

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

Mar 31, 2024 • 22min
Ep 217 - Monster Series - Dragons 2 and the PF2e Monster Core Review
A listener wrote in asking for more details about dragons and I’m happy to oblige. They are complex creatures that have a lot of abilities and long lifespans for good reason. In this episode I talk about more draconic features and briefly review the Pathfinder 2e Monster Core Rulebook recently released by Paizo
Resources:
Archives of Nethys - https://2e.aonprd.com/
Pathfinder 2e Monster Core Rulebook - https://paizo.com/products/btq02ej4
Remaster Previews - Diabolic Dragon - https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6sial
Remaster Previews - Mirage Dragon - https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6siax
Remaster Previews - Fortune Dragon - https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6sii7
Remaster Previews - Conspirator Dragon - https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6sihv
Remaster Previews - Adamantine Dragon - https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6sihh
Remaster Previews - Horned Dragon - https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6siio
Remaster Previews - Empyreal Dragon - https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6sij4
Cowbell and cow sound effects courtesy of Pixabay

Mar 25, 2024 • 12min
Ep 216 - Should Players Plan During Combat?
Debate on allowing player communication during combat in tabletop RPGs. Exploring pros and cons of tactical discussions. Tips for DMs on balancing realism and fairness.

Mar 17, 2024 • 17min
Ep 215 - House Rules to Make Your Game Harder
Some players want a hard game. They’ve been there, done that and got the scars to prove it. They want something more difficult and more punishing. In this episode I float some ideas on how you can give your game some teeth and make it a little or a lot more difficult for your PCs.
#dmtips #gmtips #dnd #5e #pf2e #GameDifficulty

6 snips
Mar 10, 2024 • 29min
Ep 214 - House Rules to Make Your Game Easier
The podcast discusses ways to make tabletop RPG games easier for players by introducing house rules. Topics include adjusting potion mechanics, healing magic, rest mechanics, racial bonuses, and critical damage rolls. The episode emphasizes enhancing player experience through custom rules and making combat more strategic and engaging.

Feb 25, 2024 • 21min
Ep 213 - Back to Basics - Player Agency
Player Agency describes the power of players to make choices for their characters. There is an unspoken social contract around every RPG table that the DM won’t take these choices away and players won’t use these choices to ruin the fun of the DM. In this episode, I talk about how critical it is that both sides of the screen respect the agency of others.
#dmtips #gmtips #dnd #5e #pf2e #playeragency
Resources:
https://techraptor.net/originals/playing-roles-psychology-of-player-agency
https://medium.com/@camauger/the-power-of-choice-player-agency-in-tabletop-role-playing-games-446e0be16428

Feb 18, 2024 • 15min
Ep 212 - Distinct NPCs
Learn how to make your characters and NPCs distinct in role-playing games by using accents, language descriptors, and body language. Uncover tips on enhancing NPC dialogue and creating unique personalities through diverse voice tones and physical expressions.

Feb 11, 2024 • 16min
Ep 211 - Long vs Short Gaming Sessions
Exploring the challenges and tips of running short and long gaming sessions in tabletop RPGs. Strategies for managing time constraints and player engagement in short sessions. Tips for maintaining player buy-in and planning engaging encounters in long sessions.

Feb 4, 2024 • 22min
Ep 210 - Long vs Short Campaigns
Exploring the benefits and challenges of long vs short campaigns in tabletop RPGs, with tips on variety, pacing, and clear goals. Discusses intense short campaigns vs epic long narratives, and the importance of aligning player expectations.

Jan 28, 2024 • 14min
Ep 209 - Give Your DM a Break
Players should give their Dungeon Master a break to prevent burnout. Suggestions include players taking turns to run the game, exploring side adventures, trying different game systems, and playing rules-light RPGs like Clayorama for a fun and rewarding gaming experience.

Jan 21, 2024 • 25min
Ep 208 - Dungeon Crawls Part 2
Dungeons are core to many of our game systems out there. This week, in part 2 of the dungeon crawl series, I give DMs some tips for populating dungeons, using room descriptions and making them a bit more realistic.
#DMtips #dnd #Pathfinder #GMtips #Dungeons
Resources:
Jennell Jaquays GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jennell-jaquays-has-a-long-road-back
Redd Horrocks on Fiverr - https://www.fiverr.com/reddhorrocks
5e monster filter: https://donjon.bin.sh/5e/monsters/
Pathfinder 2e creatures: https://2e.aonprd.com/Creatures.aspx
Sly Flourish: Running a Dungeon Crawl: https://slyflourish.com/running_a_dungeon_crawl.html