In this episode, we’re shuffling our decks and looking back at our recent Magic: The Gathering Commander tournament — the plays, the misplays, and the moments of pure chaos that made it unforgettable. We also reveal our brand-new event: Tabletop Nuneaton! From the idea to the launch, we talk about what’s coming, what we’re planning, and why we’re so excited to build something special for the tabletop community. To top it all off, we chat about the biggest events on our radar for 2026 — conventions, releases, and everything that’s got our dice rolling and our calendars marked. Were you at the Commander tournament? Thinking of joining us for Tabletop Nuneaton? Let us know in the comments!Hosted as always by the mana-starved: Mike Hearnden Dean Shickle David Weeks and Henry AdairYou 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? www.Ko-fi.com/allmanaofgamesYou can also help us raise some funds via our Magic Madhouse affiliate link or by signing up to support All Mana of Games on EasyFundraising

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

In this twenty-sixth episode of EXP-lore, we’re rolling out the battlefield and digging into everything terrain. From rocky outcrops and ruined cities to forests made of felt and cereal-box bunkers, we talk about how terrain shapes the games we play and the stories we tell. We cover the practical—storage, costs, and table space—as well as the creative—building, painting, and bringing battlefields to life. Expect discussions on our best (and worst) terrain experiences, the difference good scenery can make to a game, and a few confessions about shortcuts we’ve taken along the way. So whether you’re stacking books under a gaming mat or carefully crafting every detail of a custom board, this episode has you covered. Hosted by your battlefield builders: Mike HearndenDean ShickleDavid WeeksandHenry Adair The dice may decide the outcome, but the terrain sets the stage. 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

In this twenty-fifth episode of EXP-lore, we’re unlocking extra content, downloading some opinions, and maybe installing a few hot takes—because we’re talking video game expansions and DLC.  From game-changing add-ons to cash-grab catastrophes, we share our favourite expansions that kept us playing long after the credits rolled—and the ones that made us wish we’d saved our money. Expect nostalgia trips, hot takes, and the occasional tangent into “remember when games just came finished?” territory. We’ll cover everything from sprawling RPG epics to tiny quality-of-life tweaks, asking the big questions: When is DLC worth it? When does it go too far? And why do horse armour jokes never get old? So plug in, press start, and join us for a conversation that’s 100% complete—no season pass required. 🕹️🎧🔥 Hosted by your fully upgraded panel: Mike HearndenDean ShickleDavid WeeksandHenry Adair Extra missions, bonus content, and zero microtransactions—just the way we like it.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

In this bonus episode of EXP-lore, we’re cracking open a classic, sharpening our pencils, and diving headfirst into a dungeon of danger—because we’re tackling The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. Join us as Mike dons the mantle of narrator, trap-setter, and occasional goblin, guiding the rest of the crew through the legendary Fighting Fantasy choose-your-own-adventure book that started it all. Will they fight bravely, loot wisely, and survive the perils ahead? Or will poor dice rolls and questionable choices doom them to an early grave? It’s part RPG, part audiobook, and all chaotic fun—with plenty of tangents, terrible accents, and classic EXP-lore banter along the way. So grab two dice, a pencil, and your provisions—because it’s time to EXP-lore Firetop Mountain.  Starring your favourite doomed adventurers: Mike Hearnden (your fearless narrator)Dean ShickleDavid WeeksandHenry Adair No minis, no map—just danger, decisions, and dungeon-crawling delight. 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  

In this twenty-fourth episode of EXP-lore, we’re grabbing our walking sticks, shaking our fists at the sky, and getting nostalgic—because we’re talking about how our hobbies have changed over the years.  From the humble beginnings of pocket money armies to today’s premium-priced plastics, we look back on how games like Warhammer and others have evolved—from cost, to community, to the way we actually play. Remember organising games by text? Or playing in freezing garages with dodgy terrain? We do—and we survived. It’s part retrospective, part rant, and all rooted in our love for the hobbies that have grown up alongside us (for better or worse). Whether you’re a grizzled veteran or a fresh recruit, this episode’s got something for everyone who's ever said, "It didn’t used to be like this..." So dust off your old rulebooks, adjust your rose-tinted goggles, and join us as we explore the then and now of our tabletop lives.  Hosted by your hobby historians: Mike HearndenDean ShickleDavid WeeksandHenry Adair Things may have changed—but we’re still here rolling dice and talking nonsense.    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

In this twenty-third episode of EXP-lore, we’re cheering for the little guy, the long shot, the dark horse—because it’s time to talk underdogs. 🐾🎮🥊 From scrappy rebels to overlooked champions, we dive into our favorite underdog stories across games, films, and beyond. Why do we love them? What makes a good one? And why does it feel so good when the odds get defied? But then—like a wild Tangela in tall grass—we get ambushed by nostalgia and spend the second half deep in the tall weeds of Pokémon talk. From team comps to type matchups, childhood memories to modern metas, we let the Poké-chat run rampant. It’s an episode of two halves: one heartfelt, one hyper-beamed. Whether you're here for inspiring stories or Pikachu-powered tangents, this one’s a super effective use of your time. ⚡🐉🎙️Want to help support us? You can now buy us a coffee! Just visit our Ko-fi page: https://ko-fi.com/allmanaofgames   Hosted by your badge-less but battle-ready trainers: Mike HearndenDean ShickleDavid WeeksandHenry Adair No potions required—just press play. 🎧🎮🔥

In this twenty-second episode of EXP-lore, we’re hitting pause on the deep dives and taking a moment to check in—because it’s time for a good old-fashioned hobby update.  From piles of shame to proud displays, we're sharing what we've been building, painting, playing, and procrastinating. Expect some new projects, unexpected detours, and a few too many half-finished minis staring at us from the shelves. It’s a laid-back episode full of hobby highs, crafty chaos, and the usual banter you’ve come to expect. Whether you’re knee-deep in sprues or just looking for a bit of inspiration to jumpstart your next session, this one’s for you. So grab a brush, cue up the podcast, and join us as we talk progress, plans, and plastic.  Hosted by your hobby hopefuls: Mike HearndenDean ShickleDavid WeeksandHenry Adair No hot takes, no hard rules—just good vibes and glue fumes.

Episode 21 – EXP-loring: A Q&A In this twenty-first episode of EXP-lore, we’re turning the tables and putting your questions in the spotlight. It’s time for our first-ever Q&A episode—because sometimes the best adventures start with “What if…?” 💬🎲🧭 We’ve gathered questions from our amazing community, Discord, and friends, and we’re diving headfirst into the weird, wonderful, and occasionally wacky corners of our gaming lives. From behind-the-scenes podcast insights to hot takes on dice etiquette, campaign chaos, and personal favourites, no topic is off-limits. Expect candid chats, unexpected tangents, and plenty of laughs as we tackle everything from our most memorable tabletop moments to what games we’re loving right now—and yes, we do reveal which one of us hoards minis like a dragon. Along the way, we reflect on what EXP-lore means to us, how we keep the spark alive in our hobbies, and why community-driven content makes this all so rewarding. So grab your headphones, settle in, and join us for a relaxed, rambling journey through your curiosities and our chaos. 💭🎧🧃 Hosted (and mildly grilled) by your ever-chatty crew: Mike HearndenDean ShickleDavid WeeksHenry Adair Whether you sent in a question or just want to hear us sweat under the spotlight, this episode is a celebration of you—our listeners, supporters, and fellow nerds. There is some sound discrepancy within this episode, it was recorded over Discord as Mike is on holiday! Back to normal next week! 

Episode 20 – Lore of the Worlds In this twentieth episode of EXP-lore, we’re swapping dice rolls for deep lore dives and getting lost in the tangled, thrilling process of worldbuilding for tabletop RPGs. 🌍📜🎲 From crumbling kingdoms to star-faring civilizations, we’re pulling back the curtain on how we craft the settings, cultures, and conflicts that bring our games to life. Whether you’re building a sprawling campaign world or a single mysterious village, we’re sharing our go-to methods, creative rituals, and favourite inspirations. We talk about where to start (maps or myths?), how to make your world feel alive, and why the tiniest details can spark the biggest moments at the table. Expect discussions on everything from collaborative storytelling and player-driven world shaping to avoiding common worldbuilding traps (yes, we’re looking at you, 300-page lore docs no one reads). Along the way, we ask: What makes a setting feel real? How much lore is too much? And how do you balance creativity with coherence when you’re basically building a universe from scratch? So sharpen your pencils, prep your pantheons, and join us as we chart a course through the multiverse of imagination and invention. 🗺️🔥✨ Hosted by your ever-expanding ensemble: Mike HearndenDean ShickleDavid WeeksHenry Adair Whether you’re a veteran worldbuilder or just starting to sketch your first continent, this episode is packed with ideas, insights, and inspiration to help bring your stories to life. 🎧🏰🛸

Episode 19 – Buy Now, Cry Later In this nineteenth episode of EXP-lore, we’re swapping impulse buys for clever hacks and asking the age-old question: how do you keep up with your favourite hobbies without emptying your wallet? 💸🎲🧃 From the irresistible lure of limited-edition minis to that “just one more booster pack” feeling, we’ve all felt the sting of hobby spending. This week, we’re getting real about budgeting in the worlds of wargaming, board gaming, and trading card games—and sharing our tips, tricks, and personal pitfalls along the way. We chat about the true cost of staying current, the psychology behind “fear of missing out,” and how to separate must-haves from marketing magic. Expect discussions on pre-owned treasures, DIY alternatives, community-driven resources, and how to make your money stretch without sacrificing the fun. Along the way, we ask: Is the £100 core box always worth it? How do you set limits in a hobby built on collection and expansion? And are we really saving money if we spend less on more games? (Hint: it depends on who you ask.) So tighten your belts, hide your credit cards, and join us for a wallet-friendly wander through the highs and lows of hobby budgeting. 🎯📉🧩 Hosted by your fiscally-fluctuating favourites: Mike HearndenDean ShickleDavid WeeksHenry Adair Whether you’re ballin’ on a budget or justifying your next big splurge, this episode has something for every thrifty (or not-so-thrifty) nerd. 🎧💰♟️