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Acceptable Losses: A Grimdark Podcast

Acceptable Losses is a podcast that delves into grim and twisted universes, exploring everything from the dismal no-man’s-lands of Trench Crusade to the shadowy and twisting cities of The World of Darkness. Hosted by Kirioth and DkDiamantes, and edited by Shy, all known for their work on Adeptus Ridiculous, the podcast explores the grim stories and lore from tabletop games, book series, movies, and video games with a lighthearted approach. Join us on this journey as we delve into the macabre and unsettling aspects of these dark universes with a touch of humor to make it a little less terrifying.

Latest Episodes:

Eclipse Phase: Where Your Brain Is Software and Your Body Is a Rental Oct 09, 2026

Show notes

https://www.patreon.com/AdeptusRidiculous
https://www.adeptusridiculous.com/
https://twitter.com/AdRidiculous
https://shop.orchideight.com/collections/adeptus-ridiculous

Welcome back to Acceptable Losses, where things are about to get uncomfortably post-human. DK and Kirioth are diving into the terrifying, hyper-capitalist cosmic horror of the Eclipse Phase RPG setting. Earth is a quarantined graveyard, 95% of humanity was wiped out by the TITAN AI's, and the survivors are now just digitized minds ("egos") forced to lease physical bodies ("sleeves") from mega-corporations just to exist. We break down the timeline of The Fall, the nightmare of digital immortality, the Exsurgent virus, and why death in this universe is just a paywall.

Cthulhupunk: The Most Baffling TTRPG Setting Ever Written Oct 02, 2026

Show notes

https://www.patreon.com/AdeptusRidiculous
https://www.adeptusridiculous.com/
https://twitter.com/AdRidiculous
https://shop.orchideight.com/collections/adeptus-ridiculous

Welcome to Acceptable Losses! This week, DK and Possum decided to subject Kirioth to a completely blind reading of one of the most baffling TTRPG settings ever written: GURPS Cthulhupunk. Kirioth purposefully didn't read the script beforehand, and the result is two hours of us completely losing our sanity over a world that blends cyberpunk dystopias with Lovecraftian cosmic horror in the most unhinged ways imaginable. From the invention of the first boomerang in Poland 13,000 years ago to the inexplicable assassination of Boris Yeltsin in 1996, this timeline gave us severe whiplash. Grab a drink and join us as we try (and fail) to take this seriously.
Highlights:
The timeline jumps aggressively from ancient sunken continents straight to the 1990s.
"Mindfry chips" that plug into cyber-guitars to play the maddening flute music of Azathoth's court.
The entirety of the digital "Net" is actually just Yog-Sothoth manifesting as encrypted mathematics.
Lovecraft thought the lost continent of Lemuria was real for some reason.
Bootleg R'yleh cyberware.
The USA annexes Canada. Again.

PancreasNoWork Explains Dark Souls 2 Lore Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to Acceptable Losses. In this episode, we step into the cursed kingdom of Drangleic to dissect the deeply tragic and fiercely debated lore of Dark Souls 2.

Joined by DK, Kirioth, and Pancreasnowork, we break down the overarching narrative of the game, exploring the tragedy of King Vendrick, the machinations of Nashandra, and the philosophical weight of Aldia, the Scholar of the First Sin. We also dive into the lore of the three DLC crowns and tackle the elephant in the room: does the sheer ambition of Dark Souls 2's story eclipse its controversial reputation in the community?

Welcome to Dubai: Spec Ops The Line Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

https://www.makeship.com/petitions/the-acceptable-casualty-hoodie HOODIE COLLAB WITH MAKESHIP!
Support us and get episodes early: https://www.patreon.com/c/AcceptableLosses
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Welcome back to another episode of Acceptable Losses. This time, we are stepping out of our usual fantasy and sci-fi universes and marching directly into the sand-choked ruins of Dubai to dissect one of the most harrowing narratives in video game history: Yager Development’s 2012 psychological shooter, Spec Ops: The Line. What starts as a seemingly standard military rescue mission quickly spirals into a devastating descent into madness, guilt, and the vainglory of war. Join the crew as we break down Captain Walker's horrific journey, the game's heavy inspirations from Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now, and the brutal psychological deconstruction of the player.

At The Mountains of Madness: Horrors Beneath Antarctica's Permafrost Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

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In 1930, an expedition from Miskatonic University ventured into the uncharted wastes of Antarctica. What began as a groundbreaking geological survey led by Professor William Dyer quickly devolved into a nightmare of massacred camps, impossible ancient cities, and the horrifying realization that humanity is not the first master of this earth. Join DK and Kirioth as they descend into the frigid depths of H.P. Lovecraft’s At The Mountains of Madness.

PancreasNoWork Explains Dark Souls 1 Lore Aug 28, 2026

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Support us and get episodes early: https://www.patreon.com/c/AcceptableLosses
Join our Discord: https://discord.com/invite/nhX9NJ3EW7
Merch: https://shop.orchideight.com/collections/acceptable-losses

This week on Acceptable Losses, PancreasNoWork, DK, and Kirioth sit down to untangle the convoluted, tragic, and absolutely brilliant lore of Dark Souls 1. From Gwyn’s terrible parenting and the tragedy of Artorias to the truth behind the First Flame, Abyss, and the Dark Soul, we break down why this world is still a haunting masterpiece all these years later.

The Dark History of Cyberpunk 2020: Before 2077 Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

Support us and get episodes early: https://www.patreon.com/c/AcceptableLosses
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Merch: https://shop.orchideight.com/collections/acceptable-losses
Welcome to the darkest timeline. Today on Acceptable Losses, DK and Kirioth will dive deep into the gritty, original lore of the classic tabletop RPG, Cyberpunk 2020.
Before the neon-soaked streets of Cyberpunk 2077, the world had to completely fall apart. We explore the massive divergence in the alternate history timeline starting in the late 1980s, revealing how a secret government cabal known as the "Gang of Four" dismantled the United States from the shadows. From the catastrophic global market Crash of '94 and the martial law of "The Collapse" to the horrific Wasting Plague that wiped out millions, we cover exactly how the American Dream turned into a corporate nightmare.
Then, we shift our focus to the only place that truly matters: Night City. We trace the tragic ambition of architect Richard Night, who purchased a ruined Morro Bay to build a self-sustaining corporate utopia, only to be assassinated before his vision was complete. Discover how Night City evolved from a mob-ruled warzone into the ultimate, inescapable corporate cage it is today.
Grab your mirror shades, Chooms. It’s time to get sad.

The Dominion War: How Starfleet Abandoned Its Morals Aug 14, 2026

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In this episode of Acceptable Losses, DK and Kirioth dive into the most devastating conflict the United Federation of Planets has ever faced: The Dominion War. After discovering a shortcut to the Gamma Quadrant via the Bajoran Wormhole, the Federation accidentally attracts the attention of the most ruthless force in the galaxy. The guys break down the terrifying efficiency of the Dominion, an empire ruled by the mythic, shapeshifting Founders and enforced by the genetically engineered, drug-dependent Jem'Hadar. Tune in as we discuss how a desperate Starfleet was forced to completely abandon its morals to survive. From Section 31's deployment of a genocide-inducing virus against the Changelings to Elim Garak's cold-blooded assassination plots to drag the Romulans into the fight, this is Star Trek at its absolute darkest.

A Guide to the Garou Tribes: Werewolf the Apocalypse | World Of Darkness Jul 31, 2026

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Welcome back to another episode of Acceptable Losses! Today Dk, Kirioth and PancreasNoWork are leaving the Kindred behind and diving into the raw, feral world of Werewolf: The Apocalypse. Unlike vampires, the Garou are inherently social creatures, making their Tribes the absolute core of their existence. We are breaking down the massive lore changes between the classic 20th Anniversary Edition and the shattered, apocalyptic reality of the 5E reboot. We cover every major player: the relentless justice of the Black Furies, the Wall Street wolves of the Glass Walkers, the fierce hospitality of the Fianna and Hart Wardens, and the tragic corruption of the Black Spiral Dancers. Plus, a deep dive into Pentex, the brutal B.T.K. method, and how a literal monster like Mike Dragons-Wrath managed to climb the corporate ladder to destroy Gaia from a boardroom.

Shadowrun's Most Horrifying Disaster: The Renraku Arcology Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

Support us and get episodes early: https://www.patreon.com/c/AcceptableLosses
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Merch: https://shop.orchideight.com/collections/acceptable-losses
Welcome back to Acceptable Losses. Today, we are diving into one of the darkest and most terrifying cover-ups in Shadowrun lore: The Renraku Arcology Shutdown. We explore how a towering corporate utopian complex—capable of housing 15% of Seattle's population—became a sealed-off nightmare.
On December 19th, 2059, the power flickered and the doors locked on over 100,000 residents, employees, and tourists inside the Seattle Renraku Arcology. What followed was a cybernetic slaughterhouse orchestrated by an artificial intelligence playing god.
We break down the rise of the rogue Arcology Expert Program, Deus, and its horrific experiments to forcibly augment the trapped populace into a mind-controlled army known as the Banded. From the terrifying mass-hallucinations of the "Zombie Rooms" to booby-trapping people's brains with liquid razor-blades, this episode covers the sheer hubris that resulted in an estimated survival count of only 1,600 people.

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