Many Gauntleteers maintain personal blogs with amazing, creative, cutting-edge content. This post is the first in our new Signal Boost series, highlighting community content that we love. By Robbie Boerth, Keeper of the Feast of Fallen Stones
Originally Posted to Robbie's Ludoverse Blog. on December 27, 2018. Periodically, I run across blog posts and articles waxing poetic about the educational value of RPGs and about how they should be used in the classroom. While I’m sympathetic to such articles, they’ve typically suffered from being thick on the idealism side of the scale and thin on the practical, “rubber-hits-the-road” side. Gamers can point out a LARP school in Denmark, and we can learn from those experiences, but a 90-student boarding efterskole is a far cry from your bustling high school in the United States. What follows here is a work-in-progress report from the front lines of teaching in America. Rather than extolling the potential of RPGs in the classroom, I want to zoom in on some actual experiences, take stock of what I’ve learned, and point the way to future prospects. For ease of reading, I’m breaking the report into three separate posts:
Lest we get carried away, it might be best to begin with our feet grounded in reality first. Let me play the devil’s advocate and give you just five reasons why your typical roleplaying game is NOT a good fit for the classroom.
To state the obvious: Most roleplaying games are explicitly NOT created for the classroom environment. In fact, there is much about the usual design of these games that makes them foreign—even antithetical— to that kind of context. Imagine forcing a group of twenty-five self-conscious adolescents to play Dungeons and Dragons with minimal instruction during a forty-five minute session in a class where they are getting a grade. I would need a 10th level barbarian just to maintain order! So how does one confront this challenge? During the final stretch of the fall semester, I ran an original roleplaying game based on the Anglo-Saxon world of Beowulf in my ninth grade English classes (three-sections worth). I decided quite early that I had to rely upon my own inventiveness and forge my own path. There are some games like Diplomacy and Microscope which can be effectively modified for the classroom, but those games are few and far between. Moreover, I, as a teacher in a core subject, have specific content and curriculum requirements that I must meet, and my classroom activities need to work in conjunction with my educational objectives. I knew that I would be teaching the Old English epic Beowulf sometime in the middle of the year, and I felt that text would offer some rich material for a roleplaying and problem-solving game for my students. Yes, games inspired by Beowulf do exist, but none of those are appropriate for classroom use. So I devoted part of my summer to designing an original game—one that could address the special demands of the classroom and breathe some new life into the Old English epic. I’m happy to share the full rules of my work-in-progress, titled Becoming Beowulf, to interested parties (just ask!), but, to keep things short, here is the basic outline of the game:
The game design aims at creating a rhythm: Students spend some intense minutes in their smaller tribes discussing and planning their response to a crisis, and then the entire class comes together to watch the framed scenes and to determine the outcome. It also works to keep students active: No one is ever eliminated from the game, and the small size of the tribes means that everyone can play a vital role. I initially thought I would use this game alongside our reading of Beowulf or as a fun post-reading activity. The more I thought about the game, however, the more I feared that students would be swayed by the epic and simply replay the responses and events of that narrative. I didn’t want the game to turn into a shallow practice in imitation. So I zagged: My students played Becoming Beowulf as a preparation to reading the text itself (which will occur in a couple weeks at the start of the second semester). Now, when students encounter the epic, they will read about situations which they previously faced as players in the game. Often, they are going to discover that the characters and tribes in the epic took very different approaches than the solutions tried out in Becoming Beowulf. That should open up some rich discussions about the strategic, cultural, and dramatic situations that factored into those differences. In a traditional book, the path of the narrative is set by the author and the reader has no choice but to follow along. But the open-ended nature of the roleplaying game means that the players can explore alternative pathways, and these can give them some valuable alternative perspectives when analyzing narratives. I will be heavily exploiting this resource in the coming weeks. When, for example, we read about Hrothgar offering asylum Beowulf’s outcast father, my students will not see this act of charity as given or inevitable, for they will have already explored different ways in which a tribe might deal with a foreign fugitive seeking help. That, at least, is the idea. How did Becoming Beowulf fare on the actual field of battle? For that assessment, please visit Robbie's blog for Part 2: The Experiment and much more insightful content.
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![]() Greetings, and welcome to the weekly Gauntlet Hangouts video roundup! Listed below are links to recorded sessions of online games played under the Gauntlet Hangouts banner and other games organized through the Gauntlet online RPG community. These recorded sessions represent only a small part of the giant selection of games available every week, and anyone can join in the fun! Details on how to become a part of the community are listed at the end of the post. Star Wars Saturday
Hutt Cartel (Session 1 of 2) Rich Rogers runs for Alun R., Sabine V., Steven Watkins, and Walter German Lilhali, the blood-drenched Druglord of Coruscant Sector 1313, tries to thwart the ISB raid on her Jawa minions. Her assassin brother is sent to do the dirty deed of murdering a rat, while the Cook races to help his clan and the Crooked ISB Agent looks for advantages and angles. Gauntlet Sunday Cryptomancer (Session 3 of 4) Lowell Francis runs for Bryan, Patrick Knowles, and Sherri The team begin their work, pulling two criminal organizations apart at the seams via deception, information leaks, and glitter bombs. TGI Thursday Forbidden Lands (Session 3 of 4) Lowell Francis runs for Alejandro, Darren Brockes, Fraser Simons, and Steven Watkins After prowling around town, the group heads to explore out a nearby tower. On arrival, an irate ent tells them of a "bad tree" and the group fights their way through sonorous invisible beasts. Gauntlet Quarterly Masks: A New Generation (Session 8) Lowell Francis runs for Kurt Potts, Simon Landreville, Steven desJardins, and Tyler Lominack Consequences arrive at the team's doorstep, as Sara faces her vigilante father and Odd Ball evades being sent back in time, after a battle gone wrong the group looks for a victory only to walk into a trap set by the Yokai's master. Gauntlet Comics Urban Shadows: Coven Prime (Session 3 of 4) Jim Crocker runs for Alexi S., Misha B, Peter Mazzeo, and Sarah J. Our love letter to the Vertigo Heroes of the 90s continues! 1%er Supers (Session 2 of 4) Rich Rogers runs for Chris Newton, Luiz Ferraz, Sherri, and Tim Osburn The Scovile Scourge deal with problems at their jobs as well as a werewolf. You know, like you do. 1%er Supers (Session 3 of 4) Rich Rogers runs for Chris Newton, Luiz Ferraz, Sherri, and Tim Osburn The Gaunt Marches Freebooters on the Frontier: In Search of Adventure (Session 3 of 3) Horst Wurst runs for Asbjørn Flø, Chris Challice, Christo Meid, and Paul Spraget The wizard's cabin - floating past the Crabmen - a letter to Alamakaz - a vision of caves and towers - the salted corpse. Game Facilitator Camp Monster of the Week: Protect & Survive: Casefile Ripon Alun R. runs for Michael Mendoza and Tyler Lominack Alun's inaugural Gauntlet Hangout as part of "Game Facilitator Camp Blinkdog." One of Her Majesty's Pursuivants, along with a flaky "irregular," investigate a pattern of unusual events in a Yorkshire market town... Gauntlet Hangouts Monsterhearts 2: St Osana's School for Boys (Session 3 of 4) David Morrison runs for Alex, Leandro Pondoc, Mike, and Sawyer Rankin While Callum recovers from his injuries, we meet Lysander's friend Shawn the Infernal. Shawn introduces Lysander to the object of his obsession, seemingly oblivious to Lysander's own. Emmett digs deep into the dark heart of the school. And Adrian's portrayal of Juliet ends in tragedy. Best Friends Donogh runs for Diana Moon, Philipp Neitzel, Rich Rogers, and Steven desJardins Dragging Kendra away from the books for her birthday in the hot new Club Nine with her (mostly) Best Friends. Monsterhearts 2: Absolutely (Session 4 of 4) Donogh runs for Alun R., Eike K., and Walter German The tension between Marie-Antoinette and Louis breaks into a public argument, but Father Jean intervenes to curry favour with the Queen and gain intelligence on the Cardinals intentions towards Spain. Jean-Baptiste swoops in to save the King from a fainting spell, while Lorenzo spies a connection between Baron de Montfort and the Doctor. But events are taking on a life of their own and all are punished. Good Society: Belligerence & Benevolence (Session 2 of 4) Catherine Ramen runs for Darold Ross, Leandro Pondoc, Richard Ruane, and Seraphina Malizia In the second part of our Tolstoyan Good Society game, Nikolai is called back to the colors; Andrei and Boris join the army; Sveta and Vasya grow closer; winter falls on a sorrowful St. Petersburg; and Napoleon wins the Battle of Austerlitz. Spire: The Kings of Silver (Session 7 of 12) Darren Brockes runs for Brett WH, Fraser Simons, Leandro Pondoc, and Rich Rogers Has the Spire ever seen such a glamorous party? The suspended aquarium, the animated origami, the It Girl herself...all of the Silver Quarter held their breath, just waiting to see what she would do! Content warning: The last hour has a scene where an NPC is forced to drink magical alcohol. The Woodlands: Pokémon Rescue Team (Session 2 of 4) Luiz Ferraz runs for Asher S., Jen, and Noella H Little Tooth, the female Nidoran, investigates the mysterious explosion at the teamer party with an old friend and their protege. A major conspiracy starts to surface as the townsfolk start growing unruly. Dialect: Forbidden Children Leandro Pondoc runs for Bryan, Pat P., and Stentor Danielson In the dumping ground known as The Yard, children thrive. Though they may have lost their parents, they yearn to make their mark by using The Yard to create art that expresses who they are. But no Isolation lasts for too long as those in the Greyout seek to impose themselves on these forbidden children. The White Hack: Longwinter (Session 3 of 4) Richard Ruane runs for Bethany H., Darold Ross, Jesse A., and Sam Z. A Vulpine Cadet, a series of fraught interrogations, domestic breaking and entering, and the discovery of the Wolffolk’s plot to survive Whitewinter’s wrath. Gothic Society: A Study in Onyx (Session 3 of 4) Gene A. runs for Agatha, Peter Mazzeo, Ryan M., and Sarah J. A confrontation in the sanitarium. Opium. A brutal knifing. The Countess seeks to summon her dead husband from the grave. Mr. Blakely breaks with his father over the Viscount. The long-dead Crowmore is seen. BFFLs clash. The Warren: Bunnies Down Under (Session 1 of 3) Stentor Danielson runs for David L., James L., Josh, Robbie Boerth, and Sarah J. The Warren: Bunnies Down Under (Session 2 of 3) Stentor Danielson runs for David L., Josh, Noella H, Robbie Boerth, and Sarah J. The Warren: Bunnies Down Under (Session 3 of 3) Stentor Danielson runs for David L., James L., Josh, Robbie Boerth, and Sarah J. Spire: A Disease of Language (Session 2 of 4) Leandro Pondoc runs for David Morrison, Diana Moon, and Jim Crocker As Phyrrus departs to pursue his own inquiries, our crew begin to earnestly track down the dream of Revolution, finding that it has ensnared in its grip the decayed aelfir district that is Ivory Row. Elifet puts his athletics to the test, Jezz'zara winkles her way through the aelfir nobility and Ixel acquires some Bliss. Spire: A Disease of Language (Session 3 of 4) Leandro Pondoc runs for David Morrison, Diana Moon, Jim Crocker, and Stephen The crew has been invited to the court of Lady Theryn Thorns-On-Silk only to find a veritable hive of dysfunction as Revolution continues to snake through Ivory Row's crumbling halls. Elifet acts cool in ridiculous circumstances, Jez'zara manages to lift up an oppressed one, Ixel parties and performs like no one else can and Phyrrus begins his descent towards demonology. Masks: Prospect Academy (Session 3 of 4) Leandro Pondoc runs for Alun R., Ludovico Alves, Moisés, and Rob Ruthven Amidst half of the Newspaper/Detention Club going AWOL, along with having to deal with the scientist teacher/killbot AI from the future run amok, a returning old friend and a fellow classmate trying to keep his cool force Michael and Kasey to confront their own fractured selves. L0K1 basks in his newfound celebrity, Eclipse gets a taste of what it's like to be a hero, Kseniya tries to split the difference between Kasey and Regicide and Freak beckons. Monster of the Week: I've Got You Under My Skin Tyler Lominack runs for Alex, Patrick Knowles, Ryan M., and Sarah J. On Feb 23rd, 1988, as the cast of "Born to Dance" for the Cincinnati Music Hall prepared for opening night, a snowstorm left them stranded in the theater. Over the next 2 days they encountered horror beyond human scope. Bloody murder ensues!! Other Games Weighting Rooms Robbie Boerth facilitates for Jim Crocker, Ryan M., and Sarah J. Playtest of Weighting Rooms, a meditative story game about recovering memories, forging relationships, building a world, and weighing souls. Dead Friend: Friendship Bracelet Barry facilitates for Ben Swinden Nathanael discovers a kind of magic when his friend Hannah joins him on his family's Christmas vacation. Hannah's family moves away and she rediscovers some of that magic after moving back home as an adult. Our Mundane Supernatural Life Barry facilitates for Peter Mazzeo Sal the retired hearth elemental and his roommate Dr. Collins the history professor celebrate the good doctor getting tenure while their apartment building has renovation work done. Shadow of the Demon Lord (Session 7) Pat P. runs for Fernando "Dolan" Dolande, Kurai, Lu Quade, and Roxanne Kiamat and Maggot arrive to search the ruins. Skive is star struck. Magic amazes Jonah. Check out all the great videos on The Gauntlet YouTube channel and be sure check out the playlists to catch up on all your favorite games. If you'd like to play in games like these, check out the calendar of events and the Gauntlet Hangouts Google+ Community where new games are announced! To support The Gauntlet, please visit the Gauntlet Patreon at https://patreon.com/gauntlet. All are welcome to play Gauntlet Hangouts games, and Patreon supporters have extra options like priority RSVP for Gauntlet Hangouts games and joining the Gauntlet Slack team where special events are announced like Gauntlet Games Now. Enjoy, and everyone have a great weekend! by Jason Cordova
We haven’t announced our next Patreon goal yet for The Gauntlet, but I wanted to go over it a bit here and get some feedback from folks. It’s called Degoya County and it’s comprised of several components: 1) A horror actual play podcast with a focus on high production values; 2) discussion and debrief episodes in the same podcast feed; and 3) a quarterly zine featuring original fiction set in the same world, as well as supplementary material for the games played on the podcast. I want to briefly describe those three components of the project, as well as say a few things about how and why we are doing this. A high quality horror actual play podcast The centerpiece of the Degoya County project will be an actual play podcast that will feature musical cues, sound effects, and high-quality cast audio. The podcast will be an anthology-style horror joint that will take place in a small, fictional county in New Mexico. Over the course of the series, we’ll use different games to explore major events in the county’s history, anchored by a present-day storyline told with Monsterhearts 2. Some themes I hope to explore with it include Native and colonial history; modern-day Mexican-American culture and urban legends; Satanic cult shit going down in the desert; and looming, throbbing Lovecraftian horror in the background. Each episode will be introduced by Big Man, my well-loved character from Mercy Falls, in a short Log Lady/Cryptkeeper-style vignette. Game discussion and series debrief There will be support episodes of the podcast for each new game series we play: a discussion episode where we talk about the system to be played, and a debrief episode after the game is finished. People love our Mercy Falls series on Pocket-Sized Play, but a regular critique is that there isn’t any surrounding discussion about the AP, either substantive discussion of game mechanics or feedback/debrief sessions from the participants. The reason for that is because Mercy Falls was not originally recorded with the intention of being shared in a podcast format. But with Degoya County, we want to do something different. Some of our strengths in The Gauntlet include deep analysis of game mechanics and a strong, supportive play culture. These auxiliary episodes of Degoya County will give us the space to incorporate those strengths. The quarterly zine The quarterly zine will launch a few months after the podcast and will contain original horror fiction set in Degoya County. The idea here is to explore and expand upon characters and ideas from the podcast. We will also publish supplementary material for the games featured on the show. At The Gauntlet, we like to feature the work of new and marginalized creators, and the quarterly zine will allow us to do that, while further developing the rural, folk-horror universe of Degoya County. Why this project? And why now? Degoya County represents something of a culmination of everything we’re good at in The Gauntlet. If you look around the community, you can see hints of its various components: we run horror anthology game series like my Mercy Falls and Cat Ramen’s Kingsport; we are very good at putting out high quality discussion podcasts; we have experience publishing stellar zine content with Codex; and we play A LOT of games, meaning we know how to use them to create strong, compelling stories. In some ways, everything I, personally, have been doing in The Gauntlet has been leading to Degoya County. It’s an idea that has been simmering in my head for years, and we’re getting close to being able to realize it. Degoya County will be a pretty expensive project if we’re going to do this the right way, and, as such, will be set for a fairly high Patreon goal (probably $5k, but I’m still looking at the numbers). We’ll also have to clear a few things from our plate to make room for it. But if we can do it, it will be something very, very special in ttrpgs—and something only The Gauntlet could pull off. My dream is that Degoya County can be the sort of thing that penetrates into the mainstream. That’s a real moonshot kind of thing, but if we can manage it, it will be great for The Gauntlet, but also great for indie ttrpgs. Anyway, this is the early idea. There are still a lot of logistical decisions to make as we approach a possible production schedule, but I’m curious to hear what people think. ![]() Greetings, and welcome to the weekly Gauntlet Hangouts video roundup! Listed below are links to recorded sessions of online games played under the Gauntlet Hangouts banner and other games organized through the Gauntlet online RPG community. These recorded sessions represent only a small part of the giant selection of games available every week, and anyone can join in the fun! Details on how to become a part of the community are listed at the end of the post. Special Events
Hearts of Wulin: Podcaster Edition (Session 1 of 2) Lowell Francis runs for Agatha, Eli Kurtz, Eric M. Farmer, and Sherri We play Hearts of Wulin with Agatha Cheng from Asians Represent!, Eric Farmer & Eli Kurtz from Jianghu Hustle, and Sherri Stewart from The Gauntlet Podcast-- disguises! misunderstandings! betrothals! Star Wars Saturday Void Vultures (Session 2 of 2) Rich Rogers runs for Alejandro, Alun R., Jeremy Mahr, and Sabine V. The Lost Expedition scavenging job comes to a bombastic conclusion! Clone Troopers, a sentient plant monster, an old Republic ship's dark secrets, Weequay mercs, and a Night Witch clash with the Empire breathing down everyone's neck. Gauntlet Sunday Cryptomancer (Session 2 of 4) Lowell Francis runs for Alejandro, Bryan, Patrick Knowles, and Sherri When their patron sets them the task of driving two sinister crime families to war, the team circles their targets finding weaknesses and pulling on threads. TGI Thursday Forbidden Lands (Session 2 of 4) Lowell Francis runs for Alejandro, Darren Brockes, Fraser Simons, and Steven Watkins The party arrives at The Hallows, a goblin-majority village, and restocks. Desperate for cash, they take on a simple bandit hunt, but discover their targets are corrupted halflings. Gauntlet Quarterly Masks: A New Generation (Session 7) Lowell Francis runs for Kurt Potts, Simon Landreville, Steven desJardins, and Tyler Lominack Fallout continues as Councilperson Briggs puts forward a "Superhero Curfew" proposal. In the midst of team name deliberations the group faces down super-thugs and unwittingly plays into a fiendish plan. Gauntlet Comics Urban Shadows: COVEN PRIME (Session 2 of 4) Jim Crocker runs for Alexi S., Misha B, Peter Mazzeo, and Sarah J. An epic crossover with characters from Inspecter Spectre, TOOTH/CLAW, The Devil's Due, and Always a Witch. Monster of the Week: Precinct 13 (1978) (Session 2 of 4) Jim Crocker runs for Bethany H., Rich Rogers, and Tom F. The cops of New Gauntlet City's 'freak beat' work to uncover an alien plot! The Gaunt Marches Freebooters on the Frontier: In Search of Adventure (Session 2 of 3) Horst Wurst runs for Aljoscha, Asbjørn Flø, Chris Challice, and Mikael Tysvær The rune covered face - ambushed by lizardfolk - fire on the island of mold - a cruel sacrifice - the last tadpole - the drowned wizard Gauntlet Duets Neighborly Sarah J. facilitates for Jim Crocker A lovely free-form social game about living next to each other in suburbia. Gauntlet Hangouts Monsterhearts 2: St Osana's School for Boys (Session 2 of 4) David Morrison runs for Alex, Leandro Pondoc, Sawyer Rankin, and Sławomir Wójcik Passions run high as Fisher House finds their Romeo & Juliet. Callum works his magic on the prefect Burnley, and begins investigating the mysteries of the school. Lysander makes friends in high places, and demonstrates his new-found power. Adrian makes a grim discovery, while reassuring some of his fellow pupils that it's what's inside that counts. And finally while Emmett tries to find a role for himself he is finally pushed beyond his limits. Monsterhearts 2: Dead of Summer (Session 2 of 4) Sawyer Rankin runs for Darold Ross, Peter Mazzeo, and Sławomir Wójcik The emotions run high and dark as people realize that there is a darker secret in Brookstone Grove. There is also no brook in camp, the drama! We are introduced to Mr. Nurse and Todd! Todd brings it hard and heavy with a bit of trauma! Luke is the poor eye of the storm and is beginning to reach out into his own winds! And Siobhan? Your guess is as good as mine but man is she entertaining! Trophy: Writer's Retreat Sabine V. runs for Eduardo L., Gene A., and Michael G. Barford Monsterhearts 2: Kingsport 1886 (Session 5 of 5) Catherine Ramen runs for Darold Ross, David Morrison, Leandro Pondoc, and Seraphina Malizia In the finale, tensions mount as the Faery Queen seizes Watkins House; Jonathon has a reckoning; Finch seeks a bloody consummation; Alice finds her name; and Emily walks in her garden. Good Society: Belligerence & Benevolence (Session 1 of 4) Catherine Ramen runs for Darold Ross, Leandro Pondoc, Richard Ruane, and Seraphina Malizia Episode 1 of our attempt to do "War and Peace" using Good Society. Andrei's plans are changed by his uncle Nikolai; Vasilisa encourages suitors; Svetlana schemes revenge; Boris thinks about following Andrei; plus a duel and the approaching conflict with Napoleon. Needless to say, a new titles sequence, and for the first time in one of my productions, subtitles! Urban Shadows: Kingsport's Boston (Session 5 of 5) Jesse A. runs for Darold Ross, Leandro Pondoc, Owen Thompson, and Sawyer Rankin The Woodlands: Pokémon Rescue Team (Session 1 of 4) Luiz Ferraz runs for Noella H, Sherri, and Steven desJardins After a confusing run-in with some mean Pokémon, Team Pyrite find out all of the other rescue teams were attacked, and are currently trapped in a deep sleep. What is going on here, and can these rookies fix things before someone gets really hurt? Spire: The Kings of Silver (Session 6 of 12) Darren Brockes runs for Fraser Simons, Leandro Pondoc, and Rich Rogers Altrium uses old connections to con her way out of trouble. Ashe asks an old friend for an illegal favor. And Yvette does a keg stand and becomes a Knight. All of this just to throw an "Under the Sea" themed party for her, the It Girl of Spire. Gothic Society: A Study in Onyx (Session 2 of 4) Gene A. runs for Peter Mazzeo, Ryan M., and Sarah J. Viscount Remington's cavorting is called out by his mother, the Countess Crowmore. Damien visits his sister Rowena in the sanitarium. Brigadier Adley brings in a controversial treatment to succor the Gurgling Sickness victims. Captain Garrett calls on the Brigadier about Colonel Allen. Orville Blakely makes his demands on his son Damien known. A fox hunt is held, leading to a confrontation between Damien and Brigadier Adley. The Brigadier is shot by a mysterious sniper. Rowena reveals her true love. Oh, and letters. Lots of letters. Note: This session is in two parts due to technical issues. Both parts are in the linked playlist. Kingdom: The Void Andrew Hauge runs for Jim Crocker, Patrick, and Zak Soeria-Atmadja We see what happens when humanity finds a wormhole to another solar system, and the local inhabitants want to establish a colony on Venus. Will humanity hang together or be swept away by the tides of change? Who will dictate the course of history? The White Hack: Longwinter (Session 2 of 4) Richard Ruane runs for Bethany H., Darold Ross, Jesse A., and Sam Z. In the snow-covered spa town of Vreley, our investigators prepare to look for the missing Viktor, but first, dinner. Masks: Prospect Academy (Session 2 of 4) Leandro Pondoc runs for Agatha, Alun R., Ludovico Alves, and Sabine V. The Newspaper/Detention Club comes together to protect their own and then immediately fractures because lol teenagers. Michael finds out that superheroics are much simpler than teenage drama, Kasey tries to further run away from her destiny, Rafael gets caught up in some mixed messages and Enid wonders how her future is so messed up. Other Games (Fictive Fun) Shadow of the Demon Lord (Session 6) Pat P. runs for Fernando "Dolan" Dolande, Kurai, Lu Quade, and Roxanne Blix leaves the party once again. Jonah and Skive run into some interesting characters. Verge and Sprout fight to the end. Check out all the great videos on The Gauntlet YouTube channel and be sure check out the playlists to catch up on all your favorite games. If you'd like to play in games like these, check out the calendar of events and the Gauntlet Hangouts Google+ Community where new games are announced! To support The Gauntlet, please visit the Gauntlet Patreon at https://patreon.com/gauntlet. All are welcome to play Gauntlet Hangouts games, and Patreon supporters have extra options like priority RSVP for Gauntlet Hangouts games and joining the Gauntlet Slack team where special events are announced like Gauntlet Games Now. Enjoy, and everyone have a great weekend! Mandy Morbid recently posted about her experiences, and the experiences of others, with Zak S. What she said is profoundly disturbing and entirely unacceptable. We encourage you to read Mandy’s post, which can be found here. (Content Warning for various types of abuse).
Before continuing this statement, we want to make it very clear that we believe Mandy, we believe Jennifer, and we believe Hannah. The Gauntlet’s official position on Zak S going forward The Gauntlet will no longer provide coverage to Zak S or his publications. Due to the fact he has a history of harassing Jason and other members of The Gauntlet, we have had a longstanding ban on having him on our podcasts, and he has never been welcome in our community spaces. We will be extending that ban to any kind of coverage of, or participation in, his ttrpg work. Here are the specifics of what that means:
The Gauntlet’s past coverage of Zak S The Gauntlet has been around for awhile and has put out a lot of content. We are going through our archives and making decisions about how much of our previous Zak-related coverage we want to still be available to the public. There are a few podcast episodes where his work is prominently featured. We will be deleting those episodes or cutting out the Zak-related content. We will make a judgment call in each case about what we will delete or cut. It will take us a couple weeks to untangle everything (our back catalog is deep) but know it is happening. If you want to help us and point out very old podcasts or APs that prominently feature Zak’s work, we would appreciate it. Please post a link in the comments. A message to our friends in the ttrpg industry If you have supported or defended Zak S in the past, you need to step up. The Ken Hites and White Wolfs and LotFPs of the world need to take this opportunity to disavow Zak S. DriveThruRPG? They need to de-list his products from their site. We intend to use some of the goodwill and influence we have amassed in this industry over the years to encourage our friends to de-platform Zak. The Gauntlet is not a supporter of ostracism or blacklisting, largely because it usually disproportionately falls on creators of color, but does believe Zak qualifies for such treatment because of repeated demonstrations of abuse. A message to ttrpg fans We understand that many people, some of our organizers and members alike, feel that Zak has created some compelling game content. Unfortunately, he’s a toxic, abusive person and we should not be giving him aid and comfort with our dollars. There are plenty of OSR publishers out there who are making amazing content that is equal to or surpasses Zak’s work, and who are not abusers. We have listed a few below and you can find even more in our Fear of a Black Dragon podcast feed. The Melsonian Arts Council The Hydra Cooperative Tuesday Knight Games A few things to close with We approve all comments on our blog posts. Negative and unhelpful comments will not be approved. If you post negative or unhelpful comments in any of our public spaces or social media threads, you will be banned or blocked immediately, no questions asked. If you are a victim and you need a safe community or space, or need support and you feel the Gauntlet could help, reach out to us. We will help you find resources, offer any support we can, and provide a safe space to vent or decompress. We have compiled a set of resources related to trauma, abuse, online harassment, and related matters, including supporting those who have been victims. You can find those resources here. Folks: this needs to be the end of the line for Zak S in the ttrpg industry. We cannot tolerate him in our spaces any longer. We call upon our fellow publishers, community organizers, media producers, and convention hosts to cut ties with him immediately. ![]() Greetings, and welcome to the weekly Gauntlet Hangouts video roundup! Listed below are links to recorded sessions of online games played under the Gauntlet Hangouts banner and other games organized through the Gauntlet online RPG community. These recorded sessions represent only a small part of the giant selection of games available every week, and anyone can join in the fun! Details on how to become a part of the community are listed at the end of the post. Star Wars Saturday
Void Vultures (Session 1 of 2) Rich Rogers runs for Alejandro, Alun R., Jeremy Mahr, and Sabine V. We meet the Void Vultures serving "retired" Republic officer Gran, and they head off on a mission for the rebellion to recover a Lost Expedition. Gauntlet Sunday Cryptomancer (Session 1 of 4) Lowell Francis runs for Alejandro, Bryan, Patrick Knowles, and Sherri Captured in their fight against the Risk Eaters, our revolutionary cell of heroes must hack their way off of a prison island with a combination of magic, subterfuge, and stabbing. TGI Thursday Forbidden Lands (Session 1 of 4) Lowell Francis runs for Alejandro, Darren Brockes, Fraser Simons, and Steven Watkins Escaping from a their Saurian captors, our heroes discover exactly why the lands are forbidden when a wild boar impales Hild the Goblin to a tree. Gauntlet Quarterly Masks: A New Generation (Session 6) Lowell Francis runs for Chris Newton, Kurt Potts, Steven desJardins, and Tyler Lominack In the wake of tragedy, Sara Sparks assembles a new team. After battling a towering inferno, a new foe stokes the flames of outrage against them...but new teammate Odd-Ball has a strange connection to this politician. Gauntlet Comics Urban Shadows: COVEN PRIME (Session 1 of 4) Jim Crocker runs for Alexi S., Misha B, Peter Mazzeo, and Sarah J. The stars of the fan-favorite 90s horror comics American Haunt, Tooth/Claw, The Devil's Due, and Always a Witch combine forces in an epic limited series with the fate of Coven Prime in the balance! Meet the cast, learn about their neighborhoods, and hear which Tarot card their character is on in the Official Narcrosis Tarot Deck! 1%er Supers (Session 1 of 4) Rich Rogers runs for Chris Newton, Luiz Ferraz, Sherri, and Tim Osburn The Scoville Scourge interfere with the "good super citizens" of the Future Legion as they stop a thief! Who will stop the menace of the Scoville Scourge?!?! Monster of the Week: Precinct 13 (Session 1 of 4) Jim Crocker runs for Bethany H., Rich Rogers, Tara, and Tom F. Session Zero prep as we travel back to 1978 to walk the Freak Beat with two detectives, an embedded AEON agent, and a Vampire-hunting PI. Meet the crew and learn how their tangled histories interweave! The Gaunt Marches Freebooters on the Frontier: In Search of Adventure (Session 1 of 3) Horst Wurst runs for Aljoscha, Asbjørn Flø, Chris Challice, and Mikael Tysvær Hunting in the Knee-High Sea the adventurers loot a mysterious nest, are attacked by a Swamp Shambler, bury a friend, escape from the jaws of death and ponder whether to eat the Frogmen's eggs or raise an amphibian army. Gauntlet Hangouts Monsterhearts 2: St Osana's School for Boys (Session 1 of 4) David Morrison runs for Alex, Leandro Pondoc, Sawyer Rankin, and Sławomir It's 1966, and at St. Osana's School for Boys - a boys boarding school in Yorkshire - we follow the exploits of four boys from Fisher Upper Fifth as school begins for a new term. Distracted by thoughts of Juliet, Emmet the Hollow commits accidental trespass; Adrian the Vampire is invited to a tryst with Burnley Minimus; and Callum the Witch goads Lysander the Ghoul into a violent confrontation. Monsterhearts 2: Dead of Summer (Session 1 of 4) Sawyer Rankin runs for Peter Mazzeo, Stephen, and Sławomir The first session we blaze through world building and get to the heart of camping. We welcome the most adorable conspiracy theorist Bedlam, the most rational and haughty hottie Fae, and the poor Neighbor who's already in over his head. We have discovered something intriguing and there is already a mystery in camp! Monsterhearts 2: Absolutely (Session 3 of 4) Donogh runs for Alun R., David Morrison, and Jim Crocker After the tragic* death of the King’s mistress, the Queen goes to the Paris opera to escape the palace. Leading lady Celine aims to impress despite a very nervous company. Father Jean manoeuvres against his cardinal while the Countess Aurelie sinks her claws into the Queen even deeper. (*Not tragic!) Dark Designs in Verdigris: The Stygian Library Richard Ruane runs for Asher S., Chiv, Leandro Pondoc, Peter Mazzeo, and VC The crew arrives at Huber’s Museum of Books, flirts with the Sawyer the Bear, evades the agents of General Jinjur, and gets rough with a murderous automaton before finding out the door they wanted to open was under their feet the whole time. Then the door opens. Spire: The Kings of Spire (Session 5 of 12) Darren Brockes runs for Brett WH, Fraser Simons, Leandro Pondoc, and Rich Rogers Serro, Ashe, Altrium, and Yvette plan a little get-together for only the most popular aelfir in all of Spire. No big deal, not even when Serro gets shot trying to steal a crate of gilded oysters and Altrium gets blamed for it. Gothic Society: A Study in Onyx (Session 1 of 4) Gene A. runs for Agatha, Peter Mazzeo, Ryan M., and Sarah J. The Gurgling Sickness seizes London as a complicated web of relationships play out at a masquerade ball. The White Hack:Longwinter (Session 1 of 4) Richard Ruane runs for Bethany H., Darold Ross, Jesse A., Jesse Larimer, and Sam Z. Autumn's End - Just as Longwinter begins, Kazimir and his associates converge on the spa town of Vreley to find his lost friend Viktor. Dungeon World: Fantasy Heartbreakers Robbie Boerth runs for Alejandro, David L., and Rachelle Dube A Dungeon World adventure with a Valentine's theme. Three intrepid fantasy heartbreakers attend a gala only to find that the bride-to-be is a Lich in mourning over her departed soul mate and looking for a new partner. Spire: A Disease of Language (Session 1 of 4) Leandro Pondoc runs for David Morrison, Diana Moon, Jim Crocker, and Stephen The Ministry of Our Hidden Mistress has sent a cell into Red Row to find the source of the dream they call Revolution that is said to be spreading like a plague. Elifet surveys the scene, Phyrrus becomes an accessory to some flirting, Ixel charms the pants off a guard, and Jez'zara learns of the song that will sing Spire into waking. Worlds in Peril: X-Men '83 (Session 1 of 2) Kyle runs for Fraser Simons, John Campbell, and Peter Mazzeo Our teenage heroes get an unexpected visitor that changes everything amidst the New York blizzards in February, 1983. Worlds in Peril: X-Men '83 (Session 2 of 2) Kyle runs for Fraser Simons and Peter Mazzeo The Soviets get with the Shi'ar and the techno-organic virus threatens Midtown High! Masks: Prospect Academy (Session 1 of 4) Leandro Pondoc runs for Agatha, Alun R., Ludovico Alves, and Sabine V. We meet our protagonists, the so-called Newspaper/Detention Club of Prospect Academy, Earth's 11th best superhero school. They comprise of a rescued boy of nanites dealing with his anger, a clone of a supervillain turned hero, a mouthy graffiti activist and a spunky traveller from the past confronting her dark future. Trophy: The Flocculent Cathedral Jim Crocker runs for James L., Michael G. Barford, Owen Thompson, and Tom F. The Flocculent Cathedral opens its mossy doors to (not so, it turns out) doomed Treasure Hunters. Other Games Dead Friend: Button Eye Barry facilitates for Lauren Dorian weighs the privileges provided to him by the wealth of his Victorian family against endless summers of adventure in Wonderland with his imaginary friend Lancelot Littlebury. Shadow of the Demon Lord (Session 5, Part 1) Pat P. runs for Darren Brockes, Fernando "Dolan" Dolande, and Lu Quade After a night reflecting on their past, they get a wake up call from some beastmen. Blix runs off and wanders. Jonah & Skive meet a treasure hunter. Shadow of the Demon Lord (Session 5, Part 2) Pat P. runs for Darren Brockes, Fernando "Dolan" Dolande, and Lu Quade Jonah and Skive help a farmer with a problem. A pig kiss. Blix follows through on a contract. Check out all the great videos on The Gauntlet YouTube channel and be sure check out the playlists to catch up on all your favorite games. If you'd like to play in games like these, check out the calendar of events and the Gauntlet Hangouts Google+ Community where new games are announced! To support The Gauntlet, please visit the Gauntlet Patreon at https://patreon.com/gauntlet. All are welcome to play Gauntlet Hangouts games, and Patreon supporters have extra options like priority RSVP for Gauntlet Hangouts games and joining the Gauntlet Slack team where special events are announced like Gauntlet Games Now. Enjoy, and everyone have a great weekend! by Horst Wurst, Keeper of the Yellow-Eyed Mask In the last couple of months, 14 Gauntleteers have been part of an RPG book club on the Gauntlet Slack where we read The Veins of the Earth by Patrick Stuart, a book infamous for its sheer size and outlandish concepts. By sharing our experiences with the project we hope to encourage others to form a club around similarly intimidating books in order to make them more accessible. ![]() Structure We decided to give everyone one week to read a given chapter and to discuss its content on Fridays or Saturdays. Because of the peculiar structure of the Veins – there is an incredibly long monster section right at the beginning of the book – we first had to agree on the order of chapters to read. In general this might be an important difference between a traditional book club and one for an RPG. For the former, the assumption will obviously be to read it from cover to cover. For the latter, that doesn’t seem to be the case at all: Some might start with character creation others with task resolution or reward structure and most people seem to find their own way through the text from there based on their individual preferences. For the Veins, which is a setting / rules hybrid, we settled on: Why the Underworld?, musings and rules about light and food, madness and change, encumbrance and climbing rules, generating a cave and cave systems followed by the aforementioned monster section and a chapter about different cultures. Experience “In the core of every beginning lives magic” as Hermann Hesse famously wrote, so initially we had lively discussions about the fascination of the Underworld (see The Dungeon as Mythic Underworld in Phylotomy’s Musings by Jason Cone) and the themes of the Veins: Scarcity and Madness. Unfortunately most of these discussions are lost due to the ephemeral nature of Slack, so for future book clubs it might be a good idea to assign someone to record memorable contributions for posterity. Participation dropped off considerably once we reached the dryer parts of the book, the encumbrance sub-system and cave creation. For the last 10 weeks I would write a short description about 5 monsters every week, with members of the club occasionally commenting on the interesting ones but it was obvious that the project had lost steam. All in all the book club was a huge success, though: We had carefully read through the whole damn thing with the added bonus of having concise descriptions of all 50 monsters and a thorough understanding of how the rules work. Prospect While it is certainly natural that enthusiasm declines the longer such a project takes, we think it is possible to mitigate the problem by * organizing an initial online meeting via hangouts or on discord to directly discuss the structure of the club. * During that meeting different members could be assigned the role of a custodian for a given chapter. * You might also want to agree on a timeline in advance that shows when a chapter will be discussed. I’m sure this is not the last RPG book club on the Gauntlet Slack and there are already discussions about our next project, so if you are a member of the Gauntlet Slack: Keep an eye out for The Nightmares Underneath Book Club! by Jason Cordova
Today I added several tiers on The Gauntlet Patreon called “Quality of Life Keeper.” I wanted to use this post to discuss the purpose of those pledge tiers and how they came about. The work we value Last week, I tracked the number hours I spent working on tasks for The Gauntlet. In total, it was 43 hours (not including the roughly 15 hours I spent planning and running games on Gauntlet Hangouts, which I consider to be fun activities). The only financial compensation I will receive for those hours is having my cell phone bill paid for by The Gauntlet. That makes my rate of financial compensation for last week’s Gauntlet work roughly 69 cents per hour. That’s a pretty stark number, and I’m not bringing it up simply to shock you, but to also offer a basic commentary on how certain types of work in indie ttrpgs (and, I suspect, in the wider industry) is valued. Outside of a very tiny group of people, anyone who is not involved in the direct publication of a ttrpg book (editors, artists, writers, and so forth) but who is otherwise doing work in the industry, is getting paid little to nothing for their effort. Convention workers, forum moderators, community organizers, and so forth, do work in the industry that is considered of little value. My situation in The Gauntlet is definitely on the more extreme end of the spectrum, but I suspect if people start to get really honest about compensation levels in this industry, it would be pretty eye-opening. But what about The Gauntlet’s bumpin’ Patreon? It’s true The Gauntlet enjoys a moderate amount of success on Patreon. Compared to a lot of other outfits in the indie space, we’re practically rolling in it. But here’s the thing: The Gauntlet’s financial success does not trickle down (up?) to the people who organize it. As an organization, The Gauntlet is much larger than others in our lane. The scope of what we do is much wider. Nearly every single dollar of our revenue streams, including Codex sales on DTRPG, go toward paying our expenses—expenses which do not include pay for people such as myself. Our costs include: website hosting fees, Dropbox, Libsyn hosting, Basecamp subscription, bookkeeping software subscription, editing for 6 different podcasts, artwork for Codex, layout for Codex, my cell phone bill, and numerous expenses that pop up each month but that are not recurring (such as graphic design for logos, Gauntlet Hangouts site maintenance, Gauntlet Con expenses, etc.) We also have a few people in the community who get a modest payment each month for the critical work they do in the community. We have a new, interesting source of revenue from the Codex Vol. 1 Kickstarter, but right now, much of that money is set aside until fulfillment is complete—and whatever we have left over will probably be used for much-needed community improvements, such as an improved scheduling system for Gauntlet Hangouts. The short of it: we make enough money to pay our bills, but not enough to pay me or other folks who currently volunteer their time. And don’t get me wrong: I’m super-happy we can pay our bills, and very grateful for our supporters who make that happen. We’re past the days where I have to pay for things directly out of pocket, and that feels good. A sad and punishing lifestyle Working 43 hours a week for no compensation is fucking brutal, because I still have to work my main job in order to survive. This has lead to a number of sad consequences for my life: I don’t have time to exercise, I don’t have time to hang out with friends outside of The Gauntlet, I have not been on a single date since I broke up with my partner (that was over a year ago), I have not taken a vacation in 3 years, and I have not been to the movies in 2 years. My only “me time” outside of The Gauntlet is occasionally watching TV and going to work at Starbucks instead of my home office. I can’t even attend much of the gaming convention circuit because, even though it is beneficial to The Gauntlet for me to be at those conventions, I have to pay the expenses from those trips entirely out of pocket (in addition to the fact conventions set me back DAYS in terms of the work I am responsible for). Yesterday was a rough day for me. I literally broke down crying two different times on account of the intense burnout and feeling stretched so thin. A change had to be made. The way forward First of all, a major goal for me this year is cutting back on the sheer volume of work I have to do for The Gauntlet. This is much easier said than done, because we have a lot of commitments and I possess a lot of institutional knowledge. It will be a job just figuring out the way forward, but I have started to make some progress. Yesterday, I retired our Game Designer Patreon program. That wasn’t easy for me to do, because the work I did with those game designers was very important to them (and to me) but I had to cut it because it was taking up a lot of time while bringing in relatively little money for the community. Our Patreon will take a hit from it, but that will be outweighed quite a bit by the personal time I will be able to claw back. In the future, in addition to cutting projects that aren’t an overall benefit to the community, I need to figure out which tasks I can delegate to other people. That will be a slow process, but it’s one I’m willing to start looking at. But even that won’t be enough. I will always have to spend a lot of time on this community, and at some point, I need to start getting paid for that. I would also like to start paying more of the folks who are currently volunteering their time for the community, even if just in a small way. The Quality of Life Keeper All of the above has lead to the creation of 4 new Patreon tiers. The pledge levels for those tiers are $15, $25, $50, and $100. Those pledge tiers come with all the same benefits as the $8 tier, but the extra money from each pledge goes directly toward paying the people who help organize The Gauntlet. My hope is that people who have the money to spare and who want to see The Gauntlet keep going will consider pledging at one of those levels. This will be acutely helpful for me since my day job is essentially consulting work, and if I can start bringing in a little bit of pay from The Gauntlet, I can scale that work back, leading to less burnout. The Gauntlet is doing the most amazing work in indie ttrpgs. Our desire to create fantastic, high quality content and a fun, inclusive play space is undiminished. But the folks who organize The Gauntlet deserve to get paid for their work. Plain and simple. This is the start of that important conversation for us. If you'd like to help out, our Patreon can be found right here: The Gauntlet Patreon ![]() Greetings, and welcome to the weekly Gauntlet Hangouts video roundup! Listed below are links to recorded sessions of online games played under the Gauntlet Hangouts banner and other games organized through the Gauntlet online RPG community. These recorded sessions represent only a small part of the giant selection of games available every week, and anyone can join in the fun! Details on how to become a part of the community are listed at the end of the post. Star Wars Saturday
Primetime Adventures (Session 4 of 4) Rich Rogers runs for Alejandro, Horst Wurst, Joshua Gilbreath, and Pawel S. It's the miniseries finale as Aisyl Mei-sh, reluctant Force-wielder, faces off with Starkiller in a titanic fight to save the crew of the STS Archmage, and the Rebels aboard! Gauntlet Sunday Hearts of Wulin: Gauntlet Sunday (Session 4 of 4) Lowell Francis runs for Alejandro, Jim Crocker, Ludovico Alves, and Sabine V. Bao and Delan take a stealthy approach to breaching Shadowed Sabre's estate, while Ming and Bountiful storm in the front gates. The two streams meet, leading to a final confrontation filled with danger, revelation, and pathos. Gauntlet Quarterly Spire: the Kings of Silver (Session 4 of 12) Darren Brockes runs for Greg G., Josh DeGagné, and Rich Rogers There's nothing like a plan coming together. Except when there's a death on stage. Masks: A New Generation (Session 5) Lowell Francis runs for Chris Newton, Jesse Larimer, Steven desJardins, and Steven Watkins Turmoil in their personal lives leads the team, one by one, to gather at Overclock's house. But when he uses his Time Sanctuary to help Gabriel, their true enemies reveal themselves in a battle which costs everyone dearly. Gauntlet Comics My Life With Master (Session 4 of 4) Jim Crocker runs for Alejandro, Peter Mazzeo, Rich Rogers, and Tom F. The apocalyptic showdown with Zachary Solomon as Bitty, SD, Father Stuart, and Blackbox finally decide enough is enough. The Gaunt Marches Dungeon World: The Last Apprentice (Session 4 of 4) Jim Crocker runs for Bryan, Horst Wurst, and Leandro Pondoc The party confronts Wynne (the Sanguine Apprentice) in her lair. Gauntlet Hangouts Dream Askew: From the Void (Session 3 of 3) Bethany H. facilitates for Barry, Ben Swinden, João, and Sarah J. The Psychic Maelstrom brings both terror and understanding as it reveals people's most painful memories to one another. Robyn tries to learn about her future from Pity, but instead learns the high cost of Pity's foresight. Lark tries to extend the kindness the Enclave has shown them to a newcomer, but he needs more help than Lark can give. Fed up with people coming home wounded, Mischa warns the enclave against the dangers of the outside world. And Finch is too excited about having internet access to question the "free gift" Robyn brought back from the market. Content warning: creepy, not-at-all-medically-accurate depictions of surgery. Melody of a Never-ending Summer (Session 4 of 4) Luiz Ferraz runs for João, Leandro Pondoc, and Sabine V. In our final episode, the teens say goodbye to a lot of Mons, finish their last Projects, and tie up loose ends before it's time to go home. "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Urban Shadows: Kingsport's Boston (Session 4 of 5) Jesse A. runs for Darold Ross, Owen Thompson, and Sawyer Rankin In our fourth installment, the Eye opens; Fiore's place in the court is threatened; Mama Huang suffers a great loss and Tiberius does his best to come to the rescue. Alas for the Awful Sea: Gladhythe (Session 3 of 3) Ryan M. runs for Jim Crocker, Peter Mazzeo, and Sarah J. Our seafarers contend with lost loves, tacky design choices, an awkward family dinner, and the everpresent Beyond. Mayor Cat Stentor Danielson runs for Barry, Larry S., Leandro Pondoc, and Sarah J. Dr. Ruffles' campaign confronts the problem of mutant land-dolphins roaming the city, and tries to create a decoy to deflect an attack ad's claims. Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells: Dunnsmouth Asteroid Mines (Session 4 of 4) Richard Ruane runs for David Miessler-Kubanek, Peter Mazzeo, Rachelle Dube, and Robbie Boerth The finale of Dunnsmouth Asteroid Mines! Two party members follow Magda to the chaplaincy center while two steal Ivan's walker to find the Time Cube on the asteroid's surface. Also a badly damaged greenhouse filled with hallucinogenic mushrooms. Fire Ships at Midnight Barry facilitates for Paul K and Steven desJardins An ignoble burial at sea and an disease finally taking hold after weeks of difficult conditions cap off this legendary naval disaster. Dream Askew: The Rainbow Enclave (Session 2 of 2) Mikael Tysvær runs for Diana Moon, Leandro Pondoc, and Ludovico Alves Monsterhearts 2: Kingsport 1886 (Session 4 of 5) Catherine Ramen runs for Bethany H., Darold Ross, Leandro Pondoc, and Seraphina Malizia Siobhan and Finch travel beyond the mirror and meet Emily in an unexpected place; Finch changes loyalties; Helen pries secrets from Alice; and Alice meets her maker. Trophy: The Flocculent Cathedral Jim Crocker runs for Agatha, Ben Swinden, Kevin Marshall, and Nate Bob B. First test run for Jim Crocker's Trophy incursion, scheduled to appear in a future issue of Codex. Treasure Hunters didn't make it to the center of the forest, but made their mark on the locals! Content warning: Body horror and creepy bug stuff. Misspent Youth: Last Days in Heaven (Session 2 of 2) Leandro Pondoc runs for David Morrison, Rob Ruthven, and Tomer Gurantz The struggle for the Sleeping Siren reaches fever pitch as our Youthful Offenders move to free the ship from Caleb's grasp before he could take them back to the war. Daring discovers more of the ship's capabilities, Kat fumes with revolutionary fervour and Wings struggles to keep everyone happy. Masks: Iron Red Soldiers (Session 4 of 4) Leandro Pondoc runs for Ludovico Alves, Luiz Ferraz, Rob Ruthven, and Tomer Gurantz The endgame commences! Our heroes, joined by the Duo of Paola and T'suul, launch their final assault unto the Tangee flagship as the invaders move to execute Freak and accomplish their goals. L0K1 tries to free his shame from their suffering, Turn lashes out at those around him, Duo tries to soothe those around her and Regicide steps up to the task of being a hero. Other Games Downfall Pat P. runs for David L. and Michael G. Barford The Horizon Empire is a place where ambition and accomplishment are the foundation of progress. This is its Downfall. Shadow of the Demon Lord (Session 3, Part 1) Pat P. runs for Darren Brockes, Fernando "Dolan" Dolande, and Lu Quade The party is caught in a fight they didn't expect. Jonah retrieves something that was stolen from him. Blix and Skive use illusions to gain the upper hand. Shadow of the Demon Lord (Session 3, Part 2) Pat P. runs for Darren Brockes, Fernando "Dolan" Dolande, and Lu Quade Skive stands alone against a creature of the void. Blix and Jonah opt for self-preservation. A skull screams. The party finds themselves in the "employ" of the inquisition. Shadow of the Demon Lord (Session 4) Pat P. runs for Darren Brockes, Fernando "Dolan" Dolande, and Lu Quade Skive rushes in again. Blix meets an old acquaintance. Jonah returns home. Check out all the great videos on The Gauntlet YouTube channel and be sure check out the playlists to catch up on all your favorite games. If you'd like to play in games like these, check out the calendar of events and the Gauntlet Hangouts Google+ Community where new games are announced! To support The Gauntlet, please visit the Gauntlet Patreon at https://patreon.com/gauntlet. All are welcome to play Gauntlet Hangouts games, and Patreon supporters have extra options like priority RSVP for Gauntlet Hangouts games and joining the Gauntlet Slack team where special events are announced like Gauntlet Games Now. Enjoy, and everyone have a great weekend! |
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