The Good Friends of Jackson Elias

235: The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath (part 5)

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/05/24/the-dream-quest-of-unknown-kadath-part-5/

This is the conclusion of our multi-episode exploration of Lovecraft’s novel, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath. In our earlier episodes (2022-05-24 10:35:47 +0000 UTC View Post

234: The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath part 4

This is the longer, unedited version for backers only. 

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/05/10/the-dream-quest-of-unknown-kadath-part-4/

Matt Returns!

The big news this episode is that Matt is well enough to record with us again! His experiences with necrotising fasciitis over the past few months have been nothing short of terrifying. Matt shares some of the less gruesome details, along with insi...

234: The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath part 4

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/05/10/the-dream-quest-of-unknown-kadath-part-4/

Matt Returns!

The big news this episode is that Matt is well enough to record with us again! His experiences with necrotising fasciitis over the past few months have been nothing short of terrifying. Matt shares some of the less gruesome details, along with insights about what it’s like to be in a coma. All surprisingly relev...

233: Creating Stories at the Table – With Gaz Bowerbank

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/04/25/creating-stories-at-the-table-with-gaz-bowerbank/

We’re back and we’re making stuff up. Sure, it’s a bit disjointed, filled with inconsistent characterisation, narrative dead ends, and terrible jokes, but it sort of feels like a story. What do you expect when a bunch of people create it on the fly, all pulling in different directions? Any story there owes more to...

233: Creating Stories at the Table – With Gaz Bowerbank (long cut)

This is the longer, unedited version of this episode for backers only. 

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/04/25/creating-stories-at-the-table-with-gaz-bowerbank/

We’re back and we’re making stuff up. Sure, it’s a bit disjointed, filled with inconsistent characterisation, narrative dead ends, and terrible jokes, but it sort of feels like a story. What do you expect when a bunch of people crea...

232: Mythos Deities: Cthulhu (long cut)

This is the full unedited episode for backers only.

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/04/12/mythos-deities-cthulhu/

This episode is the latest in our ongoing exploration of the deities of the Cthulhu Mythos. Previous entries include Dagon, 2022-04-12 11:05:31 +0000 UTC View Post

232: Mythos Deities: Cthulhu

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/04/12/mythos-deities-cthulhu/

This episode is the latest in our ongoing exploration of the deities of the Cthulhu Mythos. Previous entries include Dagon, 2022-04-12 10:59:42 +0000 UTC View Post

231: Breaking the Law (long cut)

This is the longer unedited version for backers only.

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/03/29/breaking-the-law/

This episode is our discussion of the thorny topic of what happens when investigators get on the wrong side of the law. Almost every Call of Cthulhu campaign requires the investigators to commit burglary, fraud, assault, murder and arson. So much arson…

But does this always have to be the case? How should t...

231: Breaking the Law

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/03/29/breaking-the-law/

This episode is our discussion of the thorny topic of what happens when investigators get on the wrong side of the law. Almost every Call of Cthulhu campaign requires the investigators to commit burglary, fraud, assault, murder and arson. So much arson…

But does this always have to be the case? How should the Keeper deal with blatant criminal behaviour? Is it ever f...

230: Peril in Call of Cthulhu (Long Cut)

This is the longer, unedited version for backers only

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/03/15/peril-in-call-of-cthulhu/

This episode is our discussion of the role of peril in Call of Cthulhu. Whether your game aims for dark horror or two-fisted adventure, there needs to be a sense of danger for it to have any bite. But how do we engender this sense of peril? What needs to be at stake for a game to feel meaningful? An...

230: Peril in Call of Cthulhu

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/03/15/peril-in-call-of-cthulhu/

This episode is our discussion of the role of peril in Call of Cthulhu. Whether your game aims for dark horror or two-fisted adventure, there needs to be a sense of danger for it to have any bite. But how do we engender this sense of peril? What needs to be at stake for a game to feel meaningful? And what are the risks of making things feel too perilous?

229: Mind Control (Long Cut)

This is the longer unedited version of episode 229.

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/03/01/mind-control-in-rpgs/

This episode is our discussion of the presentation of mind control in RPGs. Genre fiction is full of unnatural magic, weird drugs, and sinister devices that twist the human mind according to the wielder’s desires. Villains may plant compulsions in the heads of protagonists, twist their perceptions, or alter their me...

229: Mind Control in RPGs

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/03/01/mind-control-in-rpgs/

This episode is our discussion of the presentation of mind control in RPGs. Genre fiction is full of unnatural magic, weird drugs, and sinister devices that twist the human mind according to the wielder’s desires. Villains may plant compulsions in the heads of protagonists, twist their perceptions, or alter their memories. And, of course, this is reflected heavily in gamin...

228: Everything is Horror

This is the uncut version for backers only.

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/02/15/everything-is-horror/

We’ve paused our discussion of The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath for a few episodes. Matt is seriously ill and currently in hospital. We don’t know how long he’s going to be out of action bu...

228: Everything is Horror

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/02/15/everything-is-horror/

We’ve paused our discussion of The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath for a few episodes. Matt is seriously ill and currently in hospital. We don’t know how long he’s going to be out of action but we wanted to save the resolution for his return....

The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath part 3

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/02/01/the-dream-quest-of-unknown-kadath-part-3/

We’re back and we’re trying to work out how to cook this shantak egg we bought. Boiling it seemed practical until we realised we’d need a pot as large as a house. Frying poses similar problems unless we can work out how to convert a radio telescope dish into a wok. Scrambling seems like the best option as we can do that in batche...

The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath part 3 (long cut)

This is the longer, unedited cut for Patreon backers only.

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/02/01/the-dream-quest-of-unknown-kadath-part-3/

We’re back and we’re trying to work out how to cook this shantak egg we bought. Boiling it seemed practical until we realised we’d need a pot as large as a house. Frying poses similar problems unless we can work out how to convert a radio telescope dish into a wok. ...

The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath part 2 (long cut)

This is the longer cut for backers only.

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/01/18/the-dream-quest-of-unknown-kadath-part-2/

This is the second part of our multi-episode exploration of Lovecraft’s first novel, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath. In our first episode, we looked at the book’s origins and ...

The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath part 2

This is the second part of our multi-episode exploration of Lovecraft’s first novel, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath. In our first episode, we looked at the book’s origins and development, as well as the start of the story itself. Now, we’re deep into the narrative and and things are getting strange

With Randolph Carter now sailing the dark side of the moon, we’re moving into some of the more fantastical parts of the no...

Blasphemous Tome Fanzines Update for $1 backers (Jan 2022)

Hey everyone! Issue 8 of The Blasphemous Tome fanzine is out! This message should provide all the info you need about the latest issue and back issues in one place.

Issue 8

The PDF is now freely available on Patreon to all backers:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/61059640

Issue 8 is available for print-on-demand via DrivethruRPG. A discount code is available to those who back us at $3 and above.

A signed (by Matt, Scott...

The Blasphemous Tome 8 PDF

Here's issue 8 of our fanzine, The Blasphemous Tome. This is a thank you to everyone who backs our show!

If you presently (January 2022) back us at $5 you will receive a printed, signed copy (these are being posted worldwide in this week).

If you back us at $3+ you will gain access to a discount code for a print-on-demand copy from DrivethruRPG. The discount code will be valid until the end of January 2022.

Look out for other Patreon messages about how to access the print-on-demand for issue 8 and back issues.

Issue 9...

The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath part 1 (long cut)

This is the longer unedited cut for backers only.

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/01/04/the-dream-quest-of-unknown-kadath-part-1/

This is the first part of our multi-episode exploration of Lovecraft’s first novel, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath. While Lovecraft had been writing stories set in the Dreamlands for several years beforehand, this is the book that tied everything together. As well as...

225: The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath part 1

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2022/01/04/the-dream-quest-of-unknown-kadath-part-1/

This is the first part of our multi-episode exploration of Lovecraft’s first novel, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath. While Lovecraft had been writing stories set in the Dreamlands for several years beforehand, this is the book that tied everything together. As well as consolidating the Dreamlands as a setting, it also fles...

Special: Rivers of London Panel at Dragonmeet 2021

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2021/12/28/special-rivers-of-london-panel-at-dragonmeet-2021/

We’re back with another special episode!

Our own Paul Fricker recently attended the Dragonmeet 2021 convention in London. While there, he took part in a few panels. This recording is of the discussion about the forthcoming Rivers of London RPG, with Paul, Lynne Hardy and Rivers of London auth...

Half-price Dockside Dogs for Patreon backers

Hello there, Paul from the Good Friends here. I launched a revised edition of my Call of Cthulhu scenario, Dockside Dogs, on DrivethruRPG yesterday. For more info, follow the link below.

As a small Christmas bonus for our Patreon backers, I've set up a special discount code. 

The code allows you to purchase the PDF at half price ($3.50), and is valid over Christmas (expires 27/12/21).

https://www.drive...

224: Gozu (Long Cut)

This is the unedited version for backers only

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2021/12/21/gozu/

Following last episode’s discussion of gangsters in Call of Cthulhu, we now look at probably the strangest gangster film ever made. Gozu is a 2003 production from legendary Japanese director Takashi Miike, and it defies descrip...

224: Gozu

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2021/12/21/gozu/

Following last episode’s discussion of gangsters in Call of Cthulhu, we now look at probably the strangest gangster film ever made. Gozu is a 2003 production from legendary Japanese director Takashi Miike, and it defies description. It may not precisely be a horror film, but it ...

The Canterville Ghost – part 3

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2021/12/17/the-canterville-ghost-part-3/

Our seasonal treat concludes with part 3 of “The Canterville Ghost”!

Good friend of the Good Friends, Mike Perceval-Maxwell, has organised a reading of Oscar Wilde’s classic ghost story on our Discord server. He is joined by guest readers Dom Allen, John Casey, Scott Dorward, Ri...

The Canterville Ghost – part 2

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2021/12/16/the-canterville-ghost-part-2/

Our seasonal treat continues with part 2 of “The Canterville Ghost”!

Good friend of the Good Friends, Mike Perceval-Maxwell, has organised a reading of Oscar Wilde’s classic ghost story on our Discord server. He is joined by guest readers Dom Allen, John Casey, Scott Dorward, Ri...

The Canterville Ghost – part 1

https://blasphemoustomes.com/2021/12/15/the-canterville-ghost-part-1/

We have a special seasonal treat for you! Good friend of the Good Friends, Mike Perceval-Maxwell, has organised a reading of Oscar Wilde’s “The Canterville Ghost” on our Discord server. He is joined by guest readers Dom Allen, John Casey, Scott Dorward, Rina Haenze and Sue Savage We h...