The GROGNARD Files

Dirk the Dice

The GROGNARD RPG files is a podcast that looks at RPGs from 'back in the day and today'.

Each episode concentrates on the original rules of a featured game, our experiences of playing the game, PLUS excellent contributions from @dailydwarf selecting highlights from the halcyon days of White Dwarf magazine.

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21 episodes
monthly
Avg 1 hr 27 min
English

Episodes 21

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August 15 · 1 hr 25 min
More RPG Zines (with Nick Edwards)
We are back … we’ve been on our holidays! July was International Zine Month and we have got into the spirit by returning to the topic. RPGzines is our focus in this episode! Nick Edwards was a ‘zine editor in the 80s and he’s come back with a new ‘zine looking at the old and new. Torchbound is his new ‘zine where he looks backwards as well as the state of the art. Here in the UK we have a healthy zine scene which Nick is part of, as well as Wyrd Science and Never Mind The Dice Rolls. Dirk and Blythy are talking in the Zoom of role-playing rambling, looking back at their Starburst Memories of July 1983 and answering questions from the GROGSQUAD. There are some off-cuts from this episode that will be released as a Dirk’s Dossier – exclusive to Patreon supporters. The post More RPG Zines (with Nick Edwards) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
June 20 · 1 hr 41 min
UK Games Expo 2026 Report (with Laurence Phillips)
At the end of May 2026, we went to UK Games Expo and enjoyed the delights of gaming, shopping and chatting. In this episode we give you a blow by blow account of the event, if you want it or not. A Prefab Sprout game is played using the contents of Pookie’s convention sack, you can see more of his un-bagging over at the Nook. We want to give a big thanks to Orlanth Rex for organising the Shadow Con. Dirk also appeared on a recent panel talking about ‘difficult’ settings. You can find it here. Our guest in this episode is Laurence Phillips talking about his game Il Fantasma del Giallo – a magical realist game taking inspiration from the Giallo cinema from Italy and other, related horror, weird fiction. Why not consider supporting the podcast on Patreon. The post UK Games Expo 2026 Report (with Laurence Phillips) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
May 25 · 1 hr 48 min
RPG ‘zines (with Wyrd Science)
John Power at virtual GROGMEET Thistime on The GROGNARD Files, we’re joined by Wyrd Science editor John Power to talk about his vision for modern RPG magazines, the return of tabletop print culture, and why zines still matter in the age of PDFs and podcasts. Dirk and Blythy then travel back to 1983 to create their own fantasy RPG fanzine packed with the kind of content they would have loved as teenage gamers. We also feature an advert for Orlanth Rexes Gaming Vexes podcast In the discussion, we mention Nevermind the Dice Rolls zine, and ACFM podcast talking about hobbies. Wyrd Science is an award-winning tabletop gaming magazine covering RPGs, wargames, board games and gaming culture, available in print and PDF direct from the official store and itch.io. Please consider supporting us on Patreon. The post RPG ‘zines (with Wyrd Science) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
April 12 · 1 hr 33 min
The Pirates of Drinax, Traveller RPG (with Matthew Sprange)
In this episode, we talk about The Pirates of Drinax, the epic sandbox campaign created by Gareth Hanrahan, developed and published by Mongoose Publishing. Matthew Sprange from Mongoose talks about the project and Traveller in general. Judge Blythy reflects on running the campaign with some recommendations and highlights. Nevermind the Dice Rolls is a fantastic zine that you can get from Patreon and Drivethru RPG. It is virtual GROGMEET soon. There are still slots available over on Warhorn. Please consider supporting us on Patreon. The post The Pirates of Drinax, Traveller RPG (with Matthew Sprange) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
March 8 · 1 hr 36 min
Chaos in RPGs and beyond (with Tomas Rawlings)
In this episode, we are in Manchester Central Library talking to GROGSQUAD member Tomas Rawlings. He has a long history of working in video games, but he also has many interesting thoughts on role-playing games and he’s currently writing a book about the evolution of Warhammer 40k. In our discussions we talk about how developments within Games Workshop shaped the nature of chaos and its popularity as an aesthetic. You can read more from Tomas at his substack. Judge Blythy get’s into the pub to face a chaotic Games Master’s Screen to talk about how chaos manifests in role-playing games. Dirk has been on the Smart Party talking about Blades 68. Please consider supporting us on Patreon. The post Chaos in RPGs and beyond (with Tomas Rawlings) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
February 2 · 1 hr 40 min
The GROGGIES Review of 2025 (with Kalum)
In this episode, Kalum from the Rolistes Podcast is in the zoom of role-playing rambling to talk about French speaking RPGs. He has spoken about Nephilim elsewhere and he tells us more in this episode. He’s also Kickstarting his game The Magic of Inventorying which will be familiar to attendees of virtual GROGMEET. Blythy and Dirk review their year in role-playing and give out GROGGIE awards. Caroline Munro has revised her memoir. Please consider supporting our Patreon. The post The GROGGIES Review of 2025 (with Kalum) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
January 1 · 1 hr 35 min
Five Items that Made Chaosium (with Rick Meints)
Chaosium is celebrating 50 years since the company was founded by Greg Stafford. Their games have always been at the core of what we play, so it was great to have more time with returning guest, Rick Meints. Rick is the president of Chaosium, perhaps more importantly, he is the Head of the Department of Nostalgia, the custodian to the extensive, if chaotic, archive of the company. He started as a collector, and ended up heading the company. We set him the challenge of finding five items from the archive that represent the development of the company over fifty years. What products are the milestones of progress in the history of Chaosium? There are some unexpected items in there. Let us know what you think. The interview was recorded in front of an audience as part of GROGMEETish in November. In the room of role-playing rambling, I’m joined by resident rules-lawyer Judge Blythy to review GROGMEETish. We also talk about NPCs or Games Master Characters and how to handle a ‘cast of 1000s’. The advert is for Eldritch Stories from Mason and Fricker. Why not support us on Patreon? Offers are now available apparently. Dirk The post Five Items that Made Chaosium (with Rick Meints) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
Dec 24, 2025 · 54 min
Dirk’s Dossier – More Gladiator Chat and more
Do you need a companion as you wash up after a big day of festivities? Here you go. What do YOU do with your left overs? Here at the GROGNARD files, we don’t like them going to waste. We like to splice them together to create a treat for Patreons. Given it is the season to be jolly, we are giving this edition Dirk’s Dossier in the main feed for you to enjoy. You’re welcome. In here Judge Blythy talks about Into the Dungeon Revived, Graham Bottley talks about Savage Gladiators while we reflect on running our fantasy, mass-participation online game of Gladiators before more from Magnus Seter. If you would like to hear more of this bobbins in the future, follow the Patreon The GROGNARD files episode is coming soon. The post Dirk’s Dossier – More Gladiator Chat and more first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
Nov 30, 2025 · 1 hr 27 min
Swedish RPGs (with Magnus Seter)
In this episode Dirk talks to Magnus Seter about Outside the Box, How Sweden Conquered The World of Role-Playing Games. Learn the fascinating story of how RPGs reached Sweden and were transformed by the play culture. Thanks to Fandrake, the publisher of Outside the Box, we have books to giveaway. Share this episode and make a comment below to be in with a chance of being drawn from the hat (finishes on 31st December 2025). Judge Blythy is in the Room of Role-Playing Rambling talking about Mutant: Year Zero RPG. Make sure you keep it Eldritch by listening to Mason and Fricker’s Eldritch Stories. The play out music is Mumble One by Aidan Support the podcast and the stuff we do by joining Patreon. The post Swedish RPGs (with Magnus Seter) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
Oct 31, 2025 · 1 hr 29 min
Arion Games and other RPGs (with Graham Bottley)
September and October have been replete with gaming sessions. Can you have too much of a good thing? That’s the question we ask this episode. Dirk is joined in the Zoom of Role-Playing Rambling by Graham Bottley from Arion Games, which is celebrating 20 years publishing games and supplements. It has had the licence for Advanced Fighting Fantasy, Mealstrum and more, so continues to publish vintage RPG material. In September, we participated in Glorantha Games, Owl Bear and the Wizard’s Staff, and MORPcon as well as playing loads of games. We talk about Hidden Isles, Blade Runner RPG as the NEW games that we have played. We are trapped in the worlds of Gareth Ryder Hanrahan as we are playing in Pirates of Drinax for Traveller, The Borellus Connection for Fall of Delta Green and Dirk is about to do Dracula Dossier in 24 Hours. The conversation also covers Planescape and much more. An advert for Mason and Fricker’s Eldritch Tales. To support the podcast, you can tip some coins in the beret over at Partreon The post Arion Games and other RPGs (with Graham Bottley) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
Sep 9, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
Dungeon Crawl Classics Continued (Ep.85)
This time we return to the topic of Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC) with Judge Blythy, our resident zealot. Appendix G, our never-ending list of influences, expands with the wonderful Swords Series from Fritz Leiber nominated by Dave Paterson. We talk about our preparation for a busy September of gaming. Paul Fricker has released Gatsby and The Great Race for 7th Edition Call of Cthulhu. Please support us on Patreon. The post Dungeon Crawl Classics Continued (Ep.85) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
Aug 7, 2025 · 1 hr 47 min
10 Years of The GROGNARD Files
It was 10 years ago today, that we first came out to play! In this episode we jump every shark in sight by reflecting on the past ten years of the podcast. We invited listeners to ask us anything, as long as it was looking back over the past 10 years, so we could lean back in our armchairs and reflect on what we have done. Also, joining the fun is @dailydwarf, who looks back on Small Ads and letters in White Dwarf, in an adapted essay that first appeared in the GROGZINE. We head to the shed at the end of the garden to see Eddy the Armchair Collector in Chief, who hasn’t appeared for a while. Meanwhile in the Room of Role-Playing Rambling Judge Blythy works through the Thunderphase questions at a medium-fire pace. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years. Especially anyone who has contributed to the Patreon, or commented, given us a review and passed it on. The post 10 Years of The GROGNARD Files first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
Jul 18, 2025 · 1 hr 34 min
Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG (with Brendan LaSalle)
In this GROGPOD, Judge Blythy talks about his initiation into the cult of DCC. We look at what makes it work. Goodman Games, the publisher of DCC, is hosting DCC Day on 19th July 2025. We are joined by Brendan LaSalle who talks about DCC and his futuristic variant, XCrawl Classics where you can have a spectator sport in the dungeon. Next time we will look at some more settings. You can support the GROGNARD Files on Patreon. The post Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG (with Brendan LaSalle) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
Jun 15, 2025 · 1 hr 36 min
Ars Magica RPG (with Adrian Tchaikovsky) Ep 82
In this episode, we continue our examination of magic in Role-Playing Games with a look at Ars Magica with Science Fiction author Adrian Tchaikovsky. He talks to us about the setting, the rules and the way that magic works in the game. We haven’t had chance to play it yet, so Dirk and Blythy meet in the Lass O Gowrie pub in Manchester and discuss the difficulties of ‘fitting it all in’. We have been to UK Games Expo so we give our initial views of attending the event this year. Dirk has been on Orlanth Rexes Gaming Vexes and What Would the Smart Party Do? recently. Patreon has been refreshed – annual contribution at discount and ‘it’s your birthday’ award for the top level of support. Thanks for all who listen and contribute. The post Ars Magica RPG (with Adrian Tchaikovsky) Ep 82 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
May 17, 2025 · 1 hr 41 min
Scarred by Magic in the 70s & 80s (with Stephen Brotherstone)
Returning guest Stephen Brotherstone, co-author of the Scarred for Life series of books and shows, joins us in the zoom of Role Playing Rambling to examine the witchcraft and horrors that haunted our childhood years. You can see Ste as his show is on the road during 2025 and the latest volume of the series is now available. Highly recommended as it is packed with gaming nostalgia content. Also in this episode, Dirk and Blythy watch The Hammer House of Horror (1980) together and consider what impact it had on them at the time and how it can inform our games now. We also reflect on the games that we played at virtual GROGMEET, including Liminal, Mutant Year Zero, The Dee Sanction and Savage Worlds. You can see Tim Olsen interviewed by Toni Arthur. If you want to support the podcast and get access to additional podcast content, then please consider supporting us at Patreon. The post Scarred by Magic in the 70s & 80s (with Stephen Brotherstone) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
Apr 10, 2025 · 1 hr 28 min
More Magic in RPGs (with China Miéville)
Magic in RPGs is a continuing obsession for Dirk the Dice and Blythy in this latest episode of the podcast. We talk about Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (AD&D) and Powers and Perils (Pee & Pee) and marvel at how we played in the early 2000s, when we didn’t know any better and were more willing to freeform and ‘make stuff up’. Also in this episode, we are pleased that GROGSQUADer China Miéville provided his first, last and everything. I think that I need to find out more about Tales of Argosa . Mike and Roger over at Improvised Radio Theatre with Dice have an interesting discussion about magic – following our mention of it last time. Please consider supporting what we do on Patreon. The post More Magic in RPGs (with China Miéville) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
Mar 17, 2025 · 1 hr 30 min
Magic in RPGs (with Stu Horvath) Ep.79
It’s a kind of magic, in RPGs. This time we are joined by Stu Horvath, podcaster (Vintage RPG Podcast) and writer, who talks about his book Monsters, Aliens and Holes in the Ground, which takes us decade by decade through the history of RPGs. He also contributes to our discussion about magic in RPGs. What would we like to play, stay on our shelves or give away? Virtual GROGMEET is available to register on Warhorn. Support us on Patreon. The post Magic in RPGs (with Stu Horvath) Ep.79 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
Feb 8, 2025 · 1 hr 13 min
Sanction RPG (with Paul Baldowski) Ep 78
This time we are talking about GROGMEET our annual Role Playing Games meet up in Manchester. We were joined by game designer, publisher and entrepreneur Paul Baldowski who talks about Dangerous Journeys, PBMs and his game Sanction. Blythy shares his experiences and how we played Gatsby and The Great Race by Paul Fricker. If you want to find out more about Dice on the Borderlands you can find it at Warhorn. Please support what we do at Patreon, thanks. The post Sanction RPG (with Paul Baldowski) Ep 78 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
Jan 12, 2025 · 1 hr 21 min
2024: A Year in RPGs Ep. 77
Join us in the Room of Role-Playing Rambling as we investigate the highs and lows of role-playing in 2024. Thanks for supporting us. Why not consider tipping a couple of coins in the beret over at Patreon. The post 2024: A Year in RPGs Ep. 77 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.
Dec 29, 2024 · 1 hr 7 min
Rivers of London RPG (with Ben Aaronovitch) Ep76
This GROGPOD features a special recording of an interview with writer Ben Aaronovitch, the creator of The Rivers of London series of books. An RPG has been developed by the team at Chaosium. Ben talks about the project, his formative years in gaming and gives insight into his creative process. The interview was recorded live as part of GROGMEETish which took place in November. It features additional questions from the GROGSQUAD. Dirk the Dice gives a quick review of the game based on his experience of playing the game over recent months. Music is by Static Music Club. Please support what we do at Patreon The post Rivers of London RPG (with Ben Aaronovitch) Ep76 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files.

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