Happy Jacks RPG Podcast: GM & Player TTRPG Advice

Latest Episodes:

HJRP S35E23 | Large Gaming Groups, Mechanics vs. Fun, Wish Struggles Jul 19, 2025

Show notes

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

HJRP S35E22 | System vs. Story, An Origin Story, Keeping Engaged in Combat Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

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

HJRP S35E21 | Setting up a Big Bad, Safety Tools, & Plot Hooks Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

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

HJRP S35E20 | GMing for Jocks, Keeping the GM Spark, & Magic Systems Jun 28, 2025

Show notes

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

HJRP S35E19 | Resurrecting Old Campaigns, Open Table Style, & a D&D Question Jun 28, 2025

Show notes

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

HJRP S35E18 | Why Play TTRPGS?, How to Pace Games, & Unanticipated PVP Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

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

HJRP S35E17 | Belonging Outside Belonging Advice, An Origin Story, Running Modern Games in Troubled Times Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

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

HJRP S35E16 | Game Daze Story, What Systems need Upgrades, & 10yo Murder Hobo May 17, 2025

Show notes

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

HJRP S35E15 | BGE & TTRPG Retailers, Mike’s Origin Story, & PCs that are Too Good May 17, 2025

Show notes

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

HJRP S35E14 | Games Folk vs Outsider Art, D&D in Postwar Serbia, & GMs Prompting Players May 05, 2025

Show notes

◇ Wes from Indianapolis replies to the idea that Actual Plays are Art, Steven tells how he found D&D in postwar Serbia, From the Archive 2021: Dirk (RIP) asks about prompting questions from the GM | Hosts: Kimi, Riley, & Pooja ◇ 00:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 02:46 - Announcements: Game Daze is going to be May 24th! It’s fun, safe and free! The last one had 9 different games in one day! Sign up to run or play at happyjacks.org/discord | 03:37 - Indie Designer of the Month: Jess Geyer (she/they) from Wannabe Games. You can find his work on wannabegames.itch.io or DriveThruRPG | 07:30 - Wes from Indianapolis replies to the idea that Actual Plays are Art | 38:09 - Steven tells how he found D&D in postwar Serbia | 01:15:06 - From the Archive 2021: Dirk (RIP) asks about prompting questions from the GM | 01:36:01 - Episode Closing | 01:40:49 - Music | ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

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