

Roll For Topic
Roll For Topic
GM/DM discussions on topics related to running tabletop games. Each episode is a 30-45 minute conversation about one specific topic chosen by rolling 1d10 on a table of topics.
Roll for Topic's regular cohosts are Andy Rau and Chris Salzman. If you or your GM is interested in being a guest, drop us a line!
Roll for Topic's regular cohosts are Andy Rau and Chris Salzman. If you or your GM is interested in being a guest, drop us a line!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 4, 2021 • 39min
Episode 56 — How Do You Handle Luck and Divine Intervention? (with guest GM Kyle Latino)
Guest GM Kyle Latino joins Andy and Chris to discuss luck, fate points, divine intervention, and other ways that games equip players with get-out-of-jail-free cards! We hear from Kyle about his new Kickstarter project, and then chat about every type of deus ex machina we can think of. Episode 56 appendix: Old Roads, Kyle’s map … Continue reading "Episode 56 — How Do You Handle Luck and Divine Intervention? (with guest GM Kyle Latino)"

Jan 21, 2021 • 40min
Episode 55 — How Do You Manage Scheduling For Your Games?
Every GM knows that scheduling game nights is the hardest part of their job. Andy and Chris chat about how they manage (or fail) to get everybody to the gaming table.

Jan 7, 2021 • 2h 33min
Episode 54 — Actual Play: “The Accidental Tomb”
Join us for a special acutal-play episode as GM Chris shepherds a party of guest players through “The Accidental Tomb,” the adventure we brainstormed in episode 53!

Dec 24, 2020 • 1h 40min
UPDATED: Episode 53 — Holiday Special: Live Build-a-dungeon!
Please redownload this! We had an audio glitch with the original and needed to do a quick edit! Happy holidays! Andy and Chris welcome guests John Corey and Kyle Latino for a special episode in which they brainstorm a dungeon. Chris will DM this very dungeon in the next episode for a gang of unwitting … Continue reading "UPDATED: Episode 53 — Holiday Special: Live Build-a-dungeon!"

Dec 10, 2020 • 49min
Episode 52 — What Expectations Do You Place On Your Players When Starting a Campaign?
Chris and Andy create a d10 random table of unexpected things that can happen when the players start a fire—and after some discussion of Andy’s “Alien” campaign and D&D Christmas giving, we launch into our official topic: expectations you place (or don’t place) on your players at the start of a new campaign. d10 Mysterious/Interesting … Continue reading "Episode 52 — What Expectations Do You Place On Your Players When Starting a Campaign?"

Nov 26, 2020 • 44min
Episode 51 — How Do You Manage Inventory in Your Games? (with Tim Saucer)
Special guest GM Tim Saucer joins Andy and Chris to discuss the ins and outs of handling inventory, equipment, and encumbrance in roleplaying games. Plus, the gang puts together a special bonus Thanksgiving-themed random table, in case you need some holiday inspiration!

Nov 12, 2020 • 40min
Episode 50 — Season 1 Finale, and Resetting the Table of Topics!
Brace yourselves for a big episode! Chris talks about his experience running a Halloween scenario for two very different groups of players. And then, to cap off the first “season” of the podcast, Andy and Chris brainstorm a new Table of Topics!

Oct 29, 2020 • 38min
Episode 49 – Broken Control Panels, Aliens, and Spoopy Sitcom Recaps
All all GMs are wont to do, Chris and Andy continue to break their self-imposed rules and make yet another d6 table on air. This time it’s all about fixing broken control panels on space ships. After that they talk about Andy’s upcoming Aliens inspired game and recap Chris’ halloween one shot. d6 table for … Continue reading "Episode 49 – Broken Control Panels, Aliens, and Spoopy Sitcom Recaps"

Oct 15, 2020 • 36min
Episode 48 — Scary Warehouses, 90s Sitcoms, and Halloween One-shots
Chris and Andy break all the rules in a special episode centered around Halloween gaming. Listen as we create a d6 table you can roll on to see what scary things are happening in this warehouse (you needed one of those, right?), and then move on to discuss a unique Halloween game that Chris is … Continue reading "Episode 48 — Scary Warehouses, 90s Sitcoms, and Halloween One-shots"

Oct 1, 2020 • 47min
Episode 47 – A Different Kind of Fantasy Gaming
Listen as Ryan Gough teaches Andy and Chris all about a game played by millions of people that they barely understand. For regular listeners this one is a bit far afield from what we normally do, but we thought it’d be fun to discuss on air. Hope you enjoy it! Extra special thanks to Ryan … Continue reading "Episode 47 – A Different Kind of Fantasy Gaming"