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Dekahedron RPG Podcast
Dekahedron RPG Podcast
Author: J.P. Gill
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© J.P. Gill
Description
Dekahedron is a weekly podcast featuring Joe, an old referee discussing tabletop RPGs. Di ve into topics ranging from classic OSR/D&D gameplay to modern systems like FATE.
Join the conversation by
- Email (text or attach an audio file): email feedback@dekahedron.com
- Phone (call or text): 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)
- Web: https://sayhi.chat/dekahedron
Cover art logo by DesignKat.
Join the conversation by
- Email (text or attach an audio file): email feedback@dekahedron.com
- Phone (call or text): 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)
- Web: https://sayhi.chat/dekahedron
Cover art logo by DesignKat.
263 Episodes
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Where do adventurers actually buy gear in a grounded, early‑medieval sandbox? In this episode, Joe tackles Questions 2 and 3 from Jeff Rients’ “20 Quick Questions” and shows how equipment, specialists, and custom items really work in a low‑tech fantasy world.Learn why general stores don’t belong in Dark‑Age settings, how market days shaped real commerce, and how to use demographics to decide which NPCs your town actually has. Joe builds a blacksmith live on air—Aegenwulf—and explains how a gift‑based economy changes player behavior, reputation, and roleplay.If you want your sandbox to feel lived‑in, culturally cohesive, and socially dynamic, this episode gives you the tools.Highlights:Realistic medieval trade & market daysWhy “everything is custom” in low‑tech worldsUsing demographics to populate townsLive NPC creation: Aegenwulf the blacksmithRunning a gift‑economy instead of coin‑for‑goodsPerfect for GMs who want deeper worlds and richer player interactions.Promised Links:The 20 Questions: https://jrients.blogspot.com/2011/04/twenty-quick-questions-for-your.htmlMedieval Demographics Made Easy (S. John Ross): https://gamingballistic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Medieval-Demographics-Made-Easy-1.pdfDekahedron NPC Generator: http:/www.dekahedron.com/NPC/.Fantasy Name Generators: fantasynamegenerators.com....And a 10-Foot Pole (Iron Crown Enterprises): Sadly, I couldn't find it on Drive thru.Basic Fantasy Equipment Emporium: https://www.basicfantasy.org/downloads.html#sn_equipmentemporiumShare your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com0:00 Jingle0:32 Introduction1:17 Question 2: Where do we buy standard equipment?3:15 Historical Market Days3:49 Medieval Demographics Made Easy5:51 Using Fantasy Name Generators for Cultural Cohesion7:29 Meet the Blacksmith: Aegenwulf10:52 The Gift Economy: Price vs. Cost in Elmsfjord12:53 Question 3: "Everything is Custom"14:08 Conclusion and Happy Gaming
How do you create a pantheon for a sandbox campaign? Episode 191 continues my 'How I Create a Sandbox' series. I explore the 20 Questions of world-building, focusing on the cleric’s religion. Learn about building a three-point alignment system, naming deities using Icelandic roots, and creating conflict between the Northern and Southern kingdoms.Promised Links:The 20 Questions: https://jrients.blogspot.com/2011/04/twenty-quick-questions-for-your.htmlShare your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com0:00 Opening Jingle0:30 Intro1:05 The Cleric's Religion1:30 Political Context2:20 Historical Inspiration3:02 Justice & Worldviews4:09 Philosophies on Real-World Religion4:22 Naming the Gods6:22 The Evil Deity: Vondur7:55 Summary & Closing
In the second of a multi-part series, I talk about how I'm stealing from history to make Almsfjord different, and I ask about how I should continue the series.Promised Links:- The Trelleborg ring fort: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking_ring_fortress- The 20 Questions: https://jrients.blogspot.com/2011/04/twenty-quick-questions-for-your.html- Riley's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/diegetic-advancement/id1720667088Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com0:00 Intro: Apologies for the Hiatus0:38 The Resource: Jeff Rients' 20 Questions1:25 Retconning Elmsfjord: From Homesteads to Villages2:00 The Trelleborg: Harald Bluetooth’s Ring Fortresses2:57 Viewer Poll: How Should I Handle the 20 Questions?3:41 The Options: Grouped Questions vs. Daily Shorts4:10 Clarifying the Research: Viking Ring Forts4:40 Teaser: What’s the Deal with the Cleric?
My annual Christmas poem. Merry Christmas, my friends.
I'm joined by Jason of The Nerd's RPG Variety Cast and we talk about 5 classic "Christmas" movies, depending how you want to define that...The movies are:* A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)* It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)* The Bishop's Wife (1947)* Desk Set (1957)* Donovan's Reef (1963)
In the first of a multi-part series, I go through my process for making a sandbox campaign, this one based on longhouses.Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com0:00 Introduction: Starting a Sandbox Campaign Series0:37 What is a Sandbox Campaign? (A Quick Definition)1:10 The First Two Steps: A Hook and An Anchor2:47 Brainstorming the Hook: Inspiration from Iceland and Longhouses3:57 Historical Context: Communal Living and Longhouses5:31 Fantasizing the Longhouse: Clan Structure and Elders7:08 The Village Power Structure: House Elders and the Jarl8:21 Creating Conflict: The Village Between Two Kingdoms9:45 Naming the Anchor Village: Introducing Elmsfjord10:24 Conclusion and Next Steps
@marcusblacknell-andrews1783 asked me "What is Tunnels & Trolls?" Here's my answer! Not to oversell it, but Tunnels & Trolls (T&T) from Flying Buffalo is one of the most important games in history. I'll tell you why it's the reason the entire RPG industry exists today, paving the way for everything after D&D. I'll also break down the rules that make T&T a unique, rules-light favorite!Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com0:00 Intro0:45 The Importance of T&T: Why It Created the Industry6:56 THE RULES BEGIN7:08 Stats12:09 Character Classes17:19 Kindred (Races)17:57 Combat23:03 Magic System25:17 Monsters27:03 Things that D&D Does Better28:17 Where to buy T&T32:17 Solos & Outro
This time I'm answering feedback from Martin from Spotify and BJ, the Arcane Alienist about OSR game system preferences.Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com
Answering feedback from Mirke the Meek, Riley, and "Vid" about OSR game system preferences.Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com
I close out this year's #OSRtober talking about my favorite magic systems.Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com
I realized I forgot to record this topic last week, so Episode #184 is actually next week—oops! Anyway, this week for #OSRtober, I'm talking about Magic Items--specifically Minor Magic Items.Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com
The week's #OSRtober prompt is "Strangest OSR Rule" and I talk about weapon restrictions.Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com
The Dekahedron celebrates it's 3rd birthday by inviting former co-host James on to answer this year's #OSRoctober prompts.Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com
For week 2 of #OSRtober I talk what I believe to be the most overlooked OSR monster, and a couple overlooked settings.Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com
For week 1 of #OSRtober I talk about both My Favorite & My Most Wished for OSR RPG.Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com
Let's talk about Player Umwelt. It;s what I call the idea that the world we live in shapes the way we see everything else—including our games. I'll explain how our own umwelt makes it hard to truly embrace a different reality and how that affects everything from medieval towns to sci-fi space maps. I'll also share a few examples and a final takeaway about managing your campaign's "special effects budget" so that players have fun without being bogged down by a world that's too alien.XKCD Strip: https://xkcd.com/1037/Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com
Let's talk about the "Halted Game Fallacy." The idea is that giving players physical props like letters or notes, along with other player-driven actions like shopping or checking for traps, "halt the game." But I think that's completely backwards. To me, that's not a halt—that's the game running at full speed.Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com
It's time to get ready for OSR October 2025! I propose a prompt system to inspire your OSR content that works for both daily or weekly content.Full details at:https://vagabondgm.blogspot.com/2025/09/osr-october-prompts-for-2025.html#OSROctober2025#OSRtober2025Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com
Day 31 of #RPGaDAY2025 is "Reward"!Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com
Day 30 of #RPGaDAY2025 is "Experience"!Share your thoughts via:🌐 sayhi.chat/dekahedron📧 feedback@dekahedron.com📞📱 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278)More information is at dekahedron.com







