world he will be reviving next! New to Plot Points? Check out our first episode which discussed the seminal AD&D module, Ravenloft. Listen to an interview with Tracy and Laura Hickman here, a di...
97: What's the Point of Plot Points and AMA!
March 10, 2018 12:58 - 29 minutes - 40.6 MBBen, Brad, and Sarah ask, as we come up on 100 episodes, what makes Plot Point the show that it is. We also tackle our first ever question from Patron backer Sarah Ross, who wants to know where a listener to Plot Points should start with the show. Speaking of Patreon, the 'cast has a Patreon now. If we reach $75 per episode by March 14th, we will produce an actual play podcast of Ben, Brad, and Sarah playing Star Trek Adventures which we talked about in Ep. 96. Find us at plotpointsema...
96: Star Trek Adventures from Modiphius Entertainment
March 03, 2018 20:32 - 1 hour - 81.2 MBBen, Brad, & Sarah talk about Star Trek Adventures, the new game set in the final frontier from Modiphius Entertainment! The gang takes a deep dive on "Rescue at Xerxes IV," the adventure meant to introduce newbies of all stripes to the game. Did you know that Plot Points now has a Patreon page? If the podcast gets to $75 per episode by March 14th, the gang will make an actual play podcast of Star Trek Adventures. Back the 'cast to make sure you get more Plot Points! Find us at plotpoin...
95: How Not to Suck at Storytelling
February 25, 2018 02:44 - 54 minutes - 62.8 MBWriter Rick Heinz was kind enough to invite Ben to participate in his seminar on how not to suck at storytelling. Along with him is storyteller Jason Williams. Ben and Rick get into it a little bit, to the delight of all! Did you know that Plot Points now has a Patreon page? Back the 'cast to make sure you get more Plot Points! Find us at [email protected] or @PlotPointsPod on Twitter! Image courtesy Spc. Anthony Zane and is in the public domain.
94: Encounter Theory
February 19, 2018 02:10 - 26 minutes - 30.1 MBBen has been tormenting himself with the following question: Why aren't there better adventures out there? Even great games often only have mediocre adventures. This has led him to a theory of RPGs entitled "Encounter Theory." He discusses it in this trenchant episode. Plot Points now has a Patreon! Support the show, and you'll get more Plot Points! You might also get NPR-style episodes, like this one!
93: Brom Finds TSR
February 11, 2018 18:00 - 20 minutes - 28.7 MBBen's writing a book about the sale of TSR to Wizards of the Coast, and Brad and Sarah ask him about it. He talks about how the artist, Gerald Brom, found work at TSR in the late 1980s. Email Plot Points at [email protected]. On Twitter we're @PlotPointsPod Thanks to Chris Koterba for producing, and 50 Breaks for the tunes! Image by Brom, and courtesy Pinnacle Publishing
92: Tales from the Loop
February 03, 2018 19:02 - 58 minutes - 80.4 MBTales from the Loop from Free League and Modiphius Entertainment is a role-playing game of children and teens exploring high science mysteries. Originally published in Swedish, the game was translated by Modiphius with new material set in the USA written by genius Matt Forbeck. Email Plot Points at [email protected]. On Twitter we're @PlotPointsPod Thanks to Chris Koterba for producing, and 50 Breaks for the tunes! Image courtesy Modiphius and Free League.
91: Best RPG Releases of 2017
December 18, 2017 18:00 - 19 minutes - 27.3 MBBrad, Ben, and Sarah talk over their favorite releases of 2017. Some are brand spanking fresh, some we've talked over before, but we are excited as hell for all of them. Bran wants you to know you can listen to our episode about My Little Pony here, and Cthulhu Confidential here.
90: Xenomorphs & the NEW Role-Playing Game System
December 09, 2017 20:23 - 55 minutes - 76.8 MBThe Plot Points gang discusses the NEW rpg system from EN Publishing and an adventure, Xenomorphs: The Fall of Somerset Landing. You can find it on DriveThruRPG here!
89: Gaming as Ritual and Modern Myth-Making, and Role-Playing Seminar
November 30, 2017 20:12 - 52 minutes - 59.6 MBA panel of luminaries discusses the intersection of gaming, myth, and religion at Gen Con 2017. It was my favorite panel, and it was composed of Nisaba Press's Jaym Gates, Paizo's Lyz Liddell, and the John W. Campbell of role-playing fiction, Chaosium-fiction editor James Lowder.
88: Plot Points Seminar at Gen Con 2017!
November 20, 2017 07:00 - 48 minutes - 55.6 MBOver 80 episodes into Plot Points, the gang takes a moment to think about what they've learned, what they've done, and whether role-playing games are actually literature.
87: Gen Con 2017 Retrospective
November 14, 2017 22:20 - 21 minutes - 28.9 MBThe gang gets together to discuss Gen Con 2017, the 50th anniversary of the world's greatest RPG convention!
86: Rippers! Savage GUMSHOE
October 31, 2017 18:09 - 16 minutes - 19.4 MBBen talks to you while he drives to game about Rippers, a Savage Worlds setting where you kill Dracula, harvest his organs, and install them in your own body. He also discusses hacking the setting for GUMSHOE, and his poor experience with the L5R beta test.
86: Numenera 2 & Weird Discoveries
October 21, 2017 16:46 - 42 minutes - 58.5 MBBen, Sarah, & Brad discuss Weird Discoveries, a compilation of ten adventures for Monte Cook Games' Numenera. Mr. Cook has found a new way to present adventures which, in theory, allows a GM to start running a game after just five minutes of prep! They also discuss Numenera 2, which is Kickstarting right now! Read an article Ben wrote about it for Geek & Sundry here! All images courtesy Monte Cook Games.
85: Starfinder Quickfire!
August 14, 2017 12:56 - 17 minutes - 19.7 MBBen got an early look at Paizo's Starfinder, and is here to give you a hot take on the massive and beautiful corebook. Going to Gen Con? Ben edited a Pathfinder-compatible adventure being play-tested on Friday at 1 PM entitled Triverton. It mixes fantasy role-playing and, believe it or not, libertarian politics. Intrigued? Fascinated? Give it a play on Friday! Want to see Sarah, Ben, and Brad in the flesh? Come to the Plot Points Q&A at Gen Con on Thursday! We're in the Crowne Plaza at...
84: My Little Pony, Tales of Equestria
July 22, 2017 17:43 - 1 hour - 84.1 MBThe Plot Points gang tackles My Little Pony: Tails of Equestria. Plot Points is doing a seminar at Gen Con! Attend here! Also, did you know Sarah makes custom My Little Ponies? Email her at [email protected] if you are interested in such glory as this! Buy and rock out to 50 Breaks' newest album here! Ben has started another podcast, Across the Aisle, where he, a progressive, tries to find solutions to 21st century problems with a libertarian! Find it here!
83: GUMSHOE One-2-One and Cthulhu Confidential
May 20, 2017 20:31 - 1 hour - 96.2 MBToday Brad, Ben, and Sarah talk about Cthulhu Confidential, the first supplement in the GUMSHOE One-2-One line for a single GM and single player. Ben has started another podcast, Across the Aisle, where he, a progressive, tries to find solutions to 21st century problems with a libertarian! Find it here! Check out the Fae Noir Kickstarter, a comic of immigration, invasion, and the undead featuring genius artist and friend of the show, Ian Anastas! Back it here! Plot Points ...
82: Urban Shadows & Apocalypse World engine
April 08, 2017 18:10 - 1 hour - 87.8 MBUrban Shadows is a role-playing game of dark, modern, fantasy co-created by Andrew Medeiros and Mark Diaz-Truman using the Apocalypse World system. As an Apocalypse World game, Urban Shadows is rules-light, fun-heavy, and allows players to bring stories of vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and wizards to your gaming table to see what is going to happen. Interested in Urban Shadows? They just had their first supplement, Dark Streets, come out and you can find it here! Thanks to 50 Brea...
81: Dungeon Crawl Classics & Sailors on the Starless Sea
February 11, 2017 18:10 - 1 hour - 88.3 MBThe gang talks over Old School Revolution darling, Dungeon Crawl Classics and a level 0 adventure for the game, Sailors on the Starless Sea! Taste, feel, and smell the wonders of Appendix N fantasy. Hear Ben mess up the intro, Sarah gasp and the Well of Souls, and Brad brag about his dungeon-crawling chops! Thanks to Chris Koterba for producing, and 50 Breaks for providing awesome tuneage. Check out their latest album here! And this, is what Appendix N looks like!
80: Microscope Actual Play
January 07, 2017 16:52 - 1 hour - 99.4 MBJoin Brad, Ben, and Sarah as they play Ben Robbins' game of history creation, Microscope. Also, come see Ben at the Midwinter Gaming Convention on Saturday, January 14th at noon. He's giving a talk on why it's good to be a geek, and how nerd pastimes make you smarter!
79: Cthulhu Eats Dr. Seuss
December 09, 2016 14:36 - 16 minutes - 19.3 MBBen talks about using Microscope to build a steampunk fantasy world, and Call of Cthulhu for Beginners, which is a Dr. Seuss retelling of Lovecraft's most famous work. Like our bumper music? Buy 50 Breaks new album here!
78: Fireborn
December 01, 2016 21:15 - 52 minutes - 72.5 MBThe gang checks out a gem from the early aughts from Fantasy Flight, Fireborn! It's a game where you play a reincarnated dragon living in a London where magic is coming alive again. Thanks to 50 Breaks for the tunes! Check out their hair-splitting new album here!
77: Ending the Dracula Dossier
November 17, 2016 00:39 - 15 minutes - 17.3 MBBen has been running two Dracula Dossier campaigns over the last 14 months, and one of them just ended! He reflects on what he would have done differently, and advice he would give to other GMs running the campaign. If you want to read about why The Dracula Dossier might be the greatest campaign of all time, click here! Thanks to 50 Breaks for the tunes! Check out their hair-splitting new album here!
76: TimeWatch
November 10, 2016 00:02 - 1 hour - 96.7 MBThe gang take a look at TimeWatch, the amazing game of time travel and pulp action from Pelgrane Press. We have all three of us back at the helm this week, and even have some much-teased good news! Thanks as always to 50 Breaks for their bumper music. Check out their new album here!
75: Lone Wolf Adventure Game Quickfire
November 03, 2016 12:30 - 16 minutes - 18.7 MBIn a quickfire solo episode, Ben talks about The Lone Wolf Adventure Game, which he maintains may be the best beginner product on the market! He also discusses a wide-ranging article by Monica Vallentinelli in which she discusses feeling geek stigma. You can find The Lone Wolf Adventure Game here! Monica Vallentinelli's article is here! You can see Ben's seminar listing at Gamehole Con here!
74: Apocalypse World 2nd Ed Quickfire
October 20, 2016 12:23 - 11 minutes - 13.6 MBBen Riggs comes to you solo this week to quickly discuss Apocalypse World 2nd Edition. Find us on Facebook & Twitter! (And if this episode was a little quiet, do let me know on Facebook!) Thanks as always to producer Chris Koterba, and 50 Breaks for their bumper music! Thanks to Lumpley Games for the image art.
73: 13th Age- Shadows of Eldolan
September 11, 2016 14:44 - 1 hour - 90.6 MBShadows of Eldolan by Cal Moore is an introductory adventure for 13th Age, Pelgrane Press's fantastically popular fantasy game. Designed by Rob Heinsoo and Jonathon Tweet, the game is a mashup of popular mechanics and story-game sensibilities. The Plot Points gang talks fantasy, the adventure, and Icons in this episode! In further good news, Brad has secured a kidney! While this likely means there may be another short hiatus in the future, it does guarantee the long-term existence of the ...
72: Shadow of the Demon Lord
July 31, 2016 15:47 - 54 minutes - 74.6 MBEnjoy Robert J. Schwalb's delve into dark fantasy with Shadow of the Demon Lord. Tremble in fear, be afraid, and game away! Thanks as always to 50 Breaks for their music in this episode, and Chris Koterba for his producing magic!
71: Play with Us at Gen Con!
July 31, 2016 15:30 - 3 minutes - 5.26 MBA quick heads-up on our Gen Con plans, which will hopefully involve you at some point. Ben is running a Night's Black Agents game on Thursday, RPG16102803.