Roleplay Rescue

In the spirit of turning up, this one's a bit more ad hoc and GM Journal in style, but it's relevant and heartfelt.

I talk about getting back to Ariadne's Thread (powered by Cypher) and report on the Monster Hunters (powered by GURPS). The over-arching theme is the power of choosing to turn up to play. Improvisation around the tools and notes you've got can help you overcome the fear and play.

Thanks to everyone for your ongoing support.

Game on!

Roleplay Rescue Details:

Voice Message:
speakpipe.com/roleplayrescue

Patreon:
patreon.com/rpgrescue

Email:
[email protected]

Blog
roleplayrescue.com

Bluesky Social:
https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.social

Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:
https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/

Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:
https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you overcome the sense of inertia where you don't want to play or prep anything?
After weeks of holiday disruption, how do you get yourself moving as a GM and rediscover some enjoyment.

Thanks to Frank T and Pat M for the call-ins.

Game on!

Roleplay Rescue Details:

Voice Message:
speakpipe.com/roleplayrescue

Patreon:
patreon.com/rpgrescue

Email:
[email protected]

Blog
roleplayrescue.com

Bluesky Social:
https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.social

Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:
https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/

Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:
https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is it about slipping fully into a character and exploring a living, open‑ended world that makes us feel so drawn into the fantasy and have fun? What part of our human make-up is refreshed and excited by these imaginary adventures we experience during roleplay? Is there a way to understand this specific preference for slipping into a imaginary persona and exploring a living, open-ended world?

This one’s sharing a more experimental theory that’s emerged in my mind over recent days. It’s rooted back in my first conversations with friends of the show Daniel Jones from Primaeval Fantasy, Runeslinger Anthony from Casting Shadows, and my co-host Patrick Mullen from GURPStalk. It’s also rooted in the psychology and philosophy of Dr Iain McGilchrist and several other authors that I’ve read or heard over recent years.

Game on!

Roleplay Rescue Details:

Voice Message:
speakpipe.com/roleplayrescue

Patreon:
patreon.com/rpgrescue

Email:
[email protected]

Blog
roleplayrescue.com

Bluesky Social:
https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.social

Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:
https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/

Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:
https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a break of nearly 11 weeks between August and the tail end of October 2025, Roleplay Rescue was reborn with an experimental mindset and a specific pact to record one short episode per week for 10 weeks, focusing solely on actions and experiences as a GM.

This is the tenth episode of that pact. How have things worked out and what has been learned?
And what about the other pacts I made for my hobby?

This is an opportunity to reflect and, hopefully, through that reflection to discern the next steps on the journey as we enter 2026...

Game on!

Roleplay Rescue Details:

Voice Message:
speakpipe.com/roleplayrescue

Patreon:
patreon.com/rpgrescue

Email:
[email protected]

Blog
roleplayrescue.com

Bluesky Social:
https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.social

Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:
https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've been shifting my focus towards preparing a new school-based game designed to engage the students in roleplay but also to be light, fun, and open to newbies as much as possible. For me, the trick is to get started: my confidence in the game, in my ability to deliver the game and run it, and in engaging the students begins with the first steps. This time, I’m taking a modified approach and running an experiment in providing a mission-based game in a grounded Otherworld with the potential to offer the players a sandbox to explore and mysteries to uncover.

This episodes introduces my first steps towards a Monster Hunters game.

Game on!

Roleplay Rescue Details:

Voice Message:
speakpipe.com/roleplayrescue

Patreon:
patreon.com/rpgrescue

Email:
[email protected]

Blog
roleplayrescue.com

Bluesky Social:
https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.social

Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:
https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/

Additional music thanks to Tabletop Audio:
Tabletop Audio - Ambiences and Music for Tabletop Role Playing Games
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.