Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guest TroytlePower as they discuss Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines, developed by Troika Games and published by Activision in 2004. Any recommendation to play Bloodlines comes with all sorts of disclaimers attached, which makes it nearly irresistable for someone with a brain like mine. And while all of those bad things I had heard about the game turned out to be extremely true, it's still a fascinating game that led to a fun discussion. Check out the podcast for more!

Guest info: TroytlePower (he/him)

• Check out all of Troy's work! https://troytlepower.com/

TIMESTAMPS

• 0:00 Title Card
• 0:17 Introductions
• 4:30 Our Histories with Bloodlines
• 8:39 Top-Level Thoughts
• 13:57 Story Setup and Clan Selection
• 21:03 The Masquerade and Vampire Society
• 28:06 Presentation and Game World
• 36:53 Music and Vibes
• 44:34 Vampire Lore TM
• 51:00 Character Building
• 1:02:04 Combat
• 1:17:00 If They Only Had More Time...
• 1:25:52 Who Should Play Bloodlines?
• 1:31:00 Troy's Podcasts and Writing
• 1:35:56 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
• 1:37:51 Spoilers- Early-Midgame Quests and Stories
• 2:23:00 Spoilers- The Sewers and Onward

Music used in the episode is credited to Rik Schaffer. Tracks used: Main Menu, Downtown, Disturbed and Twisted Combat, Generic Combat, Santa Monica, Crypt Combat

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Dave recaps 13 indie games that he played on the PAX East 2026 show floor.

TIMESTAMPS

• 0:00 Intro
• 0:25 The Secret of Weepstone
• 2:05 Throwback! Jai-Alai Heroes
• 2:59 Canvas City
• 3:51 DREADMOOR
• 5:03 Fractured Blooms
• 6:20 GNAW
• 7:31 Valor Mortis
• 8:32 Well Dweller
• 9:39 Never's End
• 11:17 ZWAARD
• 12:15 Project Lexa
• 13:37 Backyard Baseball
• 15:20 Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
• 16:31 Wrap-Up
• 17:06 More Indie Game Coverage!
• 17:52 Outro and How to Support

Game links:

• The Secret of Weepstone- https://store.steampowered.com/app/3702100/The_Secret_of_Weepstone/
• Throwback! Jai-Alai Heroes- https://www.astrocrow.com/throwback
• Canvas City https://store.steampowered.com/app/3226830/Canvas_City/
• DREADMOOR https://store.steampowered.com/app/3629430/DREADMOOR/
• Fractured Blooms https://store.steampowered.com/app/3730310/Fractured_Blooms/
• GNAW https://store.steampowered.com/app/2306490/GNAW/
• Valor Mortis https://store.steampowered.com/app/2828710/Valor_Mortis/
• Well Dweller https://store.steampowered.com/app/3699590/Well_Dweller/
• Never's End https://store.steampowered.com/app/1999930/Nevers_End/
• ZWAARD https://store.steampowered.com/app/2251170/ZWAARD/
• Project Lexa https://store.steampowered.com/app/3162890/Project_Lexa/
• Backyard Baseball https://store.steampowered.com/app/3935020/Backyard_Baseball/
• Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466060/Tainted_Grail_The_Fall_of_Avalon/

Music used:

• High Above the Land (The Flying Machine)- Jake Kaufman (Shovel Knight)
• Various tracks from The 16-Bit Starter Pack, composed by Bert Cole [bitbybitsound.com](bitbybitsound.com)

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and guest Travis Colenutt on their language-learning journey up the tower in Chants of Sennaar (Rundisc, Focus Entertainment, 2023). What do our languages say about our culture, and how can learning another language change the way we see the world? All of this and more in the discussion!

Guest info: Travis Colenutt (he/him)

• Check out Left Behind Game Club https://leftbehindgame.club/
• Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/traviscolenutt.bsky.social

TIMESTAMPS

• 0:00 Title Card
• 0:21 Introductions
• 4:53 Why Did We Play Chants of Sennaar?
• 9:50 Top-Level Thoughts About Chants of Sennaar
• 16:06 Story and Language Learning Setup
• 28:00 Using Language to Make Progress
• 33:40 Learning About Culture Via Languages
• 39:04 Making Connections Via Languages
• 48:02 Stealth In My Puzzle Game?
• 53:58 Visuals, Music and Sound
• 1:08:31 Do We Recommend?
• 1:11:17 Left Behind Game Club
• 1:15:10 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous
• 1:17:34 Spoilers- The Devotees & Warriors
• 1:40:05 Spoilers- The Bards & Alchemists
• 1:55:32 Spoilers- The Anchorites & Ending

Music used in the episode is credited to Thomas Brunet. Tracks used: The Call, Out of the Cavern and into the Light, Catch Me!, Envers, Bonds Reforged

Catch Dave on Nostalgium Arcanum talking about Rocky https://nostalgiumarcanum.fireside.fm/

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures