RPGBOT.Podcast

You know that moment when your fighter drops their sword, pulls a crossbow, reloads, drinks a potion, and still has the audacity to say "I attack"? Yeah, this episode's for you. The RPGBOT crew tackles the ancient art of  drawing a weapon,  a rule so universally ignored that half your table just gasped realizing it has rules . Join Tyler, Randall, and Ash as they descend into the action-economy ab...

Somewhere in the galaxy, a radioactive dragon just wants a hug. Unfortunately, it kills everyone it touches. Welcome to Starfinder 2e, where your best friends are undead, your space pirates have tricorn hats, and your digital ghosts won't log off. The RPGBOT crew dives into Paizo's new Alien Core, exploring the weirdest monsters, creepiest factions, and why Paradox 17 knows you're listening right...

Ever chased a glowing orb through three dungeons, only to find out it's just... a really fancy paperweight? Congratulations, you've met a  MacGuffin ! This week, the RPGBOT crew dissects the mysterious art of the object that drives your players forward, whether it's the One Ring, the Orb of Shiny Plot Device, or the legendary Sandwich of Ultimate Power. Grab your notes, your dice, and your vague s...

Ever had a game session so draining that even your dice lose levels? In this episode, the RPGBOT crew resurrects one of D&D's most dreaded mechanics: energy drain, and the undead horrors that made it famous. From the White Box to Pathfinder 2e, Tyler, Randall, and Ash relive decades of pain, permanent debuffs, and emotional damage, all in the name of understanding why we're so glad energy drain is...

Ever accidentally make a deal with the devil in a three-piece suit, get hit in the face with canned soup, and still manage to save an Appalachian town from a coal-eating mountain? The RPGBOT crew did, and somehow, it's not even the weirdest part of their charity stream. Grab your molasses taffy, kiss your dynamite goodbye, and prepare for the most chaotic train robbery–slash–exorcism this side of...

Ever want to turn into a giant octopus just to ruin a pirate's day? Or turn into a squirrel just to steal your party's rations? On this week's RPGBOT.Podcast, we dive into the wild world of Wild Shape, from tactical bear hugs to flying reconnaissance pigeons. Spoilers: size matters, and no, nobody knows how many hit points a badger has without googling it. Old Gods of Appalachia RPG Stream Now on...

Ever looked at a monster stat block and thought, "That's cool… but what if it was full of  wasp parasites , haunted by Victorian metaphors , and could bend reality like a jaded demigod?" Well buckle in, because Keith Ammann—monster maestro and author of Making Enemies —is back to teach us how to create RPG nightmares smarter than your party's wizard, sneakier than a rogue with reliable talent, and...

It's a day of celebration in the RPGBOT multiverse—because Keith Ammann has just released his new book, Making Enemies ! To mark the occasion, we're reopening the vaults and re-releasing one of our all-time favorite episodes: Keith Ammann Strikes Back . Join us as we revisit Keith's tactical genius, his deep-dive into creature combat, and the strategic secrets every GM should have at their fingert...

Ever outrun a demon deer with too many teeth, watched a mine explode for reasons you definitely didn't cause, and then discovered a whistle that works like a horror movie pause button? No? Then you haven't listened to Part 3 of the  Old Gods of Appalachia charity stream, where the RPGBOT crew learns the hard way that in Williams Holler, even the local wildlife deserves a GM intrusion. Support MD A...

Ever had that moment when you realize your party has been talking to the same "new guy" for weeks... but no one can remember his name? Welcome to the world of the False Hydra, the D&D monster that gaslights your characters harder than a reality TV producer. Join the RPGBOT crew as they peel back the layers of this memory-munching menace and ask the big questions: how did we miss this thing, and is...

Ad Free Listening on the RPGBOT Patreon Want more episodes like this, plus early access, live recordings, or ad-free listening? Join our Patreon at  patreon.com/rpgbot and help us keep the mics on (and the ghosts at bay). Every little bit helps us roll with advantage! Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the crew dives deep into Ghosts in tabletop RPGs—both as monsters and as masterfu...

Have you ever gotten up for a full day's work in a haunted coal mine and thought, "Boy, I really hope that bird in a cage doesn't stop singing and doom us all"? No? Then you clearly weren't with the RPGBOT crew in Part 2 of our  Old Gods of Appalachia charity stream—where coal dust has claws, headlamps are your best friend, and it turns out you can get shot-in-the-foot vibes without ever firing a...

Have you ever stared at your D&D character sheet, wondering if you picked the right fighting style, and suddenly felt like someone out there was judging you? That's because they were—and it was your DM, silently counting how many times you  could've picked Defense instead of Dueling. But worry not, because in this episode, we're unlocking your character's true martial potential faster than a fight...

Ever wondered what happens when you cross a high-fantasy campaign setting, a Louisiana bayou, and a magical eel with moonshine for blood? The RPGBOT crew found out the hard way when they sat down with  Drew Foulke , the founder of Norse Foundry and Hexed Publishing , to talk about his new system-agnostic roleplaying world: Titanskeep . It's a world where gods and titans feud like divorced parents...

The RPGBOT crew descends into the haunted hollers of Appalachia, where faith, fire, and coal run deep, and the locals don't much care for outsiders asking questions. Between GM intrusions, cursed deer, and whiskey-soaked theology, our heroes quickly learn that in  Old Gods of Appalachia , salvation's a dangerous business. Welcome to the mines, y'all. Hope you brought your holy water and your lucky...

You know that moment when your players spend ten minutes searching a room, roll a 5, and you sigh before saying, "You find… nothing"? Yeah, we're done with that. In this episode, the RPGBOT crew grabs the Dungeon Master's Guide by the binding and asks the real questions: Why are searches so boring, and why do your players keep looting every chair leg like it's the Ark of the Covenant? It's time to...

Ever had that moment when you realize you've become the "veteran adventurer" in your own party? The RPGBOT crew sure has. In this episode, we channel that energy straight into the Unearthed Arcana Arcane Subclasses , dissecting the Enchanter , Necromancer , and Transmuter Wizards from D&D 2024 . Expect laughter, existential dread, and a healthy dose of spell slot math as we ask the real question: ...

Help Creators Roll a Natural 20 Hey listeners! Before we start slinging arrows and conjuring elementals, remember: your ratings and reviews are the Inspiration  of podcasting. Whether on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, take a moment to rate, review, and share RPGBOT.Podcast. Every five-star review powers our continued quest for knowledge, chaos, and crunchy D&D rules analysis. And...

Show Notes In this episode, the RPGBOT crew explores how to duck and cover in TTRPGS, and how to do it with style. We explore the mechanics of cover, including using your allies as meat shields and ducking behind any convenient bush or bit of rubble that you can. Will it save you from explosions? Probably not. But an AC bonus never hurts. The RPGBOT.net Christmas Gift Recommendations Are Coming! F...

What happens when Dungeons & Dragons decides to give psionics another shot? The RPGBOT.Podcast dives headfirst into the Unearthed Arcana Psion Update: an experiment in psychic power, spell mechanics, and a whole lot of questionable design choices. From the disappointing  Life Inversion Field to the glorious chaos of Psychic Scream , the crew breaks down what works, what doesn't, and what might jus...

When you stare too long into the darkness, sometimes the darkness stares back—and then asks about your dice pool. In this episode, the RPGBOT.Podcast team sits down to answer your burning questions about  Hunter: The Reckoning , exploring the mechanics, the danger system, and how desperation turns ordinary people into extraordinary survivors in the World of Darkness. Listen to More "How to Play" E...

You know that moment when your players say, "We want to be the bad guys"? Yeah, this is the episode where we let them. Pull up your black cloaks, pour a glass of something red (preferably not from the paladin), and join us as we wander into the mists of the  Domains of Dread —where even your dice fear to roll. Spooktober Returns! It's Spooktober on the RPGBOT.Podcast , and the shadows are thick wi...

Somewhere between the high deserts of New Mexico and the psychic wastelands of Unearthed Arcana, the RPGBOT crew discovered two great truths: Albuquerque has better tacos than Los Angeles, and psionics might finally make sense in Dungeons & Dragons. We know some of you thought the Psion episode was lost forever (vanished into the Astral Plane or eaten by a mind flayer), but good news! The missing...

Nothing says "modern monster hunting" like breaking into a corporate lab armed with sarcasm, trauma, and a tranquilizer dart you don't fully understand. In this Actual Play of  Hunter the Reckoning , our would-be heroes confront the horrors of both the supernatural and the bureaucratic. There's teamwork, betrayal, and just enough humor to make you wonder if laughter really is the best armor in a t...

RANDALL : "They say people fear public speaking more than death. Which means that, statistically, most players would rather TPK than deliver an in-character monologue." ASH : "Honestly? Same." TYLER : "So today we're doing the impossible—convincing gamers that pretending to be a half-elf sorcerer in front of their friends doesn't have to be terrifying." Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Pod...