Backwards Compatible – Ep 15 – The Millennium Falcon

 Backwards Compatible Podcast  Comments Off on Backwards Compatible – Ep 15 – The Millennium Falcon
Dec 252013
 

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Join the Millennium Falcon of podcast this week as we look forward to the holidays, laugh at Borderlands 2, cry at Bioshock Infinitie, embrace the calamity of Just Cause 2, bring back the League of Legends hour, and try to figure out what went wrong with Youtube! Plus you are all now honorary members of the Penrod family. One of us! One of us!

 

Please subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes!Now on Stitcher Internet Radio!Like us?....Like us!Follow us! @theBCPodcastSend your emails to : backwardscompatible@carpegm.netWatch us play!!

 

Theme Music is:

“Play the Game” by Pocketmaster

Additional Music is:

“God Only Knows” from the Bioshock Infinite OST

Backwards Compatible – Ep 13 – On A Scale Of One To Irreverent

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Dec 132013
 

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Join the gang this week as we discuss what we picked up for the Steam Autumn Sale and introduce our new rating system. Penrod goes from happy to rage in record time in Gotham City Imposters. David puts his sleuthing skills to test in L.A. Noire. Kyle justifies his purchase of Gone Home. Aaron finally plays Skyrim and breaks the fourth wall with The Stanley Parable. Plus everyone can’t stop raving about Far Cry 3 and we can’t help but discuss the train-wreck that was the VGX awards.

 

Please subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes!Now on Stitcher Internet Radio!Like us?....Like us!Follow us! @theBCPodcastSend your emails to : backwardscompatible@carpegm.netWatch us play!!

 

Theme Music is:

“Play the Game” by Pocketmaster

Additional Music is:

“Make It Bun Dem” from the Far Cry 3 OST

Modiphius Announces the SILVERSHIELDS Community Team!

 Announcements  Comments Off on Modiphius Announces the SILVERSHIELDS Community Team!
Dec 022013
 

  Modiphius Launches SILVERSHIELDS Community Team!

 

Modiphius Entertainment has announced the SILVERSHIELDS Program and two community managers;Dan Whorl and Dave McAlister to lead the teams in 2014.

 

Inspired by Alexander the Great’s veteran warriors the Silver Shields, who gave courage to the younger soldiers in his army and helped hold the line at the direst of times, the new community team program is designed to reward all levels of involvement in supporting Modiphius’s games.

 

 

Chris Birch is passionate about getting everyone involved not matter what they feel they can do, “Whether it’s sticking a poster up in a game club, taking flyers to local stores, running demo games in store, at a club or convention, promoting the games on Facebook, Twitter or just chatting about Modiphius on forums – there’s so much people can do to help out and we plan to reward that with an exciting membership that rewards every member of the team for their efforts.”

 

The SILVERSHIELDS program is signing up members from all over the world to support Modiphius’sflagship games; Achtung! CthulhuMutant Chronicles 3rd EditionPaolo Parente’s DUST Adventures,Cogs, Cakes & Swordsticks and much more! You can sign up herehttp://www.modiphius.com/silvershields.html

 

Based on the level of their support, active members can expect to receive an awesome Modiphius TeamT-shirt, a SILVERSHIELDS badge, and credit towards Modiphius products.

 

Dave McAlister is heading up the UK SILVERSHIELDS. Dave has been roleplaying for over 30 years, with a big love of the espionage genre. So much so that in 1999, he started Modus Operandi and joined the Sarbreenar “Living” campaign team as their plotline controller before moving across to the Living Spycraft campaign team (as UK Regional Branch Director) in 2003. 2003 was also the year that Dave founded UK Role Players as well as co-writing World Militaries and consulting on both US Militaries and Battlegrounds, all for Spycraft. Since then, Dave has concentrated on supporting the UK gaming scene. He has organised and run several small, one-day, events and was the RPG Area Manager for Gen Con UK in 2004. He is currently the webmaster for the Conception and Con-Quest conventions as well as UK Role Players. His current favourite systems are Savage Worlds and Cinematic Unisystem.

 

 

Dan Whorl is the leading the US SILVERSHIELDS. A 33 year old step-father of 4 and a lifelong tabletop gamer. His interest run the gamut of games from Euro board games to Ameri-trash, collectible card games to family and party titles.  However, his heart lies in table top RPGs.  25 years ago, Dan discovered Dungeons and Dragons and his life changed forever.  Having since played every system he could get his hands on, as well as creating more than a few homebrews, Tabletop RPGs have become a cornerstone of Dan’s creative outlet as well as favored pastime of his family. For the last year and a half, Dan has been the Host/Moderator of the popular gaming podcast “The CarpeGM Gamecast” and the owner/webmaster of CarpeGM.net, a website that houses a community dedicated to the enhancement of social event gaming, it’s culture, and the support of those help to shape it.

 

More team managers will be announced for Europe and abroad soon.

 

If you know someone who loves Savage Worlds, Call of Cthulhu or you think would love to demo the new systems from Modiphius Entertainment please forward this message.

 

For more information contact Modiphius Entertainment (or reply to this email) http://www.modiphius.com/contact.html

 

Modiphius

Backwards Compatible – Ep 11 – These Happy Days

 Backwards Compatible Podcast  Comments Off on Backwards Compatible – Ep 11 – These Happy Days
Nov 122013
 

 

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Join the Gang this week as we discuss what we’ve been playing. Kyle forces David to buy Fallout 3 (at gunpoint), we continue the Dark Souls/Demon’s Souls talk (INVISIBLE WALKWAYS!), keep erections at bay for Trackmania 2 (Hot Wheels for adults!), pronounce Volgarr the Viking (Biking), narrate The Stanley Parable (Blue Grass!), laugh at Crysis 2’s A.I. again (Cloak Engaged!), and discuss strategies in Call of Juarez Gunslinger (Shoot ’em in the face!). Plus we determine if the Next-Gen Resolutiongate pandemic is just hyperbole and reminisce on Blockbuster’s heyday.

 

Please subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes!Now on Stitcher Internet Radio!Like us?....Like us!Follow us! @theBCPodcastSend your emails to : backwardscompatible@carpegm.netWatch us play!!

 

Theme Music is:

“Play the Game” by Pocketmaster

Modiphius Calling – Episode 1

 Modiphius Calling  Comments Off on Modiphius Calling – Episode 1
Aug 142013
 

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Welcome to Modiphius Calling – our new regular tabletop podcast hosted by Josh O’Connor and Chris Birch. You can expect news of our main games such as Achtung! Cthulhu, Mutant Chronicles, our miniatures line as well as reviews of boardgames and RPG’s we like, tabletop gaming related Apps and interviews with a big range of guests, competitions and more. If you’d like to be a guest on our show and talk about your game please drop us a line here

Running Order:
00:31 News From Modiphius
06:13 What’s on Your Table?
16:34 Interview: Nick FallonOneWar co-designer
27:24 Mobile Tabletop
34:54 Achtung! Cthulhu News
42:17 Mutant Chronicles Playtest Intro Read by Stephane Middleton
53:32 Goodbye!

Links:
Achtung! Cthulhu
http://www.modiphius.com/achtung-cthulhu.html
Achtung! Cthulhu: Three Kings at RPGNow.com
http://www.rpgnow.com/index.php?keywords=modiphius+three+kings&x=0&y=0&author=&artist=&pfrom=&pto=
Mutant Chronicles
http://www.modiphius.com/mutant-chronicles.html
One War Battle Report
http://www.modiphius.com/one-war-system.html
Siege of the Citadel
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1621/mutant-chronicles-siege-of-the-citadel
Dungeon Crawl Classics
http://www.goodmangames.com/5070preview.html
0-Level Party Generator:
http://purplesorcerer.com/create.htm
Crawler’s Companion:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-crawlers-companion/id597725801?mt=8
Battle Academy
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/battle-academy/id499901136?mt=8
Frozen Front
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/1941-frozen-front/id598584564?mt=8Music Intro to Mutant Chronicles reading Ephemera by System Divide, used with permissionDisclaimerThe opinions expressed here represent personal opinions of presenters and guests and do not not necessarily reflect the views of Modiphius Entertainment Ltd. 

Modiphius Calling is a presentation of Modiphius Entertainment, for this and other awesome projects please visit Modiphius.com!!!

Visit us at Modiphius.com!Please subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes!We're now on Stitcher Internet Radio!Recommend our shows on RPGPodcasts.com!Like Modiphius Games on Facebook!Follow Modiphius on Twitter!Circle Modiphius!Purchase Modiphius products on DriveThruPG!Join the conversation on our forum!

Modiphius and DUST

 News  Comments Off on Modiphius and DUST
Aug 122013
 

Modiphius

MODIPHIUS Announces DUST ADVENTURES

Roleplaying in Paolo Parente’s DUST Universe!

British publisher Modiphius Entertainment has announced a licensing deal with Paolo Parente’s DUST Studio to create a tabletop roleplaying game set in the DUSTuniverse.

 

Scheduled for Spring-Summer 2014, DUST Adventures will consist of a core rulebook and setting guide and will be followed by supplements and campaigns. The books will feature both new artwork as well as stunning photography of DUST miniatures.

 

The campaigns will also feature DUST Tactics and DUST Warfare missions allowing fans of the miniatures games and roleplayers alike to enjoy the DUST universe in new ways. The system being written for DUST Adventures draws heavily on the elegant systems of DUST Tactics, uses the same familiar dice, and aims to easily bring characters from DUST Tactics in to the roleplaying game or roleplaying characters in to your DUST Tactics or Warfare games.

 

DUST Adventures RPG

 

Campaigns will explore the background behind the major events in the DUST universe as well as presenting new storylines for players. Allowing players to create heroes from the Allies, the SSU, or independent factions, the game system is designed for both first time roleplayers as well as offering advanced rules for experienced players.

 

Modiphius recently launched the Achtung! Cthulhu game line via Kickstarter and is producing a cross-over book called , which let’s players mix characters from both universe’s in a terrifying mission beyond their worlds. This book will be compatible with the DUST Adventures roleplaying game, DUST Tactics and DUST Warfare.

 

For more information on DUST Adventures please sign up on the official webpage:www.modiphius.com/dust-adventures.html where you can also join in with playtesting and development!

 

For press information please contact us via http://www.modiphius.com/contact.html

 

Chris Birch
Modiphius
 

 

 

The Oleg Story

 Announcements  Comments Off on The Oleg Story
Aug 072013
 
The Oleg Story: Survival - Live on Kickstarter NOW!

Hammer-wielding Mafia hit men, Russian spies, Racists, shivs, and cigarettes……….

Just another Friday night in Cell Black A!

The Oleg Story: Survival - Live on Kickstarter NOW!I had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Nail Adam, the head of a new game design studio called “Latest Pursuit”

Latest Pursuit’s latest pursuit is a Kickstarter campaign for a board game with a very neat concept:

You’re in a maximum security prison for international criminals, and gangs run the show.

The object of the game is not to escape, not to take over the cell block……

but SURVIVE!

There are no “Get Out of Jail Free” cards here…..

You’re just hoping to not get out of jail DEAD!

The game itself takes about 2 hours to play.  Its broken down into 20 minute rounds that begin and end with all characters in their respective cells.  You may ally with other gangs in an effort to take down a competitor, but don’t trust them.  They may be coming for you next!

The production  for The Oleg Story is mostly complete, and it looks great!

It comes with :

  • 4 Tile Map board (Board game)Check out The Oleg Story: Survival - Live on Kickstarter NOW!
  • The Oleg Story™: Survival Back Story DVD
  • 6×40 Attack Cards
  • 6×40 Defence Cards
  • 1×40 Mission Cards
  • 1×40 Special Cards
  • 1×6 Gang Cards
  • 1×60 Commodity Cards
  • 24 Miniature Figures
  • 12 Dice
  • 2 Shuffle Pouches
  • 24 & 21 Prison Cell draw cards
  • Guide Book
  • 1 Poster

All items have a high production value and the game is complete but for a print run. That’s where we come in.

The Oleg Story: Survival is on Kickstarter now.  With a campaign that includes DVDs, more gangs, custom miniatures, and more, this is definitely one prison I want in on!

 The Board!

“LIGHTS OUT!”

-Dan Whorl

Edu-LARP From Seekers Unlimited

 News  Comments Off on Edu-LARP From Seekers Unlimited
Aug 062013
 

As you all know, I’m a HUGE advocate for gaming in education.  My  experiences with my children opened my eyes to the reality of RPGs as a curriculum tool.

Currently, Seekers Unlimited has a very interesting Kickstarter campaign going that is taking this idea to the next level.  I have attached the press release.

Please give this a look!

Thanks!

-Dan

Edu-LARP Comes to Kickstarter!!!

Contact: Rosalind Helfand

Phone: 310-869-5749
Email: rozhelfand@gmail.com
Web: http://seekersunlimited.com

Revolutionary New Learning Tool “Edu-LARP” Goes to Kickstarter

Teachers and Students in Los Angeles and Nationwide Will Benefit from This Game Changing Campaign
LOS ANGELES, CA—July 26, 2013—While communities across the United States mourn the state of education, the non-profit Seekers Unlimited is changing the very nature of education for the better with Live Action Role Playing games or LARPs. Seekers Unlimited has been testing its educational LARPs in classrooms in Los Angeles for over a year. Now Seekers wants to bring six of its “edu-LARPs” to the nation through a game changing Kickstarter campaign. People who believe that kids should love learning and succeed in school are helping Seekers to reach its goal of raising $8,000 by August 30, 2013.

Live action role-playing, or play pretend, has been around since the dawn of humanity, but only recently are people realizing that it’s a powerful learning tool. Edu-LARPs invoke the power of play pretend to teach subjects like math, history, and science. What’s more fun: reading about Benjamin Franklin or being Benjamin Franklin for a day? Kids get out of their chairs and interact with one another as they become characters in stories with goals that require them to solve problems, collaborate, and retain information.

Seekers Executive Director Aaron Vanek believes that edu-LARP will reinvigorate the traditional classroom, stating, “Seekers Unlimited plays to excite education like punk rock motivated music.

Past Seekers edu-LARPs include “Hit Seekers” where students used math to make it in the music industry, and “Mesopotamia” where students became ancient Mesopotamian characters like governors, merchants, and priests to gain a deeper understanding of the “Cradle of Civilization.”

Now Seekers has developed six classroom tested science themed edu-LARPs. Seekers donates most of its services since schools have little or no funds for innovative learning activities. By supporting the Kickstarter campaign, donors will make it possible for Seekers to share these new edu-LARPs with the nation and continue its work.

Improving education is not easy nor simple, but it is imperative that we press on. With people’s help, we can lift mountains,” Aaron continues.

The science edu-LARPs to be funded for distribution by Kickstarter include:

* The Great Phlogiston Debate: Students role-play scientists active at the end of the Age of Enlightenment.
* Noir: Students role-play detectives, forensic scientists, and suspects in a series of possible crimes.
* Element Heroes: Students stop villains with super powers based on the elements.
* Monster Maker: Students learn chemistry in a Dr. Frankenstein scenario.
* Be Your Own Planet!: Students create their own star systems and protect them from interstellar dangers.
* Balloon Race: Students learn about forces and gravity through racing balloons.

Educators, game designers and community members are speaking out about the difference that edu-LARP can make to education if people pitch in.

Sarah Lynne Bowman, Ph.D., is the author of  The Functions of Role-playing Games: How Participants Create Community, Solve Problems, and Explore Identity .  Bowman, who also serves on the Seekers Board of Directors, strongly believes in edu-LARP, stating, “LARPing has changed my life in all facets: professionally, personally, socially, academically. Role-playing allows us to explore unfamiliar concepts and portray new roles that transcend our normal reality. I want to share the transformative power of LARP with the next generation.

Graydon Schlichter, co-designer of numerous LARPs and Director or Publicity for Evertide Games says, “Teachers are pressured to prepare students for tests rather than educate them, or even better, open their minds and invite them to educate themselves. Seekers Unlimited, through the edu-LARPs it creates, gives educators additional tools to reach students, further exposing them to the reality that there is more to learning than bubble-tests and vocabulary sheets.

Besides the great feeling contributors will get for helping to bring edu-LARPs to the nation, Seekers Unlimited is offering a number of perks to its Kickstarter donors.

The perks include experiences like:

* LARP Design 101: A four-hour seminar with our LARP designers to help you design your own LARP.
* Name Branding: Name a character, thing, or place in one of Seekers’ edu-LARPS.
* Basic Larper: Copies of original LARPs “Secret Ante” by Aaron Vanek and “Exodus 22:18” by Michael Tice.
* Edu-LARPs: Receive one or more of the new science edu-LARPs.
* Your Own Custom Designed and Produced LARP
To donate to Seekers Unlimited’s Kickstarter campaign, visit http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/160286787/creating-educational-live-action-role-playing-game. Seekers is also available on Facebook and Twitter @SeekersUnLtd. More information about Seekers Unlimited and how you can get involved is also available at http://seekersunlimited.com/

The Quest Continues!

 News  Comments Off on The Quest Continues!
Aug 062013
 

Dear Dungeons & Dragons® Playtester,

Download today’s new D&D® Next playtest packet, just in time for the upcoming D&D Encounters™ season, Murder in Baldur’s Gate™, which kicks off with a Launch Event Weekend on August 17th and 18th. This playtest package includes substantial changes to the following classes: barbarian, cleric, druid, fighter, monk, paladin, ranger, rogue, and wizard (now called the mage). In addition, you’ll find a new form-fillable character sheet and updates to spells, feats, and much more. For a full list of changes, please consult the Read First document in the playtest package.

Get More Involved!


If you have questions about D&D Next or want to get more involved in the playtest process, here are a few suggestions for getting more involved.
Murder In Baldur’s Gate: Now available for download as part of the D&D Next playtest packet is the Monster Supplement and Events Supplement for the Murder in Baldur’s Gate adventure, available in stores soon! This adventure, which starts a year-long event called the Sundering, can be played at home using D&D Next or in store through the D&D Encounters official play program.
D&D Next Podcast featuring Acquisitions Incorporated: Wizards of the Coast and Penny Arcade proudly present the latest installment of the Acquisitions Incorporated saga, featuring D&D Next! This rollicking series of podcasts chronicles the party’s latest adventure, leading up to the Live D&D Game at PAX 2013. Join Mike Krahulik, Jerry Holkins, Scott Kurtz, and new intern Patrick Rothfuss as they wreak havoc in the Forgotten Realms®. Bring on the laughter and the tears! (Note: This series of podcasts features adults using adult language.) Listen to the first podcast here or download it on iTunes.
D&D Next Livestreams: Interested in seeing how members of D&D Next team playtest the game? Catch the latest D&D Next livestream games most Fridays on the D&D Twitch TV channel, or view them later on the Dungeons & Dragons YouTube channel.
As always, thanks for your involvement in the D&D Next playtest!
– The D&D Team

Edu-Larp

 Announcements, Dan Whorl  Comments Off on Edu-Larp
Aug 052013
 

As you all know, I’m a HUGE advocate for gaming in education.  My  experiences with my children opened my eyes to the reality of RPGs as a curriculum tool.

Currently, Seekers Unlimited has a very interesting Kickstarter campaign going that is taking this idea to the next level.  I have attached the press release.

Please give this a look!

Thanks!

-Dan

Edu-LARP Comes to Kickstarter!!!

Contact: Rosalind Helfand

Phone: 310-869-5749
Email: rozhelfand@gmail.com
Web: http://seekersunlimited.com

Revolutionary New Learning Tool “Edu-LARP” Goes to Kickstarter

Teachers and Students in Los Angeles and Nationwide Will Benefit from This Game Changing Campaign
LOS ANGELES, CA—July 26, 2013—While communities across the United States mourn the state of education, the non-profit Seekers Unlimited is changing the very nature of education for the better with Live Action Role Playing games or LARPs. Seekers Unlimited has been testing its educational LARPs in classrooms in Los Angeles for over a year. Now Seekers wants to bring six of its “edu-LARPs” to the nation through a game changing Kickstarter campaign. People who believe that kids should love learning and succeed in school are helping Seekers to reach its goal of raising $8,000 by August 30, 2013.

Live action role-playing, or play pretend, has been around since the dawn of humanity, but only recently are people realizing that it’s a powerful learning tool. Edu-LARPs invoke the power of play pretend to teach subjects like math, history, and science. What’s more fun: reading about Benjamin Franklin or being Benjamin Franklin for a day? Kids get out of their chairs and interact with one another as they become characters in stories with goals that require them to solve problems, collaborate, and retain information.

Seekers Executive Director Aaron Vanek believes that edu-LARP will reinvigorate the traditional classroom, stating, “Seekers Unlimited plays to excite education like punk rock motivated music.

Past Seekers edu-LARPs include “Hit Seekers” where students used math to make it in the music industry, and “Mesopotamia” where students became ancient Mesopotamian characters like governors, merchants, and priests to gain a deeper understanding of the “Cradle of Civilization.”

Now Seekers has developed six classroom tested science themed edu-LARPs. Seekers donates most of its services since schools have little or no funds for innovative learning activities. By supporting the Kickstarter campaign, donors will make it possible for Seekers to share these new edu-LARPs with the nation and continue its work.

Improving education is not easy nor simple, but it is imperative that we press on. With people’s help, we can lift mountains,” Aaron continues.

The science edu-LARPs to be funded for distribution by Kickstarter include:

* The Great Phlogiston Debate: Students role-play scientists active at the end of the Age of Enlightenment.
* Noir: Students role-play detectives, forensic scientists, and suspects in a series of possible crimes.
* Element Heroes: Students stop villains with super powers based on the elements.
* Monster Maker: Students learn chemistry in a Dr. Frankenstein scenario.
* Be Your Own Planet!: Students create their own star systems and protect them from interstellar dangers.
* Balloon Race: Students learn about forces and gravity through racing balloons.

Educators, game designers and community members are speaking out about the difference that edu-LARP can make to education if people pitch in.

Sarah Lynne Bowman, Ph.D., is the author of  The Functions of Role-playing Games: How Participants Create Community, Solve Problems, and Explore Identity .  Bowman, who also serves on the Seekers Board of Directors, strongly believes in edu-LARP, stating, “LARPing has changed my life in all facets: professionally, personally, socially, academically. Role-playing allows us to explore unfamiliar concepts and portray new roles that transcend our normal reality. I want to share the transformative power of LARP with the next generation.

Graydon Schlichter, co-designer of numerous LARPs and Director or Publicity for Evertide Games says, “Teachers are pressured to prepare students for tests rather than educate them, or even better, open their minds and invite them to educate themselves. Seekers Unlimited, through the edu-LARPs it creates, gives educators additional tools to reach students, further exposing them to the reality that there is more to learning than bubble-tests and vocabulary sheets.

Besides the great feeling contributors will get for helping to bring edu-LARPs to the nation, Seekers Unlimited is offering a number of perks to its Kickstarter donors.

The perks include experiences like:

* LARP Design 101: A four-hour seminar with our LARP designers to help you design your own LARP.
* Name Branding: Name a character, thing, or place in one of Seekers’ edu-LARPS.
* Basic Larper: Copies of original LARPs “Secret Ante” by Aaron Vanek and “Exodus 22:18” by Michael Tice.
* Edu-LARPs: Receive one or more of the new science edu-LARPs.
* Your Own Custom Designed and Produced LARP
To donate to Seekers Unlimited’s Kickstarter campaign, visit http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/160286787/creating-educational-live-action-role-playing-game. Seekers is also available on Facebook and Twitter @SeekersUnLtd. More information about Seekers Unlimited and how you can get involved is also available at http://seekersunlimited.com/