RPGBOT.Podcast

Death in tabletop RPGs is a lot like a group project: everyone insists they're prepared for it, nobody actually reads the rules, and somehow it's always the wizard's fault. In this episode, the RPGBOT crew stares straight into the great beyond—death saves, dying conditions, resurrection magic, and those awkward moments when the cleric checks their spell slots and quietly says, "So… about that body...

Dragons are eternal. Gaming mice are not. In today's episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we survive cursed peripherals, catastrophic Kingdom turns, and at least one near-fatal werewolf encounter before finally turning our attention to the real reason we woke up before dawn:  Paizo's Lost Omens: Draconic Codex . It's a book that asks the important questions—like "What if dragons were powered by magical...

Welcome back to RPGBOT.Podcast , where Ash is a Top GM™ , Tyler is still emotionally processing Bastions, and Randall has discovered that Eberron finally lets you live your best divorced-dad-with-a-houseboat fantasy. In  Part 2 of our review of Eberron: Forge of the Artificer , we leave the artificer workshop behind and dive headfirst into dragonmarked intrigue, mobile bastions, noir detectives, p...

Show Notes Elementals are the walking embodiment of the four classic forces— fire, air, water, and earth —and they're one of the easiest monster families to drop into any campaign while still feeling mythic, dangerous, and thematically sharp. In this remastered episode, the RPGBOT crew digs into how to make elementals more than "a pile of hit points with a damage type"—including encounter roles, t...

Welcome back to  RPGBOT.Podcast , where optimism is optional, feedback is weaponized, and today we're firing up the lightning rails straight into Eberron: Forge of the Artificer . This is Part 1 of our review, which means we're here to ask the most important questions first: Does this book actually understand artificers? Does it respect Eberron's magic-as-industry vibe? And will Ash rant about cor...

Show Notes The RPGBOT crew closes out Season 5 the only way they know how: with heartfelt gratitude, passionate rants, accidental comedy, and at least one derailment into pop culture discourse. In this end-of-year recap, Randall, Tyler, and Ash look back on a year of certified bangers , a few corporate-mandated stinkers , and the surprising joy of discovering that people are, in fact, listening. A...

In this remastered episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we continue to shine a spotlight on building one of the most intriguing classes in the game: the Rogue. With their sneaky tactics and manipulative ways, Rogues add an essential element of mystery and cunning to any adventuring party. Join us as we break down the key components of building a successful Rogue character, and learn how to level up your...

On this remastered episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast , we complete our 3-part series on Picking a TTRPG that is not DnD or Pathfinder by adventuring deep into the vast and thrilling universe of tabletop RPGs. From the spine-chilling cosmic horror of Alien RPG to the gritty nihilism of Death in Space , we're exploring the diverse themes of space exploration, teenage superheroes, cyberpunk chaos, and ev...

Ever wondered what beer chemistry, emo vampires, and broom mechanics have in common? Neither did we, until this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast! We're diving deep into RPG madness, from the grimy charm of  Shadow Dark  to the chaos of  Warhammer's  magic (spoiler: it's messy). Then, we tackle  Symbaroum , where sweeping is serious business, and  Vison , the perfect game for overachieving detectives....

Farewell 2025, Hello 2026 As the dice finish rolling on 2025, we want to take a moment—before the initiative tracker resets—to say thank you . This year was packed with bold experiments, deep dives, hot takes, re-releases, masterclasses, actual plays, rule arguments that absolutely mattered , and more than a few moments where we stopped mid-recording and said, "Wait… does that actually work?" Than...

"Crunchy rules or simple vibes? Political intrigue or straight-up dungeon brawls? Survival in a dying world or low-power fantasy feels?" This remastered RPGBOT.Podcast dives into everything you love (and fear) about tabletop RPGs that aren't D&D or Pathfinder. From decision trees to help you find your perfect game match, to the storytelling magic of Powered by the Apocalypse, and the chaotic survi...

You survived the one-shot. No one died permanently. Only  some rules were misunderstood. Now comes the most dangerous phase of any tabletop experience: questions . In this episode, the RPGBOT crew sits down after the Pathfinder 2e one-shot to answer the things every new player asks—what worked, what didn't, what we forgot, and why Pathfinder 2e somehow makes rules discussions feel productive inste...

Every tabletop RPG player has had this thought at some point:  "If I had one Wish, I could fix everything." And every Dungeon Master has had the immediate follow-up thought: "If you cast Wish, I'm fixing you ." In this episode, the RPGBOT crew tackles the most powerful spell in the game—the one that can rewrite reality, end campaigns, summon divine attention, and turn a carefully planned epic into...

Nothing teaches a rules system faster than throwing it directly into danger. In this episode, the RPGBOT crew does exactly that by unleashing a  Pathfinder 2e one-shot designed to show how the rules actually work when dice hit the table. Expect missed attacks, clever teamwork, rules "aha!" moments, and at least one situation where the three-action economy proves it is both elegant and mildly terri...

Character creation in Pathfinder 2e is like walking into a fantasy bakery: everything looks amazing, you want  all of it , and somehow you leave with a perfectly balanced character instead of a chaotic pile of half-baked ideas. In this RPGBOT.Quickstart episode, we guide you through the PF2e character creation process step by step without analysis paralysis, spreadsheet-induced panic, or accidenta...

Ever wondered how many actions it takes to brew a cup of coffee in Pathfinder 2e? The RPGBOT crew did, and we're pretty sure we provoked an opportunity attack from the espresso machine. In this  RPGBOT.Quickstart episode, we bravely tackle Pathfinder Second Edition , learn how to read a character sheet without summoning a demon, and maybe, just maybe, figure out what the heck a "reaction" actually...

Have you ever wished you could travel back in time, wield 10th-level spells, and tell ancient archmages that "no seriously, this is definitely going to end badly"? Well congratulations, this episode is for you! Today we explore Netheril's majestic flying cities, magical decadence, and the absolute worst urban-planning decision ever: putting time portals in extremely obvious places. Grab your arcan...

Have you ever wondered what would happen if  Baldur's Gate 3 romance options escaped into your tabletop rules? Today, we dive into Astarion's Book of Hungers, where vampires are sexy, feats are thirsty, and WotC's DLC pricing… is definitely giving "gaslight, gatekeep, vampire spawn." The team reviews the digital-only D&D supplement Astarion's Book of Hungers , a Baldur's Gate-themed 32-page add-on...

Picture this: you've just rolled up to the dungeon entrance, everyone looks heroic… and then the rogue vanishes before initiative even begins. Classic. In this remastered RPGBOT.Podcast episode, we get delightfully sneaky about how to build the perfect scoundrel from level 1 through 10 without needing a 20-page backstory explaining why you stole the wizard's lunch (again). Show Notes In this episo...

There's a mystical moment in every adventurer's life when you stare deeply into your character sheet, question every subclass you've ever loved, and think:  "Is this really better… or did they just rename it again?" Welcome to the UA 2025 Subclass Update—where barbarians downgrade, fighters glow-up, monks chug things, and paladins summon skeletons with the enthusiasm of a dad discovering Bluetooth...

Show Notes In this episode of the  RPGBOT.Podcast , the crew dives into  Part 2  of their comprehensive review of  Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn , focusing on the new Background, Feats, and Epic Boons. Join the RPGBOT Patreon If you've been enjoying our deep-dive breakdowns of Heroes of Faerûn , laughing through our subclass hot takes, or nodding solemnly during our very serious sandwich disc...

Have you ever watched your players stare at a clue for 25 minutes, slowly realizing they're not unraveling a mystery, you're watching them  invent a brand-new conspiracy theory? In today's remastered episode, we dive into the magical art of mystery design: how to build suspense, reveal secrets, and gently nudge players away from wildly incorrect guesses like "the butler did it" when you absolutely...

If you've ever wondered what happens when three grown adults argue passionately about grammar, moonbeams, seagulls, and the metaphysics of Strahd's horse, all before actually starting the podcast, this episode is for you. Join us as we journey into  Heroes of Faerûn , where the subclasses are shiny, the Rangers are frosty, and the Fighters are apparently running a full unionized workplace. Grab yo...

What do you get when you mix 40 years of Dungeons & Dragons lore, a 288-page setting book, and three podcasters who can't agree on how to pronounce "Myth Drannor"? Chaos. Pure, lore-filled, map-crossing, Elminster-cheese-eating chaos. In this episode, the RPGBOT crew dives headlong into Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn, a sourcebook that's equal parts nostalgia trip and travel brochure for D...

You ever look at your sword, then at the wizard's spellbook, and think " wait a minute, why does their magic missile hit harder than my greatsword?" Well, friends, today we fix that. We're diving deep into the art of the Fighter: the tank, the tactician, the unsung hero of every adventuring party. Sharpen your blades, tighten your greaves, and prepare to discover why hitting things really, truly ...