Around the Hearth

In this episode host Lowell Francis is joined by Michael D. and Alun R. to talk about the ups and downs of "funny" game mechanics, a modern approach to traditional fantasy, and facing down what feels like inescapable doom. They examine light rules for sitcoms, new rules with an old feel, and a game that puts you on the losing side of a war. Please note that we will not be releasing any more episod...

Note: we had some audio issues with this recording (apologies)! In our third episode of Roll for Mutation , a look at the history of Post-Apocalyptic TTRPGs, we bow in abject obeisance Friend Computer and the incomparably perfect TTRPG  Paranoia from West End Games and then Mongoose. We consider the different editions and how we live in a phenomenal time which sometimes necessitates updating. But...

Content Advisory: character death, ritual sacrifice Ian & José are joined by Wyllora to explore what it means to fail in an RPG, and why we might want to do it on purpose. How do we define "success" in games, and what are the ways we can step outside that limit with agency? Wyllora’s Work:  Art - https://www.artstation.com/wyllora Game Design - https://wyllora.itch.io/ Triangle Agency Holiday-...

Lets talk widescreen, big idea sci-fi. Games of space fleets, interstellar empires, sometimes aliens-- big ideas and lasers. Games like Star Trek Adventures, Traveller, Fading Suns, Space Wyrm vs Moonicorn, Dune, Coriolis, Scum & Villainy, Ashen Stars, Star Wars, Last Fleet, and the like. Talking Space Opera is another in our series of community discussions. It looks at sci-fi gaming and this...

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History jumps forward significantly in time to just after the d20 boom/bust cycle. Today's focus is Ross Payton's independently produced and Kickstarted Base Raiders . They go over what the game is, its place in the history of gaming, and what was going on in comics media at the time. They then move to general discussion, including what what's weird and what they dug....

In our second episode of Roll for Mutation , a look at the history of Post-Apocalyptic TTRPGs, we tackle Twilight 2000 from GDW, focusing on those original editions but with some discussion of Twilight 2013 and Twilight 2K . Hosts Lowell Francis and Marc Majcher cover the extended history of the game and how it desperately raced to keep itself contemporary. We talk about what Twilight 2000 is, whe...

What's the game you've wanted to get to the table but haven't been able to? What's the campaign premise you've considered but don't know how to make it work? What's the rpg that just couldn't actually function if you tried to run it online? What's the wild concept that you know would crash-out but it amuses you just the same? In this group chat for our Shared Hearth Open Gaming Con, community memb...

This week we present a bonus episode for both Roll for Origin & Roll for Mutation . Lowell chats with Pedro Barrenechea, lead designer for Rotted Capes 2nd Edition , a post-apocalyptic game of superheroes. They chat early game experiences, how the first edition came about, revising the rules, and more. Rotted Capes 2e Backerkit Sign Up Rotted Capes 1e on DTRPG Pedro aka StatMonkey on Bluesky F...

For this episode we've cleaned up the audio from an older community seminar on running one-shots. Like several of our other "Talking" episodes, this has Lowell Francis giving a talk, mixed in with questions from the chat and a Q&A at the end. We cover pacing, set up, safety, problem players, structure, and more. You can check out the outline for the talk here. Other Resources: Burn After Runni...

In this episode Host Lowell Francis talks with Becky Annison and Josh Fox of Black Armada games about what they've been playing, herbal witches, the final frontier, their Kickstarter for Ex Tenebris , and much more. The Ex Tenebris  Kickstarter Black Armada Games Black Armada on itch Josh Bluesky: @armadajosh.bsky.social Becky Bluesky: @beckyannison.bsky.social Wise Women Rapscallion Star Trek Adv...

Content Advisory: colonialism & imperialism; sexual violence in a horror/vampire context; death of loved ones, including miscarriage; excessive immersion; grief & bleakness. Mads joins Ian & José to talk about the relationship between player & character, the Magic Circle that divides them, and how experience can Bleed through from one to the other. Along the way we discuss some of...

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History returns to one of the earliest and most important superhero ttrpgs: Champions . Hosts Jay Brown and Lowell Francis talk about a game which is near and dear to their hearts-- both having played these editions extensively . They go over what the game is, its place in the history of gaming, and what was going on in comics media at the time. They then move to gene...

In this episode Host Rae Nedjadi ( Apocalypse Keys, Once More into the Void ) talks with Sebastian Yūe and Matthew Arcilla about games, superheroes, villainy, gender, and much more. They look at Evil Hat's forthcoming ttrpg, a classic from White Wolf, and a more modern take on heroism (which is apparently getting a second edition). Content warning for second segment: mention of sexual assault in a...

In this "bonusode*" for Roll for Mutation: Post-Apocalyptic TTRPG History , we talk with Wil Hutton aka Rivetgeek, lead developer for Tribes in the Dark . TitD reworks and re-imagines Tribe 8 , Dream Pod 9's fantastical post-apocalyptic rpg from the late 1990s. This new version adapts the Forged in the Dark mechanics to this game of tribes, outcasts, and prophecy. Tribes in the Dark  is Kickstarti...

First episode of Roll for Mutation , a new series looking at the history of Post-Apocalyptic TTRPGs. In this one hosts Lowell Francis and Marc Majcher cover the extended history of Gamma World , with a focus on the first two editions (of many). We talk about what Gamma World is, where it fits in gaming history, what the media context is like, and our general thoughts about the game. Roll for Mutat...

Lowell Francis provides a short introduction to the Open Hearth Gaming Community: what we are, what we do, how you can join, and how you can support what we do. Website Discord Invite Patreon Playabl Shared Hearth Community Code of Conduct Online Play Resources Around the Hearth Playing at the Hearth YouTube Play Issues Gameway Contact Us: openhearthgamingcommunity@gmail.com Follow us on Tumblr: h...

This is the edited version of an older seminar by Lowell Francis talking about planning and running TTRPG mysteries. It's about 50 minutes of talk followed by a Q&A. Lowell talks about his approach and best practices for running mysteries in rpgs. Topics include:  Kinds of mysteries (set, set variable, improv)  Plotting mysteries  The power of the timeline  Information handling  Keeping player...

This time Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History jumps forward in time to the mid-1990s. Hosts Jay Brown and Lowell Francis look at Underground (1993) , Mayfair's attempt to build on the DC Heroes system with a dystopian, cyberpunk supers setting. Content warning: cannibalism, PTSD, transphobia, regressive treatment of disabilities and mental illness. We go over what the game is, its place in the h...

In the inaugural episode of Fireside Chat with Agatha, Agatha is joined by Lowell Francis, Community Manager for the Open Hearth and designer of Hearts of Wulin , to talk game design. Listen as Agatha pushes Lowell for more stuff for HoW and beyond! Agatha Cheng is the Co-Creator and Co-Host of the Asians Represent! and The Game Design Game Show podcasts She works as a Cultural Consultant for cont...

In this episode we cover a wide range of games old and new. Host Lowell Francis is joined by Rich Rogers ( +1 Forward, Hit the Streets ) and Jay Brown ( Diceology, Life: Indomitable ). Smallville Flying Circus Blackout Mythomorphosis Spooky Asian Club Just King Things Find Rich Rogers' Hit the Streets here +1 Forward Podcast Archives Jay's the author of By Aecer’s Light , The Clockwinders for Fate...

Be sure to check out the Hearts of Wulin Bundle of Holding running through Wednesday July 23rd, 2025. This is an edited and cleaned up version of a talk Lowell Francis, designer and co-writer on Hearts of Wulin, gave talking about moves, NPCs, set ups, and other topics in this game of wuxia melodrama. It is split between presentation and audience Q&A.  This is part of the Open Hearth series of...

Horror as a genre can be a great tool to use in your ventures in GMing horror games, but horror movies aren’t the only place to pull from. You can pull from many forms of media including books and real life situations. Sit down with us folks and let’s see how we each approach running horror ttrpgs!   This panel talk is part of the Open Hearth series of seminars, discussions, and workshops. Host Je...

In this second episode of Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History , hosts Jay Brown and Lowell Francis look at Villains & Vigilantes , the superhero rpg that broke the genre open. We go over what the game is, its place in the history of gaming, and what was going on in comics media at the time. We then move to general discussion, including what we found weird and what we dug. If you dig this ser...

In this episode we talk recent gaming and look at some really interesting and intense games.  Host Mike Minutillo is joined community members Gwen Marshall  and Ethan Harvey.  Night Witches : https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/146173/night-witches Fathom: https://sulcata.itch.io/fathom Impossible Landscapes: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/344408/delta-green-impossible-landscapes Gwen...

A recording of a talk by Lowell Francis about handling world building and collaborative elements. This session was part of Shared Hearth, the Open Hearth Gaming Community free ttrpg weekend.  In this talk/discussion we hit on  Reasons for a shared approach  How existing games handle this  Online tools and techniques  Managing collaborative building  ...and more.  Talk Outline and Notes This was a...