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Latest episodes

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Feb 27, 2025 • 32min

Episode 162 – How Do You Run Wilderness Survival Games?

What makes a wilderness survival game captivating? The hosts dive deep into balancing engaging gameplay with the grind of survival, discussing map-drawing and resource management. Their exploration of Stephen King's Dark Tower series reveals intriguing links to RPG concepts, while a nod to the Wizard of Oz adaptation keeps creativity alive. They also share insights on enhancing character dynamics, making companions more meaningful in gameplay. Join them for an adventure in both stories and survival strategies!
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Feb 13, 2025 • 50min

Episode 161 – How Do You Handle Religion in Your Games?

What does religious faith look like in your games? Do you encourage your players to make religious faith a key part of their PCs, whether or not their character class is mechanically built around it? Andy and Chris discuss–but not before a few detours into the Dune setting, Tolkien (again), and more.
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Jan 30, 2025 • 28min

Episode 160 – How Do You Game in Times of Difficulty?

Is tabletop roleplaying “just” an escapist diversion? How and why do we approach a hobby like gaming when news and politics and life in general are so heavy and overwhelming? Chris and Andy talk about the value of creative action in times of stress.
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Jan 16, 2025 • 40min

Episode 159 – To Chase or Not to Chase Your White Whales

The hosts dive into their recent festive gaming adventure where they crafted a dungeon to save Christmas. They discuss the delicate balance between player engagement and structured gameplay in tabletop RPGs. The conversation turns to the complexities of managing long-term campaigns, including a challenging experience with Band of Blades. They also reflect on adult tabletop gaming, tackling mental health challenges, and the need for tailored resources. Lastly, they share their passion for creating unique campaigns and the collaborative storytelling that brings their games to life.
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Jan 2, 2025 • 1h 50min

Episode 158 – Holiday Actual Play Special

It’s our annual holiday tradition–a TTRPG actual play in which we run the roleplaying scenario that we designed in the last episode! Join Chris and he GMs a motley band of heroes try to save Christmas. The game system we’re using is Caltrop Core (https://caltropcore.com/), adapted for this holiday-cheer-filled scenario!
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Dec 19, 2024 • 1h 30min

Episode 157 – Build a Dungeon 2024!

It’s that time of year again! Join Chris and Andy with special guests, John Corey and Kyle Latino, as they build a dungeon live on air! This is part 1 of 2. In the next episode Chris will run the dungeon for a bunch of lovely folks.
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Dec 5, 2024 • 40min

156 – Chit Haters

Andy and Chris talk about the feelings they have about different methods of getting a random number. Rolling a die is great; drawing a chit from a bag is bad.
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Nov 21, 2024 • 46min

Episode 155 – Gold in Games

The hosts dive deep into Baldur’s Gate 3, exploring its influence on tabletop RPG dynamics and the significance of player choices. They discuss the complexities of wealth management in games, contrasting different Dungeons & Dragons editions. Niche collectibles and their quirky communities also take center stage, alongside a fun quiz linking gaming to economic concepts. Lastly, they analyze the financial aspects of hiring in-game assassins and how character classes shape storytelling and gameplay experiences.
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Nov 7, 2024 • 47min

Episode 154 – How Do You Prepare to Run an Epic Campaign? (with Matt Wilson)

In this discussion, Matt Wilson, a seasoned Game Master renowned for his intricate campaigns like Masks of Nyarlathotep and the Enemy Within, shares his insights on crafting epic RPG experiences. He delves into the balance between adapting published material and creating unique narratives. Tips for engaging players and maintaining momentum are explored, along with effective campaign management strategies. Wilson emphasizes the importance of thematic elements, compelling villains, and structured preparation for unforgettable gaming adventures.
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Oct 24, 2024 • 42min

Episode 153 – Spooky and Cheery Holiday Games

Andy and Chris talk about running games on holidays and what exactly makes it so compelling. They also talk about the upcoming D&D DMG, Alien tie-in novels, and The Left Hand of Darkness.

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