{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Ken St. Andre Part 1 - Episode 288 - 3\/8\/2026","description":"Historic RPG designer Ken St. Andre (Tunnels &amp;amp; Trolls, Starfaring, Monsters! Monsters!, Stormbringer, more) joins for this episode. The game that shall not be named. Is it wise to go into dungeons as an adventurer, or do you just need luck? The practicality of six-siders versus Platonic solids. The most powerful buttons in the universe. Who\u2019s tougher, the Romulans or the Klingons? Marbles were the collectible card game of their day. Diplomacy variants. Gary Gygax\u2019s first introduction to Tunnels &amp;amp; Trolls. Dave Arneson\u2019s contribution to Flying Buffalo Games. Ken\u2019s impressions of Dave. Ken\u2019s opinion on whether OD&amp;amp;D was an actual RPG. Ken told TSR\u2019s lawyers, and I quote, \u201cgo piss up a rope.\u201d Ken\u2019s advice to game designers. Clever solutions in dealing with a Balrog. What is \u201cstunting\u201d in an RPG? Tunnels &amp;amp; Trolls on the MetaArcade app. Ken and Shane\u2019s predictions about AI\u2019s effect on the RPG industry. Mata Hari. Ken was a pioneer in solo RPG adventures (which Shane feels is important). What game of Ken\u2019s does he think is better than Tunnels &amp;amp; Trolls? Some Elric discussion. The secret brotherhood of librarians (or lack thereof). A brief diversion into chicken psychology.&amp;nbsp; Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #288 - 3\/8\/2026 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https:\/\/www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays  DriveThruRPG.com https:\/\/www.drivethrurpg.com\/browse.php?affiliate_id=488512 SHOW NOTES Ken St. Andre on Wikipedia https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ken_St._Andre&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Trollgodfather Press (Ken\u2019s Publishing Company)  https:\/\/www.drivethrurpg.com\/en\/publisher\/9559\/trollgodfather-press&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Tunnels &amp;amp; Trolls https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tunnels_%26_Trolls&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Starfaring https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Starfaring&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Monsters! Monsters! https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Monsters!_Monsters!&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Stormbringer RPG https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stormbringer_(role-playing_game)&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat  https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Dungeons-Desktops-History-Computer-Role-Playing\/dp\/1138574643\/ &amp;nbsp; ","author_name":"Shane Plays Geek Talk","author_url":"https:\/\/shaneplays.com","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/40359865\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/199377395"}