Shane Plays Geek Talk

Shane and fellow GL fan Bill Brackeen geek out on Green Lantern and the Lanterns TV show. Green Lantern trivia (Golden Age, Silver Age, and beyond). The two most well-known Green Lantern oaths and interesting variations. What is the real-life inspiration for the lantern concept? The many things a GL power ring can do besides make constructs. Thoughts on the Emerald Twilight arc (and some behind-the-scenes details). Remembering HEAT: Hal's Emerald Attack/Advancement Team. Guess who the Spectre is now? If you uncouple it from what they did to Hal, there are things about the Kyle Rayner storyline that Shane and Bill like. The influence of the Lensmen novels on the Silver Age Green Lantern. There's much more to Guy Gardner's history than most people realize. The vibrant richness and wonder of the Green Lantern Corps. Has Bill ever called someone a poozer? It's getting a huge response, but what do Shane and Bill think of the Lanterns TV show? Shane's main beef with Lanterns. Is Earl a nod to Hal's old alien pet…

Professor Matt Barton of Matt Chat joins Shane for a gabfest on CRPGs and other things video gamey, plus a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. EverQuest and World of Warcraft still have players. What is Mr. T's connection to WoW, and are fools involved? A cruise through player activity stats for various MMOs, plus which MMO has (or had) the highest player base. Playing tabletop RPGs on a virtual tabletop versus in person. Shane's weekly game group has a hard time finding multiplayer video games they all agree on. Against all odds, a rhomboid is both a muscle and a geometric shape. The age-old question of what is a CRPG? Shane thinks Baldurs Gate 3 is the best adaptation of the tabletop experience ever in a CRPG. What does rat milk taste like, and is it good for the hair? The Army is giving time off to…. play a video game?? (What amazing game could this be??) MMO shooters for the glory of the state. Matt is very impressed with Fallout: New California. The legal ins and outs of game mods. Classic Ultima Online (multiplayer…

Bill Barsh of Pacesetter Games holds forth on Pacesetter Games updates and the 50th Anniversary of Palace of the Vampire Queen, the first module ever published for Dungeons & Dragons. Palace of the Vampire Queen isn't just the first published D&D module; it's also the first published megadungeon. What are Pacesetter's plans for the 50th anniversary of Palace of the Vampire Queen? (hint: they're cool). Shane's inner 13-year-old asks the obligatory question that a 13-year-old would ask about the Vampire Queen. Bill gives his definitive answer on whether the Vampire Queen would own Strahd. OTHER COOL STUFF IN THIS EPISODE: Bill's market view is that people are playing a lot of 5E but aren't buying a lot of new 5E product. Bill predicts the timeframe for the new version of D&D to come out. A surprising amount of B/X D&D is being played vs "Red Box" and BECMI at cons. The third edition of the BX RPG from Pacesetter is unleashing. Dungeon X is coming… Dungeon X is taking the best of D&D from the last 50 years and…

Video game developer Johnny Wood-Brooks discusses his career and No One Left To Die, his new quirky retro indie video game. An update on his Classic Ultima Online project. An overview of his 20+ year career in video games, including Midway, Turbine, Standing Stone, and ZeniMax. How he got into the industry (and what method he used to "cheat"). What programming language is still surprisingly dominant in video game development? The video game industry can be a tough biz. Johnny has been pleasantly surprised by the Godot game engine's capacity for rapid game development. Multiplayer is still surprisingly hard to implement in games after all of this time. The process and challenges of getting your game on Steam (Johnny says the easy part was making the game!). The 8-bit / chiptune soundtrack for No One Left To Die is by Matthew Lister aka Cobra Commander. Shane compares his podcasting approach to Ed Wood. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #292 - 6/27/2026 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon!…

Fellow movie buffs Chris Holmes and Stephen Clements join for an electrifying ambulation through the gothic corridors of over 30 Frankenstein movies, past and present. Chris and Shane disagree on the merits and content of the original Frankenstein novel. Shane has thoughts on spoilers and people expecting them to apply forever. There's Iconic, and then there's iconic. What Frankenstein movie was so bad that Stephen wished his heart would have stopped while watching it, and he begs all of humanity never to watch it? For you Mage: The Ascension fans out there, Dr. Frankenstein was a Son of Ether (and so were the Ghostbusters). Do Frankenstein movies play into our fear of being eaten? Stephen manages to invoke the old military urban legend of the Ether Bunny. Chris will sit through every second of a putrid, horrible movie that he despises at least twice. Chris saw a movie in the theater using Smell-O-Vision… in 2025. Stephen has super-strong (like, super-strong) opinions about Poor Things. Did we mention that…

The second of two interviews with game designer Ken St. Andre, this time focusing on his video game design history (see part one for discussion around his tabletop RPG design). Games discussed in this episode: Tunnels & Trolls: Crusaders of Khazan, Adventure Construction Set, Wasteland (without which there would be no Fallout), and Wasteland 2. Ken's favorite Christopher Reeve Superman movie. One of Shane's pet peeves with current superhero comic book stories (especially DC). The origins of storytelling. Did the Empire from Star Wars have a good side? What happened when Ken and Roberta Williams of Sierra On-Line offered Ken a job? What two classic 80s action flicks helped inspire Wasteland (one is sort of obvious, one might not be), and what does Daffy Duck have to do with it all? What does the Mercenaries, Spies and Private Eyes RPG have to do with Tunnels & Trolls, and what do they both have to do with Wasteland? Ken's thoughts on being involved with Wasteland 2. Ken's never-released superhero game version…

The one and only, amazing, science fiction and fantasy writer, game designer, and poet, John M. Ford (aka "Mike") with Dr. Victor Raymond. A very quick Tékumel update. John M. Ford won a prestigious award for a Christmas card. In addition to his novel writing, he also wrote for RPGs, including Traveller, GURPS, Star Trek, Paranoia, and Ghostbusters. Paranoia is a joyful HOOT. John M. Ford's take on Klingons (including linguistics) is excellent and sublime, and it's a shame it's not Star Trek canon. "Realistic" space combat in science fiction. Reading a John M. Ford novel is a very rewarding exercise in inference. Recommendations on where to start in his bibliography. A brief digression into Harlan Ellison. Sweet memories of Mike (and Darklands, too). Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #289 - 3/30/2026 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean…

Historic RPG designer Ken St. Andre (Tunnels & Trolls, Starfaring, Monsters! Monsters!, Stormbringer, more) joins for this episode. The game that shall not be named. Is it wise to go into dungeons as an adventurer, or do you just need luck? The practicality of six-siders versus Platonic solids. The most powerful buttons in the universe. Who's tougher, the Romulans or the Klingons? Marbles were the collectible card game of their day. Diplomacy variants. Gary Gygax's first introduction to Tunnels & Trolls. Dave Arneson's contribution to Flying Buffalo Games. Ken's impressions of Dave. Ken's opinion on whether OD&D was an actual RPG. Ken told TSR's lawyers, and I quote, "go piss up a rope." Ken's advice to game designers. Clever solutions in dealing with a Balrog. What is "stunting" in an RPG? Tunnels & Trolls on the MetaArcade app. Ken and Shane's predictions about AI's effect on the RPG industry. Mata Hari. Ken was a pioneer in solo RPG adventures (which Shane feels is important). What game of Ken's does he…

Neal Hallford joins to discuss his new book Heroes of Might and Magic: 30th Anniversary Retrospective. The history of HoM&M games is, in many ways, an "epic story" that tells the history of the video game industry and the related human drama in general. Since it's Neal, we also meander into other interesting things, including Planet's Edge, Betrayal at Krondor, and Dungeon Siege (including why they named Farmer "Farmer"). A game company trying to launch seven games all at the same time is probably not the wisest idea. The "box of rocks" approach to writing for games. Neal's new Planet's Edge: Fractured Empires project. Singular vision / small teams versus large teams in game design. Neal has very strong feelings on trends that have hurt the video game industry. What's the connection between Star Trek and Heroes of Might and Magic? The fine line game creators have to walk in making sequels by adding new stuff worth buying, but not changing things so much that it alienates the audience. What is the number…

The Quatermass Experiment, the highly influential series considered the "birth of TV Sci-Fi", with Toby Hadoke (Quatermass Experiment megafan, Doctor Who megafan, special features do-er, author, and standup comedian… he just sits around and twiddles his thumbs, does Toby). Toby's written the definitive book on the first Quatermass Experiment serial! Some Doctor Who discussion. "Behind the sofa." The sneaky plan Toby used to name his dog. Nigel Neale (Quatermass writer) has influenced such directors as John Carpenter, Joe Dante, and Dan O'Bannon. Which Quatermass Experiment serial does Toby recommend starting with? Different motivations for British and American TV in decades past. Toby says Nigel Neale's The Road has the best ending of anything, ever. What are the chances of more Quatermass in the future? A nice tangent into John Carpenter's The Thing. A few last-minute Doctor Who tangents (including one about the Doctor going into his own brain). Pronunciation differences between the British and Americans…

Sink your teeth into a slew of vampire movies from 1922 through 2025 that may or may not suck with returning movie lovers Chris Holmes and Michael Stewart (Save for Half podcast, Found in the Ruins podcast), plus we chew a bit on Stoker's Dracula novel. From England to Transylvania to Germany to Italy to Spain to Japan and beyond… those bloodsuckers are everywhere!! Which vampire flicks made us their thrall? One flick's surprise armadillo never fails to amuse Shane. Chris objects to amazingly cool armor in Dracula movies. What astoundingly fantastic Funko Pop does Shane own?? A surprising clash of opinions on The Lost Boys and Near Dark. We have crossed oceans of time just to bring you this episode. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #285 - 8/29/2025 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast…

TSR and Wizards of the Coast veteran Steve Winter (Steve achieved one of the longest tenures across both companies). Steve plays guitar. Steve likes Shadowdark RPG, and is also interested in Knave, Savage Worlds, and Cthulhu / horror games. Steve has a definite favorite version of D&D (he finds it elegant and intuitive). Deep character backstory doesn't equal plot armor. Sometimes we get too used to magic in games and think of it as technology… magic should be a bit fearsome and untame. Noteworthy moments of going insane in a Cthulhu game. Skyrim and Baldur's Gate 3 discussion. Steve co-wrote the scenario for the Gold Box Pool of Radiance game. Some words about Jim Ward. Early versus later days at TSR. The job that was Steve's best year at TSR. How was the work divided at TSR? Steve offers some perspective on Lorraine Williams's leadership, given that he was right there. What was it like to be at TSR and watch Magic: The Gathering explode onto the scene? Steve worked on Spellfire, TSR's response to MtG. What…

A RAD-SATURATED BONUS EPISODE! The Cold War gone hot! "Bam" Shane joins "Doc" Benny and "Boom" Mike on the Found in the Ruins podcast to execute maneuvers on the Twilight: 2000 RPG and reconnoiter other groovy post-apocalyptic stuff like PA books and movies. This is episode 9 of Found in the Ruins. Thanks to the FitR hosts for the invite! We had fun and soaked up some mad rads. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #283 - 5/15/2025 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays DriveThruRPG.com https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?affiliate_id=488512 SHOW NOTES Found in the Ruins episode 9: Twilight 2000 with Shane…

Shane waxes eloquent (ok, he might rant mildly) on several aspects of the mainstream comic book industry including the direct market business model, variant covers, multiple characters with the same name, and constant status quo changes (plus the overuse of the word "iconic" these days, which isn't comics-related but Shane kvetches about it anyway). A mini-review and comparison of DC's Absolute Universe and Marvel's Ultimate Universe (which one does Shane like best). Doctor Who has been back on the air for 20 years! A sincere shout-out to Toby Hadoke. An ailing Doctor Who super fan, lost episodes of Who, and the use of AI. D&D 2024: is it a new edition or not? (and no one seems to really be talking about D&D 2024 to be honest). The tariff war's effect on game publishers and vague predictions and hopes for the future. A tribute to friend of the show Tony Dutra, now sadly gone. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #282 - 4/26/2025 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon!…

Game developers Hannah and Joseph Williams join to chat about their new "Dark Crystal"-like CRPG Banquet For Fools. Shane jokingly laments a missing element from the game, but Joseph promises they won't duck out from putting it in. Now that ten years have passed, how do they feel Serpent in the Staglands performed? Thoughts on Mechajammer (previously Copper Dreams) and the hopes versus the reality. The pros, cons and pitfalls of Early Access. Shane gets recruited as a voice actor. A tangent into severe weather and the importance of escapism. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #281 - 11/26/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays…

Star Trek Video Games: An Unofficial Guide to the Final Frontier with author Mat Bradley-Tschirgi. There are a LOT of Star Trek video games and Mat had some hard decisions and set boundaries on what games to cover in his book (by the way, a "notable" game doesn't necessarily mean a good game). What is Mat's favorite and least favorite Star Trek game? Star Trek has one of the saddest stories of vaporware in PC gaming. Mat had an unusual entry into Star Trek fandom, but it still grabbed him. What are Shane and Mat's thoughts on some of the more recent Star Trek TV shows? What is one redeeming aspect of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier? Podcasting takes a lot of work and time. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #280 - 10/23/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you!…

RPG and tabletop gaming historian Jon Peterson returns for a fantastic conversation on D&D and RPG history, and his related current books and projects. A new edition of Playing at the World and Dungeons & Dragons - the Making of Original D&D: 1970-1977 are on the shelves. D&D 4E has its hardcore fans. Jon has a seriously impressive collection of documents related to RPG history. Jon's first on-screen RPG game, ever. Does the role of the Caller in D&D get an unfair reputation (and what exactly does the Caller do)? DNA from non-RPGs like Outdoor Survival made it into early D&D. Be careful of the question "what is a role-playing game", the debate can sideswipe an entire conversation. Plus much more. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #279 - 9/27/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories).…

Merle M. Rasmussen, the man in the tux himself, joins to talk about the Top Secret RPG and his game design career. What was his first (mistaken) understanding of what D&D was? Memories of working at TSR. A no-nonsense discussion about the financials of his agreement with TSR for Top Secret. Financial lessons he has learned in his career. The perils of lead poisoning in making miniatures (and accidental improvised bombs). Jon Peterson's Quagmire! D&D module article and Merle's involvement in making it happen. Top Secret set multiple RPG precedents. What existing RPG was used for Top Secret's firearms rules? The FBI visited TSR because of Top Secret's playtest. You're not just paranoid, the HackNoia RPG is coming. I Choose To RISE, Merle's card game that helps teach about Black heroes. Merle's wife Jackie has often been his writing partner and sounding board. Moments of fan feedback Merle has had that will get you right in the feels (including, I kid you not, being asked to bless a gamer's ashes). Bad James…

Shane, Chris Holmes, and Mike Stewart aka DM Mike (Save for Half podcast, Found in the Ruins podcast) shamble relentlessly through over 40 zombie and zombie-ish flicks in their inhuman hunger for horror. Plus a brief detour into the best on-screen Joker and multiple bad zombie jokes. True or false: Marcel Marceau starred in a zombie flick. What is Shane's most annoying zombie movie? What would you do if you were the last person on Earth and could do whatever you want? Shane offers a rare trigger warning. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #277 - 7/22/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays DriveThruRPG.com…

Preston Poulter of Pocket Jacks Comics joins to talk comic books, the current status of his Comicsgate trademark lawsuit, and his reasons for pursuing it. Plus the economics and challenges of self-publishing comics, some tabletop RPG chat and we learn what a pocket jack is. Shane gets upstaged during the bad joke of the week. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #276 - 4/29/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays DriveThruRPG.com https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?affiliate_id=488512 SHOW NOTES Pocket Jacks Comics https://www.pocketjackscomics.com/ Preston Poulter Trademarks Comicsgate…

Wide-ranging geekout with David Finn of Signal of Doom!! Lots of comic book and MCU chat (like, a lot). Pi Day. Doctor Who, old and new. Google Gemini vs. ChatGPT. Judge Dredd satirizes fascism but can tell multi-layered stories. Godzilla finally wins an Oscar. Godzilla as a metaphor. The essence of the Punisher. It's been a while, but Shane rants a bit (and David loves it). The Krakoan X-Men scare Shane and David's ready for the era to move on. Current Beast makes David pine for Dark Beast. Three Jokers?? The 80s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles RPG and real-life urban ninja action. Shane's defining Han Solo moments. David recommends Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre. A key to being an adult is being able to separate the creator from the creation in terms of enjoying entertainment. What D&D-related incident made a young Shane cry? Shane and David love the old-school CRPGs. The Asanti Series is a continuing series of fantasy books by David. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #275 - 3/29/2024 Like what you hear? Support…

Despite what you might think from its famous box art, Greyhawk (the first D&D setting published by TSR) isn't just knights and chivalry… so what is it then? Major Greyhawk fan Allan T. Grohe Jr. aka "grodog" joins to fill us in on all the setting's fantastic details! Also: Greyhawk is a setting with plenty of room to homebrew within the established details. Why the name Greyhawk? Some discussion of the Greyhawk novels (Gary Gygax's and others). The Moathouse vs. the Temple… which is remembered more fondly? Is Greyhawk "real" to Allan? Militant neutrality. Alignment and worldbuilding. Does Lawful Good have to be Lawful Stupid? Discovering The Hobbit. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #274 - 2/29/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support…

Strat-O-Matic Baseball might be one of the biggest games you've never heard of, and three-time champion William "Bill" Meinhardt joins to share his passion for playing it. How long has the game been around, and how many people play it? What's the one mechanic Bill wishes was in this beloved game? Is there a link between Strat-O-Matic Baseball and Fantasy (Rotisserie) Baseball? Is there a link between Strat-O-Matic and tabletop roleplaying games? At its heart, what is the game of baseball? And for the really hard-hitting question, does Bill do the Chicken Dance?? Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #273 - 1/31/2024 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle…

Star Fleet Battles is the Star Trek-based wargame that's been in constant publication since 1979, leading to an expanded range of games and lore known as the Star Fleet Universe. SFB fan, expert, and contributor Bill Barsh of Pacesetter Games and Simulations joins to talk all about it and take us into the final frontier of wargames! Is SFB for wargamers, Trekkies, or both? Which SFB weapons do Shane and Bill most hate to be on the receiving end of? Speed is life. SSDs, phasers, and hellbores, oh my! Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #272 - 12/29/2023 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays DriveThruRPG.com…

Discover the real Stan Lee (not the public PR persona) and his story in Tom Scioli's amazing I Am Stan biographical graphic novel. Plus: Simple comic book character design versus convoluted and complicated design. Working for the big comics companies versus being an independent creator. The one time Tom got a taste of the editorial dark side of comics. The indefinable magic of the monthly comic. A comic with a lot of issues doesn't necessarily make money. The changing fiscal and distribution of the comics industry over time always keeps it the best of times and worst of times. Should the New Gods and the Eternals have been kept separate from the main continuity of their respective publishers? Shane doesn't buy DC's reason for Crisis on Infinite Earths (but loves the series). What is Shane's dream project for Tom? (hint: it's The Land of the Lost). Make sure to track down Tom's newest superhero comic Witchman. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #271 - 11/20/2023 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on…

All-around groovy geek and author Tracy Wilson (aka James T. Wilson) on his indie horror novel Zombie Bytes, also chatting about cool things like his involvement with the Star Wars costuming association the 501st Legion. The pain and timeline of writing a novel. What is "success"? What's the real threat of a zombie apocalypse? Thoughts on when it was time to stop watching The Walking Dead. World War Z: the book versus the movie. Shane is currently into On Patrol Live. Shane confesses to a geek heresy as a child. Multiple bad zombie jokes. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #270 - 10/23/2023 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays…

Johnny Havoc (John McDonald) and Newt (Rebekah McDonald) of Simple Tricks & Nonsense join to discuss their incredible cosplay. What does cosplay mean to them? The economics of cosplay, including material and labor. Cosplay includes the challenge of taking something two-dimensional and making it work practically in three dimensions. For people who create cosplay as art, cons are like their art galleries. It's very OK to ask cosplayers to take a pic with them, truly. What famous movie quote inspired ST&N's moniker? How big is the Masters of the Universe fandom? Newt has literally lived up to her nickname. We're hoping Johnny will Gorn it up someday. Cobra-La, yes or no? The Venture Bros. Kids locking themselves in the bathroom when their toys die. The startling connection between Robocop and a trash dumpster. Cartoon villain smack-talk contest. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #269 - 7/16/2023 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane…

Author and D&D historian Mike Witwer shares the details on his newest book The Legend of Drizzt Visual Dictionary, which is not only chock full of goodness on everyone's favorite drow but the Forgotten Realms in general (as Mike puts it, "the Drizzt books are the greatest tour of the Forgotten Realms that the setting has ever gotten"). Mike has several other projects going as well, including a sequel to Art & Arcana focusing on 5E, and a young adult novel featuring a historic game and a town that might seem familiar to D&D fans! Some D&D movie discussion. The importance of documenting D&D and RPG history. Shane poses a tough question to Mike on what magic items he would choose from the Drizzt books. What books would Mike recommend to introduce someone to Drizzt? Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #268 - 5/30/2023 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon…

Chris Holmes has a unique historical perspective on fiction writer John Eric Holmes and Holmes Basic D&D, given that he's JEH's son. Chris is doing cool stuff in his own right, including his fantasy art and a day job where he gets to introduce kids to D&D. Chris's posthumous RPG project with his father called Things Better Left Alone. How much did JEH make for creating the first D&D Basic edition? Chris and Shane have different approaches to playing with alignment. What is Chris's favorite D&D edition (it's a trick answer). Edgar Rice Burroughs. Send in the Pinkertons! Tarzan's super power. Weresharks. Ask Cthulhu. Zombie movies, Rob Zombie, Dragula, and Sherlock Holmes. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #267 - 5/12/2023 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy…

Hey there, friend! If you're into classic games and fascinating stories, you'll love our latest podcast episode featuring the multi-talented Neal Hallford. Join us as he shares insider details on the renowned Betrayal at Krondor CRPG, and get excited about the game's 30th-anniversary celebrations! This innovative game was truly ahead of its time, and Neal takes us on a journey to explore the bold choices that made it such a hit. Discover the game element that needed a makeover but ultimately turned out even better! Did you know that Neal's incredible work on the game led Raymond E. Feist to include it in his iconic Riftwar Saga novel series? Hear about their collaboration and get an insider's perspective on Feist's impressive business acumen. But wait, there's more! Brace yourself for some juicy behind-the-scenes stories of the BAK sequel drama, complete with corporate antics and a dash of Machiavellian mischief. You won't want to miss it! Neal also shares his thoughts on his Krondor Remastered project and…

Zach Glazar (Frog God Games), Bill Barsh (Pacesetter Games) and Levi Combs (Planet X Games) share the personal impact (here's a hint: "existential threat") and professional impact that Wizards of the Coast's recent OGL announcements had on them, and where they're going from here. "Unprofessional" and "ham-fisted" is mentioned a lot by our guests. Third-party publishers have been publishing the strong stuff for 5E in recent years. Was WotC's final decision enough to get things back to what they were with 3rd party TTRPG publishers and creators or is the relationship over? What options are on the table if someone wants to leave WotC and their OGL behind? OGLs versus SRDs. ORCs and Black Flags. Finer points of TTRPG legal warfare. What the heck does irrevocable mean, anyway? Our guests have firm theories on what level in WotC this all came from (and the theories might surprise you). Shane Plays gets a HOT SCOOP from Pacesetter Games. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #265 - 2/9/2023 Like what you hear? Support…

RPG developer and publisher Allan T. Grohe Jr. (aka "grodog") joins to talk AD&D retroclone OSRIC, the OSR, Black Blade Publishing, John Eric Holmes, and RPG goodness in general. Allan LOVES him some Greyhawk. The skills he learned tracking down early information on Greyhawk helped lead to his main non-RPG career. How active is the current AD&D 1E and/or OSRIC scene? What is Allan's definition of OSR, and does he feel it's important? The legal importance of OSRIC to the OSR community. 'zines are often lauded, but at one time Dragon magazine was a sort of "D&D website" in its day as well. Watching an RPG project happen behind the scenes. Shane offers a mild defense of rules lawyers. "Vanilla" fantasy is not a derogatory term. Cthulhu and Delta Green. Look, just hit Cthulhu with a boat. Shane has figured out Lovecraft's indescribable color. Thunderdome match: Strongheart versus Warduke. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #264 - 11/30/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon!…

Skeeter Green joins to talk RPGs, Skeeter Green Productions, the Independent Publishers Union of small RPG publishers, and his new Kickstarter. The Valley Out of Time is a series of 'zine-sized RPG adventures borrowing heavily from classic dinosaur art, books, and movies (think Frazetta and Harryhausen). Tips and advice for small RPG publishers from Skeeter's seminar series with Zach Glazar. The chances of making a living working in the RPG industry full-time. Defining success. RPG authors versus developers versus editors versus designers. The correct way to pronounce "bulette" according to Tim Kask. The secret origin of the name Skeeter. Favorite sitcoms of the past. Rob Zombie's movies. NASA probing asteroids. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #263 - 10/19/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine…

Joseph Wolf of Reaper Miniatures talks Dungeon Dwellers, Reaper's old-school style RPG using modern design. Also: some ReaperCon chat. Joseph has some interesting RPG design highlights, including Forgotten Realms, Deadlands, and Blood of Heroes. Love it or hate it, 5E is very successful at what it does. Which Dungeon Dwellers came first, the minis or the RPG? "Tolkien Orcs" versus "Warhammer Orcs." Super quick hot takes on Rings of Power. Shane freely admits to and doesn't apologize for being RPG system promiscuous. Innovation in RPG design is groovy, but you don't have to innovate just to be cool. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #262 - 9/24/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links!…

Champions superhero RPG co-creator (and HERO Games co-founder) George MacDonald with guest co-host Michael Stewart (Victorious RPG creator; Save For Half and The Crusader podcasts co-host). The origins of Champions from the why, to the playtesting to the launch and beyond. Was the initial reception to Champions disappointing or encouraging? George came out of wargaming and his RPG mechanics reflects that. Did early players prefer to play licensed characters or their own superheroes? Crunchy versus streamlined game mechanics. Estimating the damage between wet and dry avalanches. Why did George decide to do superheroes for his first RPG game genre? The difference in adventure structure between RPG genres (fantasy, cyberpunk, superheroes). Some of the business thinking behind printing a game and creating a company (two different things!). Game distributors dangled the carrot a lot back in the day. The great Hero Games Box Shuffle of the Early Eighties. A speed round of Champions questions for George from…

Dafydd Roche of Terrain-Tronics doesn't just want to make cool terrain, he's helping DMs and GMs bring delight to their players with easy DIY gaming terrain electronics for D&D and other RPGs. Game terrain as part of the storytelling. Theatrical D&D. The no-solder wire wrapping technique is good enough for NASA! Pretty soldering jobs versus ugly soldering jobs. Smart ways to compete with big business as a small business. Shane does his usual thing of getting into the business reality behind the creativity. Terrain-Tronics products are open source. Do horses really go to the glue factory? What chain of events had to happen for many of the inventions and innovations in human history? A minor tangent into casinos, pit bosses, and getting comped. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #260 - 8/15/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and…

Grindhouse cinema with RPG publisher and cinephile Levi Combs. What is Grindhouse, and why is it called that? The market forces that led to the rise of Grindhouse theaters. Gritty movies, violent movies, Foreign movies, exploitation movies, Kung fu movies, BRUCEsploitation movies, more! New York City as a character in movies. Sho'nuff, The Shogun of Harlem can chew scenery on a level with Darth Vader. What's Levi's favorite fight scene in any movie, period? Is the first Friday the 13th movie a Grindhouse movie? Plus: The RPG adventures and 'zines of Planet X Games… hear the call of the Skeleton of the Black Lake and behold the Big Eye Chungus! Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #259 - 7/18/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane…

Thrilling fantasy stories of the swashbuckling duo Mongoose and Meerkat with author Jim Breyfogle. Adventure fiction as opposed to "pulp" fiction (and what exactly does "pulp" mean, anyway). Who is Jim's number one favorite writer from the past? Shane's dirty little secret when it comes to Robert E. Howard's fiction. Robert A. Heinlein was both amazing AND sketchy. Fair Witnesses are cool. The Odyssey Writing Workshop. Some love for CIRSOVA magazine and its publisher P. Alexander. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #258 - 6/17/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays DriveThruRPG.com…

JAQ: Journey Adventure Quest is the new drafting board game with resource management, cool mechanics, challenging monsters, fun lore, and multiple paths to victory. Jesse Stacy, Tommy Noel and Brandon Beam from Triceratops Games join Shane to talk all about it (and demonstrate some actual play)! Also: Why the name Triceratops, wait until you hear about the artist, shout-outs to favorite board games, reminiscing on the early days of Magic: The Gathering, and of course more. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #257 - 5/27/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays DriveThruRPG.com…

Comics artist (and self-described art hobo) Brian Shearer has worked on such high-profile properties as Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Doctor Who as well as his own creations Gunship Thunderpunch and William the Last. How did Brian become a professional artist? Tips for creators to build an audience online. What's the line you have to cross on a late crowdfunding project fulfillment before Shane gets annoyed? Working on G.I. Joe pages while with your wife in the delivery room. SDCC and many other big cons aren't for comics creators and fans anymore. Transformers toy history, and Bob Budiansky and Jim Shooter's vital contributions to Transformers lore. Some Classic Who and New Who discussion. Favorite entertainment properties from the 80s. Shane was NOT down with the Ghostbusters cartoon that had an ape. 80s anime and those sweet, sweet Star Blazers twisty laser cannons. Catching episodes of Dragon Ball and Ranma 1/2 in Japanese and trying to make sense of it. What's that certain unique something that Cowboy…

RPG designer Bruce Nesmith discusses his career as a TSR veteran (Ravenloft 2E, Gamma World 4E, Dragonlance), Elder Scrolls Skyrim lead designer, and now novelist. Bruce's first day at TSR was an experience, to say the least. What does he consider his biggest achievement while at TSR? Bruce's opinion of TSR under Gary Gygax versus Lorraine Williams and what he considers TSR's "glory days". What was his job description as lead designer on The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim? Why did Oblivion have a big celebrity but Skyrim didn't? Bruce was years ahead of the game when it came to his revamp of the Armor Class system for Gamma World 4E. What do you do when you want to play D&D but you don't have the rules? You invent it, including simulating the d20 with d6s. Writing for games versus writing prose. Bruce's Loki in his novel Mischief Maker is not the MCU Loki. Shane laments the lack of a werecow in TSR publications. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #255 - 4/15/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on…

RPG designers John Kennedy (Star Trek Adventures, Stargate 5E) and Sharene "Madfishmonger" Gilchrist (Capers, Vast Kaviya) join to talk their new Staged Heroism RPG: A Comedic RPG of Super-Heroics, Super-Villainy, and Failure at its Best inspired by shows like The Venture Bros. Plus: Designing not to fail forward, but to embrace the fail. The Roger Rabbit style of gameplay. Flashback scenes as a game mechanic. Venomous monarch butterflies. Where did Sharene get her nickname? Cops raiding a Vampire LARP session. The design philosophy behind Star Trek Adventures. John gets a no-prize. Everyone is entirely too amused by the Burger King Kids Club. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #254 - 3/25/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Shane Plays Geek Talk is carried on Krypton Radio! Krypton Radio is SciFi for your Wifi http://kryptonradio.com/ Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music,…

Comics writer Paul Kupperberg is the very definition of prolific! He has written 1,400 comics over 4 decades, wrote for and was the editor of the Weekly World News, wrote Mad Libs, and is still staying busy writing books and novels. Paul's credits include the Doom Patrol, Peacemaker, Vigilante, and the first comic book miniseries (1979's World of Krypton), as well as being the writer who killed Archie (after simultaneously marrying him off to both Betty AND Veronica). Also: In the real world, superheroes would be NUTS. The willing suspension of disbelief versus the art style. What Archie means to Paul. Target audiences for comic books over different eras. Does Paul prefer the JSA or JLA? Armchair quarterbacking by comics fans.The challenges of continuity in serialized fiction over time (with some insight behind Wonder Woman, Wonder Girl and Wonder Tot). Which classic silver age DC comics issues didn't have a number on the cover, and why? One positive early benefit of the direct market in the comics industry.…

Stephen Chenault aka the Troll Lord of Castle & Crusades publisher Troll Lord Game joins to talk about what's new with C&C and some wise principles he uses to run TLG that have helped them tremendously while other companies have encountered severe disruption during COVID. Plus: Steve has to do daily battle with Skynet for sales. The perfect timing of the emergence of crowdfunding for TTRPG companies. Steve's honesty when asked if he's ever considered giving up. Dissecting the current massive popularity of RPGs. What is Steve's favorite monster, and why is it the Gibbering Mouther? How did Troll Lord Games get its name? Some comic book industry discussion. Tribute to David Middleton aka The Digital Dungeon Master. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #252 - 2/4/2022 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Shane Plays Geek Talk is carried on Krypton Radio! Krypton Radio is SciFi for your Wifi http://kryptonradio.com/ Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast…

A cool project to make 3D-printable RPG miniatures from Jeshield's art. Plus! How did he build his RPG stock art business as the main part of his income? What was the RPG that influenced him to become an artist, and what piece of its art impacted him the most? Straight talk on the financials of the RPG art business. Comparing an artist website versus Patreon vs DriveThruRPG. The importance of a rate sheet. Beware the mighty werefrog! Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #251 - 11/19/2021 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Shane Plays Geek Talk is carried on Krypton Radio! Krypton Radio is SciFi for your Wifi http://kryptonradio.com/ Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle…

Gaming historian Jon Peterson works through the unhappy but fascinating drama of Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson, and TSR to bring us the facts of it all regarding the two most important personalities and the most important company in RPG history. The legal battles over royalties and ownership of Dungeons & Dragons and TSR itself. What is a game, legally? The Eggbert Incident and its effect on TSR's financials. Inflated number reporting and lavish expenditures. Gary Gygax walks into the ambush at Sheridan Springs thinking he has all the bullets. Lorraine Williams's impact on financials by the numbers. Arneson's last day at TSR. What discovery surprised Jon during his research? Some Sam Witwer love. More! Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #250 - 11/9/2021 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Shane Plays Geek Talk is carried on Krypton Radio! Krypton Radio is SciFi for your Wifi http://kryptonradio.com/ Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube,…

Writer and "horror bottomless pit" Mark Pellegrini joins for a great horror movie discussion. Essential found footage movies. What makes found footage different from other types of movies? Horror franchises that forget their roots. Horror films adapted to TV series. Overlooked horror gems in the slasher genre. Analog horror. Halloween Kills, what makes Michael Myers scary, and how the Halloween franchise went way off the rails before the 2018 restart. The Burning versus Friday the 13th versus Sleepaway Camp. What's the deal with the hockey mask in the Alone in the Dark movie from 1982? Romero's zombie rules and social commentary. Heck, let's throw in a little J-Horror, too. Mark's writing and comics work including Kamen America and Black Hops. Bad Homer Simpson Jokes. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #249 - 10/27/2021 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Shane Plays Geek Talk is carried on Krypton Radio! Krypton Radio is SciFi for your Wifi…

Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition is the new RPG that adds depth and options to your 5E experience but avoids unnecessary complexity! Lots of love for the exploration pillar. Rethinking classes while keeping their core concepts. Meaningful decisions every time you level up. Modular heritage design. The journey can be the adventure. More! The dynamics, behind the scenes, and fiscal realities of Kickstarter campaigns. Stretch goal economics. Stretch goal fever. The U vs the hockey stick. Kicktraq and other services that "project" Kickstarter campaign totals. Revenue versus profit. Everyone has good ideas, executing a good idea is the hard part. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #248 - 10/15/2021 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Shane Plays Geek Talk is carried on Krypton Radio! Krypton Radio is SciFi for your Wifi http://kryptonradio.com/ Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean…

Ed Bickford aka Metal Robot is a tabletop RPG illustrator, syndicated cartoonist, comic book artist, and an award-winning illustrator and graphic designer. Ed's great to talk with and he's very open in sharing honest thoughts on the hopes and trials of creators in the trenches. The business side of being a professional artist. Your art style finds you. Some tips for writers also apply to artists. The current state of mainstream comics. Five Nights at Freddie's is totally (ok, not really) based on a true story. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #247 - 9/23/2021 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Shane Plays Geek Talk is carried on Krypton Radio! Krypton Radio is SciFi for your Wifi http://kryptonradio.com/ Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with…

Matt Lister aka Cobra Commander joins to talk chiptune music, retrocomputing, and some classic G.I. Joe and Transformers. Trackers, hardware, and sound chips, oh my! What is MIDI (and can MIDI be chiptunes)? PAL, NTSC and electron guns. Atari 2600 game development and racing the beam. Yars' Revenge had very tricky programming. Behold the Casio XW-PD1 Trackformer, aka the Millennium Falcon, and grovel before its amazingness. Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #246 - 9/1/2021 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Shane Plays Geek Talk is carried on Krypton Radio! Krypton Radio is SciFi for your Wifi http://kryptonradio.com/ Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays…