Advertise on podcast: Rolemaster & Adventures in Middle-Earth - Wolfshield Actual Play

Giveaway episode! I speak with Jonathan Dale, one of the team to get Rolemaster Unified developed, tested and released. Many thanks to Jonathan for his time with this. If you liked this, check out my other interviews. If you prefer visuals, it is also released on my YouTube channel (Wolfshield Games). For the giveaway, email me at [email protected]

This is the last episode of the three part interview with one of my personal heroes, Pete Fenlon, founder of Iron Crown Enterprises, Rolemaster and Middle Earth Roleplaying. In this episode, Pete tells us about the fall of ICE into bankruptcy, why it happened, what happened afterwards but also a light hearted look at some of those monikers used in the credits page of the MERP rule book.  As mentioned in the previous episode due to technical issues I had to enhance the audio which makes it sound a artificial in places. Many thanks to Pete for his time with this. If you prefer visuals, it is also released on my YouTube channel (Wolfshield Games).

This is the second part of three part interview with the legendary Pete Fenlon, founder of Iron Crown Enterprises, Rolemaster and Middle Earth Roleplaying, aka MERP. Last episode we talked about the founding of ICE and RM, in this episode we cover the Retooling ICE, Early ICE releases,  the 1982 breakthrough, acquiring the Middle-earth License which lead to MERP, and ICE at its zenith.  As mentioned in the previous episode due to technical issues I had to beef up the audio which makes it sound a little weird in places. If you prefer visuals, it is also released on my YouTube channel (Wolfshield Games).

Pete Fenlon, founder of Iron Crown Enterprises, visionary behind Rolemaster and Middle Earth Role Playing, expert cartographer, driver behind the spread of Catan and so much more, was kind enough to spare some time to chat with me. We talked about the beginnings of ICE, the launch of Rolemaster, its development, how MERP came about and how it too was developed. He was also open enough to go into the bad years of ICE descent into bankruptcy and what happened afterwards Unfortunately, we had a technical issue where Pete's mic refused to work, after over an hour and a half we gave up and conducted the interview via a phone call with him on speaker and me recording him on my mic.   The audio quality suffered so I've used some sound editing tricks to try to improve the quality but it does fail on a few occasions. Sorry about that.  The interview is split into three episodes and I'm sure it would make sense to release these timed over days or weeks to grow the channel and drive engagement or whatever I'm supposed to do but, I'm happy with where this podcast is at. If you prefer visuals, it is also released on my YouTube channel (Wolfshield Games). Anyway, here's the first one where we talk about ICE's early days.

I talk to Bob, the designer of the Rolemaster Unified ( RMU ) Game System on Foundry. If you check out my video version of this pod on my Wolfshield Games channel on Youtube (  https://youtu.be/1KZZNvDVcxw  ), it has examples of the Game System in action.   The RMU videos Bob talked about are listed below: https://youtu.be/qcb1jdo8oOM?si=5PJoK2daKXe9bl3r https://youtu.be/nlkADFWbLRI?si=c2kFSTDu1g7z-qtn https://youtu.be/t5auaodzTYU?si=1UiE-tXg4vQRz-O9 Cheers.

I interview Colin the Marketing Troll from Iron Crown Enterprises, creators of Rolemaster, HARP, RMU, Shadow World, and Cyradon. We cover those subjects as well as art, Cher, The Big Bang Theory and the disdain for Rolemaster!

S01E42 Final episode. The fellowship intend to make the Festival of the Five Armies in Dale but to do so requires riding through tough terrain and lawless hills first before the more pastoral lands closer to city. We join them as they leave Rowanhold. This is an Adventures in Middle-Earth actual play using the D&D 5e system on Fantasy Grounds. You can find session summaries, items and characters on World Anvil where our campaign is called "In The Shadow of The Mountains". ( https://www.worldanvil.com/w/in-the-shadow-of-the-mountains-kergan ) This episode has jump cuts to keep the run time down. 6:42 Hope and dispair 10:45 Grey Mountain Narrows 18:01 Northern Dalelands 20:31 Dale 24:24 The Drunkenstone 34:14 A letter from a friend 45:40 Scam the scammer 55:12 Opening Ceremony Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/G59WnSmKGdk iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wolfshield-actual-play/id1461466298 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @wolf_shield Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WolfshieldApps/

S01E41 After a fractious Folkmoot where the Woodmen gained a new enemy called Mogdred, the estranged son of Ingomer and now lord of Tyrant's Hill, spurned the friendship of the people of East Blight but gained the thanks of settlers of the Black Tarn, it is time to ride north then east on their newly purchased mounts. This is an Adventures in Middle-Earth actual play using the D&D 5e system on Fantasy Grounds. You can find session summaries, items and characters on World Anvil where our campaign is called "In The Shadow of The Mountains". ( https://www.worldanvil.com/w/in-the-shadow-of-the-mountains-kergan ) This episode has jump cuts to keep the run time down. 4:17 Gandalf 11:57 Roll initiative 32:00 The Standing Stones 36:49 The Easterly Inn 50:32 Rowanhold Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2x99MjahvE0 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wolfshield-actual-play/id1461466298 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @wolf_shield Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WolfshieldApps/

S01E40 The spy safely returned to Radagast, much to the ire of Dagmar of Tyrant's Hill, held by Mogdred. Their loyalties may possibly be tending to the Shadow but that is not certain and will require further investigation in the future. But for now, the fellowship have been invited to attend the Folkmoot at Rhosgobel, arranged by a chieftain hoping to gain acceptance by the Woodmen. Most the Woodmen leaders are present, all with an agenda, with some hoping to push that during the meeting. The companions have already spoken to many of them and now it is time for the Folkmoot to start. This is an Adventures in Middle-Earth actual play using the D&D 5e system on Fantasy Grounds. You can find session summaries, items and characters on World Anvil where our campaign is called "In The Shadow of The Mountains". ( https://www.worldanvil.com/w/in-the-shadow-of-the-mountains-kergan ) This episode has jump cuts to keep the run time down. 6:01 New arrivals 27:42 Votes 43:01 Planning route and rules Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NyEDIFrz_qc iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wolfshield-actual-play/id1461466298 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @wolf_shield Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WolfshieldApps/

S01E39 On the trip back to Rhosgobel, to attend the meeting of local leaders at the Folkmoot, the fellowship dealt with a quartet of hobgoblins who had been camping at some old ruins tainted by evil. They also discovered some fine game and some rare herbs just outside the borders of Radagast's domain. Now at Rhosgobel with time to kill, the companions have decided to help out with some of the duties requested by the Brown Wizard. This is an Adventures in Middle-Earth actual play using the D&D 5e system on Fantasy Grounds. You can find session summaries, items and characters on World Anvil where our campaign is called "In The Shadow of The Mountains". ( https://www.worldanvil.com/w/in-the-shadow-of-the-mountains-kergan ) This episode has jump cuts to keep the run time down. 9:36 Warriors in black 23:19 Rhosgobel Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/j0nqexOoj6A iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wolfshield-actual-play/id1461466298 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @wolf_shield Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WolfshieldApps/

S01E38 The spider threat removed and the dark underground waters keeping the Goblins at bay, Mountain Hall is safe for now. After resupplying, the fellowship have headed south-east wards, bound for Rhosgobel once again. This time to attend a Folkmoot where the movers and shakers of the Woodmen should be in attendance. After a few uneventful days, the party were investigating some ruins for a likely campsite but it was already occupied by goblin kind, probably Orcs. We join the group as Sigmarr has just asked his comrades if the occupants should be left alone or dealt with.. This is an Adventures in Middle-Earth actual play using the D&D 5e system on Fantasy Grounds. You can find session summaries, items and characters on World Anvil where our campaign is called "In The Shadow of The Mountains". ( https://www.worldanvil.com/w/in-the-shadow-of-the-mountains-kergan ) This episode has jump cuts to keep the run time down. 20:37 Actions 49:48 End of combat 59:18 Lucky find Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tZpiJuNnLXM iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wolfshield-actual-play/id1461466298 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @wolf_shield Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WolfshieldApps/

S01E37 Crossing the bridge in the Dwarven mines below Mountain Hall, the fellowship found dark water filled tunnels. Exploring one led to an ambush by yet more spiders. The skirmish was fierce with Hathus's healing and Sigmarr's withering fire employed to full effect. The spiders fled back to their nest but have left Arahad and Monin immobilised with poison. It is time to return to the surface to rest, recuperate and resupply. This is an Adventures in Middle-Earth actual play using the D&D 5e system on Fantasy Grounds. You can find session summaries, items and characters on World Anvil where our campaign is called "In The Shadow of The Mountains". ( https://www.worldanvil.com/w/in-the-shadow-of-the-mountains-kergan ) This episode has jump cuts to keep the run time down. 6:34 Descending again 23:02 Tentative legs 35:14 End fight 47:43 Briefing Hartfast Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xuaAfwL5hLc iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wolfshield-actual-play/id1461466298 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @wolf_shield Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WolfshieldApps/

Still watch this series, live or the recording, most Fridays at 19.00ish UTC: https://www.twitch.tv/majykfngrz S01E42 (Final Episode) All the artefacts have been found! The party have exited Tarek Nev to find out that the three days inside the cursed city was about a week outside it. Returning to pick up their mentally fatigued party members, Cherry and Numal, from V'rama Vair's palace the reunited band were able to exit the city without incident. We join them as they debate what to do about the pirates at the stockade.  This is a Rolemaster Classic Actual Play set in Terry K Amthor's excellent Shadow World using Fantasy Grounds. You can find session summaries, items and characters on World Anvil where our campaign is called "The Praise of Old men" ( https://www.worldanvil.com/w/shadow-world-ancellus ). 5:53 Heading back 12:53 Swamp Giant 15:43 Regrets 22:57 Ship sighted 28:19 The debate 45:48 Flying in 1:31:07 Aftermath As usual, this episode has jump cuts to keep the run time down. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AsjtL0SpKg4 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wolfshield-actual-play/id1461466298 Still watch this series, live or the recording, most Fridays at 19.00ish UTC: https://www.twitch.tv/majykfngrz (See this channel for other Rolemaster Actual plays) Email: [email protected] Twitter: @wolf_shield Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WolfshieldApps/ RollQuests (RM Actual Play) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXsiuGoJkSnLWhR6Ziz-sbg

S01E36 Still in the Dwarven mines below Mountain Hall, the fellowship fought and defeated a huge spider and its brood. A bridge across a chasm invites further exploration as does some of the un-investigated tunnels at this depth in the mines. We join them just after the battle. This is an Adventures in Middle-Earth actual play using the D&D 5e system on Fantasy Grounds. You can find session summaries, items and characters on World Anvil where our campaign is called "In The Shadow of The Mountains". ( https://www.worldanvil.com/w/in-the-shadow-of-the-mountains-kergan ) This episode has jump cuts to keep the run time down. 4:49 Husks 12:07 Water 30:55 Ambush Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z32HE96A32k iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wolfshield-actual-play/id1461466298 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @wolf_shield Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WolfshieldApps/

S01E41 (Penultimate Episode) Under the ruined arena of Tarek Nev is a hydra guarding an island of crystals surrounded by swirling water, any of which could be the final artefact the questers need. The puzzle of how to drop the protective rainbow shield about the island has been solved and now the beast must be overcome. This is a Rolemaster Classic Actual Play set in Terry K Amthor's excellent Shadow World using Fantasy Grounds. You can find session summaries, items and characters on World Anvil where our campaign is called "The Praise of Old men" ( https://www.worldanvil.com/w/shadow-world-ancellus ). 16:08 A nice find! 26:29 Leaving the arena 40:07 Dignified retreat 46:46 Sandpit 50:16 Campfire 56:22 Red Gate 1:06:34 Orgiana's aid 1:22:25 Night visit 1:45:58 Back on in 1:49:49 Music As usual, this episode has jump cuts to keep the run time down. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TORj3qYAAP4 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wolfshield-actual-play/id1461466298 Streamed live most Fridays at 19.00ish UTC: https://www.twitch.tv/majykfngrz Email: [email protected] Twitter: @wolf_shield Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WolfshieldApps/