Around the Hearth

In this especially unusual Hex, José & Ian sit down with Open Hearth stalwart Tea-amat to discuss games with no particular GM. Some of these games have strict procedures to keep play on track; others are almost like tone poems, eschewing structure for pure vibes; what they have in common is an emphasis on gamer-motivated play. This comes with a new set of pitfalls to navigate, and opportunitie...

Welcome to another episode of our new series on the Around the Hearth podcast feed: Known Territory: GMs Talk Games . Each episode we sit down with an experienced game facilitator who has played a specific TTRPG extensively. They will discuss how they pitch the game, best practices for running, useful tools, potential pitfalls, and more. This time we have designer and facilitator Mads aka madelanc...

Welcome to another episode of our new series on the Around the Hearth podcast feed: Known Territory: GMs Talk Games . Each episode we sit down with an experienced game facilitator who has played a specific TTRPG extensively. They will discuss how they pitch the game, best practices for running, useful tools, potential pitfalls, and more. This time we have designer, consultant, and co-creator of As...

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Dominik talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Guy and Anders discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth ( Trespasser, The One Ring 2e, and Slugblaster ), and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently. Games Discussed: Trespasser The One Ring 2e Slugblaster Shar...

In this episode, Gwen talks with community member & layout/designer David MK and game designer Will Munn about Arium the Worldbuilding RPG. They cover the game's core concepts, adaptability, and new elements added by Arium: Evolve .  The Kickstarter for the new boxed edition of Arium , which includes the new supplement, runs through Wed, Sept 16th, 2026. The Arium Kickstarter Arium's Homepage...

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Tea talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Moria and Shane discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth ( Basic Fantasy RPG , Fearful Symmetries , and Void Technicians ), and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently. Links: Moria Hobby blog: https://trashpile.blo...

...to the last, I prattle with thee; from a studio apartment, I yap at thee; for the game's sake I pod my last cast at thee!! In the first-ever live studio recording of the show, José & Ian spend a (very warm) summer evening bouncing off of each other about games & gaming. We discuss bringing newcomers into the hobby, embracing (and even aiming for) imperfection, and our forever-implausibl...

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Gwen talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Jex ( Bump in the Dark ) and Mads discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth ( Blades '68, Firebrands and Dungeon World 2 ), and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently. Links: Jex Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/l...

Welcome to the first episode of a new series on the Around the Hearth podcast feed: Known Territory: GMs Talk Games . Each episode we sit down with an experienced game facilitator who has played a specific TTRPG extensively. They will discuss how they pitch the game, best practices for running, useful tools, potential pitfalls, and more. We hope this will be a useful primer for both GMs and player...

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History looks at Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness, one of the earliest and most successful licensed supers games, kicking around for many more years than any competitors. We talk about the game's mechanics, how it conveys the pitch, and the unique approach to splitting combat and skills. We then cover the publication history of the line and how it...

Love, lust, friendship, strong attachment-- the emotional beats which support drama and play. In this community talk, we consider romance in TTRPGs: running it, playing it, planning it. Drawing on experiences we explore break ups, cool mechanics, the line between system and play, objects of affection, good romance GM moves, and more. This is part of our Open Hearth series of community RPG talks. S...

Ian, José, and special guest Elle discuss the inner worlds of our characters and of ourselves! How do we as players express interiority and why would we want to, anyways. Along the way, there are guilty confessions, moments of uncertainty, and unexpected plot twists. Elle’s work: https://bloodygorgeous.carrd.co/ Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community Our website Support us on Patreon...

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Tea talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Amanda ( Sprigs and Kindling ) and Cale discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth ( Planet Raygun, Embers of the Void, and A Land Once Magic ), and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently. Links: Amanda Cale:  https:...

In our seventh episode of Roll for Mutation , we look at a game series originally from a Spanish publisher, translated and released in English by Fantasy Flight. We talk about mechanics, how each book is structured, and the presentation of "mid-" and "post-" apocalypse. We then talk about cross-company publication history and Fantasy Flight's swingy history with TTRPGs. Lastly we talk about some m...

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, Lowell (edige23) talks with a pair of community members about their gaming. This time Chrys Sellers ( Defy the Gods ) and Jolene discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth ( Raccoon Sky Pirates, the Masks hack Capers, Star Wars Citizen for Mongoose Traveller 2e ), Lowell worries about complexity, and then the group finishes up wi...

Powered by the Apocalypse games still remain a strong force in the indie TTRPG space and heavily represented here on the Open Hearth. For this talk we're going to consider where PbtA has been, where it is now, and where it could go. We'll talk broadly about PbtA as a system and specifically about folks' experience with different PbtA iterations. Lowell has ideas, and he'll be leading this discussi...

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, Lowell (edige23) talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Dominik and Donogh discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth ( Paint the Town Red, The Last Caravan, & Midnight of the Century ), Lowell waxes rhapsodic about a recent TPK, and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digg...

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History looks at Aberrant, part of a trilogy of games which defined a major pivot point in the history of White Wolf Publishing. We talk about the game's pitch, how it's predecessor Trinity "isn't" a supers game, and the general system mechanics for Aberrant . We then cover the publication history of the line-- a brief heyday followed by a rapid burnout-- followed by...

In our sixth episode of Roll for Mutation , we talk about one of the greatest modern post-apocalyptic games: Mutant: Year Zero (and the rest of the Mutant line). We talk about mechanics, important since this engine ends up powered a ton of Free League games in various versions. We talk about the publication history, drawing heavily on Magnus Seter's masterful book Outside the Box , and the media s...

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Tea talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time maiya and Sina discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth ( Under Hollow Hills, Raccoon Sky Pirates , and CAIN ), and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently. Links: maiya on the OH Discord Sina is Beatingaroundtheboo...

Ian, José, and special correspondent Danny put the knowledge we've gained from past episodes into practice. We talk about figuring out what you actually like in a game and advocating for it, playing to lift our fellow players, and Danny's 4-step method for iterative improvement through play. Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community Our website - May the 4th is coming soon! Support us o...

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History looks at two closely linked licensed supers games: Smallville and Marvel Heroic . To dig into this pair, Lowell and Jay bring on Rich Rogers ( Hit the Streets: Defend the Block; +1 Forward ) to give his perspectives as a GM and player. We talk about the system mechanics of the two games, including the big differences, the publication history of MWP, the media...

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Lowell Francis (edige23) once again talks with a couple of community members about their recent gaming. This time we have veteran community couple Tyler and Patrick. We talk preparations for an upcoming Ars Magica campaign and how it fits with past campaigns, the challenges and joys of long-running story campaigns, and the intersection of current ev...

This episode presents a community talk from back in 2022. It features Rae Nedjadi, David MK, and myself talking about managing and working with playtests. It seemed like a useful thing to get back into the feed, so I've cleaned up the audio for posting. We talk about planning playtests, setting expectations, dealing with feedback, and filtering input. Rae Nedjadi on itch.io Rae Nedjadi on Patreon...

In our fifth episode of Roll for Mutation , we look at two different licensed post-apocalyptic TTRPGs from the 1990s. First, World of Tank Girl , part of West End Games Masterbook series which apparently launched even before the film it was based on hit the theaters. Then we cover Ralph Bakshi's Wizards , based on the eponymous wild animated movie from the 1970s. We talk about what both games do,...