Walking Away From Arcadia

Changeling: the Dreaming and Social Commentary

Join us today as Victor and Simon talk about the history White Wolf authors and devs using the World of Darkness for social satire and commentary, and how Changeling fits into that aspect of the game line. 

Chaneling's commentary on the world we live in isn't always as obvioius as some of the other games, but much like the Dreaming itself when you peek under the surface it is present and expansive. Simon and Victor will talk about which periods of Changeling's history dealt with social commentary most deeply, and which themes come up in their games.

Consider this your content warning: politics.

 

The readings from this conversation were from The Little Country by Charles deLint, The True Tale of Yer by Bryan Thao Worra, and Wistful Sidhe Nonsense by Victor Kinzer.

The music from this episode was LSD by Mon Plaisir.

To purchase Changeling the Dreaming as well as a wide array of other Role Playing texts go to DriveThruRPG.com.

We have a blog now! Come read some of our more fully developed thoughts about playing and playing with the Changeling: the Dreaming rules and setting at Parting the Mists.

Portions of the materials are the copyrights and trademarks of White Wolf Publishing AB, and are used with permission. All rights reserved. For more information please visit white-wolf.com.

Returning from the Mists I

Today we’re celebrating your successful Mists Imbalance treatment and return to the Waking World. Or, because we’ve never done anything quite like our last episode and we don’t quite have the strength of conviction to let the stories we tried to tell stand on their own, we’re having a little chat where we try to make a little more plain the things we tried to highlight and communicate through our first Beyond the Mists episode. Join us as we go over the stories we tried to tell, what parts of the Changeling: the Dreaming canon inspired them, and where we had to diverge into tin-foil-hattery to make narrative flow better.

Our sources for the canon events referenced in this episode were: Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition, Kingdom of Willows, War in Concordia, Fool’s Luck: Way of the Commoner.

Once again, a huge thank you to our friends who helped voice parts of Beyond the Mists I.

The music in this episode was: LSD by Mon Plaisir.

We’ll be doing a few more history episodes like Beyond the Mists I. If you have points of the Changeling: the Dreaming canon you find super interesting or confusing that you think we should touch on, hit us up on our Facebook, Blog, or Podbean pages or email us. If you like what we’re doing, please think about leave a review on whatever service you get your podcasts through -- this helps us get more eyes and ears and helps keep the Dreaming alive.

To purchase Changeling the Dreaming as well as a wide array of other Role Playing texts go to DriveThruRPG.com.

We have a blog now! Come read some of our more fully developed thoughts about playing and playing with the Changeling: the Dreaming rules and setting at Parting the Mists.

Portions of the materials are the copyrights and trademarks of White Wolf Publishing AB, and are used with permission. All rights reserved. For more information please visit white-wolf.com.

Beyond the Mists I

Today we have something a little different. A few months ago, we watched a thread about what people wanted from podcasts about Changeling. One thing someone mentioned that we realized we haven’t really done justice is the in-canon history of Changeling: the Dreaming. This lead to us doing a deep dive into some of the supplemental and setting books and getting a couple of massive headaches. Changeling’s history is shattered, confusing, and often self-contradictory.

We decided that the best way to tackle the history of the Autumn World, the Chimerical World, and the Dreaming would be to embrace the confusion and contradictions and do it from the unreliable perspective of being within the World of Darkness. This episode is several vignettes that highlighted what we felt were important points in the modern period (Resurgence to C20th’s “today”) of Changeling: the Dreaming’s history.

This episode of Walking Away From Arcadia was written, edited, and produced by Victor Kinzer and Simon Eichhornchen. Exhibits 2, 3, 7, and 8 were written by Victor Kinzer. Exhibits 1, 4, 5, 6, and 9 were written by Simon Eichhornchen.  Cultural expertise and editorial review was provided by Laura Martinez

Our sources for the canon events referenced in this episode were: Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition, Kingdom of Willows, War in Concordia, Fool’s Luck: Way of the Commoner.

A huge thank you to our underappreciated vocal talent: Angelien Batterman as Shirley Algan, Solomon Hursey as Richard Oakes, Cosmo Cahill as Siobahn ap Eiluned and High Queen Faerilyth, Salih as Jibril, Erika as Jens, and Natali Gerany as the Svartalfar and King Meilge. The Darkstar Online computer voice and Mr. Cloverfield-Warren were played by robots.

Victor played the narrator, the Glome of Alkatraz, Amergine ap Ailil, Sigurd formerly-Aesin, High King David, Bartholomew Macrary, and DC.

Simon played the dosen, Brownie Bill Bagley, and James Mitchell.

The music featured in this episode was: LSD by Mon Plaisir, 60s Acoustic Solo by Valentino Snitskiy, Jugular Street by Rolemusic, Sexy Sadism by Usher Zreen Toys, Cerebral Cortex (Vertigo Mix) by Parvus Decree, I Need a Heroic Figure Main Character Theme by Komiku, Dust Monsters by My Own Cubic Stone, Chasing Shadows by Overhill Lane, and  Melancholy Aftersounds by Kai Engel.

We’ll be doing a few more history episodes like this. If you have points of the Changeling: the Dreaming canon you find super interesting or confusing that you think we should touch on, hit us up on our Facebook, Blog, or Podbean pages or email us. If you like what we’re doing, please think about leaving a review on whatever service you get your podcasts through -- this helps us get more eyes and ears and helps keep the Dreaming alive.

To purchase Changeling the Dreaming as well as a wide array of other Role Playing texts go to DriveThruRPG.com.

We have a blog now! Come read some of our more fully developed thoughts about playing and playing with the Changeling: the Dreaming rules and setting at Parting the Mists.

Portions of the materials are the copyrights and trademarks of White Wolf Publishing AB, and are used with permission. All rights reserved. For more information please visit white-wolf.com.

Glamour and Banality Revisited

Join Victor and Simon today as we go back to a topic we'd covered before C20 came out. While Glamour hasn't seen much revision, Banality saw the introduction of banality triggers, seeming triggers and immunities, antithesis, and other changes. We also touch on the Thallain and Fomorians, who have had their connections to banality retconned.

The readings from today’s conversation were from Changeling: the Dreaming 2nd Edition by White Wolf Publishing, Graceful Wicked Masques: the Fair Folk by White Wolf Publishing, Pour l'Amour et Liberte - Book of Houses 2 by White Wolf Publishing.

The music from today’s conversation was LSD by Mon Plaisir, Tannhauser Gate by Tri-Tachyon, Erosion Hydrique by Mathieu Lamontagne & Emmanuel Toledo, and Sad Walk with Sad Melodica by Komiku.

To purchase Changeling the Dreaming as well as a wide array of other Role Playing texts go to DriveThruRPG.com.

We have a blog now! Come read some of our more fully developed thoughts about playing and playing with the Changeling: the Dreaming rules and setting at Parting the Mists.

Portions of the materials are the copyrights and trademarks of White Wolf Publishing AB, and are used with permission. All rights reserved. For more information please visit white-wolf.com.

Arcadia the Wyld Hunt Minisode

So given our lapse in updates two weeks ago we decided to give you a little something extra. In addition to the WoD crossover episode going up here is a Minisode where Simon and Victor spend a little bit of time talking about Arcadia the Wyld Hunt, the Changeling CCG.  Victor bought some cards, and they played around with the game enough to see how it relates to the Changeling canon and get a sense of the rules and what sort of place it might have in the current gaming landscape if White Wolf ever decided they wanted to bring it back.

The music from this episode was “LSD” by Monplaisir.

To purchase Changeling the Dreaming as well as a wide array of other Role Playing texts go to DriveThruRPG.com.

We have a blog now! Come read some of our more fully developed thoughts about playing and playing with the Changeling: the Dreaming rules and setting at Parting the Mists.

Portions of the materials are the copyrights and trademarks of White Wolf Publishing AB, and are used with permission. All rights reserved. For more information please visit white-wolf.com.

Storytelling Crossovers

Episode 16

Storytelling Crossovers

 

Hope you’re all recovered from seeing both faces of Janus last night, ‘cause topic is a doozy.

 

Join Victor and Simon and Josh Heath as we discuss building cross-genre World of Darkness games that involve Changeling: the Dreaming. We wend our way through Vampire: the Masquerade, Werewolf: the Apocalypse, Mage: the Ascension, and Wraith: the Oblivion, and tease out commonality with Changeling: the Dreaming as well as potential pitfalls (spoilers: the Mists) for cross over games.

 

The readings from this conversation were from “The Spirit Messengers” from “Rage Across Appalachia” from White Wolf Game Studio, “Coda: A Play in One Act” Written by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, “Dream Ring” from “Guildbook: Sandmen” from White Wolf Game Studio, and “Coda: A Play in One Act” again.

 

The music from this episode was “LSD” by Mon Plaisir.

 

You can find more of Josh Heath's work and thoughts on RPGs at Keep On the Heathlands.

To purchase Changeling the Dreaming as well as a wide array of other Role Playing texts go to DriveThruRPG.com. We have a blog now! Come read some of our more fully developed thoughts about playing and playing with the Changeling: the Dreaming rules and setting at Parting the Mists.

Portions of the materials are the copyrights and trademarks of White Wolf Publishing AB, and are used with permission. All rights reserved. For more information please visit white-wolf.com.

Holiday Break Announcement and 2018 Preview

Episode Oh God It's Already the 15th?!

Holiday greetings, listeners! Victor and Simon eat crow today as we failed to meet our update schedule for the first time since starting this project. Rather than leave you with nothing, here's a short preview of one of the canon history episodes we're working on now. Normal podcast schedule will resume January 1st, 2018.

Portions of the materials are the copyrights and trademarks of White Wolf Publishing AB, and are used with permission. All rights reserved. For more information please visit white-wolf.com.

Storytelling Changeling

Episode 15

Storytelling Changeling: the Dreaming

 

Join Victor and Simon in our rambling conversation about planning and storytelling games for Changeling: the Dreaming. More best-practices than canon or rules discussion, we hope this episode will serve as a useful tool for storytellers.

 

The readings from this episode were from “Chrysalis” by Rocio Vega, “Touch” by Kathryn Larlee, “Chrysalis”, and “Green Grass; Running Water” by Thomas King.

The music from this episode was “LSD” by Monplaisir, “Abandoned Ballroom” by Lyndon Scarfe

Additional vocal talent by Cosmo Cahill.

To purchase Changeling the Dreaming as well as a wide array of other Role Playing texts go to DriveThruRPG.com.

We have a blog now! Come read some of our more fully developed thoughts about playing and playing with the Changeling: the Dreaming rules and setting at Parting the Mists.

Portions of the materials are the copyrights and trademarks of White Wolf Publishing AB, and are used with permission. All rights reserved. For more information please visit white-wolf.com.

All The World's A Stage Part 1

Episode 14

All The World’s A Stage Part 1

 

Join Victor and Simon today as we discuss the Changeling: the Dreaming LARP Alpha Slice (which can be found here) with some of the development team. Welcome to Jimmy, Jennifer, Jason, and Jeff as they endure two table-top nerds trying to wrap their heads around LARP generally and Changeling as LARP specifically.

 

The readings from today’s conversation were from “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare, and “Walk on Vanity Ruins” by Akira Yamaoka. The music from this episode was “Distant Sad Piano” by Patrick Lieberkind, and LSD by Mon Plaisir.

To purchase Changeling the Dreaming as well as a wide array of other Role Playing texts go to DriveThruRPG.com. We have a blog now! Come read some of our more fully developed thoughts about playing and playing with the Changeling: the Dreaming rules and setting at Parting the Mists.

Portions of the materials are the copyrights and trademarks of White Wolf Publishing AB, and are used with permission. All rights reserved. For more information please visit white-wolf.com.

This Land is Your Land

Episode 13

The Inanimae: Playful Things

Join Victor and Simon as we discuss and try to do the complicated, messy, world of the Inanimae justice. We get into the Phyla of the Inanimae, their Empires, storyline, and motivations and ways to make Inanimae blend better into a broad Changeling: the Dreaming game.

 

The readings from this conversation were from Dark Ages: Fae, Inanimae: the Secret Way, and Wooden Feathers by Ursula Vernon.

The music from this episode was “LSD” by Mon Plaisir.

 To purchase Changeling the Dreaming as well as a wide array of other Role Playing texts go to DriveThruRPG.com.

We have a blog now! If you liked today's conversation and want a more in-depth look at how both Victor and Simon think of and use the Inanimae, come visit Parting the Mists and take a gander at Victor's Refinement of Form and Simon's Playing at Hearts posts.

Portions of the materials are the copyrights and trademarks of White Wolf Publishing AB, and are used with permission. All rights reserved. For more information please visit white-wolf.com.