AGC 204 October 18th 2016 (The Future?) (52:54)

With Mark Kinney and Carol. A (sort of) farewell to Mags (though she will still do RPG Buffet and drop in for the occasional episode). Thoughts on a new format. Local gaming or gaming to be. Carol's GenCon experience. A DC television universe reference leads to Mark's impromptu segment about teams and main characters, and even building to a crossover. A few more format comments before transitioning to media. Suicide Squad. The Magnificent Seven. Jack Reacher. Luke Cage. Agents of SHIELD.


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The Gutter Skypes


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AGC's DriveThruRPG Picks for this episode!
Mark: Nights Black Agents (Pelgrane Press)
Carol:Bubblegumshoe (Evil Hat Productions)
Purchasing through our Affiliate Links help support the show!

AGC News Early August 2016 (14:03)

With Mark Kinney. Spiel des Jahres. Hasbro acquires Boulder Media. Asmodee acquiring F2Z. Wizard World turns a profit! Hastings closing. Lots of coming games. New gaming cafes. Orcs and Swords summer camp.


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Anout Knight Moves in Somerville (Boston Eater)
Boards and Brews (Facebook)
Perplexcity
Board Game Republic
Jack Straws (Kickstarter)
About Orcs and Swords (Wisconsin State Journal)

AGC 203 February 16th 2016 (Free State of Potpourri) (1:00:44)

With Mark Kinney and Mags. Our condolences to the family of Steve Russell of Rite Publishing. Holy cow, is that Mark? Work dominates our lives, which is why Carol is MIA. We missed the anniversary show--maybe Anniversary Episode 1.5? Hypericon, where Mark doesn't get in enough gaming. Video podcast ambitions. The Sheriff of Nottingham game. Mark's Free RPG Day at the Game Keep in Nashville (since it isn't a thing in Louisville anymore). Mags plans to improvise her way through the next episode of GURPS Transhuman Space. If you're a gamer in Idaho Falls, ID, contact Mags so you can meet a Buffet Alumnus! A brief discussion of gaming by the seat of your pants, and Mags getting new windows. Play Dirty and Play Dirty 2. Mark gets sucked into Pokemon Go and contrasts it with Ingress. Oddball and inappropriate Poke-stops. Mags draws the line at catching Pokemon while your wife is in labor, but Mark points out that the game is helping some folks with anxiety and depression. DriveThruRPG Picks (affiliate links!). Our condolences once again to the loved ones of Steve Russell, and please consider supporting Rite Publishing at this difficult time, or donating to the GoFundMe set up by his sister. Mags reviews Million Dollars, But.... Card Game from Rooster Teeth. Mark talks a bit about Super Fight! New AGC email address! Mags also gives a quick review of the dice and counter rings from CritSuccess. A look at the 2016 Diana Jones Short List and the 2016 ENnie Nominees.


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Show links
Hypericon web site
The Sheriff of Nottingham board game (link goes to Amazon)
The Game Keep, Nashville, TN
Play Dirty (15th Anniversary Edition) by John Wick
Play Dirty 2 by John Wick
Westboro Baptist Church recruits Jigglypuff, a Pokémon, against LGBT community on Pokémon Go
Louis Park Pays Pokemon While Fighting Isis
Pokémon Go: Man plays hit game while his wife gives birth
Pokémon Go: How the game is helping players tackle anxiety and depression
GoFundMe: Steve Russell Memorial Fund
Million Dollars But...(Rooster Teeth)
SuperFight! Game
CritSuccess: Makers of Dice and Counter Rings
Evil Dead 2: the Board Game Kickstarter Campaign (Space Goat Productions)
2016 Diana Jones Short List
Geek Dad Review: Fall of Magic
Order Fall of Magic here
Russian medieval reenactor takes out drone with spear throw (UPI)
2016 ENnie Award Nominees and Spotlight Winners
You can vote for the ENnie Nominees here until July 21st.
Adventure Scents


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AGC's DriveThruRPG Picks for this episode!
Please consider purchasing from Rite Publishing(not an Affiliate Link) during this difficult time.
Mags: Lords of Gossamer and Shadow (Rite Publishing)(Affiliate Link)
Mark: The Black Hack (Gold Piece Pubishing)(Affiliate Link)

AGC News July 19th 2016 (14:39)

With Mark Kinney and Mags. RIP Steven D. Russell of Rite Publishing. Ennies voting is open, and the Diana Jones award has released its shortlist. Top ten tabletop Kickstarters. Social media algorithmic follies. News from the tournament scene. Bloodborne, Evil Dead 2, Galaxy Quest. Oragnized Play Seasons for Tanks. Dicing for a nomination!


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Show links
Steven Russell Memorial Fund (GoFundMe)
ENnies Voting
2016 Diana Jones Award Shortlist
Evil Dead 2 Official Boardgame (Kickstarter)
Dice Roll Decides House Independent Candidate (Statesman Journal)

AGC News for June 2016 (35:24)

With Carol and Mags. Spiel des Jahres nominations! Conventions and lawsuits, and is Hasbro planning a con? Mayfair taking over Twilight Creations, and Wizards goes big with giants and Magic: the Gathering. Organized Play announcements! Pathfinder heads for the stars! New lives for the Traveler's Aid Society and Warhammer Quest. In movie news, a discontinued Privateer Press game causes a fierce bidding war in Hollywood, while the My Little Pony movie picks up some serious dramatic cred. An announcement about Mark's continued absence from the show.


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Show links

Mongoose's Traveler's Aid Society at DriveThruRPG.com

RPG Buffet 42 (Chill 3rd Edition) (16:26)

The weather was hot, so Becca decreed that we would cool off with some salads. Mags brought curried chicken salad, and Louis decided to make pot de crème as a chilled dessert to top off the evening.
WHOLE FOODS’ CURRIED CHICKEN SALAD (recipe via the Hartford Courant)
Ingredients
3 pounds cooked chicken, shredded or diced
1/4 cup diced red onion
3 ribs celery, diced
1/2 to 1 cup currants (optional)
1/2 to 1 cup chopped peanuts or almonds (optional)
1-1/2 cups mayonnaise
2-1/2 to 3 tablespoons curry powder, or to taste
Dash turmeric
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked chicken, red onion, celery, and most of the currants and nuts, reserving some for garnish.
In a smaller bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, curry powder, turmeric and salt and pepper, combining until smooth.
Pour the mayonnaise mixture atop the chicken mixture and blend, working gently until chicken is fully coated. Refrigerate until use.
Spoon curried chicken onto greens or atop toasted rolls. Garnish with reserved currants and peanuts or almonds. Feeds 6 to 8.

POTS DE CRÈME (recipe via Chowhound.com)
Ingredients
2 cups heavy cream
5 ounces good-quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 large egg yolks, at room temperature
Heat the oven to 300°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Bring about 4 cups water to a simmer over medium heat. Arrange 6 (6-ounce) ramekins 1/2 inch apart in a large baking dish; set aside.
Place cream in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring it just to a simmer. Remove from heat, add chocolate, and stir until completely melted, about 3 minutes; set aside.
Whisk sugar and yolks in a large bowl until thickened and pale in color, about 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in 1/3 of the chocolate mixture, then add the remainder while constantly stirring (try not to incorporate any air).
Place a fine mesh strainer over a large measuring cup or a bowl with a spout and pour in the custard base. Remove the strainer and evenly divide the custard base among the ramekins. Tap each ramekin a few times to break any bubbles that appear on the surface.
Place the baking dish in the oven and carefully add enough of the simmering water to reach 1 inch up the sides of the ramekins. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and poke several holes in the foil to allow steam to escape. Bake 25 minutes or until the outer 1 inch of each custard is set (the centers will still be slightly jiggly).


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Show links
Chill (Growling Door Games)
Chill (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)

AGC Interview 40 (Nerdburger's Murders and Acquisitions) (19:23)

Carol and Mags sit down with Craig Campbell of Nerdburger Games to discuss his RPG Murders and Acquisitions, and the challenges of running one’s first-ever Kickstarter.


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Nerdburger Games
Muders and Acquisitions (Kickstarter)


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RPG Buffet 41 (Dread) (17:55)

Karen chose French cuisine for supper, so Kae made an easy Coq au Vin recipe from AllRecipes.com. In deference to some of the food allergies in our group, she substituted cranberry/pomegranate juice with a splash of vinegar in lieu of red wine, and celery with hing powder in lieu of onions. Hing powder can be found in South Asian food groceries, or ordered online.


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Dread the RPG
Dread (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)

RPG Buffet 40 (Toon) (18:02)

Louis was our GM for ‘Toon, and we decided on favorite childhood dishes. After much discussion, we settled on spaghetti and meatballs. John cooked the pasta, while Mags cooked meatballs and sauce in her new electric pressure cooker.

Electric pressure cookers are easy, and remove all of the hassle of the traditional pressure cooker. Mags got hers from Amazon, and adapted this recipe from PeggyUnderPressure.com.
PRESSURE COOKER MEATBALLS IN ITALIAN SAUCE (via PeggyUnderPressure.com)
Ingredients:
1 bag of Kirkland frozen Italian meatballs from Costco (note: this is a LOT of meatballs—roughly 100 as the bag is designed for parties). I used about forty from the bag.
Obviously, you can use your favorite frozen meatballs here.
If you prefer to make your own meatballs and cook them in your pressure cooker, Mags recommends you check out this recipe from HipPressureCooking.com for guidance.
2 jars store-bought marinara sauce (or your favorite tomato sauce for meatballs)
1 chicken bouillon cube
2 cups water
1. Note: it’s important to have actual water in any pressure cooker recipe, because the cooker uses water to build up pressure. Without it your pressure cooker will overheat.
2. And you have to use actual water, as opposed to broth or just depending on the water in an ingredient, to achieve this effect.
3. The general rule of thumb is one cup of water per one cup of an ingredient.
A couple of generous dashes of Italian seasoning to enhance the flavor of the store-bought sauce
Pour one of the jars of sauce into the cooker. Put the frozen meatballs on top of the sauce (no need to defrost--trust me, they’ll come out very tender), then dump the second jar on top.
Stir to coat, then lock on your lid.
Set the pressure cooker to cook for twenty minutes. Since we’re talking frozen ingredients here, it will take a while (roughly 30 to 40 minutes, give or take) for the cooker to build up the pressure. Then it has to de-pressurize! So keep in mind that the total cooking time is going to be between 60 and 75 minutes.
Once the cooker signals that it’s okay to remove the lid, do so, and let the meatballs rest for about ten minutes. Give them a nice stir, and you’re good to go.
Serve over your favorite pasta. Add cheese, if desired.
If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you can do the following:
1. First, be sure to scale your sauce and pans as needed for the number of people you’re serving. Depending on the size of your pans and the number of meatballs you’re cooking for your crew, you may need to divide the meatballs into two or more pans. Or, if you’re expecting a smaller group, use half a jar of sauce for the bottom of the pan, and the other half over the meatballs.
2. Get a large oven-safe pan (a big casserole dish is ideal).
3. Dump in one jar of the sauce, spread over the bottom of the pan.
4. Dump in the meatballs, then pour the other jar overtop.
5. Cover with aluminum foil.
6. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.
7. Serve over pasta.

JOHN’S ‘TOON PLAYLIST
The Merrie Melodies / Looney Tunes series of cartoons from Warner Brothers is famous for its creative use of classical music, and for decades was the first introduction to classical music that American children had. John decided to put together a playlist to run while we were playing Steve Jackson Games’ ‘Toon, and we provide the list of tracks below. It is 9 1/2 hours of music.  Enjoy!
1. Strauss – Thunder & Lightning Gallop Polka
2. Strauss – Tales From the Vienna Woods Waltz
3. Smetana – From Bohemia’s Fields & Meadows
4. Chopin – Nocturne Op 27 No. 2
5. Chopin – Waltz in D flat Op 64
6. Beethoven – Symphony #7
7. Schumann – Op 73
8. Schumann – Op 56
9. Rossini – Overture – The Barber of Seville
10. Rimsky-Korsakoff – Flight of the Bumble Bee
11. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 1 in G minor
12. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 2 in D minor
13. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 3 in F major
14. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 4 in F minor
15. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 5 in F sharp minor
16. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 6 in D sharp minor
17. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 7 in A major
18. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 8 in A minor
19. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 9 in E minor
20. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 10 in F major
21. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 11 in D minor
22. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 12 in D minor
23. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 13 in D major
24. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 14 in D minor
25. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 15 in B major
26. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 16 in F minor
27. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 17 in F sharp minor
28. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 18 in D major
29. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 19 in B minor
30. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 20 in E minor
31. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No 21 in E minor
32. Rossini – Overture – William Tell
33. Liszt – Hungarian Rhapsody No 2
34. Wagner – Overture – Tannhauser
35. Wagner – Prelude – Lohengrin
36. Wagner – Overture – Rienzi
37. Wagner – Overture – Das Liebesverbot (Forbidden Love)
38. Wagner – Overture – Faust
39. Wagner – Prelude – Tristan and Isolde
40. Strauss – Where the Lemons Bloom Waltz
41. Strauss – Be Embraced, Millions, Waltz
42. Strauss – Emperor’s Waltz
43. Strauss – Radetzky March
44. Strauss – Austrian Village Swallows Waltz
45. Strauss – Viennese Bonbons Waltz
46. Strauss – Love Songs Waltz
47. Smetana – Vitava – The Moldau
48. Smetana – Vysehrad
49. Smetana – Sarka
50. Smetana – Tabor
51. Chopin – Nocturne No 1
52. Chopin – Etude – Op 10 No 3
53. Chopin – Waltz #5 A flat major
54. Chopin – Waltz #12 F minor
55. Chopin – Walt #7 C sharp minor
56. Chopin – Waltz #8 D flat major
57. Chopin – Waltz #3 A minor
58. Chopin – Waltz #4 F major
59. Chopin – Waltz #8 A flat major
60. Chopin – Waltz #13 D flat major
61. Chopin – Waltz #2 A flat Major
62. Chopin – Waltz #10 B minor
63. Chopin – Waltz #11 G flat major
64. Chopin – Waltz #9 A flat major
65. Chopin – Waltz #14 E minor
66. Chopin – Revolution Etude in C minor
67. Chopin – Waltz in A flat Op 69
68. Chopin – Waltz in C sharp minor Op 64
69. Chopin – Prelude in D Flat Op 28 “Raindrop”
70. Brahms – Waltz in A flat Op 39
71. Chopin – Fantasia in F minor
72. Mendelssohn – Songs Without Words – Spring
73. Schumann – Waldazenen Op 82 No 7  Bird As a Prophet
74. Schumann – Piano Concerto in A Minor Op 54
75. Schubert – Impromptu in A flat
76. Schuman – Kinderszenen Op 15 – Dreaming
77. Liszt – Consolation in E
78. Liszt – Love Dreams #3 in A flat
79. Liszt – Les Preludes – Symphonic Poem
80. Liszt – Tasso – Symphonic Poem
81. Liszt – Love Dream No 3 in A flat minor
82. Liszt – Prelude and Fuge on the name BACH


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Show links
Toon (Steve Jackson Games)

AGC News May 6th 2016 (27:47)

Yay, news!


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Origins Awards Nominees
Tabletop Season 4 Game Line-Up
Hasbro’s 2016 Next Great Game Challenge
Mensa Mind Games
Backers of the now-cancelled campaign should request a refund at the “Contact Me” link on Game Salute’s bio page on Kickstarter
Nocturnal Media announcement of West End Games acquisition
Maisie Williams as game store clerk Lorraine (NSFW language)

AGC Interview 39 (Katanas and Trenchcoats) (29:44)

Carol and Mags talk to game designer Ryan Macklin about Katanas & Trenchcoats, an April Fool’s Day joke-RPG that’s spiraled out of control (and for which Ryan blames Steve Kenson).


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Show links
Katanas and Trenchcoats (Kickstarter)
Ryan Macklin
Seattle Childrens' Hospital
The Trevor Project


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AGC Interview 38 (Trail of the Apprentice) (19:38)

Carol and Mags talk to with Paris Crenshaw, lead author of the Trail of the Apprentice mini-campaign, Legendary's current Kickstarter. The campaign is part of their Pathfinder & 5E - Legendary Beginnings.


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Show links
Trail of the Apprentice (Kickstarter)
Legendary Games


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AGC Interview 37 (Jenna Busch, Live from ConGlomeration 2016) (47:53)

At ConGlomeration 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky, Carol, Mags, and Steve bring us headlines, followed by an interview with gaming and fandom luminary and ConGlomeration Media Guest Jenna Busch!


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Show links
Girl Meets Lightsaber
twitter.com/jennabusch
www.facebook.com/jennabuschpublicpage
www.instagram.com/jennabusch/
www.youtube.com/user/MariNimue
www.imdb.com/name/nm2436678/
en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Jenna_Busch/


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Promos
Miskatonic University Podcast

AGC Interview 36 (Monte Cook Games) (16:39)

Carol and Mags sit down with Dennis Detwiller, Shanna Germain, and Monte Cook about the latest goings-on at Monte Cook Games.


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Show links
Kickstarter: Worlds of Cypher System (Kickstarter)
Monte Cook Games



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AGC Interview 35 (Aaron Allston's Strike Force) (28:03)

Carol interviews Ross Watson and Michael Surbrook about High Rock Press' Kickstarter - Aaron Allston's Strike Force. We talk about the history of the setting, and all of the knowledge that Aaron Allston brought from his long-running campaign to GMs. As of this recording on 2/17/16 they are at $28K+ to bring a new edition of the groundbreaking classic Champion's supplement, first published in 1988, to gamers everywhere. Join us as we talk about the effort to bring a new edition of this work that inspired so many of the writers and developers of the games we all enjoy today.


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Show links
Aaron Allston's Strike Force (Kickstarter)
Michael Subrook
Ross Watson
High Rock Press


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AGC 202 February 16th 2016 (Happy... New?... Year) (56:21)

With Mark Kinney, Carol, and Mags. WOW...this is late. The AGC Crew looks back at 2015 (and a little of 2014). Special Guest Appearance by...Alexa!


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Show links
Popular Mechanics: The 15 Best New Board Games
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 1970s (Savage Worlds) by Karl Keelser


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AGC's DriveThruRPG Picks for this episode!
Carol's DriveThruRPG Pick: Chronicles of Darkness
Mark's DriveThruRPG Pick: War of the Worlds: The Anglo-Martian War of 1895
Mags' DriveThruRPG Pick: House of Bards: A World of Adventure for Fate Core

AGC News Early February 2016 (40:04)

With Carol and Mags. Games and game stores performing well in the market place, and a could a new game store from Down Under be in the offing? Rey has been missing from Monopoly, and the AGC Gals get indignant about it. The Mergers & Acquisitions Department at Asmodee has been busy again, while Kalmbach gets one of the few companies not in Asmodee's sights. WotC offers an OGL for 5th edition, and open up the D&D Adventurer's League. Strahd and Free Trader Beowolf are back! Symbarum to arrive from Sweden. Green Ronin, Luke Crane, and Evil Hat get busy in 2016. New minis for the Walking Dead and D&D Icons of the Realms. NEW BORG SHIP IS EIGHT INCHES ON ONE SIDE and Mags can't deal. And Finally: an author unearths a precursor to the Chainmail Fantasy supplement.


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Stellar Performance for U.S. Toy Industry, Growing Nearly 7 Percent in 2015, The NPD Group Reports
A Precursor to the Chainmail Fantasy Supplement

AGC 201 January 17th 2016 (A Heaping Plate of Mashed Scenarios) (1:04:55)

With Mark Kinney, Carol, and Mags. Stuff coming up from a month ago. White Wolf memories, Tunnels and Trolls plans, and the saga of the Dwarf Giant. Those Crazy Games Season 2 is coming! Crossovers and mashups! Cautionary tales from a Torg game. The Wild Worlds of White Wolf. Balancing length, tone, and common elements. Examples! Episode 200 live stream post-mortem. Mr. Whitman goes to Vegas?


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Show links
Mark's Instagram
Those Crazy Games YouTube Channel
Diamanda Hagan
Dungeons: The Dragoning 40,000 7th Edition (1d4chan)
Not Another Dime


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AGC's DriveThruRPG Picks for this episode!
Mark:Castle Gargantua (Kabuki Kaiser)
Carol:A Tragedy in Five Acts (Growling Door Games)
Mags:Night Horrors: The Unbidden (White Wolf)


Promos
The Gutter Skypes"
RPGPodcasts.com