This is a quick preview of a piece of original art that will be in Codex - Joy. It was done by the fabulous Claudia Cangini and depicts a scene from a desert temple water festival. I particularly love the way Claudia uses patterns to depict texture. Beautiful!
Codex - Joy will be in the $4+ Patreon feed on September 1st!
Jason
2017-08-24 15:51:17 +0000 UTC View Post
Hello! We were originally going to host a series of scheduled Discord voice chats as a way of strengthening the personal bonds within our community, but it turns out we may not need to do that after all. Ever since I originally posted about scheduled Discord chats, the community has taken a proactive approach to the platform and has been setting up chat channels on its own. Post-session debriefs for Gauntlet Hangouts games, for example, are becoming the norm.
This is great news. For now,...
2017-08-06 18:19:38 +0000 UTC View PostWe are just $9 away from our next Patreon goal and the release of the Fear of a Black Dragon podcast!
I want to thank our newest Patrons and name them Keepers of the Gauntlet!
Gordon Gauchat, Keeper of the Revenant Chord
Lachiel Vaher, Keeper of the Milk Caves
Jesse Ross, Keeper of the Broken Forge
Brett, Keeper of the Seven False Smiles
Al Billings, Keeper of the Dun Spirit of Disobedience
Ben Miller, Keeper of Kulaja's Spontaneous Bifurcation 2017-07-26 16:56:39 +0000 UTC View Post
Mark your calendar! GauntletCon is coming up on the 20th - 22nd of October, 2017!. The co-organizers of this online role-playing game convention are Kate and Rich.
The convention will have a Discord server running the entire con for people to hang out, chat about games, and muster before going to the games they’ve registered for. It’s going to be a hopping and cool place for the con-goers to enjoy each other’s company between awesome games.
As Kate and Rich continue building ...
2017-07-25 12:43:36 +0000 UTC View Post
Hello! For the last few months, Tom McGrenery and I have been in the early production phase of a new discussion podcast focused on OSR modules and setting books. It's called Fear of a Black Dragon and the first episode, Scenic Dunnsmouth, is presented here in sneak preview form for you, our lovely Patrons, to enjoy!
The official launch of the show will take place when we hit our next Patreon goal. We're still fiddling with things in terms of audio presentation, and if you have any feedback aft...
2017-07-20 10:16:24 +0000 UTC View Post
Apparently the Discord server link from yesterday expired, so here is a fresh one that should last FOREVER.
We're going to have some fun Discord-related activities for Patrons soon, so keep your eyes open for that.
Jason
2017-07-13 17:57:35 +0000 UTC View Post
We are currently playing around with Discord to see if we like it better than Slack. Just like our Slack, the Discord server will be limited to Patrons who pledge at the $6 or higher level. If you're interested in trying it out with us, just follow the link above!
2017-07-11 14:19:09 +0000 UTC View PostI'm running three sessions of Monster of the Week the last three Wednesdays of July. The first two sessions will be my Huge Problems in Little Shanhai mystery from Codex - Ectoplasm. Help me decide what the third mystery will be, from the following options:
1. The Dream, about a super-addictive, ice cream-like product that is actually an alien entity. Inspired by the classic horror film The Stuff.
2. Liquid Satan, about a flask filled with liquid that is literally Satan. Inspired by the ...
2017-07-10 06:58:06 +0000 UTC View Post
Thanks to the terrific support from our Patrons, we will be able to put on Gauntlet Con, an annual online gaming convention! The Con will be held Oct. 20-22. It will feature games, discussion panels, a game design contest, and more!
Gauntlet Con 2017 will be spear-headed by Rich Rogers & Kate Bullock. Rich is the host of our +1 Forward podcast and has experience organizing online gaming conventions, including VirtuaCon. Kate is a co-host on The Gauntlet Podcast and helps o...
2017-07-03 14:32:03 +0000 UTC View PostI'd like to say thanks to our newest Patreon supporters and name them Keepers of the Gauntlet!
Mikel Matthews, Keeper of the Scarification Blades
Josh Riggins, Keeper of the Star Bears of Kazarak
Charles Gatz, Keeper of the Last Words of the Drowned Men
Josh Mannon, Keeper of the Twisted Teeth of Garthuul
Christopher Grey, Keeper of the Lies of the Child Kingdom
Joshua Faller, Keeper of the Shrine of Melchior
Samuel Slocum, Keeper of the House Without ...
2017-06-15 23:43:33 +0000 UTC View Post
We wanted to share one of the illustrations that will be in the upcoming Codex - Neon. It's a piece by Per Folmer for the game Route Clearance, one of the winners of this year's 200 Word RPG Challenge.
Codex - Neon comes out July 1st and will be available in our $4+ Patreon feed!
Jason, David, & Oli
2017-06-13 13:03:24 +0000 UTC View Post
We like to give our Patrons a peek at different things we're working on. This is an early look at a Comic Strip AP series David LaFreniere and Michael Barford are putting together for Halloween.
Murderous Ghosts is a two-player story game by Vincent Baker about a protagonist exploring a haunted urban environment. If you're interested in checking it out, you can pick up a copy here:
2017-06-12 20:55:25 +0000 UTC View Post
One of our Patreon funding goals was to be able to produce a pair of deluxe Codex issues. We're making good progress on the first of those issues, the Discern Realities Annual, and I wanted to share the cover art with you.
This cover illustration by Nery Mejicano is a reimagining of the DR logo. It has a dramatic, old-school feel, which is a really great fit for the project. It is the first of eighteen original pieces we have commissioned for this deluxe issue. We'll be sharing more of t...
I'm excited to announce we have reached our goal of $1,000, meaning we will be able to begin planning GauntletCon, an online gaming convention. I'll have more to say about that soon.
In the meantime, I'm excited to announce our next Patreon goal. Tom McGrenery and I have been in the pre-production phase of a brand-new discussion podcast focused on OSR and classic D&D modules and settings. We're approaching the subject matter in a way that is completely unique and totally "Gauntlet...
2017-05-24 01:50:24 +0000 UTC View Post
This is the last episode in our Mercy Falls series. We hope you have enjoyed them. If you listened to the entire series, we'd love to hear your feedback.
Enjoy!
Timecodes
Mr. Thompson arrested (01:01)
Darkest self (02:18)
The Beginning of All Things (04:45)
Dumb, fragile, teenager victim (09:22)
Serina and Jonah (10:50)
Crime scene (19:41)
Emotions (21:29)
Thomas (25:00)
“It’s like Harry Potter!...
2017-05-10 15:52:54 +0000 UTC View Post
Timecodes
Fairy circle (00:17)
Big Man (03:00)
“Have you ever wondered why you are such a lie?” (05:43)
The moonlit path (09:14)
Deep into the woods (13:17)
Gunfire and a splatter of blood (17:27)
So you just found out you’re a fairy… (18:40)
“What a morning, huh?” (22:53)
2017-05-08 12:30:05 +0000 UTC View Post
Timecodes
Margot (00:51)
Running (06:52)
Lilith and Jonah (10:21)
Black roses (12:25)
Fey realm (17:25)
Cooldown (22:35)
Mr. Thompson (24:29)
A throbbing mass of celebration and movement (27:39)
2017-05-07 13:15:14 +0000 UTC View Post
Timecodes
And YOU are a lie! (01:05)
“What the fuck was that??” (07:43)
Tender, with erotic subtext (11:37)
Smoking pot in the woods (18:44)
Kyle Norwood (30:13)
Wolf out (33:50)
School registration (35:16)
2017-05-06 10:52:50 +0000 UTC View Post
Timecodes
Big Man (00:09)
The fae realm (02:18)
It’s just like being in a locker room (05:25)
You are a lie! (08:25)
Poppies (10:33)
This scene shows one of my favorite GM techniques. I call it “painting the scene.” Essentially, it involves telling the players the themes or motifs I want to highlight in the scene and then asking them to tell me what their characters see in the scene that reinforces those ideas. It’s an extremely powerf...
2017-05-05 15:40:22 +0000 UTC View Post
Timecodes
Mobile home (00:25)
Here’s a PbtA 101 note for folks who are new to running these games. In this scene, I use Margot’s missed roll to advance my Threat involving Big Man. I don’t actually say out loud that is what I’m doing, but rather just weave it into the fiction. My countdown clock said “Big Man is looking for one of the player characters.” I translate that into a scene where Margot’s father informs her that someone fitting Big Man’s des...
2017-05-04 11:03:21 +0000 UTC View Post
Timecodes
Hot Rod (01:02)
ShadowMaster55 (06:01)
Don’t trust her (10:52)
Makeup tutorial (13:30)
2017-05-03 01:18:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Timecodes
Chad (00:57)
I demonstrate one of my favorite techniques here. I call it “painting the scene.” The way it normally works is I introduce a theme or set of ideas about a place, and then ask the other players to describe things we see in that place that help reinforce those ideas. It’s a really effective way of keeping the table engaged and getting them to buy into what is going on.
Also: notice how I twist it for Margo. From th...
2017-05-01 12:41:56 +0000 UTC View Post
Timecodes
Weed (00:52)
“What’s your favorite type of milkshake?” (07:12)
There were a few moments in this scene when I wanted to cut away, or simply ask Fraser and Yoshi to get to the point of the scene a little faster. Instead, I hung back and let the scene breathe a little bit. I think that was the right move, because the scene ended up being pretty cute, and we got a glimpse into the personalities of Lilith and Serina that I don’t think we would have...
2017-04-30 14:04:07 +0000 UTC View Post
Here is Episode 02 of Monsterhearts: Mercy Falls. Like I mentioned yesterday, you guys are going to get these once per day until the series is finished.
The timecodes are below, and you'll notice they are annotated. One of our goals with this series is to show good play technique, so I'm making notes when something particularly interesting of helpful takes place in the session.
Enjoy!
Jason
Timecodes
Homeroom (01:07)
C...
2017-04-29 11:11:40 +0000 UTC View Post
To celebrate 200 Patrons, we're re-launching Pocket-Sized Play!
The first series is Monsterhearts: Mercy Falls. The participants are myself, Fraser Simons, Yoshi Creelman, Kevin Lovecraft and Phillip Wessels.
Monsterhearts: Mercy Falls is eleven total episodes, each around 30 minutes in length. We're going to release one episode per day on the Patreon feed, starting with Episode 01, which is embedded in this post. For non-Patrons, the episodes will be released weekly th...
2017-04-28 19:41:52 +0000 UTC View Post
I wanted to share one of the original illustrations we have commissioned for Codex - Madness. It was done by the amazing Claudia Cangini and is for an original game called "The Madness of Cú Chulainn" by Tom McGrenery. I think it's a very high-drama piece, and I particularly love the use of color; that touch of red really pops!
As a reminder, Codex - Madness comes out May 1st for all $4+ Patrons!
Jason
2017-04-18 18:55:27 +0000 UTC View Post
Hello Patrons! I recently recorded an interview with Todd Nicholas from Wheel Tree Press about their game The Sword, the Crown, and the Unspeakable Power. That recording will eventually be edited and released as episode 96 of The Gauntlet Podcast, but I thought you guys might enjoy a sneak peek.
This is the raw Youtube video of our chat. Obviously, it's not as clean as the final, edited product will be, but I think you'll enjoy the discussion (as well as the glimpse into what it's like t...
2017-04-10 14:05:38 +0000 UTC View PostHello $7+ Patrons!
Now that our new RSVP system is in place, we will only be announcing new game events on the Gauntlet Hangouts G+ Community. To be notified when a new event hits the calendar, be sure to join that community and make sure the preferences are set so you receive notifications of new posts. That community can be found here:
https://plus.google.com/communities/1163290470112205...
2017-04-02 21:50:51 +0000 UTC View Post
There are three sessions of Cthulhu Dark on the calendar for April. For details, please go to our new RSVP site:
https://gauntlet-hangouts.firebaseapp.com/events
Note: Only Patrons at the $7 or higher level can RSVP right away. If you are a $7 or higher Patron and cannot RSVP, please leave us a comment here so we can adjust you in the system. Thanks!
Jason
2017-03-26 17:27:44 +0000 UTC View Post
Hello Hangouts Patrons! We are moving to a new RSVP system for Gauntlet Hangouts events. The new system should give us much more flexibility in terms of creating events and managing RSVPs (including an automated Waitlist).
You will continue to enjoy your one week of RSVP priority after an event is announced, but it is very important you login to the new system so we can designate you as a $7 Patreon supporter. PLEASE DO NOT DELAY .
Here is the link to the site. If you have any ques...
2017-03-25 18:37:07 +0000 UTC View Post