Podcast
Rascal News
Hosted by Rascal News · EN
Rascal News is an independent, worker-owned outfit composed of Chase Taylor-Carter, Thomas Manuel, Caelyn Ellis, Rowan Zeoli, and Lin Codega. Join them in exploring the tabletop industry and its associated online spaces across two shows: Rascal Radio Hour is a biweekly show where the crew dig deeper into the biggest news and newest games; and Rascal Reading Club allows Thomas to wax long on RPG rulebooks.
45episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Rascal Radio Hour E41: Three Damage Tracks!!
2w ago01:51:46Tap to summarizeThomas and Chase wade into a forum controversy over Deathrbringer that's about something other than the purile art and misguided promises of lethality. They also discuss delays to the Wolfenstein RPG adaptation and the slightly baffling (deep breath) Anne Rice's Immortal Universe Roleplaying Game, which will have plenty of vampires but somehow be distinct from Vampire: The Masquerade. Finally, they discuss the TTGDA's guidance on properly crediting game designers before hacking their way free of a Question Dungeon full of 20 bloodthirsty Jimothies. -- TTGDA Crediting Best Practices Hollandspiele's video on René Soriano's games -- Hosted by Chase Taylor-Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Thomas Manuel (@newmadras.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social). -- Games we mention: Deathbringer Shadowdark Vampire the Masquerade Diplomacy A Perfect Rock Band of Blades Apocalypse World: Warriors of the World Ablaze
Transcribe →Rascal Interview: Agency, frustration, and secrets in Asa Donald's SPINE
3w ago01:03:20Tap to summarizeHeads up: We explain some large structural spoilers for SPINE during this interview but stay away from particular details. While Thomas plans the next seasons of the Reading Club, Chase invites designer Asa Donald for a conversation about his ENNIE-nominated solo RPG, SPINE. The peculiar title wrestles with questions of player agency and the capacity of words to reflect ourselves - or, at least, a version of us. An academic and early modernist by day, Asa explains the literary and classical roots underpinning SPINE's tale of immortality and discusses how the endnotes system creates fruitful frustration. -- Find SPINE here and the rest of Asa's work on Backwards Tabletop. Hosted by Chase Taylor-Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring guest Asa Donald (@backwardsttrpg.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social). -- Games we discuss: SPINE The King is Dead Firebrands -- Asa's retrospective on SPINE and printing your own copy of the game. Game Studies Study Buddies' episode on The Ludic Self in Seventeeth-Century English Literature.
Transcribe →Rascal Radio Hour E40: The Clicky-clacky Candy Metric, feat. Clayton Notestine
Jul 1301:40:04Tap to summarizeChase is joined by designer and blogger Clayton Notestine of Explorer's Design to discuss the ENNIEs, both as a former judge and as a current nominee! Awards are a strange beast for tabletop RPGs, mattering very little but able to change smaller designers' career trajectory. How does the public's misapprehensions about these awards for ostensible "excellence" muddy the waters? And who is responsible for correcting course? The duo also talk about generative AI sneaking into tabletop publishing via Adobe software backends. Later, Clayton explains his dual metric for rating board games (which involves mouthfeel), while Chase is still not facing consequences for quadruple-dealing in Diplomacy. Finally, they wade into the The Question Dungeon's muck and scare out a discussion on why more RPGs should play their genres straight. -- Read Clayton's work on Explorers Design. Hosted by Chase Taylor-Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring guest Clayton Notestine (@explorersdesign.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social). -- Games we discuss: Intergalactic Bastionland The One Ring Mothership Diplomacy Carin 2E Stonetop Snakes of Wrath -- Clayton's official statement on his ENNIEs nom. The Awards Debrief 2025, an ENNIEs post-mortem. On why I hate awards, or "Please vote for me at the Ennies", by Em Acosta.
Transcribe →
Talkback: Stonetop
Jul 601:27:09Tap to summarizeBook club episode! Sean Foer, professional GM and maker of videos, joined me to go through people's responses about my discussions questions on Stonetop. Show Notes: Games mentioned: Secret of the Night Market, Perils & Princesses, Dictionary of Mu, Realis, Green Oaks by Roberto de Luca, Heart, Seven Part Pact, Book House / Nostos, The House Edge. The excellent Blorb principles that outline that style of play Jeremy Kerr's interactive map for Wildsea and guide Also, check out our previous episodes about the Warden's Operations Manual for comparison and contrast. The music used for this show is by Nihilore and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. The opening track is So Does Hope and the closing track is Something Beautiful Is Going To Happen. For more from us, visit Rascal News.
Transcribe →Rascal Radio Hour E39: You Game of Thrones'd Yourself
Jun 2901:31:30Tap to summarizeUnion wins and hall of fame inductions headline a much more positive week for tabletop games. Chase and Thomas convene to discuss the major headlines, including some awards news out of Origins and United Wizards of the Coast officially electing the venerable company's first ever union. Later on, the pair saunter into the Question Dungeon's deadly political soiree to cross s(words) with half-year predictions and why the concept of dungeon crawling has such staying power in our imagination. -- Hosted by Chase Taylor-Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Thomas Manuel (@newmadras.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social). -- Games we discuss: Warhammer 40k Magic: The Gathering Arena Land of Eem Apocalypse World Berserkr SPINE Band of Blades Diplomacy
Transcribe →
Reading Club: Stonetop
Jun 2201:22:00Tap to summarizeBook club episode! We discuss Stonetop by Jeremy Strandberg. Read more here. As always, you can participate in the talkback episode by sending in a response. You can record yourself speaking, you can post in the discord thread associated with this podcast or write to thomas@rascal.news. Looking forward to hearing from you. Discussion Questions What do you think about Stonetop? What do you think about it as "a textbook for running games"? As a GM, do you find yourselves having a preference for pre-existing settings, setting created at the table, an original setting created by the GM alone, or something else? Do you find yourself moving between these modes? Or just sticking to one? Do you have a particularly memorable experience with one of these modes? Do you have a favorite question that you've asked as a GM or that you've been asked? What's the best pitch you've ever seen from a game (that wasn't an IP or a sequel)? What about it got you excited enough to run it? Was it very different from your usual thing or in the same wheelhouse? What game has made you feel most supported when it comes to improvising? How did it do that? Show Notes: Types of GM Materials by Johnstone Metzger Quinns Quest review Interview with Jeremy Strandberg, Lucie Arnoux, and Jason Lutes on Rascal News The music used for this show is by Nihilore and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. The opening track is So Does Hope and the closing track is Something Beautiful Is Going To Happen. For more from us, visit Rascal News.
Transcribe →Rascal Radio Hour E38: Documents and Daggers
Jun 1501:42:16Tap to summarizeUPDATE: Thomas spoke with Paizo CEO Jim Butler after we recorded this. Industry news looms heavy over the discussion between Chase, Thomas, and Caelyn, but they find plenty of time for regularly scheduled shenanigans. The episode leads with Paizo's recent layoffs, how Diamond Comics Distribution caused it, and where the publisher goes from here. Afterward, they move on to RPG Trader and what this new, indie-focused storefront does differently from the major players. Stay tuned for an infiltration-themed Question Dungeon, Thomas' extremely satisfying week of games, and Chase's dalliance with duplicity. -- Hosted by Chase Taylor-Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Thomas Manuel (@newmadras.bsky.social) and Caelyn Ellis (@caelyn.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social). -- Games we discuss: SPINE Asher's Ridge Diplomacy Apocalypse World Band of Blades Daggerheart Neon Odyssey --
Transcribe →
Talkback: Burning Wheel
Jun 801:46:47Tap to summarizeBook club episode! Andrew Gillis, designer of Girl by Moonlight, joined me to go through people's responses about my discussions questions on Burning Wheel. Show Notes: Games mentioned: D&D, Pathfinder, Fate, Blades in the Dark, Dogs in the Vineyards, Ironsworn, Realis, Apocalypse World, Gloomhaven, Frosthaven, Mythic Bastionland My interview with Helena Real about Dungeon World 2 The music used for this show is by Nihilore and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. The opening track is So Does Hope and the closing track is Something Beautiful Is Going To Happen. For more from us, visit Rascal News.
Transcribe →Rascal Radio Hour E37: Entering a Horse Race on a Donkey, feat. Jenna Stoeber and Tomas Franzese
Jun 101:46:30Tap to summarizeChase is joined on this episode (which is #37 despite what he says) by Jenna Stoeber and Tomas Franzese to discuss two overlapping issues between the tabletop and video game industries. First, the crew dive into Wizards of the Coast's response to unionization efforts within the Magic: The Gathering Arena team. Spoilers: it ain't friendly. Everyone then ponders the cancellation of an unnamed Dungeons & Dragons video game that was being developed by Giant Skull and why pinning all of Hasbro's digital hopes on Exodus and Warlock is... hm, well, ah. Nevertheless, -- Hosted by Chase Taylor-Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring special guests Jenna Stoeber (@thejenna.bsky.social) and Tomas Franzese (@tomasfranzese.bsky.social). Find Jenna's work on Patreon and Tomas' writing at Remastered. Tomas' interview with Stig Asmussen from 2024. Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social). -- Games we discuss: Magic: The Gathering Arena Warlock Exodus Rose and Locket TetherGeist Lego Batman The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time SPINE Fatherfog 0e
Transcribe →
Reading Club: Burning Wheel
May 2501:05:08Tap to summarizeBook club episode! We discuss Burning Wheel, the influential fantasy RPG from Luke Crane. Read more here. As always, you can participate in the talkback episode by sending in a response. You can record yourself, you can post in the discord thread associated with this podcast or write to thomas@rascal.news. Looking forward to hearing from you. Discussion Questions 1. What do you think about Burning Wheel? 2. What's been your experience with games that ask players to write freeform statements like Beliefs in Burning Wheel or Aspects in Fate? Do you feel like you lose some of that freedom in games that just give you a list to pick from? 3. What do you think about the idea of system mastery as a GM? Does it feel different to run games that are about those versus games that don't offer that? Do you have different tastes as a player and as a GM when it comes to games that offer system mastery? 4. Do you agree with my statement that it feels like system mastery in the OSR or storygames is about mastering (specific, identifiable) skills that are broadly compatible across similar games? 5. What do you think about the classification of quests, struggles, and intrigues? Does that feel useful to you? Do you feel like you're better at some or prefer some over others? The music used for this show is by Nihilore and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. The opening track is So Does Hope and the closing track is Something Beautiful Is Going To Happen. For more from us, visit Rascal News.
Transcribe →