DiceCast Episode 16: Using Miniatures In Your RPG & "You Are A Cat"

We return with an honest-to-goodness episode about a game topic! As much as we love interviewing interesting people who are connected to popular culture, it feels good to be back to the game table for an episode. In this one, we talk about miniatures; not miniatures wargaming, but the use of miniatures in roleplaying games (RPGs).

It seems almost odd that we have to introduce miniatures to roleplayers, because RPGs evolved from miniatures wargaming. Indeed, the first RPGs were miniatures wargames optimized to playing a single character, rather than an entire army; a character who went on to evolve from scenario to scenario; scenarios which were more than just a battle. It was when the emphasis switched to interaction and plots and away from combat that roleplaying games evolved into something in which miniatures were optional. This has been great for the maturation of the hobby, but maybe roleplayers are missing out on something.

To that end, we introduce miniatures to roleplayers in this episode, with a few tips on how to get started using them. THere is nothing in here about painting or customizing miniatures or producing scenery. Those are topics for future episodes. Rather, we talk about the general concerns that come with using miniatures at the roleplaying table. We also give the quick and dirty rules to PUMMEL!^® (Pick-Up, Multigenre Miniatures, Easy to Learn), a miniatures wargame that can be adapted to any RPG for mass combats; and we offer the quickstart rules for free download.

We also have an interview with Sherwin Tjia, author of the Choose Your Own Adventure-style adventure book You Are A Cat (published on Conundrum Press). Mr. Tija discusses his love of cats, of adventure books, and why he made You Are A Cat. We mention the Cat RPG by John Wick.

Other links

• Polymancer main site
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Freelancing For Polymancer (Special DiceCast episode)

This special audio segment is about freelance writing for the Polymancer family of publications; including but not limited to: Polygraff™; Polymancer magazine; Paladin; Bayonets, Spears & Blasters; as well as full-length novels; and non-fiction books about topics relating to the gaming hobby and non-gaming topics as well.

Please note that Polymancer Studios's submission guidelines are subject to change. Detailed, updated information may be obtained by writing to writer@polymancerstudios.com.

DO NOT SEND UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS! This means that if you have a written work (whether or not it is complete) that you wish to submit for consideration for publication, do not e-mail it to us without sending us an e-mail in which you first ask if we are interested in reviewing it for consideration of publication.

All writers whose works are published by Polymancer Studios, Inc. are paid. Please note that no publication occurs unless and until a written contract is signed between the writer and the publisher.

Further information can be obtained at the following links:

• List of publications


• Fictional genres considered


• Pay rates for published periodical articles


• Rates for longer works


• General submission guidelines


• Polymancer Game & Hobby Division

Other links

• Polymancer main site
• Polymancer corporate web site
• Polymancer on Twitter
• Polymancer on LiveJournal
• Polymancer on MySpace
• Polymancer on Facebook
• RSS feed for DiceCast
• Subscribe to DiceCast in iTunes
  

All publications named in this segment and on the web sites linked to here are trademarks of Polymancer Studios, Inc.; the word "Polymancer" is a registered trademark of Polymancer Studios, Inc..

This audio file is copyright 2011 Polymancer Studios, Inc., released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivative Works license, the full text of which can be obtained from creativecommons.org; this episode may be freely copied and redistributed as long as it is done in its original form, free of charge, and due credit is given to the copyright holders. The music for this segment was obtained from iStock Audio and is used with permission.

Annonce pour Conjurations 2010 (version française)

NOTE: For the ENGLISH VERSION of this post and the audio, please see the preceding post dated February 12

Ceci est le message publicitaire official de Conjuration 2010, une convention de jeux qui aura lieu dans le centre-ville de Montréal au cours de la fin de semaine du 15 au 16 mai, 2010 (Samedi et Dimanche). Tous sont invités de placer cette annonce dans leur podcast autant de fois que vous le désirez et ceci jusqu’au jour de la convention!

SVP indiquer le site official de la convention http://www.ggconventions.com/home-fr.html dans les notes de votre émission.

Vous pouvez télécharger la version audio:

"http://www.archive.org/download/Conjurations2010Publicitfranais/Conjurations2010PubliciteFrancais.mp3"

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