February 2025

Would you ever consider selling the Leitners from the kickstarters (A Guest for Mr Spider and Dig) on their own? I really want to buy both but I don’t play RPG games

Hey so we get this question a decent amount so will do my best to answer properly

1) I think it’s possible to buy them if you were to pledge for the barest minimum of like only a digital PDF and then add on the specific item you want so you don’t need to go whole hog on the RPG to get them. Don’t quote me on that though since I am not running those campaigns.

2) These are things made by third parties based on our Intellectual Property that means the third parties hold the rights to those specific items in some ways, we can’t just release them separately ourselves without some background shenanigans which isn’t really a good idea for anyone involved, hence why they are limited runs.

So TLDR: It’s not impossible these things might exist in the distant future but certainly not for the foreseeable, they are campaign exclusives.

how do you feel about alice saying martin norris sounds like “a whiny little toad”??

I wrote that bit.

I feel good about it.

Does the Protocol universe have Bonzo NFTs?

I mean, almost certainly but they wouldn’t be officially licensed.

Have you and Jonny ever considered binding the transcripts of tma into books?

I would pay an egregious amount of money for that to happen Ngl

Yes.

I can’t go into the specifics but it’s proven much more difficult to align third parties on than you would ever imagine.

It’s sort of become our White Whale.

I’ll keep trying though.

Any plans for MCM this year?

I mean, Rusty Quill almost certainly yes but I am not in the loop.

(Everyone has decided to keep me on a need-to-know basis so I don’t stop grinding on Protocol)

This is a good opportunity to explain something though.

It might seem sometimes that we announce participation in third party events later than we could. This is almost always due to embargo terms in agreements where we literally aren’t allowed to until a specific date so everything stays synced.

This might seem a bit officious until you realise that we have had instances in the past where a third party event (never MCM) has announced us then started selling tickets without us even having formally agreed yet.

TLDR: Events are complicated and we always try to avoid being announced at a third party event unless we are dead certain we can attend and make big deal of it.

heads up, you mentioned it in the q&a, but i don’t think we’ve heard bonzo crush a car yet. sounds awesome. cant wait. hasn’t happened :P it’s not in the episode where gwen pays a visit and he doesn’t do it in his case at the club.

So he does it in the episode when Gwen visits.

As he heads off, after tearing the door off the hinges, you hear in the distance a crunch and then a car alarm.

He could have walked around it.

He chose not to.

I’m doing an RQG relisten after not touching it since the original campaign ended in 2021. RQG was my first ever actual play and it helped me to discover the rich world of TTRPGs beyond dnd 5e. This eventually led me to do a year and a half long Cyberpunk Red campaign. I’ve also seen you mention Cyberpunk on here. would you ever consider doing a cyberpunk red campaign on the old RQG feed? I’m guessing probably not but it would be incredibly lovely if you ever did, and I would support it in all the ways.

I sincerely doubt I would ever get the chance to for various boring businessy legal reasons but let me assure you I am all over Cyberpunk as a subgenre. I have had a pitch for an original IP longform Cyberpunk podcast in my back pocket for about 8 years now and still not had the chance to make it.

May I humbly request that you share the video about fifth dimensional vectors? And upon my request, will you share it? 

You may request it.

Here I am sharing it. This is the video that is in our series bible just to help people wrap their head around higher dimensional mathematics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t4aKJuKP0Q

(I realise this is not technically 5th dimensional vectors but its absolutely a tool you can extrapolate outwards to conceptualise them).

Hope it's not too personal but did you ever did a voicing job for McMillan education publishing because I have a english textbook from them and one of the va from the listening exercises sounds like you and i feel like im going crazy

I don’t believe so.

The thing is I’ve been recorded a lot over the years so I may have been recorded as a teenager without me remembering/ realising it would be used.

For instance, as a child I had my voice recorded to act as a speech aide for non-verbal children. I believe it was a one-off to help a specific kid who was struggling to get a voice that was appropriate for them but for all I know its still out there being used somewhere or even distributed.

It’s weird to think about. It’s even possible I might still be some small kids voice out there. Probably the most important recording I ever did.

what a levels did you do?

Maths, Physics, Biology and English Literature.

I tried to do a fifth: “Design Technology” but I was forbidden due to scheduling conflicts and a shortage of time-turners.

In one of your first Magnus q&a's, Jonny said he listened/read creepypasta. Do you also or is that more of a Jonny thing?

That’s definitely a Jonny thing. I have read some as research etc. but honestly? It often bores me.

And that’s not me trying to cast shade, I just find the format a bit predictable sometimes. That said, the really good stuff is popular for a reason. It’s really good.

how do you think the OIAR employees would’ve reacted to major cultural events (billionaire submarine, barbenheimer, goncharov, etc.) given protocol is set in the present? :P

I mean, at some point they’d have to start feeling responsible right?

Unfun fact: I actually pitched a billionaire submarine episode and began work on it then had to abandon it after the actual real-life submarine disaster happened.

Have you come across THIS glorious creation yet?
The Content Warnings of The Magnus Archives (Yakko's World Parody Song)

Yes. Yes I have.
It pleased me.

Helloo,,,, I just listened to the Magnus Protocol season 1 Q&A. Would you ever consider selling your Alchemy Notes as merch/a companion novel?

At this point, it would probably have spoilers, but when the show is done, could that logistically be a thing?

Also thanks for releasing season two on the 27th! Happy birthday to me 🤩

So this actually a really interesting question because it partly comes down to my perceptions of what is and is not appropriate content for sale.

So, generally speaking in media we try to repackage “creative exhaust” where possible. That’s just a gross way of saying try to find ways to make the bits that don’t make it to release still useful.

Selling a series bible is a really interesting idea that I don’t think could ever happen unless it was heavily redacted due to confidential info on processes (it is a technical document after all) and due to spoilers since we also explicitly flag spin off opportunities, bonus content hooks etc. That’s a shame as its a HUGE amount of really interesting work to just sit on a shelf.

There is however a second layer to it. All my work on Alchemy is itself based on other people’s (mostly historian’s) work. It would need full academic citing and reformatting into a more consumer friendly format before it could even be used, not to mention paying licensing/ commissioning images etc. That’s a lot of work and I wouldn’t want to do it without all that because at that point we’d just be part of the problem when it comes to appropriation of work.

All that said, I definitely want to share aspects of the bible when we are all done if only because some of it is really interesting but I doubt it will be in a formally published format.

my cat won't stop snoring loudly when I listen to TMA, it's very rude. what should I do?

Snore back, louder.

you cant add pictures here so ill have to describe it:

could a shirtless guy (with a sixpack) and karl marx’ head convince bertie to not hate the working class anymore?

or essentially, is bertie more gay than capitalistic?

Unfortunately I seriously doubt a jacked shirtless guy with Karl Marx’ head could convince Bertie to not hate the working class anymore because:

1) I think Bertie is shallow enough to not like the face anyway
2) Bertie doesn’t listen to anyone. Ever. Regardless of whether they are engaged in sexual acts at the time.
3) Honestly, I suspect he would just do a really cringe job of pretending to be interested long enough to “get some” then bounce unless he lost patience in which case he would then just try negging them.
4) Also I think he would look into magical head transplants as a solution to his conundrum only to get bored at the amount of effort it would require and then just go find some other hunk-o-flesh to objectify.

TLDR: Bertie’s interests rank as follows:
1) Bertie

Thus concludes the list.

iirc you don't like tea, but you have visited Japan, so very useless personal question brought to you by my local park cafe's delicious matcha latte: what is your opinion on macha?

Okay so I don’t like breakfast tea.

I confess I also really don’t get why Macha has the appeal that it seems to for everyone, it’s… fine? I guess? If I had to arbitrarily flavour everything with a specific type of tea I could pick worse I suppose?

I prefer my herbal teas. The kind of things someone serves you to help quell demonic malaise rather than to warm you up in crap British weather.

is there a story behind the cartilage piercing in your right ear (shown on the front page of your website)? just curious tbh, it's kind of a nonstandard location for someone's only piercing to be since the healing process can be so finicky

Personal facts with Alex!

I used to a cartilage piercing and two other piercings in the same ear.
I also used to have blue hair.
I also used to wear a my chemical romance jacket despite never having heard of them because I just thought it looked neat.
I also used to exclusively wear superhero T-shirts and big boots.

You can tell in photos the exact moment I entered the UK job market and locked the mask on so that people would hire me and/or take RQ seriously as a business.

I won’t lie, I miss it but that seemed to be the price to get stuff done.

It’s so ironic to me though that my personal brand has now become: “The most vanilla looking MF on the planet” and if I tried to unmask everyone would be like “ew cringe” etc.

Just remember, when you hear me as a chaos goblin on a podcast, that is me trying to be normal.

Mr Bossman, how do you feel about the fact that Michael D. Stortion is such a popular and beloved character in the Magnus Archives fandom? Was that the intention when he was being created? Because I certainly do love the Hand Man

Honestly?

It was 100% intentional.

I told Jonny that we needed a semi-sympathetic monster for the structure of the story and referenced Greed from the original FullMetal Alchemist anime as an example. Someone that people would like as an edgy friend only to be confronted with the reality of their station and flaws and ultimately doubt if they were ever friendly at all.

Jonny took that brief and then took Michael (who was already on the cards) and then added the extra elements needed to fit that role for the narrative.

I’d love to claim ownership of such a fun character to write and direct for but that’s definitely Jonny.

it’s actually a really good example of how we used to write together. Often I would just deal with stuff at a big-picture base principals kind of way spotting patterns and that and then I would trust Jonny to come up with the most captivating and upsetting way to meet that brief. I find he works best within specific bounds rather than just given a tabula rasa to work with.

you said that The Corruption is a fear you can kick, right?

what about disease tho???? Are you going to kick an ill person?????? 😭

That’s what steel-toe boots are for.

Imma kick the sick right outta ya!

how is y0ur day going? :)

Aawwwww, thanks for asking!

Definitely been riding the struggle bus a bit recently.

I am currently in possession of a fairly sizeable beard I don’t want.

Will sell to a good home.

so im relistening to rqg, and at one point i remember you mentioning the heat COULVE MELTED THE RECORDING EQUIPMENT. so i was wondering, just how hot did it get?? like as an estimate? because typical summer heat should not usually melt technology i think

Receipt for Soundboard flambé:

Ingredients:
1) One soundboard, the larger and older the better (analaogue sliders essential).
2) 5 podcasters, the larger the better for maximum discomfort
3) 1 room: small, insulated on all walls and ceiling + carpeted (ensure windows and doors covered in sound-proof cloth, British Victorian build near roof for preference.)
4) Laptop, elderly (must require constant mains usage)

Method:
1) Insert podcasters into soundproof, insulated room. (For best results, do so in a old-build house, near the roof, during a heatwave)
2) Start laptop and Soundboard. (ensure both are at maximum capacity in both inputs and processes)
3) Record Podcast for 4-6 hours.
4) You will know your equipment is cooked when you smell burning metal. (You may smell burning plastic prior to this point. You can ignore that.)

Presentation:
1) Serve soundboard with side of steamed podcasters, drizzle heavily with sweat and disillusionment. # of seasons to taste.

Top Tip:
If your electrical equipment is not too hot on all sides you need to further increase the temperature.

How much for the beard?

Can it be rehomed to a house with cats? Will it attack my houseplants? They're cat safe but I don't know if they are beard safe.

My beard has now been given to a good home and is now frolicking with all the other beards and mullets.

They just have better care facilities than I could ever provide.

I'm still hung up on the whole "fear you can kick" thing. What's stopping you from kicking other fears?

Mr Boss man, in your professional opinion, how quickly would TMA have ended if kicking was allowed?

You can’t kick the dark. I tried but always seem to miss.

Also, I think there are few stories that can survive the stage direction: “everyone starts kicking one another and won’t stop”.

Archives is no exception.

hi bossman,

I hope you’re having a wonderful day!

How’re you feeling about Magnus Live later this year? Any fun facts you can give us? Very excited to be there!

(also s2 of Protocol is being released on my birthday thank you sir for the gift)

I did a rather extensive dive into stage illusions which ended up with me discovering that like 90% of all of Disney theme park illusions are just well placed mirrors.

Turns out humans are just really dumb when it comes to reflections.

Important question, if you had to choose one: would you rather eat a piece of warm cucumber (just regular cucumber shucked in the microwave for like 40 seconds or so) or a couple tablespoons of cornflakes in warm sparkling water?

I have already done both of these things. There isn’t much in it.

Neither of them is chocolate and thus my brain just registers it as “probably foodstuff, who cares?”

thoughts on your voice being a source of gender euphoria?

1. I’m happy good people are happy. That is good.
2. That is also palpably and painfully ironic given my younger years.

hii silly question for silly guy, if you could swap your brain for literally anything (the functions stay the same and it doesnt feel wierd or uncomfortable the only thing different is that ofc you know about it and if they would x ray your head it would be visible on there) what would you swap it for?

Far more Plutonium than could reasonably fit inside a human skull.

At first everyone would be like “OMG he’s got plutonium for a brain” and that would freak everyone right out.

But then one scientist in the corner would quietly observe that if their measurements are right there is more Plutonium in there than is physically possible.

They’ll be ignored and shouted down, plutonium-for-a-brain feels like a bigger deal than a simple mass discrepancy. But those people would be wrong.

Over time people will realise that plutonium-for-a-brain is weird yes but “there’s-more-mass-here-than-the-space-time-should-be-able-to-accomodate” is far, far weirder, more exciting and more dangerous.

The public are confused, “we thought plutonium-for-a-brain was the big story. What do you mean it wasn’t? Shut up nerd!”

Meanwhile NASA is going absolutely bat-shit trying to investigate what can only be described as a localised, stable, benign wormhole. People dedicate lifetimes of study to the phenomena and through that potentially unlock technologies for interstellar travel and beyond.

Then aeons ahead in the deep future when everything we have ever known is stardust, the human galactic empire has risen and fallen and there nothing left but the weightless detritus of a once space faring civilisation there will be my humble little noggin still bouncing around perplexing those that come after…

“Zarlax? I think this skull is full of plutonium?”

“That’s not all Firtzlebeen, unless I’m mistaken, there’s too much Plutonium…”