Author Archives: Shane

Ken St. Andre Part 2 – Episode 290 – 4/30/2026

Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #290 – 4/30/2026

The second of two interviews with game designer Ken St. Andre, this time focusing on his video game design history (see part one for discussion around his tabletop RPG design). Games discussed in this episode: Tunnels & Trolls: Crusaders of Khazan, Adventure Construction Set, Wasteland (without which there would be no Fallout), and Wasteland 2. Ken’s favorite Christopher Reeve Superman movie. One of Shane’s pet peeves with current superhero comic book stories (especially DC). The origins of storytelling. Did the Empire from Star Wars have a good side? What happened when Ken and Roberta Williams of Sierra On-Line offered Ken a job? What two classic 80s action flicks helped inspire Wasteland (one is sort of obvious, one might not be), and what does Daffy Duck have to do with it all? What does the Mercenaries, Spies and Private Eyes RPG have to do with Tunnels & Trolls, and what do they both have to do with Wasteland? Ken’s thoughts on being involved with Wasteland 2. Ken’s never-released superhero game version of Tunnels & Trolls called Power Trip. The most important rule in Tunnels & Trolls (as opposed to the most important principle). Watch out for snollygosters. Ken’s thoughts on power scale in superhero RPGs (think Batman and Superman in the same fight). Q&A with Ken based on questions submitted by Matt Barton of Matt Chat. Ken’s advice for game designers. What would Ken have done differently in his career? Cockroach population analysis. How Ken made it into the Hall of Fame.

Listen to the Shane Plays podcast on YouTube, iTunes, Google Play Music, Podbean and Stitcher (plus other fine podcast directories).

SHOW NOTES

Ken St. Andre Part 1 – Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode 288 – 3/8/2026
https://shaneplays.com/rpg-designer-ken-st-andre-part-1-podcast/

Ken St. Andre on Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_St._Andre

Trollgodfather Press (Ken’s Publishing Company)
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/9559/trollgodfather-press

Wasteland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasteland_(video_game)

Wasteland 2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasteland_2

Tunnels & Trolls: Crusaders of Khazan
https://mobygames.com/game/3398/tunnels-trolls-crusaders-of-khazan/

Adventure Construction Set
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_Construction_Set

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Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition
Shane’s book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
Order on Amazon now:
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Desktops-History-Computer-Role-Playing/dp/1138574643/

Like what you hear?
Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays

Hey, YOU! Yeah, YOU! 😀😀 You can buy cool stuff and support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links!

Humble Bundle
https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays

DriveThruRPG.com
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?affiliate_id=488512

John M. Ford with Victor Raymond – Episode 289 – 3/30/2026

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Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #289 – 3/30/2026

The one and only, amazing, science fiction and fantasy writer, game designer, and poet, John M. Ford (aka “Mike”) with Dr. Victor Raymond. A very quick Tékumel update. John M. Ford won a prestigious award for a Christmas card. In addition to his novel writing, he also wrote for RPGs, including Traveller, GURPS, Star Trek, Paranoia, and Ghostbusters. Paranoia is a joyful HOOT. John M. Ford’s take on Klingons (including linguistics) is excellent and sublime, and it’s a shame it’s not Star Trek canon. “Realistic” space combat in science fiction. Reading a John M. Ford novel is a very rewarding exercise in inference. Recommendations on where to start in his bibliography. A brief digression into Harlan Ellison. Sweet memories of Mike (and Darklands, too).

Listen to the Shane Plays podcast on YouTube, iTunes, Google Play Music, Podbean and Stitcher (plus other fine podcast directories).

SHOW NOTES

John M. Ford on Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_M._Ford

The Disappearance of John M. Ford by Isaac Butler
https://slate.com/culture/2019/11/john-ford-science-fiction-fantasy-books.html

Bibliography: John M. Ford on the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?226

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Like what you hear?
Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays

Hey, YOU! Yeah, YOU! 😀😀 You can buy cool stuff and support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links!

Humble Bundle
https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays

DriveThruRPG.com
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?affiliate_id=488512

Star Trek Voyager: Across The Unknown Gameplay #4

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Gameplay of Star Trek Voyager: Across The Unknown.

Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown is a story-driven survival strategy game in which the fate of the iconic starship is in your hands. Take the helm, manage the ship and resources, and make difficult decisions. Will you be able to bring home the ship and its crew?

Ken St. Andre Part 1 – Episode 288 – 3/8/2026

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Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #288 – 3/8/2026

Historic RPG designer Ken St. Andre (Tunnels & Trolls, Starfaring, Monsters! Monsters!, Stormbringer, more) joins for this episode. The game that shall not be named. Is it wise to go into dungeons as an adventurer, or do you just need luck? The practicality of six-siders versus Platonic solids. The most powerful buttons in the universe. Who’s tougher, the Romulans or the Klingons? Marbles were the collectible card game of their day. Diplomacy variants. Gary Gygax’s first introduction to Tunnels & Trolls. Dave Arneson’s contribution to Flying Buffalo Games. Ken’s impressions of Dave. Ken’s opinion on whether OD&D was an actual RPG. Ken told TSR’s lawyers, and I quote, “go piss up a rope.” Ken’s advice to game designers. Clever solutions in dealing with a Balrog. What is “stunting” in an RPG? Tunnels & Trolls on the MetaArcade app. Ken and Shane’s predictions about AI’s effect on the RPG industry. Mata Hari. Ken was a pioneer in solo RPG adventures (which Shane feels is important). What game of Ken’s does he think is better than Tunnels & Trolls? Some Elric discussion. The secret brotherhood of librarians (or lack thereof). A brief diversion into chicken psychology.

Listen to the Shane Plays podcast on YouTube, iTunes, Google Play Music, Podbean and Stitcher (plus other fine podcast directories).

SHOW NOTES

Ken St. Andre on Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_St._Andre

Trollgodfather Press (Ken’s Publishing Company)
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/9559/trollgodfather-press

Tunnels & Trolls
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnels_%26_Trolls

Starfaring
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfaring

Monsters! Monsters!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsters!_Monsters!

Stormbringer RPG
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormbringer_(role-playing_game)

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Like what you hear?
Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays

Hey, YOU! Yeah, YOU! 😀😀 You can buy cool stuff and support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links!

Humble Bundle
https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays

DriveThruRPG.com
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?affiliate_id=488512

Star Trek Voyager: Across The Unknown Gameplay #3

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Star Trek Voyager: Across The Unknown Gameplay #2

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Star Trek Voyager: Across The Unknown Gameplay #1

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What advice would you give to a D&D 5th Edition player playing an Old School RPG for the first time?

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100+ responses on a post asking just this question cover a wide range of advice, with several recurring themes emerging.

One of the clearest themes: it’s much more dangerous!

Also, is the DM obligated to balance encounters, gold pieces as XP, hirelings, THAC0, skip the backstory until 3rd level, squad tactics and party balance, and a lot more! What would YOU say?

Star Trek Voyager: Across The Unknown Demo Gameplay

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Gameplay of the Star Trek Voyager: Across The Unknown Demo.

Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown is a story-driven survival strategy game in which the fate of the iconic starship is in your hands. Take the helm, manage the ship and resources, and make difficult decisions. Will you be able to bring home the ship and its crew?

Review: Wasted Wizard D&D Condition Rings Game Accessory with STUPENDOUS MOCK BATTLE

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Note: Wasted Wizard provided me with a review copy of this gaming accessory. There was no expectation or agreement to offer a positive review in return.

I’ve bought D&D / RPG condition rings for use with minis before, and felt they were cool enough. Here are the ones I already had before Wasted Wizard reached out and asked if I would be interested in reviewing theirs:

(To build anticipation, I’ll add another photo below comparing these condition rings with Wasted Wizard’s. It’s the art of the tease!)

As you can see, these other rings do the job, i.e., they provide a plastic ring displaying a condition you can place a mini with a standard-sized round base in for easy reference.

Wasted Wizard has taken things up a notch. Not only are their rings fully color-coded, but they also have height, which lets you stack them and still be readable. I mean, you COULD stack the other ones, but you can’t tell what condition the rings under the top would indicate.

The Wasted Wizard Condition Rings starter set comes with 120 rings, divided by 30 different statuses and spells (4 of each).

Wasted Wizards D&D condition rings in the box

Wasted Wizards D&D condition rings in the box inset

Wasted Wizard D&D condition ring list of conditions

The box includes felt rings you can attach to the bottom of each condition ring. My first reaction was I’m not going to bother with that, but after testing one out, the action on the table is much nicer with the felt, so I recommend doing so.

Wasted Wizard D&D condition rings one with felt ring attached one without — Wasted Wizard meets your felt needs

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here’s a STUPENDOUS MOCK BATTLE that illustrates their use (and usefulness).

Wasted Wizards D&D condition rings mock battle warrior encounters raging monsterWasted Wizards D&D condition rings mock battle warrior encounters raging monster — Our noble warrior encounters a fearsome beastie that immediately RAGES!!

Wasted Wizards D&D condition rings mock battle warrior grappled — After trading blows, the fearsome beastie decides he loves the noble warrior and leans in to give him a hug. Our noble warrior is now GRAPPLED!

Wasted Wizards D&D condition rings mock battle warrior blessed and monster debuffed — Our noble warrior’s noble friends come to his aid! His cleric buddy casts Bless, and he is now BLESSED. His wizard buddy casts Slow on the fearsome beastie, so the slavering monster now has a MAGICAL EFFECT!!

Wasted Wizards D&D condition rings mock battle warrior stunned — After valiantly trading more blows with the fearsome beastie, our noble warrior is STUNNED by a fearsome blow!!

Wasted Wizards D&D condition rings mock battle warrior prone and unconscious — Before his valiant allies can intervene (his buddy the cleric slept poorly the night before and was a moment too late on a Heal spell), the fearsome beastie rocks the noble warrior’s socks off, and he is now PRONE and UNCONSCIOUS (but still noble)!!

Wasted Wizards D&D condition rings mock battle monster polymorphed — At which point his wizard buddy decides he’s had enough of messing around and POLYMORPHS the fearsome beastie into a nice little bunny rabbit!!

A picture of a nice little bunny rabbit.

One feature I want to make sure to point out is that each ring has a symbol for its condition in addition to the text. Not absolutely necessary, but a nice touch.

Wasted Wizards D&D condition rings in the box inset with symbols circled

Ah, and lest I forget, here’s that comparison photo I promised, baby! NEVER SAY SHANE PLAYS DOESN’T DELIVER ON THE ART OF THE TEASE!!

Wasted Wizard D&D condition rings compared to standard D&D condition rings with mini

As you can see, it’s quite a differencce.

If your group plays in person with minis, I feel I can certainly if… conditionally 😊recommend this as a useful accessory for your D&D game, assuming you are frustrated with (or want to improve) your current methods for tracking conditions. As of this writing, the starter set is $34.99 ($29.99 on Amazon).

Last but not least, here’s a SUPER GROOVY BONUS VIDEO VERSION of this review:

Thanks for your time, and happy playing!