Rene Plays Games (Rene Legault)
Explore every episode of Rene Plays Games
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05 Mar 2024 | Ironsworn: Sundered Isles | Episode 6 - Escape from Vega's Cave | 00:51:05 | |
Dyne is taken prisoner by Captain Vega and brought to a secret sea cave the Kyrody sailor has been stockpiling equipment in, as well as where he is experimenting with sky iron. An escape is attempted, but this episode keeps riding the dice luck of the previous, and things just keep getting worse...
You can sign up to be notified when Sundered Isles goes live on Kickstarter and/or pre-order Starforged physical books or get it digital from Modiphius!
Go learn more about everything Ironsworn and get your solo gaming on!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Covert Ops from TabletopAudio.com Drowned Sailors from TabletopAudio.com Sunken Temple from TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 14 Feb 2024 | [Bonus] Call of Cthulhu | Mask of Desire Valentine's One-Shot | 01:46:29 | |
Not every bonus episode has to be on a 5th Tuesday, holidays are good reason, too, right?
In this bonus one-shot, Rene ropes his wife Lynn into her first foray with Call of Cthulhu in a one-on-one scenario from the Does Love Forgive? collection.
Set in 1930s New York City amidst the bustling jazz scene, the scenario features a love triangle and questions just how far you'd go to achieve your goals. As Lynn's first dip into the system, it goes pretty off the rails in pretty fun ways!
As mentioned, one of the DMs After Dark, Christian, is a published Call of Cthulhu scenario writer. If you want to check out his stuff, go get The Night Mother's Moon!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Bugablue Music from Pixabay Podcast Jazz Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay Autumn Leaves Falling Again by Trygve Larsen from Pixabay Covert Ops from Tabletop Audio Infiltration from Tabletop Audio Investigator's Office from Tabletop Audio Noir Procedural from Tabletop Audio | |||
| 16 Apr 2024 | Ironsworn: Sundered Isles | Episode 9 - Down With The Ship | 00:49:35 | |
Aboard another Kyrody Warship, Dyne and Ephraim learn the truth about the Kyrody Dominion's presence out here in the Reaches. However, the truth comes with a twist, and Dyne's attempts to persuade the sailors to accept an alternative option lands on deaf ears. His failure comes at a heavy cost, and a friend is lost...
Maezyu convinces Dyne to finish what's been started - a win against the Kyrody would be celebrated by all they've broken in the wake of their brutal war campaign. Together, the crew of the Venture flies to the cursed sky island of Manao for Dyne's last Trial, but the dying island is a terrifying maze of dry caves and colossal bones. What awaits Dyne at its heart?
Go learn more about everything Ironsworn and get your solo gaming on!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Dark Continent from TabletopAudio.com Drowned Sailors from TabletopAudio.com High Seas Pursuit from TabletopAudio.com Shaman's Hollow from TabletopAudio.com Solemn Vow from TabletopAudio.com Trireme from TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 30 Apr 2024 | [Bonus] Dragon Dowser One-Shot | 00:50:44 | |
It's a 5th Tuesday, so here we are with another bonus episode! This time Rene sits down to play the one-player, card-based Dragon Dowser from Hatchling Games. It is a wonderful game where you take the role of a Dowser, someone who has dedicated themselves to saving dragon eggs from the clutches of the tyrannical Mecharchs, rulers who betrayed humanity's saviors for power and progress. It has wonderful environmentalist and conservation themes and uses Peach Garden Games' Carta SRD, which is intuitive and engaging!
Definitely check out more of Hatchling Games' releases like the sign-language teaching Inspirisles, Overisles (and soon Underisles), the supernatural scout solving Cryptid Creeks, and more on their store.
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | Itch.io | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Stranded by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10375-stranded License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Elven Glade from TabletopAudio.com Forgotten Forest from TabletopAudio.com Mysterious Grotto from TabletopAudio.com Secret Garden from TabletopAudio.com Sun Dappled Trail from TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 30 Jul 2024 | [Bonus] Dragonbane - The Sinking Tower Part 1 | 01:44:43 | |
5th Tuesdays are for bonus episodes and this one comes IN TWO PARTS! Part 2 will be releasing on Thursday August 1st!
For July's Bonus Episode, we're playing Free League's 2024 Free RPG Day scenario for Dragonbane called The Sinking Tower. It's a tight one-shot adventure for the classic Swedish fantasy RPG that's designed for "tournament style" play, and all happens on a two hour clock! After character creation, start the timer and speedrun this tower!
In the past, a mad sorcerer named Kamandur built a seaside tower to honor his sister and placed an eerily bright emerald at the top, luring ships and pirates to their watery graves in revenge for her death. Even after his death, the magic continued to consume those within and without, and now, every twenty years on the day of his sister's death, the tower rises from the depths for two hours. Will our PCs be the first to make it to the top and retrieve what so many others never could?
Download Rene's Finished Games (for free!):
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands The Mirrormere by Vindsvept Court of the Count from TabletopAudio.com Drowned Sailors from TabletopAudio.com Ghost Ship from TabletopAudio.com Skull Island from TabletopAudio.com The Drowned Tower from TabletopAudio.com Terror in the Woods from TabletopAudio.com Rewind Sound Effect from ZapSplat.com | |||
| 14 Jan 2025 | Perspective Checks | Amber & Jess (DMs After Dark) - Getting Into TTRPGs | 00:53:28 | |
Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss what they love about this wonderful hobby!
This month's episode is a late upload from last year, but it fits perfectly well to kick off 2025 - we're talking about getting into TTRPGs with Amber & Jess from DMs After Dark, my original RPGs on the internet homies! We talk about how to approach playing as a new player, where to find games, how to best communicate and find a good group, as well as tips for new GMs to avoid common early pitfalls.
Go check out the EXTENSIVE backlog of great RPG actual plays on the DMs After Dark channel (podcast & YouTube)!
TTRPG Charity Event for Doctors Without Borders! Please please please check out friend of the podcast Star from Characters Without Stories and her friends' charity event going on all through January over at: https://tinyurl.com/TabletopTitan . You can donate however you'd like, but you can also redeem great things with your donation like TTRPGs, a seat at professionally GM'd tables, and more! It's a great cause, so consider going and donating. If you do, send me proof and I'll send you a free copy of MECH or some stickers or something!
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If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 23 Jul 2024 | [In Development] | Rene's TTRPG Design Diaries | 01:00:49 | |
Get deep enough into the indie tabletop RPG scene and eventually you'll come up with an idea that you want to play out in a game, but you can't find a good match for it (despite the thousands of games out there). So what do you do? You start making one yourself!
Most people homebrew rules in their favorite RPGs, and if you think about it, even that is game design in a way. You're no longer playing the game you were before right out of the book or box, you've added your own piece to engage with the story that you felt worked better in a particular situation. It may seem crazy, but anyone can make a game, either hacking an existing system or coming up with something entirely new, it just depends on how much work you're willing to put into it!
In this episode, Rene talks about all the games he's got in various states of development and completion, either through recognizing a niche that hasn't been explored well enough, or just an idea he couldn't get out of his silly head.
Please reach out if any of these ideas seem good to you and let's playtest them or urge me to finish them!
Download Rene's Finished Games (for free!):
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 11 Mar 2025 | Perspective Checks | Christian (DMs After Dark) - Playing In The Sandbox | 01:05:24 | |
Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss what they love about this wonderful hobby!
This month is LONG overdue and is a sit down and chat with Christian from the DMs After Dark about playing games in sandbox worlds. Christian and I have been friends for many years now and have been fueling one another's RPG collecting and dissecting obsessions, and it's always great to sit down with him and talk games.
Christian has written multiple excellent Call of Cthulhu scenarios (linked below) and is currently running the DMs through the RuneQuest campaign Company of the Dragon. This is a great chat full of really useful advice if you want to play better sandbox (as opposed to railroad) games at your table.
Also... we preview and promise a quickstart of our upcoming community rebuilding and survival after a grid down event game, so listen to the end for a little excited talk about that!
Get Deadfellas and Christian's other games (The Night Mother's Moon and Zennor & the Sins of St. Senara)
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I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark Rene's Games: email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode (in order of appearance): Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 17 Sep 2024 | Koriko: A Magical Year | Volume 2: Arrival | 00:57:04 | |
Welcome back for episode 2 of Koriko: A Magical Year by Jack Harrison & Mousehole Press, who just so happen to be running a Kickstarter campaign to print some of their other great games like Artefact, Bucket of Bolts, and CounterPart! Go check it out!
In this episode, our teenage witch Genie settles into the city of Koriko and meets her first Confidants - NPCs who will be recurring throughout the story as we feel like interacting with them, interspersed with the moments and events of every day life throughout the year. We start using the gameplay loop of tarot cards and dice stacking as we make our way through the next 6 volumes that will make up our Magical Year!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Covert Ops from TabletopAudio.com Elven Glade from TabletopAudio.com Haven from TabletopAudio.com Magical Shoppe from TabletopAudio.com Solemn Vow from TabletopAudio.com Reverie, Part 2 by Vindsvept | |||
| 27 Aug 2024 | Mining Media | Pokémon | 00:23:06 | |
We're back to Mining Media for this month, because I keep seeing "How do you hack 5e to do Pokemon?!" and I don't have the hair to tear out over it... so let's talk bringing everyone's favorite monster catcher/befriender to the table!
The thing about Pokemon is that it's so much more than just an 8-bit handheld video game now, there's multiple TV series, video game series, manga, movies (even a live-action one with the guy who plays Deadpool!), a card game! So where do you begin thinking about how to port to the table with dice?
I think the thing that most RPGs made to replicate the Pokemon experience miss is the relationship between the Trainer and the Pokemon. Lots of games have been made that break down the battle mechanics of the games REALLY well, but that's really not as interesting as the story of the Trainers in a world with Pokemon, which makes the environmental storytelling potential INCREDIBLE.
So here are the take home points:
And, if you're still reading this, go get some of the Pokemon Adventures manga, they're so good...
Download Rene's One-Page RPG One Last Quest and bring back your favorite characters for one more mission as elderly versions of themselves!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Chaconne Dreamy by Monument Studios | |||
| 08 Oct 2024 | Perspective Checks | Ross (Blades of Mayari) - Worldbuilding & Working Mythology into RPGs | 01:09:10 | |
Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss what they love about this wonderful hobby!
This month's episode is a big one! Worldbuilding is an integral part of storytelling in RPGs, whether you're playing in an established universe like many big named systems provide, or are drawing maps and leaving blanks in the Powered by the Apocalypse emergent narrative style of newer indie games. The shared world that the characters interact with is as much a part of the story as the actions of the characters, reacting and responding to provide new obstacles and opportunities.
In this episode, I speak with Ross about his experience bringing pre-colonial Filipino mythology to the forefront in the excellent actual play Blades of Mayari, an exploration of the culture and heritage of the players using FATE. Ross and the cast of the show have done their homework and approach the lore and real-world mythology and culture of the Philippines with the respect and sensitivity it requires. We mostly talk about this setting specifically, but do branch out a bit to talk about the act of drawing inspiration from these historical cultures from the right place.
I highly recommend you check out Blades of Mayari, which has completed its first season and should be coming back soon for more!
Additionally, Ross recommended the following books & online resources if you're interested in learning more about Filipino history and mythology:
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 01 Oct 2024 | Koriko: A Magical Year | Volume 3: Spring | 01:00:46 | |
Welcome back to more Koriko: A Magical Year by Jack Harrison & Mousehole Press!
In this episode, our teenage witch Genie and her friendly 3-eyed mink Mog are pretty well established in the city of Koriko, and people are starting to come to her for help! We see some friends made from the last volume and make some new acquaintances in the city, as well, including the city itself, as Genie continues to learn more about herself, her magic, and the world beyond Bonetto as Spring comes and goes in Koriko.
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Anvil Square Day by Monument Studios The Calm Inspirational Seeker B by Monument Studios Deception by Monument Studios Bringer of Rain by Vindsvept Crystal Forest by Vindsvept Spellbound, Part 2 by Vindsvept Winter's Morning by Vindsvept Halfling Lodge from TabletopAudio.com Rain Cafe Lo-Fi by Aaron from Pixabay The Ghost of Shepardx2 by Geoffrey Burch from Pixabay Lucid Dreaming by | e s c p | https://www.escp.space https://escp-music.bandcamp.com | |||
| 21 May 2024 | Ironsworn: Sundered Isles | Episode 11 - The Finale | 01:27:01 | |
As the sky island of Manao crumbles into pieces and plummets into the ocean below, Dyne and the crew of the Venture rush to warn the villagers of Isto Mavana of the coming disaster. Kyrody Dominion Admiral Magnus Cassidy calls for a parley with the leaders of the Resistance, but negotiations take a terrible turn, and the final battle of the Reaches begins...
To all the listeners who have made it this far (and who read the description), I am so honored you choose to spend your time listening to me play and weave these stories, and I sincerely hope I've inspired you to try out either solo RPGs or Ironsworn yourself (or any other tabletop games)! I also hope that you'll stick with me as I continue to explore more great games, systems, solo & group alike, as this little endeavor goes on, and reach out to me to let me know if you have any advice, ideas, or anything else to make this better.
And to Shawn Tomkin, if you ever see this, you've got a forever fan and backer in me, I'll always sing your praises on whatever small soapbox/platform/podcast I have. Thank you for an incredible line of games. Everyone go find out more about all things Ironsworn!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Harpies Nest from TabletopAudio.com Haven from TabletopAudio.com High Seas Pursuit from TabletopAudio.com Interrogation Room from TabletopAudio.com Lord of Bones from TabletopAudio.com Pirates! from TabletopAudio.com Puzzle Dungeon from TabletopAudio.com Ship of the Line from TabletopAudio.com Survivor's Bivouac from TabletopAudio.com The Misty Marsh from TabletopAudio.com Voyage Begins from TabletopAudio.com Gunshot (Exterior) sound from Zapsplat.com | |||
| 03 Sep 2024 | Koriko: A Magical Year | Volume 1: Departure | 00:46:53 | |
Hello and welcome to a new solo RPG series, switching up tone completely and exploring the wonderfully cozy journaling game Koriko: A Magical Year by Jack Harrison & Mousehole Press, creators of other incredible solo games like Artefact, Orbital, and Bucket of Bolts (Jack also did layout for Notorious & Outsiders, so clearly he knows what he's doing)!
Koriko is a game about a teenage witch leaving their home village to spend one year in a new city where they will work their craft, expand their horizons, and learn to be the witch they are destined to become. Very obviously paying homage to its inspirations, Koriko is a beautiful book in both art and writing, and I'm very excited to break away from my usual method of solo journaling strictly through audio to actually write in a journal to create the incredible artifact that sticking to this ritual will become.
Volume 1: Departure introduces Eugenia "Genie" Finch, our young witch with excellent style, wild ginger hair, and a three-eyed mink familiar named Mog who is leaving her northern forests village of Bonetto to find somewhere new.
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Handel Improv by Monument Studios Mindfulness Harp by Monument Studios Elven Glade from TabletopAudio.com Magic Shoppe from TabletopAudio.com Secret Garden from TabletopAudio.com Wizard's Tower from TabletopAudio.com Large Book, Manual, Page Turn 5 sound effect from ZapSplat
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| 23 Jan 2024 | Mining Media | The Faithful & The Fallen by John Gwynne | 00:20:40 | |
Welcome to the first episode of Mining Media, a short brainstorming style series that will come out every 3rd Tuesday of the month where I discuss a book, TV series, movie, video game, or any other kind of media I've been binging and think about what kind of inspiration and ideas you can take from it to use at your table and better your gaming experience.
This first episode dives into John Gwynne's The Faithful and the Fallen book series. It's generally low-fantasy and skirts the edges of grimdark, with plenty of battles, violence, and classic fantasy tropes worn proudly on its chain shirt. It subverts some tropes, leans into others, but reads very relatable to tabletop RPG campaigns, which I think makes it a great series to talk about mining ideas from.
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Rain, Book And Cup Of Tea by | e s c p | https://www.escp.space https://escp-music.bandcamp.com | |||
| 05 Nov 2024 | Koriko: A Magical Year | Volume 5: Autumn | 00:44:15 | |
Welcome back to more Koriko: A Magical Year by Jack Harrison & Mousehole Press!
In this episode, Autumn tests Genie. We meet a few new Confidants and catch up with older friends in the tail end of the year as the emotionally charged prompts make their appearance. Heading into the final two Volumes of our Koriko AP, Genie doubles down and vows no more holding back.
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Forest Shrine by Monument Studios Something in the Dark by Monument Studios Passion by Monument Studios Cyberpunk Bar by TabletopAudio.com Lonesome West by TabletopAudio.com Sombre by Vindsvept Storm by Vindsvept Woodland Murmur by Vindsvept | |||
| 28 Jan 2025 | Tabletop Tutorial | i'm sorry did you say street magic? with Dan Bronson-Low (Almost Bedtime Theater) | 02:01:16 | |
A new series?! I hope so! I'd love to make this concept for a monthly episode happen, so if you have a game that you're itching to play but have no one to play it with, please email me at reneplaysgamespod@gmail.com !
For the very first Tabletop Tutorial I'm joined by Dan Bronson-Lowe of Almost Bedtime Theater, a podcast of a father and daughter (and her cousin) who learn and play TTRPGs together. You may also know Dan as the creator of the Crit Award winning solo TTRPG The Librarian's Apprentice or his other games you can find on his itch.io page.
We sit down to play i'm sorry did you say street magic? by Caro Asercion, which is an incredible city-building game derived from games like Microscope by Ben Robbins.
By the end, we build a pretty awesome little city built around a strange natural incursion into an infinite library as part of Dan's upcoming Song of the Scryptwyrm Backerkit campaign for Pocketopia! So if you like what you hear, go sign up to be notified when it goes live and get a copy so you can play in this endless library! ----more---- If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Evenfall by Vindsvept Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 09 Jan 2024 | Perspective Checks | Troy Bliss - Why We Play Our ”Type” & Tropes | 00:49:36 | |
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Perspective Checks, the new take on the DMs After Dark discussion show Modified Rolls!
In this series, I will be interviewing friends and folks from the hobby about something they like to think about when it comes to this wonderful world of tabletop RPGs, and what better way than to start with one of the first people to ever introduce me to the world of D&D, Troy Bliss!
You know Troy from the DMs After Dark, our Team Chaos wacky character loving ginger half of Blissbot, and he joins me to talk about something appropriately self-reflective - Why Players Have a "Type" and the usefulness of Tropes in RPGs. Troy has always been an incredibly hard worker, pushing his body and mind to their limits, and has recently gone back to school for more Psychology, so this kind of deep thinking about why we play what we play is something that he is clearly passionate about.
Hopefully you enjoy what you hear, and hopefully it makes you think about your own type or style. Comment or email with what you think your "Type" of PC is, we'd love to hear from you!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 19 Mar 2024 | Ironsworn: Sundered Isles | Episode 7 - The Trial of the Sea | 00:49:28 | |
Dyne is dragged out to sea after swearing an iron vow on the sky iron shard in Vega's Cave. The flooding recesses and pulls all of Captain Vega's Kyrody sailors out to a watery grave, but Dyne finds himself on a dry circle of sea floor at the bottom of a maelstrom - a shipwreck graveyard... What awaits him for his Trial of the Sea?
Go check out the sample guidebook and back Sundered Isles on Kickstarter! Go learn more about everything Ironsworn and get your solo gaming on!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Trireme from TabletopAudio.com High Seas Pursuit from TabletopAudio.com Sunken Temple from TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 18 Jun 2024 | NOTORIOUS/OUTSIDERS | Episode 2: The Crystal Contract, Part II | 00:53:19 | |
Welcome back to the developing trilogy of the bot-human construct Nomad ISIL-8 in NOTORIOUS and OUTSIDERS by Jason Price, a.k.a. Always Checkers Publishing.
After wandering the frozen planet of Utov hunting for the whereabouts of a blueprint thief named Aura Day, a charming Pellucid, or crystalline species, member of the New Uprising, ISIL-8 was turned away and eventually outgunned by one of their potential leads. Luckily, they had saved a New Uprising mystic doctor - Ka Lirra - when they arrived on planet, and were brought in for treatment.
Now the hunt is back on, because the Guild never always fulfills a bounty and remains neutral in the war between the Old Empire & the New Uprising, the Trade Alliance profiting from the entire thing, and all the other factions tied up in the conflict.
However, when ISIL-8 begins making some progress, all signs point backwards...
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Laser Blaster sounds from Zapsplat.com Dark City from TabletopAudio.com Mech War from TabletopAudio.com Robot Scrapyard from TabletopAudio.com Solemn Vow from TabletopAudio.com Starforged Fray from TabletopAudio.com Survivors' Bivouac from TabletopAudio.com Weirder Things 2 from TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 16 Jan 2024 | Ironsworn: Sundered Isles | Episode 3 - To The Skies | 01:03:59 | |
Dyne, Laolo, and Ephraim return to Isto Mavana to seek medical attention for the puppet vine sprouting from Ephraim's arm. After an unfortunate surgery, the Resistance decides that the island explored by the crew of the Venture is the most promising, and they must return. This time, however, Dyne and friends are tasked with exploring the skyward half of the island floating above the oceans nearby, where more dangers await them than just flora and fauna.
Go learn more about everything Ironsworn and get your solo gaming on!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Distilled Tropical from TabletopAudio.com Mushroom Forest from TabletopAudio.com Puzzle Dungeon from TabletopAudio.com Shaman's Hollow from TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 26 Nov 2024 | Mining Media | Holiday One-Shots | 00:22:24 | |
Welcome back to Mining Media where we turn your binging into better TTRPG experiences by reminiscing on the innocent wonder of winter holiday magic in our youths... or was that just me?
This month I want to talk about mining holiday movies for ideas for your festive one-shots, whether you take a break to do something silly or expand the lore of your ongoing game's universe or prep something entirely from scratch for holiday shenanigans - there's gold in them there cheesy movies.
Take home points & some ideas based on holiday movies:
Now go get your notebook, pop on some cheesy holiday movie, and tell me what you come up with! ----more---- I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Sleigh Bells Sound Effect by GowlerMusic -- https://freesound.org/s/265458/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Cozy Town by Qlowdy | https://soundcloud.com/qlowdymusic Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US | |||
| 23 Apr 2024 | Mining Media | The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee | 00:18:00 | |
Welcome to another Mining Media where we turn your binging into better TTRPG experiences. In this episode we're talking about Fonda Lee's incredible gangster fantasy trilogy The Green Bone Saga. This series is one of *very* few (maybe the only?) that I've rated 5 stars down the line. It has enough magic and urban fantasy to feel wondrous, incredibly emotional character development, intense martial arts action scenes, harsh betrayals, drugs, sex, crime, corruption, generational trauma and expectations... I could go on and on forever - please read it and talk to me about it!
Anyway, the take home points for how to make your TTRPG sessions better with The Green Bone Saga include:
In the end, I think this episode was less "here's what to use in your game," and more "PLEASE READ THESE AND LET'S PLAY AN RPG CAMPAIGN IN THIS WORLD TOGETHER." If you're interested, please let me know. And Fonda Lee, if you ever see this and want someone to make your world an RPG, I'll help!
Download Rene's One-Page RPG One Last Quest and bring back your favorite characters for one more mission as elderly versions of themselves!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Midnight Room by | e s c p | https://www.escp.space https://escp-music.bandcamp.com | |||
| 04 Feb 2025 | Sundered Isles Season 2 | Episode 2 - Vows in Blood and Bondstone | 00:47:10 | |
Welcome back to the Heart of the Dominion and season 2 of my Ironsworn: Sundered Isles series.
In this episode, Cassidy negotiates with Azriel - an Inquisitor of the Church of the Enduring Servants and the resurrected brother of her ghost lover Leigh Stirling. After swearing an iron vow to protect the Enduring Blade in the upcoming race to the sky isle, she then reflects on the vow made in blood to her ship, The Revenant, and travels to the city of Crania on the largest island of Kyros, home of the Kyrody Dominion, to meet with her clockwork contact for the Ebb, who has an urgent, unexpected question...
Learn more about Ironsworn here. ----more----
If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands The Drowned Tower by TabletopAudio.com Interrogation Room by TabletopAudio.com Foreshadow by Monument Studios Puzzle Dungeon by TabletopAudio.com Haven by TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 02 Jul 2024 | NOTORIOUS/OUTSIDERS | Episode 3: Arro, Planet of Crime & Grime | 00:55:57 | |
Welcome back to the developing trilogy of the bot-human construct Nomad ISIL-8 in NOTORIOUS and OUTSIDERS by Jason Price, a.k.a. Always Checkers Publishing.
ISIL-8 has failed The Guild and failed to complete a bounty, leaving the frozen planet of Utov without their target Aura Day, a.k.a. Ka Lirra, one of the masterminds behind the bot-construct clone army ISIL-8 was created for. However, Ka Lirra left a message and coordinates for ISIL-8 to follow if they survived which lead out to the far edges of the galaxy, to a corporate planet named Arro where crimelords rule, and businesses can experiment with sketchy funding.
Before they can dock at a spaceport and begin their search for answers about themself, ISIL-8 is cornered by space pirates known as Huska's Corsairs, rich raiders of the edges of the galaxy who operate out of Arro. In order to get planetside, ISIL-8 has to take a job for them to hunt down a loudmouth Quadoi (4-armed alien) who has a habit of leaking information and ruining profitable raids.
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Endless Voyage from TabletopAudio.com Goblin Ambush from TabletopAudio.com Mega City Slums from TabletopAudio.com Orbital Prison Break from TabletopAudio.com Stakeout from TabletopAudio.com Starbase Omega from TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 11 Feb 2025 | [Bonus] Star Crossed Valentine's Special! | 01:22:15 | |
Happy Heart Day! As a bonus episode for the month of February (and because we love a good reason to do a holiday themed session), I've brought my wife Lynn back for a Valentine's Day one-shot. Last year was the not-so-romantic Call of Cthulhu scenario, but this year we're really leaning into the theme with...
Star Crossed by Alex Roberts! A game about two characters with a forbidden love, who really really want to, but really really can't!
We decide to keep the TTRPG vibes strong and go with a love story about two adventurers in the same party on a long, arduous quest. Would their love bring about the ruin of their mission, or are they just holding themselves back? Hope you enjoy!
----more----
If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 25 Feb 2025 | Mining Media | Rom-Coms & Romance at the Table | 00:24:59 | |
Welcome back to Mining Media where we turn your binging into better TTRPG experiences by missing my chance to say the right thing, then botching the chance I got to redeem myself, then thinking it's all hopeless until the stars align and we're standing across from one another in the first place we ever met... We're talking Romance! Continuing our February Valentine's theme through to Mining Media, let's talk about the oft-ill-handled but ever so tempting and promising idea of romantic plots in your tabletop RPGs.
I watched a lot of rom-coms and referenced a fair amount of my RPG collection for helpful language and sections of books talking about handling romance responsibly, safely, and carefully, and here's my take-home points for romance at the table:
Games Referenced:
Homework: Think about your character and what type of person might draw their romantic side out. How would their behavior change? How would that affect their goals, existing relationships, and more?
Now go put on a rom-com or grab your favorite romance novel and tell me what kind of plot-line your character would want to explore!
----more---- I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: From Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/needmospace/afternoon-nap License code: ZNENRQQPKF9I3LSJ | |||
| 28 May 2024 | Mining Media | Fallout TV Series | 00:19:23 | |
Welcome to another Mining Media where we turn your binging into better TTRPG experiences. In this episode we're talking about Amazon Prime's new video game to TV adaptation Fallout. Based on the hit video game franchise, season one takes some liberties with what's been established in the games but succeeds in making an enjoyable, pretty true to universe story that uses a lot of great techniques you can pull for your tabletop RPG campaigns.
The take home points are:
Download Rene's One-Page RPG One Last Quest and bring back your favorite characters for one more mission as elderly versions of themselves!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/adi-goldstein/i-dont-need-your-love License code: FSMKKQOUT4ZD4EHK | |||
| 15 Oct 2024 | Koriko: A Magical Year | Volume 4: Summer | 01:01:00 | |
Welcome back to more Koriko: A Magical Year by Jack Harrison & Mousehole Press!
In this episode, Summer brings the heat! Genie hangs out with some familiar confidants and gets new perspectives into their places in Koriko, as well as gets a peek behind the curtain, according to Koriko & Ace, glimpsing a bit more of the truth about this incredible city. Lastly, we end with a contentious new confidant and Genie's first impression isn't her best...
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Windswept Realms, Volume II by Vindsvept | |||
| 10 Dec 2024 | Perspective Checks | Star (Characters Without Stories) - Making Failure Feel Better | 01:08:54 | |
Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss what they love about this wonderful hobby!
2024's Perspective Checks episodes come to a close with Star from the *amazing* Characters Without Stories podcast as we talk about failure in TTRPGs. Star is a wonderful person I've met this past year and have been lucky enough to chat with on a few occasions, and we break down how failure in games like D&D 5e can leave you feeling a little let down, and how other games take different approaches that can make failure feel so much more meaningful and still satisfying.
You've got homework! Go out there and find a new game that feels like it fits the kinds of stories you like telling at the table and TRY IT. Make a character, test out how it feels when you succeed and see how it prompts you when you fail. Think about why it frames it this way versus another mode of resolution. What do you like/not like?
Games mentioned in the episode (probably missed a few):
----more---- Friend of the show Raso & I just released a game called MECH, a Carved by RUNE hack of GilaRPGs' incredible RUNE & REAP games, which I've played on this channel. It's a solo TTRPG with tactical combat where you pilot a MECH against Dormants - apocalyptic threats to humanity. Can you remember the Promise and pledge it or beat back the kaiju to buy the city more time? More will be coming out for MECH in 2025!
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Midnight Room by | e s c p | https://www.escp.space https://escp-music.bandcamp.com Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 09 Jul 2024 | Perspective Checks | Matt Risby (The Bad Spot) - Solo Gaming for an Audience | 01:17:12 | |
Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with a friend in the TTRPG world and discuss a topic of their choice!
If you're familiar with Ironsworn, especially Starforged, this week's guest likely needs no introduction - Matt Risby is the man behind the microphone for the incredible podcast The Bad Spot, which has 3 incredible seasons of Ironsworn: Starforged, some original Ironsworn, and is just beginning its brand new Sundered Isles series!
In this episode, we talk about playing solo RPGs, how it's a different experience as one shared among friends, and how it gets even more complicated when you're making solo RPG content for an audience. We talk a lot about how running games for groups has made us better at playing solo, and how the opposite also works - solo play greatly enhances your GMing at a full table! Matt heaps praise on Jason Cordova / The Gauntlet's The Between, a Victorian horror RPG which builds on Brindlewood Bay's mystery mechanics, and we have a blast talking about our journeys in solo gaming.
You can follow The Bad Spot on Twitter at @thebadspotcast and go subscribe to the YouTube page to catch up on the adventures of Gideon & Lorenzo in Ironsworn: Sundered Isles!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 07 May 2024 | Ironsworn: Sundered Isles | Episode 10 - The Trial of the Heart | 01:01:23 | |
Dyne and the crew of the Venture confront the colossal skeletal creature in the heart of the sky island Manao, while dragging the injured Cynosure Society scientists to safety. Tamrin snags a sweet trophy. Maezyu finds a weak point in the Cynosure Society's complex sky iron contraption. Dyne realizes the terrible fate of Manao and the heavy truth of the Mystic Trials - the responsibility passed on to those who can wield such power. He reavows his dedication to protect the island of Isto Mavana and its inhabitants.
Having completed his trial, only one thing remains for the Resistance - to drive Admiral Magnus Cassidy and the rest of the Kyrody out of the Reaches for good...
Go learn more about everything Ironsworn and get your solo gaming on!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Dark Continent from TabletopAudio.com Lost Mine from TabletopAudio.com Infernal Machine from TabletopAudio.com Starforged - Fray from TabletopAudio.com Solemn Vow from TabletopAudio.com Escape from Shadow from TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 01 Apr 2024 | [Bonus] Mining Media | Baldur's Gate 3 | 00:02:28 | |
Has anyone heard of this obscure CRPG called Baldur's Gate 3? Apparently there have been 2 others, but let me tell you something... they're pretty neat for getting tabletop RPG ideas!
Happy April Fool's, ya nerds, and I'm super grateful you're all listening. Thanks, hope you chuckled, and if you do play Baldur's Gate 3 (you should), send me your favorite character builds!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 19 Nov 2024 | Koriko: A Magical Year | Volume 6: Winter | 00:53:52 | |
Welcome back to more Koriko: A Magical Year by Jack Harrison & Mousehole Press!
Winter comes to Koriko, and Genie is coming up on the end of her Magical Year. She spends time with her Confidants, even meeting a few new ones, and pushes her limits as the city's witch. She steps a bit outside of her comfort zone, but sometimes that's the only way to grow. The season ends with a heartfelt gathering and gift from her friends.
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Court of the Count by TabletopAudio.com Winter Encampment by TabletopAudio.com Collegium Magica by TabletopAudio.com The Madding Crowd by TabletopAudio.com Winter's Tale by Vindsvept Into The Mind's Eye, Part I by Vindsvept Moment's Respite by Vindsvept Night of the Fae by Vindsvept Necromancer by Vindsvept Winter's Quest by Vindsvept | |||
| 13 Aug 2024 | Perspective Checks | Monument Studios - Music for TTRPGs & the Fantasy+ Kickstarter | 01:04:33 | |
Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss a topic of their choice!
This month's episode concerns the power of music, ambience, and sound in TTRPG play, and I'm joined by brothers Noah & Tyler that make up Monument Studios, which is launching a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for their upcoming Fantasy+ app full of music, ambience, and sound effects for fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and more.
We talk about their history with music, how their journey led them to doing ambience and tailoring things towards the TTRPG hobby space, and more.
The Kickstarter launches on August 20th, but you can click here to sign up for the pre-launch and get notified when it goes live. There will be tons of audio assets in every tier, as well as bonus maps from Domille's Wondrous Works, VTT assets, and stretch goals to get Discord plug-ins and more.
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Tavern Fiddle by Monument Studios Heroic Orchestra Mix B by Monument Studios | |||
| 18 Mar 2025 | Sundered Isles Season 2 | Episode 5 - Severed Connections | 00:54:26 | |
Welcome back to the Heart of the Dominion and season 2 of my Ironsworn: Sundered Isles series.
Cassidy has reached Damaris Iver in the guise of the companion Blythe Bannister, but Leigh senses trouble coming to stop their prison break. Someone much higher up the social power ladder has taken an interest into the unfolding events that Cassidy has found herself wrapped up in, and she may just be overmatched...
Learn more about Ironsworn here. ----more----
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark Rene's Games: email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode (in order of appearance): Secret Facility by TabletopAudio.com Hidden Passage by TabletopAudio.com Ice Dragon by TabletopAudio.com The Undercroft by TabletopAudio.com The Stranger by TabletopAudio.com Unveiling Atmos by Monument Studios Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 09 Apr 2024 | Perspective Checks | Adam Kelly (The STF Network) - GMing for the Long Haul | 00:59:29 | |
Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with a friend in the TTRPG world and discuss a topic of their choice!
This time I'm joined by a fellow podcaster and GM who I respect and listen to constantly - Adam Kelly of The STF Network! The Strange Table Fellows have a whole lot of shows and content for you to enjoy, but we talk about the massive 3 Adventure Path kitbash Adam and friends put together to form the story of the Apollo Protection Agency, as well as his other experiences in gaming and the music world.
Adam was so easy to talk to and really cares about community in the creative scene. He gives great advice about running or playing in your home games, tips if you're thinking about podcasting, and has more than a few spot on analogies that show his background in music and TTRPG skills go hand in hand.
Find more of the STF Network on their website, join their Discord, subscribe to their podcast feeds, and maybe I'll see you at STFConline!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 27 Mar 2024 | [Bonus] The Substratum Protocol Preview | 01:52:14 | |
The Substratum Protocol is a scientific initiative to explore and investigate an unnatural, cosmic portal that has appeared at the very center of the Earth's core. At the time of its arrival, a massive fracture split the planet and swallowed entire cities. The first scientists to attempt any form of data analysis from signals emitted by the portal struggled with their sanity afterwards. Using patented DSPT Mk II exo-suits, a team of scientists will descend into the Fracture and travel to the portal to close it before things get even worse...
This game is WILD! Using the Hints & Hijinx engine which pits *depreciating* step dice skill rolls against a deck of playing cards, stress mechanics which aid understanding the unfathomable at the expense of your die results, and 10 levels of increasingly trippy areas to explore, this game is a blast. I can't wait to bring it to a table and play with others!
Go check out The Substratum Protocol now on Backerkit and keep up with more Pandion Games projects in the future!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Dark Continent from TabletopAudio.com Dying World from TabletopAudio.com Gravity from TabletopAudio.com Infernal Machine from TabletopAudio.com Protean Fields from TabletopAudio.com Testing Chamber from TabletopAudio.com Starforged Vault from TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 29 Oct 2024 | Delta Green | Music From A Darkened Room | 03:03:22 | |
Spooky October one-shot #2, and this time it's a DEEP conspiracy of actual terror and horror, we're playing Delta Green by Arc Dream Publishing!
Specifically, we're playing the scenario Music From A Darkened Room, an investigation for Agents that takes them into 1206 Spooner Avenue, Meadowbrook, New Jersey, and IT. IS. NOT. OKAY.
Content Warnings: Suicidal ideation, Dead Children, Violence, and probably a lot more, so be safe, please!
I was lucky enough to be joined by two bonafide horrorheads in Amber (published horror author) and Christian (published horror scenario writer) from the DMs After Dark, my streaming crew and local best gaming buds, who helped make this session a lot better, since real terrifying horror is usually not my strength!
I hope that you enjoy, but sincerely hope that you do so safely, because this game can be very, very dark. We try to keep it light, but if any content upsets you, make sure you take care of yourself.
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Dark 1 Hour Mix by Monument Studios Horror Action Scene Setter by Monument Studios | |||
| 07 Jan 2025 | Sundered Isles Season 2 | Episode 0 - Campaign Creation | 01:23:59 | |
We're back for season 2 of Ironsworn: Sundered Isles and this time the story will be taking place shortly after the conclusion of Dyne's story from last year in a very different location - The Heart of the Kyrody Dominion itself!
Rene goes through the campaign creation steps to adjust some of the Truths from season 1 to reflect for the new part of the world this story takes place in, creates his character for the game - Cassidy McCabe, a Haunted Cutthroat Spy - and makes a map of the Myriads we'll be exploring in this season!
TTRPG Charity Event for Doctors Without Borders! Please please please check out friend of the podcast Star from Characters Without Stories and her friends' charity event going on all through January over at: https://tinyurl.com/TabletopTitan . You can donate however you'd like, but you can also redeem great things with your donation like TTRPGs, a seat at professionally GM'd tables, and more! It's a great cause, so consider going and donating. If you do, send me proof and I'll send you a free copy of MECH or some stickers or something!
----more----
If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark MECH | email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Downtime Acoustics by Monument Studios Trireme by TabletopAudio.com Pirates by TabletopAudio.com Map Chamber by TabletopAudio.com Windswept Realms, Volume III by Vindsvept | |||
| 26 Mar 2024 | Mining Media | Delicious In Dungeon | 00:21:03 | |
Welcome to another Mining Media where we turn your binging into better TTRPG experiences. In this episode we're talking about Delicious In Dungeon - a manga turned anime currently streaming on Netflix about a group of adventurers delving a massive dungeon and eating the monsters they encounter along the way!
This show is so obviously inspired by traditional TTRPGs from decades past, but does such an incredible job of environmental storytelling through meticulously designing each level of the titular Dungeon to portray a well thought out, functioning ecosystem. As a biologist/ecologist by day, this show is inspiring in its devotion to depicting believable dungeon ecology that helps tell a cohesive story and makes for much more interesting monsters/encounters.
So the next time you're prepping (as a GM) or exploring (as a player) a dungeon, take the time to think about how every creature here is carving out its place in the food web/ecosystem, what resources are abundant or scarce and how that affects survival or behaviors in the nearby region, and ask questions about how you can use them to your advantage!
If you want to read it, here's Sage Latorra's A 16 HP Dragon article!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Music by Patrick A. from Pixabay | |||
| 17 Dec 2024 | LOOT | Sleigh Down Slayground - Holiday One-Shot | 03:01:55 | |
Happy holidays! I'm a sucker for holiday themed one-shots, so here we are taking the very cool LOOT by GilaRPGs and reskinning all of its West Marches fantasy goodness into cartoon holiday movie shenanigans!
I'm joined by Troy and Jess from the DMs After Dark, friend of the DMs Eileen (@comradeeileen.bsky.social), and home group homie returning to the show Raso (Raso's Beacon) as we play through a holiday themed LOOT sleigh down event.
Santa has crashed the sleigh in Tinsel Town (really?) and the locals have taken advantage of the magic of his toy bag to create chaos. Our freelancers are supposed to be on the easiest shift of the year for their interplanar security detail, but now they have to go rescue Santa, his sleigh, and find that toy bag before things get worse and Christmas is ruined...
----more----
Friend of the show Raso & I just released a game called MECH, a Carved by RUNE hack of GilaRPGs' incredible RUNE & REAP games, which I've played on this channel. It's a solo TTRPG with tactical combat where you pilot a MECH against Dormants - apocalyptic threats to humanity. Can you remember the Promise and pledge it or beat back the kaiju to buy the city more time? More will be coming out for MECH in 2025!
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Winter's Morning by Vindsvept Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 24 Sep 2024 | Mining Media | The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells | 00:21:53 | |
Welcome back to Mining Media where we turn your binging into better TTRPG experiences by using every monitoring drone we have access to to analyze every last bit of information and set our performance stability to 98% efficiency.
This week we're talking about The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, a far future dystopian sci-fi series that follows Murderbot, the Sec-Unit with freedom from its governor module as it explores the universe with free will for the first time and protects humans from being stupid and hurting themselves while just trying to watch its media.
It's an incredible series and inspired my character ISIL-8 in my NOTORIOUS Trilogy Mode series.
The take home points are:
In case you're reading this and are feeling incredibly generous, I started a Ko-Fi page to cover the cost of podcast hosting, video conferencing, and transcription software subscriptions. No pressure, but if you donate I'll virtually hug and/or hi-five you, your call.
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Let's Stay In by Braden Deal from Uppbeat | https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/lets-stay-in | |||
| 25 Jun 2024 | Mining Media | Persona Video Game Series | 00:19:08 | |
Welcome to another Mining Media where we turn your binging into better TTRPG experiences. In this episode we're talking about Atlus' video game franchise Persona. These JRPGs are some of the best video games I've ever played, they're full of great tactical turn-based combat, interesting dungeons, shadow worlds and slice of life as teenagers in modern Japan. But, most importantly, these games have TONS of great stuff to consider yoinking for your games!
Take home points:
Now go play some Persona and get back to me in a few months!
Download Rene's One-Page RPG One Last Quest and bring back your favorite characters for one more mission as elderly versions of themselves!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Your Love Is What I Need by Soundroll from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/your-love-is-what-i-need | |||
| 06 Aug 2024 | NOTORIOUS/OUTSIDERS | Episode 5: Nos, Planet of Crystal & Constructs | 01:00:01 | |
Welcome back to the developing trilogy of the bot-human construct Nomad ISIL-8 in NOTORIOUS and OUTSIDERS by Jason Price, a.k.a. Always Checkers Publishing.
ISIL-8 has narrowly avoided the Trade Alliance and escaped through FTL travel to a remote corner of the galaxy. Through interrogating the mystic-marked assassin nomad and covert communications to ally nomads and other contacts throughout the galaxy, the bot-construct narrows down their answers to a small section of space on their star chart. But, as they close in, a terrifyingly well-encrypted message from an Old Empire base goads ISIL-8 to a crystalline planet known as Nos, where the mystic-marked have been living in refuge for years.
The assassin warns ISIL-8 that it's a trap, but the allure of answers and freedom for their clone batch siblings is too great... On Nos, ISIL-8 finds that Ka Lirra's efforts to deprive the Old Empire of the bot-construct army did not end their efforts, as a new species known as Ghol have taken over the program with incomplete notes, which has led to unfortunate results.
Will ISIL-8 be able to stop the cloning facilities and free their kind? The trilogy nears its conclusion...
Did you like all those sound effects and music?! All episodes during the month of August will be using music from Monument Studios, who is running a Kickstarter campaign for their Fantasy+ collection of TTRPG music, ambience, sound effects, and more! Click the link to sign up and be notified when the campaign goes live and get TONS of incredible, professional quality music for your tabletop games!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Dying Light B by Monument Studios Slow Burn A by Monument Studios Odyssey by Monument Studios Sci Fi Idle Ambience by Monument Studios Friends by Monument Studios Idle Synths by Monument Studios Boss Fight B by Monument Studios Out of Time Atmos by Monument Studios Chase by Monument Studios Weak Blaster A by Monument Studios The Moment Before by Monument Studios Explosion in Distance by Monument Studios Explosion A by Monument Studios Explosion C by Monument Studios Get Out Atmos by Monument Studios Intervention by Monument Studios Simple Hybrid Combat by Monument Studios Deception by Monument Studios Alice Theme A by Monument Studios Eleventh Hour by Monument Studios Reload A by Monument Studios Blaster A by Monument Studios Laser by Monument Studios | |||
| 06 Feb 2024 | Ironsworn: Sundered Isles | Episode 4 - The Trial of the Storm | 01:00:28 | |
Dyne unintentionally initiates his first Mystic Trial - the Trial of the Storm, and makes some mistakes (and a bit of a mess) before he gets a handle on his powers. However, he comes out the other side with a little more control and a lot more to do, both in his own journey to master his sorcery and the resistance against the Kyrody Dominion.
Pre-order Starforged physical books or get it digital from Modiphius!
Go learn more about everything Ironsworn and get your solo gaming on!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Ancient Beacon from TabletopAudio.com Lush World from TabletopAudio.com Starforged Fray from TabletopAudio.com The Voyage Begins from TabletopAudio.com Designed Lightning 2 & Record Scratch from ZapSplat.com | |||
| 11 Jun 2024 | Perspective Checks | Jordan (Goosepoop Games) - Zines & Indie Publishing | 01:09:47 | |
Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with a friend in the TTRPG world and discuss a topic of their choice! I met this episode's guest on the relatively new social media platform Threads, where the RPG community is still pretty small and interactive. Jordan is a Mainer and runs the small game company Goosepoop Games where he is focused on making silly, wholesome games. I knew I had to talk to them when I saw a recent game of theirs called Good Soup - a wholesome game where you play as woodland creatures in the Soup Troupe with alternate mechanics involving spoonfuls of a real, shared soup (preferably separate bowls but you do you).
In this episode we talk about zines in the TTRPG space, the importance of community, why we love silly games, and creativity as an outlet but also as a job.
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 27 Feb 2024 | Mining Media | Sea of Stars | 00:22:48 | |
Welcome to this month's Mining Media where I help you think about ideas from other forms of entertainment that can elevate your tabletop RPG experience. In this episode we're talking about Sabotage Studio's retro JRPG inspired Sea of Stars - a love letter to the 90s/early 2000s 16-bit JRPGs of my youth.
The game itself is a beautiful game with very evocative locations and, most importantly for this episode, interesting combat mechanics that I think would work to spice up your RPG's combats in very cool ways. The main takeaways from this episode are to include mini-puzzle like conditions to be achieved by your PCs mid-fight in order to mitigate (or altogether stop) a powerful special attack from going off, as well as encouraging teamwork combos in battle through connections made between PCs in or out of combat.
I forgot to mention another great bit of Fabula Ultima's combat mechanics that would work well for that telegraph/countdown to special attack is their option to take the Objective action and work toward a clock that would change the battle. It is generally used for more "end the conflict overall" type of actions, but could be scaled back potentially for this kind of use.
Games Mentioned in this Episode: Fabula Ultima TTJRPG | BREAK! RPG
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Lucid Dreaming by | e s c p | https://www.escp.space https://escp-music.bandcamp.com | |||
| 02 Apr 2024 | Ironsworn: Sundered Isles | Episode 8 - The Dominion Deception | 01:05:50 | |
Dyne and the crew of the Venture make moves to secure The Chimera before a storm comes in and score a warship for the Resistance, which they plan to use to attack another of the Kyrody fleet with unexpectedly. However, villagers from Isto Mavana have been tested for sorcerous potential and taken captive aboard the remaining two Kyrody ships - The Warden and the flagship Ironclad.
The Resistance attempts to take The Warden from Commander Gavin, but learn that they don't know the whole story about the Kyrody Dominion's presence in these waters...
Go check out the sample guidebook and back Sundered Isles on Kickstarter!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Ancient Beacon from TabletopAudio.com Nordic Noir from TabletopAudio.com Pirates! from TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 25 Mar 2025 | Tabletop Tutorial | Hunt(er/ed) with Troy from DMs After Dark | 01:21:03 | |
Join the DMs After Dark discord!
Tabletop Two-torial! It's the second episode of this two-player "learn a game together" series and this time I'm joined by Troy from the DMs After Dark for a game of Hunt(er/ed) by Meghan Cross & Dillin Apelyan of the One Shot Podcast Network! Hunt(er/ed) is a game of a hunter and a monster, and the back and forth in the game of life and death between them. The mechanics are SO fun and involve literally racing to try and roll doubles on dice faster, and then consulting prompts from a deck of cards which deepen the meaning behind the hunt with each step forward and back, coming closer or letting your prey slip between your fingers...
We had a blast with this game and I totally recommend it! Hope you enjoy!
Content Warnings: Language, descriptions of death, nightmares, and guilt.
Also, the Monument Studios folks are about to launch their Fantasy+ tabletop audio app after their successful Kickstarter, so I used music from their catalog for this episode to show you how you can use their library to improve your games! Go check it out! ----more---- If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode (in order of appearance): Across the Plains by Monument Studios High Noon by Monument Studios Knife Sharpen by Monument Studios The Stranger by TabletopAudio.com Emotional Dulcimers by Monument Studios Traveler Guitar by Monument Studios Wicked by Monument Studios Aftermath by Monument Studios Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands
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| 14 May 2024 | Perspective Checks | Sara (DMs After Dark) - Burnout, Creativity, & Taking Breaks | 00:54:47 | |
Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with a friend in the TTRPG world and discuss a topic of their choice!
This time I'm joined by another one of the OGs of Rene's nerdy life on the internet - Baby DM Sara from the DMs After Dark! If you're following this channel, you likely know that I've been playing games with these wonderful nerds for the last few years, and they're continuing to play games over on their Twitch every other Friday, I still edit their audio for podcasts and consider myself a member even though I can't play as often as I'd like on their schedule.
Sara is the youngest of the DMs, a fellow member of Team Wholesome, and came on to talk about something that happens to a lot of us when we get really into the TTRPG hobby (or any hobby really) - burnout. She recently took a little hiatus from the streaming and we discuss checking in with yourself, your fellow players outside of the game space, finding ways to be creative outside of the expectations of content creation, the importance of being silly, and more!
Content Warnings: language, Orcfuck, and silly one-shots being the leg day of the RPG hobby (this is just a good analogy)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 12 Mar 2024 | Perspective Checks | Liz Greene - Geek Therapy | 01:11:18 | |
Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with a friend in the tabletop roleplaying game world and discuss a topic of their choice!
This time Rene is joined once again by Troy from the DMs After Dark to talk with Liz Greene, LMHC MFT TGM/DM GT, a licensed Geek Therapist who uses games and popular media in her sessions! We discuss games as a community, using characters as buffers to experiences, practicing social skills, and putting consequences into perspective, and more.
Please check out these amazing resources and tell us about experiences at the table you've had that have helped you in hard times!
You can find Liz at Serenity Coaching & Counseling, Psychology Today, and find other geek therapists in your area at Geek Therapeutics.
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 10 Sep 2024 | Perspective Checks | Michael Low (Stories RPG) - All Ages Gaming & InfiniBrix! | 01:35:01 | |
Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss what they love about this wonderful hobby!
I was so honored to have this month's guest Michael Low on to chat about his philosophy in all things TTRPGs. Michael is a teacher and game designer whose work you can hear on his podcast Stories RPG, his writing classes which use RPGs over at Luck of Legends, and check out all his games on his Itch.io page!
Not only am I a *huge* fan of Michael's approach to games, his dedication to all ages meaning telling universal, core stories, but I was lucky enough to catch him on the day that he got the thumbs up to talk all about his new project InfiniBrix, which he's creating with Rob Hebert aka Nerdy Paper Games that uses the toys you have around the house to tell stories!
I could gush all day about just being able to nerd out with Michael, but I hope you enjoy our chat! It's probably my longest Perspective Checks, and I will not apologize for a single second! ----more---- I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Breaking News sound bite from Code_box on FreeSound.org | |||
| 29 Feb 2024 | [Bonus] Leap Year REAP Year One-Shot | 01:17:03 | |
More bonus episodes because we get an extra day for the leap year, why not an extra episode?
In this episode I play REAP by Gila RPGs (aka Spencer Campbell) - a soulslike solo RPG and companion game to RUNE, where you take on the role of a Reaper - a necromancer wandering the realms of the dying world Obron, harvesting souls from the evil horrors that plague the denizens of their domains and helping the world find peace in its end.
The mechanics are super fun and easy to learn, but the game honors its source material - it is not easy! You constantly have to deal with your resource management, enemy tactics, and luck of the dice to get you through any fight. I had a great time playing it and loved the tactile appeal of the game, which doesn't translate super well into audio, but I strongly recommend you go check out REAP and RUNE (which I believe still has a free quickstart rules guide so you can test it out), and begin your reaper's journey!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Court of the Count from Tabletop Audio Lord of Bones from Tabletop Audio Goblin Ambush from Tabletop Audio Witch Mountain from Tabletop Audio Music Rewind 3 Sound Effect from ZapSplat.com | |||
| 01 Aug 2024 | [Bonus] Dragonbane - The Sinking Tower Part 2 | 01:06:37 | |
While technically a bonus for 5 Tuesdays in July, editing is a process and I'm a busy person, so this one took a few more days, enjoy the second half of our Dragonbane Free RPG Day one-shot scenario The Sinking Tower to kick off August!
Also! All episodes during the month of August will be using music from Monument Studios, who is running a Kickstarter campaign for their Fantasy+ collection of TTRPG music, ambience, sound effects, and more! Click the link to sign up and be notified when the campaign goes live and get TONS of incredible, professional quality music for your tabletop games!
Download Rene's Finished Games (for free!):
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Prelude by Monument Studios Recap by Monument Studios Old Town by Monument Studios Skirmish by Monument Studios Loading Screen 3 by Monument Studios Forsaken Sanctum by Monument Studios Dangerous Marshlands Tonal by Monument Studios Simple Combat by Monument Studios Somber Cello by Monument Studios Viking War by Monument Studios Dragon Scream R by Monument Studios Meta Heroic Ensemble by Monument Studios Ascendancy by Monument Studios | |||
| 12 Nov 2024 | Perspective Checks | Gloria (GlowPinkstah) - Body Representation in TTRPGs | 01:13:42 | |
Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss what they love about this wonderful hobby!
This month I sat down with Gloria a.k.a. GlowPinkstah, a prolific content creator, TTRPG actual play podcaster, streamer, YouTuber, and advocate for body positivity throughout all media! We talk about all things body representation, playing hot fat characters, how games depict (or don't) all kinds of body shapes and sizes, and how mainstream depictions have created a default negative connotation with fat characters.
Gloria was super fun to talk to, an amazing person to follow online, and has some of the best character names I've ever heard.
Listen to all of her content at Charm Party, and see her as a guest on Castleton and Somebody's Heroes!
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 31 Oct 2024 | [Bonus] Ghost Club RPG | The Haunted Mansion | 02:19:18 | |
There we already 5 Tuesdays in October, but why not upload a 6th episode just for Halloween?!
For a Halloween special Rene played alongside Jess from the DMs After Dark and returning guest Lynn (matrimonally obligated to occasionally game) for some Ghost Club RPG by Andrew Dowell (with some extra gear and archetypes from the New Kids Expansion)! Unlike our other spooky one-shots, this one is perfect for the younger crowd, with a minimal amount of truly terrifying content, landing somewhere between Scooby Doo antics and young adult content like Lockwood & Co. or Dead Boy Detectives.
Join Zoe "Bunny" Hunt, Eleanor "Dandelion" Harrington, and Remington "Twinkles" Paige as they investigate the terror of Twin Falls - The Haunted Mansion.
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands All Hallows Eve from TabletopAudio.com The Attic from TabletopAudio.com Barovian Castle from TabletopAudio.com Haunted from TabletopAudio.com Haunted Ramparts from TabletopAudio.com House on the Hill from TabletopAudio.com Vampire Castle from TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 02 Jan 2024 | Ironsworn: Sundered Isles | Episode 2 - The Gamadar Expedition | 00:57:21 | |
After the successful strike against one of the three Kyrodi battleships to procure medicine for the Eldarian Remnants on Isto Mavana, the crews decide it's time to find a new home for the resistance. Dyne takes his crew Laolo & Ephraim to the nearby island of Gamadar, half-torn into the sky a few leagues above during the Cataclysm. The expedition encounters some nasty local flora and one of the crew is in danger.
Go learn more about everything Ironsworn and get your solo gaming on!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Floating Market from TabletopAudio.com Jungle Ruins from TabletopAudio.com Starforged Fray from TabletopAudio.com Game Show Quiz Sound Effect obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com | |||
| 20 Feb 2024 | Ironsworn: Sundered Isles | Episode 5 - Trouble on Isto Mavana | 00:43:23 | |
Dyne & crew wait out the night on the island of Gamadar, afraid of being spotted by the Dominion sky ship that flew out to the Cynosure Society research station after Dyne's Trial of the Storm. The night does not go peacefully, and their delay in returning to Isto Mavana does not help their cause either - all villagers are being tested for sorcerous potential - and it only gets worse...
Pre-order Starforged physical books or get it digital from Modiphius!
Go learn more about everything Ironsworn and get your solo gaming on!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Shaman's Hollow from TabletopAudio.com Escape the Shadow from TabletopAudio.com Investigator's Office from TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 03 Dec 2024 | Koriko: A Magical Year | Volume 7: Year's End | 00:43:35 | |
Welcome back to more Koriko: A Magical Year by Jack Harrison & Mousehole Press!
Genie's Magical Year has come to an end, and the last few weeks of the year mean she faces the big decision - does she stay in Koriko? Return home to her mentor? Or move on and go somewhere new? I don't think anyone will be surprised by the answer, but there are some really nice moments in this episode to close out our time in Koriko.
What an incredible experience and I hope that you all enjoyed it. Oh, and listen to Yvette Young's incredible song Always (and the Fireside Version, too!).
"Am I a fool for laughing at the memories? Rainy days spent watching time slip through my fingertips. And I'll pull away. I'll tell myself it's better. Maybe now is not our time to be but I can't deny that always - I will love you always." ----more---- Friend of the show Raso & I just released a game called MECH, a Carved by RUNE hack of GilaRPGs' incredible RUNE & REAP games, which I've played on this channel. It's a solo TTRPG with tactical combat where you pilot a MECH against Dormants - apocalyptic threats to humanity. Can you remember the Promise and pledge it or beat back the kaiju to buy the city more time? More will be coming out for MECH in 2025!
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode (in order of appearance): Requiem by Vindsvept Moonless Night by Vindsvept Clarity by Vindsvept Veiled in Light by Vindsvept Lament of the Leaves by Vindsvept Serenity by Vindsvept A Place to Call Home by Vindsvept | |||
| 21 Jan 2025 | Sundered Isles Season 2 | Episode 1 - Threads Take Shape | 00:59:02 | |
Aaaaand it's officially begun! Ironsworn: Sundered Isles season 2 is underway with the first episode of this series. Cassidy makes her way to the Talan Flotilla, a neutral collection of traders dealing in vice and smuggling in Kyrody waters, to track down the captain of the Enduring Blade, who may or may not have valuable information toward achieving her goal of ridding herself of her ex-lover's ghost haunting her.
Learn more about Ironsworn here. ----more----
If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Trireme by TabletopAudio.com Ship of the Line by TabletopAudio.com Noir Procedural by TabletopAudio.com Interrogation Room by TabletopAudio.com Skull Island by TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 20 Aug 2024 | NOTORIOUS/OUTSIDERS | Episode 6: The Finale | 00:56:37 | |
Welcome back for the explosive finale of our trilogy following the bot-human construct Nomad ISIL-8 in NOTORIOUS and OUTSIDERS by Jason Price, a.k.a. Always Checkers Publishing.
The Admiral's Fleet has taken over Nos and set up Chedo Robay and his Ghol assistants to reverse engineer the cloning program designs stolen by ISIL-8's first lead, Ka Lirra (as Aura Day). The Trade Alliance has followed ISIL-8's ship's signature out to Nos and is rooting around for exclusive IP about the clones themselves, and ISIL-8 is just trying to put an end to the program once and for all...
In the end, our bot-human construct tracks down their target in a crystalline cavern, but is busy dealing with the Ghol as the Admiral gets away... Will ISIL-8 stop the cloning program and set those similar to them free? Or will the Old Empire continue experimenting until they have the unbeatable army they need to end the New Uprising?
Did you like all those sound effects and music?! All episodes during the month of August will be using music from Monument Studios, who is running a Kickstarter campaign for their Fantasy+ collection of TTRPG music, ambience, sound effects, and more! Click the link to sign up and be notified when the campaign goes live and get TONS of incredible, professional quality music for your tabletop games!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands To the Stars by Monument Studios Stardust Instrumental by Monument Studios Starscape by Monument Studios Loading Screen B by Monument Studios Simple Pulse by Monument Studios Pre Battle by Monument Studios Call to Arms by Monument Studios Hollow by Monument Studios Alice Guitar by Monument Studios Foreshadow B by Monument Studios Aggressive Maneuvers by Monument Studios Eleventh Hour by Monument Studios Paragon by Monument Studios At the End of All Things by Monument Studios | |||
| 02 Jan 2024 | Ironsworn: Sundered Isles | Episode 0 - Campaign Creation | 00:44:24 | |
Welcome to the Sundered Isles, a setting expansion for the incredible Ironsworn: Starforged roleplaying game by Shawn Tomkin & Joshua Meehan.
In this series I'm going to be playing the (as yet) unreleased rules for the Sundered Isles setting, an age of sail take on Starforged with naval exploration, pirate themes, and general discovery built into the game. It was added on a stretch goal for the massively successful Starforged Kickstarter and is slated to be crowdfunded sometime in early 2024.
In episode 0 we talk about the basics of the system, Choose Our Truths to create the setting of our Sundered Isles game, and create our main character - Dyne, the young Merchant Sorcerer.
This episode is completely optional, but if you want to hear how Ironsworn games get started, I hope it's helpful and entertaining! (spoiler: we get a monkey companion, so ... pretty great)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Salt Marsh from TabletopAudio.com
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| 02 Jul 2024 | [Bonus] RUNE for June | 00:57:17 | |
Not a 5th Tuesday bonus episode, but just keeping up the rhyming bonus episodes with Gila RPGs solo games and in June that means RUNE. Similar to REAP, which I played back in February for the Leap Year, RUNE is a solo TTRPG based on the Dark Souls and Elden Ring games, and it plays just as punishing (you'll see).
If you want to hear Spencer play through this realm on his YouTube channel, you can watch it here, and if you want pick up Aaron Joliffe's RUNE Realms and content, you can find his games on his itch.io page.
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | Itch.io | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Court of the Count from TabletopAudio.com Escape from Shadow from TabletopAudio.com Lord of Bones from TabletopAudio.com Survivors' Bivouac from TabletopAudio.com Through The Woods from TabletopAudio.com Witch Mountain from TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 04 Mar 2025 | Sundered Isles Season 2 | Episode 4 - Narrow Escapes | 00:56:58 | |
Welcome back to the Heart of the Dominion and season 2 of my Ironsworn: Sundered Isles series.
Having fled the horrible ambush on the sky island, Cassidy gets back to the Revenant just as several ships close in on the sky island for their own chance to reap the rare sky iron resources - known in the Dominion as oléthrios iron. She musters the crew and sails boldly back through the ships and meets back up with Quon to plan out the jailbreak of Damaris Iver, an Ebb Investigator currently being held in Deepwater Harbor's impenetrable dungeons...
Learn more about Ironsworn here. ----more----
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark Rene's Games: email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode (in order of appearance): Vault of Terror by TabletopAudio.com Ship of the Line by TabletopAudio.com High Seas Pursuit by TabletopAudio.com Trireme by TabletopAudio.com Dark City by TabletopAudio.com Dull Braam (D) by Monument Studios Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 01 Feb 2025 | Perspective Checks | Tanya Floaker - Mum Chums & the Evolution of Game Terminology | 01:25:56 | |
Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss what they love about this wonderful hobby!
This month's episode is dropping on the first of the month because Tanya Floaker's newest game Mum Chums is now crowdfunding on Kickstarter! Tanya is a game designer, writer, and consultant out of Edinburgh, Scotland and they are someone I've always enjoyed hearing their WEALTH of knowledge about roleplaying games all over the internet.
During this interview we talk about what made Tanya want to make a slice of life game about the people who care for young children, and how those relationships between parents, carers, friends, and kids all intersect, how people grapple their daily burdens in the routine of it all, and more. We also talk a lot about roleplaying game theory and how terms have changed over time, making these experiences better, a trend which will hopefully continue!
You can find more of Tanya's games on their Itch.io page
Here are some of the games & TTRPG things brought up in the episode:
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If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 29 Dec 2023 | Welcome to the Feed! | 00:04:10 | |
Thanks for giving my nerdy little RPG podcast a chance. This is just a little introduction to me and what you can expect from this podcast feed. Stick around, I hope you like it and find something that inspires you to go start your own game! | |||
| 16 Jul 2024 | NOTORIOUS/OUTSIDERS | Episode 4: Wanted | 00:58:10 | |
Welcome back to the developing trilogy of the bot-human construct Nomad ISIL-8 in NOTORIOUS and OUTSIDERS by Jason Price, a.k.a. Always Checkers Publishing.
ISIL-8 finds themselves wanted on the planet of Arro after their run-in with the hostile hunting down a rogue hacker. Bounties go up through the Guild to bring the missing Bot-Construct in however possible, but ISIL-8 still has a job through Huska's Corsairs and questions of their own to answer about the Company that created them.
Tracking down leads including the target Xed Gron's hacker ally, being confronted by a hired assassin, and meeting other discarded victim's of Arro's corporate experiments, ISIL-8 finally finds the loudmouth Quadoi, but their answers about the cloning program will have to wait, as they're ambushed on the way off planet... Luckily, they've taken a hostage.
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Cyberpunk City from TabletopAudio.com Docking Bay from TabletopAudio.com Dungeon Collapse from TabletopAudio.com Mega City Slums from TabletopAudio.com Robot Scrapyard from TabletopAudio.com Sand Raiders from TabletopAudio.com Stakeout from TabletopAudio.com Starforged: Planetside from TabletopAudio.com Weirder Things 2 from TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 30 Jan 2024 | [Bonus] One Last Quest Game Release! | 01:37:41 | |
It's the 5th Tuesday of the month which means we're doing something special, and that means it's time to release One Last Quest, a one page RPG that allows you to bring back some of your favorite PCs of campaigns past and play them in their elderly retired years. However, a loose thread or problem arises that forces them to put down the shuffleboard and dust off the old heroics one more time.
Download at https://RenePlaysGames.itch.io/One-Last-Quest
It's a hack 'n' mash of the popular rules lite RPG Lasers & Feelings by the incredible John Harper (Blades in the Dark, Agon) with a sprinkling of some All Outta Bubblegum by Michael Sullivan & Jeffrey Grant.
Hopefully you enjoy and you give it a shot with your group, reliving some of your favorite characters from over the years.
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Elliot Kings, Riggs - Paper Walls (with Mykyl) [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/PaperWalls Watch: http://ncs.lnk.to/PaperWallsAT/youtube Arcando - In My Head (feat. Britt Lari) [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://NCS.io/InMyHead | |||
| 22 Oct 2024 | Wraithound | The Roots of Silvermist Pavilion | 02:02:43 | |
It's Spooky October One-Shots time!
For the first of the three Halloween horror one-shots, Rene sits down with Troy from the DMs After Dark to play Wraithound by Cezar Capacle, an incredible Brazilian game designer whose philosophy I love so much, so it's very exciting to finally play one of his games on the podcast!
Wraithound is a zero-prep, GM-less game where you play ghost hunters of an ancient order, tasked with investigating and dealing with supernatural threats. The game uses 2d6 and a standard deck of playing cards (jokers included) to create a location with escalating threats and obstacles to overcome until you confront the final boss!
Definitely go check out more of Cezar's games and let me know which you pick! I've got quite a few more to get to myself! In fact, you should go look into and back his new fantasy project Everspark! ----more---- I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Music Box FX by Monument Studios The Dining Room by Monument Studios Dark 1 Hour Mix by Monument Studios Get Out Atmos by Monument Studios Solstice B by Monument Studios Cryptic Choir by Monument Studios Red Room by Monument Studios Chaotic Drums by Monument Studios Melancholic Piano by Monument Studios | |||
| 31 Dec 2024 | 2024 Retrospective | Rene Plays Games, Year 1 | 00:22:59 | |
Fill out the Google Form here!
It has been 1 full year of my foray into the world of podcasting all on my own, and wow has it been a fulfilling one!
I go over some stats, numbers, achievements, goals met and yet to be accomplished, and talk about some more I have for 2025.
I am so grateful for anyone out there listening, and I really hope I've shown you a game that makes you want to explore a new way of playing games, or introduced you to a creator you've come to love, or anything that you feel like made your time spent listening to me this year worth it.
See you in 2025.
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 13 Feb 2024 | Perspective Checks | Matt Raso - Telling Hopeful Stories in Desperate Settings | 01:00:06 | |
Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with a friend in the tabletop roleplaying game world and discuss a topic of their choice!
For this episode I was joined by artist, video game streamer, and long-time home party member of Rene's - Matt Raso. Matt is the graphic designer behind both the DMs After Dark and Rene Plays Games logos, and you can find his art on Instagram and game streams on Twitch. Matt is a big fan of the grimdark genre from Berserk! to Souls games, and really has a great penchant for bringing emotionally charged characters to the gaming table. We discuss hallmarks of the grimdark genre, setting elements, and why some of the most important moments in these stories are the little wins, the faint rays of hope, and the attachments made in a world so quick to tear you down.
Hopefully you enjoy that chat and get some ideas for your own games!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands | |||
| 24 Dec 2024 | Bucket of Bolts | Sleigh Full of Santas Holiday One-Player-One-Shot | 00:45:24 | |
Happy Merry & hope your holidays are going wonderfully cozy, easy, and not at all stressful.
In this Christmas Eve solo holiday special, I'm reskinning Jack Harrison a.k.a. Mousehole Press' Bucket of Bolts from a futuristic spaceship POV experience to inhabiting the iconic sleigh of St. Nicholas himself, instead playing as the sleigh for the many Santas throughout the centuries.
It's short, simple, and fun, but definitely made me think about how I would run this game if I was playing in a sci-fi game, especially because it opens up such interesting ideas for sentient ships, AI co-pilots, and just fleshing out the story of an oft-overlooked member of any spacefaring party - the ship itself.
Other contributors to Bucket of Bolts whose tables I used included: ----more---- Friend of the show Raso & I just released a game called MECH, a Carved by RUNE hack of GilaRPGs' incredible RUNE & REAP games, which I've played on this channel. It's a solo TTRPG with tactical combat where you pilot a MECH against Dormants - apocalyptic threats to humanity. Can you remember the Promise and pledge it or beat back the kaiju to buy the city more time? More will be coming out for MECH in 2025!
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Bucket of Bolts soundtrack by Mousehole Press | |||
| 18 Feb 2025 | Sundered Isles Season 2 | Episode 3 - Races Against Time | 00:49:51 | |
Welcome back to the Heart of the Dominion and season 2 of my Ironsworn: Sundered Isles series.
After a brief conversation with Quon, the clockwork contact for the Ebb, about freeing an important prisoner in Deepwater Harbor's dungeons, Cassidy rushes to fulfill her iron vow to Church of the Enduring Servant's Inquisitor Azriel Stirling to protect the crew of the Enduring Blade as they claim it for resources. However, when the Revenant arrives before any others, Cassidy investigates the sky island and experiences a horrible prophecy in the mists... One that quickly comes true as the Bloodsworn descend on the sky island.
Learn more about Ironsworn here. ----more----
If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree | BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode (in order of appearance): Mother of Deceit Reprise by Monument Studios Wherever the Path May Lead by Vindsvept Solemn Vow by TabletopAudio.com Voyage Begins by TabletopAudio.com A World Divided by Vindsvept Skull Island by TabletopAudio.com Terror in the Woods by TabletopAudio. Forsaken by Vindsvept | |||
| 04 Jun 2024 | NOTORIOUS/OUTSIDERS | Episode 1: ISIL-8 & The Crystal Contract, Part I | 01:03:16 | |
A brand new beginning! For the first time since the podcast started I'm starting a brand new series, and I'm super excited to be playing "Trilogy Mode" combining NOTORIOUS and OUTSIDERS by Jason Price, a.k.a. Always Checkers Publishing. These games recreate the solo bounty hunter vibes of Star Wars (especially the Mandalorian), Cowboy Bebop, and westerns/space operas so well. Also, Jason has a Kickstarter running for another week at the time of this episode publishing for Revolt!, a fantasy TTRPG of overthrowing a monarchy with card based mechanics for solo to 4 players, so check it out!
In our new series, we create our Nomad, the Bot-Human Construct known as ISIL-8, one of many identical bots created by the Trade Alliance for use in war, but who has gained individual sentience through a malfunction, damage, or clever hacking. They are employed as a bounty hunter as they live on the run from the corporation that still considers them property, and they've taken a bounty for Aura Day, a Pellucid (crystalline humanoid) hiding out on the frozen planet Utov, wanted for stealing and sharing blueprints of The Old Empire's with the New Uprising (oh yea, we're going there). This may end up being more than 3 episodes, because this first one doesn't go super well, but it certainly was full of awesome events!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands Warriyo - Mortals (feat. Laura Brehm) [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/mortals Watch: http://youtu.be/yJg-Y5byMMw Docking Bay from TabletopAudio.com Gravity from TabletopAudio.com Lonesome West from TabletopAudio.com Robot Scrapyard from TabletopAudio.com Solemn Vow from TabletopAudio.com | |||
| 02 Jan 2024 | Ironsworn: Sundered Isles | Episode 1 - The Resistance Begins | 00:57:00 | |
The series begins in earnest! Dyne Aloma and his crew of the Venture are called upon to aid The Morien and Eldarian Resistances on the isle of Isto Mavana against the Kyrody Dominion arriving to claim the island after their victory in a generations long war... However, these islands far out in the Reaches will not fall easily, and the first punch in a long fight is thrown. All the while, Dyne looks for ways to visit the sky isle where his Mystic Trial awaits...
Go learn more about everything Ironsworn and get your solo gaming on!
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands High Seas Pursuit from TabletopAudio.com Trireme from TabletopAudio.com Explosion sound effect from Freesound.org | |||