Pixels & Dice

The last kinda-topical show of 2023! Intro (0:49) – Scormey is Doing The Thing™, while Beoulus plays what he can. Main (2:54) – The Return of “GM/DM Advice”… or something like that. Wrap (48:07) – Thoughts on “Palia”, and whether it is ‘Too little, Too late’. “Alchemists Tower” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons:...Read More “But is it really topical? – Loot Mechanics #354” »

An innovative TTRPG system set aside in favor of being 5e-Compatible, and other crimes against Humanity, on this week’s show. Intro (0:49) – Scormey unconsciously embraces a questline in “Starfield”, and other gaming stuff. TTRPG (9:39) – Adventure Time, or Adventure Crime? Wrap (27:55) – Matt Colville’s upcoming TTRPG hits Backerkit this week! “Alchemists Tower”...Read More “… and they blame it on Fan Feedback? – Loot Mechanics #353” »

Another money grab from Activision/Blizzard, and what happened to gaming forums? Intro (0:49) – What have we been playing? Main (4:27) – Blizzard moves the goalposts on using the WoW Token purchased with gold. Wrap (30:38) – What happened to gaming forums? “Alchemists Tower” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License...Read More “A Token Purchase – Loot Mechanics #352” »

Why bother with “Black Friday” when there are better sales going on at random all through the year now? Intro (0:49) – Scormey can’t escape the “Starfield”, and Beoulus is doing… work, and more BG3. Other (8:39) – Is there a point to doing “Black Friday” any longer, especially as a gamer? Wrap (29:34) –...Read More “Black November – Loot Mechanics #351” »

Today we catch up on the recent Blizzcon announcements, and discuss Scott Hartsman’s recent advice that could save WotC from itself! Intro (0:49) – Scormey is moving on from “Animal Crossing”, and Beoulus is avoiding the Horny. Other (11:13) – Catching up on Blizzcon 2023, with “Diablo” finally getting a TTRPG, and word on the...Read More “Blizzconned – Loot Mechanics #350” »

Discussing hype (in more ways than one), and Scormey steps away from “Starfield”, on today’s show! Intro (0:49) – Scormey took a break from gaming (sort of). Tabletop Gaming (14:19) – What happened to the hype for “Tales of the Valiant“? Wrap (40:23) – Nintendo keeps earning the name “Ninten-NO“… “Alchemists Tower” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)...Read More “A little Beach time – Loot Mechanics #349” »

Here’s a fright-fest for you: Scormey doing the show by himself again! Today he asks a simple question: Have corporations ruined Halloween? Intro (0:49) – Our plans for Halloween Video Games (9:59) – Is Halloween now just a Corporate holiday, especially in gaming? Wrap (32:17) – A couple of new* games for Halloween fun. “Alchemists... Read More “Corporate Scares – Loot Mechanics #348” » The post Corporate Scares – Loot Mechanics #348 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

We debate the age-old question: How many TTRPG systems do you really need? Also, is Microsoft about to strip-mine Activision/Blizzard’s library of games to fill up Game Pass with content? Intro (0:49) – Scormey upgraded his Xbox, and Beoulus has been playing stuff. Tabletop Gaming (7:34) – How many TTRPG systems do you realistically need?... Read More “Too Much Ain’t Enough – Loot Mechanics #347” » The post Too Much Ain’t Enough – Loot Mechanics #347 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

“New World” has finally added mounts, but has this come too late to save the game? Also, Scormey talks about his mental state… or maybe just a new tabletop roleplaying game? Intro (0:49) – Scormey has been amusing himself with the bugs in “Starfield”, and Beoulus has been doing something… probably working… Video Games (6:26)... Read More “Too Little, Too Late – Loot Mechanics #346” » The post Too Little, Too Late – Loot Mechanics #346 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

Is the CP2077 update and DLC too little, too late? Can Scormey stop playing “Starfield” long enough to find out? This, and much more, on today’s show! Intro (0:49) – Contractor woes, and other nonsense. Video Game News (6:31) – Apparently the new DLC and Update 2.0 for “Cyberpunk 2077” are out… Yawn… Wrap (33:27)... Read More “50GB of Yawn – Loot Mechanics #345” » The post 50GB of Yawn – Loot Mechanics #345 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

Did Netflix steal the ‘World Bible’ for “Rebel Moon” from a TTRPG developer? We discuss this, and other weird things, on today’s show! Intro (0:49) – Scormey can’t stop playing “Starfield”, and Beoulus has been playing more “Pathfinder: Kingmaker” Tabletop Roleplaying (10:00) – Wait… there was going to be a “Rebel Moon” TTRPG? Wrap (42:08)... Read More “No one expects incontinence – Loot Mechanics #344” » The post No one expects incontinence – Loot Mechanics #344 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

For years, the norm for AAA video games has been to release microtransaction-laden “Live Services”, even for single-player games. With the success of “Baldur’s Gate 3” and “Starfield”, does that signal the deal of these “Live Services” single-player games? Intro (0:49) – Scormey is annoyed with his Contractors. But all this work has allowed him... Read More “Death of a King – Loot Mechanics #343” » The post Death of a King – Loot Mechanics #343 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

This week we discuss Pirates throughout gaming, in honor of “International Talk Like a Pirate Day” Intro (0:49) – Unity sucks. Full stop. Tabletop Roleplaying (25:01) – Time to talk like a pirate again this week, so let’s discuss whether or not Pirate action is a viable subgenre in TTRPGs Wrap (43:27) – Corrections regarding... Read More “YARR! – Loot Mechanics #342” » The post YARR! – Loot Mechanics #342 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

We’re all about the Hype-Train, on today’s show! Intro (0:49) – Did the “Starfield” hype drive us to buy the game and play at launch? Video Games (11:07) – Speaking of hype, the Alt-Right Douchebags accuse “Baldur’s Gate 3” of being ‘Overhyped’ and ‘Woke’. Is this just whinging, or do they have a point? Wrap... Read More “Overhyped and Woke – Loot Mechanics #341” » The post Overhyped and Woke – Loot Mechanics #341 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

Chatting about “The Great ‘Starfield’ Caper” and its Reddit aftermath, as well big news for Retro gamers! Intro (0:49) – What’s been going on with Scormey and Beoulus recently. Video Games (4:38) – The saga of the stolen copies of “Starfield”, and the Redditor that turned the thief in. Wrap (27:06) – Atari is releasing... Read More “The Great ‘Starfield’ Caper – Loot Mechanics #340” » The post The Great ‘Starfield’ Caper – Loot Mechanics #340 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

What’s with the new version of “Starfinder”? Also, we discuss games to take on road trips, and Ten’s frustrations with “The Sims 4” on today’s show. Intro (0:49) – What have we been doing lately? Scormey has gotten a couple of new TTRPGs, which both fit the same niche (“Maze World” and “Fantasy World“). Meanwhile,... Read More “Hope you didn’t buy “Starfinder” 1st Edition – Loot Mechanics #339” » The post Hope you didn’t buy “Starfinder” 1st Edition – Loot Mechanics #339 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

Another week, more talk about “Palia”, “Baldur’s Gate 3”, and “Dungeons & Dragons” to be had. Intro (0:49) – Scormey spent some time in the closed and open betas for “Palia” and has a few thoughts. Plus guest co-host Ten talks about her week. Video Games (14:20) – Game developers say it’s not fair to... Read More “Storming the Gates – Loot Mechanics #338” » The post Storming the Gates – Loot Mechanics #338 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

The time draws near, for casual gamers to finally get the MMORPG of their dreams (Palia)… or will it be their nightmare? Intro (0:49) – What have we been playing lately? Video Games (7:17) – Palia is getting really close to launch, which means it is time to talk about some new MMORPG hype! Wrap... Read More “A Whole New World – Loot Mechanics #337” » The post A Whole New World – Loot Mechanics #337 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

AI-derived content on DTRPG and Roll20 are now banned. This is great on the surface, but has some creators a bit upset. We discuss this and some Kickstarter drama with “Urban Shadows 2nd Edition”, on today’s show! Intro (0:49) – Beoulus talks “Baldur’s Gate III”, and Scormey had another health scare. Tabletop Gaming (5:31) –... Read More “Asimov’s 4th Law – Loot Mechanics #336” » The post Asimov’s 4th Law – Loot Mechanics #336 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

We’re going to different worlds this week, as we discuss some of our favorite secondary settings in various TTRPGs! Intro (0:49) – Anything new going on? Tabletop Games (5:47) – Let’s talk about some of our favorite secondary settings for different TTRPGs. Wrap (35:20) – Final thoughts. “Alchemists Tower” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative... Read More “Different Worlds – Loot Mechanics #335” » The post Different Worlds – Loot Mechanics #335 first appeared on Scormey Fails.