The GROGNARD Files

In this episode Dirk and Blythy give their account of UK Games Expo 2026 and talk to Laurence Phillips about his new game, Il Fantasma del Giallo.

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In this episode, we return to the world of RPG zines and speak to John Power of Wyrd Science magazine.

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After three and a half years play, we are ready to discuss a fantastic Traveller campaign.

The post The Pirates of Drinax, Traveller RPG (with Matthew Sprange) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

In the latest episode of the podcast, we look at the use of chaos in RPGs.

The post Chaos in RPGs and beyond (with Tomas Rawlings) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

In this episode, Kalum from the Rolistes Podcast is in the zoom of role-playing rambling to talk about French speaking RPGs. He has spoken about Nephilim elsewhere and he tells us more in this episode. He’s also Kickstarting his game The Magic of Inventorying which will be familiar to attendees of virtual GROGMEET. Blythy and … Continue reading "The GROGGIES Review of 2025 (with Kalum)"

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Rick Meints, President of Chaosium, joins us in the room of role-playing rambling to find five items from the history of the company.

The post Five Items that Made Chaosium (with Rick Meints) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

This is a collection of off-cuts from recent episodes, normally for Patreons, but a festive gift for you.

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This time we talk to Magnus Seter about Swedish RPG games

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The return of The GROGNARD files, we talk about stuff we are playing

The post Arion Games and other RPGs (with Graham Bottley) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

We return to DCC and look at some of games that belong to the family

The post Dungeon Crawl Classics Continued (Ep.85) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Join us as we jump every shark in the neighbourhood, we look back at 10 years of podcasting

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The GROGPOD looks at Dungeon Crawl Classics and reflects on our play experience

The post Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG (with Brendan LaSalle) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

We're still talking and not talking about magic at the same time. Ars Magica seems a fascinating game, but how do we fit it in?

The post Ars Magica RPG (with Adrian Tchaikovsky) Ep 82 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Where did our idea of magic come from back in the day? We look at witchcraft and folk horror of the 70's and 80s.

The post Scarred by Magic in the 70s & 80s (with Stephen Brotherstone) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Back in the room of roleplaying rambling, still banging on about playing magic.

The post More Magic in RPGs (with China Miéville) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

What do we want to Play, Stay or Giveaway when it comes to Magic in RPGs? Stu Horvath adds his thoughts too.

The post Magic in RPGs (with Stu Horvath) Ep.79 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Join us in the Room of Role-Playing Rambling with Paul Baldowski talking about Dangerous Journeys RPG, Play by Mail and Sanction.

The post Sanction RPG (with Paul Baldowski) Ep 78 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Join us in the Room of Role-Playing Rambling as we investigate the highs and lows of role-playing in 2024. Thanks for supporting us. Why not consider tipping a couple of coins in the beret over at Patreon.

The post 2024: A Year in RPGs Ep. 77 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

This GROGPOD features a special recording of an interview with writer Ben Aaronovitch, the creator of The Rivers of London series of books. An RPG has been developed by the team at Chaosium. Ben talks about the project, his formative years in gaming and gives insight into his creative process. The interview was recorded live … Continue reading "Rivers of London RPG (with Ben Aaronovitch) Ep76"

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Following Part 1, we are now ready to open the spurious envelopes on our 1984 experiences. We also issue a challenge to listeners to help us discover new enthusiasms. At Daily Dwarf returns with an overview of what was happening in the pages of White Dwarf. Please pass on The GROGNARD files to your RPG … Continue reading "1984: A Year in RPGs Ep75 Pt2"

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Welcome to the zoom of role-playing rambling where we are looking backwards to look forwards. This time we are transporting you back to the heady days of 1984. We are joined by the fabulous Bob Fischer who shares the highlights from his 1984 diaries. Judge Blythy, our resident rules lawyer, joins Dirk to determine the … Continue reading "1984: a year in RPGs (with Bob Fischer) Ep75 Pt 1"

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All for one and one for all! We are swashbuckling into this episode with a flurry of our blades and a jaunty feather in our hat.

The post Flashing Blades RPG Ep. 74 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

The final part of the epic Monster episode features Free League's Tomas Harenstam.

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We are still looking at the role of monsters and how we can learn from screen monsters in our TTRPGs

The post More Monsters in RPGs Ep 73 Pt 2 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

The first part of an Episode all about Monsters. Which Bestiary should stay? Which should we play? And which could go away?

The post Monsters in RPGs Ep.73 Pt.1 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

In this episode we look at the culture of cyberspace and cyberpunk in the world of RPGs

The post Cyberpunk RPG Ep.72 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Following the interview with Dan Whitehead, we discuss our formative years with computers

The post 80s Computers and RPGs Ep71 Pt2 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Special Guest of virtual GROGMEET, Dan Whitehead takes us to the Speccy Nation

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More listener questions are answered by Dirk and Blythy.

The post ThunderPhase! TTRPG Questions and Answers Ep.70 Pt.2 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Let's look back at the wonderful worlds created by White Dwarf covers.

The post White Dwarf RPG Covers (with ThunderPhase) Ep. 70 Pt. 1 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

In this episode, we have a very special guest. Marc Miller is the creator of the Traveller Role-Playing game and in this interview he talks to Dirk the Dice about his first encounter with Dungeons and Dragons. He also talks about the origins of Traveller and his trip UK Games Day. Judge Blythy, our resident … Continue reading "Traveller RPG Revisited (with Marc Miller) Ep 69"

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This episode follows the theme of the previous one, where we looked at Adventure Design. This time at the book club we have the amazing Johnn Four who shares his Five Room Dungeon method and explains how story techniques can add to our gaming. Judge Blythy and Dirk the Dice look back at the games … Continue reading "Five Room Dungeons (with Johnn Four) Ep. 68"

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A review of the highs and lows of gaming in 2023 with a Book Club visit from Gaz from The Smart Party podcast.

The post Review of 2023 in RPGs (with Gaz Bowerbank) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Live from GROGMEET 23, join us as we roll back the years with Mike Mason. We look at the key moments in the history of Call of Cthulhu: its origins and its early campaigns. In Library Use, Blythy and Dirk look at Cults of Cthulhu and Different Worlds and consider the world populated by people … Continue reading "Cults of Cthulhu (with Mike Mason) Ep 66"

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A homecoming. The GROGNARD files returns to Glorantha, the setting where our RPG life began. 4mins – Jeff Richard joins us at the Book Club to talk about The King of Sartar, Greg Stafford’s epic book of The Dragon Pass. The discussion also includes The Cults of RuneQuest. 26 mins – Judge Blythy and Dirk … Continue reading "Glorantha (with Jeff Richard)"

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Behold the man! Michael Moorcock joins us in the room of role-playing rambling to talk about memoir, the multiverse, movies and much more. I recommend Sanctom Secorum and Appendix N Bookclub interviews too. I have appeared on Breakfast in the Ruins talking about Letters from Hollywood. I recommend Moorcock’s latest trilogy The Sanctuary of the … Continue reading "Michael Moorcock Ep. 64"

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Continuing to find inspiration from urban horror/fantasy, in this episode we look at The Stranger Times and Children of the Stones

The post Liminal Inspirations Ep.63 (with C.K.McDonnell) (Part 2) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Join us as we discover the places and people 'between' with Paul Mitchener, creator of Liminal RPG

The post Liminal (with Paul Mitchener) Ep.63 (Part 1) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

Another repeat! This the next in the ongoing campaign to remaster the files from the early GROGPODs. Some of the early ones are difficult to hear, so this has been equalised. It does result in some strange gaps and distortions, but nothing too distracting I hope. The roll of dice are missing from here because … Continue reading "Call of Cthulhu Ep.2 (Part 2) – REMASTERED"

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You'll need at least two brews and a whole packet of Hob Nobs while we go on and on about UK Games Expo 2023.

The post UK Games Expo Report 2023 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.