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Every TTRPG Kickstarter from the last few years seemed to fulfill this month, so Andy and Chris take an episode to go through the piles of shiny new roleplaying games they’ve acquired recently. Along the way they discuss the impact of strong authorial voices in RPG books and plot to ensnare the author of Netcrawl.

Dive into the art of becoming a better player in tabletop RPGs! Discover the importance of player enthusiasm and how engaging fully can enhance the experience for everyone. Learn about using in-character questions to deepen roleplay and give quieter players a moment in the spotlight. Explore the balance between following the GM and making character-driven choices, plus embrace the weirdness of unique characters, like a mushroom cleric. And don’t miss the creative challenge of testing different systems with the classic goblin ambush!

Chris and Andy take a break from their usual format and have an open discussion about Chris’ new Daggerheart game, and what has their attention now that a wave of post-OGL D&D-alikes are finally arriving. As a bonus, we learn about the corporate merch with which Chris bedecks himself.

Andy and Chris talk about Stranger Things and then an issue that Andy had at the table with players and their pregen characters.

Every year, we host a game convention in Ann Arbor. And every year, a highlight of the con is our obscure RPG trivia contest! This is the live recording of RfT Con 2025’s trivia segment. How does your RPG trivia knowledge stack up?

Chris and Andy are busy planning RfT Con, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t brainstorming new campaigns they want to run. In this short pre-convention episode, they chat about the campaigns they’re gearing up to run this autumn/winter.

Garrett Douglas, creator of Wayne Scotting’s Guide to the Very Small Folk, shares his expertise on running fast-paced tabletop sessions. He dives into the intricacies of managing a game in just two hours, offering valuable tips like hard scene framing to keep players engaged. The conversation also highlights unique game designs, the Kickstarter journey, and nostalgic stories from local game stores. Listeners will enjoy Garrett's insights on balancing mechanics and creativity to create memorable, quick gaming experiences.

Chris is joined by guest GM Andy Jones to talk about the intersection between gaming and theater and how good kids these days have it with being able to talk openly about their hobbies.

Toby’s going to run a game at RfT Con 2025 about mechs! He comes on to talk through some design ideas and Andy and Chris get very excited about mechs!

The hosts share a heartfelt tale of a beach trip filled with spontaneous D&D fun. They discuss the joys of playing role-playing games in unconventional settings and introducing younger players to D&D. Mixed feelings about fireworks displays provide a lively backdrop for their stories. Nostalgia hits as they reminisce about the 'Blueprints' game, exploring its unique mechanics. A deep dive into 'The Gunslinger' examines anti-hero traits and moral complexities, sparking a passionate conversation about character dynamics in gaming.