Exploring Gender and Gaming Dynamics

In this podventure, we discuss the episode “Castles and Cauldrons, Part 1,” in which Jimmy’s cousin Len introduces Jimmy to the wonderful(?) world of Castles and Cauldrons, a game(?) loosely based on an idea of a concept of a rumor of what Dungeons and Dragons might be like in an alternate universe. (We’ll let the inaccuracies go eventually.) Len insists it’s just a game, but Whit senses that spiritual warfare is afoot as Len constantly pushes Jimmy beyond his comfort zone and into darker and more uncomfortable imaginative territory. Also, a little education on the subject of actual TTRPGs (Table Top Role-Playing Games), discussions of cults, bullying, nerd culture, and our own lengthy experiences with roleplaying games.