Pixels & Dice

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.

The ORC is finally here! Will it kill the OGL once and for all, or is it just another license like the Creative Commons? Intro (0:49) – What have we been playing lately? Tabletop Games (6:25) – Paizo (in concert with other TTRPG companies) have released the final version of ORC – The Open RPG... Read More “ORC Raid! – Loot Mechanics #334” » The post ORC Raid! – Loot Mechanics #334 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

Someone got a partial refund for the money they spent on “Star Citizen”. There’s a lot going on here that we need to discuss. Intro (0:49) – Catching up, what have we been up to lately. Video Games (7:13) – CIG begrudgingly gave someone a partial refund for “Star Citizen”. Let’s discuss why this happened.... Read More “Money Back Guarantee – Loot Mechanics #333” » The post Money Back Guarantee – Loot Mechanics #333 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

Why do companies who make online video games keep shooting themselves in the foot? Intro (0:49) – Our week, in brief. Video Games (5:35) – Do VG developers hate money, or just their players? Wrap (40:51) – Final thoughts. “Alchemists Tower” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ The post Expensive Hubris – Loot Mechanics #332 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

Let’s talk about “Starfield”, Fireworks (and the avoiding thereof), and making old MMOs great again… Intro (0:49) – The annual “Avoiding of the Fireworks” has begun!. Video Games (5:49) – Let’s talk about that Starfield Direct Showcase… Wrap (37:26) – Revisiting old MMORPGs, through the lens of tabletop RPGs “Alchemists Tower” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons:... Read More “To Infinity and Beyond! – Loot Mechanics #331” » The post To Infinity and Beyond! – Loot Mechanics #331 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

Let’s talk about the winners and losers from the Origins Awards!… and how none of it matters. Intro (0:49) – Catching up with Beoulus and Scormey. Other Stuff (4:11) – Let’s talk about the Origins Awards, and why they (and all other game awards) don’t matter. Wrap (28:30) – NuTSR is dead, or so it... Read More “Game Awards Don’t Matter – Loot Mechanics #330” » The post Game Awards Don’t Matter – Loot Mechanics #330 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

Today I discuss the legacy of HP Lovecraft in tabletop roleplaying, and ruminate over whether or not “Call of Cthulhu” is at risk of being toppled by Critical Role’s “Candela Obscura”. Intro (0:49) – Found something awesome on Amazon last month worth talking about. Briefly. Tabletop Roleplaying (8:54) – So, let’s discuss the Great Old... Read More “That Which Is Not Dead… – Loot Mechanics #329” » The post That Which Is Not Dead… – Loot Mechanics #329 first appeared on Scormey Fails.

Last week I talked about some of my favorite retro video games. This week, I expose some of my most despised retro games… for “Educational Purposes Only”, of course. Intro (0:49) – Okay, I bit the bullet and backed something on Kickstarter, just this once… Video Games (15:38) – Many retro video games are awesome…...Read More “Old & Busted – Loot Mechanics #328” »

June is a weird month for us, as Scormey is busy most of the month, and scheduling forced a bit of a change to the show for the next few weeks. But Scormey is talking about retro games this time, so… Intro (0:49) – “LotR: Gollum” fails horribly. No one is surprised. Video Games (12:08)...Read More “Old & Weird – Loot Mechanics #327” »

Scormey’s better half suggested today’s main topic: Disaster scenarios involving our TTRPG collections! Intro (0:49) – Scormey is getting pumped for the upcoming Oregon Renaissance Faire! Tabletop Roleplaying (6:08) – We discuss some disaster scenarios involving Tabletop Roleplaying Wrap (34:14) – Final thoughts. “Alchemists Tower” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0...Read More “Disaster! – Loot Mechanics #326” »

For good or ill, AI-powered tabletop roleplaying appears to be here to stay. Let’s discuss. Intro (0:49) – What have we been playing? Tabletop Roleplaying (6:55) – Wherein Scormey and Beoulus discuss AI TTRPG tools. Wrap (39:42) – Final thoughts. “Alchemists Tower” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

D&D may still be the biggest fish in the TTRPG pond, but they are bleeding, and an unlikely shark has begun to circle. Intro (0:49) – Scormey and Beoulus discuss “Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” Tabletop Roleplaying (12:20) – “Knave 2nd Edition” is showing how OSR TTRPGs are on the rise, while D&D...Read More “Cuts like a Knave – Loot Mechanics #324” »

Let’s compare and contrast licensed TTRPGs against those using their own, unique worlds. Intro (0:49) – What have we been playing lately? Tabletop Roleplaying (9:04) – Licensed TTRPGs such as “Rivers of London” have always been a part of the hobby, but how do they stack up against games set in unique worlds? Wrap (36:33)...Read More “Licensed or Unique? – Loot Mechanics #323” »

WotC pulls a WotC, again. At this point, is anyone really surprised anymore? Intro (0:49) – What have we been playing of late? Collectible Card Games (7:37) – Wizards of the Coast proves they are who we thought they were… again. Wrap (34:34) – The only real question is, which one will they play for...Read More “They are who we thought they were – Loot Mechanics #322” »

We haven’t done one of these in years! Breaking down one of our favorite TTRPGs, specifically “Warhammer”! Intro (0:49) – Scormey is camping for his anniversary with His Lovely Bride™, and Beoulus is not. Tabletop Games (5:55) – Breaking down our thoughts on “Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay“ Wrap (33:33) – Final thoughts. “Alchemists Tower” Kevin MacLeod...Read More “Deconstructing Warhammer – Loot Mechanics #321” »

Beoulus and Scormey kill yet another week with their sad advice for GMs everywhere! Intro (0:49) – A bit about what we’ve been playing lately! “Skyrim” and “Valheim”, respectively. Tabletop Roleplaying (8:58) – More advice for Facebook GameMasters! Wrap (36:56) – Final thoughts. “Alchemists Tower” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0...Read More “Not more GM advice! – Loot Mechanics #320” »

A bitter divorce, old games gaining new tricks, and a little slice of Hell on Earth. Intro (0:49) – Well, there goes China…. Video Games (8:40) – The first six “Final Fantasy” games getting remastered, with some rather interesting changes. Wrap (22:20) – Looking at a new game Scormey received lately, being “Hell Night“. “Alchemists...Read More “Pixel Perfect – Loot Mechanics #319” »

Waxing poetic about old-school CCGs, and casting a bit of suspicion towards overly-hyped TTRPGs. Intro (0:49) – Scormey’s been playing retro games a lot lately, and Beoulus has been playing “Tavern Keeper”. CCGs (3:47) – Collectible Card Games. Are there any you are nostalgic for, and would like to see rebooted? We have some thoughts...Read More “Flop! – Loot Mechanics #318” »

“Diablo IV” gets dumbed-down, more playtest material for “Black Flag”, and 4Chan gets a Reality Check. Yay. Intro (0:49) – Beoulus hated “Diablo III” for being too easy. He’s not going to like what Blizzard has done with “Diablo IV”, then… Tabletop Roleplaying (10:11) – Playtest 2 packet for Project Black Flag has dropped, covering...Read More “The Bad, the Good, and the Trollish – Loot Mechanics #317” »