RPGBOT.Podcast

Welcome to the RPGBOT.Podcast—where Unearthed Arcana comes to be lovingly examined, gently mocked, and occasionally asked, "Buddy… are you okay?" Today we're cracking open the latest UA drop from Wizards of the Coast, featuring a Monk who does mystic stuff (but don't ask him what kind), a Paladin who took an oath against spellcasters yet somehow became their HR department, a Rogue whose entire job is "stand near a wizard and vibe," and a Warlock who finally said, "What if I just took the cCeric's homework?" We've got scotch-fueled optimism, holiday fatigue, subclass features that boldly ask for coordination without offering agency, and at least one moment where we all realize: congratulations, you don't have a feature—you have responsibilities. Strap in, casters, because someone's about to give you a massage and call it game design. Show Notes In this episode, Randall James, Tyler Kamstra, and Ash Ely engage in a lively discussion about the latest Unearthed Arcana release, focusing on four new subclasses for Dungeons & Dragons. The conversation kicks off with light banter about personal experiences and preferences, particularly around scotch and the recent holidays. As they delve into the new subclasses, they express mixed feelings about the design choices, particularly criticizing the lack of creativity in naming and mechanics. The hosts explore the intricacies of the Mystic Arts Monk, Oath of the Spellguard Paladin, and the Magic Stealer Rogue, highlighting both the potential and shortcomings of each subclass. They emphasize the need for more engaging features and express disappointment over the reliance on existing mechanics without innovative twists. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati  

At level 11, the Cleric stops being "the healer" and starts being "the department of cosmic corrections." Need a miracle? You've got it. Need a battlefield reorganized? Also you. Need the DM to quietly reconsider every encounter they prepped? Congratulations: you just prepared Heroes' Feast and learned that your god's job description includes "professional problem solver, part-time artillery, full-time vibe check." Welcome to Cleric 11–20, where your faith is strong, your spell list is irresponsible, and your party suddenly thinks every plan can be solved by "ask the Cleric." Show Notes Episode Overview In this episode of RPGBOT.Podcast, we break down how to build and play a D&D 5e Cleric from levels 11–20, where your character graduates from "durable support" to "divine Swiss Army catastrophe." We cover late-tier class features, high-level spell priorities, feat and gear considerations, and how to stay impactful when the game gets weird (and the monsters start having resumes). What Changes at Levels 11–20 Your spell slots get absurd: 6th–9th level spells aren't just stronger—they change what "a problem" even means. Channel Divinity becomes a resource-management minigame: It's no longer "use it when you remember." It's "use it to control the pace of encounters." Your role expands: You're still support… but also control, emergency reset button, and occasionally the party's primary win condition. Late-Tier Cleric Priorities (The "Don't Waste Your Turn" Checklist) Action economy matters more than ever: high-level combats punish "I guess I cast Cure Wounds." Concentration discipline: pick the concentration spell that wins the fight, then protect it like it owes you money. Defenses scale or you get deleted: AC, saves, and positioning keep your miracles online. High-Level Spell Picks That Define Your Cleric Rather than listing everything, we focus on categories of "spells that win sessions," and how to choose within them: Battlefield control & tempo (deny actions, reshape positioning, force bad choices) Pre-fight power (buffs that make the party feel like they're cheating) Hard counters & problem solvers (condition removal, anti-magic, planar nonsense) Clutch buttons (resets, revives, "nope" spells for when the DM smiles too confidently) Feats, Ability Scores, and "High-Level Practicality" When to cap Wisdom, when to take resilience/defensive feats, and when a utility feat is secretly the MVP. War Caster vs. Resilient (Con) (and why your table's encounter style decides this). The "I'm level 15 and still miss" problem: improving reliability via positioning, spell choice, and save targeting. Gear and Magic Items (What You Want and Why) We talk about item functions instead of shopping lists: Concentration protection Mobility and positioning Defensive layers (AC, saves, resistances) Spellcasting flexibility (extra casts, broadened options, panic buttons) Playing Cleric at Tier 4 Without Becoming a Solo Game High-level Clerics can accidentally steal the spotlight. We discuss: How to enable party hero moments while still being decisive When to solve the plot and when to support the plot How to coordinate with the DM so divine power feels epic, not adversarial Key Takeaways Tier 4 Clerics are not "healers," they're strategists. Healing keeps the party alive; control and prevention win fights. Your best turns usually aren't reactive. Preempt threats with positioning, concentration, and proactive tempo spells. Protect concentration like it's your hit points. You can lose the fight without losing HP if you drop the spell that mattered. Pick one job per encounter and do it violently well. Control, buff, counter, rescue—trying to do all of it in one round leads to "meh" turns. Your spell list is a toolbox—prep is gameplay. The difference between "good Cleric" and "legendary Cleric" is often made at dawn. Don't build only for peak moments. Tier 4 is swingy; build for reliability so you're useful even when the boss is immune to your favorite trick. You can be the party's win condition without being the party's main character. Enable your allies' big turns, then drop the miracle when it counts.  

Welcome to the RPGBOT.Podcast, where today's lesson is simple: cosmic horror, but with punchable Nazis. If classic Call of Cthulhu is about fragile academics discovering forbidden truths and immediately dying, Pulp Cthulhu is about kicking down the door, firing a shotgun at an elder god, and saying, "That all you got?" This episode is about concepts, themes, and vibes—the part of the game where sanity is optional, luck is currency, and surviving certain death might involve parachuting into a hot-air balloon you didn't know was there. Grab your fedora. We're going full pulp. Show Notes What Is Pulp Cthulhu? Pulp Cthulhu is a fully compatible variant of Call of Cthulhu that dials the game from existential despair to high-octane pulp adventure. Characters are tougher, more competent, and far more likely to survive long enough to matter. If Call of Cthulhu is The Thing or Evil Dead, Pulp Cthulhu is The Mummy, Army of Darkness, or Indiana Jones with eldritch nightmares.  Core Themes & Tone Heroic pulp action instead of grim cosmic inevitability Investigators who can take multiple hits and keep fighting A lighter, often comedic tone without abandoning horror Quips, gadgets, globe-trotting, and cinematic set pieces This makes Pulp Cthulhu an excellent transition for players coming from Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, or other heroic tabletop RPGs. Setting & Genre Shift Time period: 1930s, just before World War II Scope: Global adventures—London, Cairo, jungles, ruins, secret bases Enemies: Cultists, mythos horrors… and a suspicious number of Nazis The game leans hard into classic pulp tropes: secret societies, forbidden relics, occult conspiracies, and globe-spanning races against evil. Core Mechanics D100 roll-under system with degrees of success Regular, Hard, and Extreme successes replace DCs Fumbles and pushed rolls create escalating consequences Skills improve when you fail them during advancement These mechanics reward specialization while keeping tension high, even for highly skilled characters. What Makes Pulp Cthulhu Different? Archetypes Two-Fisted Hero, Hard-Boiled Detective, Mystic, Mad Scientist, Femme Fatale, and more Each archetype boosts a core characteristic and grants bonus skills Talents Passive and active abilities that enhance combat, investigation, or survivability Categories include Physical, Mental, Combat, and Weird Science Hit Points Roughly double standard Call of Cthulhu HP Still deadly—just less instantly fatal Luck as a Meta-Currency Spend luck to: Cancel fumbles Reduce damage Stay conscious Cheat death entirely (with a suitably ridiculous explanation) Luck regenerates every session, encouraging aggressive use Insanity, Magic, and Weird Science Insane Talents can grant powerful abilities with narrative drawbacks Magic is faster to learn but still dangerous and unpredictable Psychic powers like telekinesis and clairvoyance are viable builds Weird Science introduces death rays, jetpacks, ghost detectors, and other Flash-Gordon-adjacent nonsense Yes, you can build a psychic mind-wizard or a mad scientist with a death ray. The game actively wants you to try. The Pulp Meter The game supports multiple pulp levels: Low Pulp: Almost classic Call of Cthulhu Mid Pulp: Standard Pulp Cthulhu rules High Pulp: Extra talents, cinematic survivability, full nonsense This episode sets the stage for going high pulp in future sessions Key Takeaways Pulp Cthulhu trades hopeless cosmic horror for heroic pulp survival Characters are tougher, more competent, and more fun to invest in Luck is a central mechanic that fuels cinematic storytelling The 1930s setting enables globe-trotting, occult conspiracies, and pulp villains Perfect for groups who want action, investigation, and horror without constant character death If you've ever wanted to punch Cthulhu—or at least shoot near him—this is your game Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati  

Welcome back to the RPGBOT.Podcast, where today we're talking about Plane of Elysium—the one afterlife that sounds so good the Dungeon Master has to invent mechanics to stop you from moving there permanently. It's paradise. Your needs are met. You're at peace. You're happy. Too happy. In fact, if you stay too long, you might fail a Wisdom save and decide adventuring, heroism, and saving the multiverse are overrated compared to eternal riverfront property and a Mai Tai. And if that sounds suspiciously like quitting D&D to live in a gated community called "Ecstasy," don't worry—we'll explain why enforced happiness, dragon shift-work, and a giant bone spine gate mean Elysium is still absolutely unhinged. Show Notes What Is Elysium? Elysium is the Neutral Good Outer Plane, positioned between the Beastlands and Arborea. It represents true contentment, rest, and fulfillment, rather than law, chaos, or moral absolutism. Souls here aren't punished, tested, or judged—they're finally allowed to relax. The Core Vibe No labor, no scarcity, no stress. Everything you need is provided. Happiness is genuine—unless you're in the gate town, where it absolutely is not. The Four Layers of Elysium Amoria Gentle meadows, forests, and idyllic towns along the River Oceanus. Every settlement somehow has riverfront property. Biomes get weirder the farther you travel from the river (plains, badlands, deserts… for reasons). Eronia Craggy mountains, harsh winters, rugged terrain. Heaven for dwarves, mountain folk, and anyone who thinks Colorado weather is "nice actually." Belierin (Bellerin) The prison layer of heaven, which is a sentence that should worry you. Holds legendary threats that couldn't be killed: hydras, ancient evils, fallen dukes of Hell. Access is restricted—mostly via the River Oceanus. Perfect setup for a level 20 "heaven jailbreak" campaign. Thalassia Endless ocean dotted with heroic islands. Where the best souls go—or where deities personally abduct you before you die because you're just that good. Eternal tropical vacation, sailing, fishing, and zero capitalism. The River Oceanus A holy river that flows through Elysium and beyond. Functions as a major planar highway connecting multiple Upper Planes. Also conveniently Hydra-proof. Who Lives Here? Guardinals (celestial animal-folk with extreme "Narnia energy") Moon Dogs (the best boys; CR 12; hunt evil; deserve all the treats) Phoenixes, because nobody here is trying to harvest them for profit Numerous deities, including Pelor, Lathander, and Shantaea Pathfinder vs. D&D Pathfinder does have an Elysium—but it's functionally closer to D&D's Arborea. Same name, wildly different vibes. The Gate Town: Ecstasy Located in the Outlands, connected to Elysium. Appears joyful, welcoming, and celebratory… because happiness is magically enforced. Suppressed emotions inevitably explode into violence. Ruled by twin dragons: The Lightcaller (gold dragon, daytime ruler) The Night Whisperer (silver dragon, nighttime ruler) Never seen together. Definitely suspicious. Key Locations in Ecstasy Philosopher's Court – a "safe" place to vent grievances that now regularly turns into Fight Club. Revelhome Inn – run by a Lawful Neutral medusa who turns problem guests into garden statues. The Bone Plinth – a giant spine you climb to reach the gate to Elysium, because nothing says "upper plane" like skeletal horror décor. Planar Mechanics Overwhelming Joy (Optional Rule): Fail repeated Wisdom saves and you refuse to leave Elysium. If forcibly removed, you'll do everything possible to return. Fear effects are weakened. Violence is rare—unless you're in Ecstasy, where it's scheduled. Key Takeaways Elysium is D&D's most tempting afterlife—and the one most likely to derail your campaign. It offers true happiness, not moral judgment or endless labor. The layered structure lets every character imagine their perfect heaven. Belierin quietly turns heaven into an endgame boss rush. Ecstasy proves that enforced happiness is way scarier than honest suffering. Overwhelming Joy is a brilliant narrative mechanic for testing player priorities. If your party reaches Elysium and leaves voluntarily, they are either heroes… or liars. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Somewhere in the multiverse, a cleric just whispered "I prepared Bless," and three dice immediately rolled higher out of pure fear. Because clerics aren't "the healbot," they're the divine Swiss Army knife: buffer, debuffer, front-liner, artillery, investigator, walking lie detector, and occasionally the person who politely asks a demon to leave and the demon actually does. Today we're building clerics from levels 1–10: how to pick your domain, what to prepare, how to stop wasting actions, and how to make your table say, "Wait… clerics can do that?" Show notes Cleric identity at levels 1–10: You're a full caster with armor, a strong action economy toolkit, and some of the best "party-wide value per spell slot" in the game. Choosing a Domain (Subclass) with intent What each domain wants to do in combat (frontline, blaster, controller, support, utility). How domain spells shape your "default prep list." The hidden question: "Do I want to solve problems with my action, my bonus action, or my reaction?" Ability scores and build priorities Wisdom as your engine (save DCs, prepared spells, key features). Constitution for concentration survivability. Strength vs Dexterity depending on armor and weapon plans. Armor, weapons, and "being accidentally hard to kill" Light/medium/heavy armor considerations. Shield math and when it's worth it. Weapon use: when it's a trap, when it's correct, and how cantrips change the calculus. Cantrips that actually matter Core combat cantrips (and why "I guess I'll swing my mace" is usually a cry for help). Utility cantrips that quietly win sessions. Spell preparation that doesn't make you cry Your "always-good" staples (buffs, heals, control, utility). How to prep for unknown adventuring days without over-prepping niche tools. Concentration discipline: the real cleric skill. Channel Divinity: use it early, use it often Turning Undead and its situational dominance. Domain Channel Divinity options as mid-tier power spikes. How Channel Divinity changes your "resource rhythm" between short rests. Level-by-level power spikes (1–10) L1: Domain + armor + Bless = "party performance enhancement plan" L2: Channel Divinity arrives (and suddenly your subclass has teeth) L3: 2nd-level spells broaden your problem-solving L5: 3rd-level spells are the "cleric becomes a headline" moment L6–8: subclass features + improved survivability + cantrip/weapon upgrades L9–10: 5th-level spells and consistent encounter impact Table role: how to be a cleric without becoming the babysitter Healing as a tool, not a lifestyle. Preventing damage and ending fights faster as the "real healing." Coordinating with your party so your buffs land where they matter. Key Takeaways  Start with your cleric job description Pick one primary role and one secondary role: Support/Buffer (primary) + Controller (secondary) Frontline (primary) + Support (secondary) Blaster (primary) + Utility/Support (secondary) Most clerics get in trouble when they try to be all of these every round. Concentration is your true hit point total A cleric who keeps concentration up is a force multiplier. A cleric who drops it every other round is a very polite person wearing armor. Practical habits: Don't stack concentration spells in your head like a wishlist—pick one plan per fight. Invest in Con saves/survivability decisions early. Position like you're important (because you are). Your "default fight plan" should fit on an index card Example templates: Support opener: Concentration buff → sustain/position → emergency heal only when it flips the encounter. Control opener: Concentration control → maintain distance/cover → punish clustering. Frontline opener: Concentration buff/control → stand where enemies hate it → force bad choices. Healing is strongest when it changes the math right now In-combat healing shines when it: Prevents an ally from going down before they lose their next turn, Buys a crucial round of actions, Keeps a key damage dealer online, Or pairs with control/positioning to stop the "down-up-down" cycle. Otherwise, healing between fights (and prevention during fights) is often more efficient. Domain spells and Channel Divinity are your build's "signature moves" If you're not using your domain's unique tools regularly, you may have picked a domain whose play pattern you don't actually enjoy. Levels 1–10 clerics win by being the most consistent person at the table You don't need perfect optimization to be great—clerics reward: Reliable concentration, Smart positioning, Prepared spells that solve common problems, And knowing when to spend resources to swing an encounter. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Welcome to the RPGBOT.Podcast, where tonight we bravely attempt to eat the entire Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting menu in one sitting. No tie-ins, no supplements, no "this was technically in Dragon Magazine once" nonsense: just the official D&D settings, served tasting-menu style. From post-apocalyptic deserts where magic killed the planet, to punk fantasy with robot soldiers, to the setting so generic it's basically carbonated water, we're ranking, roasting, and reminiscing about the worlds that shaped tabletop roleplaying games. Grab your character sheet, loosen your belt, and prepare for Forgotten Realms Coke vs Greyhawk Pepsi discourse. Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we review the official Dungeons & Dragons campaign settings created by Wizards of the Coast (excluding licensed tie-ins and sub-settings) to help players and Dungeon Masters understand what makes each world distinct. Rather than deep dives, this episode delivers a high-level overview of each D&D setting's tone, themes, and playstyle, helping listeners decide which campaign setting best fits their table. Campaign Settings Covered Birthright – A kingdom-management focused D&D setting where divine bloodlines grant rulers supernatural authority. Ideal for players who want politics, rulership, and domain-level play alongside traditional adventuring. Dark Sun – A grimdark, post-apocalyptic fantasy setting defined by ecological collapse, psionics, scarce resources, and moral ambiguity. One of D&D's darkest campaign settings. Dragonlance – Epic fantasy rooted in legendary novels, fallen gods, returning dragons, and mythic heroism. A classic D&D setting built around narrative arcs and world-shaking events. Eberron – A pulp fantasy and dungeon-punk setting where magic functions as technology. Airships, warforged, political intrigue, and post-war fallout define this highly popular D&D world. Forgotten Realms – The default D&D campaign setting for 5e. High-magic, high-fantasy, dense lore, iconic characters, and flexible adventure design make it the most widely recognized setting. Greyhawk – The original published D&D setting, emphasizing sword-and-sorcery, moral ambiguity, and classic fantasy roots tied to iconic spells and characters. Mystara – A simplified fantasy setting originally designed for Basic D&D, featuring lighter tone, fewer races, and a more approachable style for new or younger players. Nentir Vale – A minimalist fourth-edition setting designed as a flexible framework rather than a fully realized world—perfect for Dungeon Masters who prefer homebrew. Planescape – A multiversal setting centered on Sigil, the City of Doors. Philosophical factions, planar travel, cosmic weirdness, and reality-bending concepts define this fan-favorite. Ravenloft – Gothic horror fantasy featuring cursed domains, tragic villains, and psychological dread. A setting focused on atmosphere, consequences, and survival. Spelljammer – Space fantasy for D&D, blending swashbuckling adventure with crystal spheres, astral travel, and magical ships sailing between worlds. Key Takeaways Not all D&D campaign settings are designed for the same playstyle—some emphasize politics, others horror, survival, or pulp action. Forgotten Realms works as the most flexible and accessible default setting, especially for new players. Eberron stands out for its coherent worldbuilding and logical use of magic as technology. Dark Sun and Ravenloft require player buy-in due to their heavy themes and darker tone. Planescape offers unmatched freedom and philosophical depth but demands strong DM preparation. Nentir Vale exists primarily as a DM toolkit rather than a narrative world. Older settings like Greyhawk, Dragonlance, and Mystara remain relevant for groups seeking classic fantasy vibes or nostalgia-driven campaigns. Dungeon Masters should choose a setting that reinforces—not fights—the story they want to tell. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Have you ever opened a published TTRPG adventure, read three chapters in, and thought: "There is absolutely no way my players will do any of this"? Welcome to Adapting Published TTRPG Settings, where the RPGBOT crew explains why modules are suggestions, railroads are imaginary, and your Big Bad will absolutely die three sessions early because someone invented an arcane nuclear device. Whether you're running Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder 2e, or your favorite tabletop roleplaying game, this episode is all about how to customize published adventures, steal player backstories, break plots responsibly, and still pretend you planned it all from the beginning. Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the hosts dive deep into adapting published TTRPG settings to better suit your table, your players, and the chaos they inevitably create. Drawing from years of experience running official D&D adventures, Pathfinder 2e campaigns, and homebrew nightmares, the team explains why no module survives first contact with players—and why that's a good thing. Topics include how to customize published adventures without breaking the story, when it's okay to railroad (yes, really), and how to balance sandbox freedom with guided play. The hosts discuss common pitfalls like breaking narrative continuity, accidentally ruining game mechanics, and losing focus when a side quest becomes the main plot. You'll also learn why player backstories, class features, and character goals are the best raw material for reshaping any tabletop RPG setting. Practical advice covers adding new villains, replacing weak encounters, cutting boring dungeons, and remixing iconic elements from other TTRPG adventures and settings. From fixing overly linear modules to turning side quests into emotional gut punches, this episode is a masterclass in adventure customization for Game Masters who want their campaigns to feel personal, memorable, and fun. Key Takeaways for Game Masters Published TTRPG adventures are guidelines, not gospel, and should be adapted to fit your players' interests and play style. There is a healthy middle ground between sandbox chaos and rigid railroading, often called a guided experience. Player backstories, goals, and class mechanics are the best tools for customizing published modules. It's easier to add content than remove it, but cutting boring or irrelevant sections is sometimes necessary. Breaking the story, mechanics, or balance can be fun—if you know what you're doing and why. Players don't remember plot holes; they remember closed narrative loops that make past actions feel meaningful. If a side quest becomes more fun than the main plot, promote it—your players will thank you. Every published TTRPG setting can support wildly different campaigns depending on how the GM adapts it. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Death in tabletop RPGs is a lot like a group project: everyone insists they're prepared for it, nobody actually reads the rules, and somehow it's always the wizard's fault. In this episode, the RPGBOT crew stares straight into the great beyond—death saves, dying conditions, resurrection magic, and those awkward moments when the cleric checks their spell slots and quietly says, "So… about that body." Whether your character goes out in a blaze of glory or bleeds out behind a crate because no one had an action left, we're breaking down how death really works at the table—and how to make it memorable instead of miserable. Show Notes Character death is one of the most emotionally charged—and mechanically misunderstood—parts of tabletop roleplaying games. In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the hosts dig into how death mechanics work across popular systems, why they often feel harsher (or softer) than intended, and how players and GMs can turn character death into a powerful storytelling moment instead of a buzzkill. The discussion covers death saves, dying conditions, instant death effects, and the role of healing magic in prolonging—or preventing—the inevitable. The crew examines how different RPG systems handle mortality, from forgiving safety nets to brutal attrition-based designs, and what those choices say about the kind of stories those games want to tell. Beyond raw mechanics, the episode explores meaningful death: heroic sacrifices, last stands, narrative consequences, and when resurrection magic enhances the story versus when it cheapens the moment. The hosts also share table-tested advice for GMs on foreshadowing danger, setting expectations, and making sure character death feels fair—even when it's devastating. If you've ever wondered whether death should be rare, frequent, reversible, or permanent—or why every party suddenly becomes a tactical mastermind the moment someone drops to zero HP—this episode is for you. Key Takeaways Death mechanics shape tone. How a system handles dying directly affects whether the game feels heroic, gritty, or forgiving. Death saves are drama engines. They create tension, spotlight teamwork, and often reveal who really read their character sheet. Instant death is rare—but memorable. When it happens, it should feel earned, telegraphed, or narratively significant. Resurrection is a storytelling tool. Bringing a character back should have consequences, costs, or complications to preserve emotional weight. Heroic sacrifice beats random loss. Deaths tied to player choice are almost always more satisfying than unlucky math. GM communication matters. Clear expectations about lethality prevent resentment and help players invest emotionally. Death doesn't end the story. It can launch new arcs, reshape the party, or permanently change the world. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Dragons are eternal. Gaming mice are not. In today's episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we survive cursed peripherals, catastrophic Kingdom turns, and at least one near-fatal werewolf encounter before finally turning our attention to the real reason we woke up before dawn: Paizo's Lost Omens: Draconic Codex. It's a book that asks the important questions—like "What if dragons were powered by magical traditions?", "What if dragons were made of swords?", and "What if a dragon respawned because you can't kill the joke?" Pour yourself a gallon of coffee and join us as we dig into archdragons, dragon gods, delight dragons, wish dragons, and more dragons than should legally fit in one hardcover. Show Notes In this episode, the RPGBOT crew reviews Lost Omens: Draconic Codex, Paizo's definitive Pathfinder Second Edition sourcebook for dragons. The discussion covers both lore and mechanics introduced in the Remaster era, highlighting how Pathfinder 2e has fully reinvented dragons to align with its four magical traditions: Arcane, Divine, Occult, and Primal . Covered Topics Include:  Remastered Dragon Lore Pathfinder's clean break from chromatic/metallic dragons Dragons aligned to magical traditions instead of color Why these dragons feel "native" to PF2e mechanics Dragon Creation Myth & Dragon Gods Apsu, Dahak, Sarshalatu, and the draconic origin story Dragon gods, pantheons, edicts, and anathema Cleric and champion support for dragon-aligned worship Archdragons & Dragon Physiology New age category: Archdragon Young → Adult → Ancient → Arch progression Why archdragons emerge during times of conflict Expanded archdragon stat blocks for existing dragons Bestiary Highlights (So Many Dragons) - Over 40 dragon types, including: Delight Dragons (joy, bubbles, toys, and respawning punchlines) Mocking Dragons (laughing at your failures—mechanically) Wish Dragons (granting wishes with no ritual cost… interpreted by the dragon) Vorpal Dragons (made of swords, can decapitate you and leave you alive) Sage Dragons (dragon nerds who weaponize your secrets) Wyrm Wraiths (void-fueled undead dragon horrors) Player & GM Options Dragon-themed archetypes and ancestry options Dragonets as playable, pseudo-dragon-like companions Expanded kobold options New spells, magic items, and dragon contracts (mechanical pacts that actually matter) GM Tools & Campaign Hooks Dragons as quest-givers, gods, villains, and punchlines High-level storytelling with wish-granting dragons Using dragons as expressions of magical philosophy Key Takeaways Lost Omens: Draconic Codex fully redefines dragons for Pathfinder 2e, making them mechanically and narratively distinct from D&D while remaining iconic . The four magical traditions give dragons clearer identities, spell access, and story roles. Archdragons provide true level-21+ threats with campaign-defining presence. Dragons in this book are not just monsters—they're gods, philosophers, tricksters, wish-granters, and walking rules arguments. Player options (dragonets, archetypes, contracts) meaningfully support dragon-centric campaigns. This book is a must-own for Pathfinder 2e GMs, especially for high-level or lore-heavy games. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Welcome back to RPGBOT.Podcast, where Ash is a Top GM™, Tyler is still emotionally processing Bastions, and Randall has discovered that Eberron finally lets you live your best divorced-dad-with-a-houseboat fantasy. In Part 2 of our review of Eberron: Forge of the Artificer, we leave the artificer workshop behind and dive headfirst into dragonmarked intrigue, mobile bastions, noir detectives, political backstabbing, and the deeply dangerous question: "What if my base could walk?" This episode contains airships, crime fiction, economic monopolies, and at least one moment where we realize the answer to most Eberron problems is "build a bigger construct." Show Notes In RPGBOT.Podcast – Eberron: Forge of the Artificer (Part 2), the hosts continue their in-depth review of the book by shifting focus away from the artificer class and into the broader Eberron ecosystem. This episode examines the character options beyond artificers, including dragonmarked feats, reworked species, and the lore implications of opening dragonmarks to wider character concepts. From there, the discussion moves into Bastions, including mobile bases like airships, lightning rail trains, and ships—raising important questions about gameplay practicality, narrative freedom, and whether your party should legally be allowed to own a war machine. The back half of the episode explores Eberron's storytelling frameworks, including noir-inspired Sharn inquisitives, dragonmarked house intrigue, and campaign structures built around politics, monopolies, and inevitable wars. Key Takeaways Dragonmarks are the backbone of this book. If you like dragonmarked houses, intrigue, and economic power struggles, this chapter delivers in spades. New species updates are a big win. Warforged as constructs, kalashtar as aberrations, and revamped korovar (half-elves) meaningfully impact gameplay and spell interactions. Dragonmark feats heavily favor spellcasters. Martials should be cautious—many benefits scale best with spellcasting. Mobile Bastions are conceptually excellent and mechanically… messy. Airships, trains, and ships are cool, but DMs will need to smooth the edges. Eberron leans hard into genre play. Noir detective stories, Renaissance-style intrigue, and political drama are clearly supported. High-level play quietly breaks old Eberron assumptions. The book embraces higher-level NPCs and epic conflicts, even if it bends earlier canon. Everything eventually leads to war. Political intrigue, dragonmarked monopolies, and bastions all point toward large-scale conflict—and that's very on-brand for Eberron. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Show Notes Elementals are the walking embodiment of the four classic forces—fire, air, water, and earth—and they're one of the easiest monster families to drop into any campaign while still feeling mythic, dangerous, and thematically sharp. In this remastered episode, the RPGBOT crew digs into how to make elementals more than "a pile of hit points with a damage type"—including encounter roles, terrain design, and how to telegraph threats so your table feels challenged instead of cheap-shotted. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Welcome back to RPGBOT.Podcast, where optimism is optional, feedback is weaponized, and today we're firing up the lightning rails straight into Eberron: Forge of the Artificer. This is Part 1 of our review, which means we're here to ask the most important questions first: Does this book actually understand artificers? Does it respect Eberron's magic-as-industry vibe? And will Ash rant about corporate design decisions like an angry warforged with a union card? Spoiler: yes. Probably several times. Grab your tool proficiencies and buckle up—this is Eberron, where magic is practical, progress has consequences, and feedback is delivered with a hammer. NOTE: WE GOT SEVERAL RULES WRONG IN THIS EPISODE. We recorded after an initial read of the book, and I hadn't had time to analyze things in depth, so we made several mistakes. Check our full Artificer class guide, which represents the more accurately. Show Notes In RPGBOT.Podcast – Eberron: Forge of the Artificer Part 1, the crew kicks off a deep-dive review of Wizards of the Coast's newest Eberron supplement, focusing on core themes, design intent, and early impressions rather than final verdicts. This episode sets the foundation for the full review by examining how Forge of the Artificer approaches Eberron's defining pillars: magical technology, artificer identity, pulp action, and noir-inspired worldbuilding. Along the way, the hosts reflect on feedback culture, creator intent, and how production environments shape the final product—because you can't talk about artificers without talking about how things are made. Covered in Part 1: First impressions of Eberron: Forge of the Artificer Artificers as a class fantasy vs. mechanical execution Eberron's "magic as infrastructure" philosophy Tone consistency with classic Eberron (pulp + noir) Early signs of passion vs. corporate checkbox design What this book signals for future D&D 2024 content This is a setup episode—laying groundwork, raising expectations, and sharpening knives for Part 2. Key Takeaways Eberron still lives or dies on tone. The book's success hinges on whether it treats magic as an economic force, not just spell flavor. Artificers need identity, not just options. New tools are exciting, but the real test is whether the class fantasy feels coherent and intentional. Design fingerprints matter. You can feel when a book is made with enthusiasm—and when it's made to hit a release window. This is a promising start, not a final judgment. Part 1 is about signals and foundations; Part 2 will be about payoff. Feedback culture comes full circle. The episode opens with feedback talk for a reason: the hosts apply that same lens to the book itself. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Show Notes The RPGBOT crew closes out Season 5 the only way they know how: with heartfelt gratitude, passionate rants, accidental comedy, and at least one derailment into pop culture discourse. In this end-of-year recap, Randall, Tyler, and Ash look back on a year of certified bangers, a few corporate-mandated stinkers, and the surprising joy of discovering that people are, in fact, listening. A lot of people. Like… three-quarters of a million downloads a lot. Along the way, the hosts reflect on: Why giving feedback is harder than it sounds (and why Josh should maybe just be hired already). How unionization, passion, and not hating your job might magically lead to better RPG books. The growth of RPGBOT from "30 listeners we personally harassed" to a thriving, weirdly wholesome community. The success of Quick Start / How to Play episodes for systems that are not D&D (and the relief that people actually want those). The birth and future of Other Worlds, where the same characters keep falling through genre portals like some kind of dice-based Sliders reboot. Big plans for 2026, including Numenera, Pulp Cthulhu, Cyberpunk, Blades in the Dark, Dragonbane, Starfinder, and the eternal quest to finally do Star Wars without the universe collapsing. Charity streams, especially the Old Gods of Appalachia fundraiser for MD Anderson, and why that one hit especially close to home. A completely unnecessary but spirited debate about Stranger Things, narrative stakes, and which beloved characters absolutely should have died (allegedly). The episode ends exactly as you'd expect: Tyler's brain breaks when the outro script is violated, identities are swapped, BlueSky handles are mangled, someone accidentally says "sub-sex" instead of "success," and the podcast briefly achieves true chaos before stumbling lovingly into 2026. If you like tabletop RPGs when they're fun—and you like listening to three people who clearly enjoy making them fun—this episode is a warm, messy thank-you note to everyone who made 2025 possible. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

In this remastered episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we continue to shine a spotlight on building one of the most intriguing classes in the game: the Rogue. With their sneaky tactics and manipulative ways, Rogues add an essential element of mystery and cunning to any adventuring party. Join us as we break down the key components of building a successful Rogue character, and learn how to level up your game with this second part of our two-part series on Rogues. HANDBOOKS FROM RPGBOT.net Rogue 5e: DnD 5th Edition Class Guide - RPGBOT Rogue Subclass Breakdown Rogue Races Breakdown DnD 5e Rogue Subclasses Breakdown – Updated subclass assessments and improved advice Rogue Handbook: Pathfinder Class Guide Assassin Rogue Handbook: DnD 5e Subclass Guide DnD 5e - New Arcane Trickster Rogue Handbook Arcane Trickster Rogue Spells 5e: Guide to the Best Arcane Trickster Spells BG3 Rogue Handbook: Baldur's Gate 3 Class Guide DnD 5e - New Assassin Rogue Handbook The Rogue Handbook - DnD 3.5 Baldur's Gate 3 - New Warlock Handbook BG3 Warlock Handbook: Baldur's Gate 3 Class Guide DnD 5e Poisoner, Poison, and Poisoning: A Practical Guide DnD 5e – New Practical Guide to Poisoner, Poison and Poisoning RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes Fighters! Unleashing Your Inner Warrior - RPGBOT.Podcast Making Ingested And Absorbed Toxins In TTRPGs Fun Again If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games Twitter: @GravenAshes YouTube@ashravenmedia Randall James @JackAmateur Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati  

On this remastered episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we complete our 3-part series on Picking a TTRPG that is not DnD or Pathfinder by adventuring deep into the vast and thrilling universe of tabletop RPGs. From the spine-chilling cosmic horror of Alien RPG to the gritty nihilism of Death in Space, we're exploring the diverse themes of space exploration, teenage superheroes, cyberpunk chaos, and even the villainous fun of Necessary Evil. Join us as we tackle the art of balancing crunch with accessibility, dive into the rise of one-page RPGs for quick and chaotic adventures, and share tips on crafting immersive narratives that players will love. Whether you're a seasoned RPG fan or just starting your journey, this episode is packed with laughs, insights, and galactic-level inspiration. Summary In this action-packed episode, the hosts boldly go where no podcasters have gone before, diving into the endless void of tabletop RPGs. They tackle the cosmic horror of Alien RPG, the nihilistic beauty of Death in Space, and even dare to balance crunchiness with accessibility (spoiler: it's like herding space cats). From dark Imperium nihilism to Star Wars' Force-wielding antics, they traverse the galaxy of RPG themes, stopping only to admire the Cyberpunk neon and hack a Shadowrun corporate server. Marvel superheroes swing by, Necessary Evil villains cackle maniacally, and Masks' teen heroes roll for high school drama. Just when you think they're done, they reveal the rise of one-page RPGs, because why spend hours preparing when you can save the universe in 15 minutes? Grab your dice and your sense of humor, and tune in to explore the weird, wonderful, and wildly nerdy world of tabletop gaming. Links Almost everything below is an affiliate link and Tyler doesn't want to copy+paste this a zillion times Achtung Cthulhu Adventures in Rokugan Alien RPG ALIEN RPG - A review ALIEN RPG: Cinematic Scenario Cycle Review ALIEN RPG - RPGBOT.News S2E34 All Flesh Must Be Eaten Apocalypse World Battletech Bladerunner Call of Cthulhu Candela Obscura Colostle CY_BORG Cyberpunk Red Cypher Core Rulebook Death in Space Death in Space – A review Delta Green Doctor Who RPG Doctors and Daleks FFG Star Wars Fallout RPG Forbidden Lands Genesys Core Rulebook Imperium Maledictum Warhammer 40000 Roleplay: Imperium Maledictum - A Review Legend of the Five Rings Lord of the Rings Roleplay 5e Marvel Multiverse RPG Masks Mork Borg Mörk Borg - A Review Mörk Borg Cult: Heretic - A Zine Review Mörk Borg Cult: Heretic - RPGBOT.News S2E32 Numenera Old Gods of Appalachia Pirate Borg Pulp Cthulhu Ruins of Symbaroum Ruins of Symbaroum - A Review Ruins of Symbaroum - RPGBOT.News S2E46 Shadowdark RPGBOT.Podcast - ShadowDark RPG Adventure Designer Kelsey Dionne Shadowrun Symbaroum The One Ring 2e The One Ring 2nd Edition - A Review The Walking Dead RPG Vaesen Vaesen & the Mythic Britain and Ireland Expansion - A Review RPGBOT.Podcast - Zoe Franznick Reviews Free League's Vaesen Vampire: The Masquerade How to Play Vampire: The Masquerade Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay Werewolf: The Apocalypse SPOOKTOBER - HOW TO PLAY WEREWOLF Takeaways The RPG landscape offers incredible variety, with systems catering to every player preference. Unique mechanics, like stress systems in Alien RPG or the survival-focused gameplay of Death in Space, enhance tension and narrative depth. Cinematic scenarios and simplified resource management can elevate player engagement, while pre-generated characters and storytelling mechanics provide fresh dynamics for immersive gameplay. Exploring specific genres, like space horror, post-apocalyptic worlds, or teenage superhero drama in Masks, can help groups find the perfect game. Beloved franchises like Star Wars RPG and Marvel Multiverse capture iconic elements, while innovative hybrids like Cyberpunk and Shadowrun blend themes in exciting ways. Lesser-known RPGs often hide creative gems, and one-page RPGs stand out as quick, accessible options for introducing new players or enjoying fast-paced fun. Ultimately, balancing crunch with accessibility and understanding player preferences ensures a great tabletop experience for everyone. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games Twitter: @GravenAshes YouTube@ashravenmedia Randall James @JackAmateur Amateurjack.com Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Ever wondered what beer chemistry, emo vampires, and broom mechanics have in common? Neither did we, until this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast! We're diving deep into RPG madness, from the grimy charm of Shadow Dark to the chaos of Warhammer's magic (spoiler: it's messy). Then, we tackle Symbaroum, where sweeping is serious business, and Vison, the perfect game for overachieving detectives. Horror fans, brace yourselves! It's eldritch chills with Call of Cthulhu, slapstick terror with Pulp Cthulhu, and Appalachian nightmares with Old Gods of Appalachia. Oh, and don't forget Vampire: The Masquerade, where brooding has never been so stylish. Summary Join the RPGBOT hosts as they embark on a tabletop odyssey filled with epic quests, fermented wisdom, and dice-fueled shenanigans! In this episode, they sip on the heady brew of beer chemistry before stumbling into the Old-School Renaissance of Shadow Dark—where dungeons are grim, and death is always just a dice roll away. The adventure takes a quirky turn with Symbaroum, a game where sweeping mechanics finally get their moment in the spotlight, and spirals into the arcane depths of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay's magic systems (spoiler: it's like herding chaotic cats). Mystery lovers, rejoice! They dissect Vison, an RPG that dares players to think, and maybe overthink, its clever puzzles. For horror fans, it's a double feature: Call of Cthulhu's sanity-shattering frights meet Pulp Cthulhu's lighthearted antics (think Indiana Jones with an eldritch twist). The hosts then dive fang-first into Vampire: The Masquerade and the brooding drama of World of Darkness, where players face the ultimate challenge: emo roleplay. To cap it off, the crew gets their candles snuffed out in Ten Candles and pulled into the spine-tingling Appalachian horrors of Old Gods of Appalachia. Whether you're rolling a nat 20 or a nat 1, this episode celebrates RPGs in all their weird, wonderful glory. Links Almost everything below is an affiliate link and Tyler doesn't want to copy+paste this a zillion times Achtung Cthulhu Adventures in Rokugan Alien RPG ALIEN RPG - A review ALIEN RPG: Cinematic Scenario Cycle Review ALIEN RPG - RPGBOT.News S2E34 All Flesh Must Be Eaten Apocalypse World Battletech Bladerunner Call of Cthulhu Candela Obscura Colostle CY_BORG Cyberpunk Red Cypher Core Rulebook Death in Space Death in Space – A review Delta Green Doctor Who RPG Doctors and Daleks FFG Star Wars Fallout RPG Forbidden Lands Genesys Core Rulebook Imperium Maledictum Warhammer 40000 Roleplay: Imperium Maledictum - A Review Legend of the Five Rings Lord of the Rings Roleplay 5e Marvel Multiverse RPG Masks Mork Borg Mörk Borg - A Review Mörk Borg Cult: Heretic - A Zine Review Mörk Borg Cult: Heretic - RPGBOT.News S2E32 Numenera Old Gods of Appalachia Pirate Borg Pulp Cthulhu Ruins of Symbaroum Ruins of Symbaroum - A Review Ruins of Symbaroum - RPGBOT.News S2E46 Shadowdark RPGBOT.Podcast - ShadowDark RPG Adventure Designer Kelsey Dionne Shadowrun Symbaroum The One Ring 2e The One Ring 2nd Edition - A Review The Walking Dead RPG Vaesen Vaesen & the Mythic Britain and Ireland Expansion - A Review RPGBOT.Podcast - Zoe Franznick Reviews Free League's Vaesen Vampire: The Masquerade How to Play Vampire: The Masquerade Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay Werewolf: The Apocalypse SPOOKTOBER - HOW TO PLAY WEREWOLF Episode Takeaways Game Mechanics & Themes Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay features a risky, intricate magic system and expansive character creation options. OSR games bring simplicity and nostalgia reminiscent of early D&D. SimBroom introduces corruption mechanics that shape gameplay. High-risk, high-reward gameplay boosts player engagement. RPGs offer unique themes and mechanics, expanding gameplay possibilities. Dragonbane lets players embody whimsical characters, like ducks. Shadow Dark thrives on time pressure and quick decision-making. Vison focuses on solving mysteries over combat, creating unique narratives. World of Darkness emphasizes personal horror and the burden of being a monster. Call of Cthulhu delivers cosmic horror with sanity mechanics, while Pulp Cthulhu adds action-oriented flair. Horror RPGs, like Old Gods of Appalachia and Ten Candles, use innovative mechanics to amplify tension. Dread, with its Jenga tower, brings suspense into the physical realm. Character Creation & Player Experience Brewing beer involves mastering sugar and fermentation processes. Transitioning from dungeon fantasy to darker themes in RPGs can challenge players. Vampire RPGs often introduce disempowerment and moral dilemmas, such as the dangerous Diablerie mechanic. Character survival in horror RPGs often hinges on player choices and narrative decisions. Game Selection & Exploration Selecting games often involves collaboration and even dice rolls. Exploring lesser-known RPGs enriches the gaming experience and storytelling. The RPG landscape is vast, with many innovative games to explore. Exploring different RPGs can enhance storytelling and player engagement. Resources & Community Engagement The chapter on mysteries in Vison's rulebook is a valuable resource for any TTRPG. Rubrics can help evaluate RPG mechanics and themes effectively. Community ratings and reviews play a key role in podcast growth. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games Twitter: @GravenAshes YouTube@ashravenmedia Randall James @JackAmateur Amateurjack.com Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Farewell 2025, Hello 2026 As the dice finish rolling on 2025, we want to take a moment—before the initiative tracker resets—to say thank you. This year was packed with bold experiments, deep dives, hot takes, re-releases, masterclasses, actual plays, rule arguments that absolutely mattered, and more than a few moments where we stopped mid-recording and said, "Wait… does that actually work?" Thanks to you, the listeners, it did. In 2025, RPGBOT.Podcast explored new systems, revisited old favorites, broke down mechanics piece by piece, and kept doing what we love most: helping players, GMs, and curious rules-gremlins play better games. Whether you joined us for crunchy optimization, narrative tools, indie RPG spotlights, or chaotic actual-play energy, you helped make this year something special. We also saw the community grow—more voices, more perspectives, more people pulling up a chair at the virtual table. From longtime listeners who've been with us since the early days, to folks who found us for the first time this year: you're the reason we keep hitting "record." Now, we turn the page. 2026 is already shaping up to be something big. More deep dives. More experiments. More guests. More games that surprise us. More moments where the rules bend—and sometimes break—in interesting ways. We're bringing forward everything we learned in 2025, sharpening our tools, and rolling into the new year with fresh ideas, bigger plans, and the same love for tabletop roleplaying games that started this whole thing. So whether you're listening right now with friends, alone on a late-night walk, or prepping for your next session—thank you for making RPGBOT part of your year. Here's to new campaigns. Here's to better characters. Here's to smarter GMs, braver players, and stories that stick with us long after the dice are packed away. Happy New Year. Welcome to 2026. Let's roll. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

"Crunchy rules or simple vibes? Political intrigue or straight-up dungeon brawls? Survival in a dying world or low-power fantasy feels?" This remastered RPGBOT.Podcast dives into everything you love (and fear) about tabletop RPGs that aren't D&D or Pathfinder. From decision trees to help you find your perfect game match, to the storytelling magic of Powered by the Apocalypse, and the chaotic survival of Mork Borg, there's something for everyone if you're willing to look past what you already know. Tune in if you've ever wondered, "Is my game too crunchy, or am I just lazy?" Summary In this episode, the hosts take a deep dive into the diverse landscape of tabletop RPGs, offering a wealth of insights into various systems, mechanics, and themes. They introduce the concept of decision trees, a practical tool to help players identify RPGs that align with their preferences. The discussion covers the spectrum of complexity, from the intricate 'crunch' of detailed systems to the simplicity of more streamlined games. Key highlights include: The Cypher System and Genesis: An exploration of these versatile systems, focusing on their mechanics and adaptability to different genres. Powered by the Apocalypse Framework: A look at its elegant simplicity and flexibility, making it an excellent choice for narrative-driven campaigns. Legend of the Five Rings vs. Adventures in Rokugan: A comparison of political intrigue-focused gameplay with combat-centric mechanics, illustrating the range of experiences within fantasy RPGs. Mörk Borg: An examination of its dark, nihilistic themes, where traditional heroism gives way to survival in a grim and decaying world. The conversation also ventures into niche areas, such as the unique storytelling potential of solo RPGs, and highlights specific systems like Numenera, with its futuristic exploration themes, and One Ring 2E, celebrated for its low-power fantasy and rich Tolkien-inspired lore. The hosts emphasize the importance of understanding a game's mechanics and setting realistic expectations to maximize the enjoyment of any RPG experience. Links Almost everything below is an affiliate link and Tyler doesn't want to copy+paste this a zillion times Achtung Cthulhu Adventures in Rokugan Alien RPG ALIEN RPG - A review ALIEN RPG: Cinematic Scenario Cycle Review ALIEN RPG - RPGBOT.News S2E34 All Flesh Must Be Eaten Apocalypse World Battletech Bladerunner Call of Cthulhu Candela Obscura Colostle CY_BORG Cyberpunk Red Cypher Core Rulebook Death in Space Death in Space – A review Delta Green Doctor Who RPG Doctors and Daleks FFG Star Wars Fallout RPG Forbidden Lands Genesys Core Rulebook Imperium Maledictum Warhammer 40000 Roleplay: Imperium Maledictum - A Review Legend of the Five Rings Lord of the Rings Roleplay 5e Marvel Multiverse RPG Masks Mork Borg Mörk Borg - A Review Mörk Borg Cult: Heretic - A Zine Review Mörk Borg Cult: Heretic - RPGBOT.News S2E32 Numenera Old Gods of Appalachia Pirate Borg Pulp Cthulhu Ruins of Symbaroum Ruins of Symbaroum - A Review Ruins of Symbaroum - RPGBOT.News S2E46 Shadowdark RPGBOT.Podcast - ShadowDark RPG Adventure Designer Kelsey Dionne Shadowrun Symbaroum The One Ring 2e The One Ring 2nd Edition - A Review The Walking Dead RPG Vaesen Vaesen & the Mythic Britain and Ireland Expansion - A Review RPGBOT.Podcast - Zoe Franznick Reviews Free League's Vaesen Vampire: The Masquerade How to Play Vampire: The Masquerade Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay Werewolf: The Apocalypse SPOOKTOBER - HOW TO PLAY WEREWOLF Takeaways Tyler's Interests Tyler loves wizards and wants to be one. Game Mechanics and Decision-Making The decision tree helps players find suitable RPGs. "Crunch" refers to the interaction with game mechanics. The Captain Crunch scale measures game complexity. Understanding game mechanics enhances the RPG experience. RPG Systems The Cypher System is easy to learn and play. Genesis is a generic system based on Fantasy Flight's Star Wars. Powered by the Apocalypse is a versatile framework. Powered by the Apocalypse games are easy to learn. Fate is complex and math-heavy. The Year Zero Engine is simple yet effective. Solo RPGs can be rewarding experiences. Character Creation and Progression Character creation in RPGs can vary significantly. Character progression in One Ring 2E requires patience and strategy. Adjusting difficulty can enhance the gameplay experience. Thematic and Genre Elements Monster Hearts is popular in the LGBT community. Legend of the Five Rings emphasizes political intrigue (combat is discouraged). Merc Borg presents a nihilistic view of RPGs. Adventures in Rokugan is more combat-focused than its predecessor. Colossal is a unique solo RPG experience. Mercord uniquely advocates for real-world arson in its gameplay. Numenera presents a science fantasy setting a billion years in the future. Players in One Ring 2E are grounded, facing impossible odds. Exploring the themes of low-power fantasy can lead to rich storytelling. Gameplay Depth The intrusion system adds depth to gameplay. The Eye of Sauron and Gandalf rune add depth to gameplay. Solo play in One Ring 2E is well-implemented and enjoyable. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games Twitter: @GravenAshes YouTube@ashravenmedia Randall James @JackAmateur Amateurjack.com Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

You survived the one-shot. No one died permanently. Only some rules were misunderstood. Now comes the most dangerous phase of any tabletop experience: questions. In this episode, the RPGBOT crew sits down after the Pathfinder 2e one-shot to answer the things every new player asks—what worked, what didn't, what we forgot, and why Pathfinder 2e somehow makes rules discussions feel productive instead of like a rules-lawyer cage match. Pathfinder 2e Re-Releases! Perfect timing for learning, teaching, and holiday one-shots: RPGBOT is re-releasing our Pathfinder 2e Quickstart episodes for the 2025 holiday season! These remastered episodes are ideal for new players, GMs running demos, and groups revisiting PF2e after a long break—just in time to answer all those "wait, how does that work again?" questions. MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE dScryb – Mobile Alchemy Shop (affiliate link) Pathfinder 2e Source Materials Pathfinder 2e Beginner Box (affiliate link) Pathfinder 2e Core Rulebook (affiliate link) Archives of Nethys Content from RPGBOT.Net Pathfinder 2e – How to Play Pathfinder 2e – Beginner Box Guide Previous Episodes of the RPGBOT.Podcast RPGBOT.Quickstart S3E6 – How to Play Pathfinder 2e – Part 1: Concepts and Themes RPGBOT.Quickstart S3E8 – How to Play Pathfinder 2e – Part 2: Character Creation How to Play Pathfinder 2e – Part 3: Oneshot Example Play – RPGBOT.Quickstart S3E56 Kingmaker for PF2 with Paizo Creative Director James Jacobs – RPGBOT.News S3E1 Paizo's Pathfinder Society Organized Play Coordinator Alex Speidel – RPGBOT.News S2E87 Other Stuff Rise of the Runelords In Part IV of the RPGBOT.Quickstart Pathfinder 2e series, we wrap up the one-shot example play with a post-game Q&A, answering the most common questions new players and GMs have after their first Pathfinder Second Edition session. This episode focuses on reflection, clarification, and practical advice drawn directly from actual gameplay. We revisit moments from the one-shot to explain how actions, reactions, conditions, and skill usage worked in practice, clarifying rules that are often misunderstood during early PF2e play. The discussion highlights how the three-action economy rewards thoughtful decisions, how teamwork improves outcomes, and what players should prioritize learning first versus what can wait. This episode is especially helpful for groups that have just finished a Pathfinder 2e one-shot, as it bridges the gap between reading the rules and truly understanding how the system feels at the table. By addressing common mistakes and "aha" moments, we help listeners gain confidence heading into longer PF2e campaigns. Key Takeaways Pathfinder 2e becomes clearer after seeing the rules in action. Post-game discussion is one of the best ways to learn PF2e. The three-action economy rewards planning and flexibility. New players commonly overlook reactions, conditions, and positioning. Teamwork and coordination matter more than individual optimization. One-shots are an excellent teaching tool for Pathfinder Second Edition. Confidence grows quickly once rules questions are addressed directly. Join the RPGBOT Patreon! Want to ask your Pathfinder 2e questions in real time? Join the RPGBOT Patreon and unlock: Access to RPGBOT.Podcast recording sessions, where patrons can listen and ask questions Ad-free RPGBOT.net articles, guides, and optimization content Ad-free recordings of the RPGBOT.Podcast Early access to remastered Pathfinder 2e episodes and exclusive discussions Support RPGBOT, sharpen your system mastery, and join the conversation behind the screen. Become a patron today! Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Every tabletop RPG player has had this thought at some point: "If I had one Wish, I could fix everything." And every Dungeon Master has had the immediate follow-up thought: "If you cast Wish, I'm fixing you." In this episode, the RPGBOT crew tackles the most powerful spell in the game—the one that can rewrite reality, end campaigns, summon divine attention, and turn a carefully planned epic into a rules argument that lasts longer than combat at level 17. Whether you're wishing for ultimate power, infinite gold, or just a snack because the barbarian is bored, we're here to explain how Wish actually works… and why your DM is already sweating. Wish is the most powerful spell in tabletop roleplaying games—and one of the most dangerous. In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we break down how Wish works across Dungeons & Dragons 3.5e, D&D 5e (2014 and 2024), Pathfinder 1e, and Pathfinder 2e, including its lore, mechanics, exploits, and why so many Game Masters fear it. We explore how Wish can replicate spells, rewrite reality, override divine power, and derail entire campaigns if mishandled. The discussion covers infamous loopholes like simulacrum chains, genie-granted wishes, ritual casting in Pathfinder 2e, and why Wish is often the reason high-level campaigns fall apart. Finally, we offer practical GM advice for handling Wish without ruining your game—whether you want it as a campaign capstone, a narrative ritual, or a controlled tool of world-changing magic. Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the hosts take an in-depth look at Wish, the iconic reality-altering spell that defines high-level play in Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. Often called the most powerful spell ever printed, Wish allows characters to replicate spells, heal allies, undo actions, reshape the world, and even challenge the gods themselves—at a steep narrative and mechanical cost. The episode begins with the lore of Wish, including its emergence after the fall of Netheril and its relationship to lost 10th-level magic. The hosts then compare how Wish functions mechanically across editions, from the expensive, tightly worded versions in D&D 3.5e and Pathfinder 1e, to the flexible but risky spellcasting in D&D 5e, and finally the radically redesigned Pathfinder 2e Wish ritual, which introduces casting time, interference, ritual checks, and failure states. A major focus is why Wish is so controversial for Game Masters. The discussion covers campaign-breaking outcomes, narrative paradoxes, infamous exploits like infinite simulacrum armies, and why many tables restrict or ban the spell outright. The hosts also examine genie-granted wishes, highlighting how Pathfinder 2e adds unique wish interpretations based on genie type—ranging from diplomatic and literal to malicious and destabilizing. The episode concludes with practical GM advice on how to handle Wish responsibly: limiting it to core effects, telegraphing consequences, using rituals instead of instant casting, and reframing Wish as a dramatic story event rather than an "I win" button. Content From RPGBOT.Net DnD 5e Wish Guide Key Takeaways Wish is widely considered the most powerful spell in tabletop RPGs, capable of rewriting reality itself. Different systems handle Wish very differently, with Pathfinder 2e's ritual system offering the strongest structural safeguards. In D&D 5e, spell duplication is the safest use of Wish; creative uses risk permanent loss of the spell. Wish is a major reason many GMs avoid or limit high-level campaigns. Genie-granted wishes introduce flavorful but dangerous interpretations, especially in Pathfinder 2e. Successful use of Wish requires clear GM communication, narrative foreshadowing, and player trust. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati