EXP-lore

Strahd it Like it's Hot

In this episode, we sink our fangs into horror — from tabletop terrors to spine-chilling books and nightmare-fuel video games. What makes fear fun? Why do we love being scared when the dice (or the plot) turn against us?
We talk Curse of Strahd, haunted stories, jump scares, and the art of creeping dread — plus how horror can make roleplaying and storytelling more intense, emotional, and unforgettable.
So light a candle, grab your garlic, and join us as we delve into the screaming abyss of nightmare fuel! 
What’s the scariest game or story you’ve ever experienced? Drop it in the comments… if you dare.Hosted by your favourite spooky nerds:
Mike Hearnden
Dean Shickle
David Weeks
and
Henry Adair
 
You can find us at www.allmanaofgames.co.uk If you'd like to support EXP-lore and All Mana of Games with a donation, why not visit our Ko-fi page? We're currently fundraising for an table runner! www.Ko-fi.com/allmanaofgames

40k- The Price of a Drink!

In this episode, we trade dice rolls for day trips as we recount our recent community adventure to Warhammer World — the holy land of miniatures, massive battles, and surprisingly pricey beverages.
From jaw-dropping displays and nostalgic fan moments to the chaos of navigating the gift shop (and the bar tab), we share all the highlights, laughs, and slightly questionable decisions from our time among the Imperium faithful.
Grab your bolter, order a pint (if you can afford one), and join us for a hobbyist’s pilgrimage like no other.
💬 Have you been to Warhammer World? Tell us your favourite part of the trip — or what you’d want to see there!
Hosted by your favourite miniature warlords:
Mike HearndenDean ShickleDavid WeeksandHenry Adair
Sometimes genius, sometimes disaster—but always worth talking about.
You can find us at www.allmanaofgames.co.uk
If you'd like to support EXP-lore and All Mana of Games with a donation, why not visit our Ko-fi page? We're currently fundraising for an external hard drive! www.Ko-fi.com/allmanaofgames

Big Trouble, Little Deano

Episode 33 of EXP-lore brings a mix of chaos and contemplation as we dive into the hits and misses of nerd culture—welcome to Big Trouble, Little Deano.
This week, we’re talking about the big swings companies take in the worlds of gaming, film, and fandom—some that paid off brilliantly, and others that crashed and burned spectacularly. From ambitious experiments to baffling blunders, we look at what makes a “good idea” go right (or very, very wrong).
It’s part analysis, part roast, and full of the usual EXP-lore tangents, with plenty of laughs along the way.
Hosted by your mistake-makers and miracle-spotters:
Mike HearndenDean ShickleDavid WeeksandHenry Adair
Sometimes genius, sometimes disaster—but always worth talking about.
You can find us at www.allmanaofgames.co.uk
If you'd like to support EXP-lore and All Mana of Games with a donation, why not visit our Ko-fi page? We're currently fundraising for an external hard drive! www.Ko-fi.com/allmanaofgames

Franchise, I Choose You!

In Episode 32 of EXP-lore, things get competitive as we put our knowledge to the test with a franchise-themed quiz.
This time, it’s all about the money—specifically, which media franchises have raked in the most over the years. From films and games to toys, comics, and everything in between, we try to guess the highest-grossing franchises of all time.
Expect wild guesses, heated debates, a few surprising answers, and plenty of friendly trash talk as we see who really knows their pop culture empires.
Hosted by your quiz-hungry contenders:
Mike HearndenDean ShickleDavid WeeksandHenry Adair
Points don’t matter, bragging rights do.
You can find us at www.allmanaofgames.co.uk
If you'd like to support EXP-lore and All Mana of Games with a donation, why not visit our Ko-fi page? We're currently fundraising for an external hard drive! www.Ko-fi.com/allmanaofgames

Off the Beaten Path(finder)

Episode 31: Off the Beaten Path(finder)
This week we ditch the dungeon crawls and dragon hoards to see what happens when you leave the comfy safety net of D&D behind. From the crunch of Pathfinder to the sheer weirdness of indie storytelling games, we dive into the roleplaying experiences that blew our minds, broke our brains, and sometimes left us wondering what on earth we’d just played.
We’re talking bold mechanics, wild worlds, and adventures you won’t find in the Player’s Handbook. If you’ve ever thought, “There’s got to be more to RPGs than rolling for initiative,” this is your gateway to the stranger, messier, and often more brilliant corners of tabletop roleplay.
Hosted by your favourite roleplayers:
Mike HearndenDean ShickleDavid WeeksandHenry Adair
You can find us at www.allmanaofgames.co.uk
If you'd like to support EXP-lore and All Mana of Games with a donation, why not visit our Ko-fi page? We're currently fundraising for an external hard drive! www.Ko-fi.com/allmanaofgames

All Mana, All Day

For Episode 30 of EXP-lore, we’re fresh off the tabletop and ready to share the stories—because it’s time to debrief our recent Tabletop All-Dayer.
A full day of dice, cards, and caffeine gave us plenty to talk about: the games we played, the highlights and the moments that made the event unforgettable. From epic victories to chaotic mishaps, we break down how it all went and what we’d do differently next time.
It’s part recap, part reflection, and a whole lot of post-game banter—perfect if you joined us on the day, or just want to know what it’s like to marathon your way through a wall-to-wall schedule of games.
Hosted by your slightly sleep-deprived semi-pro gamers:
Mike HearndenDean ShickleDavid WeeksandHenry Adair
One day, countless games—here’s how it all played out.
You can find us at www.allmanaofgames.co.uk
If you'd like to support EXP-lore and All Mana of Games with a donation, why not visit our Ko-fi page? We're currently fundraising for an external hard drive! www.Ko-fi.com/allmanaofgames

Super UItra Epic Powerhouses

Forget balance, forget logic—this episode is all about pitting our favourite characters against each other in the most ridiculous “who would win?” battles imaginable. From unstoppable juggernauts to sneaky tricksters, nobody is safe from our hypothetical fight night.
We also dive into the pop culture armoury to talk about our favourite weapons: the iconic, the overpowered, and the ones that are downright useless but still look cool.
It’s part showdown, part love letter to the toys and tools of our favourite stories—served with the usual helping of chaos.
Duking it out for king of the ring is:
Mike Hearnden Dean ShickleDavid WeeksandHenry Adair
You can find us at www.allmanaofgames.co.uk
If you'd like to support EXP-lore and All Mana of Games with a donation, why not visit our Ko-fi page? We're currently fundraising for an external hard drive! www.Ko-fi.com/allmanaofgames

[BONUS] - Dyer Quest

Bonus Episode: Dyer Quest
We’re back with a special bonus adventure! This time we crack open Steve Jackson’s legendary Fighting Fantasy gamebook The Citadel of Chaos—but with our own chaotic twist. Armed with dice, dubious strategy, and questionable ability, we brave the sinister halls of the Citadel… only to discover it might actually belong to Danny Dyer.
Expect perilous encounters, strange sorcery, and more than a few very unhelpful decisions as we fumble our way through traps, monsters, and the mysterious power of banter. Will we triumph, or will Danny Dyer’s Citadel chew us up and spit us out? There’s only one way to find out.
Starring your favourite doomed adventurers:
Mike Hearnden (your fearless narrator)Dean ShickleDavid WeeksandHenry Adair
You can find us at www.allmanaofgames.co.uk
If you'd like to support EXP-lore and All Mana of Games with a donation, why not visit our Ko-fi page? We're currently fundraising for an external hard drive! www.Ko-fi.com/allmanaofgames

Remakes, Disasters, Remasters

Episode 28 of EXP-lore takes us back to familiar worlds with a fresh coat of paint, as we dive into the world of remakes in film and video games.
Whether it’s a beloved classic reimagined for a new generation, or a remake that never should’ve left the drawing board, we’re asking what makes these do-overs work—or fail. From movie reboots to game remasters, we share our favourites, our frustrations, and a few guilty pleasures along the way.
Why do some stories beg to be retold, while others lose their magic the second time around? And is nostalgia a blessing, or a curse, when it comes to remakes?
Hosted by your rebooted panel:
Mike HearndenDean ShickleDavid WeeksandHenry Adair
Some things change, some stay the same—but the conversation’s always worth revisiting.
You can find more about us at www.allmanaofgames.co.uk
If you'd like to support EXP-lore and All Mana of Games with a donation, why not visit our Ko-fi page? We're currently fundraising for an external hard drive! www.Ko-fi.com/allmanaofgames

Multiverse of Badness

In this twenty-seventh episode of EXP-lore, we’re shuffling the deck, mixing the genres, and talking all things crossover.
From Magic: The Gathering’s Universes Beyond to unexpected IP mashups, we explore what happens when beloved franchises collide. Do these crossovers expand the game, deepen the lore, or just feel like a cash grab? And what do we want to see?!
We share our thoughts on the best and worst examples, why some collaborations work better than others, and which dream crossovers we’d love to see next. Whether you’re a planeswalker, a dungeon master, or just here for the multiverse mayhem, this episode has something for you.
Hosted by your crossover curators:
Mike HearndenDean ShickleDavid WeeksandHenry Adair
Different worlds, same table—let’s talk about breaching the multiverse.
 
You can find more about us at www.allmanaofgames.co.uk
If you'd like to support EXP-lore and All Mana of Games with a donation, why not visit our Ko-fi page? We're currently fundraising for an external hard drive! www.Ko-fi.com/allmanaofgames