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/
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    2 hrs and 7 mins
  • Episode 6: Multi-Attacks & Dual Wielding

    Episode 6: Multi-Attacks & Dual Wielding
    May 30 2025

    In this all-out episode, we discuss dual wielding and various other kinds of multiplicative modes of attack. How can frequency-focused fighting styles make different characters feel different? And how can you balance attack and defense mechanics so that “just attack more” isn’t the only answer?

    Violet trades a strike in the hand for two in the bush. Freya studies the studs. Violet decides Drizzt is a decent dude. Freya accidentally designs a videogame (again).

    Timestamps

    Mailbag - 8:29

    Intro to the topic - 11:08

    History - 26:23

    Taxonomicon - 33:15

    Design Dreams - 59:21


    TTRPGs discussed

    Band of Blades

    Blades in the Dark

    Exalted (various editions) & Exalted Essence

    PbtA (in general)

    D&D (various editions)

    Lancer

    Cosmere RPG

    Empire of the Petal Throne

    Runequest

    Pathfinder

    OSR (in general)

    Dark Heresy

    Old World of Darkness

    Vampire: the (various things)

    One Roll System (Reign, Monsters and Other Childish Things, etc)

    Genesys

    Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy

    Tiles and Truenames*

    Last Days at Honkwarts*


    Other games and things discussed

    Blue Prince

    Gone Home

    Animal Well

    Link’s Crossbow Training

    XCOM

    Knights of the Old Republic 2

    Battletech

    Bushido

    Knights of the Old Republic… 1!

    Total War

    Warhammer 40k

    Dissidia: Final Fantasy

    The concept of LARPing

    Absolver

    Combo Fighter

    Yomi

    Final Fantasy XIII

    Signs of the Sojourner

    Megaman: Battle Network

    Cobalt Core

    Paperback Adventures


    Notes

    *Dear listeners, allow us the brief indulgence of talking about our own games during the wrapup.

    Some illustrated sources re the question of historic “studded leather armour”:

    https://www.quora.com/Was-the-studded-leather-armour-used-in-D-D-ever-used-in-real-historical-combat-situations-If-so-was-it-useful

    https://youtu.be/hmm_2GRa-o8?t=230

    Pathfinder 2e does not use base attack bonus! It rolls the concept of weapon skill into its general tiered proficiency system, which applies the same rules to attacks, skills, saves, spellcasting, and probably several other things.


    The referenced clown college gag on Tumblr is apparently from 2016 and the original poster has deactivated, but it lives on in our hearts and our reblog chains, e.g. https://sunbeamstarship.tumblr.com/post/656273434937016320/new-clown-in-town-juzavoices-im-in


    Convention alert!

    Freya will be at UK Games Expo in Birmingham on Saturday 31st May and Sunday 1st June. She will be wearing a white Journeymon promo t-shirt on at least one and possibly both of those days. Say hi if you see her!


    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/
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • Bonus Episode: Violet's Conpulsion Con-venture

    Bonus Episode: Violet's Conpulsion Con-venture
    May 3 2025

    In this unconventionally conventional episode, Violet talks about a recent event in Edinburgh.

    Violet has to hand it to handouts. Freya learns about a Thing or two. Violet takes the wrong notes. Freya is unexpectedly out-gayed.

    Thank you to everyone who emailed into our mailbag - If you too have a question, idea, or interesting game you’d like to share with us, email systemshoppodcast@gmail.com

    Timestamps

    Start of Con Discussion: 3:07

    Liminal Horror: 9:27

    Delta Green: 21:22

    Kaleidoscope: 26:41

    The Family: 34:41


    Games discussed

    Liminal Horror

    Delta Green

    Kaleidoscope

    The Family

    Black Hack (and OSR in general)

    Monsterhearts

    Microscope

    Belonging Outside Belonging / Dream Askew / Dream Apart / No Dice No Masters

    Wanderhome

    Chuubo’s Marvelous Wish-Granting Engine

    Mörk Borg

    Avatar Legends

    Masks


    Games that aren't TTRPGs that we nonetheless discussed, sometimes at surprising length

    Dead Rising

    Battlestar Galactica (the board game)

    Betrayal at the House on the Hill

    Mario Party

    Immortality (confirmed, this is on Netflix)

    The Executive

    Lost Odyssey


    Notes & links

    Itch page for the designer of the Family https://clevercrumbish.itch.io/

    Weird Hope Engines: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/events/events/2025/3/weird-hope-engines

    Video essay about Lost Odyssey - https://youtu.be/iqgSDClU4Qo?si=M1vnb3gixwhaz8zM


    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/
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    50 mins
  • Episode 5: Challenge Rating

    Episode 5: Challenge Rating
    Apr 3 2025

    In this level-appropriate episode, we discuss encounter design through the lens of totally objective ratings of enemies’ power levels. Yes, we do mention Dragonball Z - but somehow entirely refrain from any “over 9000” jokes.


    Violet shares tips on tipping points. Freya mopes about mopping up. Violet hates on Fate. Freya insists she liked D&D 4e all along.


    Thank you to everyone who emailed into our mailbag - if you have any thoughts, comments, or questions please email us at: systemshoppodcast@gmail.com


    Timestamps

    Mailbag - 9:00

    Intro to the topic - 11:18

    Design questions - 19:40

    History - 35:40

    Taxonomicon - 47:45

    Design dreams - 1:03:15


    Games discussed

    Star Trek Adventures

    Last Days at Honkwarts*

    The Great Dalmuti

    Master and Apprentice*

    Pathfinder

    Fate

    D&D

    Dark Heresy

    Capers

    D&D 4E specifically

    Vampire: the Masquerade

    Lancer (like, a lot)

    13th Age

    Battletech (it’s back!)

    Grimwild

    Genesys

    Time of Monsters

    Vaesen

    Mothership


    *These are games designed by Violet herself. She apparently forgot to even mention the name of the second one :-P


    Notes

    It turns out that Freya’s graphics card has become eight years old since she last checked, so she’s definitely not going to play Monster Hunter Wilds, alas.


    The nineteen-year-old Order of the Stick comic that Freya recalls with only moderate accuracy is https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0347.html


    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/
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Bonus Episode: Freya's Con-tingency Conventure

    Bonus Episode: Freya's Con-tingency Conventure
    Feb 10 2025

    In this first ever bonus episode, Freya reflects on the games she played at Contingency 2025 - a TTRPG convention on the wintry Norfolk coast. We discuss a pair of very yellow games, ruminate upon “A+B” dice mechanics, and analyse the comedy-to-therapy spectrum.

    Timestamps

    CBR+PNK - 2:02

    Yellow King RPG (sort of) - 9:16

    Confectioners vs Cromwell (using GM’s own system) - 16:56

    Never Stop Exploding - 21:47

    Troika! - 26:29

    Star Trek Adventures (1E) - 30:40

    JourneyMon - 39:21

    Tool Team - 39:50

    DIE - 41:57

    One Ring (2E) - 1:02:29


    Notes and links

    The extremely long Lord of the Rings video Freya mentioned: https://youtu.be/poMnJKLGYo0?si=hQO5mbdDtRnAjKOu


    The Meguey Baker article we discussed: https://lumpley.games/2021/12/30/ritual-in-game-design/

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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Episode 4: Aid Another

    Episode 4: Aid Another
    Feb 6 2025

    In this camaraderie-ridden episode, we’re talking about mechanics for helping other characters in joint efforts. We discuss how teamwork can double the risks, double the rewards, and hopefully say something about the nature of your characters’ relationships in the process.


    Violet uses "Stanford prison experiment" as a verb. Freya farms friends. Violet turns over an old leaf. Freya tears and shares.


    Our thanks to Charlie, Joey, and Amber for writing in! If you too have a question, idea, or interesting game you’d like to share with us, email systemshoppodcast@gmail.com.


    Timestamps

    Mailbag - 5:35

    Intro & history of helping - 14:34

    Design questions - 24:33

    Example deep dives - 32:57

    Gradual slip into design dreams - 51:11


    Games discussed in this episode

    (In order of first mention)

    Daggerheart

    Sar-Stan

    Tiles and Truenames

    What’s In Your Mouth?!

    Super Saviour Squad

    The Token Bag Game Jam in general

    Armour Astir

    Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay

    Mystery homebrew system by Joey Jones

    Ars Magica

    Dogs in the Vineyard

    DOGS [*1]

    City of Winter

    Death of a Hero [*2]

    Masks

    Golden Sky Stories

    Empire of the Petal Throne

    D&D

    Tunnels and Trolls

    Traveller

    Apocalypse World

    Monsterhearts

    Blades in the Dark

    Genesys

    Edge of the Empire

    Vampire: the Masquerade

    JourneyMon

    Interstitial: Our Hearts Intertwined

    Vaesen

    Heart


    Notes and links


    Two of the more esoteric entries on the above list can be found here:


    [*1] https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/274623/dogs


    [*2] https://babblegumsam.itch.io/death-of-a-hero


    The two UK TTRPG conventions mentioned are


    - http://www.con-tingency.uk/


    - https://tabletopscotland.co.uk/


    Submissions to the Token Bag game jam can be found here: https://itch.io/jam/token-bag/entries


    Its follow-up - the New Year, Old Ideas game jam - has indeed already ended. Submissions can be found at https://itch.io/jam/new-year-old-ideas-jam/entries
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    1 hr and 10 mins