Theory From the Closet

A punk perspective on tabletop RPG’s, their theory, and design.

Show034: The Toxicity of Status

This show, while not a masterpiece, is at least an entry level work to gain access into the guild of sound editing. If you could hear the original and see the tiny flatline of a sound file I had to work with you would be amazed. Anyway, I worked really hard on it. You might hear just a tiny bit of tinniness in the voices but consider yourself gifted, as that is much better than the staticfest I had. I think you should hear a lot less crappy sound from me now as I learned a few tricks. (Note: The word less implies the word some.) Anyway, enough crowing from me. Let’s talk about the show.

This is the second show, that I mentioned earlier, that Luke brought to me. It’s another one where folks are saying real things. Not that people don’t normally on my show, but typically I’m not pushing towards controversy. (Note: Typically implies atypically.) I think I didn’t get exactly what Clinton and Jason were pointing at until listening to it in my headphones. I think they’re not saying having a lot of games are bad, I think they’re saying that non-heart-felt games are bad, especially when they’re done so someone can feel like they are a part of something.

So what can we do to make folks who don’t have games or aren’t working on games feel like they have a part? Or is that on them for not finding another way to participate? What are other ways to participate? How do we draw attention to other ways to participate?

I feel like I had more to say, but I can’t remember it now. I’ll leave it at this and maybe make another post later or drop something into the comments.

Edit: I’m trying to take a nap before work, and then the words pop in my head. Figures, right…?

This podcast has got me thinking again in terms of hardcore. In Hardcore there are big bands, relatively speaking, who tour the country. They would come around and kids would come from all over, and by all over I mean from states away. There would be conflict and sometimes fighting, and this was part of hardcore. The guys in those bands were looked up to by a lot of folks. Not me because I tend not to worship false idols, but not everyone is me. This was part of hardcore.

The other part was when our bands whom you’ve never heard of would play, like; The Antics, Blue Owl Circus, the Jerkoffs, or Don’t Shoot I’m with God, and it would be just us. Just us flailing, punching, making ill considered leaps onto or off of things, getting knocked onto the stage, and crashing into the drums, me doing flying WWF moves on any kid who fell… insanity at it’s best. This also was hardcore.

Those guys in the big bands who toured the country? They couldn’t be part of this second part, their presence made it not possible. The understanding and comradery needed was precluded by the size and scope of their audience. It’s not their fault, they were good people on the whole, success causes more people than just us to be interested. I’m sure they missed it, but they chose their art, or expression, or success. Again, totally reasonable decision. To me that’s what this podcast seems to be about, besides encouraging people to design for passion and not acceptance. It also seems to be folks looking at this divide and perhaps questioning where they want to be.

Show033: Theory Refresher

Here’s that show to try to get us caught back up. Not much more to say. Don’t forget to check out the Random-wiki for definitions of theory terms.

Show032: 2007 Swinnies

So here’s that award show I promised. Here’s the Breakdown:

Best Actual Play:

  1. Burning Wheel (10)
  2. Inspectres (5), Don’t Rest Your Head (5)
  3. Act’s of Evil (3), Trollbabe (3), 44 (3), Panty Explosion (3), Agon (3), Dust Devils (3), Dogs in the Vineyard (3), Prime Time Adventures (3), Burning Empires (3), The Mountain Witch (3), Other Worlds (3)

Favorite game that the friends wouldn’t play, aka best read:

  1. Mountain Witch (6)
  2. It Was A Mutual Decision (5)
  3. Hero’s Banner (3), Death’s Door (3), Reign (3), Conspiracy of Shadows (3), Mob Justice(3), Inspectres (3), Schizonauts (3), Contenders (3), Burning Empires (3), Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (3)

The Rising Phoenix, or game I hadn’t heard of last year, but am exciting about this finding out more this year:

  1. Perfect (6), Contenders (6)
  2. Best Friends (5)
  3. Polaris (3), Full Light Full Steam (3), Dogs in the Vineyard (3), Galactic (3), It Was A Mutual Decision (3)

The new game I’m most excited about:

  1. Poison’D (12)
  2. Steal Away Jordan (6)
  3. Grey Ranks (5), Savage Adventures of Solomon Kane (5), BW: The Blossoms are Falling (5)

Here’s a link to the Google spreadsheet that has all the vote tallies.

Show031: Interview with Julia Bond Ellingboe

This is another interview that happened at Dreamation. This time it’s with Julia Bond Ellingboe creator of the slave narrative game, “Steal Away Jordan.” I typically am not terribly nervous or worried doing an interview, but I was a bit concerned doing this one. Being a bald, facial tattooed white guy I’m typically seen by default as a racist by society. That being said I approached Julia to discuss her game after playing a demo with her at Gen Con 2007. (Please note, don’t post in that thread it’s old and dead.) One of the reasons was the content of the game, but the other reason was because Julia seemed to just accept me as a person, and made me think we could have this discussion without a lot of stereotyping coming into play.

Here’s a link to a bunch of The Whitest Kids You Know videos that I mention in the podcast.

Show030: Mutualism is dead?

Here’s the first of those issue based podcasts I’ve been talking about. In this show I have Vincent Baker, Luke Crane, and my occasionally interrupting self, discussing Mutualism and whether it’s dead in the Indie-Punk scene. I came in with the dead opinion, but this discussion convinced me I was wrong. Not just that I was wrong, but that my opinion might be a bit insulting considering the help that is available to me. I realized I  just haven’t asked many people for help. I’d love to hear what other folks think. I’ll add the link to the interviews Luke is doing, which is mentioned at the beginning of the podcast as soon as I know that he has them up.

Show029: Inteview with Vincent Baker

Here’s the follow up interview I did with Vincent Baker somewhat based on feedback folks gave to Show025. I will at some point have a link to the interview Luke Crane did with Vincent right before this interview, that is mentioned at the beginning. For the record it’s not me being lazy. This time…. I think Luke hasn’t finished editing them yet. They’ll be somewhere around see pagexx. Wow, four links. I’m tired. Let me know if this interview helped alleviate your questions.

Show028: Interview with Jason Walters

This is the last of the Gen Con interviews, and the last of the Ashcan Front interviews to boot. I talk with Jason Walters about his game, “You Brought This On Yourself,” a game based in Slasher film fiction. I recorded this Gen Con Sunday, and I think we could have gone a bit longer but I was trying to get done in time to also meet Kevin Allen Jr. I think. I didn’t make it. It’s a shame as I think we were just starting to move to some interesting territory. Although I do believe there is some really interesting stuff in the interview especially when Jason hits on different deconstructions of slasher movies. I know I had never really considered them very deeply until after talking with him.

Show027: Interview with Ram Hull

Here’s the interview I did with Ram Hull at Gen Con last year.

Show026: State of the Podcast

So here’s a show. How about that? I’ll have to get to links Monday. I’m about to fall asleep.

Edit- I’m four days late, but here’s those links:

Stabbing Contest

Independant Insurgency

The Score

Master Plan

Canon Puncture

Grumbling Dwarf especially this episode.

I’m starting a new podcast and this is the first episode of it’s first season. Each season will have different topics and whatever length is required to discuss them. This is going to be a monthly show, and it won’t be reducing the frequency of Theory From the Closet. I love making podcasts. Not the post editing, or the internet posts about it, but the planning and chatting with folks or teaching is great. So I’m expanding, there’s other things I want to do. Anyway….

This episode entitled, “Story Games, What?” is about what Story Games are. I discuss it with my cohosts for this episode Mario Dongu, and David Moore from The Gamemaster show and Chris Perrin from The Cannon Puncture Show. There were some difficulties in recordin, but what’s new about that right? I had to really boost Chris as he sounded fine on Skype, but is incredibly quiet in the actual recording. Also for some reason late in the episode I say Derrick, when my brain was thinking Darren when referring to Darren watts and the interview I did with him. you might not have even noticed, but I cringe everytime I hear it.