Happy Jacks RPG Podcast: GM & Player Tabletop RPG Advice

◇ Thomas from Denmark asks where GMs should roll their dice, Wes in Indianapolis has some tips for finding a gaming group, & From the Archive 2019: Andreas from Sweden asks about how to make combats interesting | Hosts: Kimi & Jay ◇ 00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary 01:41◇ Announcements 2:30◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Kodi Gonzaga https://jaztice.itch.io/ 3:34◇ Mailbag 1 23:29◇ Mailbag 2 36:05◇ Mailbag 3 - From the Archive 51:03◇ Episode Closing 54:14◇ Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ We are joined by Ross Payton of Role Playing Public Radio, BeardHare on the Discord asks for system recommendations, & from the Archive 2019: Ben from Texas asks about player agency and rolls | Hosts: Kimi, Adam & Ross Payton from RPPR ◇ 00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary 02:24◇ Announcements 03:36◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Kodi Gonzaga https://jaztice.itch.io/ 05:26◇ Talking to Ross Payton of Role Playing Public Radio 41:49◇ Mailbag 1 50:44◇ Mailbag 2 - From the Archive 76:16◇ Episode Closing 108:49◇ Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ NOTE: This podcast is intended for adults and includes conversations about sensitive topics. Please listen with care. ◇ Steve in SoCal asks about reassessing safety tools mid campaign, Gregory from Wisconsin asks about non-AI resources for GMs, & from the Archive 2020 Ben from Texas talks about GMs playing gods | Hosts: Kimi, Pooja & Rose ◇ 00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary 02:01◇ Announcements 04:04◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Kodi Gonzaga https://jaztice.itch.io/ 06:00◇ Mailbag 1 38:04◇ Mailbag 2 57:06◇ Mailbag 3 - From the Archive 76:08◇ Episode Closing 80:36◇ Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Curt from Alaska asks how to create a sense of importance with low-level PCs, Mike from New York State asks about playing in Actual Plays vs. Home games, & from the Archive 2019: uncommonman from Sweden asks about Play by post games | Hosts: Kimi, Dave, Vixie & Joey ◇ 00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary 02:46◇ Announcements 03:57◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Kodi Gonzaga https://jaztice.itch.io/ 07:04◇ Mailbag 1 27:26◇ Mailbag 2 62:47◇ Mailbag 3 - From the Archive 80:10◇ Episode Closing 86:44◇ Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Thomas from Denmark asks about being inclusive for weird problems that really try a group’s patience, Charger 347 shares some cool games ideas, From the Archive 2019: Steffi from Scotland wants advice on NPC crowd control | Hosts: Kimi & Jason ◇ 00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary 01:59◇ Announcements 4:22◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Black Armada Games https://blackarmada.com/ 6:24◇ Mailbag 1 34:40◇ Mailbag 2 43:01◇ Mailbag 3 - From the Archive 59:06◇ Episode Closing 62:03◇ Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Robin asks how to get the most out of a PBTA game, Kurt wants to know about our favorite NPCs, From the Archive 2021: Leatherneck shares some fun kid stories | Hosts: Kimi, Adam & Pooja ◇ 00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary 01:56◇ Announcements 2:56◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Black Armada Games https://blackarmada.com/ 4:12◇ Mailbag 1 43:37◇ Mailbag 2 64:33◇ Mailbag 3 - From the Archive 76:20◇ Episode Closing 80:01◇ Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Thomas in Denmark asks about ethically using AI as a GM, Eric from New Jersey asks for advice on how to tell appropriation from appreciation at the RPG table, From the Archive 2018: Terry in Idaho talks about his dream campaign idea | Hosts: Kimi & Pooja ◇ 00:33◇ Welcome, Episode Summary & Announcements 2:07◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Black Armada Games https://blackarmada.com/ 10:01◇ Mailbag 1 36:08◇ Mailbag 2 63:25◇ Mailbag 3 - From the Archive 84:26◇ Episode Closing 87:19◇ Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Eric from New Jersey wants a word with Jason, Steve in SoCal asks about weaker heroes being the best, From the Archive 2018: Jen from Atlanta shares her Shadow Run success story | Hosts: Jason, Adam, & Riley ◇ 00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary 2:07◇ Announcements 2:09◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Black Armada Games https://blackarmada.com/ 26:38◇ Mailbag 1 40:43◇ Mailbag 2 75:23◇ Mailbag 3 - From the Archive 95:36◇ Episode Closing 96:18◇ Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Live from Gateway 2025 at the Hilton LAX in Los Angeles! A great panel show with members of our audience and stories from lots of different con games. Since it is a live event, the audio quality is not the same as our normal episodes recorded in our studio. ◇ ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2023 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Julien, Horizons Fellowship, Toby from the Discord asks for ideas of a fantasy world centered around dinosaurs, & From the Archive 2019: Mogens in Denmark asks about player agency with stat arrays | Hosts: Kimi, with guests Joshua Fox and Becky Annison ◇ 00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary 01:24◇ Announcements 02:42◇ Julien & the GAMA Horizons Fellowship 38:24◇ Mailbag 1 54:19◇ Mailbag 2 - From the Archive 76:19◇ Episode Closing 78:12◇ Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Black Armada Games and their design work, Paul asks about solo games, From the Archive 2018: Scott asks how to make 7th Sea fun for his stepdaughter | Hosts: Kimi, with guests Joshua Fox and Becky Annison ◇ 00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary 01:18◇ Announcements 02:48◇ Black Armada Games 56:28◇ Mailbag 1 76:07◇ Mailbag 2 - From the Archive 101:50◇ Episode Closing 104:22◇ Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ M asks what to do with a large group of gamers, Steve in SoCal is worried about mechanics getting in the way of fun, From the Archive 2021: Adam from Utah is struggling with Wishes | Hosts: Kimi, Jason, & Vixie ◇ 00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary 01:24◇ Announcements 04:56◇ Indie Designer of the Month - Next designer is in September! 06:03◇ Mailbag 1 27:45◇ Mailbag 2 57:09◇ Mailbag 3 - From the Archive 93:21◇ Episode Closing 97:24◇ Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Ed from FL asks if we pick a system or story first, Eric from New Jersey shares an origin story, From the Archive 2019: zombieHeart wants to know how to keep players engaged in combat | Hosts: Kimi, Chris & Pooja ◇ 00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary 01:30◇ Announcements 03:50◇ Indie Designer of the Month - Jay Dragon (she/none) from Possum Creek Games - http://possumcreekgames.itch.io 05:30◇ Mailbag 1 35:17◇ Mailbag 2 51:02◇ Mailbag 3 - From the Archive 65:59◇ Episode Closing 68:02◇ Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Steven from Serbia asks advice for setting up a Big Bad, Davi shares thoughts on safety tools, From the Archive 2018: GaztheDm from  the Netherlands is looking for plot hooks | Hosts: Kimi, Adam, & Vixie ◇ 00:33Welcome & Episode Summary 01:14Announcements 04:35Indie Designer of the Month - Jay Dragon (she/none) from Possum Creek Games - http://possumcreekgames.itch.io 07:24Mailbag 1 38:01Mailbag 2 66:12Mailbag 3 - From the Archive 90:47Episode Closing 96:11Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Sean from NJ asks how to GM a game for adult jocks who haven’t played TTRPGS before, Jeff in Tennessee shares how he kept the GMing “spark”, From the Archive 2021: Gurg Murg talks GURPS and asks what we like in a magic system | Hosts: Kimi, Adam, & Vixie ◇ 00:33Welcome & Episode Summary 01:34Announcements 04:32Indie Designer of the Month - Jay Dragon (she/none) from Possum Creek Games - http://possumcreekgames.itch.io 08:31Mailbag 1 26:44Mailbag 2 50:12Mailbag 3 - From the Archive 80:44Episode Closing 85:53Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Gurg Murg asks how to resurrect old campaigns, Spattz asks for recommendations for an open table style game, From the Archive 2018: Harold from St. Louis has a D&D question | Hosts: Kimi, Pooja, & Jay ◇ 00:33Welcome & Episode Summary 01:13Announcements 02:05Indie Designer of the Month 02:21Mailbag 1 20:16Mailbag 2 45:56Mailbag 3 - From the Archive 57:46Episode Closing 61:33Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Ed from FL asks what is the point of playing ttrpgs?, Robin (from the UK) asks about pacing games, From the Archive 2021: Shawn from just outside Washington, DC asks about unanticipated PVP in their game | Hosts: Kimi & Riley ◇ 00:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:55 - Announcements: Game Daze went great! Keep an eye out for info on JACKERCON, our weekend-long online gaming event this summer! | Patreon is changing the way their RSS feed works, so I’ll be going through and updating the access to the backlog in about two weeks (when school is out) 02:36 - Indie Designer of the Month: JMatthew Orr, Creative Director at Wet Ink Games. You can find his work on wetinkgames.com or DriveThruRPG | 04:05 - Ed from FL asks what is the point of playing ttrpgs? | 23:41 - Robin (from the UK) asks about pacing games | 47:15 - From the Archive 2021: Shawn from just outside Washington, DC asks about unanticipated PVP in their game | 01:10:27 - Episode Closing | 01:13:56 - Music | ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Gurg Murg needs Belonging Outside Belonging advice, Wes from Indianapolis shares his origin story, From the Archive 2021: Alverant asks how to run a modern game that isn’t too triggering | Hosts: Kimi, Artem, Adam, Sam ◇ 00:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:26 - Announcements: Game Daze is going to be May 24th! It’s fun, safe and free! The last one had 9 different games in one day! Sign up to run or play at happyjacks.org/discord | GamEx is coming up memorial day weekend (May 23-26) at the LAX Hilton. We will be doing our live show from there Saturday night! | 02:26 - Indie Designer of the Month: JMatthew Orr, Creative Director at Wet Ink Games. You can find his work on wetinkgames.com or DriveThruRPG | 05:42 - Gurg Murg needs Belonging Outside Belonging advice | 33:13 - Wes from Indianapolis shares his origin story | 48:04 - From the Archive 2021: Alverant asks how to run a modern game that isn’t too triggering 01:23:39 - Episode Closing | 01:27:57 - Music | ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Robin from the UK shares their Game Daze experience, Carlos from Detroit asks what systems need an upgrade, From the Archive 2019: Mcwyrm asks for help with a 10yo murder hobo | Hosts: Kimi & Vyrrk ◇ 00:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:55 - Announcements: Game Daze is going to be May 24th! It’s fun, safe and free! The last one had 9 different games in one day! Sign up to run or play at happyjacks.org/discord | GamEx is coming up memorial day weekend (May 23-26) at the LAX Hilton. We will be doing our live show from there Saturday night! | 02:49 - Indie Designer of the Month: JMatthew Orr, Creative Director at Wet Ink Games. You can find his work on wetinkgames.com or DriveThruRPG | 04:49 - Robin from the UK shares their Game Daze experience | 38:47 - Carlos from Detroit asks what systems need an upgrade | 01:29:52 - From the Archive 2019: Mcwyrm asks for help with a 10yo murder hobo | 59:45 - Episode Closing | 01:32:44 - Music | ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ BGE & the Retailer perspective, Mike from New York shares his origin story, From the Archive 2019: Wil from Wisconsin tells the tale of a PC who was too good for their game | Hosts: Kimi, Vixie, & Dustin◇ 00:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 2:06 - Announcements: Game Daze is going to be May 24th! Sign up to run or play at happyjacks.org/discord | GamEx is coming up memorial day weekend (May 23-26) at the LAX Hilton. We will be doing our live show from there Saturday night | 03:04 - Indie Designer of the Month: Matthew Orr, Creative Director at Wet Ink Games. You can find his work on wetinkgames.com or DriveThruRPG | 06:10 - BGE & the Retailer perspective | 34:05 - Mike from New York shares his origin story | 45:57 - From the Archive 2019: Wil from Wisconsin tells the tale of a PC who was too good for their game | 59:45 - Episode Closing | 01:02:35 - Music | ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org