In this all-out episode, we discuss dual wielding and various other kinds of multiplicative modes of attack. How can frequency-focused fighting styles make different characters feel different? And how can you balance attack and defense mechanics so that “just attack more” isn’t the only answer?

Violet trades a strike in the hand for two in the bush. Freya studies the studs. Violet decides Drizzt is a decent dude. Freya accidentally designs a videogame (again).

Timestamps

Mailbag - 8:29

Intro to the topic - 11:08

History - 26:23

Taxonomicon - 33:15

Design Dreams - 59:21

TTRPGs discussed

Band of Blades

Blades in the Dark

Exalted (various editions) & Exalted Essence

PbtA (in general)

D&D (various editions)

Lancer

Cosmere RPG

Empire of the Petal Throne

Runequest

Pathfinder

OSR (in general)

Dark Heresy

Old World of Darkness

Vampire: the (various things)

One Roll System (Reign, Monsters and Other Childish Things, etc)

Genesys

Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy

Tiles and Truenames*

Last Days at Honkwarts*

Other games and things discussed

Blue Prince

Gone Home

Animal Well

Link’s Crossbow Training

XCOM

Knights of the Old Republic 2

Battletech

Bushido

Knights of the Old Republic… 1!

Total War

Warhammer 40k

Dissidia: Final Fantasy

The concept of LARPing

Absolver

Combo Fighter

Yomi

Final Fantasy XIII

Signs of the Sojourner

Megaman: Battle Network

Cobalt Core

Paperback Adventures

Notes

*Dear listeners, allow us the brief indulgence of talking about our own games during the wrapup.

Some illustrated sources re the question of historic “studded leather armour”:

https://www.quora.com/Was-the-studded-leather-armour-used-in-D-D-ever-used-in-real-historical-combat-situations-If-so-was-it-useful

https://youtu.be/hmm_2GRa-o8?t=230

Pathfinder 2e does not use base attack bonus! It rolls the concept of weapon skill into its general tiered proficiency system, which applies the same rules to attacks, skills, saves, spellcasting, and probably several other things.

The referenced clown college gag on Tumblr is apparently from 2016 and the original poster has deactivated, but it lives on in our hearts and our reblog chains, e.g. https://sunbeamstarship.tumblr.com/post/656273434937016320/new-clown-in-town-juzavoices-im-in

Convention alert!

Freya will be at UK Games Expo in Birmingham on Saturday 31st May and Sunday 1st June. She will be wearing a white Journeymon promo t-shirt on at least one and possibly both of those days. Say hi if you see her!

Contact us!

At systemshoppodcast@gmail.com

Additional credits

Our intro music is

"Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/