No Plot, Only Lore

How do you build a world that players can’t stop talking about between sessions? In this video, we analyze the narrative techniques used by Toby Fox in Deltarune and Scott Cawthon in Five Nights at Freddy’s to create "theory-shaped holes." Using the lens of a Tabletop RPG Game Master, we break down five specific strategies for building mysteries that encourage deep engagement and player speculatio...

Last week, someone pointed out that I accidentally did a plot. Well we can't have that, not around these parts! So today I'm going to go through One Piece Lore that I barely understand and look at how we can apply that to a tabletop RPG!

Crazy twists and turns, sudden ass-pulls, quick stops to change the story because a player couldn't make it this week, and forcing your little brother to play the cleric - all in this season of One Piece.

Josh isn't around, so I have an opportunity to do something proper philosophical and In the Weeds about games theory, but instead I'm gonna get personal and talk about failure. Failing at things in life, failing at podcasts, why games fail to thrive, and also why I'm going to keep doing this podcast with Josh as long as he'll let me because I like having an excuse to talk to him about nerd stuff....

D&D dropped some "evil" class options. What does "evil" actually mean in this case? Can you be a *good* plague cleric? If having evil ancestors makes you evil, what does that mean for tieflings?

In this episode of No Plot, Only Lore , Kris and Josh dive deep into the messy, often heartbreaking world of media adaptations . Whether it’s a sprawling fantasy book series becoming a TV show or a legendary video game hitting the tabletop, the transition is rarely smooth. The guys kick things off with a post-mortem on the Wheel of Time television series—discussing how a show can find its footing...

This week we delve into the world of... worlds! What needs to be in place for a successful adaptation of your favorite smutty romantasy series? Why does Magic's Universes Beyond piss us off so much? What are some games that have gotten it very right?

Dungeons & Dragons is moving to a seasonal release schedule. Josh and Kris get into what that means for the hobby at large, and their feelings around subscription-based gaming.

Why do Nazis make the ultimate antagonists for your tabletop campaigns? In this episode of No Plot, Only Lore , Josh and Kris break down the mechanics of using fascist-coded villains to create high-stakes, morally clear, and narratively complex stories without falling into the "both-sides" trap. We discuss why fascist structures provide perfect hierarchical challenges for players, how to use anti-...

We’re back with part two of our deep dive into Sumo history! This episode covers the transformation of the sport from the Meiji era to today. We discuss the formalization of the Yokozuna rank, the impact of international wrestlers on Japanese tradition, and the fascinating, messy politics of the JSA. Don’t miss this look at the world’s most intense, high-speed game of chess.

Join Josh and Kris on No Plot, Only Lore as they dive into the surprising world of professional Sumo—a sport Josh argues is the "purest representation" of physical will. This episode explores how Sumo transcends being a mere sport, functioning as a 2,000-year-old Shinto ritual deeply rooted in Japanese history and samurai culture. We break down the unique "stable" lifestyle where wrestlers live co...

In this episode of No Plot, Only Lore , Josh and Kris dive deep into the "gray ooze" currently flooding the internet: Generative AI . What started as a potential tool for busy DMs has quickly spiraled into a self-fulfilling loop of mediocrity that threatens the very heart of collaborative storytelling. The guys pull no punches as they discuss: The "Enshittification" of RPGs: Why AI-generated conte...

The Honeymoon Phase is Over. This week, Josh and Kris revisit their stance on Generative AI. While early adoption promised a reduction in cognitive load for DMs, the reality has shifted toward a "net negative" across nearly every metric. From the environmental impact of data centers to the "enshittification" of search results, the hosts break down why the "word guessing machine" is failing the peo...

In this episode of No Plot Only Lore, Josh and Chris dive into the recent collapse of the Darkest Dungeon board game by Mythic Games. We discuss the $5 million failure, the "wave two" cancellation, and the broader crisis facing tabletop crowdfunding. Topics covered: The Darkest Dungeon Debacle: How overconfidence and poor math led to one of the biggest Kickstarter flops in recent history. The "Inf...

Josh and Kris talk about Kickstarter, the good, the bad, the really bad, and Exploding Minions.

We're back! We're doing audio and video now like a couple-a lunatics! We're doing a deep dive on the open gaming license and its impact on the entire tabletop RPG world, and we're blaming it on Kevin Siembieda! Not really. Maybe a little.

Look, December low-key sucks when it comes to a lot of things, and gaming is no different. But it doesn't have to suck completely! Come hang out with us and we'll talk about it.

This week Josh and Kris take a look at some of the non-Christmas winter traditions around the world and discuss ways that those traditions could be utilized in your own games, as well as starting a conversation about how holidays mark the passing of time for a people.

Josh and Chris for their second annual Holiday Gift Guide dedicated to the coolest tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) and accessories for 2023. Hear their takes on the year's biggest releases and hottest picks, including the tactical giant mech RPG Lancer , the Critical Role-backed Daggerheart , and the OSR darling Mythic Bastion Land . Plus, get recommendations for: TTRPG Books: Dive into the C...

Hosts Josh and Kris tackle the Attention Economy and its uncomfortable role in the TTRPG space. From recognizing their place as "krill" in the same ecosystem as giants like Critical Role to debating whether the attention economy is "evil," they discuss how DMs can use its tricks—like rewarding quiet moments (the Mrs. Pots dinner scenario)—to keep players engaged and honor their time, without resor...

What is the difference between Goblin Mode and Goblin Core ? Dive into the ecology of the internet's most feral archetype. We explore why embracing your inner "cozy swamp creature" is a coping mechanism for millennial burnout and the pressure of perfect adulting .

One Page Rules (OPR) started as a quick, simple alternative to Warhammer 40,000, but now it’s charting its own path with unique lore. The results? A minefield of mixed audience reactions. In this episode, we dive into the difficulties OPR faces transitioning from a '40k knock-off' to an original game system, and how the inherent differences in audience expectations—especially those conditioned by...

Welcome back to No Plot Only Lore ! This week, your hosts Josh and Chris dive deep into the most chaotic and complex anime powers to figure out how to import them into your favorite TTRPG (like Dungeons & Dragons ). If you love D&D mechanics , worldbuilding , and outlandish character concepts, this episode is for you. We break down the rules and roleplaying challenges of: The Social Credit...

Let’s talk about being cringe!  Pretend play is an essential part of growing up and learning social roles and shit. This goes back to Piaget and Vygotsky - pretending is how we experiment and try on identities and learn empathy and problem-solving.  Adults often repress that because it’s fucking cringe as hell. Sitting down to play a role-playing game reactivates that early developmental...

We was talking clowns and that got me on the ha-has.  The Party as a Comedy Troupe Most D&D tables accidentally become improv comedy theater. “Every game starts as Game of Thrones and ends as Monty Python.” Long campaigns kind of naturally develop bits and recurring gags Players have a tendency to start to fall into roles associated with ensemble comedy subconsciously. Quotes I don’t know...