Inside The Table: A Tabletop RPG Talk Show

In this episode, we recap our top games of 2023! After checking out a grand total of 82 games last year, Marley and Cole cover what they think is the most Innovative, the best story game, the game we want to play the most, the most "Us" (whatever that means) game, all the way to our Top Game of 2023. But first, some news: Riley Daniels is creating an Itch Bundle to support her local Tran...

In this episode, we talk about how notions of plagiarism, inspiration, and copyright fit into the TTRPG space. We both watched Hbomberguy’s recent video Plagiarism and You(Tube) so that’s where our heads are at. But first, Marley has finished Alan Wake 2 (it’s fuckin great), then started and stopped playing Hunt: Showdown after convincing himself he was good at shooters after playing lots of Fortn...

In this episode, Cole & Marley discuss video games that utilize TTRPG mechanics... But first... the strike has ended! Cole & Marley catch up on various films and tv shows that they have seen while the strike was ongoing (05:00). Marley shares his experience with Alan Wake 2, and the unique feel of the game as a part of the horror genre! (19:00) As for TTRPGS... Cole talks about Outward Bou...

In this episode, Cole asks Marley for a post-mortem on his most recently released project: Salvager's Isle , a Bump In The Dark supplement made for the Iron Country Autumn Bump In The Dark Jam . But first... Cole talks about how they found a kitten and brought it home (08:00)! Now it has moved in and refuses to pay rent! He then goes on to talk about his past weekend producing and commentating...

In this episode, we are joined by Commander Pulsar, GM-for-hire on StartPlaying. Games to answer our questions about how to get started as a GM-for-hire, how to pitch yourself as a competent GM on a marketplace, how to balance the power dynamics as a paid GM and their table, and the best game for new-comers. But first... Pulsar talks about his adventures of hacking Horizon Zero Dawn into a Cortex...

In this episode, we take a listener question and talk about queer representation in tabletop roleplaying games along with our own journey with queerness and games... But first... Marley talks about writing as a freelancer and the difficulties that come with it, especially as a freelancer finding his feet (2:00). Cole talks about their experience playing the new souls-like game "Lies of P&quot...

In this episode, we talk with Eric Silver ( Join The Party , Games & Feelings , and a huge number of other podcasts) about Actual Plays, D&D, and the podcasting business overall. But first, a lot has happened in wrestling since the last episode (0:05:39) and Cole fills us in: CM Punk (not Steam Punk) getting fired, the Monster Hunter Matthew Palmer, Minions (?), and… Big Meaty Men Slapping...

In this episode, we check out the best selling games on itch.io and speculate what qualities make them sell so good... But first, Marley has been checking out niche YouTubers (00:03:21), including a stealth camping expert who gives advice for camping in roundabouts and a fast food reviewer who uses slo-mo, house music, and multiple cameras to review mediocre burgers and tacos. Cole, meanwhile, wen...

In this episode, we have an extended interview with game designer extraordinaire Riley Daniels ( As The Sun Forever Sets, Ghoul Boys, Into The Blind ), talking about starting out as a game designer in the pandemic, developing a Forged in the Dark game utterly unlike Blades, and finally, their experience working with Evil Hat Productions! We also LAUNCHED A PATREON (0:01:31)! It has a bunch of fun...

In this episode, we’re talking about Money and Marketing in TTRPGs. We ask whether charging less for a TTRPG makes it less desirable and explore how community copies, charity bundles, demos, and game jams impact how we buy TTRPGs. But first: Marley chats about actually playing TTRPGs again after spending a good while simply reading them (00:03:35) and it turns out they’re really, really fun to pla...

With world-building complete (see previous ep), we jump in to our Star Wars-y noir one-shot of  Ironsworn: Starforged  by  Shawn Tomkin , featuring an insect-like robot and a grub-like jedi-like! ( ⁠⁠⁠And yes, you can also watch this full episode with visual accompaniments on our Youtube channel! ) Of course, we take the time to briefly go over the facts of the galaxy (and our characters) that we...

In this episode, we just start playing Ironsworn: Starforged by Shawn Tompkin ! It's a rad PbtA Star Wars-y game that Cole has been extremely excited to play. Marley, meanwhile, is approaching it with an empty head and an open mind, curious to learn what an Ironsworn game is... ( ⁠⁠And yes, you can also watch this episode on our Youtube channel!⁠⁠ ) Now, as one of our longest episodes and so y...

It's our birthday episode! One full year (give or take a few weeks) of talking tables and we're celebrating by doing an episode where we talk about our feelings about sanity mechanics. On the topic of sanity mechanics, Cole's been checking out Darkest Dungeon 2 (0:04:10) and has found this new one has more interesting interpersonal connections. Also, it's less about treasure huntin...

In this episode, we straight up design a TTRPG. It's only the initial brainstorm, but we do just improvise and troubleshoot the beginnings of a new tabletop system LIVE (and pre-recorded). But first, it's been a month since our last proper episode, so we have a lot of inspirations to chat about: Marley talks about reading the Akira manga (0:00:48) and finding that he loves it more than the...

In this episode, Marley plays a TTRPG all by his lonesome, as Cole has been feeling under the weather (P.S. You should send them your well-wishes to @IceColeBrew on Twitter ...). In any case, Marley takes this opportunity to explore the 110 year history of the Spaceship Theseus with a really good world-building game. See, the world-building game in question is The Ground Itself by Everest Pipkin ....

In the newest episode of Inside The Table, we ask: "What The Hell Brings Player Characters Together?" We discuss the tools (or lack of tools) utilized in games that encourage building bonds and investment in the story at your table. But first, Cole talks about their experience with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves , which was a joy to watch, even if it was a little Marvel-y. W...

In this episode, we talk about the TTRPGs for Trans Rights in Florida bundle which collects 505 games for $5, and the TTRPGs which caught our interest. But first, Marley talks about recently finishing The Wire then immediately finding out about the death of Lance Reddick. Cole talks about the influence the show has had on them and they both talk about how the show has got them so excited for seein...

In this episode, Marley and Cole are talking about pitching a campaign to the table, the difference between running a streamed game vs a home game, and campaigns we've always wanted to play. But first, Cole chats about finishing Hi-Fi RUSH (and immediately starting a new game), before Marley talks Kings of the Wyld , a fantasy book that reminds him how much he likes a good fantasy map and good, gr...

This week Cole plays Alone in The Station Remnants by Caro Ascercion , a solo journaling game about exploring the ruins of a station you grew up in as a scout with a mission to fulfill for your base, while also remembering the good, the bad, and the painful memories associated with a place you once called home. Content Warning: This episode contents references to the following- - Blood - Mentions...

This episode, we are joined by special guest Emma to talk about All The Witches ( an upcoming deck-based TTRPG they wrote about the diversity of witches in a fantasy world) that's coming to Kickstarter on March 16! But first, we spend some time chatting about Hi-Fi Rush , Tales of Arise , Kingdom Hearts 3 (once more), Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow , Forespoken , and, for some reason, The Quiet Man...

In this episode, we're talking about the recent OGL news with D&D and about what might come after. But first, Marley has to talk out his feelings about The Menu , a film he almost enjoyed. To do so, we do a big spoiler warning (which ends at about 12 minutes in).  Then, Cole chats about Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita , thankfully without spoiler warnings. It is a strange brea...

On this episode, Cole & Marley sit down with game designer Austin Ramsay for an extended interview about Beam Saber , working as a tabletop designer, and his upcoming Mega Actual Play Project CalazCon . But first, we chat a lot about the video games we've been checking out over the break. Card Shark , Suzarain , Pentiment ... Folks, it's been a good Christmas. We also have a brief, spoiler-fre...

Content Warnings for: Serial Killing Violence against Sex Workers and Homeless Cults Sworn by Ghostlight: The Ebon Woods Effigies is a mystery adventure game by Matthew John ( @yuigaron ) that utilizes tables and dice rolls to throw out the threads to solve a mystery as an occultist detective in a parallel Victorian London. Oh and the moon is dripping an ominous fluid called Ghostlight.  In t...

As the year comes to a close, Marley and Cole look back at the year that was and the tabletop games we checked out. We reflect back on the games we chose to look at, the games that stuck with ous, and, hell, even our favourites of the fourty-four games we looked at the last six months. First, Cole chats about AEW Wrestling, finishing Norco, and Scarlet Hollow. Marley, meanwhile, has been getting i...

In this episode, Cole and Marley talk about how to break a TTRPG, because sometimes you just gotta. But first, Marley has finished off watching the first season of Andor and Star Wars is back, baybeee! Meanwhile, Cole got engaged, watched Bocchi The Rock! , read Melancholy Her , finished Citizen Sleeper , streamed Pokemon Scarlet and Violet , and started a playthrough of Disco Elysium .  And...