Significant Streams #8: The Apocalypse Players
Posted by Michael O'Brien on 22nd Nov 2023
Significant Streams is a new feature on the Chaosium news blog where we highlight actual play streams, podcasts, and YouTube channels featuring Chaosium games that we think are worth checking out.
The Apocalypse Players is an award-winning UK-based audio-only Call of Cthulhu actual play podcast with extremely high production values including sfx and music. It's been going for two years and has released over 100 episodes, hitting a total of over half a million downloads. And recently won Best Horror Podcast and Best Gaming Podcast at the 2023 Independent Podcast Awards!
The core cast of four – Dominic Allen, Dan Wheeler, Joseph Chance, and Danann McAleer – are all professionally trained actors and improvisers, as well as experienced gamers. The podcast also features regular guests to spice things up including people like Jeany Spark and Mark Meer.
Dan from The Apocalypse Players told us, "The game itself is played truthfully, but we sometimes incorporate scripted prologues and epilogues to elaborate on story elements and character journeys. We focus on short-ish standalone stories (3–12 episodes of approximately 1hr each), so listeners can dive in wherever they like. However, we also include easter eggs and metatextual stuff to create a constantly evolving universe — our mythos-within-the-mythos, if you will!"
Some of the well-known scenarios The Apocalypse Players have run include: Saturnine Chalice, Lightless Beacon, Highway of Blood, and the very popular Crimson Letters. They've also run older scenarios including The Crack'd & Crook'd Manse, Machine Tractor Station Kharkov-37, and Trail of the Loathsome Slime, as well as self-penned stories based on the works of MR James which have been big hits with the fans.
The judges at the 2023 Independent Podcast Awards said,"The sound design, the acting and the atmospheric music really add to this immersive experience" and "the passion with which the story is relayed makes it compelling listening, even if you don't happen to be a huge tabletop gaming fan." They also praised the "superb production values and lively presentation," and the "enthusiasm, humour and acting of the hosts."
Find out more about The Apocalypse Players at their website: www.apocalypseplayers.com. Dan also notes they have a lively Discord server at https://discord.com/invite/