Become a better DM, storyteller and player each week! Professional GMs Eric Holden & Matt Staples talk gaming, storytelling and more. Whether you’re a newcomer to the world of Dungeons & Dragons (or other table top RPGs), a gaming pro, or somewhere in between, you can be assured to learn something that will make your game more interesting, engaging, and most of all fun.
…
continue reading
Quick snippets of my madness.
…
continue reading
Your regular visit to the archives of vanity, where men and women who stopped making myths turned to issuing commandments. Your guides for this journey are the writers Phil Klay and Jacob Siegel, along with their trusty engineer, Jacqui Rigazio May you continue to be a person. Manifesto! Is now sponsored by Fairfield University, a Jesuit University in Fairfield Connecticut. Fairfield’s mission is to develop the creative intellectual potential of students and to foster in them ethical and rel ...
…
continue reading
Two skeptical dorks examine cases of the strange and unusual and try to find out what's really going on. Is the Loveland Frogman just a deformed iguana? Is the Black Monk of Pontefract a trick of the eye? What about Will o' the Wisp? Poltergeists? Leprechauns? Gateways to Hell? We examine them all and discuss if it's real, or if it's Hardly Paranormal.
…
continue reading
Dark Corners with David Allen Voyles features original tales of terror narrated by the author himself in the vein of old classic radio shows like Lights Out and Inner Sanctum, yet beware...these tales are even darker. The eerie yet beautiful music by dark ambient musician/composer Mombi Yuleman further ensures a spine-tingling experience for those brave enough to venture into the Dark Corners.
…
continue reading
Looking for fun new options for your familiar? This week, we dive into D&D’s Find Familiar spell, giving practical tips on using them and new creative ideas that maximize their potential in your game. Rethink your connection to these magical companions! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Episode 69: Should We Bring Children Into Existence?
2:04:28
2:04:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
2:04:28
Phil and Jake are joined by Anastasia Berg and Rachel Wiseman, the authors of What Are Children For? On Ambivalence and Choice, to discuss David Benatar's 1997 paper "Why It Is Better Never to Come into Existence," alongside Paul Schrader's 2017 film First Reformed. The Manifesto: David Benatar - "Why It Is Better Never to Come into Existence" http…
…
continue reading
Do your players thrill for the open void of Wildspace, or the Githyanki infested Shimmering Seas? Test them with 6 new monsters that will challenge even the bravest of spelljamming crews. Grab your dice, chart your course, and set sail for adventure! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out al…
…
continue reading
Is your story withering on the vine? It’s time to add a few story seeds! Learn how you can use story seeds to make amazing side quests, awesome NPCs, and use the storytelling concept to further grow your adventure. Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, …
…
continue reading
Jake and Phil are joined by the poet and critic Alice Gribbin to discuss Ezra Pound's The Serious Artist and Eliot Weinberger's The Life of Tu Fu The Manifesto: Ezra Pound, The Serious Artist https://archive.org/details/literaryessaysof00poun/page/n5/mode/2up The Art: Eliot Weinberger, The Life of Tu Fu https://www.ndbooks.com/book/the-life-of-tu-f…
…
continue reading
Fancy tag-teaming your world building experience? Learn how to effectively co-DM a D&D game! Join us as we cover practical tips for communication, planning, and managing player dynamics to create a cohesive and immersive gaming environment. Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links an…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Episode 67: Wallace Stegner's Crossing to Safety
59:17
59:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:17
Jake and Phil are joined by Sam Kimbriel, director of the Aspen Institute's Philosophy and Society Initiative, to discuss Wallace Stegner's 1987 novel Crossing to Safety.By Manifesto! A Podcast
…
continue reading
Are you ready to craft immersive, high stakes (and high depth) storytelling? Take the plunge as we explore ways to incorporate aquatic dungeons into your next campaign. Explore the terrors and treasures of the deep with your players! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socia…
…
continue reading
Do you enjoy dinosaurs AND the elemental planes? Join us as we explore 8 new planar monsters, and show you how to merge primal planes and primal beasts into one amazing creature! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner.com…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Episode 66: Hobbits, Goblins and the Very Adult World of Fairy-Stories
1:23:11
1:23:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:23:11
Jake and Phil are joined by the novelist and chronicler of post-secular religious movements, Tara Isabella Burton, to discuss J.R.R. Tolkien's 1939 essay “On Fairy-Stories” and Christina Rossetti's 1862 poem, "Goblin Market." The manifesto: https://ieas-szeged.hu/downtherabbithole/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Tolkien-On-Fairy-Stories.pdf The Art: htt…
…
continue reading
Eric and Matt sit down with Travis Sivart to chat about writing, ghost hunting, his knighthood and monsters. Travis is an author of multiple genres of books including sci-fi and fantasy novels. He created the Traverse Reality, a shared universe that connects cyberpunk, fantasy and steampunk works, and writes characters who feel real to his readers.…
…
continue reading
The trick to having a good fantasy world vs. a great one is how you use tiny details to generate interest. Enhance your storytelling with 8 simple rules that add depth, energy, and fun for both you and your players. Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website,…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Gish'n It Up: How to Play a Dungeons & Dragons Eldritch Knight
37:24
37:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
37:24
Looking to smack your foes with a sword AND arcane power? Look no further than our guide to D&D 5e’s Eldritch Knight! Learn how to customize your fighter for maximum flavor and fun. Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner.com…
…
continue reading
Phil and Jake are joined by the Matt Gallagher, author of Daybreak, to discuss George Orwell's "Looking Back on the Spanish War", and Benjamin Busch's photographs from Ukraine, "Nine Dialogues: Conflict in Context" The Manifesto: George Orwell, "Looking Back on the Spanish War" https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-an…
…
continue reading
Eric and Matt get out the crystal ball and provide 10 possible insights into the future of D&D 2024 edition, the company Hasbro and gaming in general. Will things get worse before they get better? Will Hasbro make a cash grab (yes)? Will they ever remake DarkSun (no)? Find out here! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinsco…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
We Interview Ed Jowett from Shades of Vengeance
27:29
27:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:29
Eric sits down with Ed Jowett, managing director and lead games designer of Shades of Vengeance. Ed's newest game Era: Kaiju (a game where you get to play a giant monster) is currently on kickstarter. Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscor…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Episode 64: Power of the Powerless and the Velvet Underground
1:22:03
1:22:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:22:03
Jake and Phil are joined by the novelist and essayist Jared Marcel Pollen to discuss Vaclav Havel’s “The Power of the Powerless” and The Velvet Underground’s second album, White Light/White Heat The Manifesto: https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/wp-content/uploads/1979/01/the-power-of-the-powerless.pdf The Art: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJy0L…
…
continue reading
Have a fantasy town but are lacking in story, depth, and the most important part, people? Beef up your worldbuilding with colorful non-player characters! Dive into the episode and fill your town with example friends, enemies and everything in between. Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out a…
…
continue reading
Seeking more elemental power in your D&D games? This week we’ve 8, powerful magic item creations, sure to bring a spark to your player’s eyes. Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner.comBy Eric Holden & Matt Staples
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Gith: A History of the Githyanki & Githzerai
38:18
38:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:18
Whereupon we dive into the strange and sordid history of the Gith from D&D. Discover new game and story options, ways to improve both groups, and learn why the Githyanki and Githzerai hate each other so much. Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.go…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Episode 63: How Money Culture Hurts the American Family and Girls
1:12:03
1:12:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:12:03
Jake and Phil discuss "How Money Culture Hurts the American Family," by Ian Marcus Corbin, and episode seven of the first season of Girls The Manifesto: Ian Marcus Corbin, "How Money Culture Hurts the American Family" https://www.capita.org/money-culture Girls, Welcome to Bushwick a.k.a. The Crackcident https://www.hbo.com/girls/season-1/7-welcome-…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we enlighten our listeners on the finer points of running a monk only, or martial arts themed campaign in D&D. Stretch out your body and your mind and let the fists fly! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner.com…
…
continue reading
How do you successfully world build? Learn these easy DM tips and tricks to build taverns, towns and worlds WITH your players! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner.comBy Eric Holden & Matt Staples
…
continue reading
Whereupon we unleash a molten fountain of knowledge on how to successfully run a game in volcanic terrain. Send your players into a fiery holocaust, where scorching monsters dwell! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner.com…
…
continue reading
Once again, Eric & Matt dive into internet shouting matches to go over 10 more spicy D&D hot takes! You have opinions, we have answers…sort of. Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner.comBy Eric Holden & Matt Staples
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Episode 62: Last Men and Women: George Scialabba and the Challenge of Modernity
1:20:54
1:20:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:20:54
Jake and Phil are joined live at Fairfield University by the great critic and essayist George Scialabba to discuss Last Men and Women At a time of war, impending ecological disaster, and partisan rage, our commitments to the modern, liberal order are being questioned like never before. Do we understand ourselves best as individuals or as members of…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we administer swift knowledge for running action packed, fast paced adventures and time sensitive campaigns. DMs and storytellers, grab your seat belts and notepads…let’s create some dramatic tension! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we provide 6 new monsters of frosty death for you to use in your next game! Brave the frigid lands of ice and snow and fight living snowbanks, baleful undead, and cows made of ice cream. Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner.…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Episode 61: Red Music and Mal Waldron
1:08:52
1:08:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:08:52
Jake and Phil discuss Josef Skvorecky's "Red Music," an account of playing jazz under Nazism and Communism, alongside Mal Waldron's "Mal Waldron Plays Erik Satie" The Manifesto: Josef Skvorecky, "Red Music" https://harpers.org/archive/1986/03/red-music/ The Art: Mal Waldron, "Mal Waldron Plays Erik Satie" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juNNxsUXvQw…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
5 TTRPGs You Should Be Playing Right Now!
32:16
32:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:16
Whereupon we showcase 5 amazing tabletop games you should immediately add to your collection. Try your hand at Appalachian horror, play undead city dwellers, sci-fi aliens, and much more! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner.com…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we examine all the various iterations of Dungeons & Dragons to pick out what’s great, and what isn’t. Learn the good, the bad, and the ugly about the world’s greatest roleplaying game! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner.co…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Episode 60: The Palestinian People and the Western Observer
1:01:34
1:01:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:01:34
Phil talks with poet and translator Philip Metres about the current conflict, the position of a Western observer in regards to what is happening in Gaza, his poem "Remorse for Temperate Speech," as well as his book "Returning to Jaffa." https://philipmetres.comBy Manifesto! A Podcast
…
continue reading
Phil asks Jake about the recent conflict in Israel, and they take listener questions.By Manifesto! A Podcast
…
continue reading
Whereupon we delve into the lore and storytelling aspects of curses in games, and show you how to vastly improve the experience for your players. Dole out your own home-brew curses that are interesting and amusing, or use the ones provided! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links an…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we entice you with 6 brand-new and absurd enchantment spells, full of amusing lore and flavor. Unleash psychic horror, manipulate crowds and perform the safety dance, all to your delight! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we take a walk in the Far Realm to show you how to birth forth your own horrible abominations. Create your own custom tentacled horrors, or use the ones we’ve kindly provided in this episode against your players! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our w…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Episode 58: The Enlightenment of Katzuo Nakamatsu
31:24
31:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:24
Phil is joined by Sam Kimbriel, director of the Aspen Institute's Philosophy and Society Initiative, and Jennifer Shyue, a Spanish language literary translator, to discuss her recently published translation of Augusto Higa Oshiro's The Enlightenment of Katzuo Nakamatsu. https://archipelagobooks.org/book/the-enlightenment-of-katzuo-nakamatsu/…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we take the 6 most common problems in a party’s makeup, and provide several creative options to overcome each challenge. Whether it’s an all caster group or a game full of rogues, you can be sure to overcome whatever the storyteller throws at you! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we take 10 magic items from the Dungeon Masters Guide and add some fun quirks to each object. Use these quirky objects to add some lore to your game or use them as inspiration to make your own quirks! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.…
…
continue reading
Jake and Phil are joined by Walter Kirn to discuss Kirn's essay "The Bullshit" alongside Mark Twain's "My First Lie and How I Got Out of It" The Manifesto: Walter Kirn, "The Bullshit" https://walterkirn.substack.com/p/the-bullshit The Art: Mark Twain's "My First Lie and How I Got Out of It" https://americanliterature.com/author/mark-twain/short-sto…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we explore the cosmology and lore of Yggdrasil in the D&D universe. Grow some adventure with the World Tree, and add a little Norse flavor to your next game! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner.com…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we craft 8 unique pieces of fantasy real estate for you to use in your next game. Have your players journey to draconic graveyards, arcane pyramids, volcanic cages and more! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner.com…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we grant DMs several storytelling methods to manage the vast amount of problematic wealth player characters obtain, without breaking the game world. Diversify your assets in this high yield episode! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.go…
…
continue reading
Jake and Phil are joined by Santiago Ramos, a contributing writer to Commonweal Magazine, to discuss Michael Novak's The Secular Saint and the epilogue to Michel Houellebecq's 1998 novel The Elementary Particles. The Manifesto: Michael Novak, The Secular Saint https://www.amazon.com/theology-radical-politics-Michael-Novak/dp/B0006BZ4H2 The Art: Mic…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we show you how to construct your own convention survival backpack to not only get through your first con, but also thrive! Carry the essentials, while having plenty of room for all the stuff you want to buy. Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our websi…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we harness our inner Gnome to craft 8 delightfully deadly traps for your favorite game. Spice up your dungeon with whimsical, whorling blades, crazed chemicals, and fake flumphs! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner.com…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we explore some of the controversy regarding guns and explosives in fantasy games, and show you how to incorporate them into your campaign. Break out of dull games, and add some gunpowder for a fiery story! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we shed light on the stats, tactics and lore of your favorite, adventurer eating, shapeshifting dungeon monsters. Everything’s a mimic in this week’s episode! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner.com…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Episode 55: The Great Mating Debate
1:18:22
1:18:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:18:22
Phil is joined by Becca Rothfeld, BD McClay, and Jon Baskin to discuss Norman Rush's 1991 novel Mating, and whether it offers a roadmap for love in the 21st century. Becca Rothfeld is the nonfiction book critic at the Washington Post and an editor at the Point. BD McClay is an essayist and critic who has written for publications like Lapham's Quart…
…
continue reading
Whereupon we plunder a dragon’s horde of information on how to run an exciting and entertaining rogue campaign. Gather your characters, grab your daggers and spells…it’s time for a robbery! Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. --- Hit us up @goblinscorner on Twitter, and check out all links and socials on our website, www.goblinscorner.com…
…
continue reading