Iteration 217 - Succession and Transition of Power

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also here: https://archive.org/download/thesimulationist/Iteration217-SuccessionAndTransitionOfPower.mp3

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Esquimalt to get a new TV studio space, so the entertainment industry in Victoria is expanding! We talk a bit about the return of the Necromancer class into Diablo, and about how we think a company decides which content to monetize, and which content to make free. Ryan achieves all the achievements for Samhain in the Secret World. Zoey reviews Alice and Wonderland, with a little help from her dad. And for our main topic, well we just couldn't resist the US election, so we try to put a storytelling slant on it. We talk about voting systems like the electoral college. We talk about how power is gained, held, and maintained in our fantasy realms.

References and Recommendations:

Tres Laughin with Josh TreLeaven: https://treslaffin.blogspot.com

Made You Look Media: https://vimeo.com/madeyoulookmedia

Iteration 208 - Flavourloft

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We open this week's iteration with a tale of the largest pearl ever discovered in all of history. Then we talk a bit more about Stranger Things having a second season. Then we argue over what makes a movie a B Movie. We talk a bit about our adventures in Dwarf Fortress. And Ryan delves into the literature of the world of Ravenloft, and explains further why he thinks Ravenloft calls to him as a setting. And our main topic is actually a bunch of little tips and tricks to improve storytelling, inspired by Ryan's readings in Ravenloft.


References and Recommendations:

Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959 film): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFN-y5AB6fs

Iteration 193 - The Graveyard Battle

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We start the podcast off with some banter about learning to draw. How even if all you can draw is stick figures, that's a place to start. Then Ryan talks about another Buccaneer Days' Festival in Esquimalt, and we talk about the design of theme parks, roller coasters, and carnival rides. Then we talk about Disney Infinity shutting down, and segue into a conversation about the ephemeral nature of online games, and a comparison to the carnival. Our main topic this week is about a story concerning a battle in a graveyard that involved 200 people. From there we examine the nature of death and memory, what to do with dead bodies, ethnicity, gang violence, government corruption, religion, and whether or not this story qualifies as weird enough.

References and Recommendations:

Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics http://scottmccloud.com/2-print/1-uc/

Cemetery Terminology http://18thcenturylove.tumblr.com/post/129586813937/burial-a-reference

Moscow fight in cemetery http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/moscow-cemetery-brawl-1.3582704

"Early in the morning in the middle of the night two dead boys got up to fight" http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/queries/lostquotes/?id=134 

King Richard III's Grave Found in Parking Lot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exhumation_and_reburial_of_Richard_III_of_England

Iteration 192 - Inexplicable Wrong Decisions

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Ryan starts us off with a thought about how dreams might be more real life than real life. Whoah. Josh and Ryan relate their adventures in Minecraft, both of us having taken on the hardest boss in the game: the dreaded Wither. Ryan recaps his takings from Free Comic Book Day. From there we smoothly segue into a discussion about Marvel's Civil War series, and the inciting issue, and where we both fall on the issue of precognitive justice. And for our main topic, we talk about the deal that Peter Parker made with the devil about trading Mary Jane for Aunt May to live again.

Iteration 191 - The Moral of the Demon Car

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We start with some talk about some of the toys we used to have when we were kids, including the Crash Test Dummies. Then we talk about a long-awaited porting of Magic the Gathering's monsters to a D&D format. Ryan finally saw Jurassic World, and brings us his thoughts on it, as well as his daughter Zoey's thoughts. And for our main topic, we talk about The Car, a 1983 horror movie. We talk about how horror movies have their own sense of morality, and what happens when they break those morals, and whether as writers we should or shouldn't. And the importance of backstory or just explaining what's going on.


References and Recommendations:

Crash Test Dummies (toys): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredible_Crash_Dummies

Starcom (1987 toys and TV show): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starcom:_The_U.S._Space_Force

Roll for Initiative (local game convening): http://www.rollforinitiative.ca/

Free Comic Book Day: http://www.freecomicbookday.com/

Greater Victoria Public Library (also participating in Free Comic Book Day): https://gvpl.ca/

The Car (1977 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075809/

Iteration 184 - Spirits of the Storm

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This is our very special Daylight Savings episode. We discuss simulating world time, and marvel at the invention of time zones. Ryan's conspiracy thought of the week: Mott's Clamato and the ancient Semitic deity of drought and Death: Mot. Josh goes on a weird tangent about how Caesars still exist in the world. This turns into a discussion on twinning cities. And that in turn turns into a conversation about the transporter from Star Trek, reincarnation, enlightenment, and the Art of War. We talk about our adventures in video games, the things we built, and the battles we fought. Ryan discovers a new cartoon called Miraculous Ladybug. Plus the remake of Evil Dead. But our main topic for the week is about how to do weather in a fantasy setting.


References and Recommendations:

Mot (deity): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mot_%28god%29

Roll for Initiative: http://www.rollforinitiative.ca/

Josh's Minecraft Creation: http://imgur.com/a/5pe4K

Miraculous Ladybug: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miraculous:_Tales_of_Ladybug_and_Cat_Noir

Evil Dead (2013 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1288558/

Iteration 181 - Primordial Alphabet Soup

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We start by discussing the sport of boxing, and Josh gives his thoughts on his first boxing lesson. We talk about the evolutionary origins of play and sport. Then we turn to a weird tangent about drinking milk and playing sports. Then why do we eat so much of animals but so rarely ever drink animal blood? Then we talk about evolution, how it works, and what it means for making simulations. And will humans ever go extinct? Finally, Ryan rants about how people don't think enough.


References and Recommendations:

James Naismith, the inventor of basketball: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Naismith

Vibrating Football Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJI9sFJ9RXQ

Iteration 176 - The Return of the Open Gaming License

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We start by noting the lives of David Bowie and Alan Rickman. Then we talk about what it means that the Open Gaming License from Wizards of the Coast is back, along with their new program called the Dungeon Master's Guild. Then we talk about the cool stuff we built in Minecraft. Ryan gives a glowing review to Citizen Kane (no surprise, but it's a movie that neither of us ever got around to watching). Josh talks about his upcoming Dungeon Master experience (fingers crossed).

Iteration 156 - Hubs, Nexuses, Focuses, and Locuses

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In this episode: we report on all the fun we've had playing D&D, Minecraft, and Warhammer 40k. Our main topic this week is about hubs in fantasy worlds: such as Sigil, the city of doors, and the Infinite Staircase, the Plane of Mirrors, the World Serpent Inn, and even the Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Ryan invents the Dungeon Plane.

Join us at Roll for Initiative Victoria:

http://rollforinitiative.ca

And be sure to check out Josh's other podcast at:

http://soundcloud.com/spaceboatone

Iteration 136 - Theories of Comic Relief

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In this episode, we are joined by our most popular guest host, Jason Kirkby!

Jason plays D&D 5th edition, Josh plays Minecraft, and Ryan plays it all. For our main topic, we talk about comic relief and comedic elements in otherwise "serious" works of art and fiction and role-playing games. And what is the role of comedy in highly comedic works? We basically analyze all comedy ever.

References and Recommendations:

Star Thugs: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/18437/Star-Thugs-The-Roleplaying-Game?it=1

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy

The Maggot Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7ka7I-z_dI

Iteration 132 - Death and Legos

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Happy Pi Day! Josh attempts speaking German, and we end up making fun of Sweden. Do you really want the Swedish chef by your side in a crisis? We both share our experiences in Minecraft: Ryan plays with Tinker's Construct, and Josh experiments with ranching and cattle slaughterhouses. Ryan makes plans for GottaCon 2016, and we get excited about new free stuff coming from Wizards of the Coast. We propose D&D wands re-skinned as rolls of duck tape. Josh extols the virtues of creative collaboration. And for a main topic, we watched the Lego Movie. We talk about teamwork, and why it's hard to make it look meaningful in an action movie. We talk about the philosophy of Lego, and why it's a capitalist's ideal play medium.


References and Recommendations:

The Tao Manifesto:
http://www.tauday.com/tau-manifesto

Tinker's Construct:
http://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/mapping-and-modding/minecraft-mods/2218638-tinkers-construct

GottaCon Discussion Panels 2015:
https://geekypleasures.com/2015/03/gottacon-2015-diversity-panel-podcast-god-and-the-game-religious-inclusion-and-accommodation-in-gaming/

Roll for Initiative Victoria:
http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/roll-for-initiative-tickets-15951496355

Wind Dukes of Aaqa:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_Dukes_of_Aaqa


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