Rascal News

Rascal News is an independent, worker-owned outfit composed of Chase Taylor-Carter, Thomas Manuel, Caelyn Ellis, Rowan Zeoli, and Lin Codega. Join them in exploring the tabletop industry and its associated online spaces across two shows: Rascal Radio Hour is a biweekly show where the crew dig deeper into the biggest news and newest games; and Rascal Reading Club allows Thomas to wax long on RPG rulebooks.

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57 episodes
Updated July 27
Explicit

Episodes57

Newest first

Jun 13, 2025 · 1 hr 41 min
Episode 15: Soft Moves and Soft Power
Someone on this podcast doesn't like Belonging Outside Belonging games, and the other doesn't find much use in industry awards. Both Chase and Thomas showed up ready to ruffle feathers on this week's podcast, but only after discussing BackerKit's new self-crowdfunding plans, impressions of UK Games Expo, and what Cephalofair's Price Johnson is doing at the US capitol. Elsewhere, the pair have been watching their friends reap what they sow in Blades '68 and describing a beautiful but largely meaningless ecology in Mappa Mundi. The Questing Dungeon befuddled our adverturers so completely that they forgot to do the diegetic bit, but they still somehow managed to defeat some of your questions -- and recommend a heap of tabletop-related media. https://www.rascal.news/ https://moreblueberries.shop/en-gbp/products/rascal-anniversary-zine-preorder -- Hollandspiele on YouTube No Pun Included on YouTube A.A. Voight on YouTube Weird Place on YouTube Game Studies Study Buddies podcast Dice Exploder podcast RTFM podcast Daydreaming About Dragons podcast Idle Cartulary's Playful Void Analog Game Studies -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Thomas Manuel (@newmadras.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).
Jun 2, 2025 · 1 hr 24 min
Special: Final Fantasy - Magic: The Gathering, feat. Ash Parrish and Emma Partlow
Magic: The Gathering's crossover with Final Fantasy drops on June 13, but unfortunately Chase doesn't know much about the storied Japanese RPG video game series. So, he brought in a couple of bona fide experts to talk about this already massively successful set. The Verge reporter Ash Parrish and TCGPlayer/ChannelFireball content manager Emma Partlow discuss FFxMTG's mechanical quality, the secret ingredient that uplifts fan service, a bevvy of blorbos, and so much more. Also on the docket is the effect of licensing fees on an already expensive hobby, the creeping takeover of Universes Beyond, and what other video games could make the jump to cardboard. Ash makes very good jokes about sports games to the wrong audience. Emma reveals herself as a screenshot hater. Chase regrets his past financial decisions. -- https://www.rascal.news/ https://moreblueberries.shop/en-gbp/products/rascal-anniversary-zine-preorder -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Ash Parrish (@adashtra.bsky.social‬) and Emma Partlow (@emmapartlow.com‬). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).
May 16, 2025 · 1 hr 41 min
Episode 14: Five-fingered Praxis
Uh, oh. It's another episode with just Chase and Rowan. Time to get punchy, and we're not only talking about our favorite way to bully the disappointingly nerdy fascists ruling reality. The pair dig through a chunky layer of news that includes Rowan, Rook and Decard's decision to not attend Gen Con this year, Itch.io's negligence in distributing charity funds to a group saving lives in Gaza, and Goodman Games' ruffling a bunch of feathers by doing business with previously ostracized bigots. Later, they talk about a deliciously smooth Triangle Agency campaign and a solo RPG that pulls a neat magic trick. Rowan's a wrestling girlie now, thanks to Dimension 20. Chase still can't pronounce listener's names correctly. The Question Dungeon goes noir as they build a better Itch.io -- or a different one, anyhow. https://www.rascal.news/ https://moreblueberries.shop/en-gbp/products/rascal-anniversary-zine-preorder -- Realis City State of the Invincible Overlord Dungeons & Dragons Triangle Agency Mechs into Plowshares Transgender Deathmatch Legend II -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Rowan Zeoli (@rowanzeoli.bsky.social), Caelyn Ellis (@caelyn.bsky.social), and Thomas Manuel (@newmadras.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).
May 6, 2025 · 1 hr 42 min
Episode 13: A Stool With Two Legs
The entire crew gather to mourn the sudden and untimely death of games media outlet, Polygon. Along with Giant Bomb and the Daily Dot, Polygon's sale to Valnet -- and the immediate layoff of nearly every staff member -- constitutes an unnecessarily tragic blow to games journalism. Included in the layoffs is Charlie Hall, the outlet's one-man tabletop desk and an indelible piece of Rascal's own creation. The team discuss what this loss means for the industry going forward, the limits of independent websites like Rascal, and how this cycle of executive malfeasance robs journalism of its own future. It's not all doom and gloom, though: the crew also delve into The Question Dungeon after discussing SALUTE, Hasbro's MTG-shaped tariff insulation, and Rascal's first real toe into OSR waters. Finally, Dungeon World is getting a sequel from a surprising team who want to take the game in a fresh direction. [Note: After Chase completely bungled speaking both Florence Smith Nicholls (they/them) and Mike Cook's (he/they) names, he then later accidentally misgendered Nicholls. He sinerely apologizes for the error.] https://www.rascal.news/ https://moreblueberries.shop/en-gbp/products/rascal-anniversary-zine-preorder -- Games mentioned: Dungeon World 2 ArchaeOS Realis MIRU Doomsong board games??? -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Rowan Zeoli (@rowanzeoli.bsky.social), Caelyn Ellis (@caelyn.bsky.social), and Thomas Manuel (@newmadras.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).
Apr 18, 2025 · 1 hr 39 min
Episode 12: Laissez-UNfaire
Rowan rejoins Chase to unspool the myriad and unclear ways tariffs have already begun affecting the tabletop industry. From clarity on book exemptions and companies already shuttering production for the year to determined stands against economic despotism by Canadian designers, the Tariff Era (or maybe Tariff Wars? we're still workshopping) has arrived. Later they discuss what it means for Jeremy Crawford and Chris Perkins, the dual faces of Dungeons & Dragons, to retire from their very public posts. The pair also discuss building worlds where babies have jobs, dungeon delving on your birthday, and whether tariffs might kick off another surge of innovation in the virtual tabletop space. https://www.rascal.news/ https://moreblueberries.shop/en-gbp/products/rascal-anniversary-zine-preorder -- Games mentioned: In This World The Electric State Dungeons & Dragons Gloomhaven RPG Wickedness MIRU Mazes -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Rowan Zeoli (@rowanzeoli.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).
Apr 5, 2025 · 1 hr 50 min
Episode 11: Reading Books Suck
Chase and Caelyn convene the first Brits-only episode of the Rascal Radio Hour, talking about everything but the April 2 tariffs (check the website for those bits). The pair go heavy on the deluge of miniatures news that came out of Adepticon 2025, including a shot in the arm for Caelyn's favored Star wars: Legion, an East Asian-inspired Warhammer 40k faction that doesn't immediately sour our tastes, and Battletech Goes Full Catholic. The most recent skirmish in the Question Dungeon reveals the surprisingly complicated topics of video games adapting tabletop RPGs and what the crew think is the next big innovation on the player side of the tabletop industry (hint: it's not virtual tabletops again). https://www.rascal.news/ https://moreblueberries.shop/en-gbp/products/rascal-anniversary-zine-preorder https://cannibalhalflinggaming.com/2024/08/15/invention-and-innovation-in-ttrpgs/ -- Games mentioned: Cyberpunk: Combat Zone RiverBank Star Wars: Legion Star Wars: Shatterpoint Warhammer: 40K Battletech -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Caelyn Ellis (@caelyn.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).
Mar 21, 2025 · 1 hr 41 min
Episode 10: Don't Upset The Furries
Most of the Rascal crew, plus guest Lin Codega, chew through a heavy news week that includes the shuttering of Sigil, Wizards of the Coast's own virtual tabletop, and one Texas Representative's crusade against imagination that might harm roleplayers in its evil intent to demonize trans (and transgressive) youth. Rowan regales with stories from their time at Breakout Con in Toronto, and Caelyn reminds everyone how cool transparent plastic electronics were. They have also been playing a bunch of different games, including a newly started Rascal campaign of Realis and phone-based pirate shenanigans. Finally, they once again venture into the Question Dungeon to compare their pettiest table tales. https://www.rascal.news/ -- Games mentioned: Daggerheart Fallen London: The Roleplaying Game Realis Bloodbeam Badlands A Land Once Magic City of Mist O Captain, My Captain! Deathmatch Island Monsterhearts -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Caelyn Ellis (@caelyn.bsky.social), Rowan Zeoli (@rowanzeoli.bsky.social), and Lin Codega (@lincodega.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).
Mar 6, 2025 · 1 hr 37 min
Episode Nine: The Longest Road, a Catan RPG
Ever wondered what a tabletop RPG version of Catan would look like? Of course you haven't because that's a silly thought exercise, but that didn't stop the Rascal crew from indulging. Thomas and Caelyn join Chase as he returns from the 2025 GAMA trade show to discuss tariffs, distribution, and all the fantastic stories he missed while knocking back Old Fashions in Kentucy. The trio also discuss the new D&D beginner set, licensed RPGs for both Invincible and Terraforming Mars, Paizo and R. Talsorian's search for smaller designers, South Korean gaming communities and wee tiny rank-and-flank wargames. No Question Dungeon this time because the team has been playing a veritable heap of games since we last met. https://www.rascal.news/ -- Games mentioned: Daggerheart Age of Sigmar Magewinds Hearts of Wulin Delta Green -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Caelyn Ellis (@caelyn.bsky.social) and Thomas Manuel (@newmadras.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).
Feb 19, 2025 · 1 hr 39 min
Special: What the Heck is Netrunner? - Cado Contreras
Welcome to a special episode of the Rascal Radio Hour! Chase sat down with Remap Radio's Cado Contreras to talk about something near and dear to her heart -- Android: Netrunner. Fans of Remap and Cado especially will know this is something they have been threatening for years, and we made it happen to promote Rascal's First Anniversary Pledge Drive. The pair discuss the winding history of this TCG-turned-LCG-turned-something else entirely, and how a concerted fan effort not only gave it a third chance at success but set Netrunner up to become something of an outlier within the card game space. From its radically permissable business and tournament model to the accessibility-focused efforts of the volunteer designers, Android: Netrunner is the most interesting card game you're probably not playing. But maybe you should? -- https://www.rascal.news/ https://remapradio.com/ -- Cado's recommended Netrunner beginner resources: https://www.nearearthhub.net/ https://nullsignal.games/players/around-the-world/ DEFINITELY NOT Jinteki Dot Net -- Where to find Cado: Bluesky Remap Radio A More Civilized Age
Feb 14, 2025 · 1 hr 32 min
Episode Eight: A Zwesty Zonth
Buckle up for a genuinely unhinged episode, y'all. Rowan and Chase are left alone to nurse their emotional wounds, inflicted by the fascistic psychosis blanketing the United States. The antidote? A lot of weighty sighs and really terrible jokes. Rowan recounts her followup conversation with the creators behind January 6th insurrection-based wargame Fight for America! and the disappointment it fostered. Chase explains the wall and the hard place that Asmodee finds itself. Then, they delve into the Question Dungeon (whether they remember to call it that or not). Rascal is running a First Anniversary Pledge Drive through the end of February! If you want to support another year of independent, audience-funded tabletop journalism, this is the best time to show it. We have subscription goals, special programming, and our very own zine! Go check it out and spread the word -- our readership only grows through good work and word of mouth. https://www.rascal.news/ -- Games mentioned: Fight For America! Fukuzatsu+ Deathmatch Island -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Rowan Zeoli (@rowanzeoli.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).
Feb 1, 2025 · 1 hr 55 min
Episode Seven: How do you spell Kakistocracy?
Most of the crew huddle against the dark winds of reality, their only light and warmth a microphone and news from the tabletop industry that they must share with you. After expunging a bit of the poison they've absorbed over one hellish week, Rascal's intrepid journalists talk about a fairly beefy news section that includes AI guidelines, weird rules about Warhammer parades, and hobby subreddits ousting Twitter. Plus, questions and what we've been playing lately. Rascal is gearing up for a pledge drive to celebrate its first birthday! Plans are firming up, but expect to hear more as we get cdeeper into February. In the meantime, you can purchase a gift subscription here for the people in your life who would appreciate some worker-owned tabletop journalism. https://www.rascal.news/ -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Caelyn Ellis (@caelyn.bsky.social) and Rowan Zeoli (@rowanzeoli.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).
Jan 16, 2025 · 1 hr 33 min
Episode Six: Hungover on a Thursday
The crew gather for the first Rascal Radio Hour episode of 2025, and they somehow manage to keep it under two hours. Please clap. Caelyn regales us with her time as a gym leader while Thomas and Chase keep accidentally reinventing video games. Meanwhile, Rowan is--as the title suggests--hungover on a Thursday. We talk through our recent industry-focused article, along with its clarifying followup. Rowan and Caelyn apparently have friends to play a ton of games with, and our latest delve into the Question Dungeon proves fruitful. Rascal is gearing up for a pledge drive to celebrate its first birthday! Plans are firming up, but expect to hear more as we get closer to February. In the meantime, you can purchase a gift subscription here for the people in your life who would appreciate some worker-owned tabletop journalism. https://www.rascal.news/ -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Caelyn Ellis (@caelyn.bsky.social), Rowan Zeoli (@rowanzeoli.bsky.social), and Thomas Manuel (@newmadras.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).
Dec 28, 2024 · 2 hr
Episode Five: A Very Rascally Holidays
The entire Rascal crew celebrate their first holiday season together by recording what might be their most chaotic episode yet. Chase jokes too close to the edge about kinks, Thomas digs up a piece of his mysterious pre-Rascal backstory, and Caelyn introduces everyone to Big Divorced Energy. Everyone waxes passionate about the website's first year, and then we plunge into what is eventually dubbed The Question Dungeon. Rascal is still hosting a couple of holiday subscription deals for our Friendly NPC tier. Sign up at this link and get your first two months of access for a whopping $1 per month - that's an 80% discount on full access to the site, an invitation to our subscriber-only Discord channel, among other benefits. You can also purchase a gift subscription here and present your friends and loved one with a little worker-owned journalism. https://www.rascal.news/ -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Caelyn Ellis (@caelyn.bsky.social), Rowan Zeoli (@rowanzeoli.bsky.social), Thomas Manuel (@newmadras.bsky.social), and a guest appearance by Lin Codega (@lincodega.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).
Dec 13, 2024 · 1 hr 39 min
Episode Four: We Must Build Things
Chase and Caelyn tackle the podcast beast as an adventuring duo this week. They weather a flurry of news about Funko accidentally taking down itch.io, union wins within New York City game stores, and another corporate media company feeding its writers' work into the mouth of a generative AI grist mill. Elsewhere, MTG renames a world, a board game company gets screwed by Meta, and tariffs continue to loom. Rascal is still hosting a couple of holiday subscription deals for our Friendly NPC tier. Sign up at this link and get your first two months of access for a whopping $1 per month - that's an 80% discount on full access to the site, an invitation to our subscriber-only Discord channel, among other benefits. You can also purchase a gift subscription here and present your friends and loved one with a little worker-owned journalism. https://www.rascal.news/ https://www.rascal.news/funko-inadvertently-disables-itch-ios-whole-website-blames-third-party-brand-protection/ https://www.rascal.news/tabletop-workers-united-secures-key-non-economic-demands-after-a-year-of-fraught-negotiations/ https://www.rascal.news/future-fed-my-work-into-the-content-machine/ -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Caelyn Ellis (@caelyn.bsky.social). Theme song by People Need Goals. Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).
Nov 30, 2024 · 1 hr 48 min
Episode Three: The Brony Dichotomy
Chase, Caelyn, and Thomas belly up to the podcasting table for a heaping helping of tabletop RPG industry news. What's going on with new EU trade regulations? Why is everyone mad at an OSR YouTuber? Why is the Battersea Transformers store so shit? All of these answers and more lie within the Rascal Radio Hour By the way, Rascal is hosting a couple of holiday subscription deals for our Friendly NPC tier. Sign up at this link and get your first two months of access for a whopping $1 per month - that's an 80% discount on full access to the site, an invitation to our subscriber-only Discord channel, among other benefits. You can also purchase a gift subscription here and present your friends and loved one with a little worker-owned journalism. https://www.rascal.news/ https://www.rascal.news/new-legislation-impacts-games-sales-to-the-european-union/ https://www.rascal.news/no-politics-is-always-a-red-flag-even-when-defending-your-tabletop-business/ https://www.rascal.news/digital-commander-would-make-hasbro-a-ton-of-money-and-be-objectively-terrible/ -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Caelyn Ellis (@caelyn.bsky.social) and Thomas Manuel (@newmadras.bsky.social). Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).
Nov 18, 2024 · 2 hr 12 min
Episode Two: Romancing Dragons
Chase, Rowan, and Caelyn gather around microphone once again to chat about trench demons, legal threats against Dropout TV, and a very suspicious email in the Rascal inbox. Also, Chase talks with fellow tabletop journalist and Dungeons & Dragons expert, Christian Hoffer, about the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide. How does it hold up against the admittedly shaky version from 2014? What are the best bew additions? What's the deal with Bastions? https://www.rascal.news/ https://www.rascal.news/building-fun-not-worlds-with-the-new-2024-dungeon-masters-guide/ https://www.rascal.news/going-over-the-top-with-trench-crusades-mike-franchina-and-toumas-pirinen/ https://www.rascal.news/rascal-receives-solicitation-from-suspicious-email-after-tabletop-union-declares-potential-strike/ -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social). Featuring Rowan Zeoli (@rowanzeoli.bsky.social) and Caelyn Ellis (@caelyn.bsky.social). Special Guest is Christian Hoffer (@choffercbus.bsky.social). Check out Above the Table on YouTube! Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).
Nov 2, 2024 · 1 hr 30 min
Rascal Radio Hour Episode 1: A World of Trouble
Rascal News has a podcast! In our first episode, the crew talks about the wild tribulations of World of Game Design, German tabletop RPG The Dark Eye, and Chase's ambivalence regarding the future of Magic: The Gathering. We also discuss DriveThruRPG's new levers for filtering AI-generated content and the multivarious games the team has been playing lately. Is our audio still pretty wonky? Yes (sorry, we're working on it). But the camaraderie and vibes are immaculate from the jump. And we keep it to a tight 60 minutes! Believe me; no need to confirm the runtime at all! https://www.rascal.news/ https://www.rascal.news/scrying-on-irans-tabletop-scene/ -- Hosted by Chase Carter (@chasecarter.bsky.social) Featuring Rowan Zeoli (@rowanzeoli.bsky.social), Thomas Manuel (@newmadras.bsky.social), and Caelyn Ellis (@caelyn.bsky.social). Cover art logo by Johan Nohr (@johannohr.bsky.social).