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Plot Points — Games
Plot Points

Plot Points is a monthly podcast which discusses table-top role-playing games and their supplements as literature. Our quirky panel discusses games old and new, spotlights innovations in the hobby, and links to literature.

Latest Episodes:

Explore the Vampire New Blood Starter Pack- Ep. 177 Feb 01, 2020

Show notes

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th edition tries to re-start and re-introduce itself to the gaming community with the New Blood Starter Pack. Designed for gaming novices, the product tries to introduce the player to the system, setting, and gaming itself. A hard task. Does it succeed?

Ben's book on RPG adventure design, Encounter Theory, is on DriveThruRPG. Click here to pick up this essential volume!

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon at the $2 level, and you'll get a sneak peek into Ben's book about the sale of TSR to Wizards of the Coast! This chapter concerns TSR West, an effort by TSR to open an LA office devoted to producing comic books, an effort that failed rather impressively. It is the product of a dozen interviews with professionals from comics, gaming, and Hollywood, and as far as I can reckon, it is a tale entirely untold until now. Image by Timothy Bradstreet, courtesy White Wolf & Modiphius.

Appendix N University- 3 Hearts and 3 Lions- Ep. 176 Jan 24, 2020

Show notes

Possibly no novel had a greater impact on Dungeons & Dragons than Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson. Law, chaos, the paladin, the troll, the list goes on. Ben Riggs discusses the novel with gaming great Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan and academic Scott Bruner. Ryder-Hanrahan is one of the geniuses behind the greatest RPG campaign of all-time, The Dracula Dossier, and he has a new novel, The Shadow Saint, out right now!

Ben's book on RPG adventure design, Encounter Theory, is on DriveThruRPG. Click here to pick up this essential volume!

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon at the $2 level, and you'll get a sneak peek into Ben's book about the sale of TSR to Wizards of the Coast! This chapter concerns TSR West, an effort by TSR to open an LA office devoted to producing comic books, an effort that failed rather impressively. It is the product of a dozen interviews with professionals from comics, gaming, and Hollywood, and as far as I can reckon, it is a tale entirely untold until now. Image courtesy Orbit Books.

A Deadly Threat and the Last Fleet: Ep. 175 Jan 17, 2020

Show notes

The only thing keeping humanity from extinction among the stars is The Last Fleet, a new role-playing game by Joshua Fox using the Powered by the Apocalypse engine. Ben interviews Josh, covering design, inspiration, and thoughts on D&D and even JRR Tolkien. Last Fleet is Kickstarting right now. Click here to check it out!

In January, an episode of Appendix N University will cover Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson if you want to read it for the episode.

Ben's book on RPG adventure design, Encounter Theory, is on DriveThruRPG. Click here to pick up this essential volume!

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon at the $2 level, and you'll get a sneak peek into Ben's book about the sale of TSR to Wizards of the Coast! This chapter concerns TSR West, an effort by TSR to open an LA office devoted to producing comic books, an effort that failed rather impressively. It is the product of a dozen interviews with professionals from comics, gaming, and Hollywood, and as far as I can reckon, it is a tale entirely untold until now.

Ed Greenwood Sold the Forgotten Realms for $5,000- Ep. 174 Jan 10, 2020

Show notes

Ben Riggs interviews Ed Greenwood, father of the Forgotten Realms, about his 1987 agreement with TSR wherein he sold the rights to the Realms for $5,000. They also discuss the origin and publication of the Realms, and Ben is able to tell Ed, officially, how many units his game work sold decades after the fact. (You can check out the numbers below!)

In January, an episode of Appendix N University will cover Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson if you want to read it for the episode.

Ben's book on RPG adventure design, Encounter Theory, is on DriveThruRPG. Click here to pick up this essential volume!

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon at the $2 level, and you'll get a sneak peek into Ben's book about the sale of TSR to Wizards of the Coast! This chapter concerns TSR West, an effort by TSR to open an LA office devoted to producing comic books, an effort that failed rather impressively. It is the product of a dozen interviews with professionals from comics, gaming, and Hollywood, and as far as I can reckon, it is a tale entirely untold until now.

Best of Plot Points: FIreborn Jan 03, 2020

Show notes

In this Best of Plot Points episode, the gang checks out a gem from the early aughts from Fantasy Flight, Fireborn! It's a game where you play a reincarnated dragon living in a London where magic is coming alive again.

Vote for us in this poll on ENworld!

In January, an episode of Appendix N University will cover Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson if you want to read it for the episode.

Ben's book on RPG adventure design, Encounter Theory, is on DriveThruRPG. Click here to pick up this essential volume!

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon at the $2 level, and you'll get a sneak peek into Ben's book about the sale of TSR to Wizards of the Coast! This chapter concerns TSR West, an effort by TSR to open an LA office devoted to producing comic books, an effort that failed rather impressively. It is the product of a dozen interviews with professionals from comics, gaming, and Hollywood, and as far as I can reckon, it is a tale entirely untold until now.

Best of Plot Points: Shadow of the Demon Lord Dec 27, 2019

Show notes

Enjoy Robert J. Schwalb's delve into dark fantasy with Shadow of the Demon Lord. Tremble in fear, be afraid, and game away! New Plot Points will arrive in the new year!

Vote for us in this poll on ENworld!

In January, an episode of Appendix N University will cover Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson if you want to read it for the episode.

Ben's book on RPG adventure design, Encounter Theory, is on DriveThruRPG. Click here to pick up this essential volume!

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon at the $2 level, and you'll get a sneak peek into Ben's book about the sale of TSR to Wizards of the Coast! This chapter concerns TSR West, an effort by TSR to open an LA office devoted to producing comic books, an effort that failed rather impressively. It is the product of a dozen interviews with professionals from comics, gaming, and Hollywood, and as far as I can reckon, it is a tale entirely untold until now.

In Forgotten Lawsuit, TSR Sued Wizards of the Coast- Ep. 173 Dec 19, 2019

Show notes

In August of 1996, TSR employees rushed from the exhibit hall at Gen Con to the federal courthouse in downtown Milwaukee to sue Wizards of the Coast and Acclaim Entertainment, filing the lawsuit before the convention was even over. Why? About what? And what is its significance today? Ben Riggs has your answers!

Vote for us in this poll on ENworld!

In January, an episode of Appendix N University will cover Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson if you want to read it for the episode.

Ben's book on RPG adventure design, Encounter Theory, is on DriveThruRPG. Click here to pick up this essential volume!

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon at the $2 level, and you'll get a sneak peek into Ben's book about the sale of TSR to Wizards of the Coast! This chapter concerns TSR West, an effort by TSR to open an LA office devoted to producing comic books, an effort that failed rather impressively. It is the product of a dozen interviews with professionals from comics, gaming, and Hollywood, and as far as I can reckon, it is a tale entirely untold until now.

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

R. Talsorian Games Seminar Gen Con 2019 Dec 12, 2019

Show notes

R. Talsorian Games is one of the ancient and storied RPG companies of the 1980s which has really hit the ground running again in the second decade of the 21st century. They are most well known for 1987's Cyberpunk, the first neo-noir, mega-corporation RPG setting. Cyberpunk is back in the limelight now with the release of the Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit, which has an adventure that a reviewer on DriveThruRPG described as "next to flawless." They also released a role-playing game for a video game property you may have heard of, called The Witcher. Mike Pondsmith, the operating genius behind R. Talsorian, simply has a beautiful voice, which should make this next hour immensely enjoyable to listen to.

In January, an episode of Appendix N University will cover Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson if you want to read it for the episode.

Ben's book on RPG adventure design, Encounter Theory, is on DriveThruRPG. Click here to pick up this essential volume!

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon at the $2 level, and you'll get a sneak peek into Ben's book about the sale of TSR to Wizards of the Coast! This chapter concerns TSR West, an effort by TSR to open an LA office devoted to producing comic books, an effort that failed rather impressively. It is the product of a dozen interviews with professionals from comics, gaming, and Hollywood, and as far as I can reckon, it is a tale entirely untold until now.

Image courtesy of R. Talsorian Games.

Theme music courtesy 50 Breaks.

Zombie World! Ep. 171 Dec 06, 2019

Show notes

Zombie World takes the Powered by the Apocalypse engine and breaks it out into decks of cards. It promises, fast, fun, and bloody undead action. Brad, Sarah, and Ben try it out at their gaming table!

Ben's book on RPG adventure design, Encounter Theory, is on DriveThruRPG. Click here to pick up this essential volume!

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon at the $2 level, and you'll get a sneak peek into Ben's book about the sale of TSR to Wizards of the Coast! This chapter concerns TSR West, an effort by TSR to open an LA office devoted to producing comic books, an effort that failed rather impressively. It is the product of a dozen interviews with professionals from comics, gaming, and Hollywood, and as far as I can reckon, it is a tale entirely untold until now.

Image courtesy of Magpie Games.

Theme music courtesy 50 Breaks.

Best of Plot Points: Ravenloft! Nov 29, 2019

Show notes

Americans, enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday with this deep cut from the Plot Points archives, our first-ever episode, Ravenloft!

The Delta Green Agent's Handbook is currently free on DriveThruRPG! Check it out!

Music courtesy 50 Breaks.

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

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