The Diceology Podcast
by MadJayZero
Welcome to Diceology — a podcast network for people who take their games seriously and their tables even more seriously. I'm Mad Jay, GM-at-Large, and this feed used to be one show. Now it's four: Muses of Play — Sarah Doom and I muse about creativity and designers Dice Unknown — actual-play and behind-the-table stories pulled straight from the games I'm running. The Vault — All the episodes that have come before! Think StoryCorps for gamers, spread across three shows instead of one feed doing everything badly. We talk about where games fit into people's lives, what early gaming was like, what life looks like after the dice are put away — and I still bring my own GM-at-Large adventures into it. What I'm playing, running, or prepping, at the table or online. Whether you're chasing the latest TTRPG trends or just want the rest of the gamer's story, you're in the right feed. Let's run those dice. 🎲 🎲 🎲
Episodes
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Muses of Play: Reflections
😋 "The Zoom Cloud Ate It" You didn't miss episode three. We recorded Tim Hutchins. It was unhinged. I loved it. Zoom holds recordings for about 30 days and I wasn't paying attention, so it's gone. My fault — no redundancy, no local pull, just trust in the cloud. Tim's agreed to come back for a...
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Muses of Play: Powered by the Bakers, Pt2
A game is “done” when you stop thinking about it, right? The Bakers complicate that in the best way, and it instantly changes how we think about tabletop RPG design, publishing, and the long life of ideas. We start with the deceptively simple question of finishing, then follow it into Apocalypse...
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Muses of Play: Powered By The Bakers (Broadcast Cut)
We sit down with the Bakers to talk about how games and art grow out of everyday family life. We dig into creative conflict, staying unstuck, and why shelving a project can be a sign of craft rather than failure. • building a household that supports making through space, tools, and tolerance for...
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Muses of Play
Creativity doesn’t come with a handbook, so we're building our own. We swap notes on how solo game makers and artists actually get things done: setting a three-influence pillar to keep ideas fresh, designing from mechanics without losing theme, and navigating the murky last 5 percent where…
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The 2024 Wrap with Judd Karlman (Edited)
In this episode, we reflect on our favorite tabletop RPG experiences of 2024 and discuss exciting upcoming games for 2025. We explore character creation, the importance of storytelling, and how strange mechanics add depth to our games. • Reflection on standout RPG experiences of 2024 • Insights...
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From Hobby to Profession: The Life of Paid Game Masters
Have you ever wondered what it's like to turn your tabletop gaming passion into a profession? Judd Karlman and I chat about our extraordinary path from hobbyists to professional game masters (GMs), revealing the quirky, exciting, and sometimes absurd adventures that come with the territory. From...
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Jolt #5: Citrus Climax!
Jolt and his family are hunkering down at a Hilton Garden Hotel in Jacksonville, guarded by Cherry Bomb's security. It's nearly midnight when Red-Eye calls Jolt... and it's not a "wyd?!" kinda call. Chimaera is making a move to grab Citrus Climax! And you know who's coming to the rescue? I bet ya...
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Jolt #4: Daye & Knight (Edit)
Jolt #4 - Daye & Knight Nate and Obie encounter some extraordinary security guards when they try to make off with goods from the secret lab they've robbed. Later after getting Jason to a hospital, they have a strange encounter with 3-Pain. That night Nate, Obie, and Maggie strategize for the…
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Jolt #3 - Cherry Bomb!
Ready for an action-packed hour of gaming discussion and adventure? Join Rich and me as we delve into the world of real life and role-playing games, exploring the connection between comic books and gaming, and discovering what it means to truly "play to find out." Experience the thrill of...
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Jolt #2 -Orange Blast!
Jolt #2: Nathan interviews for the super spokesmodel position at Door Dash but gets an emergency text from his wife and leaves abruptly! 3Pain, the witness protection assassin, has made a house call! Later, Nathan and OB discuss OB's debt to Red-Eye, the wetwork job left undone, and a secret lab…
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Jolt #1
Jolt #1 - Nathan is lured into a CHIMERA experiment as they trap him on the Buckman bridge to observe his abilities! Back home, it’s parent-teacher conference night for him Sarah and their kid Mason. OB stops by looking for a hanging-out buddy. And Danny “Red-Eye” comes looking for OB. It was a...
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2Eleven: Jolt - Champions Now AP E00(Edit)
2Eleven returns with Jolt! Welcome to Session Zero for Jolt! A Champions Now actual play. I feel like I must remind you I do not receive any kickbacks for the millions of Champions Now sessions, content, or name drops! 🤣 Champions Now RPG has been a great source 0f fun for me, and I am thrilled…
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Last week in Tabletop Games with Mad Jay
Champions Now Jolt #2 -3 Nathan interviews for the super spokesmodel position at Door Dash but gets an emergency text from his wife and leaves abruptly! 3Pain, the witness protection assassin, has made a house call looking for 'Claire' AKA Sera, Nathan's wife, who's in the program. Later, Nathan...
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Last week in Gaming with Whitney Delaglio!
Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks for listening to Diceology! If you enjoyed the show, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. Want to support the show and get exclusive content? Head over to Play Fearless or My Patreon to...
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Going West with Jason Lutes (edit)
My guests, Jason Lutes and Paul Beakley, and I get lost in the West Marches game style. Jason is currently running his second West Marches campaign using Freebooters on the Frontier and Arden Vul as the setting. I get an incredible amount of joy from running West Marches campaigns, and geeking…
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Last week in Tabletop Games with Mad Jay
Easily the week of the West Marches. Starting with my halfling wizard’s Arden Vul adventure to helping my local gamers launch their own IRL West Marches games. It’s got me thinking about other non-fantasy applications. On the Gauntlet, we’ve wrapped up a three-session run of Fading Suns with…
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Last Week in Gaming #25
Fading Suns Fading Suns on The Gauntlet. Lowell Francis trying out the system, and you can tell he’s down his prep. I’m playing an Ur-Ukar witch with TK-like abilities. We’ve taken up a mission from a noble to be his escort and eyes and ears in a hostile system. Fading Suns has pulled at me for...
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Last Week in Gaming 0819
Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks for listening to Diceology! If you enjoyed the show, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. Want to support the show and get exclusive content? Head over to Play Fearless or My Patreon to...
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Last Week In Gaming
Mad Jay talks about Mythras and Glorantha, Twilight: 2000, Horizon Zero Dawn, Cortex and BX D&D with Old School Essentials! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks for listening to Diceology! If you enjoyed the show, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You can find us…
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Last Week in Gaming with Misha B
Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks for listening to Diceology! If you enjoyed the show, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. Want to support the show and get exclusive content? Head over to Play Fearless or My Patreon to...
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Last Week in Gaming with Judd (Edit)
My guest today is a gamer I admire for his style of DMing and asking players questions. He has the uncanny ability for generating gameable premises. He is the author of the Dictionary of Mu, a favorite sword and sorcery setting of mine. He's the host of the Daydreaming About Dragons podcast and…
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Straight outta Kalisz with Geoff Hunt and Neil Carver
I've recorded this conversation with Geoff and Neil from my Twilight: 2000 Saturday morning game. This group, this time slot, and the game are a magical thing for me right now, and I suspect for the four players as well. I wanted to get their thoughts and feels 10 sessions in about the game, the...
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Last Week in Gaming - Legacy 2E Shenanigans
Started Mothership with Judd. I'm playing a character inspired by Fox Mulder. The pitch: Two scientists investigate the disappearance of their professor and the crew of a science vessel. Twilight: 2000: The discovery of a dead soldier stashed in the woods and a convoy heading toward Barnes's...
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Last Week in Gaming: Rich Rogers of Plus One Forward (Edit)
Rich Rogers, co-host of Plus One Forward and designer of Hit the Streets: Defend the Block, an ENnie award-winning street-level supers RPG joins me to talk about his gaming week - it's like a mini-con!! Rich's Stone Top duet game with his wife, Vampire 5e, Bounty of the Week (Monster of the Week...
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Last Week In Gaming: The Whitehack Dilemma
Running: Whitehack + Dungeons and Dilemmas Twilight: 2000: Base building and sweet, sweet sandbox magic. Legacy 2E: Life Among the Ruins. Four families and bad virtual dice rolling! Wrath & Glory 1v1. Tech-Priest visiting a Space Hulk. Playing An ex-Stormtrooper in Bounty of the Week on...
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Last Week in Gaming with Jay 0106
The 2021 Mad Jay Picks! Some year-end metrics and my personal game picks for: Most Surprised Experience. The Old Man Logan Award. The Lethal Sessions Award Most evocative setting Closest to my heart. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks for listening to Diceology! If you enjoyed the show…
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Last Week in gaming at PAX Unplugged!
Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks for listening to Diceology! If you enjoyed the show, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. Want to support the show and get exclusive content? Head over to Play Fearless or My Patreon to...
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Last Week in Gaming With Jay 12.08
The One Ring on Twitch is a wrap at 11 sessions! We've traveled from Rivendell to the Cold Fells to Bree and finale in the South Barrow-downs tracking down the fell sorcerer Gorlanc! Rich Rogers of +1 Forward takes the reigns and will run Bounty of the Week in the new year! Twilight: 2000 -...
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Last Week in Gaming with Jay 11.03
On the table 3 sessions in for Vena and the King of Nothing! We had a solid ordinary but strong third session of Burning Wheel. We talk about the three sessions and the game so far, the good, the bad, and what's next. Spoilers: Elle is still game! I did a panel called Fresh Starts for Big Bad Con...
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Vena and the King of Nothing: Ep02 - Choices
Mad Elle and I continue our Burning Wheel series. Vena the Elf ranger is on the run with the young Elven prince she was tasked to kill for the Queen-Regent. In this episode, she has to make some choices about the humans living in the millhouse she once stayed in with the ghost king. An Elven…
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Last Week in Gaming with Jay 10.11
It's a Bye Week!!! The One Ring was a Bye Week. Our Fellowship is in Bree to track down Gorlanc the sorcerer dwarf?! The One Ring has final PDFs released and we're pouring through looking updating our characters! My new Burning Wheel game Vena and the King of Nothing is two sessions in and on the...
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Vena and the King of Nothing: Ep01 - Ghosts, Tengu and Owlbears!
We set off on our Burning Wheel series. Vena the Elf ranger is on the run with the young Elven prince she was tasked to kill for the Queen-Regent. We learn a bit about the ghost of the murdered King, Tengu in an ancient forest, and an Owlbear! You can check out our session zero and see how we got...
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Vena and the King of Nothing. Session Zero.
Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks for listening to Diceology! If you enjoyed the show, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. Want to support the show and get exclusive content? Head over to Play Fearless or My Patreon to...
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Last Week in Gaming with Mad Jay
We've started our second chapter of The One Ring. The fellowship is journeying from Rivendell to Bree in search of that bad, bad, sorcerer!! Prepping a Legacy: Life Among the Ruins 2ED by UFOPress for play with the Gauntlet folks GauntletCon Open Gaming is coming up and I'm running sessions of...
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Last Week in Gaming with Mad Jay
It's been a couple of weeks and I have lots to cover! We played our first session of Pirates of Drinax using Cortex Prime -it was the BOMB! Talked about playing Burning Wheel with my lady friend, she brought it up and pitched a premise inspired by...The Lion King. We also played the Harry Potter...
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Last Week In Gaming With Mad Jay
Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks for listening to Diceology! If you enjoyed the show, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. Want to support the show and get exclusive content? Head over to Play Fearless or My Patreon to...
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Last Week in Gaming With Mad Jay
Kickstarters...WTF!! Hottest KS - Avatar Legends. The Upset - Tears of a Machine SC Carbon Grey RPG Chronicles of Drunagor Dogmight’s GM screen. Forbidden Lands RPG – Book of Beasts and The Bloodmarch A|State Ran/Played: 2nd episode of The One Ring on Twitch.tv/ActualPlay R3D - Lifted with...
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Last Week in Gaming with Jay
Last week I ... Ran/Played: The One Ring on Twitch.tv/ActualPlay Twilight: 2000 twice! Lifted with Champions Now two times! And thinking about an All-Star-Crisis session. Started Five Parsecs from Home, a Sci-fi Solo Adventure wargaming game by Modiphius. Lancer RPG. Reading/Prepping: Session…
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Last Week in Gaming with Jay
I nerd-out about designing Debtpunk and Pinx via Vincent Baker's Powered by the Apocalypse essays and my Vampire game (SPOILERS) Played: Lancer RPG Hutt Cartel - a Star Wars hack of Cartel Twilight: 2000 Tears of a Machine Sc -Live on Kickstarter!! Prepping VtM:Rio by Night The One Ring for...
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Tears of a Machine SC with Russell Collins(Edit) - Diceology 41
Russell Collins is an instructional and game designer. As an instructional designer for Learning Ally, he has spent decades creating accessible content for blind and dyslexic students and training others to do the same. As a game designer, he created The Tears of a Machine, a game inspired by his...
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Last Week in Gaming with Jay
Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks for listening to Diceology! If you enjoyed the show, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. Want to support the show and get exclusive content? Head over to Play Fearless or My Patreon to...
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Talking NextPunk with Kira Magrann - Diceology 39
Kira is a multi-award-winning tabletop roleplaying game and LARP designer, queer nonbinary human, and snake friend living in Columbus, Ohio. Kira and I go from goth to future punk at the speed of Trans. We discuss how Kira got into games, her goto game to run and what she gets out of the gaming...
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Last Week in Gaming with Jay
Mad Jay covers his gaming from last week. Rio By Night. A Vampire the Masquerade Chronicle Sorcerer: The Fallen. A Mage setting powered by Sorcerer RPG. Nibiru RPG on Twitch.tv/ActualPlay Sorcerer of Marr'd. Yes another game of Sorcerer set in the Dictionary of Mu Lancer RPG with my kid. Lifted…
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Last Week in Gaming with Rich Rogers (Edited)
My good friend Rich Rogers and I talk about ALL the stuff he played last week! Rich is the creator of ENnie Award-winning Hit the Streets: Defend the Block, a ttRPG about street-level supers who protect their neighborhood. Co-host of +1 Forward podcast. And it's Star Wars Sundays -not Saturdays!…
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Last Week in Gaming with Paul Beakley(Edit)
This week Paul Beakley of the Indie Game Reading Club talks about what he played last week. Paul started the Indie Game Reading Club on Google+ in 2015. It was a king's vault of opinions, reviews, thoughts, and play experiences. Today he covers a ton of small press games on his blog, there you…
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Last week in gaming with Jay
I'm back and covering the week of May 9th, let me know what you're playing in the comments or on Twitter at @madjayzero Sorcerer & Sword & Dictionary of Mu with Judd. Lifted Universe with Champions Now with Kickstarter Backers Sorcerer: The Fallen a Mage setting with Brendan Rio by Night a…
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Last Week in Gaming with Jay!
Trying out something new by request. Here's how my gaming life played out last week! Let me know if this stuff is useful to you -I'll keep doing it. Behind the scenes of Three From Kalisz , my Twilight: 2000 game. ActualPlay, where I play|stream Nibiru RPG, Sorcerer: Dictionary of Mu, Stars…
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Out of the Ashes with Paul Mitchener - Diceology 33
We get out on the existential side of things with Dr. Mitch, the virtual pub landlord. We start easy enough with beer, early gaming life in the UK, and the Virtual Pub origin story. We cover both his RPG works Liminal and the newly Kickstarter funded Out of the Ashes (of which I am a stretch goal...
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Fifty Games over Fifty years.
It’s my birthday month. I had my midlife crisis back in my late 20s returning to civilian life after I left the military. On the 21st of January at 16:20 I’ll be 50. Every year I get a skull tattoo to mark the years that I’m kicking diabetes ass and I make a playlist of 21 songs that I’m…
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All Day Replay with Andy Kitkowski, pt 2(Extended)
Happy Birthday to me! This is the full, part two version of my talk with Andy Kitkowski made possible by my Patreon supporters, my gift to you! Andy K on Twitter Heavy Kotdama Discord Liminal RPG Raphael Chandler Judd Karlman Stras Acimovic Ars Magica The Spire RPG Shinobigami RPG Dungeon World...
About this show
Welcome to Diceology — a podcast network for people who take their games seriously and their tables even more seriously.
I'm Mad Jay, GM-at-Large, and this feed used to be one show. Now it's four:
Muses of Play — Sarah Doom and I muse about creativity and designers
Dice Unknown — actual-play and behind-the-table stories pulled straight from the games I'm running.
The Vault — All the episodes that have come before!
Think StoryCorps for gamers, spread across three shows instead of one feed doing everything badly. We talk about where games fit into people's lives, what early gaming was like, what life looks like after the dice are put away — and I still bring my own GM-at-Large adventures into it. What I'm playing, running, or prepping, at the table or online.
Whether you're chasing the latest TTRPG trends or just want the rest of the gamer's story, you're in the right feed.
Let's run those dice. 🎲 🎲 🎲
Hosted by
MadJayZero
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