RPGBOT.Podcast

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we talk about your first time DMing. We talk rulebooks, dice, what you need to know, what you don't, and how to successfully run your first game session. We also suggest helpful tools that will help you succeed like easy (and often free) pre-written adventures. If you've enjoyed the show, please rate and review us on  Apple Podcasts , and rate us on  Spotify...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.News, we talk to Hannah Culbert of the Dames and Dragons podcast. We discuss the story and setting of the podcast, the cast, beetles, top hats, dungeons and dragons, beyblade, and the art of making a performative, long-running actual play. If you've enjoyed the show, please rate and review us on  Apple Podcasts , and rate us on  Spotify or your favorite podcast app an...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.News, we talk about your first time DMing. We talk rulebooks, dice, what you need to know, what you don't, and how to successfully run your first game session. We also suggest helpful tools that will help you succeed like easy (and often free) pre-written adventures. If you've enjoyed the show, please rate and review us on  Apple Podcasts , and rate us on  Spotify  or...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.News, we discuss upcoming TTRPG releases in 2022. We take a brief aside to discuss the upcoming(ish) D&D movie, then dive into upcoming releases from our favorite TTRPG publishers, including Wizards of the Coast, Paizo, . If you've enjoyed the show, please rate and review us on  Apple Podcasts , and rate us on  Spotify  or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss initiative and surprise mechanics in TTRPGs. We examine how initiative and surprise work in DnD 5e and how people are using it wrong, we compare 5e to other RPGs including Pathfinder 2e and The One Ring, and we explore some variant initiative options which you might use in your own games. If you've enjoyed the show, please rate and review us on  Ap...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.News, we discuss Garycon 14 and share some pull-aside interviews with the wonderful people we met at Garycon. If you've enjoyed the show, please rate and review us on  Apple Podcasts , and rate us on  Spotify  or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. You can find links in the show notes. People Inte...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss bringing new players into the TTRPG hobby. We offer advice on teaching players to play without overwhelming them, how to run games with all new players, and how to bring new players into games with experienced players. If you've enjoyed the show, please rate and review us on  Apple Podcasts , and rate us on  Spotify  or your favorite podcast app. I...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss the recently-release The One Ring 2nd edition from Free League Publishing. We explore the games setting, stories, and rules, and offer our opinions on the new game. The One Ring is available in digital format on DriveThruRPG.com, and physical copies are available via the Free League Publishing website. Core Rulebook  ( affiliate link ) Starter Set...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.News, we explore the new DnD 5e Critical Role adventure Call of the Netherdeep from Wizards of the Coast (WoTC), and we look at the new Unearthed Arcana article, Heroes of Krynn. We discuss things we like and don't like about Call of the Netherdeep, and we discuss the content, state, and implications of the new Unearthed Arcana article. If you've enjoyed the show, ple...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss puzzles in tabletop RPGs. We explore methods for running puzzles during your game, how to make character capabilities matter, and some historical examples of puzzles that you can borrow to use in your games. If you've enjoyed the show, please rate and review us on  Apple Podcasts , and rate us on  Spotify  or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we talk to David Shulman, co-founder of dScryb. We discuss dScryb's growing library of boutique descriptive text, their new character descriptions service, and their upcoming addition of character portrait services. Subscribe to dScryb  ( affiliate link ). Use coupon code "RPGBOT" for 10% off the first month of your Hero tier subscription. If you've enjoyed t...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss Session 0. We discuss pitching game ideas, establishing expectations, TTRPG safety tools, and collaborative character creation. We recommend and discuss some helpful tools like pre-game surveys, the "X Card", improv games, and tools like Decuma and Curse of Strahd's Tarroka deck. Special thanks to @Winglady14 on Twitter and on the RPGBOT.Discord fo...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss alignment with Doctor Terry Macmullan. Due to the length of the episode, we've split this episode into two parts. Whenever you're ready,  enjoy part 2 , where the hosts explore Random and Tyler's example media and answer the question of the week. MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE Doctor Terry Macmullan @PhilosphyDM RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes RPGBOT...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss alignment with Doctor Terry Macmullan. Due to the length of the episode, we've split this episode into two parts. Whenever you're ready,  enjoy part 2 , where the hosts explore Random and Tyler's example media and answer the question of the week. MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE Doctor Terry Macmullan @PhilosphyDM RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes RPGBOT...

In this episode of RPGBOT.News, we talk to Jim Powell of Tabula Sono , a free virtual tabletop launching later this year. We discuss Tabula Sono's Kickstarter campaign , their virtual tabletop's exciting features and accessibility, and we get an inside look into what the team has planned for the future. MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE Tabula Sono Kickstarter Discord TikTok Twitter

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss flight. We examine the state of flight rules in DnD 5e and PF2 and take a peek at DnD 3.x and PF1 for comparison, then we explore how to handle flying enemies from a player's perspective and how to handle flying players from a GM/DM perspective. We also take a brief aside into how cool airships are. Special thanks to @SenChatterton on Twitter for t...

In this episode of RPGBOT.News, we talk to Jonathan G. Nelson of AAWGames (formerly Adventure A Week). We talk about Jonathan's past, his experiences as a DM, and secret project REVEALS for AAW Games. We also  discuss AAW's massive catalog of adventures, their full-length published campaign, Rise of the Drow, and Jonathan announces some exciting, previously unannounced projects. Jonathan gave us s...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss random encounters. We examine what published adventures do wrong both in design and presentation of random encounters, and we explore why random encounters are useful, how to make them interesting without being a burden, and we create an example random encounter chart. Special thanks to for the question of the week this week. MATERIALS REFERENCED I...

In this episode of RPGBOT.News, we talk to Caleb Valerozo-Jones and his team. We Caleb's masters project, Neurodiversity, Dungeons, and Dragons: A guide to transforming and enriching Tabletop Role-playing games for Neurodivergent Adults. We dig into how we can make tabletop games and the world in general more welcoming, and how we can use skills learned in TTRPGs to make our lives better outside o...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we review mundane medicine in fantasy games which typically also offer magical solutions to healing. We look at medicine skills across several RPGs and examine where different RPGs do things well or poorly, and what you can do make mundane medicine meaningful in games like DnD 5e. Special thanks to October Sky for the question of the week this week. Materials...

In this episode of RPGBOT.News, we talk to Matthew Whitby. We discuss Matt's newly-released adventure Tome of Silence, his podcast Dungeon Master's Guild House, and how to get started on DMsGuild. Materials Referenced in this Episode Matthew Whitby Tome of Silence: Attack of the Astral Sound Devourers on DMsGuild  with a generous 50% discount for podcast listeners! ( affiliate link ) @WhitbyWrites...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss adapting media to tabletop RPGs. We talk about identifying what you like about a piece of media and discuss picking the right RPG, adapting RPGs that you already know and love to fit the story you want to tell. Then, we follow our own advice and adapt some of our favorites Due to the length of the episode, we've split this episode into two parts. M...

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss adapting media to tabletop RPGs. We talk about identifying what you like about a piece of media and discuss picking the right RPG, adapting RPGs that you already know and love to fit the story you want to tell. Then, we follow our own advice and adapt some of our favorites   Due to the length of the episode, we've split this episode into two parts....

In this episode of RPGBOT.News, we discuss Mordenkainen's Monsters of the Multiverse, which releases as part of the Dungeons and Dragons Rules Expansion Gift Set. We talk about the included monsters, the updated races, and what we did and didn't predict about what's in the book. Materials Referenced in this Episode RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes RPGBOT.Podcast Episode 4 – Failure RPGBOT.Podcast Episode 1...