Changeling the Podcast (Joshua HIllerup and Pooka Gar)
Explore every episode of Changeling the Podcast
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Dec 2022 | episode 32 – the enchanted | 01:12:13 | |
Changelings are part fae, part human. But what about their fellows who are even humaner, or humans who are entirely so, with nothing inherently fae about them? This episode, we return to the library to talk about The Enchanted, Changeling's supplement for "Year of the Ally" and the final(!) book of the 1st edition. While we've seen mortal antagonists throughout the line, here we get a look at the enchanted and the fae-blooded-but-otherwise-ordinary Kinain. They've changed dramatically in the latest edition of the game, so it's a bit of nostalgia to flip through the pages of this book and see how they were presented before. If you'd like to ally with us yourself, you can do so via the social media connection point of your choosing:
It also occurs to us that we haven't been including the actual links to the books in the show notes, in case people want to get PDFs of their own, which is... an oversight, to say the least. So here you go! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/288?affiliate_id=3063731. (We might have to go back and edit some of the older Lost in the Library posts...) ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) possesses the Fae Gift of always finding a discount on candy beans at the local shops. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) undergoes a warp-spasm whenever yet another crackpot makes an unsubstantiated claim about the Voynich Manuscript. "Faeries lead us astray to show us the way." —Brian Froud | |||
| 07 Aug 2023 | episode 52 – mists and enchantment | 01:13:23 | |
Senses and memories and fae (oh my!) mix in very particular ways. Enchantment brings mortals into the chimerical world; the Mists blur the details of that world even for changelings. While the mechanics in are solidly established in Changeling: the Dreaming, more or less, it can be tough to incorporate those two aspects into a game. This week, we're exploring how to handle that from a Storyteller and player perspective, across editions of the game. We talk about the role of enchanted mortals, the particulars of memory loss, mechanics we think would enliven the systems a bit, and more...! Have a listen, and you'll be forgiven if you can't recall any of it afterward. A couple shout-outs from this week:
If you want to remain around sufficient Glamour to keep your knowledge of the podcast from fading in your mind, we've got a few different balefires you can sit around:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) proposes that the Mists are at their most irritating when you can't find those keys you were just holding. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) believes that eggs and paper airplanes are in the top 5 most appropriate Glamour vehicles for enchanting mortals. "How happy is the blameless vestal's lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each prayer accepted, and each wish resigned." —Alexander Pope, "Eloisa to Ableard" | |||
| 04 Nov 2024 | episode 98 — c20 player’s guide, part three | 01:10:23 | |
And so here we are. It's time to open up the last few chapters of the Changeling 20th Anniversary Player's Guide, thereby ending our readthroughs of the game's canon. Feels weird, to be honest. When we started the show, it felt like we'd be going through the library of official texts forever, and now that there are no more, there's a bittersweetness much like when the game was canceled (and then canceled again). We don't know whether it will reincarnate in the future, as the fae are wont to do, but if there's one thing the last three years have taught us, it's that the community is as vibrant and inventive as it ever was. So while we're discussing Síocháin and Imprints and Lycians and swan maidens on this episode, our thoughts are already reaching forward to see what new dreams are on the horizon. (And we hope you'll continue with us on that journey...!) Once again, the book can be purchased at https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/274520?affiliate_id=3063731, and if you want to listen to our previous two episodes on the title:
And if you'd like to get in touch with us, the options are ample!
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) jousts every Wednesday with the snarky Oppidan guarding the Chaudière Bridge. Or is that Pont de la Chaudière? Pooka G (any pronoun/they) wears Goth voile that gives all movements fierce angles and has unlimited throwing shapes up the fishnet sleeves. It is today that we must create the world of the future. —Eleanor Roosevelt | |||
| 09 May 2022 | episode 8 – werewolf + changeling with josh heath | 00:57:59 | |
Another special guest joins us this week! Josh Heath from Werewolf: the Podcast is here to talk about Werewolf: the Apocalypse and its synergies with Changeling: the Dreaming. What are some of the similar themes? Do the Garou and Kithain have shared history to call out? How should one set up a crossover between the two? We tackle these questions and more, and natter for a bit about the Auspice we'd all be (because WtA astrology is a thing). mirror imagesOne of the interesting bits of connective tissue between WtA and CtD to bear in mind is that characters in each can often do similar things, but from different perspectives (metaphysically, spiritually, grammatically, etc.) Various kiths have the ability to change shape, as the Garou and other Changing Breeds do, but they're rarely doing it to go into battle or even commune with their nature. Delirium hides the actions of the Garou as a remnant of primal human terror; the Mists hide the actions of the fae as a form of preservation (and maybe also a bit of human terror). Each group has an otherworld they can enter with relative ease—though stepping sideways is usually simpler—and with which they have a deep spiritual connection. But those realms are entirely different in terms of their atmospheres, level of danger, their denizens, and the lessons they teach. Maybe most importantly, both groups lean heavily into the importance of social (Title/motley and Rank/pack) and familial (Kinfolk and Kinain) ties, but have very different structures for dealing with both their fellow supernaturals and mortal Kin. There are also lots of points of similarity. There are redcaps as bloodthirsty as any Ahroun, raiding a Pentex facility is something many changelings will support just as much as a werewolf, and songs and epic tales are arguably essential to the survival of both. Aside from the mechanics that have to be organized for a crossover game, bearing thematic links like these is important to have the game feel right. Players can explore what it means to their characters to see their comrade doing the not-quite-same thing as they do, and consider whether it's an opportunity for one or both of them to grow a bit. ... assorted crossover notesAmong the X20 books, there's more about crossovers in C20 than W20 (Werewolf mystics "can apparently travel to Arcadia"?? but changelings who go with them fall into Malfeas??) (these are not recommended as story elements for your game), but more solid material can be found in the older books. Some assorted tidbits that might be helpful:
And on top of that, we do have an upcoming episode about Rage Across Appalachia, the specific Werewolf/Changeling crossover book! (Spoiler: it's mostly Werewolf.) ... where to find josh heathSome places online where you can find Josh and his work:
... your hostsJosh Hillerup (he/him) asks, "Werewolf?" Pooka G (any pronoun/they) responds, "There. There, wolf. There, castle," thinking Josh wanted to talk that way. ... "The dream is not like the world of flesh... Here the same hunt can have many endings." —Hopper in Robert Jordan's The Dragon Reborn (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) (and join our Discord at https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j !) | |||
| 17 May 2022 | episode 9 – autumn people | 00:57:28 | |
This episode we'll be talking about The Autumn People, which gave extensive information and options about Banal antagonists for Changeling as part of White Wolf's first annual event, 1995's "Year of the Hunter." It's a short book, but densely packed with information, as well as some curious layout choices. Overall, it did its job of pushing out the boundaries of the game world, even if some of the text was left out by accident (and errata'd later), and other parts are a bit difficult to parse. Our conversation centers on the various ways that the Autumn People, Dauntain, and other Banal things are presented, and how they might be useful in a game. categorizationsOne of the hallmarks of this book is how there are numerous ways to divide up the Banal antagonists (Bantagonists?): mortal vs. fae, aware vs. unaware of other fae, passive vs. active, etc. Here's a graphic that hopefully will illustrate at least some of the many options the book introduces, which may or may not be diegetic and/or in-character; it's hard to tell at points. If you're slightly baffled by this, don't worry! We were too. Suffice to say, whatever particular spin you want to put on the Autumn Person in your chronicle, chances are this book gives it at least one label. ... powers of the autumn peopleThere are a range of abilities that these antagonists possess. The Banal Chimera have Redes that can inflict Banality; Autumn Fae get Agendas; Dauntain get Stigmas, in addition to their (possible) retention of Arts and Realms. But then, Mundane (human) Autumn People also get little blindsiders like this: Any time a changeling comes into direct contact with an Autumn Person, the Storyteller may decide to check and see how the character is affected. This is done by rolling the Autumn Person's Banality against a difficulty of the character's Glamour. Each success causes the character to gain a point of temporary Banality. The Storyteller may choose to make this roll at any time in which the character has contact with the Autumn Person; additionally, this roll may be made multiple times if the character remains within the vicinity to the Autumn Person in question, though care should be taken that it is not overdone or the character will soon be lost to Banality. Given that Autumn People have Banalities of 8 or higher, and changelings tend to have Glamour in the 4 to 6 range, getting four or five successes on this roll is not unlikely. And that means four or five points of Banality just from bumping into (for example) an overprotective mother or restrictive librarian. No wonder changelings were seen as imploding at the slightest whiff of stasis in 1st edition. ... pooka's poetry cornerOn that subject, here's some shameless padding for the show notes in the form of a poem by Mark Strand that is, well, a little bit peculiar, but also has some nice pooka vs. librarian vibes: Eating Poetry by Mark Strand Ink runs from the corners of my mouth. There is no happiness like mine. I have been eating poetry. The librarian does not believe what she sees. Her eyes are sad and she walks with her hands in her dress. The poems are gone. The light is dim. The dogs are on the basement stairs and coming up. Their eyeballs roll, their blond legs burn like brush. The poor librarian begins to stamp her feet and weep. She does not understand. When I get on my knees and lick her hand, she screams. I am a new man. I snarl at her and bark. I romp with joy in the bookish dark. And just to end this post, here's an art piece from the book that shows an owl pooka becoming Undone, which apparently means his hair gets bleached out, his pupils and mouth go grey, and his brain gets filled up with math. Still, it's a cool picture; there's a lot of surprisingly good art in this book about the folks who would probably prefer to erase all creativity from existence. ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (he/him) is wanted for the theft of sixteen family-size jars of applesauce from the local commissary. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) can neither confirm nor deny their whereabouts during the hour when all of the reptile house cameras were switched off. ... "Life is intrinsically boring and dangerous at the same time. At any given moment the floor may open up. Of course, it almost never does; that's what makes it so boring." —Edward Gorey (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) (and join our Discord at https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j !) (support us on Patreon! it's now live at https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast) | |||
| 23 May 2022 | episode 10 – rage across appalachia | 00:31:40 | |
Finally, we enter the double digits of episodes (well, unless you count our introductory one) as we discuss Rage Across Appalachia. Despite the cover art, the font and border styles, and the overwhelming majority of the content all suggesting this is a supplement for Werewolf: the Apocalypse, there is in fact the note that says it's also intended for Changeling: the Dreaming. Ergo, we're including it in our Lost in the Library series of book dives—however, this ended up being kind of a mini-sode, because really the entirety of the Changeling content fits into one chapter and some extra pages for the whole book. Still, we get some useful pieces, including the first substantive information on the Nunnehi, the Indigenous fae of the continent. somewhere in the dreaming... freehold heraldryMoving forward, the "Somewhere in the Dreaming" tag will be useful for instances where we speculate on alternate directions the Changeling universe might've gone, when we see hints of a decision about the canon briefly showing up in one book, and then disappearing again with little if any trace. In an alternate dimension—or a Dream Realm of some kind—perhaps there is a shape of the game-that-could've-been that contains some of these elements. And in the case of Rage Across Appalachia, there are two freeholds (Roan Mountain and Highcastle Eyrie) that have their own stained-glass style crests, as each of the kiths do. (Pooka was going to attempt to work some Photoshop magic and extract the line drawings to create a mockup of each, but they didn't have time, for even sorcery must give way to temporal logic in the absence of Chronos.) What this suggests to us is that in some other version of Changeling, there are icons like this for each and every freehold, and an entire system of heraldry based around fae affiliations with them. Boggans with a head for memorizing all this shit could be there at tourneys or pitched battles announcing the representative from this-or-that freehold, the pennons of each minor knight could feature the design, and so on. If you're thinking, "but there would be hundreds to thousands of such icons!" just... just look at how bonkers the system of European heraldry got, historically. However, it might be too much for the artists and designers of the game, so if this was ever a possibility, it's easy to see why it got cut. Still, though... ... ballads and bluegrass and reelbands (oh my)When you grow up with folk and traditional music, you learn about how important ballads are for passing along stories, warnings, wisdom, feuds, history, and so on. The oral tradition is alive and well, even if we don't always know its shape when we're living in the middle of it. (Maybe memes and the explanations for why they're funny will be what we pass down in the future.) Rage Across Appalachia has a nice little section in the Appendix where they talk about how to leverage these into a game—not just in the Appalachian setting, but it works quite well there—as sources of information and inspiration. Lots of this stuff is already scattered through the canon, because a nonzero number of the line's authors have been musicians of different sorts, sometimes (we believe?) in these genres. But just for an example, here's a classic about a noble vs. commoner duel: This kind of stuff makes good background music for a game with the right vibe; it's especially nice when you can get tracks from local acts (which are unfortunately kind of a pain to find online, if you have specific bands that, say, you went to see at the Renaissance Faire every year as a kid). The corpus for this music is vast, and extends far beyond the Celtic-immigrant-inflected flavor that this book in particular goes for. Check out traditional music where you can, and you'll find ways it can be incorporated into your chronicle, as both plot hook and atmosphere. ... nunnehi researchAs we mention in the episode: we're both white folks, with little personal connection to Indigenous groups or issues, so we're doing our best to handle them delicately as they come up in our read of these books. While we're glad to see the Nunnehi evolve in this book beyond the mentions they had in earlier ones (i.e., raiding war parties and nothing else), they're still a way off from really being three-dimensional to the degree that other changelings in the game are. Something important to bear in mind when dealing with the Nunnehi as a player or Storyteller who's not of Indigenous background is to ask yourself, why is it important to play/feature this character? Closely following that question in importance is, what research do I need to do? The answer to the first one should always be something more substantial than just "because they're cool," and the answer to the second one is "probably more than you think." Because citation is so rare on the internet, you can often find the same text over and over again, remixed and repurposed, but you may have no alternative unless you have an informant from the culture you're interested in who's willing to chat with you. (And if you do, be very up front about your reasons for that conversation.) In truth, you may not be able to separate the stuff that's useful and correct from the stuff that's not, and you'll have to decide where the line is that you're comfortable with. Briefly, for these show notes and related to the kiths introduced in this book: some cursory digging on http://www.native-languages.org (co-organized by a Cherokee retiree, and an excellent group of linguistic resources overall) led to a collection of tidbits on the Nanehi (note that this seems to just be a variant of "Nunnehi") and the Yunwi Tsundsi. For the Yunwi Amai'yine'hi, there are lots of recycled pieces around the internet (including on Wikipedia) from James Mooney's Myths of the Cherokee (section 78), the text of which you can find here because it's in the public domain. Given that it was written by a white ethnographer in 1900, take with a grain (or handful) of salt. And a lot of other pieces around the internet are... well, cribbed from Changeling, either overtly or more insidiously. These are springboards and nothing more; we encourage you to keep digging as deeply and carefully as you can. If that helps you decide whether incorporating Nunnehi into your game is an appropriate thing to do, then good; and if you're left unable to make a decision, at least you've tried to educate yourself further, which is rarely a bad idea. We encourage you to think about cultural appropriation in relation to Indigenous history, and how the act of using Indigenous lore in Changeling will place you in relation to that. ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (he/him) suggests the burrata with tomato, garlic, and pesto for the appetizer. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) has already beaten you to the dessert cart and cleaned it out entirely. ... "We all have forests on our minds. Forests unexplored, unending. Each one of us gets lost in the forest, every night, alone." —Ursula K. LeGuin, The Wind's Twelve Quarters (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) (and join our Discord at https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j !) (support us on Patreon! it's now live at https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast) | |||
| 01 Jun 2022 | episode 11 – nobles: the shining host | 01:32:51 | |
Settle in, because this is a long one... the raw audio for this recording was the longest we've had by far. But that's because Nobles: the Shining Host, the first Changeling book to delve into Kithain nobility, covers a lot of bases. It's not quite "Kithbook: Sidhe," but there's enough about them in there to satisfy most players and STs who want to know more about the kith; on top of that, you have plenty about the social structure and cultural dynamics of nobles from any background. We get bits of history, an epic tale, political parties and secret societies, information about Concordia's monarchs, some new Traits (including two new Arts), a new House, character templates... the book really packs it in. We cover it in this episode as briskly, yet thoroughly, as possible—but even so, this is almost our longest episode thus far. (This is also the reason why it's going out a bit late this week. Nostra maxima culpa.) how to play a sidheJust kidding—we're not going to tell you the exact answer to that, because there really isn't one. Ultimately, you do what you want to do. But, since the book focuses heavily (not entirely!) on this kith, we are going to point out a couple things about trends and possibilities. See, the traditional roles for sidhe in CtD games have tended towards: 1. pretty Mary Sues who are (or demand to be) able to do anything (especially when people just want to play a sidhe for that extra Boon), 2. uptight patricians who treat egoism and sucking all the oxygen out of a room (or gaming session) as a virtue, 3. as Josh put it, the real-life protagonists of soap operas (for the viewing pleasure of the commoners), or 4. all of the above, which is doable because the first three are stat-, personality-, and narrative-based, respectively. The exact shape of these things has waxed and waned over the years—"mysterious warrior-sorcerer with Appearance 7 and/or an ethereal presence" seems to be a common expression of (1) these days—but the common threads are quite visible. The unfortunate thing is that the early books, at least, set up a lot of alternatives to these archetypes, even as they also provide examples of them. And yet somehow, the alternatives seem to have faded more and more into the background. Maybe this is due to real-world ideals working their way into the game: commoners are moving front and center with progressive, anti-aristocratic ideas, and the sidhe have flattened more and more into these Tolkien-elf types with little variation. The sidhe are a kith; Title is a Background; nobility is a quality; and while the three may overlap more than most other kith-Trait-characteristic combinations, it is not a necessity. (Remember, those in the back: your sidhe does not have to have a Title/be part of a House.) We mention this because the sidhe fall into the trap most often, maybe, of becoming one-dimensional characters, with the only variation being the specific Trait build that represents their particular snottiness. It's true that kiths tend to shape characters; it's also true that more and more, especially with C20, there is pushback against such determinism. (Old fogies' note: it was always there, e.g., you could play soft-hearted Seelie redcap who liked macrame, but the game's willingness to foreground that varied.) So why would you not make a sidhe who is more interesting than the typical [insert Title here] [insert elaborate faux-Sindarin name here] [insert House here] [insert optional florid moniker here], knight and/or wizard and/or courtier par excellence? One of the first canon sidhe in fiction is Leigh from the Immortal Eyes trilogy, who is a teenage redhead knight struggling to reconcile her newly-discovered nature, princess memories, and swelling sense of honor with her upbringing as a working-class cop's daughter, as well as her fervent desire to be a chef. She has a soft spot for protecting childlings (though she's also a firm babysitter), she has a crush on the bad-boy Unseelie eshu, and she worries about making ends meet with her line-cook salary in her crummy one-bedroom (but she's also thrilled to be living away from her mortal family for the first time). She is far from perfect, but aspires to be better, and she has the capabilities of a beautiful warrior, but is far from defined by them. This book gives a lot of material to work with to navigate that level of complexity, as do many of the others—if you're willing to look for it. We encourage you, therefore, to think outside the box and make being a sidhe (or being a noble) not the most important thing about your character. It may not be the least important either, but give your character a little depth before working that piece in. Obviously, this advice can be applied to any kith—it's just that sidhe tend to suffer for it most than the others. ... the Trod BackgroundJust because the headache that is this Background deserved to be reproduced in its entirety, here it is in table format. Pick the Background level you want in the first column, then choose one row within that level to determine which destinations the trod has access to across the world/Dreaming, and (in the last column) how often it's available: Destinations:localregionalnationalNear DreamingFar DreamingDeep DreamingAccessible...At Level 111/4 of the yearLevel 2 (choose one row)1 2-3 11/2 of the year 1/4 of the year all the timeLevel 3 (choose one row)2-3 2-3 2-31 1 00 1 01/2 of the year 1/4 of the year all the timeLevel 4 (choose one row)4-5 4-5 2-3 2-32 2 1 11 1 0 02 1 0 10 1 0 01/2 of the year 1/4 of the year all the time 1/2 of the yearLevel 5 (choose one row)4-5 4-5 2-33-4 4-5 12 4 02 2 10 2 01 1 01/2 of the year 1/4 of the year all the timeYes, we're aware that the first and third options for Level 2 are directly contradictory. The book also suggests that the accessibility be tied to natural cycles, e.g., a trod that's only open 1/4 of the year might be available during a certain season, and a trod open 1/2 of the year might only be available every other day or only at night. Surely there was some mathematical formula to figure out the balance of all this, but no idea what that might have been; heaven help you if you decide to have a single Background represent multiple trods, e.g., taking four dots in the Background allows you to choose two options from Level 2. Are we having fun yet? ... clancy brownWe're not saying the sidhe on page 49 isn't noted actor and voice actor (including, ironically, in Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia) Clancy Brown, but it's totally Clancy Brown. Publicity photo provided for comparison! ... parliamentary breakdown (but not the fun kind)In case you needed some statistics for who's in the Parliament circa this book's publication in late 1995/early 1996... all percentages are relative to the entire Parliament, not the specific group being described:
Obviously, as new kiths have been made standard in C20, Unseelie power has become more openly displayed, and the Autumn World's political landscape has evolved, all of these are subject to change. But as a baseline for how things work, it's still a useful tool to start with... in the episode, we sort of poke fun at the voting system of Concordia. Nevertheless, there is undeniable nerdy pleasure to be had from a story centered around the electoral campaigns and machinations of the fae, if you want to work that into your chronicle. (Yes, one of us might be a fan of both Borgen on TV night and Die Mächer on board game night.) ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (he/him) flew into battle on a song and a prayer. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) strolled into Hell with some flowers in the hair. ... "I had been too long away from the nobility; I had forgotten how silly even the best of them could be." —Laurell K. Hamilton, "Geese" (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) (and join our Discord at https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j !) (support us on Patreon! it's now live at https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast) | |||
| 06 Jun 2022 | episode 12 – harbingers of winter with charlie cantrell | 01:10:24 | |
As in certain fantasy series of some repute, Winter has been coming for a very long time in the mythos of Changeling: the Dreaming, but never quite fully arriving. With the release of Harbingers of Winter, we get one take on what it might look like in the 20th Anniversary Edition, in the shape of the various antagonists who populate the world of the game: Autumn People, Thallain, Dauntain, and more. In this episode, we have a conversation with C20 writer, STV contributor, and longtime community fixture Charlie Cantrell about his stewardship of the project under the banner of his group Radio Free Arcadia. Join us as we talk about his history with the game, the genesis of the book, and a chapter-by-chapter exploration of how to deploy these foes—some updated, some brand new—for your chronicle. notable artworks!There's much scuttlebutt in the episode about the Brood Mother Fomorian, who churns out chimerical monstrosities from the grist of changelings sacrificed to her maw. (Gross.) Charlie mentions a piece of artwork originally from Denizens of the Dreaming that seems to portend all her squoodly glory twenty years later: It seems her image was lingering in the pages of canon, just waiting to get a write-up somewhere down the line... Also, we talk about the excellent art of Alaina Milare, who did the maeghar splat artwork near the end of the book, which is this mopey fae vampire guy here: Please check out her work at https://www.alainamilareart.com/ ! Much of it is Changeling-focused character work that evokes the spirit of the game and has a very classic splat-portrait feel. ... poll: who's your favorite fomorian?Just as a shameless attempt to get some awareness out there about our Discord (the link, as always, is https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j), we'll have a poll there for your favorite Fomorian character (or general Court, if you can't decide). Because there are over twenty options from the named Fomorians given some details and backstory in the Harbingers book, here are the six heavyweights that you can pick from:
And if you can't decide, you can always just vaguely vote for The Green Court (inscrutable, nigh-Lovecraftian beings), The Red Court (unthinkably powerful and bloodthirsty war-titans), or The White Court (cold and calculating grand-scale manipulators). Whoever wins, we'll do... something. A write-up? A series of story hook ideas? A ritual sacrifice? Only time will tell! ... optional shapes of thingsIt's important to remember that the shape of Winter in this book is just one possibility—as we mention a couple times in this episode's discussion, the Golden Rule of White Wolf games, and Changeling in particular, is that you can and should reshape things to better serve your game. If something doesn't fit with your vision, change it! Not everyone wants to imagine the world of the fae going in a direction quite so dark or horrific (or maybe their brand of horrific just looks different). Harbingers of Winter features antagonists who would go against the Kithain for a variety of reasons, each of which comes with their own baked-in set of themes and narratives, but none of them are set in stone. If you want to include Thallain as part of a redemption arc, new and complicated varieties of Dauntain, or Tithed who have a less antagonistic relationship with their fae "twins," go for it. Winter is to some extend what you make of it at your table, both in-character and out-of-character. Will it be slow and eternal, or just another passage of a season? Will it be exceptionally brutal, with Kithain cutting each other's throats for the barest hint of Glamour and Fomorians rampaging through the Dreaming, or will it be a much more boring, Banal affair where the fae are slowly smothered into forgetfulness? How aware of it are the characters, if at all? Is their narrative arc one of bleak fatalism, determined questing to bring on a new Spring, or unified survival in the most hidden parts of the world? To some extent, these are the questions that underlie the discussion of what Changeling 5th Edition (in the distant, possibly alternate, future in which that appears) might look like. So far, Vampire is our only point of reference in print, and it's both grittier and more low-level-focused (at least at its base) than the setting was for many years prior. If we assume that all the games that get a 5th edition will go in that direction, certainly Winter could become a central theme of Changeling, displacing petty concerns like courtly intrigue and romps through the Dreaming as the fae struggle to maintain their inner spark in the darkest world they've seen for a long time. But that theme has always been part of the game, as have the permutations of how they deal with it, so a refocus on that aspect isn't totally out of nowhere, just... something to think about, that perhaps more tables should have been thinking about already. (And we affirm that Harbingers of Winter is a good book for getting some of those thoughts going.) ... more from charlie cantrellIf you want to see more of what Charlie has been/is up to...
... your hostsJosh Hillerup (he/him) is uncomfortable with the adjective "phlegmatic." Pooka G (any pronoun/they) questions all uses of the verb "extrude." ... The darkness drops again; but now I know That twenty centuries of stony sleep Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born? —W.B. Yeats, "The Second Coming" (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) (and join our Discord at https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j !) (support us on Patreon! it's now live at https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast) | |||
| 15 Jun 2022 | episode 13 – shadows on the hill | 01:32:30 | |
Lucky thirteen! In this installment, we move forward in the Immortal Eyes chronicle, Shadows on the Hill, following the protagonist oathmates to their next adventure in Hawaiʻi. Like the previous book, The Toybox, the storyline (and included adventures) of the Immortal Eyes is kind of ancillary to the setting details laid out here. We found this one somewhat richer overall, with a lot of material that could be used for games set in the islands, with the caveat that one should always use discretion and do some additional research before taking everything in these pages for granted. (Disclaimer: we're both white folks with limited knowledge of the setting and culture.) But even if you don't use the book as intended, it has many beautiful passages and lots of bits that you might want to incorporate into a chronicle of your own. File under "not strictly necessary to buy, but a nice addition to the collection," if that's a label you're keen to use. in the beginning...There's a passage describing the creation of the Hawaiʻian island chain that Pooka mentions reminds them of the intro to the first Civilization computer game. For the sake of a visual aid, and to do a throwback to a game even older than Changeling: the Dreaming, here's the video. It doesn't have quite the same power when the tinny Sound Blaster music isn't piping out of your cheap speakers, but you get the idea. (Pooka will not be taking questions on how many hours they've wasted playing the games in this series, so you'll just have to guess.) ... sacred sites and scienceOne of the secondary antagonists in the book's first adventure is an Autumn Person geologist, Jennifer Friedman, whose character is not really developed beyond that description. She's mentioned as part of a group of tourists who are depleting the mana from the land, as part of an ongoing framing of mana as Glamour specifically infused with the notion of being a dream of the land, an idea of the people, and the relationship between the two. While that concept of mana is an intriguing one, the use of this geologist in relation to it just seems too easy—another foray in the anti-science mentality that crops up regularly in 1st edition. The issue of science intruding on culture is a longstanding one in Hawaiʻi, with the Thirty Meter Telescope protests being the most recent and high-profile conflict. (Note: the protests were erroneously referred to in the episode as taking place on Mauna Loa; they are actually on Mauna Kea.) Changeling has always been a game with the capacity to responsibly explore political issues like this, and if a group wants to engage with heritage and tradition in relation to land use and rights, this is a possible situation to address. On the other hand, the technical knowledge gained about how the planet works can be just as Glamour-inspiring for some, not to mention life-saving for others. That's part of why the character of Dr. Friedman as a throwaway line is so frustrating: she's a one-dimensional foil to the characters. We don't dispute the book's foregrounding of Hawaiʻi as a spiritual landscape first, but if you choose to have a scientist as a villain, at least make them more interesting than being just another Autumn Person. If they're going to disrespect the land to give players a reason to stand against them, they should have some kind of reason for it. This goes for other similar cases as well. All around the world are places and moments where passionate belief is challenged by thirst for data. You can certainly have unabashedly corrupt foes—Pentex and their local branch, Big Fruit, spring to mind—but we recommend giving you and your group the space to get more complex here, because the game allows you to. The nature of Glamour and Banality is a theme we keep returning to; when the stakes are the well-being of entire groups of people, the question of what each of those forces means to people becomes all the more urgent. ... hot tub satyr machineThat was a pretty serious topic in the last section. For a bit of whimsy to counterbalance it, here's the hot tub picture from page 124 that Josh found weird and uncomfortable: It's really the satyr's face that does it. The longer you look at it, the more uncomfortable it gets. ... a few resourcesThe book that Pooka mentioned finding at the local bookmonger was the second volume of the Nānā i ke Kumu series. The first two were published in the 1970s as a joint venture between the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa and local community leaders/organizations. They cover all manner of legend, folktale, custom, and religious belief over the course of hundreds of pages; a third volume, published in 2020, covers more modern social problems from a cultural context. You can find more information/purchase the books at the press website, or (if you want) use a certain rapacious corporation's website instead. Such a collection is valuable for creating verisimilitude in your game—there are plenty of stories, practices, and kapu that you can search through to flesh out a Hawaiʻian setting—but also just for self-education. And if you want some cool information about the mindboggling navigational practices that got the Menehune and their people to Hawaiʻi in the first place, check out this page from the university on techniques (see the sidebar for links to specific traditional tools), and this article from the BBC last year about the Hōkūleʻa, a traditionally-built canoe that was sailed using those techniques across the Pacific in 1976. The canoe's voyage demonstrated that the voyages of the ancient Polynesians were entirely possible, creating a sense of renewed pride and interest in the history of seafaring. Pretty astounding stuff that can make for an interesting sidebar in a chronicle set on the seas. (Some of this also pops up in Mage's Dead Magic II, within a WoD-context.) ... promo card noteIn a misalignment of circumstance, Pooka did not take a picture of the promo card for the Arcadia: the Wyld Hunt CCG they have in the back of their copy of IE2 before departing for overseas voyages. And now, as the episode goes live, they are thousands of miles away from said book. Luckily, the In Arcadia blog has a write-up of the phenomenon, and an image handy as you please: It's unlikely that this is still valid, right? Still, if we can get our hands on more cards, maybe an episode about the CCG will make an appearance in the future... ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (he/him) tasted of the forbidden fruit, and found it resembled persimmon with a hint of cardamom. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) is in terrible need of pastries most hours of the day. ... "Ukuliʻi ka pua, onaona i ka mauʻu." (Tiny is the flower, yet it scents the grasses around it.) —Hawaiʻian proverb cited by Serge Kahili King (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) (and join our Discord at https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j !) (support us on Patreon! it's now live at https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast) | |||
| 20 Jun 2022 | episode 14 – mage + changeling with terry robinson | 01:22:46 | |
Hi, Mage fans! And/or Changeling fans! On this week's episode, we're having a conversation with Terry Robinson, host of Mage: the Podcast, to talk about crossover between Mage and Changeling. If you aren't well versed in Mage: the Ascension, don't worry—we'll give you some of the key terms and concepts to get you going with incorporating mages into your Changeling game. Not only that, but we hash out every crossover issue you could possibly want to deal with! (Well, okay, that was an outright lie, because we could do an entire separate podcast just on those issues.) (Maybe someday...) In any case, have a listen, and as always, feel free to hop in our Discord (link at the bottom of this page) to discuss your thoughts and ask your questions. wibbly-wobbly themey-wemeysProbably the most important thing to talk about with any game crossover situation are the themes and moods of the games and how they align. We brought this up with Terry, and discussed three that do, and three that don't:
... terry's art cornerTerry mentions at one point a lovely anecdote about getting into Mage by reading the 2nd edition of the "Big Purple" and a sharp memory of some John Cobb art. For the viewing pleasure of you, the audience, here's what we believe to be the art in question that stuck in Terry's mind: And now perhaps it will stick in yours. Whatever this might say about Terry's aesthetic sensibilities, we leave to others to decide! ^~^/ ... demesne and DreamingThere's a Background introduced in Mage 20th Anniversary Edition called Demesne (pronounced like "da MAIN") which has... something to do with dreams. It's a "semi-permanent Dream Realm," according to that corebook, which doesn't really give much in the way of hard mechanics for interactions between a changeling and a mage who has such self-control over their subconscious. Some suggestions from Terry:
Statistics are not available, but it's unlikely many mages take the Background in the first place, in part because of its limited use. But in a direct crossover game, Storytellers and players may want to come up with some ways like these that Demesne can be used to facilitate interaction. Perhaps the Demesne can function as a safe island for the changelings off the Silver Path when they enter the Dreaming, and in turn they can hang out with the mage without needing to enchant them (or even physically being present). Perhaps a mage can use Demesne as an ability like Crafts or Technology to create chimerical objects for the changelings (like the "guns; lots of guns" scene in The Matrix, except... dream-guns), which they can take out of the realm for a period of time. Or from an antagonist point of view, a Nephandus might use their Demesne as a nocnitsa breeding ground, or a Technocrat's vision of ultimate conformity allows them to manifest powers akin to an Autumn Person's (assuming they don't have these already). The Background may not have been intended as a built-in connection, but... might as well use it? (And no, in this episode, we are not handling the question of "where is the Dreaming relative to the Umbra?" That will be its own thing at some point, when we each have several hours to kill and the substances of our choosing.) ... mishearings and malapropismsJust because, here are a few little verbal swishes that occurred during recording:
And importantly, there is a famous quote-drop from Hamlet, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." This is one of those cornerstones of good Storytelling (in Pooka's opinion, at least) that gets overlooked. Mechanics and definitions and explanations are all well and good, but on the altar of a chronicle, everything and anything can (and sometimes should) be sacrificed. If you want a mage antagonist or ally in your Changeling game, unless there's a player with a sheet who needs to know how many dice to roll, you don't have to make that mage correspond to what the books say. Especially for Changeling, story is paramount. And sometimes, the unexpected and inexplicable makes for a more compelling narrative, both inside and outside the game. Hamlet calls out Horatio because the latter has a hard time fitting the ghost they've encountered into his worldview. It's an extension of the Golden Rule, in a way: breaking the rules to make a narrative feel novel and mysterious, to keep the players on their toes. ... where to find terry robinsonSome places online where you can find Terry:
... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) has a Familiar that fits inside a common household breadbox, but you won't guess what it is. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) has zero to three points of Arcane; the number depends on moon phase and hat currently being worn. ... "Perhaps I am too tame, too domestic a magician. But how does one work up a little madness?" —Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) (and join our Discord at https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j !) (support us on Patreon for additional treats at https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast!) | |||
| 04 Jul 2022 | episode 15 – ten books for inspiration | 00:58:47 | |
Thanks for joining us! This week is a bit of a breather: we're talking about ten books that inspire us for Changeling: the Dreaming. The show notes are therefore pretty straightforward, as we'll just have the list below with a few notes. (You are encouraged to find, borrow, or purchase these books at a library or bookstore, for we will not be linking to a certain bookselling megacorp on this post.) In a more general sense, we're opening a conversation here about media as inspiration; we anticipate talking about another stack of books in the future, but also graphic novels, television, film, even artwork. Given that the game is to some extent about inspiration and story, it seems fitting to think about more than just "books about faeries." How can players and STs get the most out of the media they encounter for their games? What qualifies as a narrative that has something to do with Glamour and Banality, or the other themes of the game? Things to consider for future iterations of this series of episodes... (Also, we threw in three honorable mentions at the end, because stopping at ten books just wasn't going to happen.) the list
... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) keeps finding library cards between the cushions, in their pockets, on buses, on trains, behind other people's ears... something mysterious is clearly afoot. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) once ate 38 pages of Finnegan's Wake, binding and all, to see what would happen, and woke up two days later drenched with absinthe in the doorway of a downtown Tarrytown taxidermy shop. ... "Books break the shackles of time, proof that humans can work magic." —Carl Sagan (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) (and join our Discord at https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j !) (support us on Patreon for additional treats at https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast!) | |||
| 11 Jul 2022 | episode 16 – player’s guide | 01:19:42 | |
No, not the C20 one that came out in 2019; we're taking a look at the 1st edition Player's Guide from... year unclear. (We think it's 1997? But there's an ad for Hunter: the Reckoning in the back, so who knows.) As WoD Player's Guides go, the Changeling one has a lot of your standard fare: Merits and Flaws before those became standard in the corebook, additional Traits, new kewl powers. But this book also stands out for its full introduction of the Nunnehi after their brief appearance in Rage Across Appalachia (see episode 10), its thorough treatment of the nine core kiths, and some insightful short essays into the roleplaying experience from a player's perspective. It also feature a full-on errata section of material that got dropped from The Autumn People, because these were the heady days when deadlines were tight and editing was a luxury. In short, this book really packs a lot into its just-shy-of-200 pages. Let's have a look at some tidbits, shall we? art cornerChangeling: the Dreaming art is often kind of a mixed bag, but especially as we approach the end of 1st Edition and its full-color books, it's nice to see some truly gorgeous examples in these page. The splash pages at the start of each chapter by Mark Jackson are especially fab, as in these examples: Thematic and evocative! There are also some pretty groovy portraits associated with each kith by Adam Rex, such as this redcap who's charging out of the page, knuckle spikes bared, but who still has some sensible heels and hefty socks for battle: And then there are these troll ladies. We're not entirely sure what's going on with them, but we include them as a reminder that no book's assortment of art will be perfect, and it is only through contrast that we learn to truly appreciate the pieces we really adore: We report, you decide! ... collective nounsAside from established terms like a corby of redcaps and a tragos of satyrs, some suggestions for what to call a group of each kith:
Suggestions for others welcome! ... more nunnehi researchWe gave some advice and shared some links last time we discussed the Nunnehi, in the Rage Across Appalachia episode. Following up on that, here are some more links that you might find useful for delving into the mythic background of the Indigenous kiths of Concordia:
As always, it's important to be aware that one's own research might be flawed, and that digging around on the internet can't fully substitute for thorough academic books and/or talking with an actual expert on the topic. It's also worth noting that digging around for information on the folklore behind these kiths turned up, among other things, sites that claimed to give background to the myths that was directly quoted from the Player's Guide (to the point of talking about "fae mien"). Doing background research is not easy! While you might not need to dive all the way down on these legends for the sake of a game session, you should still be ready to spend more time than you think you will need to try and separate what seems authentic from what seems like the random (even if reasonably informed) invention of someone online. ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun)'s weapon of choice: frog-venom-tipped lawn darts. Pooka G (any pronoun/they)'s armor of choice: wadded-up back issues of Utne Reader tied with heavy-duty rubberbands. ... Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep... —John Milton, Paradise Lost, IV.675–676 (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) (and join our Discord at https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j !) (support us on Patreon for additional treats at https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast!) | |||
| 26 Jul 2022 | episode 17 – interview with toronto by day | 01:02:30 | |
Greetings, all! We've been taking a bit more of a break than we anticipated due to life getting in the way of podcasting, which slowed down our production process more than usual this week. But we're getting back on track, beginning with this episode, a conversation with the cast of Toronto by Day: Tales from the Rookery, a Changeling game that streams regularly on Twitch. They've just wrapped up Season 2 (though it was still nearing its finale at the time of this recording), with Season 3 on the horizon. But in the meantime, join us as we chat with Cliff (the ST), Zev (player of Volodomir the nocker) and Crystal (player of Lilly the korred) about their experiences with CtD in general and this game in particular, with some helpful wisdom to share for anyone who's thinking about running/joining a streaming game. catching up on the show in question...Our notes for this episode are rather brief, since the game sort of speaks for itself. (It is worth saying, this is probably the only time we've ever seen someone actually playing a korred.) But to that end, here's the most recent installment with the current cast. Even if you don't follow an actual play regularly to know the ins and outs of the plot, just skimming through any of their videos often gives a good idea of the timbre of the game and its players: But! If you do want to check out the series from the start, the playlist for Season 1 can be found here, and for Season 2 here. Note that the shows are hosted on YouTube by, and the game is (loosely?) connected to the world of, Vancouver by Night and its family of games; if you enjoy Vampire and other games, check out their channel for additional tidbits. ... ...and keeping up with it in the futureSo, if you want to watch the shows (which are pre-recorded, but broadcast live—formerly on Tuesdays, though this may change) as they air, you'll want to check out some pages: Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/Vancouverbynight Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/145770064177049/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vancitybynight Linktree for VbN across other sites: https://linktr.ee/jadelens (Again, as of this posting, the show is on its season hiatus, but that means this is the time to get yourself caught up for its return...!) Some of the current cast also have various web presences if you want to follow their work elsewhere: Cliff (the ST): on Instagram Zev (Volodomir the nocker): on Twitter Babe Blade (Rosaleen the sluagh): on Instagram Nahjra (Fagua the eshu): on Twitter Michael (Hunter the troll): on Twitter Once again, we'd like to say thanks to the cast for chatting with us about the experience of running the game, and encourage you all to think about starting one of your own...! ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) was trying to come up with rhymes for "livestream," but couldn't get past "thrive beam," which is a concentrate ray of good vibes that instills anyone in its path with the energy and willpower to pull themselves out of dire circumstances. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) was trying to come up with rhymes for "actual play," but immediately went to "factual splay" which sounded kind of dirty and uncomfortable, so they decided to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies instead. ... All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely Players... —William Shakespeare, As You Like It (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) (and join our Discord at https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j !) (support us on Patreon for additional treats at https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast!) | |||
| 09 Aug 2022 | episode 18 – kithbook: trolls | 00:57:14 | |
So, we took an extra week off due to individual life stuff that needed sorting out. But now we're back to talk about the first of the splatbooks for Changeling, Kithbook: Trolls, in all of its blue-tinted glory. Takeaways from the book include: oaths matter; legend is more important than history; and if it's anything kind of large and fae-ish, it's probably a troll. Something to remember is that the kithbooks spanned a much larger period of time for their complete set (1996 to 2018), cutting not only across editions but also some serious changes in the world and its sensibilities—so, KB: Trolls feels very different from KB: Eshu and waayyy different from KB: Boggans. But we have to start somewhere, so the beginning seemed like a decent place to start. troll cultureThe word troll and the concept overall come from Norse mythology and derived Scandinavian folklore, blended in fantasy literature—and CtD as a whole—with similar concepts from other Germanic lore (including English). So it was a bit of a surprise that there was fairly little overt Norse influence on the book, or Celtic (which tends to be the top coat of paint on the entire game), save for a few names, artifacts, and artistic flourishes. It may be unfair to put too much of the burden on the ST and playgroup to bridge the gap between the text and the kind of game they want, but the text is neutral enough that you can have a troll hail from anywhere in the world that supports the myth of "big thing smash with honor". Because this book came out before Changeling's kith bloat really went into overdrive, it implies that all such folkloric beings are trolls, in some form—your mileage may vary with how much you want to fold all those legends into a single kith that is Northern European in its origin. The game has received a lot of justified criticism for its Eurocentrism; the way that different fae who smash with honor regard each other is something that can have in-game effects and consequences. Since this is first edition, there is also a strong thread of "changelings hang out with their own kind". But the rest of the game materials don't exactly bear that out; the fiction and setting materials of 1st edition imply mixed populations as common enough, and future editions make it more or less the norm. Kithbook: Trolls presents them as having almost a standalone society whose uniqueness extends back to the legendary days, with their own freeholds and societies and whatnot. There's nothing wrong with this, and it opens up the possibility of a troll-only game. But it's an oddity to read in the light of what comes after. (Pooka's note: kinship is a strong theme in Changeling, but it's different from the tribalism of Werewolf, or Vampire where bloodline is often the only kind of kinship that matters. CtD is much more supportive of the concepts of found family and building new, small-scale culture together. My take is that giving the trolls all of this material without talking about how it's integrated into Kithain society at large kind of runs counter to that theme.) ... a note on artworkApologies if we came off too harsh about the artwork in this book. Some of it is genuinely cool! The Maul of Thunder Treasure (which the text suggests is basically the "backup" Mjölnir) genuinely looks pretty cool! And then there's like, this chapter opening with a... cop? Maybe he's after this... eco-terrorist? We're just saying, quality varies. Speaking of cops: there's a whole society of trolls, the Protectorate, who are basically love cops. Their oaths and dutiful natures are entirely centered on facilitating and protecting true love wherever they find it, because nothing makes a romantic encounter like an eight-foot-tall hulking blue dude with a massive axe standing watch over you and your beloved as you exchange honeyed words under the chimerical moonlight. (Also, he's probably watching. Awkward.) Anyway, that's a Kithain reality show we'd like to see. ... the other kithbook: trollsAs one of our listeners pointed out, there was at one point another, online "Trolls Revised", from long before social media or Storyteller's Vault or any of that. (The early days of the Web were a wild place, folks!) For those who do want a more Norse-inflected version, here's the archived link: https://web.archive.org/web/20090910043150/http://www.traitorsgate.net/trolls/. We haven't thoroughly read or reviewed this yet, but may do in the future. (Initial impression: the author mentions that the original kithbook presents the trolls as a "pseudo-Celtic tribal group," which we don't think quite hits the mark. However, they are absolutely right that there are vast amounts of cultural background and history that the kithbook left unattended, so we're curious to see how this fan effort approaches these things.) But that's a saga for another day...! ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) met a troll under a bridge, but it turned out to just be a sentient shopping cart loaded with boxes of evaporated milk and flat packs of discount lunchmeat. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) wonders if trolls turn purple when they blush in fae mien. ... An eleventh I know, if needs I must lead To the fight my long-loved friends; I sing in the shields, and in strength they go Whole to the field of fight, Whole from the field of fight, And whole they come thence home. —The Poetic Edda, Hávamál 157 (tr. Henry Adams Bellows) (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) (and join our Discord at https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j !) (support us on Patreon for additional treats at https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast!) | |||
| 22 Aug 2022 | episode 19 – the shadow court | 01:34:38 | |
Sooner or later, the most sinister of the Unseelie were bound to rear their greasy and/or misshapen heads, no? While Banality is an ever-present threat that changelings must struggle against, and nobles-versus-commoners is an important piece of the metaplot, it's important to remember that the balance of light and darkness is another critical conflict for the Kithain. The Shadow Court is the first supplement in the canon to really go in-depth into the Unseelie ethos, the structure and motivations of their court, and what it means to be a baddie (or a beastie, or a bogie). This week, we're taking a deep look at that tome, which is one of the densest with material in the entire line. Bear with us for the wild ride... the nature of evilThis is a Big Topic that will probably get its own episode at some point, but a few things need to be said about the relationship of the Unseelie, and the Shadow Court, to eeeeviiilll. The WoD games overall trade in shades of grey, making it difficult to say that the Seelie are overtly "good" and the Unseelie overtly "bad". One could claim that the traits, actions, and outlooks that do fall into the "good" camp tend to crop up more regularly, in sum, among the Seelie, and vice versa among the Unseelie. But there are Seelie who are bloodthirsty, haughty, tyrannical, inflexible, and manipulative, following codes for their own sake and believing that they are Right about everything. And there are Unseelie who are empathetic, joyful, egalitarian, and honest. To draw a parallel with Dungeons and Dragons (yeah, yeah), the better analogy for the Courts might be "Lawful" (with a tendency towards good) for Seelie vs. "Chaotic" (with more wiggle room for evil) for the Unseelie, and where an individual falls within them is on the Good–Evil spectrum is their own thing. The Shadow Court, as a book, just kind of stirs the already-murky waters. There are Unseelie in the book who, despite their contempt for the Seelie, seem to simply be passionate freedom-lovers with the occasional bad temper. But then there are amoral jerks who engage in human sacrifice and make a career out of emotionally abusing Dreamers to get their Glamour fix. Introducing the Thallain as kiths who can never become Seelie and operate as the right hand of nightmare doesn't exactly help the reputation of the "dark side." Importantly, the Shadow Court is not the Unseelie Court; just as importantly, the former is often pulling the latter's strings. Even among the Shadow Court, though, true evil is not a given, especially because the book seems to highlight the fluidity of Court identity: changelings come and go from its ranks, rising and falling in prestige. (That being said, many Shadow Courtiers certainly seem willing to hang out with some truly twisted types...) Ultimately, the game is more interesting when the nature of good and evil isn't predetermined, and the movement between the two becomes the focus of a story, with the Court conflict as a metaphor. Why shouldn't a Thallain have a redemption arc? Why shouldn't the most prim and proper Seelie countess have a long slide into decadence? Changelings rebel against stagnation and stasis, so shifting attitudes, identities, and allegiances are perhaps more in line with this game than the others. As we mention in this episode, Changeling has a reputation for being "not dark enough" (for whom? what does that even mean?), but as this book demonstrates, there is a whole buffet of options that range from the purest of the pure to the dankest of the dank. A word of caution, though—the book's wishy-washiness extends to its use of gaming tools to protect the sensibilities of gamers when needed. It doesn't really offer a stance on how to use or not use violence, sexuality, depravity, etc., so remember: talk. to. your. players. and find out everyone's mileage for different dishes at that buffet. ... responding to hot takesWe solicit comments for recordings on our Discord (and here's the link! woooo), but for this episode, we totally forgot to respond to two hot takes from one of our listeners. So, here's some brief responses: Hot Take 1: "The Thallain were never meant to interact with the Kithain. They aren't another splat, they're the main characters from a fundamentally darker game." From an in-game point of view, this certainly seems true. The Thallain came into the Autumn World at the behest of the Fomorians (or so the story goes), their goals and wishes are quite different from Kithain's, and in some cases (see: beasties), Kithain actively try to attack them. But what they were meant to be like doesn't negate the possibility of figuring out stories that accommodate both Thallain and Kithain as protagonists. You need a particularly agreeable one or more of the former, and a particularly tolerant one or more of the latter, but somewhere between the feverish kaleidoscope of Changeling: the Dreaming and the blood-soaked pandemonium of... erm, Thallain: the Horrifying?, there is potential for some interesting plotlines. Thallain who incarnate in human flesh have the same tension between their human origins and their fae natures as other kinds of changeling, and putting the two groups together towards a common goal (e.g., a common enemy that neither can stop alone) is the Extreme level of "seeing past our differences" for the sake of teamwork. Hot Take 2: "House Ailil is the only good house in the entire gameline. Ennobled Boggans of House Ailil will utterly wreck your political machinations." Debatable, and dependent on the kind of game you want to run. For direct political intrigue, Ailil are indeed hard to beat (though depending on the type of intrigue, Leanhaun can give them a run for their money). Having a boggan, or pooka, or other kith with a social benefit in the House can certainly increase the benefit, and it can be great fun to watch an Ailil go toe-to-toe with a Ventrue. But as soon as you get out of the throne room, Elysium, or wherever, how useful are they for slaying a dragon, working great magic, or simply keeping the community happy? All else being equal, Ailil nobles are good at ruling by fear and blackmail, running criminal enterprises (or running their realms as though they were criminal enterprises), and getting themselves ahead. Your mileage may vary on whether you consider that the best, the most well-rounded, the most interesting, etc. ... shout-out to harbingers of winterWe mentioned this book a couple times this episode, and here we are mentioning it again...! Charlie Cantrell and Radio Free Arcadia put out Harbingers of Winter back in the spring, updating much of the content of this book (and then some) for C20. You can purchase it from the Storyteller's Vault, and you can listen to our episode #12, wherein we discuss the book with Charlie. It's definitely recommended reading for anyone looking to run a Shadow Court (or otherwise deeply Unseelie-flavored) game, so check out and help support other folks in the community. ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) thinks that Unseelie tastes like chocolate raspberry ice cream laced with codeine and bits of stained glass. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) thinks that Seelie tastes like a raw egg yolk suspended inside a solid shell of candied violet petals. ... The Neighbor: "A little boy went out to play. When he opened his door, he saw the world. As he passed through the doorway, he caused a reflection. Evil was born. Evil was born, and followed the boy." Nikki: "...I'm sorry, what is that?" The Neighbor: "An old tale... And, the variation: a little girl went out to play. Lost in the marketplace, as if half-born. Then, not through the marketplace—you see that, don't you?—but through the alley behind the marketplace. This is the way to the palace." —Grace Zabriskie & Laura Dern in David Lynch's Inland Empire (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) (and join our Discord at https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j !) (support us on Patreon for additional treats at https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast!) | |||
| 05 Sep 2022 | episode 19.5 – minisode: poems with pooka | 00:17:07 | |
Just because we're having a chaotic summer doesn't mean we can't occasionally find time to generate some scraps of content. While we search for time to catch up on chonkier recordings, herewith is a short minisode of something that nobody asked for: a set of poems that are (arguably) Changeling-y in themes. Pooka threw this episode together solo, and recorded it very late at night, so please forgive them for the quality. And if you think you hate poetry, well, hopefully this will at least not make you think you hate it more. The poems featured in this episode: - Emily Dickinson, "To Make a Prairie" - Peter Campion, "Dandelions" - Dylan Thomas, "Fern Hill" - Natalie Diaz, "My Brother at 3 A.M." - Randall Jarrell, "The Woman at the Washington Zoo" - Samuel Taylor Coleridge, "Kubla Khan" - Tony Gloeggler, "2B" - Langston Hughes, "Dreams" and "Harlem" - Sandy Gingras, "The Light Factory" ... your hostPooka G (any pronoun/they) thinks the ellipsis is the most air-headed of punctuation marks, while the em-dash is the sassiest. ... (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) (and join our Discord at https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j !) (support us on Patreon! it's now live at https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast) | |||
| 27 Sep 2022 | episode 20 – court of all kings | 01:21:06 | |
Episode 20! It's pretty amazing that we've made it this far, given how hectic life has been over the last few months. But as autumn (just regular, lowercase-a autumn) sets in, and we have time to center ourselves a bit, we're trying to get things in order to keep bringing you Changeling content into the coming seasons. To that end, this week we're talking about Court of All Kings, the third supplement in the Immortal Eyes trilogy of setting/chronicle books, which focuses on Ireland and the fae one finds there. (A note from Pooka: I feel a bit of a fool, because I didn't realize that the lengthier show notes were getting cut off on certain podcasting platforms. Hopefully folks who were interested went on to the website in order to see the rest of what they were after, but in the interest of making everything visible to everyone, we'll try to keep things trim, or at least put the important stuff "above the fold" from now on... so for example, here's the link to our Discord: https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j) videos in gaeilgeIn the episode, we referenced an example of a monolingual Irish speaker interviewed for a documentary a number of years ago... and behold, the video. It's from In Search of the Trojan War, from 1985; the connection they make is that Irish storytelling in the oral tradition has a number of features that link it with other forms of Indo-European epic. The storyteller, Seán Ó hEinrí, passed away in 1998 and is thought to have been (possibly) the last monolingual speaker of the language. (There are plenty of other videos on YouTube if you're interested in the language and its contemporary usage. Several series of the soap Ros na Rún are on there in their entirety, and the documentary No Béarla is a pretty stark demonstration of how few people in Ireland speak Irish.) ... salmon of knowledgeThe sculpture known as The Big Fish in Belfast is reminiscent of the mythological salmon of knowledge: a fish who ate the hazelnuts of wisdom that fell into its pool, and was then eaten in turn (most myths say by Fionn MacCumhaill/Finn MacCool, first leader of the Fianna). Its tiles are printed with old photographs, children's drawings, snippets of maps and newspapers, and other fragments of Belfast culture: They say that kissing the fish grants one a bit of wisdom, much as kissing the Blarney Stone gives you the gift of the gab. (We can neither confirm nor deny these rumors, but please do rinse your lips carefully if you try.) In Changeling terms, this does seem like it would be some kind of powerful chimerical entity... a poll shall be posted in the Discord (link below) to decide! ... ciarán's playlistIn a recent play-by-post game, Pooka had a character who was a Daireann sidhe named Ciarán that kept a "cauldronhouse" (freehold) in trust for the House, disguised as a pub in Dublin. As a character-building exercise, they created a sample playlist of songs to help set the mood. While this barely scratches the surface of the enormous variety of Irish- or Celtic-inflected music out there, it's presented here for your enjoyment, perhaps to listen to while you skim Court of All Kings—just hopefully not while you're also listening to the episode. No idea if a Spotify embed will even work on some platforms, but let's find out...! (Feel free to put this on shuffle as well, the order is pretty flexible.) ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) found an eighteen-leaf clover the other day, and it turns out, there is such a thing as too much luck. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) once climbed a statue of the púca goat in Killorglin, and the very earth shook with unbridled delight. ... Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste, ná Béarla cliste. (Broken Irish is better than clever English.) —Irish proverb (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) (support us on Patreon for additional treats at https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast!) | |||
| 04 Oct 2022 | episode 21 – kithbook: sluagh | 01:02:07 | |
As October dawns, it's only fitting that we should get into it with a deep dive into the guide to that creepiest of kiths, Kithbook: Sluagh. We actually... don't really have many notes this time! Both of us agreed that it was probably our favorite kithbook, that there was very little we'd do to change it (except maybe axe that THEORY), and we didn't really have many asides to dump in the show notes. As mentioned last time, the show notes will from now on feature links to our social sites above the fold: Discord: https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j Email: podcast@changelingthepodcast.com Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082973960699 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/changelingcast But in the interest of having something to drop in the main portion, perhaps this little meditation on that THEORY... end of the cycleSo, even more irksome than their continued positioning as the true baddies in Changeling's 1st edition, certain sluagh have a theory that each time a Kithain reincarnates, they "diminish" a bit, losing some of their fae energy. They start out as sidhe, and then come back in their next life as a commoner, working their way through the kiths until they end as sluagh (after which they might become wraiths, which is supposedly why the sluagh can talk to them). This is presented in an in-character letter from one sluagh researcher to another, but then backed up with a 5(!) point Flaw where you know this "truth" about sluagh existence. It's kind of like Dark Fate, but its in-game effect is to just make you really nihilistic and morose. To put it politely, we are less than fond of this idea. For starters, there are holes large enough to pilot a nocker airship through. While sidhe incarnating as commoners has been established elsewhere, what is the "order" of kiths that one moves through otherwise? What about all the kiths that have been introduced in the meantime—are clurichaun and ghille dhu in the mix? There are references to sluagh reincarnating as sluagh, and large swathes of the fae population as a whole have Remembrance as an actual Trait, so you'd think they'd surely have noticed this progression by now. And if the Shattering peaked in the 14th century, necessitating the Changeling Way, that's going to be longer than eight lifetimes, barring some unusual circumstances. So there must be a time delay between incarnations or there must have been large numbers of new fae souls entering the world, else the sluagh would certainly outnumber the rest of the kiths. But what matters most is that it just changes the fundamental nature of the game. Wraith: the Oblivion is the game for teetering on the edge of nonexistence; it's right there in the name. (And yet even that game has a measure of hope.) Changeling is not about that; it's built instead on epic quests and adventures, sweeping emotion and dastardly villains, intrigue and madness and camaraderie and horror. To fold in an idea that invites characters to... sit around and do nothing because they know this is their last lifetime... doesn't really seem like a good fit for most RPGs, and Changeling among the least of all. It's certainly possible for a character to be a nihilist and have this theory, but we reject the notion that it is somehow the truth of the matter—and thankfully, it seems to have slipped quietly out of the canon. Anyway, it's a footnote in the history of the game, and you are welcome to use it if you want. (You just won't see us doing so.) ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) ain't afraid of no ghost! Pooka G (any pronoun/they) fears no man, no beast, neither prophet nor priest, but trembles and balks at a pinch of fine salt. "I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." —Bene Gesserit litany | |||
| 11 Oct 2022 | episode 22 – ten more books for inspiration: spoopy edition! | 00:45:28 | |
Another week, another episode in our series of Octobrish delights... this time, we are returning to our bookshelves to pull some inspirational fiction for the more uncanny, eerie, and unsettling side of Changeling: the Dreaming. We're going through 10(-ish) books and story collections that keep us up at night, and seeing how we can translate that into the themes and moods of the game. (This was also kind of an unexpected topic, so we had very little time to prepare, and it shows—apologies!) Some links to our presences elsewhere in the digital realm: Discord: https://discord.gg/SAryjXGm5j Email: podcast@changelingthepodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082973960699 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/changelingcast ... the list (this time)
Honorable mentions go to Clive Barker and H.P. Lovecraft, but we didn't really have the space to get deeply into them. Another time, perhaps...! ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) has never danced with the devil in the pale moonlight, but once patty-caked with a psychopomp in the murky dusk, which is almost the same thing? Pooka G (any pronoun/they) doesn't miss nightmares about velociraptors and whatnot, but by the same token could do without these anxiety dreams about being awkward at garden parties. 'I recognize terror as the finest emotion and so I will try to terrorize the reader. But if I find that I cannot terrify, I will try to horrify, and if I find that I cannot horrify, I'll go for the gross-out. I'm not proud." —Stephen King | |||
| 17 Oct 2022 | episode 23 – kithbook: dullahan with andrew goodman | 01:13:22 | |
We're hopping momentarily into the 20th Anniversary Edition of Changeling: the Dreaming to talk about a hefty new offering on the Storytellers' Vault, Kithbook: Dullahan. Ordinarily, we'd probably wait a bit to discuss a new homebrew release, but since this book covers headless horsemen and their ilk, it was too good a fit for our monthly theme to pass over. This episode, we're fortunate to have the author and illustrator responsible, Andrew Goodman, to chat about his motivations, process, and logic behind the book. You can purchase the book here, and otherwise, here's the usual assortment of links to our podcast's presences elsewhere online:
... where to find andrewAndrew, meanwhile, can be found online at:
And possibly also just around Discord, though that might be more rumor than fact...! ... more on the dullahanAndrew mentioned the YouTube show Monstrum as a source of inspiration for this project, in particular their episode on those very same dullahan of Irish lore. Herewith is the video of that episode, in case you'd like to watch for yourself, as a prelude to tumbling down the mythological rabbit hole yourself: ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) would like to point out that there's an obvious headless horseman connection we could have drawn to a certain modern fantasy media figure, but since we're contractually forbidden to do so, we'll just call them "Schnozzgül" and let you figure it out. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) has only been on a motorcycle (really more of a dirtbike) once, and it (might have) involved some illegal/sketchy border crossing, and let's leave it (along with the whole being-on-a-motorcycle thing) at that. "Villainy wears many masks, none so dangerous as the mask of virtue." —Ichabod Crane in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow | |||
| 24 Oct 2022 | episode 24 – horror themes in changeling | 01:05:36 | |
This week we're talking generally about horror as a genre for tabletop, and in particular how to make it work for Changeling. As a game, it has a reputation for being too light and fluffy for the World of Darkness; we beg to differ. Given that its purview is literally anything imaginable, all manner of horror can be worked into its fabric, even if it's not necessarily "meant" to be all about that. We take the opportunity in this episode to share opinions and ideas on that subject. It's kind of a wide-ranging discussion that we half-improvised, touching on (among other things) the importance of safety tools; differences between film and RPGs when creating a horror atmosphere; body horror vs. Gothic horror vs. psychological and cosmic horror; Bedlam, Banality, and nightmare; some media inspirations; and more! Hopefully it will help you generate some ideas for your chronicle if you're thinking of going in an eerier, more uncanny direction... Some places where you can send feedback and/or support include:
Otherwise, not much to report! But only one more week until Samhain/Halloween... ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) is unsettled by the over-abundance of geese in the neighborhood. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) feels discomfited by the rather limited coffee selection in your kitchen. "Give [the audience] pleasure—the same pleasure they have when they wake up from a nightmare." —Alfred Hitchcock | |||
| 31 Oct 2022 | episode 25 – changeling and wraith crossover | 01:31:56 | |
Happy Halloween! In accordance with the spoopy traditions of the day, we're talking this time about Wraith: the Oblivion, the World of Darkness game that came out just before Changeling in the original lineup (and similarly underappreciated). Although the fae and ghosts might not seem to have too much in common, thematically or metaphysically, in truth... there's a bunch. Since neither of us are experts in the game, we've called in fellow podcaster Victor Kinzer for a wide-ranging discussion about the two games, some detailed history and lore (warning: a couple spoilers about the Wraith metaplot are contained herein!) and their potential for crossover. Whether you want to do Freddy Krueger-style nightmare-infesting evil ghost monster things, or simply give your sluagh PC something to do while everyone else goes around romancing and swashing buckles or whatever, listen on... If you'd like to get in touch, send us feedback, or join our community, some options include:
... where to find victor onlineCheck out Victor's work at:
Victor also mentioned the YouTube channel "Ask A Mortician", which is surely a good spot to check out answers to a variety of death-related questions you may have, either for your game, or just your own edification. Check it out at: https://www.youtube.com/c/AskAMortician. ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) saw a ghost one time, but it turned out to just be an ill-tempered stork wearing a sheet with holes cut out for eyes. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) is in favor of that afterlife where you get infinite pastries and talk about X-Men for eternity. "I see dead people... Walking around like regular people. They don't see each other; they only see what they want to see. They don't know they're dead..." —Cole Sear, The Sixth Sense | |||
| 01 Nov 2022 | episode 26 – book of days | 00:41:23 | |
In this *bonus!* episode for Samhain—not Halloween—Josh interviews Pooka G about their latest homebrew release for the Storytellers' Vault, Book of Days. This is a compendium of things chronological for your Changeling chronicle: a day-by-day yearlong calendar of events with story hooks attached, essays on seemings, options for including Seasonal Courts or additional temporal weirdness in your games, chimera, Lycians, Treasures... it was a labor of love, then spite, then madness, then love again. And, much like the wheel of the year and reincarnation for the Kithain, if that's not a metaphor for life, what is? Note: Pooka is terrible at speaking plainly (go figure) or self-promoting, so treat this more as "an informational excursion" rather than "inspired salespersonship." where to find pooka g onlineWell, you're here, aren't you? To that end, here's our usual assortment of media links:
But otherwise, here's the Book of Days product page: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/412055?affiliate_id=3063731. Pooka's other STV projects will be listed under their author page on the Vault; otherwise, you might spot them on their own Twitter (which is pretty meh, honestly) at https://twitter.com/pookagar. your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) -- WATCH THIS SPACE. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) -- SEE ABOVE. "You see, science has overcome time and space. Well, Harvey has overcome not only time and space — but any objections." —Elwood P. Dowd | |||
| 08 Nov 2022 | episode 27 – arcadia: the wyld hunt | 00:54:14 | |
*90s intensifies* as we do an exploration of the brief-lived but fairly-beloved Changeling tie-in CCG, Arcadia: the Wyld Hunt. With a base set released in August 1996, and a single expansion (King Ironheart's Madness) in November of that year, the game was canceled before its third set (The Lion's Den) could follow in 1997. But given the collapse of the market at that time, it's not really something we can hold the company entirely to blame for... This is technically not a Changeling game, per se. It's set in Arcadia, has its own metaplot, and offers a fairly distinctive kind of experience: one part modular board game, one part competitive treasure hunt, one part deckbuilding, one part exercise in frustration. There's a six-sided die somewhere in there. Overall, it has a similar mood and some shared concepts, and lots of the same artists, but it's really its own thing. To help us navigate the particulars, we've enlisted Charlie Cantrell of Radio Free Arcadia as Grand High Explanator. (Aside from being a credentialed collector and player of the card game, Charlie also adapted some of those unique features from the CCG into Kiths of Arcadia, a supplement available on the Storytellers' Vault.) So, give a listen as we explore—but do not (yet) attempt to actually play—this semi-forgotten piece of the Changeling universe... links and things!The usual assortment of links for the podcast:
And then, some places where you can find Charlie and his work:
Lastly, we can't stress enough the helpfulness of the In Arcadia WordPress site, https://arcadiaccg.wordpress.com/, where there's much information about the rules, the cards, the history of the game, and thoughts from fans. Check it out, why don'tcha? ... unboxing!After getting their hands on some packs of cards, Pooka decided to have a small "unboxing" session (which was really an "unboostering," with no actual box involved). This image gallery feature probably won't work anywhere except on the website proper, but... let's give it a whirl and see what happens. ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun/Garou) prefers the Rage CCG variant where players have to eat the cards they destroy, also while screaming. Pooka G (any pronoun/Platoon) would truthfully rather be a colony of good-natured tardigrades than something as pedestrian as ants. And see not ye that bonny road, Which winds about the fernie brae? That is the road to fair Elfland, Where you and I this night maun gae. —Traditional, "Thomas the Rhymer" | |||
| 15 Nov 2022 | episode 28 – isle of the mighty: england | 01:45:24 | |
So begins our trilogy of episodes on British setting supplement Isle of the Mighty, with a look at the first three chapters on England. It may seem a bit strange to dedicate so much recording time to this episode, but at just under 200 pages of text that is dense (both in terms of content and in terms of layout), we need the space. Even with the setting so richly described, the authors had to leave a lot out by necessity—so we talk about some of that in detail with special guest host, Andrew Goodman. This episode has been edited and massaged and compressed in order to get it to the point where it wouldn't be our longest episode... and we managed to get it a few seconds shorter than the corebook episode. Victory! (But we still have Scotland and Wales to do, so...) linky businessHerewith our social media links for the podcast:
And a couple places to find Andrew online:
... a brief list of mediaNear the end of the episode, we briefly go through a bunch of media items that might help you get an "English feel" to your game. The original plan was to link to videos and publishers' pages and whatnot, but the hour is late and our listeners' Google fu is strong, so here's the list of names, and we'll trust you to search them out successfully without our help:
These are just the ones that we happened to mention directly, barely scratching the surface of the surface of the vast amount of media out there. Go have a look, and see what inspirations strike you for your Very English Chronicle...! ... a pair of pinupsWell, maybe just one pin-up. They spared no expense on this beefcakey image of folkloric figure Wayland the Smith to open Chapter 3: On the other hand, while it was nice of them to provide a map of Great Britain and the fae kingdoms thereon, they seem to have spared a bit of expense generating it. Aside from the slightly vague borders and the fact that the map highlights several places which aren't even talked about in the book, this is best paired with another map that doesn't have quite so many misspellings. ("Glasglow", indeed...) ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) dares not dream, for fear of dwelling on the dark and arcane knowledge of Other London and Other Hull... Pooka G (any pronoun/they) ny vynn kewsel Sowsnek! "You English really don't have a sense of humor, do you?" "We do if something's funny, sir." —Gosford Park | |||
| 21 Nov 2022 | episode 29 – isle of the mighty: scotland | 01:21:31 | |
The legend continues... this week, we're proceeding north to Scotland for Book 2 of Isle of the Mighty. There's more of the same in terms of bizarre history section content management, NPCs who are intriguing and forgettable in equal measure, and a geography chapter that is surprisingly good! Even though in the balance, this section probably leaves more questions unanswered than we had when we started, there are some moments of true enjoyment scattered through. (Lookin' at you, Loch Lads.) It's heavier on the vignettes and side fiction than England was—but we'll take it in exchange for how the book completely skips over some of the country's more important centuries, in favor of talking about random changeling feuds that have no bearing on the game. A little of this, a little of that. the usual suspectsHerewith our social media links for the podcast:
This might be the last time we include Twitter on the list, at least for a while. Stay tuned for more information about that... And since we also talk about the Appendix and the ghille dhu in this episode, here's a link to Pooka's STV supplement on that very kith: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/381967?affiliate_id=3063731 ... scottish mediaAgain, here are some media items from north of the border to help you get a feel for the environment and ethos, if you're planning to run a Scotland game. Some are listed and discussed at the end of the recording, and others fall into the "damn, should've mentioned that one too" category. We trust once more that you've enough
One exception to the "go find it yourself" rule is this album of waulking songs by Bannal, who are decidedly un-Banal. It's a group of ladies making cloth in the traditional Highland way, accompanied by the old melodies and versifications that have a distinctive and beautiful sound. Give it a listen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9qsGKWZ6HU: ... caption thisJust one image to share this time, and it's hardly a pin-up. We're still trying to figure out who these characters are, what kith they're supposed to be, and what their story is. A green-tinted hornless troll and his ghoul redcap friend? Two mortals under a mysterious curse? What even is going on with the sun in this picture? We're at a loss, so feel free to send your suggestions. ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun)'s tartan is a crisscross of every color you've never heard of, and then a few more. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) defeated Mangar, but is still trying to find the way out of Skara Brae. Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot And auld lang syne? —Traditional song, adapted by Robert Burns | |||
| 28 Nov 2022 | episode 30 – isle of the mighty: wales | 01:45:00 | |
Croeso! We are wrapping up our trilogy of episodes on Isle of the Mighty with an exploration into Wales/Cymru and the fae/Tylwyth Teg that dwell there. The unfortunate news is that Book 3 of this weighty tome has a lot of the same issues we called out previously: clunky choices for the history section, uneven distribution of information in the geography section, several NPCs whose defining adjective is "meh". But the better news is that we are taking the opportunity to do a more thorough chat about the elements of crossover with Mage: the Ascension in this section, and from there, the book as a whole. Joining us for that discussion is Terry Robinson, host of Mage: the Podcast, and a genuinely wonderful person to talk to about such things. Lend us your ears, and we'll do our best to dazzle and enlighten you. (And stick around to the end for some *super secret* Mage 5th Edition-related stuff...) where to find us (and where to no longer find us)Most of our social media links are the same as ever...
...buuut we have elected to put our Twitter on ice for the time being, given a lot of the drama circulating around it these days. Instead, you can find us at our shiny new Mastodon account: https://dice.camp/@ChangelingPod. Check it out for the latest updates! And in the meantime, some places to find Terry include:
... welsh mediaOnce again, some media items that might help you with getting in a Cymric mood for your Welsh-set game:
There are plenty of Welsh language-learning resources out there as well! Besides the usual suspects like Duolingo, the BBC has also run Welsh lessons through a variety of programs for decades. (Pooka used to listen to Catchphrase and its affiliated programs, which you can still find at https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/catchphrase/, but they're no longer updated.) ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) added three castles to their Timecube this week. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) has yet to come across a Welsh word that isn't beautiful, no matter how many L's it has. Though absent long, These forms of beauty have not been to me, As is a landscape to a blind man's eye: But oft, in lonely rooms, and mid the din Of towns and cities, I have owed to them, In hours of weariness, sensations sweet. —William Wordsworth, "Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey" | |||
| 08 Dec 2022 | episode 31 – nunnehi roundtable | 01:59:52 | |
Greetings, all! This episode is dropping a bit later than anticipated, because it's our longest yet, but also one of our most important. Today we're talking about Changeling's version of the Nunnehi, the Indigenous fae of Concordia whose presentation has been a mixed bag over the editions. We're not focused on a particular book, since they appear throughout the line, but the 1st edition Player's Guide, the Werewolf supplement Rage Across Appalachia, and the 20th Anniversary Edition corebook all get some attention. We have three guest hosts for this installment, and technology was as much a bugbear as ever, so we ask that you bear with us through the remaining unresolved audio issues for an excellent discussion. Our usual candy-box of social media links:
The intermission track used in this episode is "Please Calm My Mind", by Oleksii Kaplunskyi. this episode's guestsWahde ᏩᏕ Galiswegi is an Indigenous gamer, Cherokee Language revitalizationist and traditionalist, with a background in Cherokee ceremonial Ian and spirituality.
Liam ᎬᎮ McAlpin and Ia ᎪᎳᏄ Bull are both Cherokee language revitalizationists from the Cherokee Nation in Eastern Oklahoma. Liam is going for a BA in Cherokee Language Education and Creative Writing while Ia just started a PhD in Information Studies, with a background in archives. They are from Tahlequah, their family is from Adair County, and they are members of ᏌᎶᎵ ᎤᎾᏓᏢ ᏂᎦᏘᏲ, ᎦᏚᏩᎩ/Cherokee ceremonial community.
... media and other resourcesSome works that might be inspirational and/or educational for you:
This is just a quick handful of sources that came up in our discussions, both on-mic and off. But there is a wealth of media out there by Native American and First Nations creators to explore, and we strongly encourage you to go out looking for more (with the caveat to always be mindful about what you find, the context in which it was created, and how you engage with it). ... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) was recording this episode from unceded territory in Anishinaabewaki. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) was recording this episode from unceded territory in Lenapehoking. That first cry opens the earth door. We join the ancestor road. With our pack of memories Slung slack on our backs We venture into the circle Of destruction, Which is the circle Of creation And make more— —Joy Harjo, "Memory Sack" | |||
| 19 Dec 2022 | episode 33 – the immortal eyes novels | 00:57:32 | |
For our last long-form episode of 2022, we're diving into the library again, but this time we're headed to the fiction section, and the Immortal Eyes novel trilogy. These books tie in to the three Immortal Eyes setting/chronicle books from 1st edition, fleshing out the story and giving some more options for incorporating the plot (and metaplot) into one's own chronicle. It was a grand experiment that, while not unsuccessful, is difficult to define in terms of its actual impact on the game line. Nevertheless, they weren't a chore to read, and we wanted to take some time to discuss them—as well as the overall role of RPG-associated fiction in the game space. If you want to get in touch with us to comment, inquire, or just croon wordlessly about this (or another) episode:
... links in the chainYou can pick up the novels on DriveThruRPG for $0.99 each. As Josh points out, they're PDFs rather than EPUBs, which makes them tough for some e-readers, but the price is actually significantly lower than what Pooka said on the show (bad research!), so there's that. Follow the links below:
Additionally, if you want to hear our episodes where we give deep dives into the setting/chronicle books proper and their usefulness for a chronicle, behold even more links...!:
... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) is building a chimerical monstrosity from stripped book covers as retribution for 90s publishers' excess. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) often turns enemies to stone and pries loose their gem eyes, and so now has more Eyestones than they know what to do with. "It's not that pookas never tell the truth. It's just that our version of the truth does not always correspond with majority opinion." —Rasputin, noted street performer, decorated war hero, and Grand Nabob of the Tenderloin | |||
| 21 Dec 2022 | episode 33.5 – minisode: season 1 wrap-up | 00:11:15 | |
Hey all! This is just our quick wrap-up for the end of our first season (which we've sort of stumbled into properly calling a season now). It's a handful of thoughts on what we've accomplished, and what we'd like to do in the coming year. Thanks again for listening and supporting our podcast so far, and we hope you'll stick with us when we come back after our hiatus. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to us via our usual passel of social media spots:
See you in 2023! | |||
| 21 Feb 2023 | episode 34 – 2e corebook | 01:59:59 | |
Greetings, Dreamers! After a couple months' hibernation, we have returned to start bringing you content once again, as we enter the enchanted realm of 2nd edition... so of course, we must begin with the corebook, a tome near and dear to both our hearts. We really tried to rein it in, and this still ended up being our longest episode yet (by the merest of hairs). This is still a legacy edition, but nearer to the most recent incarnation of the game, and still chock-full of useful material for any player or Storyteller. And frankly, the book is just beautiful, in an era when beautiful TTRPG books were by no means a given like they (kind of) are today. First, let us dust off our social media profiles so that you can reach out to us if you desire...
...and then, if you're inclined to purchase the PDF online, behold the link to do so: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/1624?affiliate_id=3063731 We have most of this shiny new Season 2 planned out, with book dives and interviews and inspirational tidbits and more, so if you haven't subscribed, we hope that you'll consider doing so! Stay tuned for (mostly) weekly episodes and see what dreams they muster... your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) once invoked the Dragon's Ire at a coffeeshop when the barista accidentally used hemp milk. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) only commits Rhapsody on affluenzic "influencers" who need to be put in their place. "Dreaming is...a game of the imagination, a game that is a value in itself." —Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being | |||
| 27 Feb 2023 | episode 35 – book of lost Dreams | 01:02:47 | |
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a tabletop RPG with a rich setting is in want of an overflow book for all the material unceremoniously cut from the corebook. Changeling's 2nd edition was no exception, and so we have the Book of Lost Dreams, a slim volume that touches on crossover rules with other WoD games, resources for Storytellers, Unseelie Houses, an introductory adventure... all of it packaged with a seemly Storytellers' Screen, behind which you can roll dice with secrecy and aplomb. In this episode, we riffle through its pages, as well as two of the associated products from the early days: the Introductory Kit and the updated Toys will be Toys adventure. These are echoes of the earliest internet days for White Wolf and Changeling as well, so naturally, we wax nostalgic more than we probably need to. If you're into buying the BoLD, here's a link: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/43?affiliate_id=3063731. It's kind of intriguing how this was apparently the 43rd product ever added to DriveThruRPG; it seems that many of the early ones consisted of the White Wolf back catalog, uploaded in alphabetical order. (Aberrant is #3, Adventure! is #5, Alien Hunger is #8...) And then, the Intro Kit is free!-ly available at https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/89894?affiliate_id=3063731 for your perusal. As for the Storyteller's screen illustrated by Rebecca Guay, well, check it out: A lovely pastoral scene behind which to decide the fate of your players, no? Note how it moves through the seasons as you proceed from left to right, because that's the kind of cool stuff one should do with art. Lastly, as always, here are our social media links:
We hope you'll get in touch! And stay tuned for our next installment... heck, follow our show on whatever platform you're reading this, why don'tcha? your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) ran the "Capture the Flag" adventure as a freeform LARP. The government of Ontario has yet to set a court date. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) lost some dreams once, but it turns out they were just buried under several sarongs and tapestries. The art of losing isn't hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster. —Elizabeth Bishop, "One Art" | |||
| 06 Mar 2023 | episode 36 – glamour and banality | 01:15:04 | |
There are a few different ways to summarize Changeling: the Dreaming and its themes. "You're a faerie in a human body" and its variations are a common starting point; "it's about the struggle to keep imagination alive" might be another. The conflict (or is it, really?) between Glamour and Banality is our topic for this week, as we try to take a holistic view of them as metaphysical forces, game systems, descriptive elements, and things in need of complication for a more nuanced game. We're trying to be pretty broad in our strokes here, but remember that this is our own take on the subject. Use as much or as little of it as like—su mesa es su mesa. And of course, if you have a different take on Glamour and Banality, you're welcome to share your thoughts with us via the following media:
None of what we say is gospel, after all. Maybe Changeling doesn't get quite the same level of philosophical debate as Mage, but there's still plenty to chew over, as the fan community has done for the last few decades. For our part, we're throwing ideas out there like spaghetti, to see what sticks to the wall of discourse. (Because that's what podcasting is all about!) your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) carries a never-ending hip-flask Treasure that continually refills with maple syrup dross. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) faces a Banality trigger whenever someone uses the words "untranslatable" or "thusly". The opposite of beauty is not ugliness, it's indifference. —Elie Wiesel | |||
| 14 Mar 2023 | episode 37 – kithbook: Nockers | 01:34:18 | |
Another dive into the library...! This week, we're taking a closer look at the ill-tempered genius of the nockers as we flip through the pages of their Kithbook, the third in the lineup. There are certainly some interesting tidbits in this one: the origins of nockers' foul mouths, some fast-and-loose chimerical "science", a panoply of devices and vehicles from their workshops. And then there are... choices that were made about their heritage and presentation that we examine with more critical eyes. Friend of the show Charles Siegel joins us on this episode to help hash out who the nockers are, who they could be, and how to (better) fold them into your Changeling chronicle. Some places you can find us around the intersphere:
And some places where you can find Charles and his work:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) is one step closer to discovering the elusive Higgs monad. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) knows that many nockers can tune a piano, but not a one can tuna fish. "Everything was normal and then suddenly, it's like the laws of physics went right out the window." "And why shouldn't they? They're so inconvenient." —Geordi and Q in Star Trek: The Next Generation, "True Q" | |||
| 21 Mar 2022 | episode 0 | 00:24:17 | |
Greets and welcomes! So, if you're here, you were either looking for Changeling: the Podcast, or you weren't. If it's the former, success! If it's the latter, we hope you'll stick around and peruse for a bit, at least! This is our first podcast and first attempt at show notes (eek); let's see how this goes. But anyway, this is a podcast about Changeling: the Dreaming, a TTRPG (tabletop roleplaying game) first produced by White Wolf in the 1990s/early 2000s, then Onyx Path in the late 2010s, and currently dormant until its next incarnation. It's about faerie souls in human bodies trying to make it in a bleaker version of our modern world (a.k.a. the World of Darkness), trying to keep wonder, adventure, magic, dreams, and nightmares alive in spite of the slow erosion of belief. We'll be tracing the history of the game from its earliest days to its ever-tenuous present, with deep dives into the sourcebooks, discussions about Topics of Import, interviews with other fans/figures in the Changeling-verse, and whatever else we can come up with. Come for the Glamour, stay for the vibes. This episode is mostly us talking about ourselves, our love of the game (and other games), and various tidbits to whet your appetite for future episodes. It was as much a mic test as anything else; we'll forgive you if you skip it. But then you might never know mysterious factoids about our origins...! Your HostsJosh Hillerup is a long-time gamer, LARPer and Changeling aficionado based out of Canada… Pooka G (any pronoun/they) started with RPGs by sneaking a look at the D&D red box one afternoon and making a character before anyone could stop them. They discovered Changeling as a young teen, joined some Internet forums on the subject, and it was all downhill from there. When not writing homebrew supplements, turning up for a session now and then, or ranting about games on Discord, they devour anything and everything to do with language like some kind of lexical redcap, and skulk the dimly-lit corners of Northeastern U.S. bookstores and alleyways like some kind of typical sluagh. Shout-OutsThis podcast was pretty directly inspired by a few others, so credit where credit's due:
... “The world is full of painful stories. Sometimes it seems as though there aren't any other kind and yet I found myself thinking how beautiful that glint of water was through the trees.“ —Octavia Butler, Parable of the Sower (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) | |||
| 20 Mar 2023 | episode 38 – session zero | 01:09:21 | |
Even when you're equipped with quickstart materials (as we discussed a few episode ago...!), it can be daunting to prepare your/your players' first Changeling game. Many of the potential speed bumps can be smoothed over with a solid Session Zero, where everyone gets together, talks about the characters they want to play, the particular game and story they expect to craft, and the questions they need answered before diving into the roleplaying "proper". In this episode, we draw on our experiences both great and abysmal, to inform our takes on some important things to think about in general and for Changeling in particular. This is by no means a tutorial on "how to Storytell," but we hope that it will helpfully enrich your own playing style. Our social media links, if you'd care to leave some feedback, show your appreciation, or just scream like an opossum in the night:
consent documentsIn this episode, we make reference to these documents, which some Storytellers like to circulate before starting to supplement the "lines" and "veils" deployed in-game. They're usually checklists of topics which might be triggering for players, giving them the opportunity to highlight specific items they don't want in a game. There are a variety of these out in the world, but here are three (free) examples:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) requires players to handwrite their sheets with calligraphy on parchment if they take Title greater than 2. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) awards starting XP based on how many crullers each player brings to the table in tribute. "Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again." —Andre Gide, Le Traité de Narcisse | |||
| 27 Mar 2023 | episode 39 – Dreams & Nightmares 1 — Near Dreaming | 01:23:54 | |
Brace yourselves—it's time for another trilogy of episodes as we dive into the library for a book of exquisite density. While Isle of the Mighty (our previous three-fer) was long in addition to dense, Dreams and Nightmares is a trim 128 pages with standard-sized font. So why the excessive episodage for it? Because this is the first, last, and thus far only entry in the Changeling canon to give us a thorough look at the Dreaming, whose impact on the world of the game cannot be overemphasized. This week, as we enter the Near Dreaming, we're joined by (friend of the show, Patron, and host of Mage: the Podcast) Terry Robinson to talk about the overall cosmology and metaphysics of this plane, its connections to broader Mage and WoD cosmology, and specifically the Nearer side of things. Much mayhem ensued! The book can be purchased from https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/2173/Dreams-and-Nightmares?affiliate_id=3063731, and if the interwebs are a kind of Dreaming, then here are some of our Realms:
Meanwhile, Terry can be found in places that include:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) takes a trod to work because the bridge traffic is just unacceptable since the new troll started working under there. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) | discreetly laughs | at those who scorn | the Silver Paths. | BURMA SHAVE One backward look by any of us Can cost what it cost Orpheus. —Kay Ryan, "Doubt" | |||
| 03 Apr 2023 | episode 40 – Dreams & Nightmares 2 — Far Dreaming | 01:02:01 | |
We're continuing down the path into the Firchlis-warped wilderness as we dip into Chapters 2, the first half of 4, 6, and the Appendix of Dreams and Nightmares. Why the scattered approach? While we focused on the Near Dreaming along with general Dreaming cosmology and (meta)physics last time, in this installment we're talking specifically about the Far Dreaming, its Realms, and more of the mechanical side of things. If you want to know more about the specific rules you'll need to run a Dreaming-heavy game, or notes about the beasts and denizens one may find there, we've got a few treats (and headaches) in store for you... but if it's not entirely to your liking, don't worry. We've still got another episode in this trilogy to get through. Our own Dreaming Realms:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) is part shareholder of an artisanal butter outfit in the Fields Behind, because everyone needs a retirement plan. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) was awarded the key to the city of Quoxburg, but it turned out to be a miserably sentient three-day-old croissant with the word "KEY" written on it in royal icing. The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom. —William Blake, third proverb of Hell | |||
| 12 Apr 2023 | episode 41 – Dreams & Nightmares 3 — Deep Dreaming | 01:31:18 | |
At long last, we come to the end of the road... well, not the end, because that would (presumably) be Arcadia. But we are deeper into the Dreaming than we've yet been, as we deal this week with the final part of our dive into Dreams and Nightmares! Joining us is C20 author and longtime community bastion Charlie Cantrell, for a discussion of the Realms in the farthest reaches of dream, and the stories one might tell on the way there. While we are talking about the Deep Dreaming write-ups in particular, the conversation ranges across the entirety of the book and what it has to offer. Our conclusion: it's an indispensable one for players and Storytellers alike, even those who have never played 2nd Edition, but it's a springboard more than a proper guide. There are hundreds (thousands?) of ideas floating around its pages, with little to no guidance on how to use them. But for a representation of the infinite space that is the collective subconscious, it's hard to see how the book could have been anything else... If you missed the first two installments of this trilogy, check them out: Episode 39 (Near Dreaming): https://changelingthepodcast.com/podcast/episode-39-dreams-nightmares-1-near-dreaming/ Episode 40 (Far Dreaming): https://changelingthepodcast.com/podcast/episode-40-dreams-nightmares-2-far-dreaming/ The book continues to be available at https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/2173/Dreams-and-Nightmares?affiliate_id=3063731, and we continue to be available for your social contact needs (within reason) throughout the following constellation of sites:
Charlie can sometimes be spotted on our Discord, or else you might try your luck at:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) reminds the listener that we're each forever story-battling the subtle yet sinister extra-planar Fair Folk, each of us wielding the weapon that is An Entire Life. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) has one word for you, just one word: BALLOON. From star to star the mental optics rove, Measure the skies, and range the realms above. There in one view we grasp the mighty whole, Or with new worlds amaze th' unbounded soul. —Phillis Wheatley, "On Imagination" | |||
| 17 Apr 2023 | episode 42 – ten comics and graphic novels for inspiration | 00:50:08 | |
It's been a while since we had one of our inspiration episodes, where we take a look at material outside of the CtD canon that we find helpful for grokking the themes of the game. We've had novels and spoopy novels, but in this episode (#THE ANSWER) we're turning to graphic novels and other visual narratives of the comic form. A professor might say, pairing text with image creates its own kind of media experience for the reader, tickling a particular set of imaginative centers in the brain that are good for conceptualizing the intricate mytho-fictive narratives of the game. But more simply put, MOAR COMIX BETTER GAME. (And even if you don't think of yourself as a "comics reader," these are worth a look.) The full list:
And then as usual, another list, where you can rail about how right or wrong we were about this list (although take note—limiting ourselves to eleven was tough, and we acknowledge there's a lot more out there):
If you join our Discord, feel free to send us your suggested stats for Hobbes the Lycian, or vote on which sidhe Houses you think Xavier and Magneto would fall into, or just talk about the episode to your hearts' contentments. our hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) often trips over speech balloons and tumbles through the fourth wall. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) defies the square panel as a convention of story-binding, favoring instead the trapezoid. "Let's see if we can call time on this trend by demanding and creating big, wild comics which stretch our imaginations. Let's make living breathing, sprawling adventures filled with mind-blowing images of things unseen on Earth. Let's make artefacts that are not faux-games or movies but something other, something so rare and strange it might as well be a window into another universe because that's what it is." —Grant Morrison | |||
| 24 Apr 2023 | episode 43 – book of houses | 01:37:09 | |
In case it wasn't clear, the sidhe are the star kith (some might say "Marys Sue" or "prime donne") of Changeling: the Dreaming. More metaplot space was devoted to their intrigues than any other, players seem drawn to play them (possibly for those sweet House benefits), and while they never got 72 or 96 pages of proper kithbook, they got ~400 pages of House book divided across three supplements. (And that's putting aside Nobles: the Shining Host and The Shadow Court, each of which could also arguably be called "Kithbooks: Sidhe"...) It is to the first of that trilogy that we turn this week, as we discuss Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses, covering the five "core" Seelie Houses from 1st edition. It's a weighty tome with a lot of information about the history and culture of these groups, but we do our best to get through them at a brisk clip...! Granted, you might not have time to listen to in-depth descriptions of the Houses and their role in the broader landscape of Kithain society. We thought it might be best to reduce each one to a phrase or two that summarizes their ethos, but we wanted to jazz it up a bit, so here they are as flavor profile descriptions, complete with cheese pairings:
Feel free to agree or disagree with these picks on our social media, where you can also share and discuss other Changeling-flavored whatnot:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) grew up in the suburbs of Arcadia, where light rail is affordable and organic co-ops abound. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) isn't keen on adjectives gone wild, but syntax gone wild is something up with which they will gladly put. "I had been too long away from the nobility; I had forgotten how silly even the best of them could be." —Laurell K. Hamilton, "Geese" | |||
| 01 May 2023 | episode 44 – the shining host with pete woodworth | 01:50:48 | |
...no, not the pseudo-Kithbook: Sidhe. We already covered that book, if you'll remember Episode 11. This time we'll be talking about the similarly named but wholly different The Shining Host, Changeling's entry in the LARP (Live-Action RolePlaying) universe of Mind's Eye Theatre. Given the alignment between the themes and mechanics of Changeling: the Dreaming and, well, make-believe, it's a natural fit for this more performative style of roleplaying. Part book dive and part exploration of the role-playing style, this episode is also one of those situations where Josh has extensive experience and Pooka has basically zero, and the disparity in knowledge is quite apparent. But we have a special guest to help us out this time: the book's author, and eventual MET/C20 developer, Pete Woodworth! With such knowledgeable guides, surely even a pooka can come out of this episode having learned something. You can purchase the book at https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/1491?affiliate_id=3063731, for your LARP education and edification (edufication?), and check out Pete's other work at:
And then there's our usual social links in case you need to bother us for Things and Stuff:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) has the power to turn invisible with a mere fold of the arms. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) believes in the primacy of rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock. "We're actors — we're the opposite of people!" —The Player, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead | |||
| 09 May 2023 | episode 45 – queerness and kinship in changeling | 01:06:29 | |
When it comes to themes in Changeling, there are plenty of possibilities for discussion: the bittersweetness of time, the necessity of balance, alternative forms of horror (which we talked about back in Episode 24). Two closely aligned ones that interest us are queerness and kinship. The experience of the former is often paralleled by many of the game's core ideas, and the various forms of the latter come to the foreground in the game's setting. This episode is kind of a meditation on those two themes, drawing a lot on our personal experiences. It's a discussion that could take several more hours... for now, though, we kept ourselves to one (more or less) where we muse about some of the more prominent connections we see. Hopefully it will provide you with some food for thought! Feel free to let us know what you think about this themes episode, and these more wide-ranging discussions in general:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) sometimes uses the term "faemily" into conversation just to see what kind of impact it has on others. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) favors incorporating glitter into as many cantrip Bunks as possible. I've heard it too many times to ignore it. It's something that I'm supposed to be. Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers, and me. —Kermit the Frog, "Rainbow Connection" | |||
| 23 May 2023 | episode 46 – kithbook: satyrs | 01:15:53 | |
There was a bit of a delay for this episode—sorry! When you party with the satyrs for the sake of episode data, you party hardy. But in the end, we have some thoughts about the kith and their presentation in Kithbook: Satyrs. To overcome the fairly one-dimensional sex maniac trope, the kithbook situates them within an extensive fae history of Greece, argues that passion can go in many directions, gives some insights into how satyrs age... not all bad stuff. That said, it's middle of the road for a splatbookl, introducing some interesting ideas without pushing the kith in any exciting new directions—which they could have benefited from. If they're your favorite kith, it's certainly worth the read. If you'd like to take a look at the book (perhaps to consider purchasing it), here's the link: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/3468/Kithbook-Satyrs?affiliate_id=3063731 And if you want to drop us a line, you can find us at:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) has a Passion for pudding, but only the instant kind. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) insists that the "G" is not for "Goat," but nobody seems to believe that. "Passion persuades me one way, reason another. I see the better and approve it, but I follow the worse." —Ovid, Metamorphoses VII.19-21 | |||
| 01 Jun 2023 | episode 47 – changeling/vampire crossover | 01:28:34 | |
Well, we managed to get to Episode 47 without covering it, but it's time at last for our final(?) WoD gameline crossover episode. This time, we're talking about Vampire: the Masquerade and its points of connection, mechanical and thematic, with Changeling: the Dreaming. We're joined for the discussion by CtP Patron, fellow podcaster, and resident vampire expert (Bryce/)(Sand)Chigg(er), as we meander through clans and bloodlines, Camarilla and Sabbat, Disciplines and other sundries. If you're interested in getting the blood parasites and the dream/emotion/creativity parasites together, we encourage you to listen. (And yes, we acknowledge that an hour and a half is not sufficient time to plumb all the possible depths here, but there's only so much VtM you can talk about before the ennui just floors you.) Some of the usual places where you can find us online include:
And despite what the final bits of the episode might say—no, we have no plans to start up a TikTok in the immediate future. Sorry, #faemily! Meanwhile, some places you can find Chigg around the interwebs (besides our own Discord) include:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) put all five Background dots into Generation, because that's the way to do it. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) opines that if Aaron the Malkavian can have a feeding razor, David Ardry should get a mustache spoon. "People always ask me if I think vampires really exist, and I always say yes, because if I say no, and they do exist, they'd be like... "*tsk* Oh, right!" —Alyson Hannigan | |||
| 05 Jun 2023 | episode 48 – larp roundtable with ash and will | 01:05:09 | |
This week, we're headed back to the [dramatic music] theatre... of the MIND's EYE! [thunder, etc.] as we have a small LARP roundtable with Ash and Will. They are two of the movers and shakers for One World by Night (OWbN), a group that organizes live-action games worldwide! The conversation covers a lot of material following on the heels of Episode 44, where we talked with Pete Woodworth about the genesis of Changeling LARP with his book, The Shining Host. But this one is more about putting the rules and recommendations of that book into action, and how groups have evolved and adapted in the 25 years since it was released. Relevant links for our guests and their work include...
And you'd like to find us around the digital realm, here are some of your options:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) spices up the weekly supermarket run by adding in boffer shopping cart jousts. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) tried LARPing as a mandragora, but mostly that just involved standing in a corner being putredinous. "Imagination is one of the forces of nature." —Wallace Stevens | |||
| 12 Jun 2023 | episode 49 – kingdom of willows | 01:42:07 | |
We'll be the first to admit that the Southern US is not our primary field of expertise, and to point out that TTRPG books—especially some of the 90s White Wolf ones—are not the greatest resource for learning more. That being said, the Kingdom of Willows supplement on the Kithain realm of the same name, covering that part of the world, is one of the more robust entries in the canon. It has its curiosities, and it has its cringes, but few Changeling books can match it for density. This week, we're talking about its usefulness for running games set in that part of the world and its approach to detailing the setting, as well as its crucial role in advancing the metaplot for 2nd edition. (We also fly through the seventy pages or so of NPC biographies at breakneck speed, because those things were lengthy.) The book is available on the Storytellers Vault at: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/173?affiliate_id=3063731 As per usual, reach out and touch Glamour at:
And we also threw references to a couple STV supplements, plus a bonus item from the outro:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) is moss-covered, moonlit, and eerie as the Devil waiting by a crossroads at midnight. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) is sweat-soaked, magnolia-scented, and peculiar as that swarm of bees in the wisteria. "I agreed to spend the afternoon, if only to understand the mystery of how a place could feel so strange, and yet so familiar." —Edward Bloom, Big Fish | |||
| 19 Jun 2023 | episode 50 – thirteen films for inspiration | 00:57:04 | |
Our fiftieth (full-length) installment! Thanks to all who have been listening, especially those with us from the start, and we hope the next fifty are enjoyable. It seemed right to close out that milestone, and the first half of Season 2, with something a bit more relaxed. So here we are with another inspirations episode, this time on thirteen films that we think are particularly suited for Changeling: the Dreaming. (It would've been ten like the other inspirations episodes, but there was no way we could have kept it to that few.) This is a mix of movies officially recommended in the books and some of our own picks, a balance between overtly fae-themed films and others that more generally reflect the themes of the game. In order of discussion, here are the trailers. Some of them are excessively Hollywood, for which you have our apologies:
We also mention like thirty others at different points, including those suggested by our listeners. And where can you get in touch with us if you have comments or contributions to share? Well:
Our freehold is always welcome to you, so do stop by. your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) moonlights as a nocker projectionist at the local cinema.. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) daylights as a sluagh handing out sentient bags of popcorn. "Un film est une source pétrifiante de la pensée. (A film is a petrified fountain of thought.)" —Jean Cocteau, Le testament d'Orphée | |||
| 22 Jun 2023 | episode 50.5 – state of the podcast, season 2 | 00:10:41 | |
A merry solstice to all! Keep an eye peeled for any fae wheelings and dealings in your neighborhood today, and be sure not to stray into any mysterious mushroom rings... In the meantime, you can also have a listen to this state of the podcast for the first half of Season 2, where we do an assessment of how things are going so far and our plans for the rest of the year. (Just a short audio morsel to tide you over.) The biggest news herein is that we are finally converting episodes to video format for upload to YouTube. A link to the podcast channel will be included in our social media bundle moving forward, and the individual episodes uploaded so far—in case you want to go back to the beginning—are as follows:
The rest of the usual links:
Thanks for your listens and supports! And we are steadily working away for our own late-summer Resurgence... | |||
| 10 Jul 2023 | episode 50.75 – the bygone bestiary | 00:36:36 | |
Surely you didn't think we were going to leave you all completely hanging during our summer hiatus...? Granted, this is only a mini-sode, but we hope it still serves a pleasant tidbit in between are larger installments. On this occasion, we are exploring the (general) World of Darkness supplement, The Bygone Bestiary, full of all your folklore-steeped medieval-and-Renaissance creature needs. The book claims that it can be fairly easily integrated with Werewolf, Mage, or Changeling, but in practice, it's more of a Mage: the Sorcerer's Crusade book. We are nevertheless giving our best effort to talk about how you could use this for Changeling. A system for building chimera, examples of interesting lore for common creatures, ideas for bringing actual mythic beasts into the Autumn World... the possibilities, if not endless, are at the very least intriguing. The book is available on the Storytellers Vault at: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/50?affiliate_id=3063731 Herewith also a shout-out to our sister podcast, Mage: the Podcast, whose episode on the book can be heard at: https://magethepodcast.com/tomes-of-magick-bygone-bestiary/. And then, share your questions, comments, or screams of terror about your favorite beasts with us at:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) has a permanent observership among the College of Sea Cardinals. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) created three perytons yesterday while trying to reheat a Lebanese rice bowl. "O to be a dragon, a symbol of the power of Heaven — of silkworm size or immense; at times invisible. Felicitous phenomenon!" —Marianne Moore, "O To Be a Dragon" | |||
| 01 Aug 2023 | episode 51 – storytellers guide | 01:42:33 | |
We're jumping over the Lughnasa bonfires to bring you our first full-on episode in six weeks...! Herewith our dive into the Changeling Storytellers' Guide. This is the only proper ST-focused volume the line ever got, and while it's uneven, there's still plenty to enjoy within. Advice on planning the story and managing the table, reprinted crossover rules and thoughts on alternate settings, art that baffles as much as it inspires and an attempt at what the charitable would call a game-wide index—it's all here. Join us as we flip through its pages and get back into the groove of the podcast. We missed you all! For the completionists, the book in question can be purchased at: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/55?affiliate_id=3063731 Our merry selves can be found and contacted via:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) keeps adding more Storytellers' screens to the table despite the players' pleas. Just keeps on adding 'em. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) runs games where everything's made up but the points do matter. "To hell with facts! We need stories!" —Ken Kesey | |||
| 22 Mar 2022 | episode 1 – intro to changeling: the dreaming | 00:28:21 | |
If you haven't played Changeling before, we welcome you to listen through our little primer here. We give an overview of the game's history, what we see as the moods and themes, a summary of changelings' in-game origins, and a glossary of useful terms. And just for shiggles, here are those same terms, alphabetized, for your eyeballs' pleasure:
(Host note: we totally didn't mention "freehold" in the episode, but it's an important one!) Your HostsJosh Hillerup believes that the secret to the universe is [REDACTED]. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) once snorted a blue Pixy Stik, just to see what it was like. (It was unpleasant.) ... "Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one." —Terry Pratchett (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) | |||
| 14 Aug 2023 | episode 53 – inanimae: the secret way | 01:29:59 | |
After teasing the nymphs in various shapes for nearly four years, Changeling's 2nd edition finally got around to giving us a supplement dedicated to the fae of nature. In this book's fullest presentation of who they are, Inanimae (and their Secret Way) are elemental dreams, the product of human imagination interacting with noteworthy hunks of rock, majestic trees, pools of water, etc. They sidestep a lot of the cultural issues and relativity of Banality that complicate the other kiths, providing another way to explore the world of Changeling. Flipping through these pages reveals much about their society, history, ecology, and magic, especially given the dearth of information that they get in C20. Read along with us as we learn who they are and what they're about... The book in question can be purchased at https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/62211?affiliate_id=3063731. (Pooka's homebrew publications, Kithbook: Ghille Dhu and The Emperor's New Coat, are also mentioned in the episode; they can be acquired at https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/381967?affiliate_id=3063731 and https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/375875?affiliate_id=3063731, respectively.) some inspirationsGiven how squicked the Inanimae are by the meatiness of humans (and changelings!), reading through this book gave some vibes of Terry Bisson's short story "They're Made Out of Meat." Various fun adaptations are out there, of which Stephen O'Regan's is maybe the best known? Embed below, link is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6JFTmQCFHg And then, when it comes to films, books, etc., the classic sources for Changeling stories don't quite do justice to the Inanimae experience. Some possible alternatives:
If you have more to share, please consider doing so on our Discord! And where's the link to our Discord? Why, it's listed first here, with the rest of our social contact-points:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) cautions anyone against crossing the Inanimae spawned from the Para-Elemental Planes. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) has reached the third dot of Mirrorball, the Sliver that deals with the element of Disco. "Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy." —Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass | |||
| 22 Aug 2023 | episode 54 — land of eight million dreams | 01:58:07 | |
White Wolf's "Year of the Lotus" initiative was an attempt to explore the World of Darkness' various game lines through the context of "the East" with... uneven results. Changeling was not spared, and the last book of the Year was Land of Eight Million Dreams, covering the hsien of China, Japan, and environs. There's a lot of interesting material in this book; there is also a lot of cringey, baffling, and/or confusing stuff. We're joined by special guest LewCid for a wide-ranging discussion on Orientalism in Changeling, the ways in which the fae of Asia are presented, and whether we can redeem anything from this book. The hsien in C20 core are handled quite differently, but much more shallowly, so for anyone who wants a deeper game involving them, we do our best to tease out the helpful options here. (It is also the case that our podcast gets marked "Explicit" by default because of one error way back in the day. But we certainly have a few swears in this episode, because this book can be, to put it as mildly as possible, the occasional exercise in frustration.) You can purchase the book at https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/180?affiliate_id=3063731 if you're so inclined. Furthermore, as of this writing, it and all other Changeling books are 25% off on the Storytellers' Vault! As mentioned at the start of the episode, if you do stop by the STV to round out your collection, please consider supporting our show by adding our affiliate code (?affiliate_id=3063731) to the end of any URL on the site. We welcome discussion and feedback on this and other sundry Changeling topics at any of the several points of social contact we espouse:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) gathers strength from the prayers of functionaries sobbing over their virus-ridden machines. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) folds paper charms and writes haiku for the elemental alchemy of Camp. 不知周之梦为蝴蝶与, 蝴蝶之梦为周与? Bùzhī zhōuzhīmèng wèi húdié yǔ, húdié zhī mèng wèi zhōu yǔ? [Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.] —Zhuangzi, tr. Lin Yutang | |||
| 28 Aug 2023 | episode 55 — advanced storytelling techniques | 01:50:32 | |
There are at least as many styles of Storytelling (or DMing, or Gamemastering, or whatever) as there are Storytellers, most of whom have Strong Opinions about the best way to do things. We've had a bit of discussion here and there over our two seasons, but this week we—along with special guest and veteran Storyteller, Fetch—are having a roundtable on advanced Storytelling techniques we favor. This is especially geared towards Storytellers who have run a few Changeling games and gotten the hang of things, but are looking to try some new and more complex methods at their table. Have a listen, and perhaps you'll get some ideas to deploy for your next session...! We also have a whole mess of links this time around. First, two other episodes that are centered on the ins and outs of the Storytelling role:
Three other media outlets whose work we appreciate and recommend for game-running guidance:
A book of Pooka's that got mentioned for story hook ideas, and a link to Fetch's Discord for many gaming opportunities:
And our usual battery of social media posts:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) is a Síocháin who bears the Mantle of the Flowchart Maker. Pooka G (any pronoun/they)'s chimerical companion is a Star Wars-style opening crawl at the start of each game session. Our audience must experience not only the ways to free Prometheus, but be schooled in the very desire to free him. —Bertolt Brecht | |||
| 04 Sep 2023 | episode 56 – blood-dimmed tides | 00:53:56 | |
Something fishy is going on this week, as we plunge into the murky waters of Blood-Dimmed Tides. Technically, this is a general World of Darkness sourcebook rather than a Changeling sourcebook, with material for the "Big Five" game lines of mostly 2nd Edition. (Coming at the start of 1999, this includes both notes about Vampire's recent Revised rules, and helpful instructions for how to party like it's.) But Changeling has the lionfish's share of material, with practically an entire mini-Kithbook in its chapter, dedicated to those mysterious and beguiling merfolk of the deep. Combined with things like aquatic story hooks, underwater combat rules, and ample crossover opportunities, we believe that it's still a worthy edition to the canon. In fact, it left us thirsty for more! (But listen, if you're thirsty, don't drink seawater, because there are probably mechanics in the Appendix about how quickly it will kill you. And don't drink fishmilk unless you're into that kind of thing.) Have a purchase of the book at https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/342?affiliate_id=3063731 if you're so inclined! You can also put messages in bottles and drop them in various bodies of dank water:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) has a vial of tetrodotoxin ready for the next person who mocks Aquaman. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) informs you that a shark on whiskey is mighty risky. (A shark on beer... is a, uh... a beer engineer.) The very deep did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea. —Samuel Taylor Coleridge, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" | |||
| 11 Sep 2023 | episode 57 – ten television inspirations | 00:53:48 | |
Television, it turns out, is massive. When we set out to choose ten television shows that we found inspiring for Changeling, we had no idea that there were so many options we'd end up with, even considering the criteria we set for ourselves. (We looked at shows we had seen ourselves, and ideally ones that weren't already called out as inspiration in the books.) And that was before listeners started suggesting a bunch more. Nevertheless, we feel pretty happy with our picks; these are entries which we are fond of on their own, but also find well-suited for consideration through the lens of the game. Herewith some of their trailers/theme songs/selected scenes in chronological order:
We hope that if you're in the market for some inspirational material of this variety, one or more of these will help up churn up the Glamour of game planning. And if you've got Thoughts about what we've chosen—or have other ones to suggest which we haven't seen!—feel free to get in touch via the links below...
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) built a chimerical companion out of vacuum tubes and SMPTE color bars. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) enjoys the sound of the phrase "sweeps week" much more than its meaning. Television: An advanced technical method of stopping people from making their own entertainment. —Leonard Rossiter, The Devil's Bedside Book | |||
| 18 Sep 2023 | episode 58 – fool’s luck: way of the commoner | 01:37:08 | |
We've heard plenty about the noble sidhe, and we'll hear plenty more. But spare a moment to think of the plights and pleasures of the common folk! Kicking off the World of Darkness' "Year of the Reckoning" in 1999 is this week's offering, Fool's Luck: Way of the Commoner. It focuses on the history of the other eight (at the time) core kiths in Concordia—and elsewhere in the world!—along with their societies, traditions, and lifeways. This is the book that gave us the tricksy pixies, the Art of Metamorphosis, and more grump war stories than have been seen before or since. And as we meander towards the conclusion of the game's 2nd Edition, the disappearance of King David continues to hang over the metaplot, as noble and commoner alike prepare for war... We're of the opinion that this is one of the more solid books in the line, so if you're in the mood to snag a copy, herewith the link: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/131?affiliate_id=3063731. Herewith also the various social media constellations in which you can contact us!
build-a-sluagh contestAs mentioned in the episode's intro, we are currently holding a contest into the month of October in honor of the spoopiest of kiths, the sluagh. The winner will receive a physical copy of Kithbook: Sluagh, and their character will be showcased on our Discord along with two runners-up. All you have to do is send the following to podcast@changelingthepodcast.com in the body of an email, or as attachment (DOC or PDF only):
We'll be taking entries until 10 October and announcing the winners by the end of the month. Send in your skulkiest slinking creepster today! your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) moonlights as vice-president of the Nockers' Local #621. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) plants anarchist pamphlets in every Little Free Library they can find. Sing along with the common people Sing along and it might just get you through Laugh along with the common people Laugh along even though they're really laughing at you. —Pulp, "Common People" | |||
| 25 Sep 2023 | episode 59 – book of houses 2 | 01:38:57 | |
As refreshing as it was to get a taste of commoner life last week, we're not displeased to be back with the deliciously wicked warlords and courtiers of the Unseelie this time around. The lengthily-titled Pour L'Amour et Liberté: The Book of Houses 2 covers the three (at the time) Houses of the Parliament of Dreams' loyal opposition: Ailil, Balor, and Leanhaun, wyvern, serpent, and rose. (Yeah, yeah, the Ailil crest gets presented as a dragon, but in the original drawing the thing has no legs, so it's a wyvern.) It's about as long as three kithbooks if you strip out the templates and padding, so we probably get more in-depth and specific treatment of these Houses than any others in the game. Since we'd already had The Shadow Court, did we need this book? As much as we needed the first Book of Houses even though we had Nobles: the Shining Host. Does this book live up to the hype? We report, you decide. If you're into purchasing this one, check it out at https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/3511?affiliate_id=3063731. We also referenced The Book of Invasions and The Ulster Cycle (specifically, the Táin Bó Cúailnge) of Irish lore, because all three Houses make use of it, having explicit ties to Ireland as they do. If you'd like to skim through these source texts yourself, there are multiple places you can do that online. Have a gander, for example, at https://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/leborgabala.html for the former and http://adminstaff.vassar.edu/sttaylor/Cooley/ for the latter. And as always, if you'd like to get in touch with us, you have a number of options:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) steals cattle and takes names. Or is that steals names and takes cattle? Pooka G (any pronoun/they) wouldn't mind a Chronos Cage in their apartment, just to have a space to get some work done. "When I'm good, I'm very good. But when I'm bad, I'm better." —Mae West as Tira in I'm No Angel | |||
| 30 Sep 2023 | episode 60 — kithbook: pooka | 01:11:11 | |
What makes a kithbook, really? And what makes a kithbook great? Is Kithbook: Pooka, the fourth and fuzziest of the splatbooks for Changeling, a noteworthy representative of this category, or simply so much curiously stained paper to arrange on a shelf? Can these questions really be answered? Is this a rhetorical question? When you think of the pooka in all of their circumlocutory glory, do you think of fables and furries and curious mechanics for hashing out their animal forms? Or are you a Werewolf player seeking a less fraught outlet for your character's white-hot, misanthropic, environmentalist Rage? Can an entire podcast post in the interrogative mood be a type of Pooka-ese? Could we have decided to organize this post, if not this episode, any other way? Will you listen on and find out? Will you lift our spirits with your kind attention? Also, did you know that you can give feedback on our show in a bunch of places on the internet?
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) achieves an impressively low rate of cuss-language on the show for a nocker, wouldn't you say? Pooka G (any pronoun/they) isn't much of a pooka at all, are they? "Tell all the truth but tell it slant —" —Emily Dickinson | |||
| 02 Oct 2023 | episode 61 — midnight circus | 01:28:30 | |
Egads! a crossover! We're joining forces with Josh Heath of the inestimable Werewolf: the Podcast and Terry Robinson of the redoubtable Mage: the Podcast to talk about Midnight Circus, an all-line World of Darkness book from the glory days of the mid-90s. This is back in time for all of us, relative to our respective readthroughs of each game's books, but the concept of "diabolical circus" never really goes out of fashion. So, we're doing a round robin discussion that touches on the various bits of lore, magic, mystery, and story that permeate the pages—and quite a bit there is of all of the above. You may recall that in our television episode, we mentioned Carnivàle as an inspiration for Changeling; this book taps into that same source of ideas. Now for the links!
And the usual mishmash of social things from our side:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) lurks behind the Tilt-a-Whirl and messes with the gravity. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) lives in the rigging where everything and everyone is a potential trapeze. The procession moves on, the shouting is over, The fabulous freaks are leaving town. They are driven by a strange desire Unseen by the human eye... —Dead Can Dance, "The Carnival is Over" | |||
| 09 Oct 2023 | episode 62 — changeling metaphysics 101 | 01:40:06 | |
Settle down, class! If you didn't mean to attend this first lecture for the Faelosophy major, then we suggest you exit gracefully now... but if you'd just like to stay and audit, that's fine too. We're talking about Changeling metaphysics today, hashing out some of the Deeper Questions about the nature of being, the relationship between dream and reality, and what really happens when a troll walks through a doorway. Joining us again is special guest and resident metaphysicist Terry Robinson of Mage: the Podcast, to help triangulate some opinions and lay down some knowledge. Do take notes, for there will be a pop quiz down the line. A few good places to find Terry around the interwebs include:
And our usual arrangement of links:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) believes that whatever the dream of perfection might be, nockers are proof against its attainability, except when it comes to fashion. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) only exists as a concept in relation to pastries and coffees already/yet to be consumed. The subconscious is ceaselessly murmuring, and it is by listening to these murmurs that one hears the truth. —Gaston Bachelard, The Poetics of Reverie | |||
| 16 Oct 2023 | episode 63 — denizens of the dreaming | 01:13:08 | |
In they crawled through the long-shuttered gates, slowly they slithered into the world—the Dark-kin have arrived at last! And as we go on our flipthrough of Denizens of the Dreaming, we realized... well, not all of them are all that Dark. And they don't much act like kin. And are they even really all "of the Dreaming" any more than the Kithain? (OK, mechanically, maybe so.) We deal with these questions, and many more than we thought we'd have before we opened the thing, in this mid-Spooptober installment. The last major tranche of kiths introduced to the game, the adhene are a hodgepodge of ideas drawn from myths worldwide and tied heavily into the original game's sunset metaplot. Sworn to the Fomorians, they are the vanguard of Winter, and therefore Bad News... Check out the book at: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/111?affiliate_id=3063731. We also mention material from Charlie Cantrell's excellent supplement, Harbingers of Winter, which expands on the Dark-kin and gives a write-up (finally!) for the aslynthi: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/388455?affiliate_id=3063731. And the usual mishmash of social things from our side:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) keeps a jar of ground Tarrarom in the cupboard for chicken, fish, and egg dishes. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) greatly admires the films of Kureksarra. The darkness drops again; but now I know That twenty centuries of stony sleep Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born? —W.B. Yeats, "The Second Coming" | |||
| 19 Oct 2023 | episode 63.5 — le monde des ténèbres : france | 00:20:51 | |
Salut, gentlefae! It's time for a solo minisode to fill in the Banal void of the working week. In this installment, Pooka discusses Le Monde des Ténèbres : France, one of the few 90s World of Darkness books not developed by White Wolf. Published by Ludis International at the start of 1997, the book only exists in French, and was the start of a series of books (which would have eventually been translated into English) that... never materialized. Each of the five major WoD lines gets a chapter, with Changeling receiving a solid 40 pages or so of material, deeply informed by French folklore, politics, and probably the home games of its authors. Pooka puts their French degree to good use in order to summarize of what's therein (including the first appearance of the morganed and korred!), so that you don't have to seek it out and translate it yourselves. Ordinarily there would be a link here to purchase the book, but such a thing does not exist for this text. It's not too difficult to knock the PDF off the back of a truck, so to speak, if you want to find your own copy. Meanwhile, for the show's own social media, it's even less difficult to find us, because we provide the links like so:
your hostPooka G (any pronoun/they) is, if we are what we eat, an actual sentient viennoiserie. La bonne grâce est le vrai don des fées ; sans elles on ne peut rien, avec elles on peut tout. (Gracefulness is the true gift of the fae; without them we can do nothing, with them we can do everything.) —Charles Perrault, Cendrillon | |||
| 23 Oct 2023 | episode 64 – time, memory, cyclicality | 01:05:05 | |
Pardon us while we get a bit esoteric, but it's time to talk about time (and memory, and cyclicality). The way the fae experience it is rather different from your garden-variety fleshly linear human types—and yet at the same time, not so different at all. We're talking about the chaotic progression of time in the Dreaming and the magic that changelings use to harness it, but also their life stages and cycles of reincarnation, and how those inform the calendar they live by. As is usual for our theme episodes, we ramble our way through these and associated topics. As is unusual, we had So Many Issues with recording, which seemed appropriate. Nevertheless, we have persevered to bring you a few of our takes, so we hope you'll enjoy. This isn't a library dive, but we mention The Enchanted as a solid sourcebook for handling seemings and transitions, so if you'd care to pick it up, stop by https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/288?affiliate_id=3063731 for the PDF. And then, because Pooka is a shameless self-promoter, if you'd like to check out some of their homebrew Changeling work that deals with time and a kith largely defined by it, respectively, Book of Days (https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/412055?affiliate_id=3063731) and Kithbook: Ghille Dhu (https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/381967?affiliate_id=3063731) are both available on the STV as well! And in news from the temporal realm of Deadlines, we are still accepting submissions for our Build-a-Sluagh contest! As a reminder: email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com with a sluagh character sheet and backstory, following the C20 character creation rules. (You have the option to spend up to 100 XP to make an advanced character.) Please include everything in the body of the email, else attach a DOC or PDF. We're hoping to pick a winner by the end of this week—get your skulkers in while the shadows are still squirming. your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) never felt that the song "Turn! Turn! Turn!" needed that many exclamation points in its title. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) enjoys nonstandard temporal adverbs like "betweenhand" and "hitherforth". And they all pretend they're orphans, and their memory's like a train— You can see it getting smaller as it pulls away And the things you can't remember tell the things you can't forget That history puts a saint in every dream... —Tom Waits, "Time" | |||
| 30 Oct 2023 | episode 65 — kithbook: redcaps | 01:01:23 | |
They eat what they want—when they want—who they want. And what more do you need to know? Quite a bit, actually, if our readthrough of Kithbook: Redcaps is any indication. This is maybe the first book where we had serious differences of opinion about its utility: Josh says it's the best kithbook, Pooka thinks it's not worth much more than the nutritional value of the paper it's printed on. (OK, maybe that's too harsh.) But nevertheless, there are some tasty morsels in here for all kinds of would-be redcap player: connections to the primal history of mankind, details about eating habits, the usual battery of Treasures, and the wonderful bogginess of the River Hags. Join us as we make our way through this antepenultimate kithbook; whether the text nourishes you or not, we hope at least that our discussion will. For your culinary pleasure, the book is available at: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/176?affiliate_id=3063731. And herewith the menu of social media courses filled with only the cuisine of good conversation:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) knows firsthand the bitter winds of the frozen North, and how they'd drive anyone to all-consuming hangriness. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) can't believe they ate the whole thing. Dis-moi ce que tu manges, je te dirai ce que tu es. [Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.] —Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin | |||
| 05 Nov 2023 | episode 66 — war in concordia | 01:14:09 | |
Just in time for Guy Fawkes Night (and a bit on the early side of our usual release day), we're looking at the breakdown of social order in fae realms... kiiiind of? Despite its title, we've uncovered in our reading that War in Concordia: The Shattered Dream is more about widespread political tensions, the occasional skirmish or violent incident, and a whole bunch of metaplot updates that, er, have all been retconned in the 20th Anniversary Edition. But! There is still plenty here to examine and appreciate, from the multifaceted accounts of then-current events to a gaggle of new and interesting NPCs. And then, there's plenty for which we wish they had done more, from the Kingdom of Apples overview (at last!) to Chapter 4's mass combat mathematical headaches. As we close in on the end of the game's original run, the chill of Autumn is in the air, but we hope the fires of revolution will warm you... The PDF of the book can be found at: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/333?affiliate_id=3063731. Our own spaces for commoner liberation are scattered around the interwebs at places like:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) keeps a cabinet full of crackers for all the elements, from water to bug to sleaze to rubidium. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) wonders how many signal-lights to hang in the church if the attackers come by BALLOON. You tell me of degrees of perfection to which human nature is capable of arriving, and I believe it, but at the same time lament that our admiration should arise from the scarcity of the instances. —Abigail Adams, in a letter to her husband | |||
| 13 Nov 2023 | episode 67 — kith-building workshop | ||
It's a time-honored tradition among Changeling groups to construct their own kiths, but the process has always been idiosyncratic. Doing justice to folklore and balanced game mechanics don't always go hand in hand. Luckily, the 20th Anniversary Edition has provided a basic template for creating them, so we're taking the opportunity to do a short kith-building workshop, wherein the nymphs finally get their due. (Yes, yes, Inanimae: the Secret Way tried to definitively re-cast them as Sessile Ones, but we defy that idea.) Join us as we scrape together the bits of precedent for the kith, and talk through the questions-and-answers process in C20 as applied to them. Perhaps it will give you some grist for the mill to create your own...! We mentioned two homebrew products by members of our community that informed the approach here. Check out Aaron Siddall and Andrew Goodman's Roots of Legend on the Storytellers' Vault here: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/354523?affiliate_id=3063731, and Charlie Cantrell's 5th edition hack for Changeling here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XCSfDfJUNFm6d9f0omHzQ-rt7U0kkR7b/view. As for our own presence in various places online, you might have some luck with the following platforms. It's worth mentioning that subscribers to our Patreon are getting a peek at some bonus content related to this episode today...
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) once slung syrup with the nymph grump keeper of a much-storied, well-loved sugar shack. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) hunts for faults in the game mechanics that will produce the MISSINGNO. kith. To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk. —Thomas Edison (like he would know...) | |||
| 21 Nov 2023 | episode 68 — book of lost houses | 01:43:22 | |
Sometimes a House isn't so much lost as misplaced, but sometimes you misplace four and a half of them. This was how the sidhe did back at the turn of the millennium, but good news! Those waywards are coming back through the gates in Book of Lost Houses: The Second Coming, the tome that gave us Houses Aesin, Beaumayn, Daireann, Arcadian Scathach, and Varich to round out the complement of noble branches to thirteen. (Because if there's one thing Changeling needed, it was more nobles.) Even though they all differ slightly from their updated versions in the 20th Anniversary edition, the history and background in BoLH is helpful for any player who wants to run a character from one of these five. This is the first and basically last place they appeared, so listen in as we read through for the choicest tidbits. If you'd like to snag the book for yourself, pick it up at https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/44?affiliate_id=3063731. And as mentioned in the episode, we snagged the errata, which you can get from us on the Discord! How do you reach the Discord, you ask, and perhaps other social media platforms you hadn't intended to find? WELL—
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) supports the expansion of Aesin industriousness into other occupations, like "numismatist" and "confiseur". Pooka G (any pronoun/they) prefers the Daireann meritocracy, where you get ahead by way of bear hugs and punches in equal measure. Все счастливые семьи похожи друг на друга, каждая несчастливая семья несчастлива по-своему. Vse schastlivyye sem'i pokhozhi drug na druga, kazhdaya neschastlivaya sem'ya neschastliva po-svoyemu. [Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.] —Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina | |||
| 27 Nov 2023 | episode 69 — shining host player’s guide with pete woodworth | 01:57:07 | |
We're returning to the world of Live-Action RolePlaying this week, as we flip through the second and final of the Mind's Eye Theatre books produced for Changeling. Author and developer Peter Woodworth returns to talk about the creation of the Shining Host Player's Guide. Even if you prefer throwing dice around the table to dressing up and cantripping through the woods, there's plenty in this volume that enriches the setting. Mannikins with stories, Shadow Court slice of life, secret society emblems, elaborate court politics... as we draw ever closer to the end of the 2nd edition line, it's nice to be reminded that there was quality content even in the jaws of Judgment. (It's also nice to be reminded of the community's passion for keeping the game alive.) The book is available for purchase at https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/1490?affiliate_id=3063731, and you can find/contact Pete at his website, Positively Woodworthian: https://peterwoodworth.com/! For our part, behold a mishmash of social media:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) leads a secret society of Canadian nockers whose emblem is a maple leaf soaked in engine grease. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) hasn't tried to wear prosthetic ears since the Spirit Gum Incident of 2008. The thing about performance, even if it’s only an illusion, is that it is a celebration of the fact that we do contain within ourselves infinite possibilities. —Daniel Day-Lewis | |||
| 03 Dec 2023 | episode 69.5 — dispatches from PAX unplugged | 00:32:51 | |
It's the weekend of PAX Unplugged, a three-day convention for all forms of non-digital gaming in Philadelphia, and Pooka got themself a media badge. So, in an effort to justify that, they went around doing on-the-spot quick interviews with a number of RPG creators whose work is Changeling-adjacent (mostly fairytale and mythology themed). Please forgive the sound quality; the interviews were conducted using a tiny microphone in a crowded and busy expo hall, and voices don't always travel well through N95 masks. Nevertheless, here's hoping these broaden your horizons, and if you're at PAX today, here are four booths you might want to check out... The interviews are presented in the order in which they were conducted, as are the information about the creators below:
And as usual, for CtP's own points of contact:
your hostPooka G (any pronoun/they) never met a fae-themed TTRPG they didn't like. Except for THAT one! | |||
| 28 Mar 2022 | episode 2 – the fae before changeling | 00:52:37 | |
In this episode, we discuss some of the conceptions of the fae in the World of Darkness before Changeling came out (and indeed, before it was even certain that it would). Behold some snippets of faerie lore from eons past, by which we mean the early 90s: ... From the 1st Edition Vampire Storyteller Handbook (1992): Older Cainites remember a time when Faeries ran free on this planet, going where they liked, doing whatever they would. Now Faeries are as rare as honest politicians (well, maybe not that rare). Those same Cainites who remember those long ago times speak of a great cataclysm which split our realm from Arcadia, the birthplace of the fey races. Some Faeries live here permanently, making their homes in out-of-the-way places where humans are unlikely to bother them. Others manage to sneak their way into our realm for their own purposes. Some of these get trapped here and quickly wither away and die. Some come to steal children to take back to Arcadia with them and some have been discovered living for years as humans. No Kindred claims to understand why Faeries come to steal children. The most popular theories have to do with the nature of Arcadia as a place of magic wholly lacking in reality. Some believe the Faeries need the children to provide an anchor of true creativity for their actions, for otherwise they would be caught in eternal loops of their own actions, unable to break old patterns. The few Kindred that have ventured into Arcadia have never returned. Most believe them to be deceased, while others think they have joined with the Unseelie court of Arcadia, doing battle with the noble Seelie. Some also believe the Tremere actively support the Unseelie, but then everyone believes the worst of that Clan. Faerie powers vary widely. Illusions and insight, entropy and energy, levity and levitation all seem to exist side by side. Even the results of drinking Faerie blood are not constant. Sometimes the Kindred will be filled with great power and other times the drinker will become lost in a land of hallucinations. Sometimes it acts as poison and other times as water. Faerie Kidnapper from the Storyteller's Handbook: Quote: "Hee hee hee. You mean you really don't know how you got here? Hee hee hee." Concept: The Faerie Kidnapper has come to our reality in hopes of capturing the characters. Whether he needs them as warriors in a great battle, prizes in a scavenger hunt or attractions at a new zoo, he will hunt them and his other prey down and bring them back to Arcadia with him. An expert at illusion and deception, the Faerie Kidnapper will bring his targets back with him by hook or by crook. He will use promises, lies, mind control or brute force to accomplish his goals. He has specific requirements regarding anyone he will bring back to Arcadia (they must be bound, willing, laughing or whatever), but once they meet the requirement they will find themselves in a new realm. Roleplaying Hints: Your type of logic is quite foreign to anyone you are likely to meet on this plane, just as theirs is likely to be alien to you. Laugh at totally inappropriate events, burst into tears for no apparent reasons and completely befuddle your targets. Nature: Deviant Demeanor: Jester Physical: Strength 3, Dexterity 5, Stamina 4 Social: Charisma 2, Manipulation 5, Appearance 4 Mental: Perception 3, Intelligence 2, Wits 4 Talents: Acting 4, Alertness 3, Brawl 4, Dodge 5, Subterfuge 3 Skills: Melee 3, Music 5, Security 3, Stealth 5 Knowledges: Linguistics 2, Occult 4, Faerie Lore 4 Disciplines: Auspex 4, Celerity 2, Chimerstry 5, Obfuscate 3, Presence 2, Protean 5 Virtues: Conscience 0, Self-Control 0, Courage 2 Humanity: 0 Willpower: 9 ... ... A few useful bits for Kindred from the Vampire Player's Guide 2nd edition (early 1993): Faerie Affinity: (2 pt Merit) Your presence does not frighten faeries; indeed, it attracts them, and you are naturally attuned to their ways. You are able, unlike most Kindred, to enter Arcadia, the mystical kingdom of the faeries, provided you find an entrance. Faerie Lore You possess information pertaining to the Seelie and Unseelie faeries, and know something of their great kingdom: Arcadia. Because Kindred are unable to travel to this realm, most of your knowledge is hearsay, and thus difficult to verify. * Novice: Your knowledge is largely speculation and hearsay. * * Practiced: You know some relevant facts. * * * Competent: You possess a general knowledge of their ways. * * * * Expert: You possess expansive knowledge. * * * * * Master: You think you know the secrets of these creatures. Possessed by: Faeries, Lupines, Occultists, Vampires, Magi, Witch-Hunters Specialties: Enchanting Music, Faerie Food, Somniare, Atlantium, Antrum, Caelum, Barathrum, Tartarus Spirit Thaumaturgy * * Spirit Eyes ("The Sight"): This power is very similar to Aura Perception, but the character perceives spirits instead of auras. He sees them in the forms they take: i.e. fox spirits, faerie plant spirits, etc. This power enables the Thaumaturgist to see ghosts. System: The vampire must roll Perception + Occult (difficulty of the target's Willpower). The more successes he scores, the more information is revealed. The character may speak with the spirits once he sees them. ... The footnote given at the end of the book for this passage states, "Faerie Lore dictates that the Arcadians are "too good for Hell, not good enough for Heaven." This may be Caine's way of expressing this middle state. Kindred who discover the Fey may do well to listen to their Father's words in this matter. Of all the fragments of the Chronicle of Secrets, it was this fragment that I found to be the most elusive, perhaps because it carries a good measure of truth about the Sidhe." ... The original Clanbook: Malkavian (spring 1993) has the following power: Visit Faerieland (Level Seven Obfuscate Discipline) The Malkavian can utterly disappear from the area and appear in Faerieland. From Faerieland, she can go anywhere on Earth she wishes to go. But, first, she has to pass the Faerie Keepers, who dislike capricious use of their land. They question the Malkavian about her purpose, and if they don't like her story, they push her back into the world she left, near the time she left it. The keepers are willing to listen to bargains, especially if the Malkavian will Prank the entity of the Keepers' choice. (who knew it was so easy for them to get there?) ... ... ... There are more references scattered throughout the early books of these lines, but we discuss these at length in the episode. Let us know if you find some other choice, pre-summer 1995 bits! (Note: all material here is (c) by White Wolf, and is only reproduced for discussion under the terms of Fair Use. Also, all of it is astonishingly out of date and not really useful for your game at this point.) ... Your HostsJosh Hillerup recently petitioned the Canadian government to adopt the Tim Horton's maple-glazed boston cream doughnut as the official door snack for all state functions. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) can do a yoga headstand but doesn't really enjoy it. ... "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." —Eleanor Roosevelt (psst! email us at podcast@changelingthepodcast.com if you want) | |||
| 04 Dec 2023 | episode 70 — kithbook: eshu | 01:12:06 | |
Wanderers and storytellers, tricksters and rapscallions... we're diving this week into Kithbook: Eshu and all that it has to teach about this most wonderfully wayward of Kithain. This was the last full-length Changeling: the Dreaming supplement for something like fifteen years, and as presumed final entries go, it was an intriguing one. (The last page of the original print edition, though, with the ad for a book that would never materialize... that was kind of heartbreaking.) We discuss levels of appropriateness for incorporating Yorùbá religion as this book does, get into the weeds about Birthrights, and ask important questions, such as "Talecraft: why?" It's a bittersweet sunset to 2nd Edition, all things told. And what could be more Changeling than that? Wend your way over to https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/174?affiliate_id=3063731 if you'd like to purchase the PDF. And why stop there? Let your path continue to any of the following places to find out more about the show and connect with us:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) travels by a compass that points in nonexistent directions, like "south–north-up" and "otherwards". Pooka G (any pronoun/they) will put a girdle round about the Earth in forty minutes. 千里之行始於足下。 Qiān lǐ zhī xíng shǐ yú zú xià. [A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.] —Laozi, loosely translated | |||
| 11 Dec 2023 | episode 71 — changeling: the celtic cycle | 00:55:22 | |
And now for something rather different... we're stepping out of the Changeling canon and into the wonderful world of late 90s/early 00s homebrew with Changeling: the Celtic Cycle. Written by three World of Darkness authors, CtCC radically re-imagines the world of Changeling: no Glamour and Banality, no Dreamers to cultivate, no Dreaming separate from the Umbra. Instead, the fae in this version of the game are directly inspired by Celtic mythology and epic. The supplement was released in three installments as part of a zine, in all its early-days-of-desktop-publishing glory, and is as much an interesting historical artifact for that context as for its contents. But the authors also went on to be involved in Book of Lost of Houses, Dark Ages: Fae, and Changeling: the Lost, with all of which we see a few subtle connections... The text is findable online, but we'll also have it available in our Discord (link below!). Some other links include:
As always, our own passel of social media links:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) went looking for Changeling: the Danish Cycle, but only found a kith that could shapechange into flaky pastries. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) favors the Branch of Rhiannon, for which one sympathy is to wear a full-on Stevie Nicks ensemble. High on the mountain stands a boat But are they gods or real folk? We can't see the fire but we smell the smoke Who'll take the plough? Who'll be the yoke? –Horslips, "Trouble with a Capital T" | |||
| 14 Dec 2023 | episode 71.5 — trolle, träumer, tiefe wälder | 00:29:43 | |
Another trip across the ocean...! Pooka put their linguistic skills to use in order to skim/translate (read: stumble through with a dictionary in one hand and a fervent prayer to the word-gods in the other) the long-lost book Trolle, Träumer, Tiefe Wälder. This German-only supplement was released near the end of 2nd Edition, and describes Germany from a Kithain perspective. (It's also the original source for the Wichtel and Wolpertinger kiths from C20, although they are rather different here...) The book is basically impossible to find for fewer than several hundred dollars at this point, so this minisode is an attempt to summarize the text and provide some information for the curious. Consider this a bonus listen before we get to—deep breath—the end of the original line... If you've got some feedback, in German or otherwise, drop us a line:
your hostPooka G (any pronoun/they) insists that there are very few problems of the body or soul that can't be solved with a bowl of Kürbissuppe. Denn das Schöne ist nichts als des Schrecklichen Anfang, den wir noch grade ertragen, und wir bewundern es so, weil es gelassen verschmäht, uns zu zerstören. [For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror, which we still are just able to endure, and we are so awed because it serenely disdains to annihilate us.] —Rainer Maria Rilke, first Duino Elegy (tr. Stephen Mitchell) | |||
| 18 Dec 2023 | episode 72 — time of judgment | 01:05:56 | |
It's strange to go back to the end of an era, but that's the feel of things this week as we pick up Time of Judgment, finale to the old World of Darkness. After the "Big Three" each got their own book of the end times, the remaining (lower-selling) games got one chapter each in this catchall supplement. And those were the last pages of Changeling for over a decade—so it's seems fitting to cover this as our last full episode of the season. There's some Storytelling guidance and five scenarios (about which we have thoughts), and a note of bittersweetness about it all. How else could it have (for then) ended? The book is available to add to your collection at https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/699?affiliate_id=3063731, and you'll get the chapters on Demon, Hunter, Kindred of the East, and Mummy to boot! We pointed to Harbingers of Winter as well, for incorporating the Tithed Ones but also other big baddies of Changeling. That one is at https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/388455?affiliate_id=3063731, and you can listen to our interview with Charlie here: https://changelingthepodcast.com/podcast/episode-12-harbingers-of-winter-with-charlie-cantrell/. Finally, if you're into Mage and want to hear about that game's finale book Ascension, Mage: the Podcast has an informative episode on just that very topic: https://magethepodcast.com/tomes-of-magick-ascension/. Ask ye and the digisphere shall provide. As for ourselves...!
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) favors the apocalypse scenario where the nockers just try turning the Dreaming off and then on again. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) immanentized the eschaton and all they got was this lousy T-shirt. That's how it goes, you think you're on top of the world, and suddenly they spring Armageddon on you. —Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, Good Omens | |||
| 21 Dec 2023 | episode 72.5 — state of the podcast, winterregnum 23-24 | 00:13:22 | |
...and that's a wrap! For this year, at least; we intend to be back in a couple of months, after taking our usual winter constitutional. A happy solstice be upon you, and thanks again to everyone for sticking with us through the second half of the Season. We hope you'll help us make Season 3 one to remember as well. As reminded in the episode, we are putting together a passel of homebrew books over the course of 2024, for release on a monthly basis in 2025, in celebration of Changeling's 30th Anniversary. To that end, we are still open to knowledgeable people joining the crew for this project! Please see our public Patreon post at https://www.patreon.com/posts/changeling-30th-92652480 for more information. You're welcome to toss your name into the hat to help with any of the books listed, or to send us a pitch for another of your own. If you've been curious about getting involved in independently-created content for Changeling (or other TTRPGs), maybe this is the time? For more news and updates, click your way to any of our usual haunts, where we'd be happy to welcome you in:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) is waiting out the Winterregnum in a fort made of marshmallows. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) will sacrifice whatever to whomever for a proper snow day this year. "Never say goodbye, because goodbye means going away, and going away means forgetting." —J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan | |||
| 26 Feb 2024 | episode 73 — hunter, mummy, demon | 01:12:54 | |
We're baaaack...! It's the start of Season Three here at the Podcast, and we're excited to once again be bringing you some weekly-ish discourse on Changeling: the Dreaming. As we proceed chronologically through the game's history, we're now in that wilderness between the end of 2nd edition and the launch of the 20th Anniversary edition. But that doesn't mean there's nothing to say about Changeling and it's place in the World of Darkness. We're talking today about Hunter: the Reckoning, Mummy: the Resurrection, and Demon: the Fallen, three WoD games that were concurrent with the sunset and slumber of the Dreaming. There's limited information with which to suss out how these three splats view and interact with the fae, but we never said we didn't like a challenge. If you're interested in purchasing any of the corebooks for those lines:
In the realm of shameless promotion, there's also the Bog Bodies book for Mummy "20th" that Pooka created here: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/395251?affiliate_id=3063731, and if you'd like to hear Mage: the Podcast's dive into the 1st and 2nd edition Mummy books, check out https://magethepodcast.com/tomes-of-magick-a-world-of-darkness-mummy/ and https://magethepodcast.com/tomes-of-magick-mummy-second-edition/ respectively and respectfully. And of course, you can contact us through the following channels for all of your questions and musings on dank monstrosities and those who pursue them:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) suggests that sysops are prime candidates for Imbuing. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) swoons for the linguistically superb Hekau of Nomenclature. "If the apocalypse comes— beep me." —Buffy Summers | |||
| 04 Mar 2024 | episode 74 — fae and morality | 01:00:51 | |
Another week, another theme episode...! This time around, we're considering the role of morality in Changeling: the Dreaming, and the World of Darkness at large. Folklorically, the fae have always tended to dance to their own tune (and often drag hapless mortals along with them) when it comes to questions of right and wrong, good and evil, awesome and dastardly. And yet the changelings are half-human, caught between the memories of their inner nature and the modern values with which they were raised. We talk about this tension and how it is explored—or not explored—within the setting and mechanics, as well as some options for Storytellers and players to do so. It's just kind of a wide-ranging discussion this episode, which easily spawns all kinds of follow-ups that we didn't have recording time to fully pursue. So if you have Thoughts and Feelings about this aspect of the game, reach out and tell us about it, whydontcha:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) received a Title for wiping the floor with the competition during the Spelling Bee of Honor. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) went into hiding for nine counts of disorderly knowledge at the Geography Bee of Sleaze. "Everything's got a moral if only you can find it." —The Duchess in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland | |||
| 07 Mar 2024 | episode 74.5 — lost texts: book of glamour and keys to the kingdom | 00:17:22 | |
Behold the minisode! Today we're diving into the Library of What Could Have Been, as we talk about two books that we never actually got for Changeling: Book of Glamour and Keys to the Kingdom. Long-promised, partly written, and much desired, the complete guide to fae magic and the globetrotting metaplot adventures lingered in the dreams of 2e players even after the old World of Darkness had been detonated. Presumably some of the material made it into the 20th anniversary edition; the signs remain unclear. Nevertheless, we managed to scrape together some tidbits and information to talk about, so for those of you who didn't live through the slowly suffocated hopes of these books, we're here to give you the story. (And yes, Kithbook: Boggans was the third of the cancelled triad, but at least we got an unofficial, and much later an official, version of it. To be addressed in future episodes!) As always, share your own thoughts via:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) dreams bittersweetly about the lost Art of Érablesse, the maple-themed magic of Canadian changelings. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) found a piece of the Triumph Casque's Key in a Dumpster behind the local Denny's. "It’s the hope that’s important. Big part of belief, hope. Give people jam today and they’ll just sit and eat it. Jam tomorrow, now—that’ll keep them going forever." —Terry Pratchett, Hogfather | |||
| 12 Mar 2024 | episode 75 — dark ages: fae | 01:44:32 | |
And now for something completely different...! We're diving into one of the last books for the old World of Darkness this week—and we do mean OLD, for the book in question is Dark Ages: Fae. Technically a spin-off of Dark Ages: Vampire, and one of the standalone corebooks in the Dark Ages line, this is both the only full Revised book and historical setting that we got for Changeling: the Dreaming. Whether it's actually the latter is debatable, and we will indeed be keeping its suitability in mind as we flip through the pages. But there are also some hints of bridging the gap between the original run of the game and what came after, notably Changeling: the Lost and C20. We'll be talking Weavings and Echoes, Oaths and Origins, Firstborn and Fading Realms... whether it works well or not, there's plenty of material here to consider. There's a whole passel of links for things mentioned in the show this week:
And then our usual social media whatnots:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) prefers the term "Slightly Overcast Ages". Pooka G (any pronoun/they) can't say the word "Hohenzollern" without breaking into giggles. Sumer is icumen in Lhude sing cuccu! Groweþ sed and bloweþ med and springþ þe wde nu— Sing cuccu! —Traditional round | |||
| 14 Mar 2024 | episode 75.5 — darkening sky | 00:10:54 | |
We're informed in Dark Ages: Fae that "the Oath-Truce falls with the darkening sky"... but it took another decade for the creators of the line to fulfill that promise. In this solo minisode, Pooka talks a bit about the eponymous supplement, Darkening Sky, released at last in 2014. This coda to the Revised line provides five stories centered around the eclipse of 1230 AD, whereby we get the only canon material for the Fae outside of the corebook. It's a quaint little adventure that draws on a few disparate threads, but also attempts to tie the Dark Ages setting more directly to Changeling: the Dreaming, with... a measure of success? Anyway, it's not very much content, and we're not in the business of spoiling adventures people might want to run—especially since this is the meatier of two total that the line received—so this is just a minisode for your midweek listening pleasure. For your purchasing pleasure, here's the link to the book on the Storytellers' Vault: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/125594?affiliate_id=3063731 And from there, do darken (or better yet, brighten!) our own skies with your presence at:
your hostPooka G (any pronoun/they) would like to encourage Tam Lin to keep his fiddle in its case for once, when a young mortal Janet wanders by. The reappearance of the light is the same as the survival of the soul. —Victor Hugo | |||
| 18 Mar 2024 | episode 76 — neurodiversity and ableism | 00:49:42 | |
We're tackling a slightly heavy subject today, talking about neurodiversity and ableism in the context of Changeling: the Dreaming. There are numerous ways in which these arise allegorically and literally in the pages of the game. We cover a few broad topics, but really we're just scratching the surface here, framing our interpretations of the themes with our particular perspectives and experiences. Regardless of what your own may be, we hope this episode encourages you to pause and think, and maybe do some exploring outside the realm of the game itself. (And if it's not your cup of tea, we won't be offended if you skip—but we look forward to seeing you next time!) To get in touch with us:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) reserves Unleashings for dealing swiftly with the prejudiced and ignorant. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) swoons into phonological pleasure from the double dactylic rhythm of the word "neurodiversity". Difference is that raw and powerful connection from which our personal power is forged. —Audre Lorde | |||
| 25 Mar 2024 | episode 77 — old kithbook: boggans | 00:59:31 | |
As we alluded to in our minisode about the unreleased Book of Glamour and Keys to the Kingdom, there was one more title done dirty by the unceremonious end of Changeling's 2nd edition. The long-lamented Kithbook: Boggans was on the putative release schedule (and available for pre-order) until long after the line's conclusion. When it became clear that the book would not be materializing, [cue dramatic music] an intrepid band of netizens and boggan devotees, led by Thad Papke, took it upon themselves to assemble their own Kithbook. And this kithbook would be a beacon unto the community! For it would shine a light on the kith in all their misunderstood glory, completing the cycle and inspiring players and STs alike to rise up and say, our game! our kithbook! our Concordia! (OK, maybe the last part didn't quite happen like that.) Nevertheless, it's a solid piece of text from an era when the culture of homebrew was a lot more scattered (a historical context we discuss in this episode). Eventually, the boggans did get their own official kithbook—to be covered in a future episode—but for over a decade, this was what was on offer, setting an impressive bar for future fan efforts. Have a listen to our discussion at: You can also craft us a message via:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) proudly owns the boggan Treasure shoebox that untangles all the random wires and cables you store within it. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) absconded with the boggan Treasure toaster oven that perfectly reheats any kind of leftovers. Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere. —Elrond, of Frodo, in J.R.R. Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring | |||
| 01 Apr 2024 | episode 78 — changeling: the lost discussion | 01:05:59 | |
Don't worry, we're not totally casting off our roots quite yet. While Changeling: the Dreaming was in deep freeze, the mantle of "modern personal horror fae game" was taken up by Changeling: the Lost, a rather different entry in the (new) World/Chronicles of Darkness. At a glance, Lost shares a lot of terms and concepts with Dreaming, but digging into it, the game diverges significantly from its predecessor. This doesn't mean it's a bad game! We're giving it a fair shake this week and talking generally about some of its setting, the unique position it carves out among the lines, and how we feel it relates to Dreaming—especially since this was maybe the primary replacement we had to work with until C20. Navigate the Hedge to leave us some goblin fruit at:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) has a Contract that runs maple syrup in the veins of enemies. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) prefers goblin viennoiseries. And in his brain, Which is as dry as the remainder biscuit After a voyage, he hath strange places cramm'd With observation, the which he vents In mangled forms. —William Shakespeare, As You Like It, II.7 | |||
| 08 Apr 2024 | episode 79 — exalted: the fair folk | 01:51:46 | |
When we covered Dark Ages: Fae, we mentioned that it was the one canonical historical setting kind of for Changeling. That's not entirely true, because in the earliest days of the Exalted line, its world was lightly framed as the "prehistory" of the World of Darkness. While that aspect fell out of the setting pretty quickly, the first edition still echoes many of the modern World of Darkness games, recycling terms and ideas in novel ways. The counterpart to Changeling is Exalted: the Fair Folk, wherein we learn about the mysterious patterns of chaos pretending to be people that live in the Wyld outside the borders of Creation. That's close enough for our liking—join us as we read through this chomker of a tome and see what we can extract to inform a Changeling: the Dreaming game experience. Maybe what we find will be unexpected...! Or, you know, it might not. We can neither claim nor dismiss any kind of surprise. If you've a hankering for old-school Exalted fatsplat corebooks, you can snag this one at https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/1602?affiliate_id=3063731 for your collection. Otherwise, our own Middlemarch Demesnes are as follows:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) practices Unexpected Magical Protagonist Style, the martial art that recounts a mass market paperback fantasy main character arc. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) searches for a Charm that reshapes those pesky human dreams and emotions into tasty baklava. HISTORY, n. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers, mostly knaves, and soldiers, mostly fools. —Ambrose Bierce, The Cynic's Word Book | |||
| 15 Apr 2024 | episode 80 — c20 writer/dev roundtable | 01:15:00 | |
As much as we enjoy flipping through pages and making sweeping claims about Changeling, we have never (alas) been directly involved in the production of the official game line. So for this roundtable, we invited some guests with insider knowledge: four of the writers and developers involved with the 20th Anniversary Edition. We obviously couldn't pull the curtain back too far, but these Bears With Balloons told anecdotes, shared insights, and gave us an idea of what it's like to work on a game line like this. Much laughter ensued, and we hope you'll enjoy listening as much we enjoyed chit-chatting. We've got a whole smörgåsbord of links this time, to point you towards everyone's various web presences and projects:
And for our own, should you wish to get in touch with us...
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) should have realized that attending a Round Table would be followed by a quest for the Cup of Dreams. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) would have preferred an Oblong Dolmen, but you work with what you've got. You get ideas from daydreaming. You get ideas from being bored. You get ideas all the time. The only difference between writers and other people is we notice when we're doing it. —Neil Gaiman | |||
| 22 Apr 2024 | episode 81 — anthology of dreams & cup of dreams | 01:00:04 | |
We've spoken before about what novels and short stories bring to the World of Darkness. At best, they can provide a naturalistic feel for a lived-in world that players and Storytellers can explore; at worst, they confuse the reader and muddle the rules of the setting. There aren't nearly as many items in the data set as for other World of Darkness games (looking at you, Vampire, with your multiple clan novel series), but we received two for the 20th Anniversary Edition that bookended the line. C20 Anthology of Dreams is a collection of ten short stories that appeared before the corebook, and Immortal Eyes 4: Cup of Dreams is the fourth novel in the Immortal Eyes saga, as well as the final text released for the edition. It may be a little weird for us to combine (technically) the first and last books in the C20 run, but we decided that tackling the role of fiction like this all at once made the most sense. So we came, we read, we opined, and herein our thoughts on what these two books add to the line. Our previous episode on the Immortal Eyes trilogy is at https://changelingthepodcast.com/podcast/episode-33-the-immortal-eyes-novels/, if you'd like to do a comparative listen. You can also buy these two books at https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/209390?affiliate_id=3063731 and https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/292748?affiliate_id=3063731 for a pittance! We'd also like to highlight the Changeling Cookbook project mentioned in the intro to this episode. This is a project for our Changeling 30 initiative, to be launched next year: a dozen books released over the course of 2025, in collaboration with members of the CtP community. For this one in particular, we welcome tasty recipe submissions from our audience, which you can send in at https://forms.gle/PJspJTuMsuj4tjmr7. More information about the particulars can be found on that form; we hope you'll consider sending something in! The usual haunts for otherwise contacting us:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) drank from the Cup of Dreams and only got this lousy T-shirt. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) used the Anthology's pages to press flower chimera, and now they're pressing back. "Go and tell your master that we have been charged by God with a sacred quest. If he will give us food and shelter for the night, he can join us in our quest for the Holy Grail. "Well, I'll ask him, but I don't think he will be very keen. He's already got one, you see." —King Arthur and the French soldier in Monty Python and the Holy Grail | |||
| 29 Apr 2024 | episode 81.5 — PAX unplugged roundtable | 01:02:12 | |
Behold, the bonus episode! Back in December, Pooka had a chit-chat at PAX Unplugged with Terry of Mage: the Podcast and Mike of Darker Days Radio. This was released on Mage: the Podcast a couple weeks ago, but we're cross-posting it here as some random content to tide you over until everything is ready for the C20 corebook dive in a couple days. It's just a meandering conversation about TTRPGs at conventions, the state of the hobby, and our random thoughts while sitting at a table in a room that (partway through) we were informed we really weren't supposed to be in. We're rebels like that. Go check out:
And the usual get-in-touch-with-us biz:
your hostPooka G (any pronoun/they) tried the Dallas RPG, and it was astonishingly good, but then it turned out it was all a dream. Consider that everything is opinion, and opinion is in thy power. —Marcus Aurelius | |||
| 01 May 2024 | episode 82 — changeling 20: walkthrough | 02:00:00 | |
Well, here we are at last...! After dozens of episodes covering the earlier days of the line, we are beginning our read of Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition, the corebook proper. This first in a trilogy of episodes will be a walkthrough of the book, giving some concise information and commentary about each chapter. It's primarily geared towards new players, but if you are a veteran at this point, we hope you'll still enjoy the refresher. Next up are an episode about the new features of this, and then some of the changes (and our feelings on them). We reference a whole bunch of past installments in this recording, including:
And if you want to reach out to weigh in on what you think we should be doing next:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) only needs eight more signatures for the petition to move the border of the Kingdom of Northern Ice. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) keeps accepting tokens of enchantment, and would you believe it, they're all caramel shortbread. The White Rabbit put on his spectacles. 'Where shall I begin, please your Majesty?' he asked. 'Begin at the beginning,' the King said gravely, 'and go on till you come to the end: then stop.' —Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland | |||
| 06 May 2024 | episode 83 — changeling 20: the new stuff | 00:42:37 | |
Whew. Doing a walkthrough of the corebook was kind of a marathon, but treating it as a text in isolation is only part of the story. In this (thankfully shorter, because we recorded it the same day as the first) installment, we're drawing on our grump knowledge of the previous editions to talk about the new material in this one. There's a lot that we could have covered in that description, but we're sticking with some of the big items overall: the kith creation system, Revelry, new Thallain. Everything that builds on previous editions' systems will be covered in the third and final episode of this set, on the changes in the edition. For now, these are just some ruminations and opinions on the unexpected elements that stand out to us. Some links to bits that we mentioned in this go-through include:
And if you want to reach out to weigh in on what you think we should be doing next:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) wanted edible Treasure creation rules to roll up some nocker-crafted cheese puffs. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) demands mechanics for why so many changelings incarnate into human hosts with names nearly the same as their fae ones. Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void, but out of chaos. —Mary Shelley, Frankenstein | |||
| 13 May 2024 | episode 84 — changeling 20: the changes | 01:22:56 | |
And so we come to the third part of this trilogy, wherein we talk about changes to this edition. There are hundreds of little tweaks and adjustments to be found in the Changeling 20th Anniversary corebook, but we're focusing on a dozen of the most significant that stand out to us. (Slight spoiler: there's another big one that we realized after the fact we didn't talk about it... but luckily, it will apply in an upcoming episode as well.) We're looking at retconned metaplot, restructured magic systems, alternative ways of thinking about different groups of fae, and more. It's not that these three episodes have been the most comprehensive look possible at this edition and what it represents—it's just the most comprehensive we could bring ourselves to get through. If you need the first two episodes in the series, or to purchase the corebook itself:
Some other bits that found passing or heavy mention in this episode include:
Lastly, the places you can bother us gently and politely:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) would have liked to see the Concordia map re-drawn with lines that made sense. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) could have gotten on board with the pages of each chapter having their own musky aroma. And so the days float through my eyes But still the days seem the same And these children that you spit on As they try to change their worlds Are immune to your consultations They're quite aware of what they're goin' through. —David Bowie, "Changes" | |||
| 20 May 2024 | episode 85 — yours to keep and ready-made characters | 01:05:07 | |
Now that we're through the corebook for C20, other supplements seem like small (but no less nourishing) potatoes. This time around is a double feature: we're flipping through Yours to Keep, the jumpstart and intro adventure for the edition, and Ready-Made Characters, a set of 13 write-ups (one for each core kith) and sample motleys to use in your game. Joining us is author of the first book, Christine Beard!, who talks about some of the process for reading, running, and writing jumpstart modules like this one. The two supplements feature some solid material to get you into the game beyond the corebook proper, so we encourage you to have a listen and hear what's what...! Links and things:
And our panoply of social media as per usual:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) runs games with ready-mades, but they are not Changeling characters; they are Duchamp sculptures. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) assumes that a horror RPG jump-start would be called a jump-scare, yes? End, begin, all the same. Big change. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. —Aughra in The Dark Crystal | |||
| 27 May 2024 | episode 86 — gimme shelter with bram clark | 01:26:17 | |
Alternate and/or historical settings for Changeling is always something that piques our interest. So we were keen to read the Gimme Shelter Player's Guide supplement (released April 2) that presents the fae of Swinging Sixties London. We're joined this week by the book's author, Bram Clark, who talks with us about his take on this slice of pre-Resurgence life. Clocking in at over 300 pages, the Guide is one of the longest homebrews on the entire Storytellers' Vault. Our conversation goes through the development, art, design... Bram's associated Player's Kit presaged something intriguing, but this was beyond what we expected. Hopefully this episode will give you some ideas about how to use it at your table! Many a link below!
And the links for our own stuff:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) asks that you not bend, spike, fold or mutilate. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) zhooshes their riah before a bona cackle with the omi-palones, and nanti scharda. If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliché that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal. —John Lennon | |||
| 03 Jun 2024 | episode 87 — book of freeholds | 01:01:11 | |
The freehold is the center of changeling life, providing safety, community, and a connection to the Dreaming for wayward Kithain. But what makes each of them unique? We get some extensive systems and suggestions to answer this question in Book of Freeholds, a C20 supplement that greatly expands previous editions' take on building them. It's a short but dense book, and in this episode, we scour it for the double handful of drossy tidbits that players and STs alike will find useful. You can purchase the book at: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/239407?affiliate_id=3063731 And follow the trod to find us at:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) is well known hither and yon for keeping a tidy, ship-shape thorpe. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) tried to start a freehold, but bought too many decorative soaps and accidentally made a B&B instead. My house— 't's out of the ordinary! That's right— Don't wanna hurt nobody...! —Talking Heads, "Burning Down the House"
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| 10 Jun 2024 | episode 88 — kithbook: boggans | 01:09:25 | |
Yes, we already did an episode on those long-suffering boggans, but don't you think they deserve another? Having dealt with the fanmade "old" Kithbook: Boggans previously (check out https://changelingthepodcast.com/podcast/episode-77-old-kithbook-boggans/), we are now moving on to the new Kithbook: Boggans, released as a Kickstarter goal for C20. In the spirit of the older editions' kithbooks, the text deals with boggan history and society, some famous examples of their kith, and tidbits of lore for the discerning crafty-fae. This rounds out at last the full set of kithbooks from the original commoners (because the sidhe had plenty of their own books already), and also our slate of Lost in the Library episodes before our summer hiatus...! So we hope this will tide you over for book content, for the time being. You can purchase the book at: https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/242685?affiliate_id=3063731 Feel free to stop by our other spaces online, as long as you wipe your feet first:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) judged the Craftlympics this year and doesn't regret giving a "3" to that one wilder; they know who they are. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) wonders if the Wife of Bath would be on Tinder. It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to. —Bilbo Baggins in J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings | |||
| 20 Jun 2024 | episode 88.2 — state of the podcast, midseason 3 | 00:10:54 | |
And so we come once again to a bit of downtime, as we wind up the first half of Season 3. It's just another minisode on the eve of the solstice, to let you know where things stand and what we've been up to, plus some of our plans when we return in six weeks, give or take. We're getting our schedule of recordings together and making plans for getting through some books we want to read, and thinking ahead to our Changeling 30th Anniversary celebration next year... but mostly we're looking forward to a bit of rest and relaxation. Thanks for your continued support, and keep an eye out for our return! In the meantime, stay up to date with our summery goings-on at:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) will be spending the break perfecting that flan recipe. Flan for everyone! Flan for ever. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) is typing this from the other side of the planet, due to Secret Piskey Tendencies. Vacation is what you take when you can't take what you've been taking any longer. —The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz | |||
| 17 Jun 2024 | episode 88.1 — storyteller’s screens | 00:08:48 | |
We were going to just release this bit of content as Patreon content because it's our shortest yet, but by popular demand, here it is as a minisode...! For all of you Storytellers who feel the need to hide yourselves away from your players, or maybe just shield your dice from revealing too much, the Storyteller's screen is a time-honored tool of the trade. Changeling has had three over the years, one for each edition: some flimsy cardboard, some slightly sturdier cardboard, and most recently for C20, a glossy masterpiece of solidity. For the next eight and a half minutes, we give some comparative notes on what one finds there. May it be helpful to anyone in the market for a physical piece of obfuscation! Ourselves, we hide behind the following:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) has a screen that just keeps unfolding until it fully encloses the Storyteller in an geodesic cardboard fort. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) prefers to Storytell from a raised dais, concealing dice rolls and notes from the plebs with lights and smoke. I have, as it were, my own sun and moon and stars, and a little world all to myself. —Henry David Thoreau, Walden | |||
| 15 Jul 2024 | episode 88.3 — the rest of 90s changeling fiction | 00:29:10 | |
A surprise minisode, just in time for Highsummer week! We've talked about the Immortal Eyes novels, we've talked about the Anthology of Dreams, and we've even mentioned Pomegranates Full & Fine... but what about the rest of the Changeling fiction from the 90s? This includes The Splendour Falls, a short story collection released in tandem with 1st edition; "Playing with Fire", part of the Essential World of Darkness omnibus; and "The Muse", a story in the following Quintessential World of Darkness omnibus. Pooka managed to get their hands on physical copies of each—since they are not available in PDF form, and long out-of-print—to read and expound upon their contents. It's a bit of filler until we get into the second half of Season 3 (soon!), but hopefully will whet your appetite for more. For our previous episodes on TTRPG tie-in fiction and its relevance to the game, check out:
Per the announcement at the start of the episode, please also check out friend of the show Fetch's new game, The Necromancer, at: https://ameliafetch.itch.io/the-necromancer! This was written for the QUEER WRATH game writing jam (https://itch.io/jam/queerwrath) and has been simultaneously submitted to the Trans FURY jam (https://itch.io/jam/trans-fury-jam). And while we are lazing our way through the days of summer, you can find us as always at:
your hostPooka G (any pronoun/they) believes that life is indeed stranger than fiction, but pretty mundane when compared to sea shanty. I am always at a loss to know how much to believe of my own stories. —Washington Irving, "To the Reader" | |||
| 19 Aug 2024 | episode 88.4 — storycomic interview | 00:33:29 | |
One more minisode for the summer! We'll be back to our usual schedule of full episodes in September, but we thought we'd share a cross-production that we participated in a couple weeks ago. Barney Smith from Storycomic reached out to do an interview with us about Changeling: the Dreaming, our podcast, and associated thoughts. So we have shamelessly appropriated the audio from that interview and are sharing it here, which we hope will tide you over for a bit longer... Over at Barney's site, there are a dizzying number (nearly 400! how does one even) of chats with authors of all stripes. Go have a scroll through and find a few that interest you, why don'tcha?
And as usual, if you'd like to get in touch with us, our socials are below:
your hostsJosh Hillerup (any pronoun) has been spotted at anywhere that's anywhere in the best parts of Ottawa. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) has scuttled away from detection behind the finest trash cans in Philadelphia. Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence. —O. Henry | |||