A Sub-Class Review

Play-Cast Name: Sub-Class Act Where I Listened: Google Podcasts Where It's Available: Anchor (and thus, various players) System: Varied

Leather with Shield

Thoughts and Review

Sub-Class Act is a solo-play actual-play podcast available via Anchor and thus also on its supported platforms. In Sub-Class Act, our host - James Sral - walks us through adventure arcs with parties of characters he rolls and controls while various solo-play emulators or oracles play the role of the game master. It is a refreshing taste in my ears - one of very few solo-play actual-plays I have run into - as it simultaneously tells the story that James only seeds, allowing emergent narrative to take control as the oracle guides the outcomes; outlines and educates on both RPG systems and emulator process; and likewise delves into an aspect of the hobby in which I have no personal experience - the use of oracles and chance to play with yourself rather than having at least one friend sitting with you at the table.

Sub-Class Act is, as of this review, just stepping in to Season 2; this review is based, thus, on having listened to the back catalog of Season 1 - which is educational, entertaining, and worth your time to listen.

What I Like

What made me want to write this review - the first and foremost piece that draws my attention to this actual play - is the balance of rules and narrative. While not all of the arcs appeal to me, and while the host does use voices (which I've pined on in the past), some of the arcs truly do appeal to me (I'm a fan in particular of the Old West arc from episode 14 to 18) and most of the voices don't detract from the immersive experience of the listener. As such, from an entertainment-value perspective, the podcast does fairly well. However - more so - when action occurs, when the oracle comes into play, when a combat occurs, when procedure would be appropriate: James dives into procedure, outlining what he is doing and why, prior to rolling the dice and interpreting / adjudicating the result. While the dichotomy of narrative and mechanics may jar some, I found - listening to Sub-Class Act - that the jarring didn't happen. It slipped into and out of the game smoothly and I was able to identify systems based on the mechanics I heard.

The podcast, in this sense, provides dual benefit: you can use it for entertainment and you can use it to learn how to play the game: either the RPG in question or the solo-mode oracle in use. That balance - utility and entertainment - are the primary drivers of whether or not I like an actual play for the purposes of teaching the hobby: in this goal, Sub-Class Act does well.

To speak to production quality - the initial episodes are a bit rough: but the quality rapidly accelerates. If you - like me - are a completionist at heart and like to start at the beginning (or, at a chapter heading, a relative beginning, where an arc turns over in the middle) - stick with it! I had initially discounted this podcast, as it didn't initially suit me: however I came back to it on a whim, having burned through all of my podcast backlog during the aforementioned Old West arc from episode 14 to 18 and I am glad I did. Stick with it - or, I'll provide a system/emulator guide by episode below: jump to an episode you think will do you better - because it's worth it by the fourth to sixth episode, depending on how much of a stickler for audio you are. As of the current episode - that is, the newest one released as of the release of this review - James has gotten to the point where he's the consummate amateur: the quality of the content, GMing, audio, and integration of ambiance could be monetized, could become professional, however isn't by the choice of the author: who is driving on the joy of the experience (and the sharing of that joy and experience) rather than on fiduciary impetus.

Lastly, Sub-Class Act is hosted on Anchor: the same provider, a subsidiary of Spotify, that the Clerics Wear Ringmail Podcast uses. Why? Likely because it's free and easy - however: what's more important is the culture that surrounds it. A defining feature of Anchor is the call-in function: anyone with an account, which is free, regardless of whether you choose to make a podcast or not, can quickly and easily send a message up to 60 seconds in length to any Anchor creator: which the creator can then see in a "messages" panel, include in episodes, download, and otherwise interact with. In Addition, James provides several other mechanisms to contact him, as not everyone wants to sign up for Anchor and may reach out on a platform to which they are already member.

Three, off the cuff, I can think of that are highlighted in the podcast are his Twitter account, via Email, or on the Audio Dungeon Discord server.

Happy hunting! And if I've missed one that needs to be shared - let me know! Drop a comment (or hit me up) and I'll try to keep the page current! It creates a talk radio culture: which, though not live as talk radio would be, it lends itself towards being very approachable, very personal: the connection between an Anchor podcaster and their audience is more akin to being on the phone with a friend.

While not all Anchor-hosted podcasts engage in this culture, Sub-Class Act does.

Throughout the series, the host answers fan call-ins, solicits feedback and suggestions, and acts on the feedback and suggestions that come in. I respect that - I really like that - and though I don't particularly agree with some of the callers' opinions (I would rather see more OSE or indie games than anything 5e... suggestion: Viking Death Squad solo play?), I do agree with the principle. So - hats off to you, James - for stepping up and working with your audience to provide what they are looking for; and to you, audience, eyes open! Your opportunity to see emulators and oracles in action is only a single Anchor message away!

What I Don't Like

There exist some points of rules confusion over the course of the adventure - e.g. what is a "turn" versus what is a "round" - however this is understandable, as the host is running through multiple systems, sometimes swapping back and forth between episodes. Additionally - I don't hold these confusion points against the host, as the educational value of the podcast is less for the main systems and more for the oracles: which James elaborates on and appears to be fluent and confident with. To reinforce this notion - James expressly states that, though some games he plays do have rules for certain actions (listening at doors comes to mind) he prefers the oracle over the game for consistency and flow of play.

The schedule of the podcast is irregular: which makes sense, based on the home life and situation of the host. However, from the perspective of an unbiased new listener, the most mileage you will get out of the podcast will likely entail appreciation of the (continually growing) backlog. Again, less of a complaint and something that I won't hold against the host.

Regarding actual complaints a reviewer might have against this podcast - the foremost is less a complaint and more an observation as pertaining to the audience of this review series. Of the games played, not all of them maintain spiritual or mechanical fidelity and compatibility with the original Dungeons & Dragons franchise: as such, there are varying degrees to which the games used can be considered OSR. Thus, if your interests lie in the OSR and not outside of it, this podcast will be of use to you (or interest, as may be) on interval rather than throughout. If system doesn't matter to you - discard this paragraph (and the next one).

Finally - the primary focus of this podcast is the narrative generated by using an oracle or GM emulator. While interesting - and while useful for OSR types who don't like gaming online and don't live in a large OSR market - it is not expressly OSR in and of itself: solo gaming, and oracles, are arguably better served for telling a story rather than exploring a world - while, of course, you can use an oracle to answer questions about the world, it's not the same as having someone else create the world, create the dungeon, and you - as the player - explore and uncover it.

Thus, while a great learning tool for the product, your mileage may vary, as depending on what you're looking to get out of an actual play podcast.

System Guide to the First Season

Regarding oracle, the host uses several different oracle systems - generally grouped by episode as follows:

Note, the above is point-in-time as of this review. I admittedly stopped listening at season 2, as I am not interested in 5e (although I do not fault people who are!), and as such, does not contain a guide for post-Season 1. Admittedly, it is unlikely I will keep the post updated - as James does a good job documenting his own activities in show notes on the podcast - but if he does something particularly interesting - such as, maybe, a Viking Death Squad solo play, I may have to post an update and direct you, dear reader, to it.

• Season 1, Episode 0 through 4, 8 through 11, 17 through 18 - Mythic GM Emulator
  Season 2, Episode 1 - Also Mythic GM Emulator
• Season 1, Episode 5 - Motif Story Engine 
• Season 1, Episode 6, 14 through 16 - OSR Solo
  
• Season 1, Episode 7 - M.U.N.E.
• Season 1, Episode 12 through 13 - Ray Otus' Oracle

Regarding system, the system played is by "season" - also generally grouped as follows and stratified by FOEtitutde. To clarify, for the purpose of this review only: 

1. OSR implies tonal and mechanical fidelity to the TSR game set and to the principles of the OSR Primer. 
2. NuSR implies tonal fidelity only. (I had been tempted to use "FOE-SR" in lieu of "NuSR" as funny joke - but didn't know if that would cross the line from "categorization" to "antagonizing." So I didn't.)
3. NoSR is just another RPG - with no connection to OSR principles or mechanics, to my knowledge.
   

This is not intended as denigration: simply categorization.

• Season 1, Episode 0 through 3, 7 through 9 - Basic Fantasy RPG (OSR)
• Season 1, Episode 4 through 6- Offworlders (NuSR)
• Season 1, Episode 10 through 13 - Old School Essentials (OSR)
• Season 1, Episode 14 through 15 - Index Card RPG (NoSR)
• Season 1, Episode 16 through 18 - Warlock! (NuSR?)
• Season 2, Episode 0 through 1 - D&D 5e (Eew NoSR)
  

Thus, if you're looking to listen to a particular system, you can focus on those episodes, presuming you'll catch on to whatever backstory you may have missed in the over-arching contiguous campaign.

In Conclusion

Because of the increasing production values and because of the exquisite integration of system and story, I recommend Sub-Class Act. Because I am unsure of how applicable it is to the OSR-specific experience (which, to remind the reader, is the focus of this review series: to teach the OSR experience via a pleasurable medium), I am rating it Leather with Shield. Leather - because I like it, because I think there is value, but because also there are distinct non-OSR elements mixed in - and Shield because of the immense variety of oracles, emulators, and virtual referees the host has well-researched, well-explained, and well-executes throughout the performance. In sum, if you are interested in solo play and would like to learn a range of mechanisms for it while getting a feel for what it's like - Sub-Class Act is for you.

You're a bit of a FOE, James, but you're my kind of FOE.
Keep riding solo and I'll keep selectively bolting on my side-car!

Sub-Class Act logo retrieved from podcast Anchor home and used with permission.