Fringeworthy

Less than Lethal.

This week we discuss less than lethal deterrants and attack methods.

Sorry folks, the show notes are coming soon. They were delayed due to blizzard and lots of shoveling

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This is a special edition of the Fringeworthy PodCast. A short and sweet dedication to Richard Tucholka and his blushing new bride. Blix talks to John and Bruce about the wedding and he thought the fringers might be interested. Enjoy and congratulations to Richard and Melody from Bruce, John, and Blix, may you have the happiest of lives together!

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We visit the far past this week to the earliest days of man. “Me Ug. This friend Gug”. Right up to Ancient Rome and the dawn of civilization. We get a little technical but we throw in a lot of great adventure ideas along the way.

00:02:22 – The technical Fringe aspects of the time period, cause it’s not time travel.

00:03:40 – The Stone Age, old and new.

Paleolithic Age, Neolithic Age

00:09:27 – Adventures in the stone age.

Harry Turtledove, Between the Rivers

00:23:20 – Early civilizations, the Bronze Age, and the first cities.

Bronze Age Earliest Cities, Monoculture, Guns, Germs, and Steel

00:30:00 – The Iron Age.

Iron Age, Coal

00:36:20 – The first renaissance, cool ancient world tech, and the Library of Alexandria.

Antikythera Mechanism, The Rise and Fall of Alexandria,

00:43:50 – Fringeworthy adventure ideas.

00:46:20 – Mesoamerica: Aztecs, Olmecs, and Mayans.

Mayan Cities, Olmec Cities, Olmec Civilization, Aztec

00:49:30 – The land of Atlantis.

00:52:00 – Other Fringeworthy adventure ideas. Cool ideas of things to do in the past.

Coral Castle

00:58:40 – Ancient medical practices.

01:01:00 – Show wrap up.

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This episode…. Mellors! We talk about the dreaded mushy monsters of the Fringepaths. You’ll find out why they are so nasty and how to use them most effectively. This is a great episode for player and game masters alike.

00:01:32 - Why mellors are so scary.

00:02:45 - How you should play a mellor.

00:05:35 - The mellor’s goals.

00:06:47 - How mellors can get onto the fringepath.

00:07:25 - Can an old mellor travel on the fringepaths in his natural form and why can’t mellor travel on the paths?

00:09:55 - Psionics vs. mellors.

00:11:25 - The purposes/jobs of the old mellors and how they were able to accomplish them.

00:15:25 - What mellors are like when they turn.

00:19:15 - Why are their different types of mellors?

00:23:00 - Mellor hierarchy.

00:25:45 - What happens when a party makes “contact” with mellors.

00:29:18 - How each type of mellor operate.

00:38:28 - All about the mellor’s shape change ability.

00:44:50 - How experienced a party should be before they run into mellors.

00:48:10 - Info for the game master on how to use the mellor.

00:50:45 - Mellor as other “monsters” like zombies, vampires, and demons.

00:53:10 - Mellors as conquers.

00:54:48 - Variant mellors. Mellors that are affected by the creatures they try to imitate (mental illness, were-mellors, etc.)

00:59:10 - Mellors aren’t the toughest things you can run into.

01:02:50 - Mellor’s natural enemies.

01:05:17 - Final thoughts on using mellors.

We’d like to invite you to please join the community. Ask questions and make comments! We love to hear from you and when we do, everyone benefits. We really like doing listener question shows so please ask away.

Also, please help support Fringeworthy by spreading the word. Post on your favorite gaming community web site or mailing list about this podcast. Thanks!

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Episode 9: Pirates

Arrr, we be talking ‘bout pirates on this episode. That’s right maties, pirates. We be explorin’ the different types of pirates, how they be operatin’, and how to be integratin’ them into a Fringeworthy campaign. Get your tankard of rum and sharpen ye blade; we be settin’ sail for episode 9 laddie.

Ye be findin’ a treasure trove of information ‘bout pirates here and here.

01:20 – What be pirates?

02:32 – If’n we run into pirates, what should we be expectin’?

04:20 – What type of boats do pirates be usin’, and how many in ye crew?

05:00 – What type of base be these pirates havin’?

06:00 – What booty do pirates be takin’?

08:35 – What be privateers?

09:40 – Why gold & silver? Need ye ask!?

11:00 – How would a Fringeworthy team be getting’ around in a pirate world?

13:35 – How do ye get on pirate crew, laddie?

18:45 – What be a Fringeworthy team’s reaction when we be putin’ the other crew to the sword?

21:20 – Do pirate crew be makin’ fer good mercenaries? Arrr!

21:40 – What do you pay a drunken sailor?

24:40 – What does a Fringeworthy team be getting’ out of going into the pirate world?

26:50 – We be talkin’ about running into that scallywag Captain Nemo and dealing with submarines.

34:10 – What about female pirates? Ah, the fair lass of the sea.

36:50 – We be discussin’ the life of a pirate?

37:30 – The role of alcohol vs. water during these times. Arrrr, pass the rum laddie.

40:30 – The awesome parts of being a pirate.

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Happy New Year fringers! This is another special edition of Fringeworthy the PodCast. We decided to wrap up the year with an episode dedicated to your hosts. We thought you might like to know a little about us and our experiences with Fringeworthy. No real show notes this time around, it’s just us talking freeform. If you’d like to hear our personal thoughts and experiences about Fringeworthy then you are in for a treat. If not, see ya’ next week with a brand new episode in our classic format.

…Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind….

Happy New Year everyone, thanks for listening!

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Episode 8.5 Listener Mail:  Team Roles

What kind of characters should be in a team?  What skills are essential?  We define the expected roles for basic Fringeworthy explorers and liken them to a popular television show.

This was the last question of our question and answer session but it took so much to answer it, we thought it deserved its own podcast release.

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Christmas Special: Richard Tucholka Interview

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Fringeworthy fans! As our gift to you we present a very special edition of the Fringeworthy PodCast. This episode is an hour long interview with the creator of Fringeworthy; the one and only Richard Tucholka. Best wishes to you and yours. Enjoy!

01:42      When was Fringeworthy first published and what type of product launch did you do?

02:23      Where did the original idea for Fringeworthy come from?

04:00      Where did you get the idea for portals, pathways, and platforms?

06:46      Why were the portals placed where they were?

08:20      Who were the original playtesters and who was the original Ed Powers?

09:05      What was the make up of the original team?

10:05      What was the reason for wiping out electricity, magnetism, and nuclear material?

11:20      What happens if I go through the portal with a magnetic bottle full of anti-mater?

12:00      How is the platform powered? An insight into some fringe physics.

13:00      When you first designed Fringeworthy did you believe that the future will be as ideallic as it is in that edition?

13:50      Do you feel the new version is grittier and more reflective of the modern condition?

14:50      The original Fringeworthy seems kind of pulpish; what is the genre you are going for today?

17:15      Do you feel as though the Fringeworthy concept is more assessable now due to some of the modern media?

20:40      Why wasn’t Fringeworthy the primary choice as opposed to your other games in the early days?

22:35      Rich discusses his “three versions”.

22:05      How far has Fringeworthy changed from the original concept?

23:25      What effect do you see the new races having on the setting? *Secret Revealed*

24:45      Do the “Old Men” walk everywhere or do they know some secrets to get around easier?

26:05      How many countries is Fringeworthy played in?

27:20      Would you do translated versions of Fringeworthy?

29:10      What are your thoughts on bootlegged (torrented) editions?

33:57      What are your thoughts on doing a POD edition?

35:47      How does your fiancé Melody fit into the TriTac dynasty?

37:15      Melody joins the PodCast as part of the chat.

39:00      Wedding talk with Melody.

40:28      What is your local group like and is there a “type” for Fringeworthy players?

41:30      Does the Order of Leibowitz still exist?

42:30      Talk about the “Bureau 13 is Live” LARP book.

42:45      How did Fringeworthy drop off the map and what is being done now to spark it back to life?

46:35      Where is Fringeworthy going from here on out?

49:35      Final thoughts by Rich.

A special thanks to Richard for taking the time to join us.

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Episode 8: Packing for Success – Data Gathering

In this episode we talk about the equipment needed for a successful data collection. We cover everything from the very first survey, to the first person transit, to long term data gathering. We go over a bunch of equipment you’re going to want to bring and we discuss some of the techniques you’ll most likely use.

01:40     Remote Sensing Devices

Remote Control Planes, Recon Balloons / Zeppelins, Weather Balloons.

04:40     Optics and Sensors

IR Sensors on cameras, Night Scope

07:20     Recording Equipment

Erdine Computer (IDET-LT-2013 Rugged Laptop)

DVD Burning Video recorders

09:30     Audio Data

Parabolic Microphone, Laser Bounce Microphones

11:10     Other Recorders

Radiation, Microwaves, Biological, Air Samples

15:10     The Role of Team 1 - Initial Data Gathering

Length of Stay, Initial Data Gathering, Path Breakers

21:15     Special Equipment for the First Portal Transit

Solar powered robot, wheel camera, Self Developing Film, Radiation Badges, Biological Dection

24:20     Locating Entry Point

Astronomical packages, figuring out time of day, Portable Satellite Rocket System

30:00     Infiltration

History Books, Newspapers, Library, Trash (Garbology)

33:10     Stuff people Forget About

Pencil & Paper, Shortwave Radio, Charcoal & Paper for Rubbings, Linesmen Climbing Gear, Dragging Harness, Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottles, Gyroscopic Shaver, Ziploc Sandwich Baggies, Titanium Scoop & Bottles, Mason Jars

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