3RPG Podcast

You asked for it, so here it is! Another round of obscure folklore to inspire your next one-off, campaign, or to impart crippling anxiety just before bed! Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 4:40 - El Silbón (the whistler) - Venezuela 12:21 - Benjamin Franklin & the Jersey Devil 21:34 - 'Sponsor' - Hera Strayer Chariot 23:21 - McDonald-Land mythos 31:10 - Soucouyant (Ole-haig) - Belize & Caribbean 35:...

So you wanna be a chronolord but all that talk about time dilation, anomalies, and paradoxes has your head spinning? Fear not! The 3RPG hosts crack the code this week on all things timey-wimey. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro - Primal water balloons 5:05 - Defining the passage of time 7:10 - Avoiding the sins of backstory and prologue 18:06 - Time travel 22:48 - Sponsor - Vroosman's Time Ale 25:39 - Comba...

Ring in the new year with the 3RPG hosts' favorite moments, because let's face it, 2025 was kind of a joke. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro - Worst gifts ever 06:29 - Chris is a Little Curious (Episode 14) 09:13 - The Out of Towners (Episode 18) 10:51 - Three-Legged Horse (Episode 18) 13:00 - Jay's Street Name (Episode 17) 15:15 - A Strange Hot Open (Episode 17) 17:28 - Flavor Discrepancies (Episode 17) 2...

Whether you've been naughty, nice, or RPing a character somewhere in between, join the 3RPG team as they share what it takes to get on a Yuletide fae's gift-giving list. Comment: For more about the Yule Lads, see Ep 18: Barnacle Geese & Other Wild Folklore https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD4MBB03EKs&t=1322s Timestamps: 00:00 Intro - A Very Twisted Christmas 6:03 - Reimagining Christmas/Sol...

For every great beginning there must be an equally amazing ending, but how do you decide when its the right time to say goodbye to your campaign? Join the 3RPG team as they explore the when, why, and how of writing 'the end' Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 3:30 - Deciding when to end a campaign 9:30 - Predetermined session count vs. inciting incident 13:00 - Wayward storylines 20:18 - Favorite types of en...

Building a character is an essential part of TTRPG, and sometimes the hardest. Whether you're new to RPG or an old hat at conjuring personas, see how the 3RPG team create characters you love to hate and hate to love. Comments: ♦ (花見) Hanami - Traditional Japanese cherry blossom "flower viewing", usually in March and April. ♦ Xal'atath is a character in World of Warcraft who levitates and has an...

Sometimes the bard really has it coming, but should you? On today's episode, the 3RPG team explores character vs character combat and how to make sure it doesn't turn into player vs. player. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 6:00 - Difference between CvC and PvP 11:27 - Emotional burden of CvC 14:46 - When CvC turns into bullying 19:17 - Establishing combat consent 23:35 - Sponsor - UHoard 25:35 - CvC inspi...

Everyone dreams of the mythical, magic RPG group that meets on the regular, but what if was real? Join the 3RPG hosts as they reveal the magic incantation to summoning committed players for a long-term campaign. Comments: ♦The Borellus Connection (Module) - Kenneth Hite & Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan: https://pelgranepress.com/product/the-borellus-connection/ ♦Ginny Di - I ran a $5k D&D game (and...

Abandoned temples are great places to send your doomed party, especially when its ancient and starving deity still lurks the halls. Join the 3RPG team as they create your next 1-shot: The Temple of Ichor. Comments: 43:50 - It really is just called a scroll shelf, or scroll holder, or if you're being fancy.... a wall scroll holder. If you want a fun scroll-related word, Capsae is a cylindrical cont...

You want session music? We have your session music (especially Jay!). Tune in this week for a playlist refresh that is certain to bring your campaign to the next level. Comments: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (Book) - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 05:37 - Music 2.0 / Perfume soundtrack 08:29 - Avoid clichés, subvert the genre 10:49 - Session openings / ending themes...

Rolling for combat is a given in TTRPG, but are there other areas that can benefit from a bit more randomness? On this week's episode, the 3RPG team explores when to roll the dice and the ethics of fudging results. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 2:41 - When to use dice 7:59 - Failed rolls 9:15 - Degrees of success vs. pass/fail 13:14 - Good roleplay bonuses 14:54 - Random encounters, Zig when I zag 19:19...

Halloween provides the quintessential horror setting, but what if you want to go beyond pumpkins and candy corn? Join the 3RPG crew as they make a bigger, faster, more diabolically devious Halloween to inspire your next holiday session. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro - Hallow-comedy 4:00 - Costume confessional 15:04 - Costumes in rpg 22:47 - Trick or treat origins & ideas 28:00 - Jack-o-lantern reima...

Description: TTRPG touts the social aspect of gameplay, but what if characters disagree and want to split the party? Join the 3RPG team as they tackle the how and why of party splits and whether co-DMing could work in your world. Comments: In Deep Geek: https://www.youtube.com/indeepgeek Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 7:10 - Should you split the party? 10:43 - Avoiding boredom for the non-active party 16...

Two of our favorite things at 3RPG are trying new systems and supporting indie creators. In this episode, hosts Jay and Sandra get to sit down with Robby Howell, mastermind of the diceless TTRPG system, Enclave. Comments: To learn more and support the upcoming Kickstarter for Enclave Aspirant: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@robbylavagames Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=615776...

Description: Every character deserves their own unique moments to shine, but how do you ensure each player at your table gets a proper spotlight? Join the 3RPG hosts as they explore both GM and player ways to provide feel-good, memorable moments that everyone can feel great about. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 2:43 - Bards then and now 5:52 - Character space does not only mean hero moments 7:41 - Setup...

Description: Though faith is a common theme in fantasy TTRPG, deciding exactly when and how to incorporate elements into your story can be daunting. Join the 3RPG hosts as they explore the difference between harmful representation, respectful exploration and inspiration. Comments: See where the marshmallow thing all began - Top 10 of 2025 episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YsoV9MESnw&t=...

Description: Ever get eaten by a mimics disguised as a treasure chest? You may just be a loot goblin! On today's episode, the 3RPG hosts discuss the bounds of what loot is and how to make it both meaningful and memorable without breaking your game. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 4:13 - What is loot, exactly? 9:56 - Loot vs lore swag (and how often) 13:26 - Using 'Monkey's paw' items 15:33 - Novel loot id...

Description: We're told that its not the destination, but the journey, yet the calm spaces between encounters can quickly feel like one long, boring tavern crawl. Join hosts Sandra, Jay, and Chris as they spice up the downtime and also discuss their favorite video game inspirations. Comments: The Alexandrian Dragon Heist Remix - https://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/41217/roleplaying-games/dragon-h...

Description: While TTRPG is no replacement for proper therapy, table top gaming is known to offer benefits to mental health, social skills, and self exploration. Join us on the therapy couch as psychotherapist and author, Z.D. Gladstone explains the science behind why RPGs can be such a boon to our well-being. Timestamp: 00:00 Intro 1:29 - Introduction of psychotherapist, Z.D. Gladstone 6:08 - Con...

Description: Needing inspiration for your next campaign? The 3RPG hosts dig deep to bring some of the most wild and obscure folklore to liven up your storytelling. Comments: Writers commonly question if their use of folklore and mythology is inspiration or cultural appropriation. Learn the difference with this article by author Jeanette Ng: https://medium.com/@nettlefish/cultural-appropriation-for...

Description: By now you've probably asked "What's up with that Jay guy?" Let's find out as Chris and Sandra put the screws to their suspiciously Austrian bodybuilder sounding co-host and find out what's hiding out in that lil'noggin. Comments: Here I Stand - https://www.gmtgames.com/p-917-here-i-stand-500th-anniversary-reprint-edition-2nd-printing.aspx Project Zomboid - https://projectzomboid.com/...

Ever wonder what its like to go to one of the largest fan-focused conventions in the world? Madness... but also incredible amounts of fun. Join us for this special episode where co-host Sandra Rosner tries to distill 4 days of fandom overload at San Diego Comic Con into a single hour. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 5:50 - First time cosplay experience 9:36 - Cosplaying = instant community 12:40 - Gatekee...

Description: Names have the power to evoke strong associations to the people, places, and events they reference. Join the ThreeRPG as they explore the art of crafting memorable monikers in writing and campaign settings. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 4:30 - Methods for creating novel names 11:33 - Nicknames, honorifics, and avoiding faux pas 15:35 - Name conventions to support world building 17:56 - Name...

Description: Every town has a tavern, but they can be so much more than the rest stops of TTRPG. In this episode, the ThreeRPG team discusses ways to turn your next travel respite into a memorable and meaningful event. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 2:50 - Taverns and how to make them interesting 26:09 - Building a menu for your tavern 38:34 - Novel tavern ideas for your next campaign 43:08 - Real life t...

Description: Questions abound about the illusive Chris and we aim to answer them! Join Jay and Sandra as they grill their co-host, Chris, and learn why he loves snow globes and what made him D&D curious. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 2:15 - Artist origin story 4:20 - First TTRPG experience 7:35 - Best art advice received 8:57 - New players 10:52 - Breaking the rules 12:50 - Maps 14:22 - Overcoming c...