Mirke The Meek

I play calls regarding my episodes on Conan, Cartoons and Windsome West:Freethrall from Keep off the Borderlands (https://freethrall.substack.com/podcast ) Daniel from Bandit's Keep (https://www.youtube.com/banditskeep ) BJ from The Arcane Alienist (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/arcanealienist ) Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠ Magic icons created by Freepik - Flaticon

Joe helps me answer some calls regarding my episode on Horror on the Hill:Hindsightless Joe (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joe-richter9 ) Bandit's Keep Daniel (https://www.youtube.com/banditskeep ) Jason from The Nerds RPG Variety Cast (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 ) Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

I ran Winsome West for some friends and am excited to share the game!Bird Cowboy Song: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BWfGPKsxTQY⁠ Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/winsome-west⁠

How a simple solo system (Dungeon Hero) has inspired some of my own games. Dungeon Hero: https://lonespelunker.itch.io/dungeon-hero Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

I got call-ins from:Dekahedron Joe (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jpgill/ ), Hindsightless Joe (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joe-richter9 )Bandit's Keep Daniel (https://www.youtube.com/banditskeep ). I do another little Pod-by-post experiment with Daniel regarding the episodic adventures of Conan (not grand quests).Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

Joe Richter (Hindsightless) ran a group through Horror on the Hill. I ponder/ramble to unpack the experience—what worked, what didn’t, and why that one trap still bothers me. Joe adds a little bit of his own thoughts.Some topics pondered: setting/assuming expectations, old-school module/dungeon design, faction play, and the tension between running a module “as written” versus making it your own.Check out previous episodes of Hindsightless for more discussion of Horror on the Hill starting here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/joe-richter9/episodes/612-OSR-October-Charles-Patton-e39tiu5 Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

I walk and talk about the old Conan cartoon from 1992. For those with kids around age seven, you may want to consider it for giving an early taste of sword and sorcery, sanitized as it may be.Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

In this episode, I think through the idea of what’s possible—and why some strange things in stories feel believable while others don’t.Using examples from Star Trek and Carmen Sandiego, I explore the difference between unrealistic things and things that don’t really make sense at all, touching on the philosophical idea of metaphysical possibility.From there, I connect it to tabletop RPGs and how philosophy informs our games and players' choices, whether we realize it or not.This isn’t a formal philosophy lesson—just me working through some ideas and relating them to games.People/Things Mentioned:Knowledge, Reality and Value (Michael Huemer) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57610167-knowledge-reality-and-value Riley (Diegetic Advancement) https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diegeticadvancement The Actual Reason Brennan is so Good (Edariad YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghf7tksqyaA Brennan Lee Mulligan is Saving the World, one D&D Game at a Time (Rolling Stone) (https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/rs-gaming/critical-role-dungeons-and-dragons-brennan-lee-mulligan-1235438859/ Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

BJ helps me answer a couple of call-ins concerning our psychology discussions.People/Things Mentioned:BJ (Arcane Alienist) ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/arcanealienist⁠ Riley (Diegetic Advancement) https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diegeticadvancement Daniel (Bandits Keep) https://www.youtube.com/c/banditskeep Semi-Related Article (https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/04-05/role-playing-games-therapy) Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

Thank you BJ for the discussion! (Arcane Alienist: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/arcanealienist⁠)BJ discusses a conference talk about using D&D for therapy.Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

Thank you BJ for the discussion! (Arcane Alienist: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/arcanealienist⁠)We finish our discussion of Dr. Donald Robertson's book, How to Think Like a Roman Emperor (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250621436/howtothinklikearomanemperor).Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

Thank you BJ for the discussion! (Arcane Alienist: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/arcanealienist⁠)I talk my 2026 nerdy aspirations before getting into a discussion of Dr. Donald Robertson's book, How to Think Like a Roman Emperor (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250621436/howtothinklikearomanemperor).Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

More Howard, Lovecraft and Sword & Sorcery TalkPeople/Things Mentioned:Riley (Diegetic Advancement) https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diegeticadvancement BJ (Arcane Alienist) https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/arcanealienist Jason (Nerds RPG Variety Cast) https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376Anchorite APA (https://sites.google.com/view/anchorite/home) Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

How would you describe your game playing: information handling & decision making or imagination & immersion?People/Things Mentioned:Joe (Dekahedron) https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jpgill/ Anthony (The Casting Shadows Podcast)https://castingshadowspodcast.com/episodes/ Jason (Nerds RPG Variety Cast) https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376Keep Off the Borderlands (https://freethrall.substack.com/podcast) Anchorite APA (https://sites.google.com/view/anchorite/home) Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

The final Advent-ure. Will the kittens help these star-crossed lovers?

The Order of the Crystal Ants want you to experience the bounties of the HummingCougar through a Merry Crystmas!

The Sugar Bees are a faction of factions. The Queen Mother sits on her crystal throne, too complacent to see her power is tenuous. Will the kittens be the spark that lights the circumstantial powder keg?

Beware of the Crystaceans while exploring the Crystal Field! The kittens are sure to run into some while trying to make it to the HummingCougar.

This is a start to a new Advent-ure section: a "dungeon". This is the territory of the mysterious HummingCougar. It has nested on top of an old scoreboard and converted the old football field into a network of crystalline lattices.

This Advent-ure the kittens come across a crumbling skate park covered in leaves.

This Advent-ure the kittens come across a busted up tractor covered in mushrooms.

This Advent-ure the kittens come across a run-down, dirt hot dog stand.

This Advent-ure the kittens come across the electrified waters of a sunken electric transfer station.

This Advent-ure the kittens come across an old gnarled tree burdened with the weight of a massive, rusty safe.

This Advent-ure the kittens come across an ancient bus stop covered with flowering vines.

This week's Advent-ure will be focused on the rules and setting of Dungeons & Kittens. The Junkyard, Slumbering Forest, and Big Wheel are a few more places quickly described in the starter set.D&K QuickStart: ⁠⁠⁠https://cdn.svc.asmodee.net/production-edge/uploads/2025/10/ESDAK01EN-DungeonsKittens_Quickstart.pdf⁠⁠⁠

This week's Advent-ure will be focused on the rules and setting of Dungeons & Kittens. Another major city is Corktown, the Tortuga of Cat-dom. Either city mentioned so far would be a good place to fit in Ninja Cats.Asmodee Release Calendar: ⁠⁠⁠https://store.asmodee.com/pages/release-calendar⁠⁠⁠ D&K QuickStart: ⁠⁠⁠https://cdn.svc.asmodee.net/production-edge/uploads/2025/10/ESDAK01EN-DungeonsKittens_Quickstart.pdf⁠⁠⁠

This week's Advent-ure will be focused on the rules and setting of Dungeons & Kittens. The Capital city is Cat Tree City. The higher up it you live, the more power you have, looking down at those below you.Asmodee Release Calendar: ⁠⁠https://store.asmodee.com/pages/release-calendar⁠⁠ D&K QuickStart: ⁠⁠https://cdn.svc.asmodee.net/production-edge/uploads/2025/10/ESDAK01EN-DungeonsKittens_Quickstart.pdf⁠⁠ Sketch of Swashbuckling Cat courtesy of my oldest daughter, Delylah the Doomed!

This week's Advent-ure will be focused on the rules and setting of Dungeons & Kittens. And we're finally talking setting. Is it Post-Apocalyptic if society is rebuilt and thriving?Illustrator Clement De Ruyter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clement_deruyter Dungeons & Kittens Cartoon Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7YR-xHEIM4

This week's Advent-ure will be focused on the rules and setting of Dungeons & Kittens. Spells are unique to each kitten thus far. The two types of combat in Dungeons & Kittens: Fang (Intimidation) and Claw (Physical Violence).Asmodee Release Calendar: ⁠https://store.asmodee.com/pages/release-calendar⁠ D&K QuickStart: ⁠https://cdn.svc.asmodee.net/production-edge/uploads/2025/10/ESDAK01EN-DungeonsKittens_Quickstart.pdf⁠ Sketch of Swashbuckling Cat courtesy of my oldest daughter, Delylah the Doomed!

This week's Advent-ure will be focused on the rules and setting of Dungeons & Kittens. Relevant Items and Cattributes grant re-rolls on checks/tests.Asmodee Release Calendar: https://store.asmodee.com/pages/release-calendar D&K QuickStart: https://cdn.svc.asmodee.net/production-edge/uploads/2025/10/ESDAK01EN-DungeonsKittens_Quickstart.pdf Sketch of Swashbuckling Cat courtesy of my oldest daughter, Delylah the Doomed!

This week's Advent-ure will be focused on the rules and setting of Dungeons & Kittens. The two Resource Pools for Dungeons & Kittens are Hearts and Furr-endship. Use Furr-endship to give success to tests, use skills to gain advantage.

This week's Advent-ure will be focused on the rules and setting of Dungeons & Kittens. The three stats for Dungeons & Kittens are Strong, Smart, Cute. The dice mechanic is 3d6, roll under your stat (with a twist).Sketch of Chef Cat courtesy of my oldest daughter, Delylah the Doomed!

I ran Winsome West for some friends and am excited to share the game!Bird Cowboy Song: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BWfGPKsxTQY⁠ Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/winsome-west⁠

Welcome to my daily Advent Adventure, where I flesh out details for use in my RPG sessions. Day 6 is the Silk Skunk: Skunk + Spider.

Welcome to my daily Advent Adventure, where I flesh out details for use in my RPG sessions. Day 5 is the Boarssum: Boar + Posssum.

Welcome to my daily Advent Adventure, where I flesh out details for use in my RPG sessions. Day 4 is the Ostreater: Ostritch + Giant Ant-Eater.

Welcome to my daily Advent Adventure, where I flesh out details for use in my RPG sessions. Day 3 is the Mantis Mink.

Welcome to my daily Advent Adventure, where I flesh out details for use in my RPG sessions. Day 2 is the Turtlepede: Turtle + Centipede.

Welcome to my daily Advent Adventure, where I flesh out details for use in my RPG sessions. First up is the Sheaver: Sheep-Beaver.

But seriously, send in an entry to the Jason contest:Info Here: https://nerdsrpgvarietycastblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/end-of-2025-contest.htmlPodcast Episode: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/jason376/episodes/S2E41-New-Contest--The-Dungeon-Plunger--and-Listener-Feedback-e3b0oqvDungeon Plunger: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDungeonPlunger

A call-in from Anthony Runeslinger sends me on a retrospective rambling.People/Things Mentioned:The Casting Shadows Podcast (https://castingshadowsblog.com/2025/11/09/i-have-seen-the-king-and-he-has-six-strings) Nerds RPG Variety Cast - Six-String Samurai (https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/jason376/episodes/S2-Six-String-Samurai-the-RPG-with-Runeslinger-Bonus-52-e3a2p0r) Keep Off the Borderlands (https://freethrall.substack.com/podcast) Anchorite APA (https://sites.google.com/view/anchorite/home) Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

The Alexandre Dumas podcast I listened to was from the BBC's, You're Dead to Me: https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/p0m89vct Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

I do some Well, Duh-ning Krueger about Appendix N authors, answer some calls from Jason and Joe before reading out the beginning of what I am calling a Sage and Swordery story.Quote Scott of Friends of Jackson Elias: https://blasphemoustomes.com/2013/11/26/episode-20-good-friends-chew-plasterboard/ YouTube video of Conan the Barbarian as an Archetype: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Okat0n0UghwFeedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

I answer a call-in from Barry, Of Dice and Shadows, on my DiegeticQuest RPG.Then I also talk about my next attempt to combine RPGs with exercise.Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

Would Lovecraft have grown more pro-social if he lived longer? And is his art bad because of his beliefs?I read excerpts from and discuss H.P. Lovecraft’s Radical Political EvolutionBlog: https://emersongreenblog.wordpress.com/2021/10/18/h-p-lovecrafts-1931-radical-political-transformation/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/42-h-p-lovecrafts-radical-political-evolution/id1474408172?i=1000539357086 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1cAU2dYwQw Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

Mirke muses on integrating physical activity with playing RPGs. Instead of rolling dice to resolve challenges, quantify your daily activities, and use those quantities as your resolution results.Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

Critical Role just announced their newest campaign will be West Marches. I do some quick pondering if you’re interested.

I've got hopes for RPG-a-Day this year, and last year inspired my Puzzle Adventure: https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/account-of-the-animating-geyser Also mentioned:- RPGaDay (https://nerdsrpgvarietycastblog.blogspot.com/2025/07/rpgaday2025.html) - Location Prompts (https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/urban-location-prompts) - Ladder Table Terrain (https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/ladder-table-terrain-generation) Feedback:Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠

A follow up to the recent discussion about collaborating on podcasting. Thanks again to Jason from Nerds RPG Variety Cast for joining to discuss.Calls/Comments from:Jason (Nerd's RPG Variety Cast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/jason376/) Daniel (Bandit's Keep: https://www.youtube.com/c/banditskeep) Pink Phantom (Phantom Thoughts: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/phantomthoughts/) BJ (Arcane Alienist: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/arcanealienist/) Feedback: Speakpipe (90 seconds): ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/MirkeTheMeek⁠ Email: mirke [dot] the [dot] meek [at] gmail [dot] com⁠My Itch.io Page: ⁠https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/⁠ Artwork modified from Daughter Designs ;)