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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

81 – Biopunk 2287 RPG (Seiya and Synesthesia Synthetica) – Setting the Stage, Campaigns for D&D and Other RPGs

Seiya tells us about his TTRPG system and setting, Synesthesia Synthetica (SNS). SNS is a biopunk game adjacent to the cyberpunk and steampunk genres. After an asteroid induced climate disaster, Earth has rebuilt itself using bio-technology instead of the metal based tech that surrounds us in the real world. Genetically modified humans have split into distinct species and mutant horrors prowl the wastes outside civilization. The rich rule from their space stations up above but resistance is growing in the streets below.During the episode we discussed a piece of art that Seiya had made for the game. A picture of that bio-tank is available for you to look at.At the moment, Synesthesia Synthetica is available for free as an early access game on itch.io and DriveThruRPG.If you want to learn more or find a group to play with, you can do that on the Synesthesia Synthetica Discord.Remember to nominate your favorite TTRPG shows/creators/things for the 2026 CRIT Awards!Check out the Setting the Stage website!Want to be on the show? Fill out this survey.Join our Discord!Support Setting the Stageon Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  1. 81 – Biopunk 2287 RPG (Seiya and Synesthesia Synthetica)
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  3. 79 – Dragon Age Degenerates (Zoe from Degenerates with Dice)
  4. 78 – D&D in Suburbia (Ryan and Serenity Springs)
  5. 77 – KPop DnD Hunters (Dan and Idols of the Neon Dark)

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