MEPACon Fall 2025 Retrospective

Cover art for the games Fallout, ShadowDark, Mork Borg, and Mothership

Another season, another MEPACon. I attended all three days of this autumn’s MEPACon, playing in two events and running three. Not bad for a weekend of gaming while still getting in some sleep (though sleep logistics did prove a little challenging). My first game was Flails Akimbo, a zero-level scenario for MÖRK BORG. I bought … Read more

Fallout 2d20: Meet Steve NuGunnar

A man in a blue Vault-Tec jump suit, accompanied by a German Shepherd dog, head toward a ruined city scape.

Back when the new Fallout series debuted on Amazon Prime, the Lair of Secrets crew geeked out about how good the series was … and about the possibility of running a Fallout 2d20 campaign. That led to David Moore putting together a Fallout adventure as our next actual play for the podcast. After doing a 1st level playlets, we decided to … Read more

Online Dungeon Master’s Toolkit

A swampy battle map featuring heros battling demonic creatures. Created using Inkarnate, one of the tools in my Dungeon Master's Tool Kit

The key to virtual play is crafting a online Dungeon Master’s Toolkit that works for you. Just like my physical dungeon master’s toolbox, the online one makes my life easier. It cuts down on prep time, creates robust visuals for battle maps and illustrations, and keeps me focused. Adventure Prep Battle Map Creation Virtual Tabletop … Read more

Farewell to Google Jamboard

A combination battlemap and meme-inspired artboard

Google Jamboard, a virtual whiteboarding solution that the company coupled with an expensive real-world display, is shutting down. Google is turning it off on October 1, 2024. It never got traction in the virtual or real worlds, but it has a special place in my gaming heart for how we used it with Gamer Working Group … Read more

RPG a Day 2023 – Favorite RPG of All Time

A spine view of a bunch of Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition books ... which is not my favorite RPG of all time.

Rather than just go with my gut instinct for “favorite RPG of all time”, I decided to run the numbers. The numbers are, admittedly, a bit skewed. D&D 3rd Edition includes a bunch of d20 supplements (at least, those who survived my 3e purge) including hardcovers and splat books. I don’t have nearly as many … Read more

RPG a Day 2023 – Obscure Game You’ve Played

A tentacled-headed mutant fires a blaster rifle in Nuketown's pick for an obscure game we've played: Gamma World 7th Edition

The most obscure game I’ve played is Gamma World 7th Edition (2010). It was designed by Richard Baker and Bruce R. Cordell based on the D&D 4th Edition rules and saw a core box set plus two boxed-set-based expansions. That level of support by a major publisher might lead you to believe the game isn’t that obscure, … Read more

RPG a Day 2023 – Game You’d Like a New Edition Of … Star Frontiers

An octopus-like alien riding a bipedal dinosaur.

The game I’d love to see a new edition of is Star Frontiers … but as they say, be careful what you wish for. Star Frontiers was the second role-playing game I ever owned. It was a space opera RPG set in a “frontier” region of space with a mix of settled and unexplored star systems. There … Read more