RPGBOT.Podcast

Ever had that moment when you realize your party has been talking to the same "new guy" for weeks... but no one can remember his name? Welcome to the world of the False Hydra, the D&D monster that gaslights your characters harder than a reality TV producer. Join the RPGBOT crew as they peel back the layers of this memory-munching menace and ask the big questions: how did we miss this thing, and is...

Ad Free Listening on the RPGBOT Patreon Want more episodes like this, plus early access, live recordings, or ad-free listening? Join our Patreon at  patreon.com/rpgbot and help us keep the mics on (and the ghosts at bay). Every little bit helps us roll with advantage! Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the crew dives deep into Ghosts in tabletop RPGs—both as monsters and as masterfu...

Have you ever gotten up for a full day's work in a haunted coal mine and thought, "Boy, I really hope that bird in a cage doesn't stop singing and doom us all"? No? Then you clearly weren't with the RPGBOT crew in Part 2 of our  Old Gods of Appalachia charity stream—where coal dust has claws, headlamps are your best friend, and it turns out you can get shot-in-the-foot vibes without ever firing a...

Have you ever stared at your D&D character sheet, wondering if you picked the right fighting style, and suddenly felt like someone out there was judging you? That's because they were—and it was your DM, silently counting how many times you  could've picked Defense instead of Dueling. But worry not, because in this episode, we're unlocking your character's true martial potential faster than a fight...

Ever wondered what happens when you cross a high-fantasy campaign setting, a Louisiana bayou, and a magical eel with moonshine for blood? The RPGBOT crew found out the hard way when they sat down with  Drew Foulke , the founder of Norse Foundry and Hexed Publishing , to talk about his new system-agnostic roleplaying world: Titanskeep . It's a world where gods and titans feud like divorced parents...

The RPGBOT crew descends into the haunted hollers of Appalachia, where faith, fire, and coal run deep, and the locals don't much care for outsiders asking questions. Between GM intrusions, cursed deer, and whiskey-soaked theology, our heroes quickly learn that in  Old Gods of Appalachia , salvation's a dangerous business. Welcome to the mines, y'all. Hope you brought your holy water and your lucky...

You know that moment when your players spend ten minutes searching a room, roll a 5, and you sigh before saying, "You find… nothing"? Yeah, we're done with that. In this episode, the RPGBOT crew grabs the Dungeon Master's Guide by the binding and asks the real questions: Why are searches so boring, and why do your players keep looting every chair leg like it's the Ark of the Covenant? It's time to...

Ever had that moment when you realize you've become the "veteran adventurer" in your own party? The RPGBOT crew sure has. In this episode, we channel that energy straight into the Unearthed Arcana Arcane Subclasses , dissecting the Enchanter , Necromancer , and Transmuter Wizards from D&D 2024 . Expect laughter, existential dread, and a healthy dose of spell slot math as we ask the real question: ...

Help Creators Roll a Natural 20 Hey listeners! Before we start slinging arrows and conjuring elementals, remember: your ratings and reviews are the Inspiration  of podcasting. Whether on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, take a moment to rate, review, and share RPGBOT.Podcast. Every five-star review powers our continued quest for knowledge, chaos, and crunchy D&D rules analysis. And...

Show Notes In this episode, the RPGBOT crew explores how to duck and cover in TTRPGS, and how to do it with style. We explore the mechanics of cover, including using your allies as meat shields and ducking behind any convenient bush or bit of rubble that you can. Will it save you from explosions? Probably not. But an AC bonus never hurts. The RPGBOT.net Christmas Gift Recommendations Are Coming! F...

What happens when Dungeons & Dragons decides to give psionics another shot? The RPGBOT.Podcast dives headfirst into the Unearthed Arcana Psion Update: an experiment in psychic power, spell mechanics, and a whole lot of questionable design choices. From the disappointing  Life Inversion Field to the glorious chaos of Psychic Scream , the crew breaks down what works, what doesn't, and what might jus...

When you stare too long into the darkness, sometimes the darkness stares back—and then asks about your dice pool. In this episode, the RPGBOT.Podcast team sits down to answer your burning questions about  Hunter: The Reckoning , exploring the mechanics, the danger system, and how desperation turns ordinary people into extraordinary survivors in the World of Darkness. Listen to More "How to Play" E...

You know that moment when your players say, "We want to be the bad guys"? Yeah, this is the episode where we let them. Pull up your black cloaks, pour a glass of something red (preferably not from the paladin), and join us as we wander into the mists of the  Domains of Dread —where even your dice fear to roll. Spooktober Returns! It's Spooktober on the RPGBOT.Podcast , and the shadows are thick wi...

Somewhere between the high deserts of New Mexico and the psychic wastelands of Unearthed Arcana, the RPGBOT crew discovered two great truths: Albuquerque has better tacos than Los Angeles, and psionics might finally make sense in Dungeons & Dragons. We know some of you thought the Psion episode was lost forever (vanished into the Astral Plane or eaten by a mind flayer), but good news! The missing...

Nothing says "modern monster hunting" like breaking into a corporate lab armed with sarcasm, trauma, and a tranquilizer dart you don't fully understand. In this Actual Play of  Hunter the Reckoning , our would-be heroes confront the horrors of both the supernatural and the bureaucratic. There's teamwork, betrayal, and just enough humor to make you wonder if laughter really is the best armor in a t...

RANDALL : "They say people fear public speaking more than death. Which means that, statistically, most players would rather TPK than deliver an in-character monologue." ASH : "Honestly? Same." TYLER : "So today we're doing the impossible—convincing gamers that pretending to be a half-elf sorcerer in front of their friends doesn't have to be terrifying." Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Pod...

BIG IMPORTANT NOTE: This episode covers the first UA Psion version. We have an upcoming episode discussing the updated version. Wizards of the Coast is back at it again with another Unearthed Arcana, this time dropping the Psion class on our laps. It's psionics, but not like you've ever seen before—or maybe exactly like you've seen before if you remember the Mystic. Is this bold new innovation, or...

"You ever notice how in RPGs, dreams are either profound visions of destiny... or just you wandering through a medieval Taco Bell with your sword drawn? Spoiler alert: tonight, it's the first one. Probably. Unless the monster wants your kidneys, in which case—Taco Bell is still on the table." Watch Tyler's Tiny Videos on TikTok – If you want quick-hit RPG advice, absurdly funny hot takes, and mayb...

Have you ever noticed that in real life, you can't just say,  "I take a long rest" and wake up eight hours later fully healed, your fridge restocked, and your inbox cleared? If only. Instead, you wake up groggy, your cat's screaming, and somehow your wizard spell slots are still gone. Well, tabletop RPGs aren't much better. Pacing and rest mechanics are the part of D&D, Pathfinder, and other RPGs...

Welcome to  Cyprus Hollow , population: probably doomed. The kind of town where the local gossip travels faster than Wi-Fi, the Daybreak Motel smells like it should come with a tetanus shot, and the only thing scarier than the crime scene is the Yelp review section. Our Hunters didn't come here looking for trouble—they came here because trouble left a one-star review and posted grainy video eviden...

Welcome back, brave listeners, to another chilling chapter of the RPGBOT.Podcast. Tonight, we descend into the fog-choked alleys of  Hunter: The Reckoning , where your best defense against the supernatural isn't garlic, holy water, or even a decent sushi roll—it's your character sheet . So sharpen your pencils, whisper your redemption arcs to the moon, and for the love of barbecue—don't botch that...

Gather 'round, adventurers, and mind the cackling in the corner. Tonight, the RPGBOT coven summons forth the secrets of hags in Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder . These monsters aren't just creepy old ladies with a fondness for curses—they're the nightmare consultants you never asked for but always fear. Clipboards, cauldrons, and catastrophic contracts await… Welcome to Spooktober 2025! Spooktob...

It began, as all things do in a flawed cosmos, with paperwork. You signed something — you don't remember what — but now you're contractually obligated to care about Starfinder 2E. The GM Core isn't a rulebook; it's a transmission, half game manual, half government-issued dream. Every chapter reads like a psychological evaluation, every margin note like a warning label. The hosts attempt to explain...

The lights flicker. The basement smells faintly of stale pizza and dread. Somewhere in the distance, a door creaks — or maybe that was just Randall adjusting his chair. Tonight, we're stepping into the  World of Darkness , where average people stumble into a nightmare of vampires, monsters, and game mechanics that hit harder than a ghost with a grudge. In this episode, we invite you to join us for...

Once upon a gaming table dreary, while we plotted, weak and weary, Came a whisper from the shadows: "What if your dice betray you with fear?" Not the fear of a natural one, nor the dread of forgetting your spell slots, But a terror woven deep into the very fabric of the game— A mechanic that chills the marrow, bends the will, And makes the bravest paladin cry out like a startled kobold. In this re...