This is an excellent show, that has a lot of variety which adds to its entertainment. They play so many games I don’t know where they find the time. What I really like is they switch game masters/storytellers so you are getting different play styles and game themes. It’s my go-to during my commute to work.

If you enjoy live-play podcasts, start listening to The Old Ways now. The casts are excellent, there is a ton of content and the production is top notch. Whether you want unique takes on classics like “Masks of N” and “Horror on the Orient Express” or explore newer environments like Regency Cthulhu and Vaesen, The Old Ways delivers.

This is the best edited live play I’ve listened to. All the stories are gripping and intriguing, and the GMs range from great to spectacular. The episodes are arranged chronologically as released, so the different stories and game systems are mixed together, but the episodes are concise and easy to follow or skip. They’ve also got a great Discord server and Patreon.

Orient, Masks, etc. They’re all jumbled together. Needs better labeling. Makes it almost impossible to go in sequence via the app. If you can get the episodes straight, it appears quite good. No easy way to contact the creators.

Great stories. Great characters. Great production. Who does not love a little Cthulhu before bedtime.

The core of this podcast is Call of Cthulhu horror role playing, currently in the Masks of Nyarlathotep and Horror on the Orient Express campaigns. Listeners can also take in a variety of “side quest” games in other genres. As if that isn’t enough, a Vampire the Masquerade campaign just began! In every case, the story is driven by the characters, never forced or railroaded. We get to know the characters and develop empathy with them as they develop. If you want to skip the characterization and get straight to the tentacled horrors, then this podcast may not be for you. If you like stories and characters that develop organically and without being rushed, then what are you waiting for? Come aboard!

My own Keeper told me about the Orient Express campaign a few months ago and I went through it in no time, the show was in my ears for hikes and runs (which may not be the best idea for someone who exercises before the sun comes up). I then started the Masks campaign, and after the rough start due to getting the setup right and then the pandemic, it found it’s stride and is just as fabulous. What I love the most is how atmospheric it is- Keeper Michael runs a great game that keeps you engaged, all of the characters are complex and have their own perspective, and the story seems to unfold organically. There are moments where I have laughed aloud (the Doc and ‘Lock comment, Lady E’s special medicine) and moments where I have felt very uncomfortable (that poor girl in the hotel), and even more where I have held my breath to get to the next session.

The Old Ways is the ultimate in long form RPG storytelling: never rushed, never railroaded, full of character development and rich interactions both between investigators and with NPCs, backstories emerge slowly over literally hundreds of episodes in some cases, rich and evocative descriptions from the Keeper. Audio and production quality after the first few episodes of Masks becomes excellent. And for me, the best part is that the tone of the game is "serious," which is how I think a realistic, horror game should be run and played. This isn't to say there aren't moments of humor but they are appropriately timed with the moods of the scenes; the mood is never broken by raunchy jokes or weird pop culture references (some of the "side quests" where they play one-shots in different systems have a jokier atmosphere which fits those games and shows that the cast can play that way when they want to but choose not to in the main campaigns bc that's not the vibe of those worlds. Overall a fantastic cast, and a fantastic keeper whose style will inspire you to do better yourself.

Excellent game these dudes are playing! I am a D&D guy who was CoC curious…So I picked this one and it doesn’t disappoint. It is like Downton Abbey in the middle of R’lyeh and you gotta ride the psycho train to get there!

I remember as a kid hearing old radio broadcasts with wonderful voice actors, and this group (both crews) reminded me of that, but better. It is well prepared and thought through, comical at times, heart felt at other, and always so live. These people play in the moment like true professional and clearly understand how to entertain while letting their own love for the game come through. Michael clearly has so much to work with and is able to produce something that even someone new to gaming, horror and podcasts would fine immediately enjoyable. Congratulations to everyone involved in the shows and in the Discord channel, it is all so wonderful. Thank you.

I’m very picky about the podcasts I like and continue to listen to. This podcast is top notch with a very talented cast and GM. This is true collaborative storytelling and a joy to follow. Both storylines are fantastic and worth listening to. This has quickly become one of my absolute favorite actual play podcasts. Great job!!

The keeper and cast of this game and podcast are wonderful. They capture the radio drama element of the audio medium and work diligently to develop depth in each character. The keeper’s tone and mood set each scene very well and his cadence and creative descriptions bring audio horror to life like few I’ve listened to. The cast has fun but does allows for the horror to grow organically and embraces it when it arrives. It’s a slow burn, but the end results are worth the wait. I’m glad I started as I’ve binged the entire series in a matter of weeks. Definitely one I’ll keep following.

If anyone else is running a campaign at this level as a podcast I'd love to know about it. The GM Micheal Diamond is doing an amazing job bringing masks to a slow but rolling boil.

Hopefully my game goes as well as this one!

While it is slow , and they tell you that, the players are more like actors and are simply amazing making you believe they are there characters. Totally worth listening too.

I’m not typically an Itunes user, but I’m going to do something I typically wouldn’t do. I’ve downloaded Itunes specifically so that I can leave this review. That alone should tell you something. But regardless of how you found this review, do yourself a favor, and listen to this podcast. If you came across it intentionally, you probably have some idea of what you’re in for. Me? I started listening because I’m a keeper for two different Call of Cthulhu groups, and I’m planning on running Masks at some point. But that’s become a secondary consideration at this point. The production quality is top notch, and in a short time I’ve learned quite a few things from Keeper Michael. He does a fantastic job weaving a story, and the actors play their respective characters wonderfully. The tale they weave together makes you forget that they’re playing a game at all, and instead, I find myself thinking I’m actually listening to a radio drama. Anybody can sit down and run a scenario out of a book-but what this group does is elevate it to a whole other level.

This is a phenomenally well done series. To simply call it an actual play is like describing the Sistine Chapel as a church. The production values border on audio theater and both the Keeper and Investigators completely buy in to the premise and sell the narrative without excessive scenery chewing. There are plenty of episodes available now to binge at work or in the car. If you listen to the first few Masks of Nyarlathotep and aren’t hooked, you’re already lost to the Crawling Chaos itself. Try it out!

I really like the cast, my one pet peeve is Keeper Michael tells characters what they’re thinking and feeling and it seems like the players don’t have as much control over their own characters. Besides that it’s a great cast and Mike is an awesome storyteller. Totally recommend.

Im an actual play snob. If I listen to a horror game, I want tension, I want drama, and I want personality. It's hard to sit down to the Mythos and immediately be bombarded with 2 hours of jokes. I want to listen to a moody game with engaged players. The Old Ways game is a lesson on what to expect if you've never played CoC before, and Michael runs his game with the confidence of a long time GM/Keeper and keeps his cast the most important part of his game. He sets the mood, the vast bulk of gameplay is in character, and the production value is smooth without feeling overdone. If you are a veteran of play, I think it's easy to appreciate the delivery and interactions of entertaining players with an engaged Keeper. His players all play well together. I don't know that I have a "favorite" among the cast, because none of them feel like they are mugging or trying to outdo each other. They also compliment each others variety of hooks and foilibles. it's fun to listen to them play. They're having a good time, and they are each trying to make sure every other player-Including their Keeper is having fun. I also love the slow burn style of storytelling. It's the most difficult aspect of actual play for a lot of gamers to get their heads around, and it's here without feeling like red herrings,dead ends and pointless diversions. There's not a feeling of railroading. It's paced very well. This would be the first one I'd reccomend to friends (who I didnt intend to run MoN with).

I’m pretty new to the tabletop RPG scene, only having played DnD for a short while before picking up Call of Cthulhu. I can say that without a doubt this podcast has boosted my GM skills, and has made my games more immersive. The cast is full of great personalities, and their commitment to getting in character makes the podcast an A+ in my eyes.

I am a big fan of Actual Play Podcasts, and this one done very well. The Keeper Michael always seems to cater to his cast of Investigators, who remain in character often and take the game seriously, which is great for a mysterious, dark game like Call of Cthulhu. I am looking forward to see what happens next!

This is a wonderful series for classic Call of Cthulhu and everyone involved is doing great work. The audio quality has improved over time and this is in my regular rotation of actual plays. I love listening to other shows with special attention on how the Keeper runs things. Michael is much different from my style which is wonderful because I learn something new every time I listen to an episode.

An amazing podcast with an incredible cast. They are a fun and talented cast and Keeper Michael does an amazing job. Keep it up and I can't wait to hear more!

As a keeper, it’s incredibly useful to hear their stories. You can feel the efforts to make this a well produced story. Everyone stays remarkably in character, and the occasional music is a nice touch.

So far great show but ep4 at around 54 min someone is chewing crisps in my ear!