System Mastery
422 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★★ - 215 ratingsJef and Jon review old roleplaying games
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Episodes
Expounded Universe 5 – Horkin’ Up Dangle Hams
August 07, 2017 15:06 - 68.5 MBWelcome to the majesty of chapters 13-15. In which our hero Prince Xizor capers and cavorts about most evilly, Luke does some canyon racing, Threepio belabors the joke, and … […]
D&D 3rd Edition – System Mastery 100
July 31, 2017 15:10 - 2 hourshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/system-mastery-100-dungeons-dragons-3rd-edition1.mp3 Well, it’s been four years. Honestly when we started the gimmick of doing D&D every 25 episodes we never thought we’d actually get as far as third edition. Here we are though! 3rd Edition D&D and all it’s accompanying rules-as-physics and expansive OGL accoutrements, laid bare for your amusement over way too much time. Thanks again for all the support, dudes! Maudlin, choked up us wil...
Expounded Universe 4 – Stupid Sexy Xizor
July 25, 2017 01:50 - 63.2 MBThese chapters are in a bit of a holding pattern, but not us, damn it! We discuss the value of Xizor’s workout regimen, Dash Rendar’s continued value as an employee, […]
Gamma Crawl X – Episode 3
July 21, 2017 04:25 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/gamma-crawl-x-3.mp3 This time on the continuing adventures of Occulus Vive, Teddy Rustbin, and Yu-go the Nyarlathotank we find our heroes faced with a fiendish trap and pitted against the fiendish Bird Brothers in a fight to the…death? Listen and find out on the newest episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sailor Moon RPG – System Mastery 99
July 19, 2017 02:25 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/system-mastery-99-sailor-moon.mp3 Moon Prism Power! Right? Right? That’s what she says sometimes? Look this is weird for us. Not our usual thing. So we brought in a ringer! A guy that’s watched all this and even played this game, and also I guess he’s our boss sort of, James D’Amato of the One Shot Podcast Network. He’ll help us tease out the meaning of all of this! By the way, don’t forget to check out James’ kickstarter, Dungeon Do...
Expounded Universe 3 – Rendar Unto Xizor What Is Xizor’s
July 11, 2017 00:48 - 73.7 MBIn this episode Vader doesn’t look back, Luke blows up TIE fighters, Lando and Leia fly around with Dash, Luke blows up TIE fighters, Xizor visits Space Tony Roma’s, a […]
Gamma Crawl X – Episode 2
July 04, 2017 18:47 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/gamma-crawl-x-2a.mp3 On today’s episode of Gamma Crawl X, our heroes encounter a slimy surprise, followed shortly thereafter by Deadstone the Gatekeeper. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Legendary Lives – System Mastery 98
July 04, 2017 04:35 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/system-mastery-98-legendary-lives.mp3 The countdown to episode 100 begins! This week, Legendary Lives. Just another heartbreaker you’ve never heard of? Maybe. Does it commit several of the weird sins of old game design? Oh absolutely? Can you play as rad snake dudes? YES! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 2 – Xizor Lovely
June 27, 2017 05:08 - 64.8 MBSerious question. How is there so little Xizor/Vader fic on the internet? Just seems like an obvious thing. This episode was recorded with a test mic rig so be gentle […]
Exquisite Replicas – System Mastery 97
June 20, 2017 06:23 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/system-mastery-97-exquisite-replicas.mp3 You know what we forgot to do in this one? Make fun of that Anonymous motto about how they’re legion or whatever. I guess we just forgot. Oh well. This is a game that reimagines the internet hacker collaborative or whatever as a bunch of insane homeless people fighting invisible extradimensional invaders. That’s certainly worth some points for originality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...
Gamma Crawl X – Episode 1
June 19, 2017 02:05 - 47 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/mad-max-x-crawl-1.mp3 As demanded by the public (and the Patreon) we have begun our first ever Actual Play series, Gamma Crawl X. In this show, we are joined by our GM Quinn (of Swallows of the South and various other podcasts) and friend of the show Brad, to adventure in the far-flung mutant madness that is the arenas of Gamma World. In this episode, we introduce the format and create characters. And soon, the actual game begins. Lear...
Expounded Universe 1 – Dark Shadow(s of the Empire)
June 12, 2017 06:05 - 76.6 MBOkay, here we go. A whole new show just to clear our minds and try out something new. Don’t worry, if you were listening because you liked our signature “terrible […]
Nexus: The Infinite City – System Mastery 96
June 06, 2017 05:09 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/system-mastery-96-nexus-the-infinite-city.mp3 Man this city is so infinite, it’s like you don’t even know. Crazy aliens rub shoulders with alternate humans in this early 90s kitchen sink style game with a great roster of now-famous authors. Also we make fun of each other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The End is Near – Afterthought 56
June 01, 2017 16:53 - 73.3 MBOur trip report, a little more musing on the nature of the 200 Word RPG, and a big scary announcement. Also listener questions and dumb jokes!
200 Word RPG Challenge – System Mastery 95
May 23, 2017 02:38 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/system-mastery-95-200-word-rpg-winners.mp3 It was a blast to help judge this year’s 200 Word RPG Challenge to assist David Schirduan in his yearly scheme to elicit all kinds of creativity from the online RPG community. And while they were all fun to read, we did eventually settle on a few winners this year. Our part in the rewards process was an episode dedicated to the winners, and here it is! Please enjoy this rare glimpse into the world...
Full Circle – Afterthought 55
May 16, 2017 01:14 - 62.6 MBIn this episode we’re going to discuss mature content in games, but probably more importantly we’re going to discuss our new membership in the One Shot Podcast Network. I’ll break […]
Purgatory – System Mastery 94
May 09, 2017 04:00 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/system-mastery-94-purgatory.mp3 Warning: This episode is for mature gamers only. So if you think the word “Boogers” is still pretty funny, maybe you should wait til we review the RPG adaptation of the Sega Genesis classic, Boogerman. Til then, this is a cute little game that incorporates a lot of Heaven/Hell mythology with … oh let’s just say all of the LARP suggestions you’d find in a Mind’s Eye Theater Book. Learn more about your ad choi...
Talislanta – System Mastery 93
April 26, 2017 03:14 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/system-mastery-93-talislanta.mp3 It’s not too late to go support the new Kickstarter for the next edition of this weird but fairly charming game if you want. It will be very soon, which just means I have to remember to edit this post later. Don’t worry, future historians, I didn’t. This game has a lot of races. Like… fifteen thousand? More? I forget. Oh, and the specific edition we have was hard to find a photo of, so I stuck our copy ...
Peas and Carrots – Afterthought 54
April 18, 2017 03:22 - 77.5 MBVacation recaps! Settling if we’re too mean about LARPing. Questions from you! It’s an action packed adventure through wonderment and buffoonery!
Cthulhu Live – System Mastery 92
April 12, 2017 01:15 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/system-mastery-92-cthuhlu-live.mp3 It’s a game for only the dapperest of beardsmen on today’s System Mastery. We’re talking Cthulhu Live, a game of rapidly going insane while extras cavort about in the background. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 73 – Fenton Rising
April 01, 2017 07:40 - 82.2 MBToday’s episode: Season 2 – Episode 7: SuperDuckTales – Frozen Assets The scourge that is Fenton Crackshell won’t belay his bashing on our beleaguered brains. Blast it, he’s got me […]
The Whispering Vault – System Mastery 91
March 29, 2017 04:41 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/system-mastery-91-the-whispering-vault.mp3 If you listen real close you can actually hear the vault whispering. It’s not worth it though, he’s just reading the Humor in Uniform section out of old Reader’s Digests. It’s The Whispering Vault! Were you expecting a Cenobite simulator? Because you got one! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Secret is Inside – Afterthought 53
March 21, 2017 03:50 - 71.3 MBSo here’s an interesting first. The author of The Secret of Zir’an, Chris Hockabout, is a listener! So when we covered his book, he reached out to us. Thank goodness […]
The Secret of Zir’An – System Mastery 90
March 14, 2017 03:26 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/system-mastery-90-the-secret-of-ziran.mp3 The Secret of Zir’an is probably that deep under the challenging layout and heaped on layers of confusing story, accessible only to people who are really willing to roll up their sleeves and dig for it, is more confusing story. Please enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Continuation – Afterthought 52
March 07, 2017 04:39 - 76 MBWe talk about things that aren’t FATAL so hard, it’s crazy! Can you blame us? We just don’t want to talk about it anymore. Plus, your questions, answered at last.
FATAL – System Mastery 89
February 28, 2017 02:39 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/system-mastery-89-fatal.mp3 Well folks, you made it happen. Grats to all! There’s no way this is worth any more of our time or yours than the extra-long episode we’ve thrown on here for you today (and the bonus content that’ll be over on the Patreon) so enjoy this pointless dimwitted horror show while it lasts. Keep in mind there are a few exciting announcements at the end of today’s episode, so stay with us through the miasma. If you wan...
Rambling Men – Afterthought 51
February 21, 2017 05:25 - 68.7 MBThis is legitimately not a great episode if you like people that can stay on topic. Otherwise I think it’s one of our favorites.
Star Frontiers – System Mastery 88
February 14, 2017 02:52 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/system-mastery-88-star-frontiers1.mp3 It’s the space 80s! Feather your hair and ready your giant wrap-around bubble glasses for some interstellar adventure where the computers are so advanced that Oregon Trail has four colors! This game is, in a shocking surprise to us, imaginative, relatively simple, and fun! Join us for Star Frontiers: Alpha Dawn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mea Culpa – Afterthought 50
February 08, 2017 05:20 - 81.9 MBToday we invite a guest on to tell us all about how Nephilim is apparently a pretty good game, and it’s Kalum, the host of The Rolistes Podcast. A native […]
Nephilim – System Mastery 87
January 31, 2017 05:15 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/system-mastery-87-nephilim.mp3 The early 90s seem positively ripe with games that are more character creation tool than game, and Nephilim is no exception. Join the ranks of weird energy spirits that have a collection of past lives, possession capability and spells, and honestly, really seem like the bad guys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mad MaXCrawl – Afterthought 49
January 24, 2017 03:05 - 83.7 MBPeople kept asking us what we thought the best way to adapt the XCrawl concept was. I think our title this week makes our opinion readily apparent.
XCrawl (D20) – System Mastery 86
January 17, 2017 04:28 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/system-mastery-86-xcrawl.mp3 Man, I hadn’t even seen the regular cover of this til I was putting this together. That’s uhh… well I guess Luke Cage found some chain mail made by Stussy or Jnco? Also someone give Katana back the rest of her outfit, she looks like a member of 90’s X-Force. This is XCrawl. The game of professional modern-day dungeon crawling in a Rome-themed American dystopia. You read it right. The premise is actually pret...
Sick Bros – Afterthought 48
January 11, 2017 07:11 - 78.8 MB] I’m gonna be honest here, I was not well while recording this and I literally do not remember what pretense we used for the discussion portion. I think it […]
The Babylon Project – System Mastery 85
January 03, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/system-mastery-85-the-babylon-project.mp3 Get ready to recreate the dramatic adventures of Captain John Sheridan, psychic lady Ivanova, kindly space vampire Londo Mollari, and – did the doctor guy get a name? I forget – but you know, be sure not to do it on the actual space station the show was on, and that you don’t set it in any time period after season 2, and that you don’t let too many Narn be on your team, with The Babylon Project, a st...
Nightlife – System Mastery 84
December 20, 2016 05:07 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/system-mastery-84-nightlife.mp3 Looking for a game where you can play a vampire, werewolf, ghost, frankenstein, demon, or …Native American nature spirit? And you you say you want it to predate 90% of White Wolf? Perhaps it’s ridiculous 1991 mullets you crave? Well look no further because we bring you Nightlife! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Holidays – Afterthought 47
December 13, 2016 05:48 - 88.4 MBHappy Holidays from your friendly neighborhood System Masters. All that means is that the intro is holiday themed though, don’t you worry. It’s still us talking about Champions and listener […]
Champions – System Mastery 83
December 06, 2016 03:11 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/system-mastery-83-champions.mp3 Time for the HERO system, one of the big dogs of generic systems, in what is arguably it’s most popular incarnation, the very, very modular Champions. Build a hero absolutely any way you want. Literally any idea you have for a crazy hero, you get right on it and make that hero. Just, you know, bring some graph paper, and a calculator, and a mechanical pencil, and some .7 lead, and some Jolt Cola (it’s 1989 i...
With Special Guest James D’Amato – Afterthought 46
November 29, 2016 00:41 - 64.1 MBWe’ve had him join us for questions and interviews before, but as long as we were visiting to be on his show, we figured “Why not bring him along for […]
Cyberworld – System Mastery 82
November 22, 2016 02:12 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/system-mastery-82-cyberworld.mp3] In today’s episode we gather to pass judgement down upon Cyberworld, the story of a distant future where an emperor that bizarrely shares the first AND last name of the book’s author (what a coincidence!) rules both North and South America with an iron fist that probably has a snap bracelet on it and an Alice in Chains CD clutched in it (1992 jokes people). Join us won’t you, as we dive in to a dystopian cy...
Plot Armor – Afterthought 45
November 15, 2016 07:29 - 96.4 MBIn these insane times, why not hearken back with us to a simpler day, when things weren’t just stupid every second, and there were good things to talk about and […]
Over the Edge – System Mastery 81
November 08, 2016 04:00 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/system-mastery-81-over-the-edge.mp3 Well lookie here! Written by Jonathan Tweet (author of 3rd Edition D&D). Designed by Tweet and Robin D. Laws (Author of Feng Shui). There’s basically no way this won’t be crazy and interesting. It’s Over the Edge, almost definitely the only tabletop roleplaying game that purports to be based on the writings of William Burroughs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The VVampire – Afterthought 44
November 01, 2016 04:55 - 91.1 MBHey, hope you had a good Halloween! We made this instead of doing stuff. Because Halloween on a Monday should be against the law, and also we’re old. Vampire talk […]
Vampire: The Masquerade (2nd Edition) – System Mastery 80
October 25, 2016 04:34 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/system-mastery-80-vampire-the-masquerade.mp3 We’re drawing ever closer to the terrifying end of White Ween, and we figured why not tackle an 800 pound gorilla a week before every sad internet friend you hate puts on their makeshift Harambe costumes. It’s Vampire: The Masquerade! The seminal White Wolf classic which is dripping with blood, gore, and pretension! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Frankenstein’s Dad – Afterthought 43
October 18, 2016 17:30 - 77.3 MBThere you go. Frankenstein’s Dad. We called a whole show that. We heard you. Questions? Yes. Weird intro? Yes. Us arguing about Blade and a White Wolf Incredible Hulk game? […]
Promethean: The Created – System Mastery 79
October 12, 2016 17:38 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/system-mastery-79-promethean.mp3 Happy October, dear listeners! You didn’t think we’d skip it, did you? Halloween is so easy to play around in it’s basically the podcaster Christmas. So it’s all White Wolf, all month long at System Mastery, and we’re getting started with Promethean, the game that hoovers up the leftover mythology after all the other White Wolf monster titles and somehow adroitly bakes it into a man.. with blonde hair and a...
The Boys Wonder – Afterthought 42
October 04, 2016 03:48 - 91.6 MBWow, we do go on. I think this might be the biggest episode we’ve ever recorded. Then again, it’s because we have a ton to say about Batman and Everyone […]
Batman Roleplaying Game – System Mastery 78
September 29, 2016 04:55 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/system-mastery-78-batman-roleplaying-game1.mp3 Da na na na na na na na na na na na na na na TABLES. TABLES. It’s Batman, all right. Man is it ever Batman. As a spinoff of a larger game, this game really knew how to focus. But can the tone overcome the mechanics? Nope! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hot Dog Cube – Afterthought 41
September 20, 2016 04:14 - 82.8 MBWe have a few more thoughts to bring you about Bloop Lanet, then we dive into some particularly great questions from listeners. Now let’s all sit back and listen, shall […]
Blue Planet – System Mastery 77
September 13, 2016 05:33 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/system-mastery-77-blue-planet.mp3 Cyborg orcas, mutant cat super scientists, “squids” and more await you on the distant water planet ingeniously named “Poseidon.” You can make all sorts of amazing characters that certainly could have all sorts of amazing adventures, though I don’t think we ever figured one out. It’s Blue Planet! You’re going to tolerate it! Note that the cover art we used from the poster is way cooler than the book, we ju...
Animes – Afterthought 40
September 07, 2016 04:06 - 77 MBJef was deeply tired and woozy throughout this recording, and Jon was gracious enough to tolerate his bizarre rambling. It’s not as much about anime as you’re probably hoping, but […]