Down in a Heap

Rob c

A big pot of old school RPG stew. Cover art photo provided by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/@cadop

  • 46 minutes 52 seconds
    Ambition & Avarice 1e Deep Dive 1

    The first in a deep dive series looking at the OSR game, Ambition & Avarice 1e by Greg Christopher of Chubby Funster Games published in 2012. Iā€™m delving into whatā€™s different about this compared to a more traditional TSR era game like Moldvay Cook/Marsh B/X (or Old School Essentials if you prefer). There are substantial differences, yet this is still very compatible with your old school adventures and supplements. In this episode, I focus on base task resolutions, and player characters. Both Ambition & Avarice 1e and 2e are available in print and pdf via DrivethruRPG. Iā€™m confident you can all find them easily :).

    30 October 2024, 2:59 pm
  • 18 minutes 43 seconds
    Campaign Diary 1: The Forsaken North

    When I recorded this, there wasnā€™t a real object, but after listening back, this is the start of a series Iā€™ll keep doing as a sort of campaign diary. This will entail both the planning for The Forsaken North, and discussions about the new (for me) system Iā€™ll be using: Ambition & Avarice 1e by Greg Christopher of Chubby Funster Games. Later entries might include session recaps or updates that develop out of our game sessions. Enjoy!

    12 October 2024, 10:12 pm
  • 7 minutes 45 seconds
    OSR October: Ambition & Avarice 1e

    A tentative return to podcasting for OSR October, 2024. This is a rough one as I try to navigate the new recording approach without the benefit of my familiar Anchor app. A thumbnail look at the new system Iā€™m going to try out: Ambition & Avarice by Greg Christopher.

    You can get a copy at DrivethruRPG: Chubby Funster Games.

    1 October 2024, 4:09 pm
  • 1 hour 15 minutes
    Knave 2e Review: the Final Episode?
    An armchair QB review of Knave 2e by Ben Milton of Questing Beast. Itā€™s ā€œ a flexible, classless rule set for players who scheme, strategize, and seek adventure.ā€ Itā€™s also closely compatible with most adventures and supplements of your favorite old school fantasy RPG. I go over the good, bad, and uncertain aspects I see (keeping in mind I havenā€™t played it) in this last ride of Down in a Heap. Thanks for all the fun over the years! Stay in touch: bigbalboni ā€œatā€ gmail.com.
    10 July 2024, 3:25 am
  • 1 hour 6 minutes
    Halberds & Henchmen: a Retrospective
    I look back at my Frankensteinā€™s Monster of a hack from 2017, Halberds & Henchmen. What circumstances led to it, what the design goal was, whatā€™s good, bad, and ugly about it? Also how I squandered the opportunity for it and what its future might be. Email me at bigbalboni ā€œatā€ gmail to get any updates and/or PDFs of my work after the podcast.
    7 July 2024, 2:34 pm
  • 33 minutes 42 seconds
    Calamities!
    Add depth and uncertainty to your game setting by throwing in an occasional calamity that changes the landscape (political or actual). Inspired by the Advanced Civilization board game. Also calls from Jason & Spencer. Check out current Kickstarters for Castles & Crusades ā€œReforgedā€ by Troll Lord Games (ends 7/9/24) and Garyā€™s Appendix Issue 6 by Jeffrey Jones of RPG Ramblings (ends 7/10/24).
    30 June 2024, 2:29 pm
  • 43 minutes 55 seconds
    Iā€™m Not Dead ā€¦Iā€™m getting better :)
    Spotify extended the mobile app life until July 9th, so Down in a Heap lives on for another month. Calls from Jason and Riley provide discussion on attribute gains & losses, training, whatā€™s going to happen after the podcast, and just why the heck is wearing helmets and armor not cool, and when, how, and why did this trend emerge? Send messages to bigbalboni ā€œatā€ gmail. Thanks!
    8 June 2024, 11:10 am
  • 39 minutes 43 seconds
    Compleat Adventurer Deep Dive 6: and the restā€¦
    I finally wrap up the deep dive into Bard Gamesā€™ Compleat Adventurer with MaryAnne, the Professor, and Wrongway Feldman: I mean the Knight, Martial Artist, and Swordsman. Definitely the weaker links in this supplement, but I promised a thorough deep dive, soā€¦.šŸ˜
    30 May 2024, 12:16 pm
  • 53 minutes 59 seconds
    Compleat Adventurer Deep Dive 5: Rogues & Spies
    In this installment, I compare the Compleat Adventurerā€™s Rogue & Spy class to what we get in classic D&D from the Thief (and Assassin). What doesnā€™t work for some with the Thief, and are these alternatives any better? Will they spice up the criminal characters in your game? Listen and decideā€¦
    29 May 2024, 3:37 pm
  • 52 minutes 51 seconds
    The Compleat Adventurer Deep Dive 4: The Hunters!
    I get back to my deep dive into Bard Gamesā€™ The Compleat Adventurer from 1983. This time itā€™s the Hunters!: the Scout, Bounty Hunter, and Witch Hunter. Are these more interesting (or better fantasy archetypes) than the Ranger (which was essentially making Aragorn for D&D)? Listen up and decide for yourself. Last call for calls! Send by 5/30 to bigbalboni ā€œatā€ gmail.
    29 May 2024, 1:23 am
  • 58 minutes 5 seconds
    The Last Call-in Bonanza?
    Calls from Mirke, Jason, Daniel, and Joe react to and spark conversation about: character attribute generation in B/X: OSE and AD&D; Animal Companions in games and a potential method to mechanize their use in B/X; the Compleat Adventurer classes and how exclusive should ā€œclass abilitiesā€ be; a pack of monkeys on Planet Eris; How optimal character abilities can lead to boring encounters; the Creature From The Black Lagoon; Boat Nerd action from Duluth, MN; Thanks guys!
    26 May 2024, 4:49 pm
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