

Taking 20 Podcast
Taking 20 Podcast
Short, bite-sized RPG advice, tips, and tricks for DMs and players of tabletop role playing games (TTRPG)
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 27, 2025 • 30min
Ep 252 - Get Out of Your GM Comfort Zone
There’s nothing wrong with the comfortable same old same old. However, what if you want to become a better DM. How do you start and what can that progression look like? Give this episode a listen to find out.
#pf2e #Pathfinder #gmtips #dmtips #dnd #rpg
Resources:
Episode 27 - Role vs Roll Playing
Episode 184 - Preparing One Shots
Episode 237 - Short vs Long Campaigns

Apr 13, 2025 • 21min
Ep 251 - Conflict
Conflict is inevitable around the RPG table but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t play the game or that you should shy away from it. In this episode we talk about how conflict can manifest and what players and GMs can do about it.
#pf2e #Pathfinder #gmtips #dmtips #dnd #rpg #paizo #conflict #dnd #Wotc
Resources:
Social Emotional Skills at the D&D Table: https://www.youngdragonslayers.com/d-and-d-video-blog/dnd-social-emotional-skills
Examples of problem players
https://www.cottageofeverything.com/blog/dealing-with-problem-players
Screen Rant - Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford Leave Dungeons and Dragons Design Team - https://screenrant.com/jeremy-crawford-chris-perkins-leaving-dnd-interview/

Mar 30, 2025 • 21min
Ep 250 - Important NPCs and Review of the NPC Core
Not all NPCs are created equal, or at least they shouldn’t be created that way. There are some NPCs who are simply more important to your campaign? Which ones and how should you treat them? Give this episode a listen!
#pf2e #Pathfinder #gmtips #dmtips #dnd #rpg #npccore #npc #paizo
Resources:
Paizo NPC Core. https://paizo.com/products/btq06x2l

Mar 16, 2025 • 24min
Ep 249 - Questions You Can Ask To Give Your Character Depth
Making 2 dimensional characters is easy. Pick your ability scores, feats, equipment etc. but what if you want or need to make a deeper character to role play? How do you do it? In this episode I give your character just a few questions to add depth
#pf2e #Pathfinder #gmtips #dmtips #dnd #rpg #characterdesign #backstory

Feb 23, 2025 • 19min
Ep 248 - Guns in Fantasy and Review of Guns and Gears Remastered
Should you let your baby shoot you down in RPG games? Do you allow pistols and rifles in your world with dragons and gnomes? If your immediate reaction is no, why? In this episode I discuss guns in fantasy worlds and offer a brief review of the new Paizo book Guns and Gears Remastered.
Disclosure: I did receive a PDF copy of the book for free but that never taints my review and I give you an honest take on the quality and value of the book.
#pf2e #Pathfinder #gmtips #dmtips #dnd #rpg #gunsinfantasy #GunsandGears
Resources:
Guns and Gears Remastered - https://paizo.com/products/btq05498

Feb 9, 2025 • 22min
Ep 247 - Making Combat More Fun
Combat can quickly turn rote, samey, and dare I say it even boring or dull. GMs, there are some things you can do to make combat in your game far more interesting and players, I have a couple of tips for you as well.
#pf2e #Pathfinder #gmtips #dmtips #dnd #rpg #combat
Resources:
Glass Cannon C2E67 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkTVOYbQQ5E
XPLoveCat - How to Make Combat More Interesting - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jerYT5xiv-Y
Taking 20 Podcast Ep 160 - https://youtu.be/P1H88UKXa98?si=bToCQK7ejW40VVEP
Taking 20 Podcast Ep 191 - https://youtu.be/kqBQWhYxs6k?si=y6MlCiUy_OXGx2XP

Jan 26, 2025 • 20min
Ep 246 - Railroads vs Sandboxes 2
There are railroads and there are sandboxes and never the twain shall meet, right? Not so fast, my friend. Today Jeremy discusses the two game types and multiple ways to blend them together.
#pf2e #Pathfinder #gmtips #dmtips #dnd #rpg #railroad #sandbox
Resources:
Game Masters of Exandria Roundtable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmZSWKPXhZ4
Sandbox vs Railroad: Which is Better? https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/sandbox-vs-railroad-which-is-better?srsltid=AfmBOopkIlstCFvZ_Z2HSQu1-oxxkmLXKKzgH5jLgjzjQuX0m5_INiLA

Jan 12, 2025 • 22min
Ep 245 - Unruly Players
No one enjoys having a disruptive player at your table but what can you do with players like that? This listener-suggested episode has some ideas on how to deal with these unruly players.

Dec 28, 2024 • 21min
Ep 244 - Guard the Fun
There’s a lot to playing and DMing a tabletop RPG. There are quite a few rules, a story the DM is trying to create for the players, encounters to design, sessions to plan, characters to role play and so much to do to ensure the game can happen. However, don’t lose sight that the game is supposed to be, first and foremost, fun.
#pf2e #Pathfinder #gmtips #dmtips #dnd #rpg #fun
Resources:
J.R. Zambrano - One Passage in the New DMG… - https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2024/11/dd-one-passage-in-the-new-dmg-writes-down-a-powerful-unwritten-rule.html
What is the peasant railgun? - https://knightsdigest.com/what-exactly-is-the-peasant-railgun-in-dd-5e/

Dec 15, 2024 • 19min
Ep 243 - Friendly NPCs
Friendly NPCs are often overlooked when it comes to campaigns. DMs focus on the antagonists and sometimes forget about the allies. In this episode I make a case for including friendly NPCs in your game and give you some tips for running them.
#pf2e #Pathfinder #gmtips #dmtips #dnd #NPCTips
Resources:
How to Be a Great GM - Adding a Lovable NPC - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrUrh9p2IM0
How to Be a Great GM - Self-Operating NPCs (OGAS) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzWXuy8QWgI