Plot Points (Ben Riggs)

RPG historian Ben Riggs and RPG academic Dr. Scott Bruner continue their long chew on the Sage section of the 1st editin AD&D DMG!

Join us over on Discord! It's booming over there! Here's a link!

We continue our unrelenting and merciless recitation of the 1st edition Dungeon Master's Guide. This week! Gem cutters and heavy cavalry! Oh my!

Join us on Discord! It’s booming over there! (https://discord.gg/95nH7AdnyA)

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

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

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

Image by Timothy Bradstreet, courtesy White Wolf & Modiphius.

Emily Care Boss is the brilliant designer of games like The Romance Trilogy, and Bubblegumshoe. With Ben Riggs, she chews over game theory, her career, and how Ars Magica may have directly inspired some of the most important indie designers of the 21st century. Then, in a brief chat, Ben talks to Wizards of the Coast founder and Gen Con owner Peter Adkison about what quality may have led to his tremendously successful career in games. 

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

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

 Image courtesy Evil Hat Productions.

Peek behind the curtain at the stores and supply chains that make the RPG industry run with Micheal Parker of ACD Distribution. How did the industry weather the '08 recession? How does the RPG industry look on the sales side? Find out!

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

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

Image courtesy Monte Cook Games. 

These bards go to eleven!

Gamer glitterati Satine Phoenix and Jamison Stone of Apotheosis Studios are Kickstarting a campaign of intrigue and art, songs and spycraft, portraying a city in which art and abomination abounds! Click here to check out the Kickstarter!

Image courtesy Apotheosis Studios.

Mark Diaz Truman is one of the madcap masterminds of Magpie Games. Magpie's Zombie World, a card-based, Powered by the Apocalypse game of zombie survival is up for multiple Ennies. In this deep discussion, Mark and Ben chew over the role of writing in generating great games, playtesting, and different models of RPG companies.  

Plot Points, and Ben’s book, Encounter Theory, are both up for Ennies! Please go vote now! To encourage you, Plot Points is going to be putting out an episode a day this week!

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

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

Image courtesy Magpie Games.

We talk about the D&D movie a mere two months after it came out, and then march on with our merciless read-aloud of the 1st edition Dungeon Master's Guide. 

Join us on Discord! It’s booming over there! (https://discord.gg/95nH7AdnyA)

We're back! Hear Ben & Scott talk over the equipment list in the 1st edition Dungeon Masters Guide!

Join us on Discord! It’s booming over there! (https://discord.gg/95nH7AdnyA)

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon!

Hear a stellar panel of nerds discuss the Appendix N text, At the Mountains of Madness by HP Lovecraft! Included are 7th edition Call of Cthulhu designer Mike Mason, RPG academic Scott Bruner, and the regular Plot Points crew!

Never tried Call of Cthulhu? Hie thee forth to Chaosium.com for all your sanity-blasting needs!

If you want to see the most eye-goggling and disturbing edition of At the Mountains of Madness yet published, check out this edition illustrated by Francois Baranger and published by Design Studio Press and Free League Publishing here!

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

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon!

Image by Francois Baranger courtesy Design Studio Press & Free League Publishing. 

Michael Prescott is the motivating genius behind Trilemma Adventures, a beautiful book of two-page adventures for fantasy role-playing games. How did he go from writing a blog to Kickstarting a book so magnificent that it's nominated for an Ennie this year?

Plot Point, and Ben's book, Encounter Theory, are both up for Ennies! Please go vote now! To encourage you, Plot Points is going to be putting out an episode day this week!

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

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

Image courtesy Trilemma Adventures.

Hear the 1st edition DMG read aloud with RPG academic Scott Bruner and host Ben Riggs! 

Also, check out Ben's prior work on demons & devils & Dungeons & Dragons, and this 60 Minutes piece on D&D from the early 1980s.

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

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

 Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

Interested in Ben's book? Enter here to win an early reader's copy!

Ben started a YouTube channel with his friend Eliza about what to play after D&D. Check it out here!  

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast. 

Listen to history professor Glenn McDorman and ENnie Award-winning designer Jacob Hurst discuss "The Scarlet Citadel" by Robert E. Howard, and the story's influence on RPGs! You can check out Glenn's Elder Sign podcast here, and see Jacob's brilliant RPG design work here!

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

Music courtesy 50 Breaks and "The Descent" by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4490-the-descent
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Image courtesy Lionsgate.

Worldwide Wrestling is the Powered by the Apocalypse game of furious sports entertainment! The game both highlights the strength of the Apocalypse Engine and simulates the bombastic drama of professional wrestling!

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

Music by 50 Breaks 

and

"Big Rock" by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3436-big-rock

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Image courtesy NDP Design.

Is D&D a postmodern medium? Scott & Ben also chew over the WotC layoffs. 

Like what we do? Support us on Patreon!

Can’t get enough of Scott? Join us on Discord! It’s poppin’ and hoppin’ over there!

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

Vote for us in this poll on ENworld!

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

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

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

John Tynes writes RPGs so good it makes me stutter. I've interviewed him twice. Each time, I've been fidgety and nervous beforehand. The man's games take up the #1 and #2 slots on the RPG.net game index! That's a frightening level of RPG chops. And now he has a new book out, The Labyrinth, and that's just as good as his other material? By Arneson's beard, how? 

Plot Points, and Ben’s book, Encounter Theory, are both up for Ennies! Please go vote now! To encourage you, Plot Points is going to be putting out an episode day this week!

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

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

Image by Dennis Detwiller, courtesy Arc Dream Publishing. 

Robin Laws had a dream, which led him to write a short story, and use that to create The Yellow King Roleplaying Game. Once HP Lovecraft dreamed of a book called the Necronomicon. Will Robin's RPG turn out to be as baleful as that unsettling tome? There is only one way to find out... Also, it's nominated for an Ennie, along with companion work Absinth in Carcosa! Go vote now! To encourage you, Plot Points is going to be putting out an episode every day this week!

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

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

Image courtesy Pelgrane Press.

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

Vote for us in this poll on ENworld!

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

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

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

We take a break from the 1st edition DMG this week to ask a different question: Is the 4th ed Player's Handbook the greatest intro to the game in its history?

Join us over on Discord! It’s booming over there! Here’s a link!

Well. That blew up and went everywhere. Ben responds to some comments and thoughts here on episode 263. With him as always is Dr. Scott!

If you want to talk about this more, here is a (functional) link to the Discord: https://discord.gg/Q66gVjc9

Unnatural aging and disease! Hear the 1st edition DMG read aloud with RPG academic Scott Bruner and host Ben Riggs! Seventh in a series!

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

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

 Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

Ladies and Gentlemen, people of all genders, and gifted woodland animals, this is Ben Riggs, Brad Davies, and Sarah Babe coming to you with a very special message.

Since starting Plot Points in September 2013, we have put out 264 episodes. Today, we announce that Plot Points is going dark.

Running this podcast has been a tremendously fulfilling experience, and we can only hope that our listeners have gotten as much enjoyment from it as we have. 

We’ll maintain our email (plotpointsemail@gmail.com), Twitter (@PlotPointsPod), and keep the archive of the show open.   

Remember, you can still find more of our work out in the interwebs. Both Brad and Sarah are part of Theatre of the Mind Players. You can find still more Sarah on Encounter Party and Romancing the Game. Buy Ben's book, SLAYING THE DRAGON anywhere books are sold.  and Reading the Dungeon Master's Guide Aloud will doubtless find a home somewhere. 

Thanks to our endlessly generous patrons, our loyal listeners, and the TTRPG community that welcomed us with open arms.

For the last time for the foreseeable future, we are Ben Riggs, Brad Davies, Sarah Babe, and the always wonderful Producer Chris. 

-Brad, Sarah, Chris & Ben

Hear the 1st edition DMG read aloud with RPG academic Scott Bruner and host Ben Riggs! Sixth in a series!

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

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

 Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

Brad, Sarah, & Ben take a deep dive on Thousand Year Old Vampire, the lonely RPG where you live the life of an immortal undead! 

Check out the bizarre gaming deeps at Tim Hutchings' Play Generated Map & Document Archive. 

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

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

Image courtesy Petit Guignol LLC.

One last call for alcohol! Ben, Brad, & Sarah dive deep into OSR darling and Zinequest champion, Barkeep on the Borderlands!

If you want to talk about this more, here is a (functional) link to the Discord: https://discord.gg/Q66gVjc9

Let's talk Lycanthropes!

We now have a channel on Discord! Come on over to chat. 

Preorder Ben's book on TSR history by clicking here, and you will receive FOR FREE a bookplate featuring art by D&D icon Jeff Easley and signed by Ben. It's just our way of saying thanks for preordering the book! See the bookplate in this episode's show notes! 

Already preordered the book? Click here to acquire your Jeff Easley bookplate!

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon!

We're back with Sarah Babe of Encounter Party and gamer about town Brad Davies to review the new quickstart rules from Critical Role, Candela Obscura!

Listen as Scott and Ben discuss Gygax's thoughts on the monster as PC...

Preorder Ben's book on TSR history by clicking here, and you will receive FOR FREE a bookplate featuring art by D&D icon Jeff Easley and signed by Ben. It's just our way of saying thanks for preordering the book! See the bookplate in this episode's show notes! 

Already preordered the book? Click here to acquire your Jeff Easley bookplate!

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon!

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

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

Music courtesy 50 Breaks.

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

Academic Scott Bruner and Ben Riggs read aloud and comment on the 1st edition Dungeon Master’s Guide by Gary Gygax, an attempt by the game’s co-creator to instruct players, but also exert control over the burgeoning community of gamers. 

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

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

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

Ben’s book the collapse of TSR and sale to Wizards is available for preorder here! 

Want to read more Ben now? His book on RPG adventure design, Encounter Theory, is on DriveThruRPG. Click here to pick up this essential volume!

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon!

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

Explore the seas! Discover shanties! Watch them come to life before your very eyes! Experience a game like no other from RPG luminary Tristan Zimmerman! Back it on Kickstarter here!

Ben's book on the failure of TSR is finally available for pre-order here on Amazon or through your friendly local bookstore.

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

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon!

Image courtesy Tristan Zimmerman. 

An academic, a game professional, and your host gather to review Richard Stanley's latest effort, an HP Lovecraft adaptation: The Colour Out of Space starring Nicholas Cage!

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

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

Today, we start with the value and uses of gems and stones.

Join us on Discord! It's booming over there! (https://discord.gg/95nH7AdnyA)

Preorder Ben's book on TSR history by clicking here, and you will receive FOR FREE a bookplate featuring art by D&D icon Jeff Easley and signed by Ben. It's just our way of saying thanks for preordering the book!

Already preordered the book? Click here to acquire your Jeff Easley bookplate!

Synthicide: Sharpers in the Dark takes the setting from a bestselling game of grimdark cyberpunk and translates it into the brilliant Forged in the Dark game system. Listen to find out more in this interview with creator, Dustin DePenning! Click here to support it on Kickstarter!

Hear the 1st edition DMG read aloud with RPG academic Scott Bruner and host Ben Riggs! 

Learn more about the conference Scott talked about, NarraScope, here. 

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

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

 Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

Lester Smith is a stalwart of GDW and TSR, designer of such games and Dark Conspiracy and Dragon Dice! He has a new game out, D13 which uses a D4 and D10 as the core mechanic. Check the game out here! He also explains how Dragon Dice is actually a sonnet in this interview!

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

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

Image by Larry Elmore and courtesy GDW.

Which races love money and a good time the most? Why are those the axes Gygax chose to judge races in the first place? Weirder questions and thoughts follow in this episode with Scott Bruner and Ben Riggs!

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

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon!

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

Behold Secrets of the Vibrant Isle! The solo RPG on Kickstarter right now by revolutionary game designer Craig Campbell! Explore the wonders and dangers of the island upon which you've been shipwrecked! Click here to learn more!

Play a trash panda! Raid suburbs for the garbage that is rightfully yours! Check it out here!

A solo game of "lonely role-playing" allows you to become an immortal drinker of lives! Ben Riggs interviews game-creator and total mensch Tim Hutchings in this interview about his seminal work, Thousand Year Old Vampire. 

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

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

 Image courtesy Tim Hutchings.

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

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

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

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

Again, Scott Bruner & Ben Riggs return to discuss the 1st edition Dungeon Masters Guide!

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

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon!

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

Imagine inserting Cthulhu, Aladdin, and the Easter Bunny in your 5E campaign. That is exactly the kind of role-playing madness allowed by Mythological Figures & Maleficient Monsters, on Kickstarter now! In this episode, we talk to Mike Myler and Russ Morrissey of EN Publishing about this fine new tome!

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

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

Image courtesy EN Publishing.

Haberdashers! Teamsters! And more! Oh my! Harken and enjoy the 1st edition DMG's rules for expert NPCs as read and commented on by RPG historian Ben Riggs and RPG academic Scott Bruner!

Join us on Discord! It’s booming over there! (https://discord.gg/95nH7AdnyA)

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon!

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

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

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

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

David Larkins, writer of Berlin: The Wicked City takes us on a tour of Weimar Berlin, now with more tentacles!

Learn more about Chaosium in the 21st century with this article Ben wrote. 

Here's an episode on Greg Stafford from a few years ago.

Plot Points, and Ben’s book, Encounter Theory, are both up for Ennies! Please go vote now! To encourage you, Plot Points is going to be putting out an episode day this week!

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

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

Image courtesy Chaosium. 

Imagine a notebook with everything you need to create your own fantasy campaign already in it. Blank hex maps, pages set up for charts, even high-frequency fantasy words and eye-violating fantasy art, all between the same clothbound covers. This, is the Worldbuilder's Notebook, currently on Kickstarter. In this interview, Ben Riggs hears about the whys and wherefores of the product from ENnie-winning designer Jacob Hurst!

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

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

Image courtesy Frazetta Girls.

A role-playing game like no other. In Rest in Pieces you are room-mates with Death! In addition to a story concept never before seen, RiP takes RPG mechanics another step forward, using a block tower with a twist! Check it out on Kickstarter now!

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

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

Image courtesy Imagining Games.

Explore Dustin DePenning's carbines and demons sci-fi RPG! It's on Kickstarter right now, and has a fascinating new game engine in its bloody and beating heart, the Heroic Dark! Old school in danger, 21st century in execution, Heroic Dark keeps your characters on the edge of doom and their players on the edge of their seats!

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

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

Image by Vladislav Orlowski and courtesy Will Power Games.

RPG designer WJ MacGuffin comes on the show to talk Paranoia, the dystopic/comic sci-fi RPG of clones and treason! They've got Project Infinite Hole on Kickstarter right now!

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

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

Image courtesy Mongoose Publishing.

Ben Riggs and Scott Bruner chew the fat on whether or not there will be an OGL for 6th edition D&D. 

Like what we do? Support us on Patreon!

Can't get enough of Scott? Join us on Discord! It's poppin' and hoppin' over there!

A D&D adventure with a rocket ship? Probe "Kandlekeep Dekonstrukted" by Amy Vorpahl, part of Candlekeep Mysteries for 5E!

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

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon!

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

At long last, we wrap up our discussion of alignment with alignment languages.

Here's a link to the article on RPGs and religion Ben referenced in the episode.

Join us on Discord! It's booming over there! (https://discord.gg/95nH7AdnyA) 

We now have a channel on Discord! (https://discord.gg/95nH7AdnyA) Come on over to chat. 

Preorder Ben's book on TSR history by clicking here, and you will receive FOR FREE a bookplate featuring art by D&D icon Jeff Easley and signed by Ben. It's just our way of saying thanks for preordering the book! See the bookplate in this episode's show notes! 

Already preordered the book? Click here to acquire your Jeff Easley bookplate!

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon!

We have lived in a bright and fortunate time as TTRPG fans for over a decade. Have recent events brought that to an end? Historian Ben Riggs & academic Dr. Scott Bruner reflect. 

Like what we do? Support us on Patreon!

Can’t get enough of Scott? Join us on Discord! It’s poppin’ and hoppin’ over there!

Historian Ben Riggs & RPG academic Dr. Scott Bruner chew over the sage from the 1st edition AD&D Dungeon Master's Guide!

Here's a link to the Matt Colville video where he talks about The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings as D&D models: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkXMxiAGUWg&t=2s

Join us on Discord! It’s booming over there! (https://discord.gg/95nH7AdnyA)

Bill Bridges worked on some of the most phenomenal game products of the 1990s at White Wolf, and he's back with a Kickstarter for a new edition of Fading Suns, the far-future RPG of sci-fi passion! 

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

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

Image courtesy Ulisses Spiele. 

Bluebeard's Bride from Magpie Games is a revolution in RPGs. Players take on the role of one character, just one among the group of them, and experience the tragic horror of the Bride!

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

Image courtesy Magpie Games

This week, game designer Julian Kay talks to Sarah, Ben, & Brad about his current RPG hotness, Mutants in the Now, which takes a modern look at playing a mutant animal with the martial arts skills of your choice!

Like what we do? Support us on Patreon!

Can’t get enough of Scott? Join us on Discord! It’s poppin’ and hoppin’ over there!

One of our favorite publishers is Pelgrane Press. Geek journalist extraordinaire Ben Riggs sat down with Pelgrane co-owner Cat Tobin to see what the publisher of 13th Age and Dracula Dossier is up to!

The 2020 version of my research on how TSR went from grossing $40 million a year to being bought by Wizards of the Coast. Performed live at Gen Con Online!

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

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

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

City of Winter and Fall of Magic are story games centered around journeys in fantasy worlds. Play revolves around gorgeous, hand-made scrolls, and mechanics so simple and elegant that they bring one to question where RPGs end and storytelling begins. Furthermore, these games get to the good stuff of RPG play with shocking speed. We probe these questions and more with the games' designer, Ross Cowman! If you're interested, City of Winter is on Kickstarter right now. Play a demo here now! 

Image by Doug Keith and courtesy Heart of the Deernicorn. 

Once upon a time, the TSR offices were in downtown Lake Geneva in an old hotel. These are the stories of that building. 

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

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

Once again, RPG academic Scott Bruner and RPG historian Ben Riggs convene to read and chew over the 1st edition Dungeon Masters Guide!

Preorder Ben's book on TSR history by clicking here, and you will receive FOR FREE a bookplate featuring art by D&D icon Jeff Easley and signed by Ben. It's just our way of saying thanks for preordering the book! See the bookplate in this episode's show notes!

Academic Scott Bruner and Ben Riggs read aloud and comment on the 1st edition Dungeon Master's Guide by Gary Gygax, an attempt by the game's co-creator to instruct players, but also exert control over the burgeoning community of gamers. This week, we tackle the forward and preface to the work. 

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

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

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

Is Vaesen the best new RPG of the year? How does it stack up against Call of Cthulhu as a horror game? What does it teach about how to make an excellent RPG? All these questions and more are tackled in this week's Plot Points!

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

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon!

Image courtesy Fria Ligan.

A warlock-based 5E campaign inspired by a heavy metal album? And the album was retooled and recorded by the Budapest Scoring Symphonic Orchestra? Can such a thing be? Hearken to The Red Opera! Inspired by the DiAmorte album of the same name, today we interview game designer Rick Heinz about this eye-and-ear-grabbing Kickstarter!

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

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

Image courtesy Apotheosis Studios. 

We continue our discussion of alignment, diving down on the alignment graph!

Join us on Discord! It's booming over there! (https://discord.gg/95nH7AdnyA) 

Ptolus was the home campaign Monte Cook ran while designing 3rd edition D&D. Brimming with brilliant fodder for the gaming table, it quickly sold out and became an item for the collector's market. Now, Monte Cook Games is Kickstarting a new edition of Ptolus, updating the classic setting for both the Cypher System and 5th Edition. Click here to learn more about this stupendous setting!

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

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

Image courtesy Monte Cook Games. 

Interested in Ben's book? Preorder it from the store of your choice here!

Check out his current book on RPG theory here!

Ben started a YouTube channel with his friend Eliza about what to play after D&D. Check it out here!  

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast. 

Hobilar? Hobilar? What the heck is a hobilar? 

Harken and enjoy the 1st edition DMG's rules for expert NPCs as read and commented on by RPG historian Ben Riggs and RPG academic Scott Bruner!

Join us on Discord! It’s booming over there! (https://discord.gg/95nH7AdnyA)

Craig Campbell is an innovative RPG designer whose current Kickstarter, Good Strong Hands, is a game of relationships and fantasy exploration inspired by fictions like The Neverending Story, Labyrinth, and Willow! 

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

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

 Image courtesy Nerdburger Games and created by Serena Malyon.

We're back after an unexpected two-week hiatus with Dale Donovan, an editor, game designer, TSR alum, and Dragon Magazine veteran. He takes us through a career that made him a witness to some pivotal events in RPG history. 

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

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

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

The RPG business has been growing like gangbusters since the Great Recession. Recent numbers from Diamond Comics and Kickstarter provoke a question: Is that growth coming to an end?

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

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

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

The Plot Points gang continues looking at Descent into Avernus chapter-by-chapter. This week, we visit Baldur's Gate, and then descend into the pit itself!

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

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

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

Our intrepid hosts once again wade into the wilds of the 1st ed Dungeon Masters Guide. What setting is implied by Gygax's text?

Like what we do? Support us on Patreon!

Can't get enough of Scott? Join us on Discord! It's poppin' and hoppin' over there!

It's a celebration today as we recognize the graduation of Scott Bruner, Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin! We also discuss sages!

Join us on Discord! It’s booming over there! (https://discord.gg/95nH7AdnyA)

Learn the secrets of the steward and the castellan in this week's episode of Reading the DMG Aloud with historian Ben Riggs & academic Scott Bruner!

Like what we do? Support us on Patreon!

Can’t get enough of Scott? Join us on Discord! It’s poppin’ and hoppin’ over there!

How the deal to buy the world's first role-playing game company was negotiated and sealed. Ben Riggs has interviewed those who were there and can tell for the first time the whole story. Recorded live at Gen Con Online!

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

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

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

Imagine a world where teachers used RPGs as teaching tools. That is the world the Teacher-Gamer Handbook aims to bring about. Zachary Reznichek is a master teacher who has been using RPGs to teach writing, math, and other skills to students. He has taken his decades of accumulated wisdom and put it into the Teacher-Gamer Handbook, a volume which teachers (or parents) can use to teach their children through the magic of RPGs. Click here to back the book, and hurry! It hasn't funded, and it only has eight days to do so!

Image courtesy Zachary Reznichek. 

What's your alignment?

Historian Ben Riggs & academic Scott Bruner read aloud the section of the DMG on alignment. 

We now have a channel on Discord! Come on over to chat. 

Preorder Ben's book on TSR history by clicking here, and you will receive FOR FREE a bookplate featuring art by D&D icon Jeff Easley and signed by Ben. It's just our way of saying thanks for preordering the book! See the bookplate in this episode's show notes! 

Already preordered the book? Click here to acquire your Jeff Easley bookplate!

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon!

Once again, RPG academic Scott Bruner and RPG historian Ben Riggs convene to read and chew over the 1st edition Dungeon Masters Guide!

Interested in Ben's book? Preorder it from the store of your choice here!

Check out his current book on RPG theory here!

Ben started a YouTube channel with his friend Eliza about what to play after D&D. Check it out here!  

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast. 

An interview with the creators of a GM-less RPG of eldritch horror, Becky Annison & Josh Fox! Back their crowdfunding campaign here!

Ben & Scott continue, and to be frank repeat a little bit, of the section on henchmen from the 1st edition DMG. 

Like what we do? Support us on Patreon!

Can’t get enough of Scott? Join us on Discord! It’s poppin’ and hoppin’ over there!

Hear about armor and Armor Class in the 1st edition DMG with Ben Riggs and Scott Bruner!

Join us on Discord! It’s booming over there! (https://discord.gg/95nH7AdnyA)

Preorder Ben’s book on TSR history by clicking here, and you will receive FOR FREE a bookplate featuring art by D&D icon Jeff Easley and signed by Ben. It’s just our way of saying thanks for preordering the book!

Already preordered the book? Click here to acquire your Jeff Easley bookplate!

Urban Shadows is the addicting as hell PbtA game of machiavellian monsters living in metropolises! Its second edition has new fun faction rules, and the best explanation of combat in a PbtA game I've ever seen! Learn more in our interview with designers Marissa Kelly & Mark Diaz Truman! Also, here's the Kickstarter! 

Death Divers is in its last days! Back it here!

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

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

Image courtesy Magpie Games.

Inspired by epic poetry and pulp television, John Harper & Sean Nittner's Agon takes an old system, dice pools, and makes it new to produce a play style more Greek than Gygax! 

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

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon!

Check out Agon here!

Wanna hear more epic Agon adventures featuring our own Sarah Babe? Click here to experience Theatre of the Mind Players actual play of the series!

Music: "Highland Song" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Image courtesy Evil Hat Productions.

Hear the 1st edition DMG read aloud with RPG academic Scott Bruner and host Ben Riggs! Fifth in a series!

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

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

 Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

Hear friends of the show Craig Campbell (Good Strong Hands) and Peter Petrusha (Rest in Pieces) talk about their experience being nominated for ENnies this year! Vote for the pair of them here!

At last! Ben's book on D&D history, Slaying the Dragon, is available for sale here!

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

Vote for us in this poll on ENworld!

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

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

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

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

An impenetrable table! Rolling attributes! Hear the 1st edition DMG read aloud with RPG academic Scott Bruner and host Ben Riggs! Eighth in a series!

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

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon!

Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

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

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

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

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

Image courtesy of R. Talsorian Games. 

Theme music courtesy 50 Breaks.

How did HP Lovecraft's "Colour Out of Space" influence gaming? Academic Scott Bruner, Chaosium stalwart Jim Lowder, and host Ben Riggs gather to discuss! 

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

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

Today, we finally conclude our alignment discussion by talking about changing alignment!

Join us on Discord! It's booming over there! (https://discord.gg/95nH7AdnyA)

Preorder Ben's book on TSR history by clicking here, and you will receive FOR FREE a bookplate featuring art by D&D icon Jeff Easley and signed by Ben. It's just our way of saying thanks for preordering the book! See the bookplate in this episode's show notes! 

Already preordered the book? Click here to acquire your Jeff Easley bookplate!

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

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

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

Image courtesy Orbit Books.

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

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

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

Image courtesy of Magpie Games. 

Theme music courtesy 50 Breaks.

Imagine running an adventure online, and instead of books, notes, and PDFs, everything is in a single app, right before your eyes. Now imagine the app has art from world-class artists, and design from RPG luminaries. That is what the brilliant and bodacious designers of Monte Cook Games have created: an adventure made to be run online. Explore more at The Darkest House Kickstarter today! 

Image courtesy Monte Cook Games.