The Good Friends of Jackson Elias

327: Narration in Call of Cthulhu, with Ross Bryant (long cut)

This is the unedited version for backers only.

Narration lies at the heart of tabletop roleplaying. The worlds we play in are all shared spaces we create in our heads. In traditional RPGs, such as Call of Cthulhu, most of this worldbuilding and description is in the hands of the GM. So how can we, as Keepers, bring the world to life at the gaming table? What are some tec...

327: Narration in Call of Cthulhu, with Ross Bryant (advert free)

Narration lies at the heart of tabletop roleplaying. The worlds we play in are all shared spaces we create in our heads. In traditional RPGs, such as Call of Cthulhu, most of this worldbuilding and description is in the hands of the GM. So how can we, as Keepers, bring the world to life at the gaming table? What are some techniques we’ve picked up over the years? And what approaches ...

Just One More Thing - Episode 13

Welcome back to Just One More Thing! Once again, Matt and Scott are returning to a couple of recent episodes of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias, filling in gaps and offering some second thoughts.

This time, we’re discussing the two episodes we recorded with Ericka Skirpan — 2025-11-25 00:01:07 +0000 UTC View Post

326: We Are the Horror, with Ericka Skirpan (advert free)

Most tabletop horror games revolve around the struggle between the player characters and one or more external antagonists. The concept of a “Big Bad Evil Guy” is at the heart of most of our gaming experiences. But what happens when we take all that away? How might games work when the horror comes from the interactions between the PCs? And what are some of the possible pitfalls of this appro...

326: We Are the Horror, with Ericka Skirpan (long cut)

This is the unedited version for backers only.

Most tabletop horror games revolve around the struggle between the player characters and one or more external antagonists. The concept of a “Big Bad Evil Guy” is at the heart of most of our gaming experiences. But what happens when we take all that away? How might games work when the horror comes from the interactions between the...

325: Using LARP Techniques at the Table, with Ericka Skirpan (long cut)

This is the unedited version for backers only.

Live action and tabletop roleplaying share common roots and many similarities, but they have become quite separate hobbies. Each has evolved a unique set of forms and tools. So what can the world of tabletop roleplaying, particularly Call of Cthulhu, learn from LARP? Which LARP techniques lend themselves best to tabletop pla...

325: Using LARP Techniques at the Table, with Ericka Skirpan (advert free)

Live action and tabletop roleplaying share common roots and many similarities, but they have become quite separate hobbies. Each has evolved a unique set of forms and tools. So what can the world of tabletop roleplaying, particularly Call of Cthulhu, learn from LARP? Which LARP techniques lend themselves best to tabletop play? And which games blur the line between tabletop and LARP? 2025-11-04 00:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post

Just One More Thing - Episode 12

Welcome back to Just One More Thing! Once again, Matt and Scott are returning to a couple of recent episodes of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias, filling in gaps and offering some second thoughts.

This time, we’re revisiting the two episodes we recorded with Jared Logan — “...

324: The White People, with Jared Logan (advert free)

This episode is an in-depth look at Arthur Machen's weird tale "The White People". While it's not a Cthulhu Mythos story, both Machen and this tale were big influences on Lovecraft. You will find elements of it, such as the Aklo language and the Voorish sign, dotted throughout Lovecraft's work.

But jus...

324: The White People, with Jared Logan (long cut)

This is the unedited version for backers only.

This episode is an in-depth look at Arthur Machen's weird tale "The White People". While it's not a Cthulhu Mythos story, both Machen and this tale were big influences on Lovecraft. You will find elements of it, such as the Aklo language and the V...

323: The Joy of Gore, with Jared Logan (long cut)

This is the unedited version for backers only.

While not all horror involves gore, it is an essential part of the genre. Whether it's a genteel smear of blood at the corner of the Count's mouth or bodies being torn apart like wet piñatas, most horror media involves at least a drop or two of the red stuff. But what is the appeal of something that should, by rights, repel us? Why ...

323: The Joy of Gore, with Jared Logan (advert free)

While not all horror involves gore, it is an essential part of the genre. Whether it's a genteel smear of blood at the corner of the Count's mouth or bodies being torn apart like wet piñatas, most horror media involves at least a drop or two of the red stuff. But what is the appeal of something that should, by rights, repel us? Why does it make us laugh even as we gasp in horror? And how can w...

Just One More Thing - Episode 11

Welcome back to Just One More Thing! Once again, Matt and Scott are returning to a couple of recent episodes of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias, filling in gaps and offering some second thoughts.

This time, we’re revisiting the two episodes we recorded with Maverick Haenze — “...

322: 28 Days Later, with Maverick Haenze (advert free)

Following last episode's look at zombies, we're delving into a classic of the genre. Sure, the folks behind 28 Days Later have said that it's not a zombie film, but we're ignoring that. This has all the hallmarks of a zombie apocalypse, and the various films that have borrowed ...

322: 28 Days Later, with Maverick Haenze (long cut)

This is the unedited version for backers only.

Following last episode's look at zombies, we're delving into a classic of the genre. Sure, the folks behind 28 Days Later have said that it's not a zombie film, but we're ignoring that. This has all the hallmarks of ...

321: Zombies, with Maverick Haenze (long cut)

This is the unedited version for backers only.

Given how prevalent zombies are in horror media and how strongly the undead feature in Lovecraft's earlier fiction, it's surprising that it's taken us 321 episodes to get around to discussing them. But, like the walking dead, we shamble slowly.

Our discussion takes in the origins of zombies in Voudon, the various ways they've b...

321: Zombies, with Maverick Haenze (advert free)

Given how prevalent zombies are in horror media and how strongly the undead feature in Lovecraft's earlier fiction, it's surprising that it's taken us 321 episodes to get around to discussing them. But, like the walking dead, we shamble slowly.

Our discussion takes in the origins of zombies in Voudon, the various ways they've been redefined in horror media, and some ways we might use them...

Just One More Thing - Episode 10

Welcome back to Just One More Thing! Once again, Matt and Scott are returning to a couple of recent episodes of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias, filling in gaps and offering some second thoughts.

This time, we’re revisiting the two episodes we recorded with Andy Goodman — 2025-09-02 19:46:39 +0000 UTC View Post

320: The Broadsword, Laird Barron, and Old Leech, with Andy Goodman (long cut)

This is the unedited version for backers only.

We're following our discussion about how to roll your own Mythos with an exploration of Laird Barron's Old Leech cycle and how it relates to Lovecraft. In particular, we're focusing on Barron's story "The Broadsword...

320: The Broadsword, Laird Barron, and Old Leech, with Andy Goodman (advert free)

We're following our discussion about how to roll your own Mythos with an exploration of Laird Barron's Old Leech cycle and how it relates to Lovecraft. In particular, we're focusing on Barron's story "The Broadsword", using it as a springboard to discuss the broader themes of ...

319: Roll Your Own Mythos, with Andy Goodman (long cut)

This is the unedited version for backers only.

The Cthulhu Mythos didn't really start out as a cohesive entity. It has become increasingly codified by generations of fans, starting with August Derleth, but this can be an impediment to creativity. This episode is a loose discussion about how you might bring in ideas from elsewhere, removing some of the canon from the general theme...

319: Roll Your Own Mythos, with Andy Goodman (advert free)

The Cthulhu Mythos didn't really start out as a cohesive entity. It has become increasingly codified by generations of fans, starting with August Derleth, but this can be an impediment to creativity. This episode is a loose discussion about how you might bring in ideas from elsewhere, removing some of the canon from the general themes of cosmic horror, and roll your own Mythos.

We discuss...

Just One More Thing - Episode 9

Welcome back to Just One More Thing! Once again, Matt and Scott are returning to a couple of recent episodes of the Good Friends, filling in gaps and offering some second thoughts.

This time, we’re revisiting the two episodes we recorded with Eleanor Hingley — “Small T...

318: Metafiction and Horror, with Eleanor Hingley (long cut)

This is the unedited version for backers only.

Metafiction turns up in every genre from literary fiction to superheroes, breaking fourth walls, embedding fictional narratives within fictional narratives, and generally dismantling storytelling conventions. Our focus here, however, is on the connection between metafiction and horror, whether this is self-aware slasher films or horr...

318: Metafiction and Horror, with Eleanor Hingley (advert free)

Metafiction turns up in every genre from literary fiction to superheroes, breaking fourth walls, embedding fictional narratives within fictional narratives, and generally dismantling storytelling conventions. Our focus here, however, is on the connection between metafiction and horror, whether this is self-aware slasher films or horror novelists who write horror novels about horror novelists. D...