I’m learning the Blades system to play with my home ttrpg group, and this live play been really helpful and entertaining. Love the scores Rhi comes up with and how ready the players are to contribute to the fiction.

Found this podcast after it was already done but have absolutely been listening constantly through the whole show. Love the variety of real-world issues covered in a variety of different ways, long and fruitful PC arcs, and the amaaazing cast of NPCs and guests. And all the ghost riots. Felt sad that it was coming to an end, heard that a new show was being worked on, and found that I had already downloaded it! Great job on knowing your voice, folks, and attracting your people 💞

The players and GM work together to create a world where each cloud in this dark world has more than a silver lining. These clouds are rocking silver booty shorts, sliding around the darkened skies and glittering like the queerest roller rink kids ever. The found family energy is so strong here that I feel seen even though I’m not heard (like a mini-Kevin). I love this podcast.

I am in love with The Magpies. I just finished listening to the entire series and I’m so impressed. The characters are amazing, GMing and so great, amazing plot and descriptions. It’s super queer and center social justice, something I don’t see in many actual plays. Thank you for making this!! If you haven’t listened, definitely do!

I’ve tried many but this is the first that really hooked me. I’ve learned a lot about the game by listening. The cast has great chemistry together and the GM is really tremendous.

I’ve listened to every episode of the first several seasons and this show goes from strength to strength. It showcases the best of Blades in the Dark and incorporates the cast’s own individual takes on the source material. Can’t recommend it highly enough!

A rare example of an actual play podcast that perfectly balances mechanical accuracy with fine storytelling.

Thanks for the great podcast! It’s a great listen and is helping me understand the mechanics of the game!

I love the way they play the game, getting in good characterization while also keeping the episode lengths down, especially compared to a lot of other ap’s

Sounds great, great chemistry, true to the game. What more can you ask for? A lot of love goes into this podcast and it shows tenfold.

If you like adventure zone, friends at the table, little realms, and others, you will love this(I hope). I have been listening only for a short while but it is my favorite podcast right now. I am halfway through and lovin it! You guys are great!!!!!!

Rhi and the cast do an excellent take on the Blades in the Dark system. What really shines through is the idea of the crew as found family. Beautiful.

Terrific podcast. Clever characters and brilliant pacing by the GM. Well balanced between fun and engaging heists with a larger overall worldbuilding approach.

Started listening just to help get a feel for the system once I committed to running it for some one shots. It was quite helpful to that end, but then we decided to commit to a year long Pathfinder game. And I kept listening. The characters and story were more than compelling enough to keep me coming back. And when I inevitably get called back to one shot duty, I’ll have some ideas.

This show is marvelous! I love all the characters and npcs! This has become my favorite actual play rpg podcast!

Entertaining and very well-paced. Rhi does a great job cutting the filler mechanics for the podcast and they keep it moving pretty good. The characters are loveable, I hope for more guest character appearances in the future. Just, SUPER gay.

Y’all. I am all caught up and dying over here. I have tried to find other AP to fill the gap and none fit the bill. Thank you for the time and dedication you have put into this podcast. You are appreciated.

The live-play RPG podcast I love the most! Focused role-playing and npc work while still keeping the dice rolling regularly. Gives you a feel for Blades in the Dark and the setting as well.

One of the best rpg podcasts I have ever listened too. Magpies is notable not only for it’s high quality play but also for it’s dedication to inclusivity and social justice. Personally Minx one of the characters has deeply affected me and made me feel safer bringing my gender identity to game tables. This podcast brings great gameplay and great social compassion together and I love every episode.

The Magpies are an incredibly inclusive group fighting to make a broken game (and real) world a better place. Their RP is excellent, and they all care a great deal about having fully developed characters playing inside an immersive world. Excellent listen - highly recommended.

For all lovers of fine story-craft, you would be hard pressed to find a more lovingly wrought tale than that spun out by the gaming antics of The Magpies podcast crew. Pull up a chair, and have a listen. Though their world is dark and cold, the characters are well and truly alive and evoke laughter, tears, and a deep-felt compassion for the underdog that’s so hard to come by in today’s world. I cannot recommend this enough.

TL;DR: Exciting storyline, Great cast, Wonderful narration, Beautiful moments, Fantastic GM. 10 out of 10, would recommend! My listening to The Magpies started off as an RP Homework Assignment. A friend contacted me to see if I was interested in playing in a BitD game he was going to be running. I said yes, cause gaming is fantastic, but knew nothing of the game. I quickly bought the book to see what was what, scoured the internet for information, and hunted down live play podcasts and videos. Not much of those podcasts and videos lasted more than a few minutes. And then I came to The Magpies. Not what I expected to hear for a game built around a “haunted Victorian-era city trapped inside a wall of lightning powered by demon blood.” I only just finished the 1st season. Everything about this podcast is engaging and fun. The PCs are a great collection, with so much detail. The NPCs are also fantastic. The story is told almost as if it is being watched as a show, and it works brilliantly. I love cheering on The Magpies as they go about Doskvol, getting into and out of trouble. Rhi, the GM, is fantastic, weaving a great story that makes everyone of the PCs stand out in the story as a star. No one plays second fiddle in this story. Ever PC stands out as a real character in the story. I just downloaded a bunch of season 2, ready for more thrilling tales of heroics and scoundrelics (??? scoundrelisms ???). Antics? Eh, I am ready for more. Thanks to the all of the folks who put The Magpies together. Great job!

Absolutely love this podcast. The cast of players are excellent and the GM Rhia is excellent. They play Blades in the Dark in a way that frankly makes me want to play! LGBTQ+ positive and they have a wonderful focus on making the game and fiction accessible to all persons. They have NPCs from all walks of life and are present wonderfully! 5⭐️

The only time I have been disappointed by this podcast is when I saw the words, “You’re all caught up!” 😫 I’ve listened to a good number of APs, and this is BY FAR my favorite. The women behind The Magpies have an unbelievable talent for consistently role playing fun drama and adventure. Rhi has a gift for GMing, and I have tried to emulate that in my own Blades games. Please keep the episodes coming!

High quality role playing, deep characterization, and laborious editing help to craft a masterful actual play. Fully captures the roleplaying system to create a fascinating narrative. Oh yeah, and it supports the narratives, players, and game-masters that we need to improve the problematic past and current history of the hobby. You’re missing out if you don’t give this podcast a shot!

The Magpies is a masterpiece of creative capers and brilliant twists, and has been a great help planning my own games.

Every time I think “well, that’s it, that’s the best episode ever,” the next gets even better! I am so emotionally invested in these characters and their journey! Fantastic players & GM!

This cast does have decent RP content based on the Blades in the Dark gaming system. I’d say it is average in terms of AP production values. Unfortunately, after a few casts they politicized their channel and it left bad taste in my mouth. I have no problem with anyone choosing to do that but I don’t want to support a cast that advocates for some non-profits I am opposed to. Best of luck to them but it’s not for me.

I’m updating my previous review, not because I think any less of this podcast, but rather to say that it’s shaped how I run Blades in the Dark. If you’re a GM, this is a fantastic way to learn the game, and how to use the rules to model all sorts of interesting things in the fiction. If you’re a player, the podcast is a great way to understand the pace of the game and how empowered you can be at the table. For anyone, it’s a thrilling, charming emotional rollercoaster. In short, love this game, love this podcast. I can’t rate it highly enough.

This podcast makes me so dang happy. The game system is used to its full effect here, and all of the players and characters resonate on a fun level. Sure, the theives may joyride through the Dusk on a goat drawn cart, but the story really wraps up WHY that's emotionally poignant. I love this show and all the characters are great, and you should listen!

There isn’t much for me to say other than I love this podcast and it’s super helpful for people trying to start up their own game! It’s super entertaining so really just thanks! Keep on keeping on!

This is one of my favorite podcasts, period. The whole cast has a huge talent for telling heart-wrenching stories full of colorful, interesting people. I love that they have monthly charity highlights, & how diverse the character lineup is. Also, now I have another RPG I need to get my hands on! :)

I started listening on my commute to help with the Blades game I’m running, but fell in love with the stories and characters — a lovely cast and fantastic GM!

The gm is awesome and I fell in love with the characters immediately. Mynx 4 lyfe!!

Oh yes I enjoy it!

This is an excellent roleplaying game podcast. The players are all first rate and the game master is deeply skilled. In contrast to mechanically transparent variants of Blades in the Dark, this group works in a highly narrative manner to tell a deeply interesting and impactful story. Unfortunately, the group is deeply sexist.

The Magpies have such wonderful chemistry with each other. They strike a perfect balance between humor and drama. You quickly become invested in these characters and this show.

This show follows a crew of small-time thieves just trying to make it. It's a great showcase of the Blades in the Dark RPG, and a ton of fun to listen to. It starts after the characters have already had a few adventures together, which gives them and the setting a bit of a lived-in feel. The cast work really well together and you can tell everyone is having a great time.

What makes this podcast stand out is a combination of the things it does really well. The characters are varied and delightful, and the players do a good job of being true to their character while still managing to surprise you from time to time. The story line is interesting and has a decent pace; listeners are regularly introduced to new places and people but there’s continuity and character growth as well. And - there’s really good chemistry between the GM and players. Their humor and banter (both in and out of character) provide a satisfying balance to the tension and horror of the setting. It makes it so you can really appreciate the dramatic moments without being overloaded by the darker aspects of the story.

I’ve just started listening, and I LOVE it. Cheeky characters, and I really like the charity spotlights

Love this show! It's a refreshing break from the strategy of my Blades in the Dark group, a reckless bunch of Bravos. The Magpies have great team dynamics, fun scores to get invested in, and I've picked up some extra tidbits from listening to Rhi's GM style. I only wish they came out with episodes more frequently! Blair has to be my favorite; the perfect combination of adorable and creepy as all hell.

As a GM of Blades myself, I find this series to be a joy to listen to. John Harper created a wonderful game and these ladies occupy it with fantastic and lovable characters and NPCs. It gives me insight into rules and actual play, all while telling a great story in the haunted city of Duskwall.

I looked up “Blades in the Dark” in hopes of finding an actual-play podcast that might help me learn the rules of the game before diving into an upcoming campaign. Not only have I filled that role, but I’ve fallen in love with the characters and the story. For a podcast this young (or really just actual play-podcasts in general), the audio quality and editing is clear, precise, and comedically well-times. Props to Rhi for that! I love her GMing style as well. They highlight a charity every month, which is a beautiful thing, but I think one of my favorite things they do as a podcast is represent a diverse cast of PCs and NPCs effortlessly and without objectifying disabilities, gender diversity, etc. This is the kind of representation we are asking for, people! If you like clear audio, lovable characters, a 55/45 balance of serious play and silliness, and a place where you feel represented, you should give this podcast a try!

This podcast is a lot of fun and seems to demonstrate well how the game works in play (I say this as someone who has read the rules but not played personally). The cast is fun and the story is engaging.

Great show! Keep it up.

I am a fairweather friend to a lot of actual play shows, but NOT the Magpies. I will listen to this crew until the end of time, even though they do crimes, which is not usually my roleplaying jam. I really love that they support charities each month, and I love that they're proudly LGBT+ This is a must-listen, my dudes!

A very fun listen!

Amazing podcast. Great interaction among the players. I was looking for a podcast to learn Blades in the Dark and I discovered this wonderful actual play. GM does a great job keeping the action going. Excellent sound quality as well.

The Magpies is super fun to listen to. I look forward to every episode. It's a good example of Blades in the Dark play if you want to learn. It also showcases a lot of queer characters in awesome ways. They even go above and beyond and highlight charities in the real world to help people out.

Good example of an Actual Play podcast. I get lost where the game is sometimes but it does a good job showing how to run Blades in the Dark.