November « 2014 « Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff

Archive for November, 2014

Episode 117: Covered in Cats and Croissant Crumbs

November 28th, 2014 | Robin

In Ask Ken and Robin, Stephanie asks Ken and Robin to find gaming ideas in the disappearance, and much later resurfacing, of Henry IV’s long-dead head.

The Gaming Hut has us looking at moments where player choice conflicts with character believability.

Back to matters Gallic, the Consulting Occultist details the life, thought, and possible Dreamlands influence of fin de siècle writer, ritualist and schmoozer Gerard Encausse.

Finally, our Dreamlands of Paris inspired sojourn in the Culture Hut continues with a look at that most contradictory of figures, the doctrinaire aesthetic revolutionary Andre Breton.

Attention, class! Anchor sponsor Atlas Games wants to enroll you in Mad Scientist University, the card game of evil genius, insane assignments, and unstable elements. Act now, Ken and Robin listeners, and they’ll throw in the Spring Break expansion set for free. Shipping within the US is also free.

Show Ken you love him, and/or hate bloodsuckers, by kicking a few pounds in the direction of his Dracula Dossier Kickstarter. Learn what MI6 doesn’t want you to know about the king of the vampires.

Heroically fashion a new civilization from the ashes of the old in Legacy: Life Among the Ruins, from UFO Press. Start your multi-generational quest to rebuild the world with a journey to Kickstarter. Now in its last week!

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Tags: Ask Ken and Robin, Consulting Occultist, Culture Hut, Gaming hut

Posted in Podcast | 8 Comments »

Episode 116: Okay, I’ll Go Get Your Leg

November 21st, 2014 | Robin

The Tradecraft Hut takes an unusual lead slot as Ken answers an FMGuru request for the tale of WWII Soviet spy Richard Sorge.

Horatio stands to our right and Laertes to our right as the Gaming Hut contemplates the use of supporting characters as foils.

Blasting his trumpet for Dreamhounds of Paris, the Consulting Occultist begins a mini-arc delving into the French occult, starting with scientist, spiritualist and polymath Charles Richet.

Even more brazenly touting Dreamlands, our just-opened Culture Hut kicks off an in-depth series with Surrealism 101.

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Tags: Consulting Occultist, Gaming hut, Tradecraft Hut

Posted in Podcast | 12 Comments »

Episode 115: Anopheles Mosquito, Stagnant Pond

November 14th, 2014 | Robin

The hats in Among My Many Hats are bowlers, and green apples obscure our faces, because we’re talking about Dreamhounds of Paris, now available for preorder, and its companion volume, The Book of Ants.

In the Food Hut we answer a Ryan Macklin request to talk about herbs. Which delicious plant will we name as monarch over all the others?

We are pursued by a bear into the Gaming Hut for a discussion of Shakespearean gaming, as part of our nod to birthday celebrant Dina Katz.

Finally the Consulting Occultist makes an appearance in the Tradecraft Hut to discuss revelations that British psy-ops thought it would calm the Northern Irish conflict if they staged evidence of black masses.

Also sponsoring us this week is the Paranoia Kickstarter from Mongoose Publishing. Obey the Computer, citizen, and crowdfund a fast-playing new iteration of the classic RPG of a darkly humorous future.