#286 GenCon 2024 Nostaligic Horror Live Panel

#286 GenCon 2024 Nostaligic Horror Live Panel

Author: Derek Day December 5, 2025 Duration: 1:22:20
Mike, Crystal, and Chigg discuss Nostalgic Horror at our live panel at GenCon. We discuss how nostalgia is used within the horror genre and how effective it is at pulling audiences into the story. We also talk about different RPGs that use nostalgia as a vessel for storytelling and world-building.   

Derek Day hosts Darker Days Radio, a podcast that settles into the shadowy corners of horror tabletop roleplaying. This isn't just a series of reviews, though you'll find thoughtful critiques of games and supplements within its episodes. The focus rests on immersive conversations and interviews that dig into the themes and mechanics of the genres that thrive after sunset. Regular discussions center on the personal horror and political intrigue of the World of Darkness, the modern mysteries of Chronicles of Darkness, and the grim, perilous futures of the Warhammer RPGs. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair at a dimly lit table where the talk is as much about atmosphere and storytelling as it is about rulebooks. The result is a deep, engaging resource for players and Game Masters looking to inject more tension and narrative depth into their own games. Tuning into this podcast offers a consistent dive into the communities and creative minds behind these iconic settings, making it an essential listen for anyone who finds their best stories are told by candlelight or the glow of a guttering lumen. It’s about the craft and the community surrounding these darkly fantastic games.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Darker Days Radio
Podcast Episodes
#302 Eat the Reich Deep Dive - Lore and Mechanics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:59
Chris, Crystal, Chigg, and David review Eat the Reich, a Rowan, Rook, and Decard RPG where you play as vampires who eat Nazis during World War 2. The game uses the Havoc Engine as its mechanics base. It is a hyperviolent…
#301 Cyberpunk Red - Welcome to Night City 2045 Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:36
David and Chigg review the brand-new Cyberpunk Red: Welcome to Night City 2045, an Edgerunners guide to the city. They are joined by co-host Crystal Mazur, who was also a writer on the project. Chigg and David discuss th…
#300 Realm of Fire - End Game? - Adepticon 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:58
Chris is joined by DavidIn this episode, they discuss;Warmachine, 40k, Trench Crusade, Gundam and more. Music by Muzaproduction from Pixabay
#299 Groundhogs Day, a Prognostication Secret Frequency [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:21
Every February, we wait with bated breath for the anthropomorphic divination of a hibernating mammal to tell us if winter will end soon. Why the fascination with this form of weather prognostication? Is there any science…
#297 Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum Ghost Hunting Experience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:05
In this episode Mike, Chris, David, and Chigg join forces to hear about Crystal's ghost hunting experience at the historic Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia. They go over the history, the different experien…
#295 Realm of Fire - Of Warmachines and Men [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:54
Chris is joined by MikeIn this episode, they discuss;Warmachine, 40k, Warlord Games more. Music by Muzaproduction from Pixabay
#294 Gamehole 2025 Investigation and Mystery in RPGs Live Panel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:55
Kenneth Hite moderates this panel with Crystal Mazur, Rick Meints, and Elisa Teague. We talk about how to approach investigations and mysteries within an RPG and how to keep it focused in those areas so as not to wander…
#293 Gamehole 2025 Running Games for Kids Live Panel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:38
Crystal moderates this panel with guests Teos Abadia, Sarah Babe, Jefferson Dunlap, and Nancy Hutchins. We talk about what we do to help kids learn game systems, stay focused at the table, and how to introduce complex ru…