Shadowbound (James Victor)

James and Victor are introducing the world to Shadowbound: A Wraith the Oblivion Podcast with their review of Wraith Afterlife, but so much more is coming.  If you want to know what these two apparitions of the underworld have planned listen in as they talk about why they thought a Wraith podcast was a good idea and what they're hoping to share with all of you.

It's been so long since you died, and yet you've relived the scenes leading up to that death over and over again during your time in the caul. Now you step forth into a world no mortal could have imagined on their own. Welcome to the Shadowlands.

James and Victor deliver their ideal Wraith 101 introduction.  What are the most important things to consider the first time you step into the underworld as a player or a storyteller. There is a LOT to the world of Wraith, but which parts matter in your first games? Come join us for our first real attempt to lay out the lands of the dead and make the byways of the tempest just a little easier to navigate.

The core of Wraith isn't combat, or infinitely complex politics, it's the unfinished business that keeps the Restless Dead restless.  Every wraith from the greenest renegade on the run to the Deathlords themselves must find the emotional drive to persist in a world drawn eternally towards Oblivion. Passions and Fetters are some of the most unique traits on any World of Darkness character sheet, and in the best Wraith games drive the central plot.

Join James and Victor as they talk through Passions and Fetters from beginning to end. If you're interested in character creation tips, or advice on centering your players' Passions and Fetters in your story this is the episode for you.

We've been talking about it for months, now you get to hear James and Victor go deep on their experiences and opinions on Shadowguiding in Wraith: The Oblivion. Arguably the most challenging and rewarding aspect of playing Oblivion this episode talks about the soaring successes, and often frustrating failures of Shadowguiding. In this episode you'll get suggestions on alternate ways to approach the Shadow, what works, what doesn't, and even a little bit of speculation on how Shadowguiding in an Actual Play might work. 

With a deep dive into the dynamics of shadowplay right around the corner, James and Victor take some time to talk about how to navigate the often tumultuous emotional dynamics of Wraith with grace and consideration. This episode focuses on Wraith specifically, but tackling difficult content while considering how it will impact everyone at our tables, including ourselves, is important for any robust role playing experience. If there is one episode we think everyone should listen to, even if Wraith isn't their first game of choice, it's this one. 

Wraith: The Oblivion Afterlife is the first Wraith offering from Paradox Interactive. It’s also one of the first survival horror games designed explicitly for a VR gaming experience. There are several reviews out there about Afterlife’s merits as a VR game and as a survival horror game (links below). James and Victor take a different approach and dive into the question of how it stands up as a World of Darkness offering, and as an introduction to existence beyond the Shroud.

Here are the links to the walkthrough videos and gameplay reviews we watched in preparation for this episode.

Gameplay Demo

Wolf in VR Walkthrough

Shugghead Gaming Review

Thumb Culture Review