Total Party Thrill: RPG Advice From Our Table to Yours

I-Hsien and Shane accrue Drama in an extra-long cover-to-cover review of Draw Steel, MCDM’s new tabletop RPG system. We walk you through the classes, ancestries, rules, and rewards and let you know if it’s worth adding to your collection. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Critical Lit: I-Hsien's new podcast, which re-examines classic RPG modules. A cross between book review and MST3K. Co-host...

I-Hsien's new podcast is here! Critical Lit is a tongue-in-cheek re-examination of classic RPG modules that answers important questions like What is the nature of a predator? and Is Strahd hot or not? He's joined by Dan Dillon, Amelia Som & Sal Tamarkin. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/critical-lit/id1826377168 In this episode: Ravenloft history, Tracy Hickman's Foreword, Introduction, Chapt...

I-Hsien is joined by Fiona K. T. Howat, host of the What Am I Rolling? Podcast to review the new RPG from Critical Role’s Darrington Press. We’ll check out the system, character creation, combat mechanics, GM guidance, adversaries and campaign frames and let you know if it’s worth bringing to your table. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: What Am I Rolling?: Every month, Fiona takes a brand ne...

With the full set of rulebooks in hand, I-Hsien and Shane drop a final assessment of the newest D&D system—and suggest other options for gaming groups that don’t want to make the switch. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.com/invite/GvFXnSv TPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here!...

I-Hsien and Shane analyze the updated 2025 Monster Manual. This extra-long cover-to-cover review walks you through the changes to monster lore, math and design philosophy. We’ll let you know how it stacks up to previous Monster Manuals and whether it’s worth adding to your collection. Editing: Aram Vartian   Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forg...

I-Hsien is joined by Daniel Kwan, game designer with credits including Candlekeep Mysteries and Pathfinder 2e’s Tian Xia books and host of the Asians Represent! podcast, to talk about the aesthetic and mechanical changes to the monk class and how to portray real-world cultures at the table in authentic and inclusive ways. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Asians Represent!: Check out the ENni...

I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to play grumpy, ornery, recalcitrant characters—without pissing off the rest of the party. With the right approach, everyone gets to enjoy their bad temper. And in the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party scrubs in. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forge: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythri...

I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to run and adjudicate powerful, open-ended magic, artifacts, and technology at your table. Here’s how to handle the new narrative and mechanical options that come with them, combine magical effects, and keep the game moving. And the party reconnects in the Gates of Mourning campaign. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to...

I-Hsien and Shane talk about what makes a robust and fun item crafting system. (Hint: Your game probably doesn’t have one.) But you can port over the best ideas to your campaign. And the party gets grim news in the Gates of Mourning campaign. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forge: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrill T...

I-Hsien and Shane talk about how to create effective table rules to help everyone have more fun—and fix issues with your game system. And the party reunites with their oldest friend in the Gates of Mourning campaign. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forge: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrill Total Party Thrill Discord...

I-Hsien and Shane dig through the updated 2024 DMG. This extra-long cover-to-cover review walks you through the new rules for running adventures and campaigns, DM tools, magic items, and bastions. We’ll let you know how it stacks up to previous DMGs and whether it’s worth adding to your collection. Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forge: https:/...

I-Hsien is joined by Imogen Gingell, a plasma physicist and game designer, adamantine bestseller on the DMs Guild, and co-author of Frontiers of Eberron with Keith Baker, to talk about how game design best practices have changed with the D&D 2024 rules update. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forge: https://www.patreon.com/...

I-Hsien and Shane talk about how to improve your roleplay by optimizing the mechanics of your character—even if you think that sounds totally boring. And the party grabs a shovel in the Gates of Mourning campaign. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forge: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrill Total Party Thrill Discord ser...

I-Hsien and Shane talk about how to make looming disaster feel real in your game. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party takes control, and the Rouge is like the Rogue, but better, in the Character Creation Forge. (76m) Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.com/invite/GvFXnSv TPT Character C...

I-Hsien and Shane spill more than secrets as they discuss incorporating rituals of sacrifice and horror in your game. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party gets eaten, and Blood for the Blood God pours it on in the Character Creation Forge. (63m) Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.com/in...

Hosts I-Hsien and Shane trek into the borderlands in this cover-to-cover review of the latest (and last?) Eberron book from creator Keith Baker. We walk you through the lore and character options and let you know if it’s worth adding to your collection. (80m) Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Frontiers of Eberron: Quickstone: Buy the book on the DMs Guild. Total Party Thrill Discord server: C...

I-Hsien is joined by James Introcaso, lead designer at MCDM, to talk about getting paid to write games. We discuss full-time and freelance work, pay rates, networking, burnout, and more. And in the first-ever guest build, the Itsy Bitsy Smiter brings down the pain in the Character Creation Forge. (97m) Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us...

I-Hsien is joined by medievalist and game developer Zoe Franznick of The Maniculum Podcast to talk about the inherent magic of food, herbs, recipes, and potions. They discuss how to make your characters’ palates matter in your game and explore ways that historical attitudes and approaches to cuisine and cooking can enhance your worldbuilding. (91m) Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: The Manicu...

Hosts I-Hsien and Shane finish their extra-long cover-to-cover review of the updated 2024 PHB. This episode includes the rest of the classes, backgrounds, species, feats, spells and final verdict. (162m) Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.gg/GvFXnSv TPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's fina...

Hosts I-Hsien and Shane dive headlong into the updated 2024 PHB. This extra-long cover-to-cover review walks you through the new and updated classes, subclasses, species, origins, feats, and spells. This episode includes the Barbarian, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, and Monk. (112m) Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the...

Eberron creator Keith Baker joins hosts I-Hsien and Shane to talk about what’s next after 20 years of pulp noir. They discuss how to use Eberron characters, lore, and mechanics in other RPG systems, campaign settings and even entirely different games. (87m) Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Legacy of Worlds: Six Sides of Gaming's actual play featuring Keith Baker, Ed Greenwood, Luke Gygax, an...

Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to make and use names and truenames. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party cuts the lines, and the Synonym reiterates in the Character Creation Forge. (63m) Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.gg/GvFXnSv TPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally...

I-Hsien is joined by teacher and game designer Rich Howard to talk about running games for kids. They discuss how to play RPGs with kids, building math skills with dice, stealth learning, and educational tabletop and board games. (77m) Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: ENnie Awards voting form: Vote for I-Hsien's creature Yku in the Monster category. Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come ha...

I-Hsien is joined by fellow ENnies nominee Sally Tamarkin for a conversation about creating DIY adversaries for your game and situating monsters in the story. They use the templates from the book Monstrous and create an underwater space gorilla for 5e DnD. Vote at ennie-awards.com. (97m) Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Free and confidential support for people...

Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to force an outcome—but only when necessary. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party boards, and Schrödinger’s Ogre chooses for you in the Character Creation Forge. (69m) Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.gg/GvFXnSv TPT Character Creation Forge Codex: I...