Metal RPGs and No Cheese

Plus AI rock critics

A recent There’s a TTRPG for that! blog post responded to a request for recommended games that “provide heavy-metal vibes” (HT The Indie RPG Newsletter). The author interpreted the request as “hellbusting” games, and suggestions included WARRUNE, HELL GRINDERS, and HELLGUTS. I guess the keys to heavy metal vibes are gratuitous violence and ALL CAPS.

I love the way one of the recommended games, Aether Operations, accurately adopts the trend of black metal bands having illegible logos:

Pop Quiz: Black Metal Band or TTRPG?

So, what makes a TTRPG metal? Perhaps if it has has “iron rations” in the equipment list?

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Prog magazine recently reposted an article about the progressive metal supergroup Sons of Apollo in which keyboardist Derek Sherinian brags about the band having “no Dungeons & Dragons shit.” I like Sons of Apollo, but that hurt my feelings. Here’s the full quote:

“We also really took time to go through each vocal phrase to make sure there was no cheese anywhere, no gargoyles or Dungeons & Dragons shit, and no rectum-puckering high notes. Everything is very smooth and ballsy.”

Not a scrap, Sons of Apollo? Not even some Sage Derby?

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At first perusal, I was excited to see this list of ten best Blue Öyster Cult songs appear in my feed, especially since it included two songs with lyrics by Critical Hit Parader patron saint Michael Moorcock. Upon closer examination, however, I realized the content must be AI created. For example, about “Transmaniacon MC” it says “The song’s powerful imagery and evocative language create a sense of rebellion and defiance.” Then, for “Black Blade” it says “The song’s powerful imagery and evocative language create a sense of mystery and wonder.” All ten of the song write-ups are worth a read to chuckle at the varying degrees of misinterpretation of the Cult’s lyrics.

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I hope this newsletter’s powerful imagery and evocative language created a sense of rebellion and wonder for you.