System Mastery
422 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★★ - 215 ratingsJef and Jon review old roleplaying games
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Macho Women with Guns – System Mastery 76
August 30, 2016 04:08 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/system-mastery-76-macho-women-with-guns1.mp3 Aw yeah, we got your boobsplosions, your vagcapitations, and your brutal wombsaws all up in this one. It’s Macho Women with Guns, a parody game that uses generous margins and a lot of art to lightly spread a surprisingly complicated game over about 60 exploitative pages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
THAC0 – Afterthought 39
August 23, 2016 05:07 - 72.2 MBTOTALLY EXTREME! We get around to explaining the concept of hitting Armor Class 0, which was noticeably missing from our recent review of AD&D 2nd Edition. So we handle it, […]
AD&D 2nd Edition – System Mastery 75
August 16, 2016 05:03 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/system-mastery-75-add-2nd-edition.mp3 It’s our three year anniversary here at System Mastery! Jon and Jef entered the bonds of holy podcastimony in August of 2013 and it’s been wonderful ever since, except for those times we’ve cheated with One Shot. As per tradition, every 25 episodes it’s D&D time, and episode 75 is no exception as we take a long hard look at the classic 2nd edition of AD&D. You know the one, it’s got all that bad blue a...
Danke Schoen – Afterthought 38
August 09, 2016 02:50 - 88.9 MBHey everyone, thanks so much for enabling this dumb thing we’ve been doing for three years. Here’s an Afterthought episode to celebrate our anniversary, which I’m sure you’ll enjoy. Since […]
Testament D20 – System Mastery 74
August 02, 2016 04:33 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/system-mastery-74-testament-d20.mp3 Okay, we were getting a little too friendly about games and movies around here, it was high time we picked something to straight up laugh at. This is Testament, the best idea for a D20 supplement with more than one feat for farmers ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In Theaters Now – Ghostbusters (2016)
July 28, 2016 07:13 - 58.3 MBFind out who was right about this movie. Was it terrible like the angry white men on the internet that refused to see it said or was it good like […]
Pokemons and Fraggleses – Afterthought 37
July 26, 2016 04:15 - 69.2 MBFeng Shui was a great game, and we missed a lot of stuff during our official review, so here’s a chance to talk about it some more! Also a chance […]
Feng Shui – System Mastery 73
July 19, 2016 04:09 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/system-mastery-73-feng-shui.mp3 This game was about as good as everyone told us it would be. “Don’t cover it” they said. “It’s not even for you guys.” Well we showed them, those guys I just made up. Feng Shui is an action movie RPG where you’re basically supposed to constantly do the most badass thing you can all the time until you die or win. It’s very neat. Please enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Vacation Time – Afterthought 36
July 12, 2016 04:19 - 73.7 MBJon reports on the quality of Ireland and their criminally small sodas, Jef waxes rhapsodic about a crazy awesome band, and listener questions are asked and almost answered before diverting […]
System Mastery Actual Play 4 – Love/Dread Jenga
July 04, 2016 20:54 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/system-mastery-actual-play-love-dread.mp3 Vacations can’t stop us, and neither can federal holidays. Step right up and listen to our first full-length Actual Play episode, featuring the doomy tale of the Valentine’s Day killer assaulting… well I’m not actually sure what city this ended up being after all the arguing. We combine amazing RPG Dread (not to be reviewed by the likes of us) and ridiculous Jenga ripoff Love Jenga (LOVE COMMUNICATI...
Railroading and Pizza – Afterthought 35
June 28, 2016 03:41 - 75.6 MBCan a game rely heavily on GM fiat to function? How many rules does a game actually need that aren’t just “let the DM figure it out?” Also, if […]
Everway – System Mastery 72
June 21, 2016 01:19 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/system-mastery-72-everway.mp3 What’s in this box? Who drew a big circle on the cover? What’s up with the grey swirly mist situation in the background? In Everway, players make characters by telling each other stories about little picture cards with questions on the back. A faux tarot deck is also involved. It’s a bizarre, beautiful, isolated gem that was too weird to evolve any further in the gaming world, and we got a copy. Learn more...
Whaaat – Afterthought 34
June 14, 2016 01:22 - 59 MBOstensibly this one is about things that are so bad that they swing around towards being good. I’d like to say that our insane ramblings at the beginning are an […]
Rifts Parts 2 – System Mastery 71
June 07, 2016 04:02 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/system-mastery-71-rifts-part-2.mp3 Well, here we are. We put Rifts in the rearview. We still love this dumb game. In today’s episode, we finish our discussion of the core book. RCCs, OCCs, psionics, magic, and the crazy world of Rifts Earth. Don’t forget to check out the bonus content over on our Patreon if you haven’t already joined that train. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Trip Report – Afterthought 33
June 02, 2016 14:47 - 61.1 MBWe’re back! Our trip to Kubla Con in the Bay Area took a lot out of us, and so this episode might be a few days behind schedule. But if […]
Rifts Parts 1 – System Mastery 70
May 24, 2016 04:33 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/system-mastery-70-rifts-part-1.mp3 We hope you’re as ready for this as we are. After 70 episodes, it’s time to review the game that somehow started both of us down the path that ultimately led to System Mastery existing at all. Rifts was the first game for both teenage Jef and teenage Jon, and somehow we grew into almost functional adults anyway! We can’t even begin to cram everything crazy about this book into one episode, so watch this s...
Hiro Protagonist – Afterthought 32
May 17, 2016 04:11 - 64.6 MBJon speaks up in defense of games where you start with nothing. Questions are answered. Convictions are challenged. The very foundations of the world are shaken til the firmament lies […]
Discworld RPG – System Mastery 69
May 10, 2016 03:37 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/system-mastery-69-gurps-discworld.mp3 Today is good day for somebody else to die! We almost like Discworld TOO much, so we start by trying our hardest to review GURPS Lite. After that, it’s a visit to the back of the Great Turtle in this licensed game that was actually written in part by the source that’s being licensed! It’s Discworld, it’s powered by GURPS, and also there’s some music with rocks in. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...
System Mastery Actual Play – Noisy Person Cards
May 08, 2016 16:47 - 52 MBToday, System Mastery gathered a few friends in a room to play Noisy Person Cards, a game designed by friends of the show James D’Amato and Kat Kuhl. It’s a […]
New Point – Afterthought 31
May 03, 2016 01:32 - 72.6 MBWe discuss the notion of RPGs that greatly diverge from even the most basic concepts of the genre. No going on adventures? Not even playing a character? Why not? Then […]
Bunnies & Burrows – System Mastery 68
April 26, 2016 03:36 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/system-mastery-68-bunnies-burrows.mp3 This game has achieved a sort of fame because the name implies that it might be sort of friendly and cuddly. It’s been referenced in other games as the RPG you should seek out if you’re looking for an easy time. Like the training wheels of games. Well let me tell you now, what they called training wheels in 1976 is what we’d call “not punching your kid for falling off the bike” now. This game may only...
Nemesis – Afterthought 30
April 19, 2016 04:19 - 68.1 MBJef’s been complaining about merits and flaws for long enough now that people are starting to ask what’s his damage exactly. So this week we examine his damage by discussing […]
7th Sea – System Mastery 67
April 12, 2016 01:14 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/system-mastery-67-seventh-sea.mp3 No really, it’s genuine this time! An actual review of the first edition of the famous swashbuckling RPG 7th Sea. An interesting blend of very familiar mechanics, curious ideas for character creation, and not-Europe world building created by famous RPG advice dingus John Wick. This game has a hell of a following. The 2nd edition was recently the most well-funded RPG kickstarter to date! But before we dig...
Oops, All Plugs – Afterthought 29
April 05, 2016 04:58 - 62 MBWe’re joined this week by friend of the show James D’Amato, who is here to tell us all about his new kickstarter for Paracosm Press’ new game, Noisy Person Cards. […]
Not Exactly 7th Sea – System Mastery 66
April 01, 2016 01:26 - 57 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/system-mastery-66-7th-sea.mp3 April Fools! This is really more about an hour of digressions. People keep asking what the point is, so here’s the point of that. Actually have you ever seen the movie “The Point?” That was weird, right? Just that wobbly 70s line-art cartoon style you see in stuff like Pink Panther and occasional sex-ed cartoons, and a bunch of stuff designed to encourage you to think for yourself. Sorta boring, honestly. ...
Car Vores – Afterthought 28
March 22, 2016 03:24 - 65 MBAfter a brief dissection of what just left us feeling so dyspeptic while reading and reviewing the Great War of Magellan, we set our sights on the new and improved […]
The Great War of Magellan- System Mastery 65
March 15, 2016 02:10 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/system-mastery-65-the-great-war-of-magellan.mp3 So… this one didn’t really have any art assets large enough to use for the rotating display thing. Please enjoy a fine Magellanic Penguin. It’s as relevant as anything else would have been. This game is about a big war in space between the evilloids and the goodites. It was written by a fellow who starred in the 70s Battlestar Galactica. There’s a surprising amount of information about agri...
Pure Madness – Afterthought 27
March 08, 2016 05:03 - 63.9 MBHow do you build a game so that when you release extra content, you aren’t just rendering the first book obsolete? Just how far ahead do you really have to […]
Dragonball Z Anime Adventure Game – System Mastery 64
March 01, 2016 05:43 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/system-mastery-64-dragonball-z.mp3 It took us a long time to get to this book because we were gathering power. This week we present our in-depth analysis of this RPG about gathering balls. It’s Dragonball Z, the Anime Adventure Game, also available as a wall scroll or plastic maquette! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
System Mastery Actual Play – Dr Magnethands 2
February 29, 2016 16:08 - 21.8 MBSystem Mastery Actual Play – Doctor Magnethands 2 Doctor Magnethands is so fun it’s hard to play it just once. So we didn’t. Here’s episode two, a tense and revelatory […]
Guests – Afterthought 26
February 23, 2016 04:47 - 61.4 MBWe had all these people in the house for some Actual Play stuff, so we figured “why not just keep them sitting around, ply them with pizza, and turn this […]
System Mastery Actual Play – Dr Magnethands 1
February 22, 2016 17:27 - 36.6 MBSystem Mastery Actual Play – Doctor Magnethands 1 Alright already, you bought us all this equipment, we’ll try “making friends” and “recording creative content instead of just mocking things.” Today we […]
Synnibarr 3rd Edition – System Mastery 63
February 16, 2016 05:33 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/system-mastery-63-synnibarr-3rd.mp3 We stop by the realms of Raven “Combat Spanking” McCracken once more to see if there’s still the fires of mad genius behind his eyes. Will we find more incredible insanity? Or did he, like Icarus, sail too close to the sun? Join us on a journey of discovery, won’t you? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Alternate History – Afterthought 25
February 09, 2016 06:22 - 57.3 MBWe take a little time to discuss our own favorite alternate histories, like what might have happened if the Kennedy assassination didn’t, and so on. We also answer a great […]
Dinosaur Planet: Broncosaurus Rex – System Mastery 62
February 02, 2016 07:04 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/dinosaur-planet-broncosaurus-rex-system-mastery-62.mp3 It’s become apparent over time that there are a few archetypes of bad games. You’ve got Vision of a Madman, as seen in Synnibarr or Skyrealms of Jorune. Fun-Hating Deathslog, as seen in any number of heartbreakers and serious business games. Then there’s Boring Trifle, a catch-all category that covers any game that is too boring or derivative to hold the imagination. Today’s game is a...
Peevish – Afterthought 24
January 26, 2016 04:55 - 60 MBIn this episode we discuss our pet peeves in game design. Yes, I know that’s the theme of the whole podcast. We were just being more specific this time. Tell […]
Ralph Bakshi’s Wizards – System Mastery 61
January 19, 2016 04:33 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/system-mastery-61-ralph-bakshis-wizards.mp3 Someone must have really liked our review of the movie, because the demand for this was pretty high. Today we present Wizards: the RPG. The game that finally tells us the name of the movie’s famous horseballs (which we reject because they are called horseballs). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Randomized – Afterthought 23
January 12, 2016 16:14 - 61.2 MBPlease find enclosed one discussion regarding random elements in games. Can there be too much randomization? Where’s the balancing point and how to find it? Could we perhaps abandon that […]
Gamma World – System Mastery 60
January 04, 2016 20:17 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/system-mastery-60-gamma-world.mp3 Today we’re thrilled to bring you a game where you can play as a swarm of tiny yetis hanging around with a robot hawk and have an amazing, basically balanced game. Gamma World 7th edition is a favorite here, and we’re starting 2016 with a breath of radioactive post-apocalyptic fresh air. Don’t worry, in two weeks we’ll be down in the filth showing off the filthiest bits of filth to each other, like two Goll...
Positive Vibes – Afterthought 22
December 29, 2015 17:08 - 72.9 MBTell me boy, what day was this recorded? Why, ’twas Christmas Day! And then it was released the Tuesday following, thus ruining any Christmas magic it may have contained! This […]
Immortal: The Invisible War Pt. 2 – System Mastery 59
December 22, 2015 21:35 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/system-mastery-59-immortal-part-2.mp3 We discussed the rules, now let’s talk about the fluff in the second episode of Immortal: The Invisible War. Just what is a Darkle, and what Femmes it? And shouldn’t the Tautha really be the Tuatha? Probably! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Terms and Conditions – Afterthought 21
December 15, 2015 16:17 - 59.1 MBAfter cramming our tiny mortal meat brains with the craziness of Immortal, we needed to discuss the concept of setting a game apart by the playful act of renaming every […]
Immortal: The Invisible War Pt. 1 – System Mastery 58
December 08, 2015 15:42 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/system-mastery-58-immortal-the-invisible-war-part-1.mp3 It’s been a while since we’ve hit such a rich, dense vein of crazy that we had to slow the pace down and take two episodes to really tease out the filaments. Could Immortal: The Invisible War become the worthy successor to the glorious nonsense of Synnibar? Well to find out, we’re taking a few hours to pop on down to the Dominions, evade the Sanguinary, and ask the Conundrums. Sunedri...
Ripoff vs. Reference – Afterthought 20
December 01, 2015 07:53 - 58.7 MBWhere’s the line between a good old fashioned ripoff and a well-crafted homage? At what point does imitation cease to be flattery? Also what would we name our kids if […]
Legacy: War of Ages – System Mastery 57
November 24, 2015 18:08 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/system-mastery-57-legacy-war-of-ages.mp3 You ever get the urge to take the Highlander movies and William Gibson’s Sprawl trilogy and just artlessly mush them together like Playdough? This book does exactly that, and then tosses in a little brazenly lifted Ursula K. LeGuin material just for seasoning. It’s Legacy, the Highlander game without the license rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Longest Nard – Afterthought 19
November 17, 2015 17:41 - 70.8 MBWe try to marathon every question anyone sent us all week (spoiler alert, I just found another one this morning), as well as recommend a new game a listener made […]
Panty Explosion – System Mastery 56
November 10, 2015 16:43 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/system-mastery-56-panty-explosion.mp3 Man, just look at that title. How terrifying is this going to be? Well, we don’t want to spoil anything, so here’s Panty Explosion, a game that is verifiably about Japanese schoolgirls, and some of them are psychic sometimes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The One Shot Podcast – Afterthought 18
November 03, 2015 16:33 - 54.4 MBWe talk about the value of one shot games and short campaigns in this episode, so it was hard to think of a better name. It’s cool, certainly no one […]
The World of Tales from the Crypt – System Mastery 55
October 27, 2015 16:07 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/the-world-of-tales-from-the-crypt-system-mastery-55.mp3 After recording two episodes about this book, I’m just out of death-related puns. Sorry about that. But hey, there’s a bunch in the episode if that’s what you were hoping for! It’s the Masterbook licensed-classic, The World of Tales from the Crypt! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
With Special Guest David Schirduan – Afterthought 17
October 20, 2015 07:54 - 63.6 MBAnother interview? What’s the deal, it’s like we’re getting respectable over here or something. Hang on… faaaaaaaart. Nope, we’re still good. This time we sit down with game designer David […]