Welcome to another episode of Keep off the Borderlands, wherein I answer some calls, open some boxes, and chat about solo tabletop roleplaying games.

Featuring calls from Karl Rodriguez of The GMologist presents…, Jason Connerley of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast, Joe Richter of Hindsightless and Mirke of Mirke the Meek podcast.

We talk about getting older, Miyazaki’s Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and Mothership hack Cloud Empress.

Cloud Empress by Watt can be found here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/454022/cloud-empress-rulebook?src=hottest_filtered

I open some parcels containing such delights as Carved in Stone by Brian Tyrell and Lizy Simenon…

Astroprism by Camila Mera of Crescent Chimera…

Scarred For Life: Volume III by Stephen Brotherstone & Dave Lawrence and The Feast of Tegney Wood by Yochai Gal.

I then talk about a few solo role-playing games that have piqued my interest:

Solo D6 Fantasy Expanded by sceptr, which can be found here: https://cseptr.itch.io/solo-d6-fantasy-expanded

Star Borg by JP Coovert, which can be found here: https://jpcoovert.com

and TREY - Solo Roleplaying by Mattias Peterburg & Clarence Redd, which can be found here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/469224/trey-solo-roleplaying

Find the Movie Monday Letterboxd list here https://letterboxd.com/the39thman/list/movie-monday-1/

The movie for December is Mike Hodges’ 1980s camp classic Flash Gordon. That episode will air on December 29th, so please send your submissions by the 27th if you’d like to be included in the show.

Also, be sure not to miss the new podcast entitled With Wife and I. My wife, Isla, suggested we take turns choosing movies to watch together, then share our thoughts with anyone who cares to listen. Our second episode is another vampire double-bill, pitting Neil Jordan’s Byzantium against Kathryn Bigelow’s Near Dark.

“Warning” by Lieren of Updates From the Middle of Nowhere

You can find me in a bunch of other places here ⁠https://freethrall.carrd.co⁠

Follow me on BlueSky @freethrall.bsky.social or look me up on Discord by searching for freethrall

You can also hear me in actual plays on Grizzly Peaks Radio

Welcome to Movie Monday! This month’s movie was Hayao Miyazaki’s animated post-apocalyptic fantasy Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind from 1984. A based on Miyazaki’s own critically acclaimed manga series of the same name.

This episode features contributions from:

(in order of appearance)

James Knight and Ellen of the Southwest London Sofa Gang

James and Judy of the South Pacific Sofa

Jason Connerley of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast (podcast, blog)

Goblin’s Henchman (podcast & blog) & the Umber Bulk

Joe Richter of Hindsighless (podcast)

Jason Hobbs of Hobbs and Friends, and Random Screed (podcasts)

MW Lewis of The Worlds of MW Lewis (podcast)

Mirke of Mirke the Meek (podcast)

Find the Movie Monday Letterboxd list here https://letterboxd.com/the39thman/list/movie-monday-1/

The movie for December is Mike Hodges’ 1980s camp classic Flash Gordon. That episode will air on December 29th, so please send your submissions by the 27th if you’d like to be included in the show.

Also, be sure not to miss the new podcast I’m involved with, entitled With Wife and I. My wife, Isla, suggested we take turns to choose movies to watch together, then share our thoughts with anyone who cares to listen. Our second episode is already available, pitting Neil Jordan’s Byzantium against Kathryn Bigelow’s Near Dark. https://open.spotify.com/episode/3gAZmllf145wZLkdbkYbra?si=O5ZQFgBLQ0yjzkMvbzDaCg

“Warning” by Lieren of Updates From the Middle of Nowhere

Leave me an audio message via ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/KeepOffTheBorderlands

You can email me at ⁠spencer.freethrall@gmail.com⁠

You can find me in a bunch of other places here ⁠https://freethrall.carrd.co⁠

Having found myself on the wrong side of 55, I attempt to distract from this devastating realisation by responding to some Movie Monday feedback before indulging in a little retail therapy.

First up is James Knight with a call about September’s movie Richard Donner’s Superman, then we have calls from Joe Richter of Hindsighless and MW Lewis of The Worlds of MW Lewis regarding the October choice Fred Dekker’s Monster Squad.

I mention a Dungeon Craft review of Chris McDowall’s Mythic Bastionland that you can watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsJ5px6_8ew

This is followed by that strangest of phenomena, the audio unboxing. I take a peek inside Free League's new Vaesen Starter Set, Casey Garske’s Stay Frost Remastered, Loke Battle Mats’ Dungeon Designer’s Deck (as featured on Geek Gamers) and Diogo Nogueira’s Screams Amongst The Stars.

Check out the Dungeon Designer’s Deck here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FuEq0yen-Y

This month’s Movie Monday is 1984’s animated pre-Ghibli classic Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind directed by Hayao Miyazaki. That episode will air on 24th, so please send your submissions by the 22th if you’d like to be included in the show.

Leave me an audio message via ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/KeepOffTheBorderlands

You can email me at ⁠spencer.freethrall@gmail.com⁠

Find the Movie Monday Letterboxd list here https://letterboxd.com/the39thman/list/movie-monday-1/

Be sure to check out the new podcast I’m involved with, With Wife and I. My wife, Isla, suggested we take turns to choose a movie to watch together, then share our thoughts with anyone who cares to listen. Here’s our very first episode, where we pit Bram Stoker’s Dracula against Renfield https://open.spotify.com/episode/29HMVF3BBpClDiAwzczghP?si=ts3ULH8uRgy3rfLXFOyRxw

Episode 2: Byzantium Vs. Near Dark is coming soon!

“Warning” by Lieren of Updates From the Middle of Nowhere

You can find me in a bunch of other places here ⁠https://freethrall.carrd.co⁠

Follow me on BlueSky @freethrall.bsky.social or look me up on Discord by searching for freethrall

You can also hear me in actual plays on Grizzly Peaks Radio

Well, what do you know, it’s Movie Monday again! This month, we watched Fred Dekker’s The Monster Squad from 1987.

This episode features contributions from:

(in order of appearance)

Goblin’s Henchman (podcast & blog) & the Umber Bulk

Jason Connerley of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast (podcast, blog)

James Knight, Ellen and Tyranner

Joe Richter of Hindsighless (podcast)

Karl Rodriguez of the GMologist Presents… (podcast)

MW Lewis of The Worlds of MW Lewis (podcast)

Find the Movie Monday Letterboxd list here https://letterboxd.com/the39thman/list/movie-monday-1/

The movie for November will be 1984’s animated pre-Ghibli classic Nausica of the Valley of the Wind directed by Hayao Miyazaki. That episode will air on 24th, so please send your submissions by the 22th if you’d like to be included in the show.

Also, be sure not to miss the new podcast I’m involved with, entitled With Wife and I. My wife, Isla, suggested we take turns to choose movies to watch together, then share our thoughts with anyone who cares to listen. Here’s our very first episode, where we pit Bram Stoker’s Dracula against Renfield https://open.spotify.com/episode/29HMVF3BBpClDiAwzczghP?si=ts3ULH8uRgy3rfLXFOyRxw

“Warning” by Lieren of Updates From the Middle of Nowhere

Leave me an audio message via ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/KeepOffTheBorderlands

You can email me at ⁠spencer.freethrall@gmail.com⁠

You can find me in a bunch of other places here ⁠https://freethrall.carrd.co⁠

Welcome to a mid-month Movie Monday feedback episode.

I share my thoughts on the Richard Donner cut of Superman 2 and Superman 2025, James Gunn’s latest attempt to revive the franchise.

I have calls from Karl Rodriguez of The GMologist presents… (podcast), James Knight and Tyranner of the Southwest London Sofa Gang, and Joe Richter of Hindsighless (podcast).

Find the Movie Monday Letterboxd list here https://letterboxd.com/the39thman/list/movie-monday-1/

The movie for October will be 1987’s Monster Squad, directed by Fred Dekker. The episode will air on the 27th, so please send your submissions by the 25th if you’d like to be included in the show.

Leave me an audio message via ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/KeepOffTheBorderlands

You can email me at ⁠spencer.freethrall@gmail.com⁠

You can find me in a bunch of other places here ⁠https://freethrall.carrd.co⁠

I’m also very pleased to announce the launch of a new podcast I’m involved with, entitled With Wife and I. My wife, Isla, suggested we take turns to choose a movie to watch together, then share our thoughts with anyone who cares to listen. Here’s our very first episode, where we pit Bram Stoker’s Dracula against Renfield https://open.spotify.com/episode/29HMVF3BBpClDiAwzczghP?si=ts3ULH8uRgy3rfLXFOyRxw

This episode features the welcome return of Barney Dicker from Loco Ludus, who talks about Luke Gearing’s Swyvers, Guards of Traitor’s Toll from Grey For Now Games and Cyberpunk Red: Combat Zone from Monster Fight Club, some great feedback from Joe Richter of Hindsightless.

I share my thoughts on Kpop Demon Hunters directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans.

Also featuring…

Bite the Bullet by Jason Hobbs https://hobbs665.itch.io/bite-the-bullet

Listen to Jason talking about the game here https://open.spotify.com/episode/5SeWLJEzZhDR7WX050KgOc?si=o_kTOr9TTbeoYKH1tK40KQ

Find Emiel Boven’s DURF Expanded Kickstarter here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emielboven/durf?ref=profile_created&category_id=34

Watch the Appx. N Jam Awards hosted by Lex Mandrake at Jorphdan Jocular Junction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8M8k-UZ8w0&t

Find all the submissions here https://itch.io/jam/appx-n-jam

Gavin Norman’s Dolmenwood from Necrotic Gnome

The Movie Monday Letterboxd list https://letterboxd.com/the39thman/list/movie-monday-1/

The movie for September is Richard Donner’s 1978 film, Superman, and its 1980 sequel. The episode will air on September 29th, so please send your submissions by the 27th if you’d like to be included in the show.

“It’s August” and “Warning” by Lieren of Updates From the Middle of Nowhere

Leave me an audio message via ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/KeepOffTheBorderlands

You can email me at ⁠spencer.freethrall@gmail.com⁠

Follow me on BlueSky @freethrall.bsky.social or look me up on Discord by searching for freethrall

You can find me in a bunch of other places here ⁠https://freethrall.carrd.co ⁠

You can also hear me in actual plays on Grizzly Peaks Radio

Welcome to Movie Monday. This month we watched Richard Donner’s Superman from 1978, starring Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, and Marlon Brando, with an unforgettable score by John Williams. I also watched the sequel Superman 2 from 1980 directed by Richard Lester.

This episode features contributions from:

(in order of appearance)

Joe Richter of Hindsighless (podcast)

Goblin’s Henchman (podcast & blog) & the Umber Bulk

BJ Boyd of The Arcane Alienist (podcast)

MW Lewis of The Worlds of MW Lewis (podcast)

Jason Connerley of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast (podcast, blog)

Find the Movie Monday Letterboxd list here https://letterboxd.com/the39thman/list/movie-monday-1/

The movie for October will be 1987’s Monster Squad directed by Fred Dekker. The episode will air on 27th, so please send your submissions by the 25th if you’d like to be included in the show.

“Warning” by Lieren of Updates From the Middle of Nowhere

Leave me an audio message via ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/KeepOffTheBorderlands

You can email me at ⁠spencer.freethrall@gmail.com⁠

You can find me in a bunch of other places here ⁠https://freethrall.carrd.co⁠

Welcome to the 300th episode of Keep Off The Borderlands. I respond to some more Mad Max feedback from Goblin’s Henchman and Jason Connerley of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast before speaking to a special guest.

Honourable mentions: Shadow Chaser by Simon Tudhope, Making a Tabletop RPG for Your Particular Kid by Steph Campbell, Star Gems by Leslie Arambula, First Fable by Matthew McFarlane, Sandbox Generator by Atelier Clandestin, Magical Kitties Save the Day from Atlas Games, Mausritter by Isaac Williams, Perils & Princesses by Ryan Lynch, Kpop Demon Hunters directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans

Check out TTRPGkids here https://www.ttrpgkids.com

The Movie Monday Letterboxd list https://letterboxd.com/the39thman/list/movie-monday-1/

The movie for September is Richard Donner’s 1978 film, Superman, and its 1980 sequel. The episode will air on September 29th, so please send your submissions by the 27th if you’d like to be included in the show.

"It’s August” and “Warning" by Lieren of Updates From the Middle of Nowhere

Leave me an audio message via ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/KeepOffTheBorderlands

You can email me at ⁠spencer.freethrall@gmail.com⁠

Follow me on BlueSky @freethrall.bsky.social or look me up on Discord by searching for freethrall

You can find me in a bunch of other places here ⁠https://freethrall.carrd.co ⁠

You can also hear me in actual plays on Grizzly Peaks Radio