What Would The Smart Party Do?

What to make of history? Why, some great gaming of course! We are joined by Dirk the Dice from The Grognard Files to chat about what can be learned from the past and turned into gaming gold.Don't forget to check out the Hexham Heads and other myths!

Gaz is joined by Unconventional GMs co-host Guy Milner to talk about great adventures, scenarios and other things for ttrpgs. There has been a lot of discourse recently about scenarios being the thing that defines a game or it's designers, so the lads romp through some old and new examples of what is a good (or suboptimal) adventure. Drop a line with your favourites!

Dirk the Dice, genial host of the Grognard Files joins Gaz this time to talk about humble beginnings, the games we used to play and how that's changed over the years. The tables get turned part way through as interviewer becomes interviewee, but that's no bother as a lovely chat on all things gaming transpires.You can listen to the Grognard Files hereSee great examples of Actual Play at Unconventional GMs, including Dirk the Dice in Deathmatch Island

The long-awaited return of Cold City and Hot War gives the lads a perfect opportunity to talk to designer Malcolm Craig about the new versions of the game, inspiration for cold war Berlin, a deep dive into lazy-GM mechanics and much more!For an Actual Play of the new game in action, go to the Unconventional GMs youtube channel.Check out more details on the games on the Handiwork website.

This time Becky Annison and Josh Fox of Black Armada Games join us to talk about the new edition of Lovecraftesque, GMless games, design and small press publishing. Find out all about Black Armada on their website. Check out fast-paced Actual Play at Unconventional GMs!

Gaz is joined by (Stunt Ben) Guy to talk about pacing in games. How do you manage pace and get the most out of your sessions? Check out Unconventional GMs for pace-filled games!

Hi All It's been a minute, we've had a lot to deal with on the home front, but I've pulled out the stops and got you some Stunt Bens in to chat about reviews in gaming - how useful they are and what we want from them. Have a great festive season - all the best! Gaz & Ben

With a new edition of D&D on its way, more evolution than revolution, what elements could be done differently? The lads dive into other games and new ideas to see what could make the hobby's big player even better.

How do you prepare a new game for running at a convention, event or just with your friends? Gaz is joined by Stunt Ben, Guy from the Burn After Running blog and Craig from Third Floor Wars to give you all the advice you need and more!

We were delighted to have returning guest Jason Cordova on to talk about all things Brindlewood Bay, The Gauntlet and more! The Gauntlet Feat of a Black Dragon The Darkened Threshold Burn After Running Unconventional GMs

How much should players contribute to the ttrpg experience? How much are they allowed too? The lads discuss getting more out of your gaming sessions.

Live From the Spring Kraken 2024 in Germany, Gaz joined forces with game designer Robin D Laws and fellow Unconventional GM Guy Milner to give a seminar on running adventures games for ttrpgs. If you dig actual plays played with vim and vigour, check out the new ⁠⁠Unconventional GMs YouTube channel⁠⁠.

How do you put more character in your #ttrpg character? You don't have to go full method actor, here are some simple and actionable ideas to get you started. If you dig actual plays played with vim and vigour, check out the new ⁠Unconventional GMs YouTube channel⁠.

Episode 186 – What Games Workshop Can Teach Us There's a lot of crossover between geeky hobbies, and with the lads both working for the big Games Workshop back in the day, what can skirmish games teach us about RPGs? If you dig actual plays played with vim and vigour, check out the new ⁠Unconventional GMs YouTube channel⁠.

Episode 185 – Cities (aka Fantasy Tripadvisor) After wandering the wilderness and diving down dungeons, plucky adventurers wish to go to an enthralling city. Maybe your entire campaign is based around one location. The lads explore various cities from ttrgps and the merits and flaws thereof! If you dig actual plays played with vim and vigour, check out the new Unconventional GMs YouTube channel.

Episode 184 – Hot War, Cold City (with Jon Hodgson and Malcolm Craig) Joining the ‘cast this time, Jon Hodgson of Handiwork Games and RPG author and academic Malcolm Craig. The Cold War period and monster hunting in Berlin come to the fore as the lads dive into Hot War and Cold City among other great games from the Handiwork studio! You can find out more about Malcolm Craig here. And here are some links for Handiwork Games:Hot War & Cold CityFiveEvilMaskwitchesBeowulf If you dig actual plays played with vim and vigour, check out the new Unconventional GMs YouTube channel.

Episode 183 – Unacceptable! (a.k.a. It’s Not You It’s Us) There are a plethora of gaming events to go to these days and you meet all kinds of people and playstyles. Often this is a cause for celebration, a way to pick up new ideas and techniques. Sometimes though, it’s suboptimal. There are still some people who haven’t got the memo about gaming with others, and this time the lads aim to set things straight.

Episode 182 – How To GM with Justin Alexander The lads are delighted to have returning Good Friend of the Show, RPG producer and designer at Atlas Games, Justin Alexander. He’s got a new book coming out, available in all good purveyors of such things, So You Want To Be A Game Master. Join for great insights, some not seen or heard before on the Alexandrian (or maybe anywhere!) and to get a unique precis of what is in this fine work. Visit Justin’s excellent RPG resource The Alexandrian, as check out what’s hot at Atlas Games. If you dig actual plays played with vim and vigour, check out the new Unconventional GMs YouTube channel.

Episode 181 – Gaming in Ukraine with Tasha from idearoll Fresh from The Kraken gaming retreat, the lads have met old friends and made new ones. Chief among those is Tasha from the idearoll youtube channel, who joins them this week to talk about gaming events, the scene in Ukraine and challenges of the current environment. A great episode full of enthusiasm and community spirit! You can find the idearoll channel below (in Ukrainian), which also has several other links for supporting the team’s efforts. idearoll on YouTube. Get yourself a copy of the Vaesen Spirits and Monsters of Mythic Ukraine on Drivethru here. Charitable links:Defence And DeminingMedical AidRebuild UkraineCome Back AliveHospitallers If you dig actual plays, check out the new Unconventional GMs YouTube channel. Lots of great games played with vim and vigour in two hours or less.

Episode 180 – Shadow of the Weird Wizard with Rob Schwalb Returning special guest Rob Schwalb, creator of Shadow of the Demonlord, Punk Apocalyptica, D&D designer and more, returns to the show to tell us all about his design process and work on his new Kickstarter, Shadow of the Weird Wizard. The Kickstarter project page is here: Shadow of the Weird Wizard. If you dig actual plays, check out the new Unconventional GMs YouTube channel. Lots of great games played with vim and vigour in two hours or less.