Rephonic
Artwork for System Mastery
Roleplaying Games
Role-Playing Games
Character Creation
Dungeons & Dragons
Fabula Ultima
Game Mechanics
Wild West RPG
Dungeons and Dragons
Capers
Superheroes
Tales From the Floating Vagabond
The Companion's Tale
Final Fantasy
Ghost Dog: Way Of the Samurai
RPG Mechanics
Mörk Borg
The Quiet Year
Unbidden
1920s
Doctor Who

Jef and Jon review old roleplaying games

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes350Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureHobbiesGames

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Artwork for System Mastery

Latest Episodes

I still can't remember if this is our first FATE game or not, I think it might be? It's about mice, that are bikers. There's also frogs and stuff. It's fun. Let's talk about it.

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Sci-fi, TSR style. I can't figure out why I thought this would be D&D based, maybe because it came out so late in the TSR lifecycle that I thought it was WOTC? Anyway, it's certainly interesting to talk about!

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Okay at this point I think it's starting to get obvious that the two of us are down with the cozy games. This one is cute as heck. Get on a little journey. Jef is only moderately puzzled by some decisions!

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Sure it's PBTA but really we want to talk about the rare-ish process by which specifically board games become specifically RPGs. Plus these animals kill each other and are cute.

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Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Movie MasteryJef Aldrich and Jon Taylor
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The Flop HouseMaximumFun, Dan McCoy, Stuart Wellington, Elliott Kalan

Recent Guests

Kira Woodmansee
Game designer and artist
Tales from the Floating Vagabond
Episode: 311 - Tales from the Floating Vagabond 2e, Part 2: An Interview
Sean Ellis
Game designer and writer
Tales from the Floating Vagabond
Episode: 311 - Tales from the Floating Vagabond 2e, Part 2: An Interview
James DiMatteau
President of OneShot Podcast Network and RPG designer
OneShot Podcast Network
Episode: 309 - Invisible Sun Lore
James D'Amato
Co-host of various roleplaying podcasts and game designer
Possible Worlds Games
Episode: 308 - Invisible Sun

Hosts

Jon
Co-host of System Mastery (long-running co-host).
Jef
Host of System Mastery (long-running host).

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 446 ratings
  • An excellent review which showed me exactly why I am glad it did not buy this game. What an entertaining resource.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    indigonegative
    9 months ago
  • This makes me want to get this game. These three apparent Americans using the word "twee" incessantly is incredibly annoying.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Rocky McCobb
    9 months ago
  • If you're lookingfor honest in depth discussion of ttrpgs thuis is not the place for it. The hosts don't learn the rules then take turns shifting on the rules that they didn't read. If you want smarmy comments about rules and settings that aren't accurate or applicable, these are your guys.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    JohnQPublic
    10 months ago
  • It's nice to hear old systems being reviewed, but the utter lack of any seriousness is extremely off-putting. Sure, have fun and make the episode interesting, but at least try to be intellectually honest to the system you've put so much effort into learning! Honestly, if every game system review is a series of continuous jokes, why bother reviewing them at all??

    I appreciate the enormous effort to review so many game systems. It's just a shame the work gets lost under piles of innanity.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    Siltoneous
    a year ago
  • Man. This is my first episode from you guys... And I am taken aback how negative you are. Some of the "jokes" and comments make me wonder if you actually ever actually roleplay, or do you just dungeon crawl with miniatures and anything that's not on the table or in the stats doesn't matter.

    I have never used the word "toxic" before in my life, but I'm actually tempted by the subtext of the episode. Mostly because I get the impression that this is somehow supposed to be a positive episode...

    Podcast Addict
    3
    NoMoreCocaine
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the hosts' strong chemistry and funny, insightful reviews of obscure RPGs.
Some reviews note a mix of sharp design critique with occasional crude humor but still find value for retro-game fans.
A few listeners wish for deeper research and more balanced takes on controversial games.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#225
United Kingdom/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#91
Australia/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#36
Philippines/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#60
South Africa/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#60
South Korea/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#99
Israel/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

311 - Tales from the Floating Vagabond 2e, Part 2: An Interview
Q: What's next for Tales from the Floating Vagabond?
They plan to produce more content, including adventure modules and explore the game's universe further, introducing new mechanics and expanding on existing ideas.
308 - Invisible Sun
Q: Would you play this game again?
I would play this game tomorrow; it was a delight to play.
308 - Invisible Sun
Q: What's your least favorite thing about this game?
It has to be the way in which this is written—very obtuse and sliding in and out of different perspectives.
264 - Monsterhearts
Q: What was your least favorite thing?
There's not a lot I dislike about this game, but if I'm going to find anything, it's the base mechanical stuff.
264 - Monsterhearts
Q: What was your favorite thing about Monsterhearts First Edition?
I love the fact that this starts out with like, hey, there is no unconditional acceptance.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About System Mastery

What is System Mastery about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two hosts regularly review and critique older roleplaying games, balancing humor with sharp design observations. Episodes cover mechanics, balance, and presentation across a wide range of defunct or obscure RPGs, often comparing how classic systems age and what modern players might want from a single-session romp to a long-running campaign. The tone blends candid opinions, pop culture references, and playful banter, with occasional sponsor plugs and behind-the-scenes anecdotes that give a sense of the show's nerdy, community-oriented vibe. A standout trait is the duo's chemistry and willingness to dissect both the strengths and the flaws of old games, making it a strong fit for listeners who love historical RPG design and comedic commentary... more

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Which podcasts are similar to System Mastery?

These podcasts share a similar audience with System Mastery:

1. Movie Mastery
2. Expounded Universe
3. The Flop House
4. Ludonarrative Dissidents
5. Mystery Quest

How many episodes of System Mastery are there?

System Mastery launched 12 years ago and published 350 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on System Mastery?

Recent guests on System Mastery include:

1. Kira Woodmansee
2. Sean Ellis
3. James DiMatteau
4. James D'Amato

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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