Total Party Thrill: RPG Advice From Our Table to Yours

Dive into the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide as the hosts dissect its new rules and tools for DMs. They explore the guide's design and usability, highlighting enhanced prep strategies and the integration of virtual tools for remote play. The discussion points out the importance of a vibe-focused approach and critiques the balance between detail and accessibility. From magic item mechanics to the innovative concept of bastions, the hosts weave humor with insights, questioning traditional gaming philosophies while encouraging creativity at the table.

Imogen Gingell, a plasma physicist and game designer known for her work on Frontiers of Eberron, joins to discuss the game design shifts with the D&D 2024 rules update. She delves into the evolving standards for homebrew content and explores monetization through DM's Guild. The conversation highlights the intricacies of designing unique subclasses and mechanics, like the Bloodhound Ranger and new gameplay elements. They also reflect on the transformation of high-level monster design, emphasizing enhanced storytelling and player engagement in the evolving D&D landscape.

Explore how theater-oriented players can enhance their roleplay by optimizing character mechanics. The hosts discuss the balance between improvisation and rules, showing how optimization leads to believable characters. They tackle common pitfalls and suggest practical steps for new players to improve their builds. Team synergy and resource sharing play crucial roles in party dynamics. Plus, a cliffhanger involving a unicorn guardian adds excitement to their ongoing campaign narrative!

I-Hsien and Shane talk about how to make looming disaster feel real in your game. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party takes control, and the Rouge is like the Rogue, but better, in the Character Creation Forge. (76m)Editing: Aram VartianImportant Links:Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.com/invite/GvFXnSvTPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible.Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt!Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrillContact us:Twitter: @TPTcastEmail: totalpartythrill@gmail.comWeb: www.totalpartythrill.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrillInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrillYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill

I-Hsien and Shane spill more than secrets as they discuss incorporating rituals of sacrifice and horror in your game. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party gets eaten, and Blood for the Blood God pours it on in the Character Creation Forge. (63m)Editing: Aram VartianImportant Links:Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.com/invite/GvFXnSvTPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible.Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt!Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrillContact us:Twitter: @TPTcastEmail: totalpartythrill@gmail.comWeb: www.totalpartythrill.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrillInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrillYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill

Hosts dive into the last Eberron book, exploring its significance and the intimate focus on borderlands. They dissect Western themes and how dragonmarks evolve with the upcoming D&D rules. The discussion includes unique frontier mechanics and vibrant locales like Quickstone Town, a hub for multicultural encounters. Character options like subclasses and new playable species add depth to campaigns. A review of a low-level adventure rounds out the insights, leaving listeners wondering if this book is a valuable addition to their collection.

I-Hsien is joined by James Introcaso, lead designer at MCDM, to talk about getting paid to write games. We discuss full-time and freelance work, pay rates, networking, burnout, and more. And in the first-ever guest build, the Itsy Bitsy Smiter brings down the pain in the Character Creation Forge. (97m)Editing: Aram VartianImportant Links:Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.gg/GvFXnSvTPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible.Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt!Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrillContact us:Twitter: @TPTcastEmail: totalpartythrill@gmail.comWeb: www.totalpartythrill.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrillInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrillYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill

I-Hsien is joined by medievalist and game developer Zoe Franznick of The Maniculum Podcast to talk about the inherent magic of food, herbs, recipes, and potions.They discuss how to make your characters’ palates matter in your game and explore ways that historical attitudes and approaches to cuisine and cooking can enhance your worldbuilding. (91m)Editing: Aram VartianImportant Links:The Maniculum Podcast: Adapting medieval tales into TTRPG adventures.Medieval Cookery: Actual recipes you can try.Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.gg/GvFXnSvTPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible.Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt!Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrillContact us:Twitter: @TPTcastEmail: totalpartythrill@gmail.comWeb: www.totalpartythrill.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrillInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrillYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill

Hosts I-Hsien and Shane finish their extra-long cover-to-cover review of the updated 2024 PHB. This episode includes the rest of the classes, backgrounds, species, feats, spells and final verdict. (162m)Editing: Aram VartianImportant Links:Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.gg/GvFXnSvTPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible.Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt!Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrillContact us:Twitter: @TPTcastEmail: totalpartythrill@gmail.comWeb: www.totalpartythrill.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrillInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrillYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill

Hosts I-Hsien and Shane dive headlong into the updated 2024 PHB. This extra-long cover-to-cover review walks you through the new and updated classes, subclasses, species, origins, feats, and spells. This episode includes the Barbarian, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, and Monk. (112m)Editing: Aram VartianImportant Links:Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.gg/GvFXnSvTPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible.Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt!Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrillContact us:Twitter: @TPTcastEmail: totalpartythrill@gmail.comWeb: www.totalpartythrill.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrillInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrillYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill