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Episode 23: Mythic Bastionland
What if your knight’s greatest battle wasn’t a sword duel—but surviving the story itself?In this episode of Masters of Pen and Paper, DG and Finny delve into Mythic Bastionland, the rules-light, lore-rich Arthurian hexcrawl from Into the Odd creator Chris McDowall. With just 16 pages of core rules and over 140 pages of evocative myths, seers, and knightly trials, this game is as much a storytelling engine as it is a TTRPG.Mythic Bastionland is a tabletop RPG set in the imagined past of Into the Odd and Electric Bastionland , built on the same lightning fast, ultra-streamlined rules system. Designed by Chris McDowall and illustrated by Alec Sorensen. Want to check out a copy for yourself? Head over here: https://chrismcdee.itch.io/mythic-bastionlandIf you want to send a question or scenario in send us an email! [email protected] Let us know what you think by leaving a rating and/or comments! Want to join our discord? You can find us here: https://discord.gg/YkhAQtDDRzNow - On with the show!
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Episode 22: Monster of the Week
What if your supernatural detective story could fit into a single game night? Maybe you want to change up the BBEG every time you sit down with your group, or maybe you just need to break free from your hum drum run of the mill fantasy TTRPGIn this episode of Masters of Pen and Paper, DG and Finny dig into Monster of the Week, Powered by the Apocalypse TTRPG system, where every session is a monster-hunting TV episode in disguise. Inspired by Buffy, Supernatural, and The X-Files, this narrative-first system is all about dramatic choices, cinematic failures, and building tension through play.We're going to let you know everything you need to know to play this one and give you our thoughts on this episode!Want to check it out yourself? Head over to https://evilhat.com/product/monster-of-the-week/ and grab yourself a copy!If you want to send a question or scenario in send us an email! [email protected] Let us know what you think by leaving a rating and/or comments! Want to join our discord? You can find us here: https://discord.gg/YkhAQtDDRzNow - On with the show!
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Episode 21: Mutant Crawl Classics (MCC)
What if your D20 rolls could mutate you into a radioactive plant-person with laser claws?In this episode of Masters of Pen and Paper, DG and Finny explore the gloriously gonzo world of Mutant Crawl Classics, a post-apocalyptic TTRPG that blends ancient tech, deadly mutations, and Zocchi dice chaos into one beautifully mutated ruleset.If you love DCC, Gamma World, or anything that combines dice tables with apocalyptic wastelands—this one’s for you.If you want to send a question or scenario in send us an email! [email protected] Let us know what you think by leaving a rating and/or comments! Want to join our discord? You can find us here: https://discord.gg/YkhAQtDDRzNow - On with the show!
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Episode 20: What is Player Agency and how do I protect it?
What if your choices didn’t matter—and the game still expected you to care?In this episode of Masters of Pen and Paper, DG and Finny go Behind the Screens to explore one of the most essential pillars of tabletop roleplaying: player agency. Whether you’re running a gritty heist, a high fantasy saga, or a chaotic one-shot, agency is what turns a script into a story—and your players into protagonists.We're diving into:- What “player agency” really means (and how it differs from sandbox or open-world play)- How DMs (and even players!) unintentionally strip others of control- The fine line between guiding and railroading—and how to spot the difference- Why asking questions beats writing monologues- When it’s actually OK to limit choice—and when it’s notWhether you’re a new DM or a veteran storyteller, this episode will help you build trust at the table, avoid burnout, and craft stories that feel alive.
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Episode 19: CY_Borg
What if the price of survival was your last sliver of humanity?In this episode, DG and Finny jack into the glitchy, brutal world of CY_Borg, a cyberpunk TTRPG where style, violence, and anti-corporate rage collide in a data-drenched dystopia. This MÖRK BORG spin-off throws you into a decaying city of slums, corrupted tech, and rules meant to be broken.If you love neon grit, random tables, and flipping off the megacorps—this one’s for you.Want to get in touch? Send us an email at: [email protected] Let us know what you think by leaving a rating and/or comments! Want to join our discord? You can find us here: https://discord.gg/YkhAQtDDRzNow - On with the show!
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