Episodes

July 8, 2022

What's In Jason's Backpack?

[#65] In this discussion episode, Jim and Josey ooh and ahh as Jason shows off his next-level gaming backpack setup. Greg is off this week. The backpack itself is available here . He also totes a small Bluetooth speaker for …

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June 29, 2022

RPG Classic Story: The Ballad Of Edgardo

[#64] This week, Jason shres one of his favorite RPG Recap stories an epic tale of forum RG madness and triumph. You can find the original Ballad of Edgardo here. This was the kind of thing that could only happen …

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June 25, 2022

RPG Horror Story: Players Don't Understand 'Serious Campaign'

[#63] In this horror story, Greg shares the story of a serious campaign that provied to be anything but. Jim is off this week at Origins. You can read the original post and comments here . The crew discussed non-traditional …

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June 24, 2022

RPG Horror Story: Paladin Doesn't Care

[#62] Today, Josey tells us a story: Check out the original post and comments . Seven years is a long time to hold someone's interest . You probably shouldn't play an Oath of Devotion Paladin if you enjoy being an …

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June 22, 2022

50 Tips For Dungeons Masters [Part 4: 31-40]

[#61] We continue our delve into the Top 50 Tips for DMs. This week, it's #31-40. Our Top 50 Tips list come courtesy of MT Black Games . You always round down for damage . Josey explained why the barkeep …

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June 1, 2022

Enough Taverns! Other Places To Start Your Campaign

[#60] "Um, OK, so the camera opens on a boisterous tavern in the middle of town, what are each of your characters doing there?" is a perfectly OK way to start a D&D campaign, but there's a host of other …

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May 27, 2022

RPG Horror Story: Level 20 Party Loses To A Troll

[#59] In this short but sweet horror story, Jason brings a horror story about a Vecna-inspired practical joke . Jason mentioned a Practical Guide to Wishes . The 5e rules are actually pretty specific about what a Wish can do …

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May 25, 2022

r/DMAcademy Advice IV: Self-Spoiling, 'Useless' Items, Big Good Nice …

[#58] This week, Josey, Jim, Jason, and Greg have a six-pack of DM queries to consider: Should you spoil a campaign that died ? What do you do about that stupid magic item you made up ? How do you …

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May 20, 2022

RPG Horror Story: 'Fearless' Adventurers Defy the DM

[#57] In this horror story, Greg tells us about a struggle of wills between a DM and their badass PCs. This story comes to us from Reddit user u/Available_Regre t Sandstorms are legitimately terrifying . Superman is not the o...

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May 18, 2022

50 Tips For Dungeons Masters [Part 3: 21-30]

[#56] We continue our delve into the Top 50 Tips for DMs. This week, it's #21-30, and we're getting a little more into YMMV territory. Our Top 50 Tips list come courtesy of MT Black Games . Josey mentioned bespoke …

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May 13, 2022

RPG Horror Story: DM Out-Metagames The Metagamer

[#55] In this horror story, Josey brings us a story of metagaming one-upsmanship. There is some disagreement about what exactly constitutes metagaming . Sorry, but Psychic Scream is just messed up . We discussed what happens ...

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May 11, 2022

Let's Build A Character: Bob Belcher

[#54] Jim and Greg are off this week, so Josey and Jason take the opportunity to stat up their favorite burger-flipping patriarch. Jason was inspired by the fact that there's a Bob's Burger movie out soon. Once you know where...

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May 6, 2022

RPG Horror Story: Hazing The New Guy

[#53] Jim brings us a tale of outrageous hazing that ultimately backfires. Jason mentioned places to put bad dice . While this did not technically fall afoul of any current hazing laws , it should have. For more stories of …

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May 4, 2022

Backstories: From Concept to Character

[#52] In this discussion episode, we talk tips and tricks for biulding compelling PC backgrounds, as a player and DM. Jason is a fan of The Ultimate RPG Backstory Guide . Jim is partial to Backstory Cards . Jim talked …

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April 27, 2022

r/DMAcademy Advice III: Petty Rich Guys, *OUR* Backstory, and a sad s…

[#50] In our Golden Anniversary Episode, we out n our Sage hats to offer advice to aspiring DMs, including what to do about vindictive oligarchs , how much backstory is the right amount , and how to go on when …

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April 24, 2022

RPG Horror Story: The Worst History Check in History

[#49] In this horror story, Jim brings us a tale of a DM who isn't clear on how the History skill actually works. This story comes to us via Redditor u/Kursed_Valeth . CBR has good tips for interesting ways you …

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April 20, 2022

50 Tips for Dungeon Masters [Part 2: 11-20]

[#48] In an extension of our regular DM Advice episodes, we conitnue our look at a list of 50 DM tips and discuss which oesn make our personal cut, how we'd revise them, and why Jason still hates shopping. Our …

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April 15, 2022

RPG Horror Story: DM Doesn't Give Wizard New Spells

[#47] In this horror story, Jason shares an infuriating tale of a wizard-hating DM. If you want your own custom spell book , etsy has options. That's not how Contingency works. Even if it was, Disintegrate is a 6th level …

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April 13, 2022

RPG Wholesome Stories IV: Home Base, Drinking For Fun, and Why Childr…

[#46] In these wholesome stories of RPGs done right, Greg tells us about a place where evryone knows your PC's name, Jason tell us about tying one on in the best way, and Josey and Jim both marvel at the …

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April 12, 2022

Just Played: El Paso

[#45] Jim just played El Paso ! El Paso is a WIP hack of The Between RPG. It's a 'Weird Western' focusing on ghosts, liminal spaces, and the costs and impacts of violence. The Between by Jason Cordova is available …

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April 8, 2022

RPG Horror Story: The Well-Earned Slap

[#44] In this horror story, Josey relates a sordid tale of a frat bully at the table. TW: Sexual harassment in and out of character, physical violence at the table. They were playing Waterdeep: Dragon Heist , an official WotC...

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April 6, 2022

50 Tips for Dungeon Masters (Part 1: 1-10)

[#43] In an extension of our regular DM Advice episodes, we take a look at a list of 50 DM tips and discuss which ones make our personal cut, how we'd revise them, and why Jason hates shopping. Our list …

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April 4, 2022

Just Played: Under Hollow Hills

[#42] Jim just played Under Hollow Hills ! Under Hollow Hills is a pbta game where you portray performers in a traveling circus made of fae and mortal beings. It’s by Vincent and Meguay Baker, the designers of the pbta …

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