Season 1, Episode 5: In this episode, we talk about shock jocks, graphic design, and studying adventures, and in the middle we design the Born to Die TTRPG! Listen to part two of this episode only on Ko-Fi, on 2/6. Find the Born to Die RPG at https://worldchampgameco.itch.io/. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month t…

Season 1, Episode 4: In this episode, we chat about IKEA, save points in TTRPGs, and how we research games, and who our “game parents” are. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales, and more! Find us at https://braintrust.rocks/. Appendix N: Baldur’s Gate 3 big…

Season 1, Episode 3: In this episode, we talk about companions and how we love to use them. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales, and more! Find us at https://braintrust.rocks/. Appendix N: Baldur’s Gate 3 Follow Imp of the Preverse Plasmodics: mutant freak…

Season 1, Episode 2b Bonus: In this episode, we enter the Therapy-G zone to talk about how to run dungeons while playing digitally! Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales, and more! Find us at https://braintrust.rocks/. Appendix N: Western Kabuki Wolves Upon …

Season 1, Episode 2: In this episode, we talk about the meta roles at the RPG table, asymmetrical stats, and a playstorm where we go goblin mode. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales, and more! Find us at https://braintrust.rocks/. Appendix N: Sixth Sense S…

Season 1, Episode 1: In this episode we talk about the structure of the show, how we plan to make it, and what kind of things we’ll talk about. We introduce the Techlab with our first topic: what makes a good first sentence or intro paragraph of an RPG? Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus ep…

Season 1, Episode 0 Adam Vass and Will Jobst are back with another season of the Brain Trust podcast, starting this Thursday! In this preview episode, get to know our new format, release schedule, and how to support us. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales,…

We have an exciting new opportunity for you, and some tickets to sell. We chat about mentorship and how to knowledge share with others, and preview some upcoming games! ____ Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will at @will_jobst Music by Will Jobst, available at https://soundcloud.com/willjobst. Also, there’s a discord! We’d love for you to join…

We’re over in sunny Fort Wayne for the latest and greatest Gen Con. We pick our BarbieHiemer games and talk about Dr. Adam Divorce. ____ Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will at @will_jobst Music by Will Jobst, available at https://soundcloud.com/willjobst. Also, there’s a discord! We’d love for you to join! Find the link here: https://discord…

We answer questions about reengaging with WIPS, designing the roleplaying out of rpgs, and the three new questions of design. ____ Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will at @will_jobst Music by Will Jobst, available at https://soundcloud.com/willjobst. Also, there’s a discord! We’d love for you to join! Find the link here: https://discord.gg/vG…

We’re chatting about collaboration, Guns n’ Roses, and how we like to work with each other! 1978: The Night THEY Came Home. Go to 1978.games and reserve your copy today! ____ Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will at @will_jobst Music by Will Jobst, available at https://soundcloud.com/willjobst. Also, there’s a discord! We’d love for you to joi…

Today, we debut Adam’s newest RPG and crowdfunding campaign: 1978: The Night THEY Came Home. Go to 1978.games and reserve your copy today! We chat about all things 1978, the shared nightmare of being in school again, triangulating where a game fits in the world, and updates on our projects and lives. ____ Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will …

We’re back! Talking about shirts, mousetrap, making zines, and Adam’s game Sweet Revenge. Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will at @will_jobst Music by Will Jobst, available at https://soundcloud.com/willjobst. Also, there’s a discord! We’d love for you to join! Find the link here: https://discord.gg/vGB9UYYveK…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). Today we’re talking about zines, available across the internet for Zine Month 2023! The Lovers Plasmodics Sweet Revenge Horse Girl Chiron’s Doom Electrum Archive #2 Miru 2 Strictly Betw…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode, we talk about our 2023 goals, what vape carts go with what RPGs, the Jobst Style Guide, Adam’s consulting, giving back to the community, making a million dollars, and m…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode, we rank the best stuff of 2022! For spoilers and links to our favorites, check them out below: . . . . Most useful randomizer Adam: hand-made oracle cards Will: hand-ch…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode, we talk about the new Pokemon, the differences between storage lockers and graveyards, and make a game after our favorite Cabinet of Curiosities episode! ____ Find Adam…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode, we review a leaked copy of One D&D, that we absolutely acquired. It devolves into Adam and Will playing “keep one and leave one” for all the mechanics of D&D until it’s…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode, we talk to game designer, podcaster, and collage EXPERT Aaron King about Patchwork World, wonder cabinets, loud neighbors, and play a game of our own creation! ____ Fin…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode, we talk about Halloween and make a game about the seasonal Halloween megastore: Spirit Halloween! We chat about Dragonball, Resident Evil, making small games and big ga…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode we talk about peripherals, solo games, what we love about them, what we personally find friction with. We make one, and answer some questions from the Brain Trust! ____ …

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode, we talk about CYBERMETAL 2012, available now at https://www.worldchamp.io/store/cybermetal-2012. We make characters and a gang for you to put in your Cybermetal game! F…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). We’re still somewhere in Indy, plotting an anti-con. We talk about Action 5 News and make a game inspired by it! Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will at @will_jobst Music by Will …

Vote for BABES IN THE WOOD for Best Family Game in this year’s ENnies: https://vote.ennie-awards.com/vote/2022/ballot.php?category_id=9 While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). We’re live in Indy, tailgating for Gen Con 2022. …

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). Today we’re talking about support for jams, as we’re in the Summer-long TORQ-toyathon! Sign up for the jam for TORQ today: https://itch.io/jam/torq-design-derby Find Adam on Twitter at …

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). What would all our projects look like under a different lens? We look at A Guide to Casting Phantoms in the Revolution, This Discord Has Ghosts in It, and Campfire, and see if we can’t …

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). We’re back, talking about monsters we could take on, Cybermetal, TORQ release, and an obtuse lifestyle. Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will at @will_jobst Music by Will Jobst, av…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). We supercollide games together for the Game(s) Jam, running now! Find it here: https://itch.io/jam/games-jam-2022. Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will at @will_jobst Music by Wil…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). BACK CYBERMETAL TODAY: https://gamefound.com/projects/draft/iu788d7wrgt8w71nb52tbyfwxfp#/. We talk 2022 trends, guns (or the lack thereof) in games, writing, a special word from BEANS, …

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). BACK CYBERMETAL 2012 TODAY: https://gamefound.com/projects/draft/iu788d7wrgt8w71nb52tbyfwxfp#/. We talk CYBERMETAL, emo cowboys, macho man, metallica, and more! Find Adam on Twitter at …

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). We talk about tabling zine fairs, Kickstarter, blockchain, memory rewrites, BEANS, and more! Get CAMPFIRE at https://www.worldchamp.io/store/campfire-anthology-horror-storytelling Presa…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). Lifepaths, maze paths, unboxing, and bank robberies. Get CAMPFIRE at https://www.worldchamp.io/store/campfire-anthology-horror-storytelling Presave CYBERMETAL 2012 HERE: https://gamefou…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). The Boston RPG takes shape, in this morphisode. We morph from Boston, to video games, to our ADND game, and keeping the writing spark going. Adam rolls up a random TORQ car. Preorder CA…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). What If The Joker Could Beatbox, other Halloween costumes, reclaiming hobbies from our work, and more! The Good Luck Press Halloween Zine Goodie Bag is here: https://goodluckpress.co/pr…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). Gen Content, we won an award!, and a game about found-footage horror. Preorder THIS DISCORD HAS GHOSTS IN IT at https://goodluckpress.co/products/ghosts. Preorder CAMPFIRE at braintrust…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). Playtesting! The work of game design that is not words-to-paper. That old stuff in your movie queue you will literally never watch. Things that make you Google like a king. Preorder CAM…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). Sandbox design, interpretive scene design and how do we approach both! Goalsetting within purely player driven games, and CYBERMETAL 2012 chat. Preorder CAMPFIRE at braintrust.rocks Che…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). How we sleep, system reference documents (SRDs), a big burp, and the naked cowboy. Preorder CAMPFIRE at https://campfire.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders Check out TECH JAM TACTICS here: …

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). Talkin’ tactics, our own special way. Fictional triggers for mechanics, circles in Minecraft, and a live playstorm of a new game! Check out TECH JAM TACTICS here: https://itch.io/jam/te…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). We're live, at the Olympics! We talk about things in threes, Boston glory, and make a game about rock docs called ROCK DOC. Adam's ARTIST STATEMENT bundle is available here--get it now:…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). Imagine this: pickle talk. Phantom city. Prequels. Well, you don’t need to imagine it any more, because we recorded a podcast about it. Adam dives into the line design of DARTS, includi…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). CAMPFIRE: the anthology horror storytelling game is live on Kickstarter now: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/braintrust/campfire-0 In this episode, the agony of designing a playmat…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). CAMPFIRE: the anthology horror storytelling game is live on Kickstarter now: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/braintrust/campfire-0 In this episode we chat about Campfire, boxed gam…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). CAMPFIRE: the anthology horror storytelling game is coming to Kickstarter on June 1st! Click Notify me on launch. In this episode, we talk about CAMPFIRE, our newest project and Brain T…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). Rock, paper, scissors, protect, load, gun. We learn about Adam’s poker opinions and bluffstyle. There is a strong potato energy in this episode. Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Wi…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). Procedural generation, Signs of the Sojourner, and more! We go deep on an upcoming game and the procedural tools used to explore every avenue of play. Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco …

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). In this episode, we brainstorm a new type of jam, the Tech Jam! Join here: https://itch.io/jam/tech-jam. Also, we figure out what games want, airdrop violence, and more! Cannot call thi…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). Captain. Fellows. The games begin. Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will at @will_jobst Music by Will Jobst, available at https://soundcloud.com/willjobst.…

While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). In this episode: we design a Fallout game inspired by our reverse funnel conversation last episode. We chat about half-remembered Boston locations, Cait from the Combat Zone, and perks.…

While you’re here, contribute to Black Lives Matter in whatever way you can: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/. In this episode: the reverse funnel, dungeon spirits, multiplayer AI, and the a LOT of Wizard of Oz. Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will at @will_jobst Music by Will Jobst, available at https://soundcloud.com/willjobst.…