You Should Play Zoo Mafia RPG
Here at Nerdarchy we are known for playing fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons not creating new roleplaying games like Zoo Mafia RPG. I suspect people think we don’t even play other RPGs but we do. There’s actually a bunch of game play videos at Nerdarchy the YouTube channel if you sift through 3,500+ videos. Nerdarchist Ted and I love D&D and probably always will. Sometimes you get an itch that can only be scratched by playing something other than D&D. In the case of Zoo Mafia RPG the itch was not just to play but create our own RPG.
Nerdarchy on PbtA Playbooks: Zoo Mafia Design Diary #7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zu4AnqaJmw In this 23-minute video on Nerdarchy the YouTube channel Nerdarchists Dave and Ted explore playbooks using the Powered by the Apocalypse system. The conversation dovetails with an earlier design diary wherein they focus on PbtA as a potential system to hack for creating Zoo Mafia. Playbooks...
Nerdarchy on Playing the Game: Zoo Mafia RPG Design Diary #6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn4LFEnvpXE In this 29-minute video on Nerdarchy the YouTube channel Nerdarchists Dave and Ted dive into the world of Zoo Mafia RPG as they discuss our playtest of this RPG. We've decided to do it as an actual play or live play. They discuss the experience...
Nerdarchy on What’s in the Zoo: Zoo Mafia RPG Design Diary #5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKqIMxrI6ak In this 19-minute video on Nerdarchy the YouTube channel Nerdarchists Dave and Ted explore the zoo and surrounding area of the zoo as a roleplaying game campaign setting. There are tons of areas within the zoo for crime, adventure and exploring in the Zoo Mafia...
RPGs Helped My Mental Health
There’s a such a broad swath of tabletop roleplaying games out there and I’ve only discovered more since working with Nerdarchy. One of the best parts of delving into this hobby is the connections I’ve made with others who share my interests and this sense of community has vastly improved my mental healthscape. With May being mental health awareness month I wanted to share a more personal story, talking about how TTRPGs have helped me with my own mental health journey.
Nerdarchy on Powered by the Apocalypse Hack for Zoo Mafia RPG Design Diary #4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJB1Gh3jo4A&ab_channel=Nerdarchy In this 17-minute video on Nerdarchy the YouTube channel Nerdarchists Dave and Ted continue their exploration of creating their own roleplaying game -- Zoo Mafia RPG. They are now looking at the merits of Powered by the Apocalypse. The conversation begins with a quick overview of Zoo...
Nerdarchy on Hacking Quest RPG for Zoo Mafia RPG Design Diary #3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dgqg0rFu_w&ab_channel=Nerdarchy In this 13-minute video on Nerdarchy the YouTube channel Nerdarchists Dave and Ted explore roleplaying games to hack for Zoo Mafia RPG. This time we look at the Quest RPG. The conversation begins with a quick overview of Zoo Mafia and continues with a closer look...
Nerdarchy on Hacking Mork Borg Zoo Mafia RPG Design Diary #2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfrHLMbALwg&ab_channel=Nerdarchy In this 17-minute video on Nerdarchy the YouTube channel Nerdarchists Dave and Ted finally decide to create their first roleplaying game — Zoo Mafia RPG. The video goes into their ideas for creating an OSR hack using Mork Borg, which has an open gaming license. The...
Nerdarchy on Zoo Mafia RPG Design Diary #1 (Overview)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBuvBNib00g In this 17-minute video on Nerdarchy the YouTube channel Nerdarchists Dave and Ted finally decide to create their first roleplaying game -- Zoo Mafia RPG. The video goes into their ideas and overview of an RPG they want to create. The conversation begins by explaining the...
Capture the Classic Spelljammer Feel in Your 5E D&D Games
Spelljammer is coming to fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons! For years 5ED&D has expanded into Magic: The Gathering worlds, Critical Role’s Exandria and even universes like Rick & Morty and Stranger Things. However, some classic settings like Dark Sun and Planescape have yet to make an appearance. It occurs to me there might be those who aren’t familiar with Spelljammer so let’s talk about how to get the feel for the setting and how it might be used in my own campaigns.
Find Your Inspiration for Amazing RPG Experiences within DungeonMorphs
The scope of tabletop roleplaying games has never been more broad than it is right now. The system options for players are staggering and even considering the dominance of Dungeons & Dragons within this particular RPG the range of playstyles and approaches to the game are are varied as the people playing them. One aspect shared by nearly all Game Masters is preparation and even the staunchest advocate for improvisation relies on some starting point. The folks at Inkwell Ideas consistently deliver solid resources for GMs and their latest project DungeonMorphs IV aims to continue this fine tradition.
Try This New Animon Story Mechanic While You Wait for Digimon Survive
Digimon Survive finally has a release date and I am absolutely pumped for this strategy monster taming RPG. The July 28, 2022 release date is still a ways off and I need some monster action in my life now! That’s where Animon Story, the RPG created by Zak Barouh, comes into play. Animon Story captures those Digimon vibes with a healthy dose of Pokemon and a slew of other monster taming RPG feels.
Dragon Armies Wage War in D&D Direct Dragonlance Trailer for 5E D&D
https://youtu.be/DE69_iKAWIs The D&D Direct press kit material related to Dragonlance included only this teaser trailer. After the live streamed public event and private press events related to the astonishing deluge of announcements we'll have more details. The standout feature for me in this trailer is the...
D&D Direct Announces WizKids Spelljammer Figurines Including Gargantuan Astral Dreadnought
https://youtu.be/Isd_OhDF6_8 Coinciding with the announcement at D&D Direct about Spelljammer for fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons there a whole bunch of incredible new miniatures and figurines from WizKids. This highlight video evokes strong Thor: Ragnarok vibes, which I'm totally on board with for a Spelljammer campaign. The...
D&D Direct Announces Spelljammer Confirmed with Astral Adventurers Guide, Boo’s Astral Menagerie and Light of Xaryxis
https://youtu.be/rPfsTlxJh9o When I saw the D&D Direct press kit for the first time the astounding variety of folders no doubt containing awesome 5E D&D content barely registered because not far from the top of the list Spelljammer snatched my attention right away. Now this is how...
