I find few things more tempting these days than escapism. I try to wrap myself in the comforts of a story where the agency of a protagonist remains to guide the reader through the strife of the journey.
One of my favorite stories has been in the making since 2015, and it’s still going strong. I am writing about the “Rusty Quill Gaming Podcast,” a tabletop roleplaying game actual-play podcast hosted by a group of British nerds and improv comedians.
The hosts of the podcast play “Pathfinder,” a tabletop roleplaying game similar to “Dungeons and Dragons.” It’s a project of collaborative storytelling; the gamemaster Alexander J. Newall sets the scenes and presents scenarios which the cast then roll dice and act their way through. The main plot line follows a cast of characters exploring a steampunk pseudo-Victorian world filled with magic and machinery.
The creators at “RQG” create a safe environment for storytelling, and they aim to keep their podcast family-friendly (meaning no swears) and accessible to those unfamiliar with tabletop games in general. The only downside is it makes the first dozen episodes a bit slow since the players are learning how the game works alongside the listener.
Luckily, the humor holds everything together. The creators continuously crack jokes in and out of character, and they take each scenario as an opportunity to find fun and exploration amidst the number-crunching. They develop in-jokes and foster a sense of community with each other and the audience that continues to pull me back again for another listen.
The beginning cast features a halfling who wishes he was cool, a knight who hates tables, a dwarf who just needs a hug and a sentient knife collection named Sasha. This eclectic crew stumbles through the streets of London investigating crime, pretending to be statues and even diving into raw sewage, all in the name of glory and fame.
In other forms of media, the above list might be too incoherent to wrangle into a complete narrative, but the game allows the players to work cooperatively to play to their strengths in turn, keeping the action streamlined.
The podcast members also often play other games to introduce the listener to new games and take a break from the rules of “Pathfinder.”
My favorite episodes of the podcast come from their “Beowulf” special, in which the performers follow the epic hero in order to stop the monster “Grendel” from wreaking havoc. Given that most of the cast members have a background in literature or history, there are as many jokes about Old English as there are about being a large, hairy man with big sword. I would highly recommend the “Thanes of Beowulf” special to beginning listeners, as it’s a quick, high-octane introduction to the podcast and the experience of listening to people play a board game many thousands of miles away.
“RQG” also isn’t all comedy and slapstick violence. The story delves into issues of morality, grief, loss and, eventually, a global pandemic (created several months before the onset of COVID-19). The actors handle these moments with tact and nuance, allowing these heavier moments to carry just as much weight as their quick-witted banter. I have been frequently moved by their poignant reflections on personal loss and the struggles of moving on in a fast-paced world where there seems to never be enough time to take a long rest.
Fantasy tabletop games are more than hobbyist activities for geeks and calculator-lovers. There is a security in listening to characters explore what a quarantine feels like because it means there are people working through that experience. The core of “RQG” is consistently moral but never heavy-handed, allowing the listener to react to story beats as they would any good literature.
Whether it’s for the fantasy, the found family or the fun, “Rusty Quill Gaming” has set itself apart as a narrative experience, and there are few projects I’ve enjoyed listening to as much as this one. Whether you’re a hardcore geek, a story-lover or you just need something new to listen to, I would highly recommend giving the “Rusty Quill Gaming Podcast” a go.
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