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Plot Points


Plot Points has been discussing role-playing games as literature since 2013. The podcast takes a deep dive on the influences, origins, joys, and meaning of tabletop role-playing games. The Plot Points gang talks about new releases, old gems, and speaks with the most influential and exciting creators in the tabletop role-playing game space. 

Find a cool new game, discover a strategy for your home group, or learn a fresh take on the theory of role-playing.

May 30, 2019

How did pulp fiction of the 1930s influence D&D? Plot Points takes a hard look at the question by reading "Return of the Sorcerer" by Clark Ashton Smith, and brings along a couple special guests for the journey. Prof. Jason Ray Carney is a fascinating professor of English at Christopher Newport University with an upcoming book, Weird Tales of Modernity. Clinton J. Boomer is a game designer, novelist, and raconteur. They get together with Ben to look at the influence pulp fiction, and one particular story, had on the development of D&D. 

Read "Return of the Sorcerer" here.  

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon at the $2 level, and you’ll get a sneak peek into Ben’s book about the sale of TSR to Wizards of the Coast! This chapter concerns TSR West, an effort by TSR to open an LA office devoted to producing comic books, an effort that failed rather impressively. It is the product of a dozen interviews with professionals from comics, gaming, and Hollywood, and as far as I can reckon, it is a tale entirely untold until now.  

To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at plotpointsemail@gmail.com!

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Audio courtesy of 50 Breaks!

Image is in the public domain.