In episode 43, the guys get back to their gaming roots.  In an effort to demonstrate just how out of touch they are with modern gaming, they decide to review the latest announcements in gaming news.  It is a valiant effort, but Mike had to bail after 30 minutes so he could get into banter.  But before the banter, they talk about a crazy sounding game called Sea Dracula, crappy press releases like the one for PCGen, the Fear the Boot interview with Erik Mona, The Lazy GM's book of 450 personalized Orcs, and Paizo's press release on the Pathfinder RPG.  Mike had some stories too, but was too lazy to bookmark them, so they did not get included in the shownotes.  Random banter then included how the guys once almost got kicked out of a theme park due to their Mom's foul mouth, and limitless stories of their childhood friend, Billy Light, and his adventures in bodily functions.

Link to the podcast.

In Episode 44, the guys interview James Jacobs, the editor-in-chief of the Pathfinder adventure line at Paizo Publishing.  The guys get into an indepth discussion of the ins and outs of the first Pathfinder adventure path, Rise of the Runelords including questions from Mike and Kyle's kids who are currently playing through the adventure arc.  The guys try to figure out what it takes to coordinate the massive story lines and plot twists of Pathfinder's six-issue adventures.  They also talk about the Pathfinder RPG, what James thinks about the dicks at Wizards of the Coast (our words, not his), how cool it is to get an adventure published in Dungeon at age 14, and how to exact your bitter revenge on Erik Mona.  Finally, James undergoes the gauntlet of the Animalball Hotseat, answering the five hardest questions he's faced since taking the SAT.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Play On Con (POC), July 3-6 in Birmingham Alabama, is an affordable 4-day science fiction fan convention dedicated to delivering outstanding customer service and building a real sense of community with gaming, entertainment, parties, and related events year-round. We'll have a wide range of game tournaments and a library of games for open play.

• Warhammer 40K Lucky 13 Event
• Magic the Gathering tournament
• World of Warcraft TCG tournament
• Camarilla Vampire LARP
• Steve Jackson Games
• Live Action Risk
• Team Diplomacy
• 7th Sea
• and so much more

Check our website for updates!

GAMEX 2008 is coming!

Our next event is Gamex over Memorial Day weekend.   Come enjoy the best four days of gaming in Southern California!  If you love board games, Euro games, LARPs, RPGs, video games, historical and fantastical miniature wargames, card games and family games, we have plenty for you, your friends and your family. Over 1000 gamers will join us to play 400+ events, hang out with special guests and shop in our huge Exhibitor Hall.  Mark your calendars for May 23rd to 26th and pre-reg for only $35!  The fun starts Friday at noon and continues all weekend until Monday at 6pm.   Visit //www.strategicon.net today!
 
Gamex happens at the LAX Radisson hotel.   The convention discount is $109/night and includes free parking.  Hurry because rooms sell out quickly and the discount ends May 2nd.  Call 1-800-333-3333 to book your room.  
 
Scroll down for details about special events at Gamex 2008...
 
GUEST OF HONOR: Zev Shlasinger of Z-Man Games
Come welcome Zev Shlasinger as our Guest of Honor!   Zev is the founder of Z-Man Games and publisher of Pandemic, Agricola, Cartoon Action Hour, Shadowfist CCG, Warchon, Grave Robbers from Outer Space, Parthenon and dozens more terrific American and European games!  Zev will be hosting many tournaments and seminars, including the Z-Man Marathon!  
 
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 4th Edition
Gary Gygax may have passed on, but D&D lives!  The original roleplaying game enters its fourth edition in June, but you can learn and play 4e at Gamex!  RPGA will be hosting introductory adventures and dungeon delves all weekend long.  Everyone is welcome to join RPGA for free and participate in all their events.
 
BOARDGAME TOURAMENTS
Join Zev in the Z-Man Marathon!  Compete with Z-Man's founder in both the Pandemic and Agricola touraments.   This will be the official US debut of Agricola!  Gamex will also host the Puffing Billy tournament and the popular Settlers of Catan-A-Thon.  All this plus almost 200 more events, including many demonstration games.   Whatever your experience level, we welcome you to try out dozens of new games.  Gamex will have demos of new products from Rio Grande Games, Z-Man, Days of Wonder, Twilight Creations, On the Line Games, Hasbro, Willow Games, Smirk and Dagger and more!
 
COLLECTIBLE GAME TOURNAMENTS
Gamex will host the Vampire: The Eternal Struggle North American Championships Qualifier plus Magic: The Gathering, Warlord, UFS, Pirates, Yu-Gi-Oh! and several clix events.   Gamex is also honored to host a Heroscape Grand Tournament.   We will demo the new edition of the Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures game and host a special DDM tournament.
 
MINIATURES TOURNAMENTS
Warhammer or Warmachine?  How about both!  Gamex hosts the Warhammer Rogue Trader tournament for both Fantasy and 40k plus the Warmachine Steamroller tournament.
 
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Gamex 2008 has been chosen to host the D&D Open Championship qualifier for the US Pacific Region!  The Championship Series is a massive worldwide competitive tournament that culminates at GenCon for the final battle with amazing prizes.  Our top three teams will be invited to the semifinals. Break out your lucky D20s for the most challenging 3.5 game you have ever played!  
 
SHOWDOWN IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC
Gamex 2008 will host the first ever General Quarters events in 1/700 scale.   These British and German battleship miniatures are huge beautiful models and the rules will be taught.   Beginners are most welcome!
 
AND SO MUCH MORE...
Blow your enemies out of the skies with Mustangs & Messerschmitts, boast your mad skillz with Guitar Hero and Halo tournaments, save the world in the Spycraft MegaEvent, watch the newest Anime movies, learn new strategies at our War College, buy priceless goodies at the Flea Market and show off your talents in the Painting Contest.  
 
NEW VENDORS
Bronze Age Miniatures and Tradition Studios join our vendors for Gamex 2008!  Bronze Age offers a wonderful collection of 28mm and 54mm sci-fi, fantasy and historical miniatures.  Tradition Studios will be selling official Keith Rocco prints.  Keith is a world famous historical painter known for his remarkable Civil War art.  Come visit our dozen terrific exhibitors including the always popular War House.

Tricky Owlbear Publishing, Inc. is pleased to present the follow-up to our popular Treasure Chests release: Volume 2!  This 6-page PDF, written by Bret Boyd, presents 10 more treasure chests that GMs can use to store treasure or use as treasure. As with the first volume, this pdf includes both magical and mundane treasure chests. Each entry lists the chest's physical description, defenses, and quirks.

This pdf features the following types of chests: Clan Chest, Coin-Scatter Coffer, Decoy Chest, Earth Chest, Heraldry Chest, Oracle Chest, Sailor's Chest, Straw Box, Traveler's Chest, and the Watch Chest!

Treasure Chests: Volume 2 retails for $2.00 and can be purchased at the following sites: Paizo, Your Games Now, & RPGNow

Please Note: The first Treasure Chests pdf is listed as a new release on Paizo and YGN but this is actually the old pdf in our new format.  So, if you already own the original, don't let the new look fool you.  

In Episode 45, the guys talk about the various games they have available for free download on the website.  But first, Allen Varney, the author of the most recent iteration of Paranoia, makes a guest appearance and surprises Mike when he and Kyle turn the tables and subject him to the Animalball Hotseat.

Click Here to Listen.

Hi there!

I have been into role playing for about 10 years now and I know that there is nothing more rewarding than having your character take shape and look as you imagined. I feel that now I am up to a level in which I can draw good quality images, deign to represent other people's ideas.

If you would like to have your character drawn by me or maybe a memorable scene of a game, contact me at bandruid_meridene@yahoo.com, or you can PM me here.



I do both digital and traditional.

You can see a sample of my work at http://faerywitch.deviantart.com/gallery/


Thanks and have a great campaign!

In Episode 46, the guys dedicate the entire hour to pitching new RPG ideas to each other.  Over the past two weeks they have individually tried to develop a handful of original RPG ideas and are revealing them to each other on the podcast, then working together to flesh the ideas out.  Mike first pitches a supers game with a unique take on what being a hero means.  Then, inspired by the Sinister Adventures podcast and his musings on Grand Theft Auto IV, Kyle comes up with a new Dungeons and Dragons supplement.  Trying to develop a game that his kids can play, Mike pitches an idea based on cartoon premises and quasi-super powers.  Finally, Kyle tries to make a fun, playable game that involves racism and genocide.  Much to the guys' surprise, they both agree that he has.

Link to the podcast.

In Episode 47, the guys continue with the second part of their RPG pitch experiment, where they pitch to each other secret ideas they've developed for games and try to flesh them out.  But first, Kyle reveals a shocking controversy that he has only just discovered.  On a tip from an anonymous source... one of his brothers, but not Boner... Kyle learned that a recent WotC product contained an idea remarkably similar-- some would say identical-- to an idea he developed in March of 2004 and discussed publicly on the podcast last July.  Kyle's lawyers have advised him not to make any accusations of intellectual property theft, so he is careful not to.  But he does state a rather strong opinion about how the similarities between his idea of Gemini's Glade and the Father Llymic villain in WotC's Elder Evils could potentially be explained.  Kyle then pleads for the book's author, Robert J. Schwalb, to come on the podcast to clear up the situation.  So after half an hour of this nonsense, the guys pitch four ideas, two of which suck and two of which are awesome, but remarkably similar.

Link to the Podcast.

Robert J. Schwalb is innocent!  Click here for the update!.

I am having a contest to drum up a little board interest for the Indy 500.  Get a driver, and win a free RPG bundle!

In Episode 48 of the Animalcast, the guys get to the bottom of the controversy stirred up in Episode 47.  Specifically, they get the real answer as to the similarities between Father Llymic in WotC's Elder Evil's supplemental book and Kyle's project, Gemini's Glade.  It turns out it was a case of parallel development.  In this indepth interview, the guys talk with Jason Bulmahn, who authored the Father Llymic portion of Elder Evils.  Kyle offers a full apology and retraction to both Jason and Robert Schwalb.  The guys then talk to Jason about his work on the Pathfinder RPG rules for Paizo with Monte Cook as a consultant.  Jason talks about what it's like working with Monte, how good Monte smells and answers the burning question Kyle has been trying to get an answer to- does Monte ever ask about him?  Jason also talks about working at Paizo, and they conclude the episode with a few choice words Kyle has for Nick Logue at Sinister Adventures.  Jason predicts Kyle will be issuing a retraction and apology to Nick Logue in the near future.

Listen to the Animalcast.

I will be running at the upcoming Chicago Gameday at Gamesplus.

This will the sequel to a Britannia adventure for Roma Imperious.

It will use Iridium V2.

It will be fun.

Sign up thread.

Hope to see you there.

Bill

A stripped and streamlined rule set for Dog Town the roleplaying game of crime, money and violence set in the seedy underbelly of decadent and dangerous 1970's New York. If you like films like American Gangster, Goodfellas, Thief and Donnie Brasco then you'll probably want to check Dog Town out.

Download it free here

Don't know what I'll be playing yet, But here is what I'll be running:

Friday, June 27th Afternoon 1 PM
Spycraft 2.0
Chicago 411 – Several Prominent Chicagoland citizens are missing without a trace. Your team is dispatched to take over the missing persons investigation.

Fri Evening June 27th  6 PM
Castle & Crusades
Shield of the King - Shield of the King. It's good to be the King, but not for you. A new war has begun, and it's up to you to protect your Monarch...

Friday Night June 27th 10 PM
Terra Incognita
The Lost Oracles -- 1894, An ancient document found in the ruins of a newly discovered subterranean temple near Troy, A tantalizing clue to the location of another secret Temple of Oracles. A second clue as to the fate of the oracles at Delphi. Evidence that the Seers are active, even now, at the dawn of the Industrial age....

Sat Morning  June 28th 10 AM
The Siege of St. Augustine
1/72 Miniatures
Slavery was abolished in Florida in 1728. In 1740 the Siege of St. Augustine was a part of the War of Jenkin's Ear during which England and her colonies attacked Spanish colonies in the Americas. After some mutual minor skirmishes, Governor Oglethorpe of the colony of Georgia raised a mixed force of British regulars, the 'Old' 42nd Regiment of Foot, colonial milita from Georgia and Carolina, Hugh MacKaye's Highlanders and American Creek and Chickasaw, or Uchee Indians attacked south and made for the stronghold of Governor Manuel De Montiano the Castillo De San Marco in St. Augustine .
In 1740 Governor Oglethorpe, the English Governor of Georgia, attacked and besieged the Spanish Governor of Florida, Manuel De Montiano, at the Castillo De San Marco in St. Augustine... Find out what happened.

Saturday Afternoon, June 28th  3 PM
Metamorphosis Alpha
Landfall – Congratulations on saving the Colony Ship Mao Tze Tung. Your new orders are to initiate the colonization of Delta Triangulum Beta.

Saturday Evening, June 28th  8 PM
Spycraft 2.0
Roman Holiday – Your spycraft team is granted a short vacation in Rome.  After a rather sudden surprise, it's up to your team to recover a new agency weapon that found its way into hostile hands...


Sun Morning, June 29th,  10 AM
Eberron 3.5 D&D
Byeshk Darkfall – An inquisitor needs the talents of adventurers to track down a criminal who has taken refuge in the Byeshk Mountains.