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Setting the Stage Episode 65 – Al and the Backrooms

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Isaac

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Al from the Point of Insanity Game Studio and Podcast is here to talk about a couple of different things! We started off by discussing the Dark Sun campaign setting, which was a post-apocalyptic campaign setting released for D&D in 1991. Next was the changes in D&D over the editions/years. After that was Al’s Point of Insanity Network podcast, a variety podcast about a number of different topics in the geek and horror space.

Next we discussed one of Al’s RPGs he’s designed, Strange Things Afoot. Characters in Strange Things Afoot are high schoolers with their stats derived from their character’s grades in school. They work to investigate horror stories based on belief. The monster from the horror story can manifest as a tulpa, powered by the belief that society has in that monster. The teenagers must discover the terrifying mysteries, defeat them, and survive to make it to gym class on time.

The last thing we discussed, that was the main focus of the episode, is Al’s RPG called Caught in the Backrooms. The Backrooms concept comes from video games where if you maneuver your character correctly you will clip into an area of the map intended just for developers to access during playtesting. But once you’re in that zone there isn’t a way out. You wander aimlessly through endless blank corridors with the occasional secret room. That’s the Backrooms. Caught in the Backrooms provides rules for playing characters who have slipped into the Backrooms of reality and are unable to escape. PCs must struggle to find resources, fight against monsters, and maintain their sanity, all while looking for the exit, if there even is one.

You can learn more about Al’s podcast, Point of Insanity Game Studio, at his website or on your podcast app.
Al’s storefront on DriveThruRPG where you can find Strange Things Afoot and Caught in the Backrooms.
And Lulu if you prefer paper copies.

And one of our previous guests, Peter from Tales From Elsewhere, is crowdfunding his first TTRPG book, Clockworld. Check out the Kickstarter!

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Hello,

I’m Isaac

Welcome to the GoCorral website! I’m Isaac Shaker and this is a place for me to write about D&D and occasionally other topics. I host a podcast called Setting the Stage that interviews different DMs about their campaigns. I’m currently focused on completing the Cimmeria campaign setting and turning it into a book.

Setting the Stage Podcast

87 – Adapted Azeroth D&D (Flare and Akridon) – Setting the Stage, Campaigns for D&D and Other RPGs

Flare talks with us about his campaign world, Akridon. Three continents dominate the world, Tyros for humanoid races and Dusklands for bestial races. The third continent is known as the Scourge, having being destroyed in a cataclysmic war centuries ago. The world draws a lot of inspiration from the World of Warcraft setup with duality featuring in the continents, the racial appearance, and the gods of the world. And just like in WoW, the two sides often need to team up against larger threats that appear.Flare has a Google Doc with more information about Akridon if you're interested!Vote in the CRIT Awards! Voting is open until August 23rd.Check out the Setting the Stage website!Want to be on the show? Fill out this survey.Join our Discord!Support Setting the Stage on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  4. 84 – Horseback Riding D&D Camp (Michael and SaddleSnaps)
  5. 83 – Call of Cthulhu's Garden (Hem and The Sprouting)

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