System Shop cover art

System Shop

System Shop

By: Violet & Freya
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About this listen

Welcome to System Shop, the podcast where we deep dive into RPG design, one subsystem at a time.


Join us as we explore the origins, empirical trends, and future design space of all aspects of tabletop game design. What’s the point of mechanising carrying capacity or NPC attitudes? Why distinguish between armour and evasion, or attributes and skills? Many stories may begin with “because D&D did it”, but that’s far from the end…


We dig deeper by asking: how do differences in design decisions make players act and feel, and is this wholly intended? What is gained or lost by being able to sum up a monster with a challenge rating? How can initiative checks be used to make combat feel chaotic, tactical, or somewhere in between?


Finally, we suggest our own ideas for future innovations. Can we introduce new technologies and props? Can we shed assumptions of the past? Or should we bring them to the fore and embrace them to the extreme? Restrictions breed creativity, and our best ideas are often our most ridiculous.


System Shop is independent and ad-free. New episodes release whenever we have the time and energy to research and record a new topic.


Violet (She/her) is a recovering academic and alleged game designer, with a particular interest in system design and ludology.


Freya (She/her) is a demographer turned data engineer by day. She moonlights as collaborator, sounding board, and bad idea generator to her beloved and prolific game designer fiancée.

...

Cover design by Fallible Things (fallible.net).


Font on-cover is Lineal by Frank Adebiaye, with the contribution of Anton Moglia, Ariel Martín Pérez. Distributed by velvetyne.fr.

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Episodes
  • Episode 9: Mapmaking feat. Roz Leahy (Part 2)

    Episode 9: Mapmaking feat. Roz Leahy (Part 2)
    Sep 2 2025
    In this conclusive episode, we round off our discussion of mapmaking. How can random map generation both add and remove meaning in a world? Is verisimilitude in tension with playability? Do spaces need to generate conflicts?Violet re-orients her priorities. Freya turns on the worm. Roz breaks the annual silence. Violet goes loopy. Freya goes flat-out. Roz throws shade on the dark. Violet’s ideal excludes idylls. Freya enjoys a beach episode. Roz edinburrows through Edinborough.We will be at Tabletop Scotland!In Edinburgh *this weekend* (5th - 7th September). Say hi if you spot us! Freya says if you spot her in her white JourneyMon t-shirt and enthuse about your favourite companion monster, she’ll give you a bag of monster munch.Check out Roz’s stuffRoz’s portfolio can be found here - https://rozleahy.carrd.co/Her Philip K Dick podcast, Chicks with Dick, can be found in your preferred podcasting place.TimestampsMap-related news - 01:03The ever-popular taxonomicon - 13:38…including but not exclusively extended discussions of…The Quiet Year - 17:20Seas of Sand - 44:37Wanderhome - 1:03:38Mappa Mundi - 1:10:21Spotlighting some games that we found through a keyword search on itch.io - 1:19:27Design Dreams - 1:38:00Surprise! Actually it’s a discussion about real world architecture - 1:38:01Okay, now Design Dreams - 1:43:41Wrapup - 2:10:11Design DreamsViolet: Spiral School, Blobworld, Urchins Under Adventurefication, Border Loopers, Gold Rush God GameFreya: Isekai Leyline Wizards, Turns & Tides Games discussedKeep on the Borderlands (“very slight spoiler” warning around the 1 hour mark)On Mighty ThewsSwords Without MasterIn A Wicked AgeBeyond the Wall - Further AfieldMicroscopeThe Quiet YearI’m Sorry Did You Say Street MagicYour Cool City Needs A Food SupplyDelveDawn of WorldsBottled SeaUndying SandsUmbraRiseMothershipThe Vast in the DarkSeas of SandDark SunMausritterD&D (took us a while to mention it this time!)WanderhomeJourneymon (took us a while to mention this, too!)RyuutamaUnder Hill, By WaterMappa MundiHeartBad MapsWorld In Your HandSock PuppetsA Show of HandsYour Body a LandscapeWalking to FranceWisher, Theurge, FatalistMy Bad GalaxyInto The OddDelta GreenDOGS (which may or may not be in the Vineyard)Cosmere RPGOther media discussedPseudoregaliaMajora’s Mask (specifically the 3DS remake)Blue PrinceHarvest (2024)Conan the BarbarianLord of the RingsThe Domesday BookSeeing Like a StateInvisible Cities (Violet tried not to talk about it, but successfully failed)Hello Future MeVictoria 3Small World (board game)CarcassonneCivilization: New DawnDwarf FortressFlatlandPlanet ZooDark SoulsCitizen SleeperTress of the Emerald SeaMagic: The GatheringDiabloZelda: Breath of the WildSkyrimThe Logical Journey of the ZoombinisTalismanCaptain SonarZelda (in general)BloodborneHobbit Tales From The Green Dragon InnHand of FateAdvance WarsDelicious in DungeonLil’ GuardsmanHundreds of BeaversToo Many Cooks (cw: surprise horror)Late Shift (2025)InisNotes and linksThe National Underground Asset Register appears to require an account to access its beta form - https://portal.nuar.uk/ Restrictions breed creativity in the WTF game jam - https://itch.io/jam/wtfjam2025/entries Watabou’s generators on itch are just one of the many map-making tools out there - https://watabou.itch.io/ If you find the post about the guy getting stuck in the backstage of a hotel, send it to Roz because she can’t find it and it’s driving her crazy.Isekai is a truly prolific genre of anime and manga about protagonists who get magically transported to other worlds. But you knew that, you weeb ;-)Contact us!At systemshoppodcast@gmail.comAdditional creditsOur intro music is "Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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    2 hrs and 16 mins
  • Episode 8 - Mapmaking feat. Roz Leahy (Part 1)

    Episode 8 - Mapmaking feat. Roz Leahy (Part 1)
    Aug 4 2025
    In this trailblazing episode, we have our first ever guest and our first ever two-parter! We’re joined by Roz Leahy, game designer and editor, to talk all about maps. Who makes the map, and when? How is the act of mapmaking at the table reflected within the fiction? And when can a “bad” map be better than a “good” one?Freya invents Bawdy&D. Roz lays her cartography on the table. Violet joins the little leagues. Freya is inclined to descend. Roz delivers a north-winded explanation. Violet goes dotty. And most importantly, everyone enthuses about local history. There’s no pun there, we just think it’s neat.Check out our various things!The kickstarter prelaunch page for Journeymon, the monster-training RPG written mostly by Freya’s award-winning fiancée but also partially by her, is waiting for you at https://journeymonrpg.com/ . There’s also a free quickstart adventure. Check it out!Roz’s portfolio can be found here - https://rozleahy.carrd.co/ . Her Philip K Dick podcast, Chicks with Dick, can be found in your preferred podcasting place.TimestampsWhat’s new - 3:05Mailbag - 11:46Content warning (see below) - 14:30 to 15:45Intro to topic - 15:45Design Qs - 22:40History - 59:29Wrapup - 1:19:35Please note that this episode contains brief, non-detailed discussion of a game involving sexual assault. If needed, the name of the game discussed is at the very bottom of these shownotes.TTRPGs (and a lot of specific modules this time!)Border RidingKeep on the BorderlandsJourneymonGoing for BrokeMasksDungeons & Dragons: Men & Magic bookletCosmere RPGStars Without NumberMothershipMausritterMörk BorgPlanescapeDawn of WorldsHyperboreaHyboria (not to be confused!)Descent into the Depths of the EarthWest MarchesDungeon GeomorphsTravellerMicroscopeThe Quiet YearDark ForestI’m Sorry Did You Say Street MagicSongs for the DuskOther media things discussedThe Carry On film series, for some reasonKill James BondOriginal Podcast Do Not StealEscape This PodcastCity of Six MoonsChicks with DickPathologicA prospective map of unified Germany from 1848Shadow & Bone (season 2)Game of ThronesBabylon 5Sword of the StarsStellarisKeep Talking and Nobody ExplodesCaptain SonarEscape from the Aliens in Outer SpaceOutdoor SurvivalChainmailGuild Wars 2Elden RingBig WalkRatatouilleFallout 3Assassin’s CreedNotes and linksThe virtual escape room “Break this Game” praised in Freya’s intro can be found here - https://mattj375.itch.io/vr-game-escape-room “On Exactitude in Science”, by Jorge Luis Borges, happens to only be one paragraph long, and you can read the text in translation here - https://neilgreenberg.com/ao-quote-borges-on-exactitude-in-science/ The National Library of Scotland’s archive of maps is available here - https://maps.nls.uk/ Mystic Arts’ Video on 3-mile hexes is on youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEIg1DlRkLg More information about the singular phenomenon that is Hyboria can be found here - https://snv-ttm.blogspot.com/p/tony-baths-hyboria.html Further content warning detailsThe game discussed is a nordic larp titled “Gang Rape”.Contact us!At systemshoppodcast@gmail.comAdditional creditsOur intro music is "Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Episode 7: Pre-Generated Characters

    Episode 7: Pre-Generated Characters
    Jun 30 2025

    In this tailor-made episode, we discuss the advantages and challenges of using and writing pre-generated character sheets. Is there a sweet spot of player choice? And what are the risks of telling players exactly who they are and how they should feel?

    Freya watches for waspmen. Violet horseshoes around. Freya posits a post-it plan. Violet digs up a classic Indie game.

    As a bonus, we also have a themed mini-debrief of the 2025 UK Games Expo. And that theme is? Themes.


    As a double bonus, we introduce a new segment: “game ideas that it turns out somebody else has already done which is great because it means it already exists in the world”!


    As a triple bonus, the Journeymon Kickstarter prelaunch page and free quickstart adventure went live while we were editing this episode! Check them out here - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ilgingell/journeymon-monster-trainer-roleplaying/


    Timestamps


    UGKE discussion - basically from the start

    GITITOSEHADWIGBIMIAEITW - about 19:40

    Mailbag - about 25:44

    Intro & design Qs - about 30:53

    History - 1:02:06

    Taxonomicon - 1:11:45

    Design Dreams - 1:40:00

    Wrap up - 2:02:13



    TTRPGs discussed


    The Vanilla Game

    Keep on the Borderlands

    OSR in general

    D&D (4e, 5e)

    Psychodungeon

    Voidheart Symphony

    Subway Runners

    iHunt

    Call of Cthulhu

    Changeling: the Lost

    Tales of the Kytin Age *

    Sagas of the Icelanders

    For the Honor

    Animon Story

    Journeymon

    Mappa Mundi

    SPEEDRUN RPG

    Pathfinder 1e

    Biosphere Guardians 2050

    Trickster’s Net

    Rifts

    Aberrant

    Shadowrun

    Savage Worlds

    PbtA

    Lady Blackbird

    Monsterhearts

    Dream Askew

    World of Darkness (in general)

    AD&D

    The Adventures of Indiana Jones

    Yazeba’s Bed and Breakfast

    Mistborn Adventure Game

    The Exes of Casey Estrada

    Last Day at Honkwarts

    Genesys

    Black Code

    Pirate Borg

    Edge of the Empire

    Armour Astir

    Stealing the Throne

    Interstitial: Our Hearts Entwined

    Mothership

    Daggerheart



    Other games and things discussed


    Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

    Shadows of the Apt **

    https://www.tumblr.com/haveyouplayedthisttrpg

    Fullmetal Alchemist

    Crescent Moon (board game)

    Battlestar Galactica (board game)

    The Commedia dell’arte

    Lord of the Rings: the Third Age

    “I Finished A Videogame”’s LotR adaptations retrospective ***

    Escaflowne

    Wheel of Time

    Everything Everywhere All At Once

    Dark Souls

    Nier Automata

    Root

    https://www.youtube.com/@Hollandspiele

    Original Podcast Do Not Steal ****


    Notes


    * as promised in the audio, the artist for this game is Yasen Stoilov https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:37fsd5g3kwmkmi5dvs2yxsgj


    ** yes, I must mention this every single episode


    *** not merely four hours - it’s actually five. Enjoy. https://youtu.be/poMnJKLGYo0?si=ynx0cQu_43vamIZE


    **** the bugworld guest episode is not yet up! They must have a mighty buffer. https://open.spotify.com/show/4a3x2GlQw0jsSk4vFTdpus


    Violet’s oft-referenced LARP design handbook is “LARP Design: Creating Role-play Experiences”, available from the authors at https://trepo.tuni.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/136330/978-952-03-2260-1.pdf


    The Hungarian for “thank you” is “Köszönöm”.


    Contact us!


    At systemshoppodcast@gmail.com


    Additional credits


    Our intro music is

    "Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

    Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 7 mins
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