Tabletop Journeys

# OtRP (S2 Ep 23) – “You DON’T Need to Know Trek to Play STA?”What if one of the biggest barriers to growing Star Trek Adventures… is us? This week on On the Right Path, Lewanika tackles a conversation that started online and quickly spiraled into a much larger issue facing the STA and TTRPG community: gatekeeping, accessibility, and the myth that you need decades of Star Trek knowledge before you...

🎲 What happens when you combine The Golden Girls, Stephen King, Riker in Frame of Mind, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer? That's the brilliant premise behind Gray Guardians, a TTRPG unlike anything you've seen at your table. This week, the crew sits down with designer Roland Drewelow (Thethiyan Games) for a deep dive into one of the most creative, accessible, and laugh-out-loud fun indie RPGs...

A Preservations Season 3 Bonus EpisodeTalking Trek with Ensign Inara Osho | Star Trek: Preservations (S3 Bonus Episode)Join us in the ready room as we introduce Ensign Inara Osho, the newest member of the Dilamus Christian crew. In this bonus episode, we build a Star Trek Adventures 2E character live, TTJ style, blending mechanics with narrative intent. From Orion traits to command track decisions...

Prep Less, Teach Better: Convention D&D for New PlayersRunning D&D for new players does not require hours of prep. At Rising Phoenix Game Con 2026, I put the TTJ approach to the test with a mixed table of new and experienced players, proving that the right adventure and the right mindset can carry the entire table. This is your Convention Diary + GM Breakdown. Six players. Three experience...

This is your STA Convention Diary + GM Breakdown. What does it actually take to run Star Trek Adventures at a convention and make it hit? Episode Highlights:⚡Running STA the TTJ Way⚡Sour Deals breakdown (STA 2E Starter Set)⚡Mission Briefs vs full adventures⚡Real table energy from Rising Phoenix 2026⚡Why STA needs more GMsIn this episode of On the Right Path, we break down the TTJ Way. From sy...

Grim, gritty, and unapologetically dark… today we crack open one of the most atmospheric 5E-compatible settings on the market. In this episode of Tabletop Journeys Presents: On the Right Path, we dive into Grim Hollow: Transformed by Ghostfire Gaming with a full unboxing and first impressions. From premium components to deeply evocative worldbuilding, this set delivers a tone that leans hard into...

OtRP (S2 Ep 19) – "Everything's Better the Second Time Around."===========================What comes after first contact… is where the real story begins. In this episode of On the Right Path, we take a second look at the Star Trek Adventures Species Sourcebook and review the Second Contacts Mission Brief pack. From new character options to ready-to-run adventures, this episode highli...

Ever stare at a blank stat block and wonder where to even start? In this episode of Dr. Homebrew, we pull back the curtain on the monster-building framework we use here at Tabletop Journeys. It's a rules-first, narrative-driven system we've refined across dozens of NPCs, published adventures, and card decks. Whether you're crafting a terrifying custom beast or a compelling villain NPC,...

Talking Star Trek Preservations with Lt. Neelan (S3 Bonus Ep) Go behind the scenes of Star Trek: Preservations as we sit down with Lt. Neelan for a deep dive into Season 3. This bonus episode explores the character’s evolution, the scientific and emotional challenges faced aboard the U.S.S. Dilamus Christian, and how key moments shaped the trajectory of the crew. From high-stakes decision-making t...

What happens when a veteran designer with 35 years of GMing experience asks himself: "What if He-Man was a mechanic, not just a character?" The answer is Swords and Science, and Josh Heath of High Level Games joins us to break it all down. Josh has spent decades studying how TTRPGs work, and that depth of knowledge shows in every design decision he made on this game. We dig into the Grea...

🎬 OtRP (S2 Ep 18) – Don’t Rebuy Your BooksWhat if upgrading your game didn’t cost you your collection? What if a new edition didn’t replace your library… but respected it? In this episode of On the Right Path, Lewanika breaks down one of the most important—and overlooked—features of Star Trek Adventures 2nd Edition: the free conversion guide system. This isn’t just about rules updates. This is ab...

What if the problem with your character… is that nothing is wrong with them? Perfect characters look great on paper, but fall flat at the table. In this episode of On the Right Path, we break down why tension, contradiction, and imperfection are what make characters actually work, and how the best characters are built on contradiction: * Master in one world… rookie in another * Right answers… wron...

What happens when 5E goes modern? No magic. No fantasy. Just operators, investigators, medics… and missions where every decision matters. In this episode of On the Right Path, Lewanika dives into Everyday Heroes RPG, a modern-action TTRPG built for cinematic storytelling, high-stakes encounters, and grounded, tactical gameplay. From firefights and car chases to mission-driven narratives, this syst...

What if the problem with your character… is that nothing is wrong with them? Perfect characters look great on paper, but fall flat at the table. In this episode of On the Right Path, we break down why tension, contradiction, and imperfection are what make characters actually work, and how the best characters are built on contradiction: * Master in one world… rookie in another * Right answers… wron...

🏰 Your party is deep in the mountains, mid-fight with TWO green dragons, weeks from home, and someone just asked: "Can we get stuff from our Bastion?" 🐉⚔️ Welcome back to Dr. Homebrew, the show where we take the rules and make them work for YOUR table! In this third and final installment of our Bastion Series, we tackle one of the most interesting edge cases the 2024 D&D rules leav...

“Technobabble is a Tool, Not a Crutch”How to blend Science & Drama in your STA MissionsYou need a natural phenomenon powerful enough to shatter a research outpost, scramble transporters, and change a character forever. What do you use? In this episode of On the Right Path, Lewanika dives into the heart of Star Trek Adventures mission and adventure design, exploring how cosmic disasters, techno...

Last week we broke down the Traveler's Guide to Narrative Bastions — our brand new supplement on DMs Guild. This week? We go deeper. 🔥 Join us on Dr. Homebrew as we pull back the curtain on how these Bastion rules actually hit the table — the decisions players made, the NPCs that came to life, and the campaign threads that got woven into a single gifted building. If you've ever wondered h...

🖖🌌 When the mission ends, the real questions begin. After the dramatic events of Season 3, reflection becomes its own frontier. In this special episode of Talking Preservations, Lewanika Miller sits down with Adam Scaramella, the voice behind Commander Oshen Ch’zylrirh, to explore leadership pressure, intelligence driven storytelling, and the long arc consequences shaping the future of the Prese...

🏰 Your Bastion NEEDS a Story — Here's How to Build One The D&D 2024 Bastion System is a blast, but let's be honest. Without narrative support, it can feel like just a spreadsheet of rooms. In this episode of Dr. Homebrew, Josh breaks down The Traveler's Guide to Narrative Bastions, a brand-new supplement from Tabletop Journeys designed to fix exactly that. From the ground up, this...

🖖🚀 The Captain Speaks. The Mission Continues. What happens after the final log is recorded and the cameras keep rolling? In this special Star Trek: Preservations feature, Lewanika sits down with Joe Harney, the voice behind Captain Sabian Tobor of the U.S.S. Dilamus Christian, to reflect on Season 3 of the Tabletop Journeys actual play. From the unforgettable Romulan Tango to insights on the evo...

What if you didn't have to choose between being a parent and a gamer? 🧃🎲 In this episode of On the Right Path, Lewanika breaks down everything you need to know about building kid-friendly TTRPG tables. From running games for his own children to watching young players steal the scene at Total Con and AdadeCon 13, Lewanika brings real-world experience to one of the most asked questions in the...

STA Character Creation Just Got Better (Part 3)🖖 The Bolian scientist’s journey reaches its final form. In Part 3 of our Star Trek Adventures 2E character creation deep dive, A. Lewanika Miller completes the build of Lieutenant Vasal, a Daystrom Fellow and Starfleet Science Officer shaped by culture, academy choices, career events, and narrative intent.🚀 From Starfleet Academy track selection an...

STA Character Creation Just Got Better🖖 Character creation is more than picking traits. It is where story begins. In this episode of On the Right Path, Lewanika explores how the Star Trek Adventures Species Sourcebook and updated character tools elevate STA 2E character creation to a new level of depth, clarity, and narrative intent.🚀 From expanded species options and cultural identity to lifepa...

STA Character Creation Just Got Better🖖 Character creation is more than picking traits. It is where story begins. In this episode of On the Right Path, Lewanika explores how the Star Trek Adventures Species Sourcebook and updated character tools elevate STA 2E character creation to a new level of depth, clarity, and narrative intent.🚀 From expanded species options and cultural identity to lifepa...

On the Right Path (S2 Ep12)Convention Diaries 2026🖖 Five years ago this was a dream. In 2026… it became a mission. In this episode of On the Right Path, A. Lewanika Miller begins a new series chronicling his journey through the 2026 convention season, starting with Captain Con. This is not just about dice and demo tables. It is about goals, growth, community, and what it takes to show up consiste...