Above Table

This week we divine and dive into the fascinating intersection of tarot cards and tabletop role-playing games. From character creation to game mechanics and storytelling, we explore how tarot can add depth, mystery, and inspiration to your campaigns. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction to Tarot in TTRPGs (03:27) Incorporating Tarot into D&D (12:13) Using Tarot for Storytelling and Adventure Buildin...

This episode isn’t about dance moves but the class with probably the most iconic class feature: Druids and their Wildshape. Join us as we explore the new 2024 Druid changes and have a cozy romp through some fun homebrew subclasses from the evolutionary and botanical to the Dragonix and even Irish folklore-inspired. Get in touch: hello@abovetable.com https://linktr.ee/abovetable www.abovetable.com...

We're going back to our roots, exploring a class and associated subclasses, and this time it's monks! Accounting for 2024 rules changes, this episode covers new options for Kung Fu monks, boistrous brawlers, dexterous assassins, elemental strikes and healing hands. Oh - and also how the WORST 5e subclass is finally fixed... Chapters: (0:00) Exploring the Monk Class (06:17) 2024 Rules and Changes t...

D&D has expanded well beyond original Medieval fantasy, and whether you're world building in a steampunk metropolis, galactic empire or an alternate eldritch Victorian Europe, the subject of firearms will inevitably arise. This episode is all about exploring firearm rules and those who can use them - from new weapon types, properties and explosives to gunslingers, clerics with carbines and mon...

Hey! Listen! It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this episode full of Zelda content to help with your journey. From different RPG systems and iconic 8-bit dungeon crawls that both emulate the games we know and love, to iconic species and monsters Linked into D&D 5e, this chat serves up more ingredients than you can shake your maracas at! You’ll be a ttrpg tri-force to be reckoned with. Chapters:...

Episode 50! So time to celebrate with some Inspiration! Inspiration has changed in the official rules so we dive into how Inspiration is given out and what it means. We discover a myriad of different ways it can be used at your table from saving up Inspiration for even greater heroics to boon, banes and heroic final actions - there's something to inspire everyone! Chapters: (0:00) Understanding In...

Ever wanted a character's tattoos to have more meaning beyond physical description? Then this episode is for you. From Ink Devil Warlocks to Tattooists with sketchbooks and the Marked class who collect as many tattoos as possible - we explore the options that make tattoos an integral part of a character. But not only that - we explore expanding mundane tattoos with tools and inks as well as reems...

From economic powerhouses and adventuring leagues to scholastic societies and, of course, the infamous thieves' guilds - this episode covers them all. We explore full fledged guilds ready to plug into your world and how to craft your guilds with the renown system. Players run guilds are also the perfect companion to the new bastion system so this episode have options for everyone! Chapters: (0:00)...

With new games due to start in 2025, we've already covered Safety Tools and Session Zero. But what about Level Zero…? In this episode we explore how playing characters experience before they are plucked from obscurity can enrich personal story, narrative drive and be a bloody good laugh! Chapters: (0:00) Welcome Back (03:26) Exploring Level Zero Play (13:23) Why is Level 0 not the standard startin...

The temperature continues to plummet and so we're taking our icy theme to the next level and jumping into Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden. Phil brings an avalanche of supplements into Ten-Towns to bury Josh with and they're all pure gold! For anyone inspired by our winter episodes or planning running RotF in the new year, this episode treads clear paths between must-have guidance and supplem...

Nothing makes you appreciate the warmth of a fire or mulled beverage of choice like the contrast with the biting cold. That's why this week we come bearing polar presents. For GMs we explore the winter chill with some one shots and settings for any table's needs whether a drop in encounter or half-day adventure. For players, a variety of different seasonal subclasses from tundra conservationist ra...

In this episode we're chatting with Kevin Fannin aka Kefa Studios. We talk miniature painting, their start in content creation and the medieval themes of their first Kickstarter project, Banner of Honour. Their current project, Complete Guide to Jousting 5e, contains everything you need to bring the high-octane joust to your table with everything from mechanics and optional rules to over 40 new mo...

We've hit December and the decorations are up! The holiday spirit is in the air but how can we translate that to the table? Whether you want inspiration for crafting your own fantasy holidays, running winter games or just pick up a fun festive one-shot to play with friends and family this year - this episode checks everything off the (naughty) list. Chapters: (00:00) Embracing the Holiday Spirit (...

How do you run Speak with Animals or Speak with Plants? From helpful eloquent NPCs that can provide all the information a party needs to reticent wild creatures that have limited knowledge and require more persuasion - we explore the different ways in which these spells occur in different games. Chapters: (0:00) Intro (3:00) What the heck is an Animal Handling check? (19:54) Speak with Animals. Th...

A must-have for any game, this week we explore the different safety tools out there to ensure a safe, inclusive and fun environment at table. From consent forms and transparency on tone before the campaign even starts to how to manage lines, veils and at table safety, we discuss how each works and signpost to all the resources you'd ever need. Bring on those festive and new year campaigns! Chapter...

Whether power through sacrifice, a connection with primal life force or gothic vampiric sanguimancy - blood magic runs through much of the fantasy genre. Often forbidden or dangerous, we explore how you can bring blood magic to the table. From safety tools on self-sacrificial mechanics and hemomancy wizards to blood domain clerics and even blood archers, this has everything a bloodthirsty table ne...

Ever mused with other players on what it would be like to play as the bad guys? Well now you can. In this episode Josh & Phil discuss the pitfalls and issues of playing evil, character alignment and intraparty conflict, before serving up solutions. From player options to pick-up-and-play adventures that will scratch that evil itch, listen out for everything you need to conquer the world! Chapt...

We've spent weeks brewing this one up and it's finally here! Our spooky season comes to a close with a potions focused episode. From making them feel more memorable or important in game to playing characters who want to mix up their own concoctions, we chat about everything alchemy and herbalism in this cauldron of an episode. Chapters: (0:00) Intro (3:00) Are we using potions enough in game? (6:4...

Throwing a hag at your party but limited by Bestow Curse? Playing a crafty witch but bereft of jinxes? We've got you covered. From using cursed items and intricate ritual castings to flinging jinxes and buying hexes, you'll have a fully stocked grimoire of curses after listening to this episode. Chapters: (0:00) Intro (2:04) Adding Curses to your game (12:25) Changing up the Bestow Curse spell (29...

What is a witch without her familiar? Whether you want your own soul-linked dæmon or sassy black cat a la Salem, Find Familiar is a go to spell for many players. Yet it has its limits. From expanded familar options and how to grow your familiar with your character, to the tamer class and even adventuring as a familiar yourself, you'll be familiar with every option by the end of this episode. Chapt...

Midnight Tower are Tove and Erik, are a couple of lifelong geeks who love roleplaying games and books. They published the first adventures from Midnight Tower in 2019. The adventures are set in Eastern Farraway, a world created by Tove and in which their own D&D games have taken place for more than 20 years. We talk about creating mysteries to bring to the table, all the things they've learned...

From coming of age with Sabrina Spellman and The Worst Witch to the cottagecore of Tiffany Aching and Pomona Sprout, witches are ingrained in fantasy. So in this episode we call together a coven of witch classes so players can swap pauldrons for cauldrons and battleaxes for brooms. Whilst each is different, the common threads of crafting items or potions, casting curses or jinxes and boosted famil...

Double, double toil and trouble. Spooky season is upon us and we're starting with hags! We stir the cauldron of existing stat blocks and add ingredients to form a coven of flavourful hags for your games. From new lightning bottling storm hags and pestilence witches with cure alls to refreshed green and night hags with lair actions, spell lists and coven lore, this episode will have you cackling in...

Ewww don't touch that! Phil has free reign this week to talk all things ooze and slime! From a slime-covered animated skeleton species to ooze mage and ooze rancher subclasses we get icky with character options for slime lovin' players. And for GMs an assortment of jellies, toxins and even molten cheese stat blocks. Let's get sticky!  Time Stamps (0:00) Intro (8:05) Ooze in the Monster Manual...

With D&D more popular than ever, we had a look at what's out there for new players and GMs! From ideal first-time one shots and adventures to player guides and accessible character sheet designs - this episode signposts to everything to get you and your friends into the game. Time Stamps (0:00) Intro (4:30) Deborah Ann Woll teaches D&D (9:38) First games (14:56) Starter set guide (22:44) N...