The GROGNARD Files

Five Items that Made Chaosium (with Rick Meints)

Chaosium is celebrating 50 years since the company was founded by Greg Stafford. Their games have always been at the core of what we play, so it was great to have more time with returning guest, Rick Meints. Rick is the president of Chaosium, perhaps more importantly, he is the Head of the Department of Nostalgia, the custodian to the extensive, if chaotic, archive of the company. He started as a collector, and ended up heading the company. We set him the challenge of finding five items from the archive that represent the development of the company over fifty years. What products are the milestones of progress in the history of Chaosium? There are some unexpected items in there. Let us know what you think. The interview was recorded in front of an audience as part of GROGMEETish in November. In the room of role-playing rambling, I’m joined by resident rules-lawyer Judge Blythy to review GROGMEETish. We also talk about NPCs or Games Master Characters and how to handle a ‘cast of 1000s’. The advert is for Eldritch Stories from Mason and Fricker. Why not support us on Patreon? Offers are now available apparently. DirkThe post Five Items that Made Chaosium (with Rick Meints) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Dirk’s Dossier – More Gladiator Chat and more

Do you need a companion as you wash up after a big day of festivities? Here you go. What do YOU do with your left overs? Here at the GROGNARD files, we don’t like them going to waste. We like to splice them together to create a treat for Patreons. Given it is the season to be jolly, we are giving this edition Dirk’s Dossier in the main feed for you to enjoy. You’re welcome. In here Judge Blythy talks about Into the Dungeon Revived, Graham Bottley talks about Savage Gladiators while we reflect on running our fantasy, mass-participation online game of Gladiators before more from Magnus Seter. If you would like to hear more of this bobbins in the future, follow the Patreon The GROGNARD files episode is coming soon.The post Dirk’s Dossier – More Gladiator Chat and more first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Swedish RPGs (with Magnus Seter)

In this episode Dirk talks to Magnus Seter about Outside the Box, How Sweden Conquered The World of Role-Playing Games. Learn the fascinating story of how RPGs reached Sweden and were transformed by the play culture. Thanks to Fandrake, the publisher of Outside the Box, we have books to giveaway. Share this episode and make a comment below to be in with a chance of being drawn from the hat (finishes on 31st December 2025). Judge Blythy is in the Room of Role-Playing Rambling talking about Mutant: Year Zero RPG. Make sure you keep it Eldritch by listening to Mason and Fricker’s Eldritch Stories. The play out music is Mumble One by Aidan Support the podcast and the stuff we do by joining Patreon.The post Swedish RPGs (with Magnus Seter) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Arion Games and other RPGs (with Graham Bottley)

September and October have been replete with gaming sessions. Can you have too much of a good thing? That’s the question we ask this episode. Dirk is joined in the Zoom of Role-Playing Rambling by Graham Bottley from Arion Games, which is celebrating 20 years publishing games and supplements. It has had the licence for Advanced Fighting Fantasy, Mealstrum and more, so continues to publish vintage RPG material. In September, we participated in Glorantha Games, Owl Bear and the Wizard’s Staff, and MORPcon as well as playing loads of games. We talk about Hidden Isles, Blade Runner RPG as the NEW games that we have played. We are trapped in the worlds of Gareth Ryder Hanrahan as we are playing in Pirates of Drinax for Traveller, The Borellus Connection for Fall of Delta Green and Dirk is about to do Dracula Dossier in 24 Hours. The conversation also covers Planescape and much more. An advert for Mason and Fricker’s Eldritch Tales. To support the podcast, you can tip some coins in the beret over at Partreon The post Arion Games and other RPGs (with Graham Bottley) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Dungeon Crawl Classics Continued (Ep.85)

This time we return to the topic of Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC) with Judge Blythy, our resident zealot. Appendix G, our never-ending list of influences, expands with the wonderful Swords Series from Fritz Leiber nominated by Dave Paterson. We talk about our preparation for a busy September of gaming. Paul Fricker has released Gatsby and The Great Race for 7th Edition Call of Cthulhu. Please support us on Patreon.The post Dungeon Crawl Classics Continued (Ep.85) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.