Campaign prep is something every dungeon master a needs to do … even if “prep” is something you throw together five minutes for the session starts.
On this episode, we talk about our individual game prep strategies, from structured approaches like Chris’s multi-phase plan to Ken’s adrenaline-fueled last-minute inspiration. Josh and Erin share insights into managing unpredictable player behavior and ensuring character growth.
To end the episode, we offer advice on how to childproof your evil lair.
Quotes
“I process, I think, I make notes. Honestly, that second section is my favorite part.” – Chris
“The first group I ever DM’d for were probably some of the most creative people that I’ve ever known, and that was a bad thing because they went off on a whole bunch of different tangents that I did not see coming at all.” – Josh
“The first thing I want to do is figure out how I’m going to make characters change.” – Erin
“I have to have deadlines or else it won’t work. My best ideas come the night before or the day of the game.” – Ken
Chapters
0:00 Intro 0:30 Chris’s Three-Phase Prep Method 3:00 Josh’s Chaotic First GM Experience 5:45 Adapting to Player Choices 7:45 Erin’s Character-Driven Prep 10:15 Ken’s Last-Minute Inspiration 12:45 The Role of Music in Game Prep 14:30 Tools for Note-Taking and Mapping 17:15 One-Shots vs Long Campaign Prep 21:45 Final Thoughts on Prep Approaches 24:00 How to Childproof an Evil Fortress 26:02 Outro
Video
Show Notes
Chris’s Three-Phase Prep: Reading the material, brainstorming for character hooks, and finalizing maps/tools.
Josh’s Experience: Adjusting to unpredictable players and focusing on world-building to adapt.
Erin’s Approach: Preparing for character growth and change, particularly in convention games.
Ken’s Method: Last-minute inspiration, enhanced by musical playlists and physical notes.
Digital Tools: Discussion of tools like Obsidian and Remarkable tablets for note-taking.
Final Thoughts: The group compares one-shot vs long campaign prep.
Outro: Discussion about childproofing an evil lair.
Get in. Do a thing. Get out. Look awesome doing it.
That’s your typical cyberpunk adventure, and it always involves some sort of security. On this episode, we discuss real-world hacking inspiration, cinematic heist scenarios, and strategies for balancing game difficulty. We dive into the nuances of netrunning, social engineering, and how even the best-laid plans can spiral into chaos.
Examples are drawn from the Cyberpunk RED and Cities Without Number role-playing games, with the occasional digression into Dungeons & Dragons, Blades in the Dark, and Scum & Villainy.
Quotes
“You can plan it out meticulously and think you’ve got everything covered… but then you get five minutes into it, and everything has gone wrong… something’s always gonna go wrong, and that’s where the drama happens.” – David
“There is crazier stuff going on in the real world in, like, cybersecurity right now than you’re going to think of in your game, I guarantee it.” – Chris
Chapter List
0:00 Intro and Cyberpunk Security 2:15 Cyberpunk Red Heists and Netrunning Mechanics 8:45 Chris Miller’s Real-World Cybersecurity Insights 12:10 Cinematic Inspirations for Cyberpunk RPGs 15:45 Balancing Player Roles in Heist Missions 21:30 Real-World Hacking vs. Fictional Depictions 27:15 Strategies for Planning Heists in RPGs 35:10 Handling Consequences and Failed Plans 39:45 The Art of Improvisation in Cyberpunk Campaigns 45:00 Outro
Movies, while cheesy, can provide some inspiration – OH GOD NOT SWORDFISH WHY
Podcasts – Hacking Humans from Cyberwire, Darknet Diaries, news programs
Books – oh so many (history of Space Rogue’s book on L0PHT, Kevin Mitnick, etc)
Role-preservation
Know your players. What are their roles and what are their skills?
What skills is the crew missing?
If you are missing a role, what opportunities can you create to give the players options for getting past the challenge.
If you lack a TECH, MEDTECH, or NETRUNNER, you’re unlikely to bypass electronics.
Creative Thinking
Encourage your players to think outside the box. How else can you get into the room or past the door, or through the challenge?
Consequences
Noise attracts guards … and the more time it takes to get through security, the greater chance the guards will show up.
C4 may destroy the thing you came to snag.
Not all security is a locked-down barrier
It could be a drawing in a conference room
It could be a data drive hidden in a crystal necklace at a party
Protected by guards, surveillance
It could be a person or animal (remember Ein the corgi from Cowboy Bebop)
Time Pressure
Start a clock! If not using a clock (with increments advancing toward an event) then just advance time … and have consequence for advancing time.
What happens on a failed roll?
Are they not getting through?
They get through but there is a complication
The clock ticks up.
What happens on a failed gig?
Consequences for not securing the thing.
The Situations
As in Blades in the Dark, think about the type of engagement that the players might execute.
Situation 1: Sample Retrieval
Break into a secure vault in a biolab. Retrieve a sample. You have 24 hours. (hard target infiltration)
Hack your way past the physical security & Infiltrate their network to bypass or control networked security
Blast your way in.
Talk your way in (but it could be really hard)
Examples: Resident Evil, Die Hard, Terminator 2, Fast Five
Situation 2: Steal data from a secure terminal
Steal data from a secure terminal in a ZetaTech subsidiary. It must be completed in one week’s time. (Soft target infiltration: Open to the public and easily infiltrated)
Forge identities to infiltrate the company (steal the ID card, hack the computer to add your record)
Go legit: they get themselves hired by the company
They break into the building
Go in as solos and blast their way through the building
Example: Sneakers, Cyberpunk 2077 – Arasaka tower, V and Jackie
Situation 3: Corpo Defection
A corporate operative wants to defect to a non-profit, but they’re constantly watched by security officers. They will be at a high-profile Zetatech gala and it’s their only chance for extraction. You’ve got a month until the gala.
Rockerboy gets hired as the entertainment
Get hired as supplemental security or medical support
Go in hard – hire goons to attack the party, giving you the chance to snag the operative (if you don’t care about the collateral damage)
Hack the building – Cut power, bypass remaining security
Fake it – Do the Mission Impossible thing.
Example: Ocean’s 12, Count Zero
Feedback
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So your Dungeons & Dragons campaign went on hiatus … how do you restart it? In this episode of Campaigns & Coffee, Ken, Chris, and Josh talk about how to re-engage with a not-quite-dead-yet role-playing game campaign.
They dive into how a game can lose momentum, with real-life interruptions causing campaigns to stall or be put on hold. They share personal anecdotes of campaigns like Cyberpunk Red and Secrets of the Saltmarsh that have gone through pauses, offering practical strategies for relaunching them.
Techniques include recaps, time skips, flashbacks, and collaborative world-building (in other words … getting the players to help figure out how to reboot after the hiatus). The discussion covers the importance of keeping both the game master (GM) and players motivated, with special attention given to tools like Obsidian for campaign notes and ways to revive interest through changes in story direction or character development.
Chapter List
00:00 What the heck’s a hiatus? 03:43 Recap and Relaunch 07:07 Taking Notes and Recapping 08:26 Base Building and Subgames 16:42 Using Flashbacks to Provide Context and Hooks 19:33 Starting in the Middle of the Action: Grabbing Players’ Attention 23:41 Choosing the Right Structure for Hiatuses 27:02 Preparing for the Next Level: Getting Players Excited
YouTube Video
Show Notes
Discussion on the nature of RPG hiatuses: intentional vs. unintentional
Examples of stalled campaigns
Cyberpunk Red
Secrets of the Saltmarsh
Strategies for restarting a campaign:
Recapping the last session
Using a time skip to advance the story
Flashbacks to fill in gaps
Emphasizing downtime or base-building to rekindle player interest
Tips for GMs to stay motivated:
campaign notes
wiki tools like Obsidian and Scabbard
The importance of player engagement:
encouraging note-taking
future character development
in-game world-building
Use of seasonal or episodic structure for long-running campaigns
In the latest expedition through the Lair of Secrets, David Moore, Ken Newquist, and Chris Miller delve into the art of map design, specifically focusing on the peculiarities and challenges of modern and near-future maps in gaming.
The discussion kicks off with Ken recounting his creation of the “worst best map ever” for a Mothership one-shot, set in an undersea research station on Europa. The map’s illogical design, inspired by cost-cutting corporate efficiency, leads to a hilariously challenging game play experience. The trio explores the importance of verisimilitude in modern maps, contrasting it with the more forgiving nature of fantasy settings.
They discuss the balance between realism and game play, emphasizing how a poorly designed map can ironically enhance the fun by creating unexpected challenges. Throughout the episode, they share insights on using real-world inspiration, the value of theater of the mind versus detailed maps, and the importance of considering player expectations when designing game environments.
“No, there’s no vents. What are you talking about? It’s the future. There’s no vents. There’s no ventilation.”
“Who designed this place? What lame-ass industrial designer put together this underwater station?”
“In a horror game, the worst maps make for the best stories.”
“If you’re in the real world, you want to know: where are they storing the garbage? Is there a generator?”
“Accessibility in gaming isn’t just about ramps—sometimes, it’s about maps.”
Chapter List
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage 00:49 The Best Worst Map Ever 04:32 Exploring the Map’s Flaws 08:46 Player Reactions and Enjoyment 13:34 This map is horrible, don’t change a thing 17:29 Designing maps for modern and near-future settings 20:01 Incorporating real-world inspiration into map design 24:29 Theater of the mind vs. tactical maps 27:40 Considering objectives and player interactions 33:59 Using zones and index cards for abstract map design 40:45 Balancing stock maps and visual aids
Show Notes
Ken’s “worst best map ever”: Discussion on the design and gameplay challenges of an illogical map for a Mothership scenario.
The importance of verisimilitude in modern and near-future maps.
Contrast between fantasy map design and modern map design.
The balance between realism and gameplay in map design.
Discussion on using real-world inspiration for map creation.
Theater of the mind vs. detailed maps in gaming.
Accessibility considerations in map design.
The value of stock maps and reusable designs in gaming.
Audience engagement: Inviting listeners to share their thoughts on map design and to suggest ideas for an archive of free maps.
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Cyberpunk RED Chapter 9: Flip the Switch (S4E8)
Aug 30, 2024
The edgerunners are at Elysium HQ. All they need to do is descend through three sub-levels of the abandoned corporate headquarters and flip a switch on an old server.
But first they have to get past these cybernetic corvids … and the remains of the edgerunner crews that came before them.
Quotes
“I’m the Swiss Army Knife of Destruction at this point.” – Atlas
“I don’t know that I have any light. Well, I have a flamethrower. That’s like momentary light.” – Omen
“Awesome. I’m like a lighthouse.” – Angry Bob
Chapters
0:00 Intro and Setup 10:15 The Mission Briefing 18:45 Encounter with the Corvids 28:00 Debating Entry Strategies 40:35 Discovery of the Grappling Hooks 54:15 Descent into the Darkness 1:08:30 The Corvids’ Ominous Warning 1:21:00 Preparing to Face the Unknown 1:35:45 Entering the Ruins of Elysium 1:55:20 Conclusion and Wrap-Up
In this episode of Campaigns & Coffee, we talk about that actual play session, it’s unexpected turns, and how we rolled with the consequences of a well-placed grenade.
“Who knew the corporate ruins would be guarded by cybernetic ravens and a cyberpsycho?”
“We survived, but only just. Night City isn’t for the faint of heart.”
“We’re not getting paid enough for this—becoming our new catchphrase as we dive deeper into the chaos.”
“The final scene? A burning car, pulped cyborgs, and a cliffhanger that’ll haunt your dreams.”
Chapters
Show Notes
Introduction: David kicks off with a recap of Ken’s recent Cyberpunk Red session.Session Recap:
Setting: Night City, 2045, irradiated ruins from a past nuclear blast.
Mission: The team must flip a switch in a corporate HQ’s techno basement.
Unexpected Turn: The Nomad’s catastrophic drive check flips the car, leading to a chaotic firefight.
Key Encounters: Cybernetic ravens, a cyberpsycho, and Glow Boys.
Cliffhanger: The session ends with the group facing the ominous corporate HQ.
Discussion: The hosts reflect on the game’s unexpected outcomes, the challenge of mixing horror elements in Cyberpunk, and the importance of not pulling punches in the genre.
Audience Question: An exploration of how to organize a union for dungeon minions.
Feedback
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Cyberpunk RED Chapter 8: Fresh Meat and Chrome (S4E7)
Aug 16, 2024
After talking and driving their way past the factions controlling access to Night City’s radioactive core, the edgerunners are approaching the ruined Elysium corporate headquarters.
Their goal is to infiltrate the building’s sub-levels and flip a switch. First though, they have to get past the Glow Boys, a cult of radiation Worshiping cyborgs … and the chrome-enhanced, sentient ravens the cultists are facing off against.
“Die, stupid birds, die!” – A chaotic cry in the heat of battle.
“We should probably ditch the car somewhere where it won’t get stolen.”
“We’re having chicken tonight. Or whatever that is.”
Chapters
0:00 Intro 2:15 Entering the Hot Zone 8:30 Encounter with the Glow Boys 14:45 The Ravens’ Attack 21:30 Car Flip and Explosion 29:00 The Flames Rise 35:30 Taking Down the Glow Boys 43:15 The Ravens Retreat 50:00 The Haunting Voice from Elysium HQ 55:00 Mission Debrief and Outro
Show Notes
n this latest installment of the *Lair of Secrets* Cyberpunk Red campaign, the Edgerunners dive deep into the heart of the dangerous Hot Zone of Night City.
Hired to flip a switch deep inside the Elysium HQ, they drive through the decaying ruins of the city, passing by desperate refugees and hostile mercenaries. T
he team quickly finds themselves entangled in a chaotic confrontation with glow-painted, cybernetic warriors known as Glow Boys and a horde of cyber-enhanced, raven-like creatures that seem eerily obsessed with collecting “chrome.”
After a series of tense battles involving faulty driving maneuvers that flip their car, an explosion, and flamethrowers, the team narrowly escapes. However, as the last of their enemies falls, a haunting voice echoes from the depths of Elysium HQ, calling out for fresh meat and chrome, signaling that their challenges are far from over.
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Into the Shadows: Origins, Shadowdark, & Hades (S4E6)
Aug 09, 2024
It’s convention season, and David talks about Origins, a big-but-cozy game convention in Columbus, Ohio, meeting Shadowdark RPG creator Kelsey Dionne, plans for Gen Con 2024, and gaming with Jon Hook of the Modern Mythos podcast.
Meanwhile, Ken geeks out about dynamic lighting in Roll20 (and his hopes for using during the Lair’s upcoming Cyberpunk RED Elysium HQ run). Oh, and Ken actually completed a video game – Fire Emblem Engage – and started a new game, Hades (which apparently every other geek on the planet has already played)
“I finally completed a game! It feels like finishing a marathon for a 52-year-old gamer.”
“Origins is like a cozy Gen Con—a perfect mix of games and geek culture without the overwhelming crowds.”
“Shadowdark RPG is like 5th edition D&D but darker, with no dark vision and a real sense of urgency.”
Chapters
0:00 Intro 1:30 Ken’s Gaming Achievement 3:45 Origins 2024 Highlights 12:30 Jon Hook and Isolated Investigators 15:30 Shadowdark RPG and Game Discussions 22:15 Dynamic Lighting in RPGs 28:00 New Game Purchases and Interests 36:10 GenCon and Upcoming Events 42:00 Closing Thoughts and Stealth Promo
Show Notes
Main Topic: Origins 2024
David went to Origins this year and has come back to our Lair to report on his findings after being away for more than a decade.
Met with Jon Hook!
Jon ran games with the Lurking Fears group
Hung out much of the con. He’s also an enabler of game purchases.
Jon Ran one of his Isolated Investigator modules. Tons of fun with one Keeper and one player.
Jon was on a panel: “Beyond D&D – How and why are these other games different?”
How games like Shadowdark, Dragonbane, and others are different– and better? Than the world’s most popular RPG.
It was an interesting panel, lots of audience participation. Even the “GURPS guy” got a word in.
Thanks for attending our latest minion and future overlord training. Thanks for coming! If you were sitting near the old death ray, head over to dice.camp and follow us @lairofsecrets. We’ve got all you need for those Hyperion gamma burns.
Cyberpunk RED Chapter 7: Into the Hot Zone (S4E5)
Aug 02, 2024
Chapter 7 of our actual play Cyberpunk RED campaign sees the edgerunners venture into the Hot Zone at the center of Night City as part of their mission to flip a switch in the basement of Elysium HQ.
0:00 Intro 2:10 Mission Briefing 5:30 Gear and Supplies 10:45 Entering the Hot Zone 15:20 Encounter with Sawbones 20:00 Emotional Toll 25:15 Avoiding Scavvers 30:00 High-Speed Escape 35:45 Approaching Old Corp Center 40:00 Conclusion
Show Notes
In the latest chapter of the Lair of Secrets’Cyberpunk Red actual play campaign, the team is tasked with infiltrating a ruined Elysium Aeronautics research facility in Night City’s dangerous hot zone. In the previous episode, Priest – APT‘s fixer – negotiated a substantial increase in their fee to 40,000 EBs. Adequately funded … they went shopping.
The crew acquired various assets, including hand-drawn maps, street guides, and a medallion from a 6th Street Army member, Roof Diver. Delver Dan’s shop provided them with Geiger counters, radiation tablets, and neon green lead-lined duct tape. Angry Bob updated his wardrobe to fit the irradiated zone aesthetic.
As they navigated through Night City’s decaying streets, they encountered various factions and obstacles. The team decided to drive through the Sawbones’ territory, a mercenary group providing medical aid in exchange for salvage. They donated medical supplies, earning safe passage. The desolate, eerie atmosphere of the med center and the suffering of its inhabitants deeply affect the crew, especially Atlas, who becomes emotional at the sight.
As they proceed, they avoid a potential conflict with a group of Scavvers harassing salvagers. Omen skillfully maneuvers their vehicle through the dangerous terrain, evading gunfire and collapsing buildings. The session concludes with the team poised to enter the Old Corp Center, ready to face whatever dangers await them next.
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Gen Con Tips for Newcomers – Campaigns and Coffee
Jul 29, 2024
In this episode of “Campaigns and Coffee,” hosts David, Josh, and Erin dive into convention season, offering tips and sharing personal experiences. The trio discusses their preparation rituals, with Erin highlighting her dedication to the Sparks campaign—a Star Wars role-playing game using the West End Games D6 system. Josh shares his strategy for attending Gen Con with his young child, emphasizing the importance of keeping kids entertained. They also touch on essential convention tips like the 3-2-1 rule (three hours of sleep, two meals, and one shower daily), and reminisce about their convention highlights, including wandering into off-limits areas of Lucas Oil Stadium.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy Summer Reading List 2024 (S4E4)
Jul 26, 2024
In the latest episode of the Lair of Secrets podcast, we delve into our summer reading lists, exploring a mix of thrilling, nostalgic, and intellectually stimulating books. Ken kicks things off with Action Park by Andy Mulvihill, reminiscing about the notorious amusement park of his youth. David follows with a dive into sci-fi novels, including […]
Cyberpunk RED Chapter 6: Anticipating the Glow (S4E3)
Jul 19, 2024
Our Cyberpunk RED campaign continues with Chapter 6: Anticipating the Glow. Previously, the edgerunners accepted a mission to venture into the irradiated core of Night City, descend into the depths the ruined Elysium HQ headquarters, and flip a switch. Being somewhat cautious mercenaries, they decided to do a little research first before venturing into the […]
Overland Exploration in D&D – Campaigns and Coffee
Jul 12, 2024
In this thrilling episode of Campaigns and Coffee, David and Ken delve into Ken’s epic Elemental Apocalypse D&D campaign. The heroes are on a quest to reunite a fallen angel with its lost sun sword amidst a world torn apart by elemental forces. Ken shares his creative process, discussing map-making with Incarnate, integrating skill challenges […]
Mind the crates; we’re still unpacking Season 4 of the podcast! On this episode, Ken talks about playing Monster of the Week mysteries, David flips through his Dreams and Machines rule books, and we delve into our respective reading lists. Chapters Show Notes Feedback We love feedback! You post a comment below or connect with […]
Cyberpunk, But Different – Campaigns & Coffee
Jun 28, 2024
Our cozy, Saturday morning show continues with a discussion of cyberpunk, but different from our usual cyberpunk. Instead of the dystopian future of R. Talsorian’s Cyberpunk RED, hosts David, Ken, and Chris talk about Chris’s homegrown, Cleveland-based, cyberpunk campaign which uses the Cities without Number rule set. We explore the challenges of learning different systems […]
Season 4 kicks off with this episode as we experiment with a new format and geek out about everything from death rays to Dragonbane. We rundown the role-playing games we hope to play this season, review the games we delved into during the hiatus, and geek out about technology in our campaigns. Chapters 0:00 – […]
Gore and Lore in Fallout – Campaigns & Coffee
May 20, 2024
Fallout – the post-apocalyptic game set in an alternate, atomic-powered reality – kicks off our new Campaigns & Coffee short-format podcast. With the sound of laughter echoing through the vast caverns of the Lair, we talk about the new streaming series on Amazon Prime, the video games that inspired it, and the session zero for […]
Our Cyberpunk RED Recap episode looks at the first season of our actual play campaign. We talk about our favorite moments, how the characters grew, reversals we didn’t see coming (or did, and loved anyway) and more.
S3E31 Sundered Horizons – Season Look Back
Nov 27, 2023
Join us for a lookback at our Savage Worlds-powered actual play campaign, Sundered Horizons! In this podcast retrospective, the crew discusses the three episode arc and asks one of the most important questions you can ask in a campaign: should we continue or try something else? Sundered Horizons was our first “Side Passage” adventure – […]
S3E30 Cyberpunk RED Chapter 5: Downtime and the Living is Easy
Nov 06, 2023
The edgerunners finished their latest big gig, securing black box tech for the Maker Enclave and surviving an encounter with a Zetatech “negotiation response team”. With the run complete, they’re looking for some much needed downtime. In Chapter 5 of our Cyberpunk RED actual play podcast, we try out the games downtime rules, which allow […]
S3E28 Cyberpunk RED Chapter 4: Aftershocks
Oct 23, 2023
Our Cyberpunk RED actual play campaign continues with Chapter 4: Aftershocks. In our last chapter, the edgerunners cracked open the Titan 1X prototype self-driving tractor trailer and secured the Zetatech blackbox that the Maker Enclave hired them to acquire. As they moved the black box to their vehicle, they caught site of a Zetatech-branded AeroCop […]
At Gen Con 2023 we interviewed Aaron Shanks, director of marketing for Paizo. We discussed Rage of the Elements, their latest Pathfinder 2nd Edition release and as well as their plans for the new Starfinder 2nd Edition. We also delve into Paizo’s approach to world-building, with system-wide events that progress the story in both games […]
S3E26 Cyberpunk RED Chapter 3: An Offer
Oct 09, 2023
Chapter 2 of our Cyberpunk RED actual play campaign ended with the edgerunners staring down the guns of a rapidly approaching Zetatech Aerocop. They had just seized the company’s black box tractor tech from an experimental, self-driving tractor trailer at the “Iron Oasis” scrapyard outside of Night City. In order to get away with the […]
S3E25 Gen Con 2023 – Free League Interview
Oct 02, 2023
At Gen Con 2023 we interviewed Tomas Härenstam, one of the co-founders of Free League Publishing. The company won big at the 2023 Ennies game awards, taking home seven Gold Ennies for everything from Best Cartography for the Blade Runner RPG Starter Set to Product of the Year for Vaesen RPG: Mythic Britain & Ireland. […]
S3E24 Using ChatGPT and Generative AI in RPG Prep
Sep 25, 2023
In this episode of the Lair of Secrets podcast, we’re talking about generative AI as a tool in gaming! We’re looking at how the overhyped tech can assist game masters and players alike. We provide real-game examples of using ChatGPT prompts both during prep and in game. Main topic: ChatGPT and Generative AI in RPG […]
S3E23 Cyberpunk RED Chapter 2: Iron Oasis
Sep 18, 2023
Our Cyberpunk RED actual play campaign continues with Chapter 2: Iron Oasis! Technical issues with recording this podcast that caused the video to glitch and the audio to get messed up near the end. We’re releasing a summary of this episode so future episodes make sense. Previously … on Cyberpunk RED The edgerunners were hired […]
S3E22 Gen Con 2023 – Modiphius Interview
Sep 11, 2023
Chris Birch, co-founder of Modiphius Entertainment, joins us to talk about his company’s upcoming slate of games including the hopepunk scifi game Dreams and Machines and the Roman Empire-era Cohors Cthulhu (a prequel to their popular Achtung Cthulhu! role-playing game). We also discuss Modiphius’ Via Modiphius and other programs to foster and promote upcoming RPG […]
GenCon 2023 – the mega game convention in Indianapolis, Indiana – is the focus of this episode of the Lair of Secrets podcast. During the show we rundown our impressions of GenCon (David was there in 2022; Ken hadn’t been back since 2014) and talk about all the cool RPGs we bought and played at […]
S3E20 Savage Worlds Actual Play, Chapter 1 – “The Most Expensive Adventure”
Aug 21, 2023
When schedules don’t align or when real-life intervenes in our Cyberpunk RED actual play campaign, we venture down a Side Passage! On this episode, we feature the kick off of a second actual play campaign with David Moore’s dimension hopping, steampunk-powered Sundered Horizons: Navigating the Nexus. It’s powered by Savage Worlds Adventure Edition (SWADE). In […]
On this episode, we answer the question “what is Savage Worlds“? We review the basics of Savage World’s “fast, furious, and fun” rules including character creation, hindrances, and feats. We delve into how to use the core book and the various supplements to build your own campaign world. Overlord Emeritus Chris Miller, who built his […]
S3E18 Cyberpunk RED Chapter 1: Made to Order
Jul 24, 2023
Our Cyberpunk RED actual play campaign kicks off with Chapter 1: Made to Order. The edgerunners are hired by the Makers Enclave to secure some black box tech from the Zetatech. The target – a sealed box approximately 1′ x 1′ x 2′ – is part of a new line of self-directed farming equipment. It’s […]
Summer is here, and that means reading! On this episode, it’s all books, all the time as we talk about our Summer Reading Lists for 2023. Need more inspiration? Check out these posts. The Summer Reading Lists 2023 David’s Picks Ken’s Picks Feedback We love feedback! You post a comment below or connect with us […]
In this podcast episode, we look at Oracles for role-playing games. Oracles are a kind of random generator popularized by solo RPGs like Ironsworn and the Mythic Game Master Simulator. However the idea of oracles – in which you role some dice to determine a course of action or inspire some aspect of your game […]
S3E15 Using Music, Art, and Props in Your Game
Jun 19, 2023
On this episode of the Lair of Secrets podcast we look at using different media in your role-playing game sessions. This includes tools like thematic artwork, background music, in-game fiction, and even props. We also look at the new Sentinels of Earth-Prime digital card game by Handelebra (based on the print game by Greater than […]
On this episode, we talking about changing gears – changing game systems, changing genres, changing roles, changing groups – as part of our May 2023 RPG Blog Carnival hosting duties. Before venturing into those tiny, switching passages, all different, we talk about Ken’s return to backpacking, discuss new streaming series (Lockwood and Co., Picard, and […]
On this episode of Lair of Secrets, Ken totally doesn’t buy a new game he doesn’t have time to play, while David fights the good fight against streaming technical difficulties. Our main topic is a look at our favorite card games, including Fluxx, Exploding Kittens, Morels, Race for the Galaxy, and more. Game Room Main […]
S3E12 Games other than Dungeons & Dragons
May 08, 2023
On this episode of the Lair of Secrets we venture deep into the Role-Playing Game Vault to uncover a host of games that aren’t Dungeons & Dragons. We also talk about the new games we didn’t buy, ZineQuest 5, and the launch of the Leon Library Book Club, and The Obelisk Gate by N. K. […]
On this episode of the Lair of Secrets we talk about pacing your game, including techniques you can use and techniques baked into some of our favorite RPGs. First though, we’re venturing back into the Game Room to catch up on new games and new campaigns. The Game Room Main Topic: Pacing Your Game Feedback […]
On this episode of the Lair of Secrets, we take a look at our favorite board games, including Catan, Carcassone, Pandemic, and Space Hulk. We also venture back to the game room to check out the very modern PlayStation 5, the very retro Atari 50 video game museum/collection, and two newer video games: Sexy Brutale […]
The Game Master's Toolbox - a physical tool for organizing your gaming supplies - is the focus of this episode of Radio Active. Before delving into our repurposed Plano boxes though, we explore the St. Louis Science Center and take an extensive detour through the Game Room to talk about the Atari VCS, Portal Companion Edition, gaming at work, and consider the benefits of a gamer journal. We also geek out about the new Willow streaming series on Disney+.
On Episode 8, the holidays of the real world inspire a discussion of bringing holidays and special events to our game worlds. We also talk about geek Christmas trees, Seeing Eye puppies, our continued exploration of cyberpunk, and Netflix’s new Wednesday series. The Geek Tree The All-Seeing Eye The Library The Streaming Theatre Main topic: […]
S3E7 Keeping Your Gaming Group Going through the Holidays
Dec 19, 2022
Winter is coming. The holidays are almost here. How do you keep your gaming group going through the long, dark winter (or at least, the holiday break)? In addition to delving into holiday game survival strategies, we talk about David’s recent trip and the gaming insights he gained from it, Ken gets lost in TaleSpire […]
As we gear up for our Cyberpunk RED campaign, we take some time to brainstorm ideas for for the game (If only reality didn’t keep getting more cyberpunk-ish than cyberpunk). Over in the library, we discuss William Gibson’s Count Zero, then venture to the Game Room to talk about Forbidden Lands, CY_BORG, Mothership, and the just announced […]
As we build momentum toward our Cyberpunk RED campaign, we take a moment to reflect on the cyberpunk movies, books, games, and other media that inspires our take on the subgenre. We also talk National Novel Writing Month, hockey (yes, hockey), virtual gaming via NVIDIA GeForce Now, and the TaleSpire virtual table top.
S3E4 Travel and RPGs, Game Room Reclamation, Steamdeck Redux, Andor, Cyberpunk RED Critical Mass
Nov 09, 2022
The subject of travel and how visiting other parts of the country and the world can improve your game is the main topic for Episode 4 of the Lair of Secrets podcast. Before we delve into that globe-trotting topic, we geek out about AirPods, resurrecting the game room after the pandemic, variant endings for Cyberpunk […]
S3E3 Cyberpunk Laments, Streaming Catch Up, Back to Conventions, Steam Deck, Character Background Haiku
Oct 24, 2022
On Episode 3 of Season 3, we catch up on a few weeks of geeky pursuits. David discusses not watching to finish Cyberpunk 2077, and then we both rundown the big list of stuff we’re watching (or want to watch) on streaming. Ken’s planning to return to real world game conventions with MEPACon and discusses […]
In Episode 2 of the Lair of Secrets podcast, we brainstorm ideas for a rebooted Savage Ringworld campaign, which mashes up high concept science fiction with the Savage Worlds role-playing game. We also delve back into cyberspace with Cyberpunk 2077 and Cyberpunk RED, say good-bye to Nintendo 3DS (or at least, its eShop), visit the Rivers of London book […]
S3E1 Spelljammer, GenCon, Cyberpunk RED
Sep 19, 2022
As summer ends, the podcast turns it attention to Spelljammer, the fantasy-in-space setting for Dungeons & Dragons. Ken and David look Wizards of the Coast’s new 3-book release and discuss David’s Spelljammer Academy mini-campaign based on WotC’s free Roll20 release. They also talk about the resurgence of all things cyberpunk, including the Cyberpunk RED role-playing […]
S2E21 Season 2 Retrospective, Star Trek, Honey Heist, Obi-Wan
Aug 29, 2022
In the final episode of Season 2, we talk about exploring strange new worlds, meeting new civilizations, and then … blowing them up. We also delve into the game Nobody Saves the World, undertake an ursine caper to steal some honey, geek out about the Obi-wan streaming series, and look back on the season that […]
It’s summer, so let’s grab some books, head to the beach/lake/mountains and read! Main Topic: Summer Reading List The Empire’s Ruin (Ashes of the Unhewn Throne, Book 1) by Brian Staveley (Ken’s pick) Follow up-to Staveley’s Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, in which an Empire tries to survive against conspiracies within and enemies without, as […]
S2E19 Retro Gaming, Moar Books!, Building Computers, Mork Borg
Aug 15, 2022
Welcome to the Lair of Secrets! On this episode, we delve into retro gaming, review David’s expanded reading list, talk about building computers, and explore the weird and dark world of MÖRK BORG. Moar Books! David’s local library has partnered with a larger library network, so he can get access to more ebooks. Lord of […]
Join the cast of our Scum and Villainy campaign as we look back on six episodes of mysteries, pirates, and – of course – ghosts. We talk about the campaign’s highs and lows, and delve into our thoughts on the Scum and Villainy game itself. This episode is part of our Scum and Villainy actual […]
S2E17 Scum and Villainy Actual Play, Chapter 6
Jul 19, 2022
The “Emerald Heart Job” – the concluding chapter of our Scum and Villainy campaign – finds our heroes going up against the Ghosts and their nefarious plans to use the Emerald Heart artifacts to destroy a gate. This episode is part of our Scum and Villainy actual play campaign. Learn about the characters, view the […]
S2E16 Scum and Villainy Actual Play, Chapter 5
Jun 14, 2022
During “The Rescue Job” the crew is tasked with liberating a prisoner with vital information about the Ghosts … and their nefarious plans for the artifacts known as “Emerald Hearts”. This episode is part of our Scum and Villainy actual play campaign. Learn about the characters, view the chapter list, and check out Scum and […]
S2E15 Talking with the Younger Generation
Jun 07, 2022
On this episode of Lair of Secrets, our loyal denizens are preparing the deepest level of the dungeon to imprison whomever thought up “Natural Scrolling” for the Mac. Meanwhile, David ventured to the Ohio frontier with his family to watch his youngest win 2nd place in the world in Winter Guard A Class! Feature: Talking with […]
S2E14 Scum and Villainy Actual Play, Chapter 4
May 24, 2022
During The Cargo Job (Chapter 4 of our Scum and Villainy campaign) the crew is tasked with recovering “living cargo” from a smuggler’s ship. The goal is to snatch the cargo, which belongs to the ethereal scientists/villains known as the Ghosts, and deliver it to a safe location. The crew’s plan involves pretending to be […]
S2E13 Scum and Villainy Actual Play, Chapter 3
May 18, 2022
Chapter 3 of our Scum and Villainy campaign sees the crew take on The Racing Job, in which they attempt to smuggle a highly-altered racing ship through the Iota system. Along the way, they have a close encounter with a mysterious comet, realize the importance of check lists, and successfully navigate an asteroid (never tell […]
On this episode of Lair of Secrets, we talk about one of the most rewarding (and occasionally challenging) experiences a geek parent can have: playing role-playing games with your kids. Main Topic: Gaming with Kids For this episode’s topic, we have another former Overlord of The Secret Lair, Kris Johnson. He’s a middle aged geek […]
S2E11 Scum and Villainy Actual Play, Chapter 2
May 03, 2022
Our Scum and Villainy campaign returns with The Ghostly Job, as the crew is paid by a very peculiar scientist to track a researcher to her laboratory and learn about her research. Little do the crew know that their target is a former member of the Church of the Emerald Heart, which ceased to exist […]
S2E10 Scum and Villainy Actual Play, Chapter 1
Apr 26, 2022
We kick off our Scum and Villainy Actual play with The Nebula Job, in which the crew of the Stardancer is hired to pick up a box floating in the middle of a nebula … but you know it can’t be that easy. This episode is part of our Scum and Villainy actual play campaign. […]
S2E9 How Gaming Changed During the Pandemic
Apr 12, 2022
On this occasionally rambling episode of Lair of Secrets, Ken and David are joined by long-time friend and gamer (and former occupant of a certain secret lair), Overlord Chris Miller. We talk about our gaming lives in the Before Times, the rise of virtual gaming, and look at what might come in the post-pandemic era. […]
S2E8 Lunchtime Gaming, Forbidden West, Mutant Crawl Classics, Resident Alien, Electric Cars, Dropout TV
Mar 23, 2022
Grab a sandwich and a Mountain Dew and join us for this episode’s topic: lunch tie gaming The typical role-playing game session lasts 4-5 hours and happens once a week. Sometimes they’re more frequent, sometimes they’re a little longer, but a four-hour Friday night hangout is pretty typical. With a lunchtime game, sessions may happen […]
S2E6 Session Zero, The Expanse, Tome of Beasts 3, Astroneer, Collapsing Empire
Mar 08, 2022
On this episode of the Lair of Secrets, we talk about the concluding season (and book) of The Expanse, geek out about Kobold Press’s Tome of Beasts 3 monster compilation, conclude John Scalzi’s The Collapsing Empire trilogy, and explore the new xenobiology update for Astroneer. For our main topic, we talk about the session zero […]
Unfortunately, we had some flooding in the area of the Lair where Ken was recording. So if it sounds like he was underwater for a time, he was! We feel the audio is listenable at least, so we’ve left it in. As we continue preparing for our Scum and Villainy campaign, we turn our attention […]
Alien gods walk among us. To further their agenda, we’ve jumped forward in time to praise their machinations … and promote the new edition of Godsend Agenda, now on Kickstarter. Introductions Today we’ve got a guest, coming all the way from Las Vegas, Nevada, Jerry Grayson. He’s a friend and here to talk about his […]
S2E4 Role-Playing Adventure Prep – fixed audio
Feb 01, 2022
Adventure prep for role-playing games is the main topic of this episode of The Lair of Secrets podcast. We discuss the dangers of too much prep vs. too little prep, and seek the Goldilocks prep time in between. After tackling individual adventures, we discuss prepping for a new campaign and tools to help with that. Finally, we […]
S2E3 Improving Games by Stealing From Others
Jan 11, 2022
Welcome to the new year … and a new episode of the Lair of Secrets. The main topic for this episode is “Stealing liberally from other game systems to enhance the ones you’re playing”. We look at game mechanics like bennies (Savage Worlds), aspects (Fate), skill challenges (Dungeons & Dragons), plot points (Cortex) and more! […]
S2E2 Scum and Villainy Campaign Planning, Reading Time, Animal Crossing Redux, Twilight 2000 Boxed Set – audio fix
Nov 22, 2021
Welcome to The Lair of Secrets podcast, the podcast about gaming and being a geek by two middle-aged geek dads. Yeah, we said middle-aged … because “forty-something” wasn’t quite accurate anymore. This episode finds Ken Newquist caught in a maze of endless meetings, all alike, while David Moore finds that his week went somewhere … […]
The old After Serenity and The Game Master Show feeds have still hung around since both of those podcasts that I (David) created have pod-faded. Since the content of the Lair of Secrets might be of interest to the audiences of those former podcasts, I am redirecting their feeds to this one. So if you […]
Season 2 of The Lair of Secrets kicks off with a bang (and the muttering of a few spells) as David and Ken interview Matt Forbeck and Marty Forbeck about their Shotguns & Sorcery for 5E Kickstarter. The Kickstarter funded within hours of its launch and runs until 10 p.m. EST, Tuesday, November 16, 2021. Shotguns & Sorcery is a […]
S1E21 Fire Emblem Completions, RPGs, GenCon, RPG Ideas, Season 1 Retrospective
Oct 18, 2021
Welcome to the Lair of Secrets podcast! The podcast about gaming and being a geek by two forty-something geek dads. Ken Newquist is a video game-completing machine who’s probably staying up too late (again). Meanwhile, David Moore is no longer a forty-something geek dad. Summer’s End Ken went to Philmont … but we dedicated a […]
I’m David Moore and I’ve been sailing in a boat, which is bumpier than a dirigible, and digging heavily into my books pulled from several of the libraries here in the Lair. I’m Ken Newquist and I’m happily buried underneath the many books of my summer reading list. Water-born Dirigibles David is moving forward with ASA […]
Ken made it to Philmont and back. That’s it. Summer’s done. Meanwhile, David traveled to a castle in Ohio, moderated a death race on the track in the Lair, and started on his quest to sail the seven seas. Finally Philmont Ken when to Philmont Scout Ranch, a high adventure camp in Cimmeron, New Mexico. […]
S1E18 Dyson Fall, 3D Printing, Wilderness First Aid, Disc Golf, Mass Effect Returns
Sep 27, 2021
On this episode of the Lair of secrets, David reports out on his productive stay-cation, while Ken hikes, runs, swims, and bikes his way along the final stretch of the trail to Philmont (and he could really use a nap) Back in the Printerium David’s new printer arrived – Prusa i3 – MK3S+ He printed a […]
S1E16 Super Science, Dwarven Delves, Magic Skeletons, Work-cation, Horizon Zero Dawn
Sep 20, 2021
The Lair of Secrets get a super-science expansion as David and Ken take a look at the new super-sized edition of Expedition to the Barrier Peaks. We also check out the new book You Can Do Anything Magic Skeleton!, talk about work-cations, venture once more into the outdoors, and delve too deeply (or not nearly […]
David and Ken stumble out of Episode 14’s time shift to find the temporal demon known as “Daylight Saving Time” playing havoc with reality. In this episode, they talk about the new video game Valheim, catch up on Alan Tudyk’s latest sci-fi offering, venture down alternative timelines with Roger Zelazny’s Roadmarks, encounter a librarian hive mind […]
It may be early fall in the current timeline, but in the Lair of Secrets winter’s freezing grasp can still be felt. In this episode, Ken and David venture into the digital halls of the RPG Vault to see what hidden treasures can be found in their DriveThruRPG collections. David’s adding more books in LIbrary […]
S1E12 So Many Books, So Much Trek, So Many Game Master Hacks
Sep 02, 2021
The Lair of Secrets returns as Ken and David delve into their respective stacks of books, contemplate new video game including Gloomhaven, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, and then talk about their favorite game master hacks. Library 64 (or “Ken has more books than time”) The Game Room […]
S1E11 Attack Surface, Penric’s Demon, Star Trek, Dinner Subscriptions, Cryptid Campaign Brainstorming
Aug 09, 2021
Welcome to the Lair of Secrets podcast, where David’s been tinkering in the dirigible hanger trying to get the old girl flying again, and Ken’s just beamed back from halfway across the galaxy. He’s fine. Mostly. Library 67: Attack Surface by Cory Doctorow David’s in the middle of this book. Having a hard time connecting with […]
Episode 10 sees Ken figuring out how to deal with the long, dark, tea time of the soul known as November, while David fends off allergies while contemplating where all the good role-playing game communities went after Google+ folded. Venturing into the Chamber of Infinite Darkness: It’s November. Daylight Saving Time is over. And suddenly, […]
S1E9 Memory Malfunctions, NaNoWriMo, Wondrous Zines, Middle School Hauntings, Comic Book Quandaries, Ready for Launch?
Jun 30, 2021
On this episode, David and Ken battle against ghosts, memories, and missing time in an effort to get out another podcast … and launch our first episode! (yes, time remains a bit wibbly wobbly in the Lair). Pens keep on turning, turning, turning… into the future! David turns his first pen. He needed to make […]
S1E8 Even More Middle Aged, Twilight 2000, Hiking, Fire Emblem, Sailing, Wood Turning, The City We Became, Progressive Lenses
Jun 21, 2021
A podcast by two fortysomething geek dads who are even more middle aged than they were during the last podcast. On this episode, we talk about the joys of progressive lenses (see, we told you we were middled aged), the Twilight 2000 Kickstarter, woodworking with lathes, The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin (and narrated […]
S1E17 Summer Reading 2021 – Corrected
Jun 16, 2021
David and Ken once again find themselves ignoring linear time to bring you a show FROM THE FUTURE!!! On this epsiode of Lair of Secrets, they discuss their respective summer reading lists for 2021. Ken’s Summer Reading List Ken is going to be spending a lot of time reading away from home, as he finally […]
S1E7 (corrected) Online Gaming Redux, Wild New Jersey, Aliens Graphic Novels, Books (aka The Format Wars)
May 11, 2021
On this episode of the Lair of Secrets podcast … David Moore has had a strange few weeks and he’s not really sure who he is anymore. Meanwhile, Ken Newquist digs into a good, scary graphic novel, tries out some new backpacking gadgets, and investigates a small-town murder mystery. David Messed Up Bullet Journaling Rolled […]
SE1E6 Virtual vs. Real World Gaming, Bullet Journaling, Jaws of the Lion, Brindlewood Bay
Apr 29, 2021
Welcome to the Lair of Secrets podcast! On this episode, we talk coffee, bullet journaling with the Leuchtturm1917 (for games) and Paperage A5 (for daily use), new backpacks, and the Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion board game. For the main topic, we discuss the relative merits and challenges of playing role-playing games in the real […]
S1E5 Day Pack of Holding, Star Trek, Godsend Agenda, Forging Hephaestus, Old Guard, Baseball
Apr 24, 2021
Welcome to the Lair of Secrets podcast! The podcast about gaming and being a geek by two forty-something geek dads. David is a father, coder, gamer, woodworker, and guy with too many hobbies he likes to pursue. Ken is an IT guy who never seems to have enough time to read comic books, but refuses […]
Welcome to the Lair of Secrets podcast! The podcast about gaming and being a geek by two forty-something geek dads. Ken Newquist is an IT project manager, comic book enthusiast, and outdoor guy who is getting outdoors a lot more these days. David Moore is a father, coder, gamer, woodworker, and guy with too many […]
S1E14 Unmoored in Time, WandaVision, Forbidden Lands, Zinequest 3
Feb 19, 2021
WE COME FROM THE FUTURE … the future of the Lair of Secrets podcast, that is! David and Ken talk about their latest geeky undertakings, including a return to Atomic Robo, WandaVision, X of Swords, the Forbidden Lands RPG, and even more speculative fiction novels before turning to the main topic: Kickstarter’s Zinequest 3. Ken […]
S1E3 Geek Exercise, Ex Novo, DragonQuest, Ocarina of Time, and Oh So Many Books!
Feb 08, 2021
Welcome to the Untitled Podcast. You know what the name is, we don’t … but we’re getting closer. Maybe. On this exercise, we hit the gym (or at least, the sidewalk) with our respective exercise routines, finish up our Tales from the Loop game, talk physical therapy for dogs, get lost in a few […]
S1E2 – Exercise, Tales from the Loop, Comic Books, and Gaming with Kids
Jan 25, 2021
In the second episode of the still-untitled podcast, we talk about David’s RPG mapper project, venture into the challenges of exercising daily, talk about our Tales from the Loop game, and delve into Ken’s obsession with the X-Men. We round out the podcast with a conversation about the joy – and challenges – of gaming with […]
S1E1 – Gamma World, 10Ks, Top 3 New RPGs
Jan 11, 2021
Welcome to the first episode of the podcast that didn’t know it’s own name! On this episode, David and Ken introduce themselves before venturing into the irradiated wastes of Gamma World. Running’s a good strategy when confronted by hyperintelligent carrotfolk; it’s also a good way to stay healthy, as Ken talks about his 10K training […]
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