Iteration 217 - Succession and Transition of Power

the direct download link for this episode is here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_217_-_Succession_and_Transition_of_Power.mp3

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

send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com

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 200 - Magic with Personality

the direct download link for this episode is here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_200_-_Magic_with_Personality.mp3

send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com

We start with a discussion about why we think movies bomb at the box office. Then Ryan and Zoey review Finding Dory (2016 film). Josh reports on Love and Friendship (2016 film). Then Ryan points out all the plot holes in Men in Black 3.

Then we talk about how summoning monsters from other planes works, on a technical level, and the variants in which you can summon the same version of the monster every time. And we conclude with a discussion about intelligent or semi-intelligent magic items, and how to deal with them as players, DMs, and storytellers.

References and Recommendations:

Finding Dory (2016 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2277860/

Love and Friendship (2016 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3068194/

Lindybeige: https://www.youtube.com/user/lindybeige

Iteration 196 - Optimal Number of Murder Suspects

the direct download link for this episode is here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_196_-_Optimal_Number_of_Murder_Suspects.mp3

send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com

We start off with a bit of talk about the theatrical and storytelling nature of boxing, in light of the passing of Muhammad Ali. For our main topic this week, Ryan watched Calling Doctor Death, and we wonder whether there's an optimal number of suspects for a murder mystery on film or in books. Then in the course of this, we invent a setting for a Western in which every citizen is required to have killed someone.


References and Recommendations:

Cookie Clicker: http://orteil.dashnet.org/cookieclicker/

Calling Dr. Death (1943 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035706/

Iteration 186 - Invisibilities and Corruptions

the direct download link for this episode is here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_186_-_Invisibilities_and_Political_Corruptions.mp3

send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com


We discuss our recent adventures in gaming, including Josh's Minecraft building, Ryan's Secret World wardrobe functions, and comedy bingo. Then Ryan brings up the Invisible Man film, and we discuss the ways to be invisible, and the advantages of that power.

References and Recommendations:

The Invisible Man (1933 film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invisible_Man_%28film%29

Iteration 153 - World-Shattering Planet-Building

the direct download link for this episode is here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_153_-_Inspiration_for_World-Building.mp3

send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com

We start with a talk about Jon Stewart finishing off the Daily Show, and what it means for an icon to quit or retire. We discuss Hollowfaust: the City of Necromancers. Plus, our adventures in Minecraft, and Josh's adventures in Dungeons & Dragons, which our listeners can join at Roll for Initiative Victoria. And for our main topic, we talk about world building and taking inspiration from one medium to another, translating between very different worlds with very different rules. Which leads us into a rather odd conversation about an otherworldly invasion of sanity-defying beasts.

References and Recommendations:

Roll for Initiative role-playing event: http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/roll-for-initiative-tickets-17639853276