In this level-appropriate episode, we discuss encounter design through the lens of totally objective ratings of enemies’ power levels. Yes, we do mention Dragonball Z - but somehow entirely refrain from any “over 9000” jokes.

Violet shares tips on tipping points. Freya mopes about mopping up. Violet hates on Fate. Freya insists she liked D&D 4e all along.

Thank you to everyone who emailed into our mailbag - if you have any thoughts, comments, or questions please email us at: systemshoppodcast@gmail.com

Timestamps

Mailbag - 9:00

Intro to the topic - 11:18

Design questions - 19:40

History - 35:40

Taxonomicon - 47:45

Design dreams - 1:03:15

Games discussed

Star Trek Adventures

Last Days at Honkwarts*

The Great Dalmuti

Master and Apprentice*

Pathfinder

Fate

D&D

Dark Heresy

Capers

D&D 4E specifically

Vampire: the Masquerade

Lancer (like, a lot)

13th Age

Battletech (it’s back!)

Grimwild

Genesys

Time of Monsters

Vaesen

Mothership

*These are games designed by Violet herself. She apparently forgot to even mention the name of the second one :-P

Notes

It turns out that Freya’s graphics card has become eight years old since she last checked, so she’s definitely not going to play Monster Hunter Wilds, alas.

The nineteen-year-old Order of the Stick comic that Freya recalls with only moderate accuracy is https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0347.html

Additional credits

Our intro music is

"Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/