#jeff stormer

[allmyfantasychildren]

Let Me Tell You About My Podcast

It's good. It's a good podcast.

All My Fantasy Children is a TTRPG-inspired character creation, worldbuilding, and storytelling podcast where, for the past six years, best friends Jeff Stormer (hi, hello, that's me), and Aaron Catano-Saez have taken listener submitted prompts and spun them into original fantasy characters, locations, and world details.

It's a story about the joys of sitting down with a friend and telling a story together: one that's sometimes silly, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes epic, and sometimes small and delicate.

If you like big, weird fantasy stories, indie TTRPGs, magical adventures, queer storytelling, or listening to best friends hang out and shoot the breeze, you might really like it.

[jeffstormer]

Now Available: Anyone Can Wear the Mask: The Print Edition

An award-winning TTRPG about a hero, a villain, and the city they share.

If you own the digital edition of the game: There should be a 20% coupon in your inbox.

[lotsadeer]

@jeffstormer you insult me.

Y'all see this coward here? He lost his left shoe to me and now he think he can get away with inviting me on as a cohost for Smacktalk Showdown? He think I'll just be content to banter and judge the competition with him?

Oh no Jeff.

Make sure you all tune in this weekend to @moonshotpods Moongaritaville stream. It's going to get spicy.

[theinstagrahame]

Honestly, yes. It's a fantastic and fun show that highlights incredible indie games and designers. The real standout element for me, though, is Jeff's ability to take even a goofy joke of a suggestion and turn it into exactly what the story needs.

Each episode leaves me wanting more when "game" is called.

If you're not sure where to start, just pick any game you are familiar with or curious about.

Party of One is one of the best actual play podcasts out there, reblog if you agree

[slowmo-cowboy]

The most recent arc of Riley Hopkins and Their Amazing Friends is SO good. Dragon Ball Uuber, my beloved. This will remain in my heart for Ever. Please go listen to it if you've ever cared about Dragon Ball ever. Its soso good!!!

[electricgaunt]

making a podcast in order to trick encourage your cohost friend to consume that one media that you think they'd like, on a regular scheduled basis

[jessfromonline]

have you been enjoying absurd Helldivers 2 nonsense?

multiple players have independently called my compared my satirical scifi skirmish storytelling TTPRG 🎲 PLANET FIST to Helldivers—so much as to call it "exactly the tone of Helldivers." the new Faithless Edition of PLANET FIST will be releasing this year, and if you buy it now, you get the new edition for free!

in PLANET FIST, SHOOTOUTS ARE STORIES, and they're goofy and over the top. you're an undying, unsleeping soldier who can get blasted to bits and thrown right back onto the battlefield next round. if you're looking to see how it hits that Helldivers tone, just check out some of the FACTION TRAITS below!

what's PLANET FIST about? what does it play like? read the PRINCIPLES OF PLAY here!

what are people saying about PLANET FIST, besides that it's like Helldivers 2?

"PLANET FIST is a quick-to-learn and quick-to-play system for characters thrown into FPS-style deathmatches on a world that knows nothing but war. It's a game of high-emotion, low-consequence combat, for when you're wondering what the infinite Master Chiefs are thinking during Halo multiplayer. PLANET FIST is 'war never changes' said with the same inflection as 'it's all made up and the points don't matter.'"

- Caleb Zane Huett, designer of Triangle Agency

"An absolute blast—and then another, and then another, and then another, each leaving remains splattered on a wall. Gleeful, and tactical, and winkingly tongue-in-cheek; a masterful game from top to bottom."

- Jeff Stormer, host of the Party of One actual play podcast

or check out some table stories:

[merelyroleplayers]

You might also enjoy

Codename: Mosaic

Our actual homage to Mission: Impossible and Bond

And also,

Codename Mosaic: Ghost Recall

A game of Mission: Accomplished! by Jeff Stormer, where the characters from Codename: Mosaic have to answer for their actions to the higher-ups!

Do you enjoy sci-fi stories where the antagonist is an AI that manifests on screens as a shifting geometric pattern, and predicts everyone's every move using a sophisticated simulation of the entire universe?

Have you already seen Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning part 1?

Let us recommend:

Parallax

A Merely Roleplayers production in 3 parts: Parallax Core (4 acts), Parallax Converging (5 Acts), Parallax Inverted (5 acts)

Playing Impulse Drive by Adrian Thoen

[theresattrpgforthat]

Any recommendations for high fantasy games that primarily focus on social interaction? Ideally while still having a system for PC advancement/support for long-term play.

THEME: Social High Fantasy

Hello friend, so typical disclaimer: some of the elements of these games fit one part of your request more than the other. So there will be some that are much more high fantasy and much less social. Others will be very very social, while having less high fantasy. I hope you still find something that hits the sweet spot!

SapphicWorld, by Darling Demon Games.

Sapphicworld is a work-in-progress queer and kinky (18+) TTRPG, with a focus on understanding others, exploring lush realms and bravely facing the strange. 

The moves in Sapphicworld are intensely focused on changing your relationships with each-other. Hold My Heart is all about revealing a part of yourself and letting the other see something vulnerable and private about you. Twirl Together is a dance, and can bring about subtle changes or definitions of your relationships. I Beg of You is a request that you can make (forgiveness, a kiss, help), putting power into the other person’s hands and waiting to see what they do with it.

Character playbooks house various alterations to the basic moves and specific prompts about Fighting, Flirting and Friendship, which altogether guide the player towards a specific kind of play: The Twink Controversial has fallen from a place of power but is more than willing to stir up some shit, for example.

The link above is for the Ashcan, which is not a fully playable verison of the game, but rather a teaser to the full thing. If you want the current playtest version, it looks like the best place to get it is currently the Darling Demon Games Patreon.

Iron Edda Accelerated, by TheOtherTracy.

A game of brave warriors fighting to keep their homes, lives, and freedom. It is a game of magic and intrigue.  It is the story of ordinary people who fight alongside the towering skeletons of long-dead giants. 

It is the story of those who embrace an unknown afterlife to bond themselves to those giant bones.  It is the story of those who cling to tradition and to the power that their roles in society gives them, even though all crumbles around them.  It is the story of a world irrevocably changed. 

It is the story of Ragnarok, Fimbulwinter, the end of time itself.

Iron Edda is built off of FATE, which uses descriptive phrases to build your character. One of those descriptive phrases (also called an Aspect) is explicitly relational, creating a tie between you and another character. In many cases this relationship can be leveraged to give you an advantage, and every once in a while, it might also be leveraged against you.

FATE games outline four basic types of actions: attack, defend, overcome, and create and advantage, and while they certainly can be used in a physical arena, these types of actions can be translated into a social arena as well. A Social attack will probably target your reputation, and might inflict a negative aspect such as Embarrassed on you, or might even give you a mental consequence. Your social actions can also carry great weight when it comes to determining what kinds of words will require action to back them up - after a all, your status is only worth how far you’re willing to go to back it up. If you want to learn more, the play sessions with Jeff Stormer on Party of One is a great example of how this game can focus on relationships and social power.

Together Is The Guild, by Robin Naite.

Welcome to Together is the Guild. A Fantasy Roleplaying Game where you will find yourself with a group of individuals aiming to make the best guild in this magical world! You must work together to survive the threats of rival guilds, nobles, towers, and everything else the world throws at you!

Legends say that on a bright day in the morning sun from the top of the 5 towers in Portnia, you can see a 6th tower at the centre of the Limbo. Only a select few know the truth… Join together, create a guild, and rise up the ranks to become the next legends. Or conquer all these towers and close them forever!

There are four stats in Together is the Guild that relate to social skills: Performance, Intimidation, Diplomacy, and Sway. Because it’s Forged in the Dark, I can see plenty of problems that can be solved socially, although I don’t think they necessitate social solutions. When your characters go on missions or whatever the equivalent of that is in this game, they’ll probably choose an option that plays to their strengths, which means that if you encourage your players to focus on social strengths, they might run a con more often than an assassination.

However, another thing that I think games like this provide that may boost the social game a little bit is the way your connections are used during game-play. You have a best friend and a rival that you establish at character creation, and both of these connections are resources. Your friend is a resource who can give you aid and information related to whatever field they have, while your rival is a resource for the GM - a way to complicate a mission, make it more personal or more difficult.

There’s also Guild reputation in this game, and I think the fact that it can fluctuate according to how you carry out your missions is a great way to really communicate consequences to the group. If the crew reputation spikes up too quickly, other factions may see you as a threat and try to take you down a peg, especially if you’re dangerous. If you get a messy or dangerous rep, your guild will be treated very differently than if you get a subtle or professional rep. From my experience with Blades, this rep will only have as much weight as you’re willing to give it, but I think it’s definitely a tool worth picking up and playing with.

Hillfolk, by Pelgrane Press.

In an arid badlands, the hill people hunger. Your neighbours have grain, cattle, gold. You have horses and spears, courage and ambition. Together with those you love and hate, you will remake history—or die.

With the Hillfolk roleplaying game, you and your group weave an epic, ongoing saga of high-stakes interpersonal conflict that grows richer with every session. Its DramaSystem rules engine, from acclaimed designer Robin D. Laws, takes the basic structure of interpersonal conflict underlying fiction, movies and television and brings it to the world of roleplaying. This simple framework brings your creativity to the fore and keep a surprising, emotionally compelling narrative constantly on the move.

Hillfolk is well respected for the way it leverages relationships and debts as core systems in the game. There are mechanics here that centre on makign demands and requests from each-other, weaving relationships of debt, favours, and power exchanges. Those who have resources will find themselves inundated with demands from others, and denying those demands so many times will have social ramifications. Your characters will also have personal desires that motivate them, and those desires will be tied to what other people can give them: approval, power, love, punishment, etc. If you want a game full of drama and social weight, you want Hillfolk.

Trilogy, by Ben Moxon.

Trilogy is a tabletop RPG designed for epic fantasy campaigns. Build your world at the table, create characters to explore it and let the adventure commence.Trilogy is designed specifically for players who want to discover their world in play rather than having to consult settings guides and books of existing lore. A world that lives and grows around you, shared by everyone at the table.

Trilogy is a long-term high fantasy game inspired by epic fantasy series like Lord of the Rings and Malazan Book Of The Fallen. The character arcs that are present in this game provide a lot of interesting advancement options, guiding you to play according to type and rewarding you for certain actions that further your story. I don’t think that social interaction is the specific focus for Trilogy, but it’s certainly an important piece.

Character arcs like the Mentor, the Leader, the Healer and The Chancer depend on social interaction, whether that be teaching, leading, healing or fooling others. There are universal moves for figuring out other people, persuading others, and entering a battle of wits. The game is also Powered by the Apocalypse, which is a game design philosophy that often encourages players to get entangled with each-other and with the world. If you want a fantasy epic that provides moments that zoom in on the characters and allows them to grow over time, you might like Trilogy.

The Spine of Eternity: Everybody Wants to Be A Star, by Eva Terra

The Spine of Eternity, a massive spire that after much discussion has been agreed on by those who live there to have no beginning or ending. A land ruled by the laws of fiction where fame is power and perception is reality, where the most powerful get to live on postmortem as stars and influence the living. Many accept early on that stardom is something only very few will ever reach. They hold on to the belief that there is a fundamental difference between the common folk and the stars.

But not you.

You will reach for the stars no matter that you will have to claw your way to the top. No matter that they told you good luck despite everyone knowing the system is rigged. No matter that they break you in ways that you will never recover from, that you will never be the same. Nothing less than being equal to the stars will be enough for you.

Spine of Eternity: Everybody Wants to be a Star is a Powered by the Apocalypse Tabletop Role Playing Game about a modern fantasy setting where adventurers are streamers who travel the land to help the people, defeat tyrants and earn fame to reach the stars.

Even though I don’t own a copy, I think The Spine of Eternity has a lot of potential to give you socially complex situations because of the way that relationships are woven into the character arcs. For example, the Bound has a Patron who they’re legally or magically beholden do, and the Bastion is responsible for keeping the party safe, even if that means becoming their scapegoat. The game is also about folks who are seeking popularity and stardom, which means that they’ll need to know how to work the crowds of people who would launch them to stardom. The game is also PbtA, which I think increases it’s chances of being able to really deliver in terms of interesting social drama.

Witches Loving Wetlands, by Emily Zhu.

Witches Loving Wetlands is a game about swamps, marshes, bogs, fens, and finding love in the face of imperialism.

In Witches Loving Wetlands, witches can choose to work together, or against each-other as they find their lands encroached upon by a ruthless invader. The relationships between your witch characters can lead to interesting stories about aid and betrayal, and lending each-other your power - in fact, you will have to steal or borrow the power of your neighbours if you want to be able to hold your own.

I think this game is also an excellent commentary on the realities of folks who normally live separate from each-other, when they’re forced to acknowledge that they can only defeat a common enemy if they work together.

Also... @monsterfactoryfanfic... hi. I think this would be a really neat thing to dive into more.

[champsinthemaking]

[allmyfantasychildren]

New Episode: AUDIO DRAMA: A Letter From Nymphaea Lacus to Lumina Dawnspear

A message from the past, and the start of a new adventure... kool ot erehw wonk uoy fi.

cw: Memory Loss, Memory Erasure

[slowmo-cowboy]

I def agree about post-Cell Gohan, actually. And I did mean as in "Real Mod/Extra Content" so thank you for clarifying and posting it 😂

Hm. Now what's going on here?

[ftlcast]

Join Jade, Zachary, and special guest Jeff Stormer as we play Anyone Can Wear the Mask by Jeff Stormer. Ackerman City: home to the prestigious Ackerman University, glistening Vantage Hill, upscale Glittering Heights, and the bustling Factory Harbor. It's also home to Rhiannon Barlow, known by some as Nyx, the superhero who chooses to defend this great place against the deeds of those who mean its inhabitants harm. But will she be able to succeed in her mission, or will the villains of Ackerman City lead to her downfall?

Nyx is played by Jade.

The villains are played by Zachary.

The city is played by Jeff.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ftlcast for bonus content like outtakes and bloopers as well as early access to episodes and special bonus episodes.

Find out more about the games we play (and where to buy them): https://www.ftlcast.com/games-weve-played

Episode summaries available here: https://goo.gl/3nXVpA

Join us on Discord! https://discord.gg/zzuPqne

Cover image by Sam and original music by Zachary

Follow the Leader is part of the Standing Stones Productions podcasting guild. Find out more about us and our projects on Twitter: @stones_standing

[lotsadeer]

@jeffstormer OH LETS FUCKING GO! LETS FUCKING GO! THIS SATURDAY, YOU AND ME JEFF!

We'll see who's the better Smacktalk Showdown player.

Saturday, 4 pm, on the @moonshotpods twitch channel.

[partyofonepod]

New Episode: All the King's Goblins with Brennan Lee Mulligan

There is an ancient code, an iron-clad oath held sacred among the royal knights of the Goblin King…

“First, we Fuck Around. Then, we Find Out.”

Party of One is an Actual Play podcast focused on two-player RPGs. Every episode, host Jeff Stormer sits down one-on-one with a friend; they play a game, laugh, shed a few tears, and have a great time. Learn more on our website!

[jemandtheholograms]