RPGBOT.Podcast

Latest Episodes:

RPGBOT.News - Absalmon, Mordenkainen, and the 2022 Convention Circuit Jan 20, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of RPGBOT.News, we discuss the recently-released Pathfinder Absalom: City of Lost Omens, the upcoming release of Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes in the Dungeons and Dragons Rules Expansion Gift Set, and the 2022 gaming convention circuit, including which cons we'll be attending.

MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE

Pathfinder 2e

Absalom: City of Lost Omens

DnD 5e

Adventurer's League Rules Page
We got a few things wrong:
- PHB+1 not a thing anymore
- Starting at level 5 is an option, but not required
Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes is not currently allowed in Adventurer's League, but that may change by release day
D&D Rules Expansion Gift Set (affiliate link)
D&D Core Rulebook Gift Set (affiliate link)
Elemental Evil Player's Companion (Free PDF)

Conventions '22

Garycon Gaming Convention March 24th-27th (We're going!)
Paizocon May 27th-30th (We're going!)
Gencon Indy (as in Indiana) August 4th-7th
PAX West – Labor Day weekend (We're going!)
Gamehole Con October 20th-23rd
PAX Unplugged Usually December

S2 Episode 3 - Why are you Running your OneShots at Level 1...(or 2..., or 3...) Jan 20, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss running one-shot adventures and what level at which you should do so. We discuss the pros and cons of a 1st-level adventure, what levels we recommend for 5e and PF2 one-shots and why, and how to handle one-shots for classless systems and systems that don't use the concept of levels like Shadowrun and Fantasy Flight's Star Wars RPG.

Special thanks to @oaks_and_ravens on twitter for the question of the week this week.

MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE

RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes

Articles on RPGBOT.net

Dungeons and Dragons (DnD 5e)

Xanathar's Guide to Everything (affiliate link)

Pathfinder 2e

Core Rulebook (affiliate link)
Little Trouble in Big Absalom – Free PDF

Sundered Waves 5th-level one-shot adventure

Other Stuff

Halo: Reach on wikipedia
Quicken (affiliate link) – I bet you thought we were kidding.
Shadowrun Beginner Box (affiliate link)
Star Wars Edge of the Empire (affiliate link)
The Drake Equation on Wikipedia

RPGBOT.News (featuring Keith Ammann) - MOAR The Monsters Know What They're Doing Jan 14, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of RPGBOT.News, we sit down with Keith Ammann to discuss his latest book, recently-released MOAR The Monsters Know What They're Doing. We talk about what's new in the book, what you can learn from his book, and why everyone should go read both MOAR and his previous books, The Monsters Know What They're Doing, and Live to Tell The Tale.

Special thanks to our Patreon discord users for suggesting questions for today's episode.

MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE

Keith Ammann's Work

S2 Episode 2 - The Move Towards Inclusion in Gaming Jan 13, 2022

Show notes

NOTE TO LISTENERS:

Season 2 Episode 2 is a discussion about The Move Towards Inclusion in Tabletop Gaming. We are going to talk about, and around, some sensitive topics on race, gender, and ability. We know we may not be the right folks to lead this discussion--but we think it is an important conversation.

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss the ongoing move toward inclusion in Tabletop RPGs. We discuss missteps in the history of Dungeons and Dragans and Pathfinder, as well as what companies like Paizo and Wiizards of the Coast are doing to be better and more inclusive, as well as where they've fallen short in those efforts. We discuss other subjects of inclusion, including handling sensitive topics, portrayal of underrepresented groups, and how to make tabletop RPGs more welcoming and inclusive.

Special thanks to Discord user and RPGBOT patron Scawizzz for the question of the week this week.

MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE

RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes

Articles on RPGBOT.net

DnD 5e – The Healbot Olympics

DnD 5e

Curse of Strahd (affiliate link)

Ezmerelda's Prostheic (Appendix D, under Ezmerelda d'Avenir)

Player's Handbook (affiliate link)

Sex (Chapter 4 under "Character Details")

Pathfinder 2e

Absalom: City of Lost Omens (affiliate link)
Core Rulebook (affiliate link)

Guns and Gears

Other Stuff

Against the Cult of the Reptile God (affiliate link)
Brandon Sanderson's Novels

D&D Combat Wheelchair
D&D's Drizzt books were built on racist tropes. R.A. Salvatore wants to change that
Ed Greenwood Tweet on "Baked-in" Evil Races in DnD
Golarion Setting Information

Lines and Veils
Menzoberranzan on the Forgotten Realms Wiki
Open Letter from a Freelancer to Erik Mona (See the comments below the letter for an initial response from Erik Mona, which was later followed by a Paizo Community Blog post)
PF1 Slave entry – Came from PF1 "Adventurer's Armory" supplement, not from a PF2 setting book as Tyler said
Red Hand of Doom (affiliate link)

S2; Episode 1 - Variant Rules Jan 06, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss variant rules. We examine the difference between house rules and variants, and review a collection of our favorite variant rules for DnD 5e and for Pathfinder 2e and debate which ones you should or should not use and why.

MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE

Articles on RPGBOT.net

DnD 5e

Dungeon Master's Guide (affiliate link)

Chapter 8 under Adjudicating Area Effects
Chapter 9 under Resting and under Combat Options

Pathfinder 2e:

Gamemastery Guide

Chapter 4
https://2e.aonprd.com/Rules.aspx?ID=1297

Other Stuff

DnDBeyond Campaign Level Spread Chart – Taken from a video in 2019, so may be outdated

You can find more information at https://rpgbot.net/ - Analysis, tools, and instructional articles for tabletop RPGs.

SUPPORT US AT THE FOLLOWING LINKS:

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rpgbot

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RPGBOTDOTNET

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rpgbotdotnet

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rpgbot/

RPGBOT.Oneshot - The Winter Solstice Special Dec 30, 2021

Show notes

RPGBOT.Thanks! End of Year 2021 Message Dec 26, 2021

Show notes

At 11am Pacific Standard Time, we reached our 25,000th download of the RPGBOT.Podcast.

The team would like to thank you for supporting us and we hope you are having a great and wonderful day!

In this brief episode: Tyler, Random, and Randall reflect on our first four months and talk about our upcoming plans for the Pocast in 2022.

Thank you again for again for a great first season and helping to make us a success!

The RPGBOT.News - DnD Errata 3.0 Dec 24, 2021

Show notes

In this episode of the RPGBOT.News, we discuss the newest round of errata for Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition, including controversial changes to the text of existing source books, the frustrating initial presentation, and what this might indicate for future products.

MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE

New Errata Announcement Page
Ray Winninger's tweet regarding the errata
Reddit post with removed text
The Icewind Dale Trilogy (affiliate link) – Drizz't's first appearance

Episode 19: The Holidays' Episodes: Travel Dec 23, 2021

Show notes

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss how to make travel an interesting storytelling device in your game. We discuss popular fiction as both good and bad examples of how to use travel, and offer suggestions for how to adapt those ideas without taking away from the rest of your game.

Special thanks to for this week's questions of the week.

MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE

RPGBOT.Podcast episodes referenced in this episode

Articles on RPGBOT.net

DnD 5e

Dungeon Master's Guide (affiliate link)

Chapter 9, under "Creating a Monster"

Player's Handbook (affiliate link)

Chapter 8, under "Movement"

Pathfinder 2e:

Core Rulebook (affiliate link)

Page 479: Travel Speed
https://2e.aonprd.com/Rules.aspx?ID=470

Other Stuff

Dijkstra's Algorithm
Eurotrip

XKCD: Unpopular Opinions

Left for Dead 2
Lord of the Rings
Mulan 2 – Escort Mission Boogaloo
Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail Card Game (affiliate link)
Red Hand of Doom (affiliate link)
Skyrim, available now on your smart fridge or whatever
The Mandalorian – Chapter 10: The Passenger
Wheel of Time (affiliate link)

RPGBOT.News - Strixhaven: A Review of a Curriculum of Chaos Dec 17, 2021

Show notes

In this episode of the RPGBOT.News, we discuss Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos, the new supplement for Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition. We examine the new source book share our thoughts on the new character options, the new mechanics, and the included adventure.

MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE

DnD 5e

Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos (affiliate link)

Other Stuff

DnD 3.5 "NPC Attitudes" – Startlingly similar to Strixhaven's scale for NPC attitudes
Potter Puppet Pals, by Neil Cicierega

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