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In this especially unusual Hex, José & Ian sit down with Open Hearth stalwart Tea-amat to discuss games with no particular GM. Some of these games have strict procedures to keep play on track; others are almost like tone poems, eschewing structure for pure vibes; what they have in common is an emphasis on gamer-motivated play. This comes with a new set of pitfalls to navigate, and opportunities to shine. Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunityOur websiteSupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @[email protected] Our info:Email: [email protected]: https://lloydeaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-different-kind-of-hex"IMAGINE" by Boko Yout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtjOiRrpYag Help Rae Recover Links  Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla Timecodes00:04:01 - Introduction/Pick yr poison00:11:54 - No gods, no GMs... no direction???00:22:44 - GM-less Games Lab: Mobile Frame Zero: Firebrands00:35:39 - What's a GM good for, anyway?00:42:56 - What is only possible without a GM?00:58:10 - "Nicies"01:06:24 - Pearls of Wisdom

Welcome to another episode of our new series on the Around the Hearth podcast feed: Known Territory: GMs Talk Games. Each episode we sit down with an experienced game facilitator who has played a specific TTRPG extensively. They will discuss how they pitch the game, best practices for running, useful tools, potential pitfalls, and more. This time we have designer and facilitator Mads aka madelancholy. They're here to talk about the classic Carved from Brindlewood TTRPG for Victorian horror and mystery: The Between. We talk about how to pitch the game, handling the different phases, the power of the Unscene, and much more. The BetweenMads on itch.ioSprigs and Kindling If you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe. This episode's host is Lowell Francis,  designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community. He's the co-author of the Transverse Noir series of Shadowrun novellas. You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG. Help Rae Recover Links Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla Music: ‘Mission Control’ by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @[email protected]

Welcome to another episode of our new series on the Around the Hearth podcast feed: Known Territory: GMs Talk Games. Each episode we sit down with an experienced game facilitator who has played a specific TTRPG extensively. They will discuss how they pitch the game, best practices for running, useful tools, potential pitfalls, and more. This time we have designer, consultant, and co-creator of Asians Represent!, Agatha Cheng. She's here to talk about the amazing game Good Society, a diceless TTRPG of romance, passion, and drama. We talk about a lot, including the Kickstarter for Good Society 2nd Edition. Good Society 2nd Edition Kickstarter"2 Good 2 Society: Storybrewers do a lot with small changes in the new edition of the beloved Austen-like" (Rascal, Thomas Manuel) Games MentionedGood SocietyPasión de las PasionesWoolf Society: PercivalTake the UniverseGothic SocietyThinly Veiled Agatha on itch.ioCheck Open Hearth's free online gaming event: Shared Hearth happening Oct. 1st- Oct. 4th, 2026 If you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe. This episode's host is Lowell Francis,  designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community. He's the co-author of the Transverse Noir series of Shadowrun novellas. You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG. Help Rae Recover Links Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla Music: ‘Mission Control’ by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @[email protected]

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Dominik talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Guy and Anders discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth (Trespasser, The One Ring 2e, and Slugblaster), and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently. Games Discussed:TrespasserThe One Ring 2eSlugblaster Shared HearthRegistration is now open for the Shared Hearth free open gaming event October 1st - October 4th, 2026! More information at https://openhearthgaming.com/shared-hearth Help Rae Recover Links  Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @[email protected]     00:00 Introduction01:16 Anders & Trespasser 09:43 Guy & The One Ring 2e22:08 Dominik & Slugblaster34:07 Giving Me Life

In this episode, Gwen talks with community member & layout/designer David MK and game designer Will Munn about Arium the Worldbuilding RPG. They cover the game's core concepts, adaptability, and new elements added by Arium: Evolve.  The Kickstarter for the new boxed edition of Arium, which includes the new supplement, runs through Wed, Sept 16th, 2026. The Arium KickstarterArium's HomepageAquavertigo (David MK)  Shared Hearth free open gaming event is coming October 1st - October 4th, 2026 Help Rae Recover Links  Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @[email protected]

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Tea talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Moria and Shane discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth (Basic Fantasy RPG, Fearful Symmetries, and Void Technicians), and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently. Links: Moria Hobby blog: https://trashpile.blog/ Carrd: https://the-trashpile.carrd.co/ Shane YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Shane-Marble/videos Games Discussed:Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game - https://www.basicfantasy.org/Fearful Symmetries by Steve Dempsey for Trail of Cthulhu - https://pelgranepress.com/product/fearful-symmetries/Void Technicians - https://thecastlebuilder.itch.io/void-techniciansOther Games & Misc Mentioned:Basic Fantasy RPG is not to be confused with Basic RoleplayingShadowdarkLancerMothershipStrange Towns for Cortex PrimeGood SocietyUnder Hollow HillsFor The QueenBeach Blanket Body Bag (Carved from Brindlewood)Rune Seekers of Glorantha (in development)Rosewood AbbeyBiophageWith Fire Thy Affections Hold A WingHarvestGhosts of El Paso for The BetweenGoblin ErrandsArmor Astir: AdventOcean TidesD&DOh Captain, My Captain!StonetopTurnip 28Other Mentions:Fearful Symmetries session videosRune Seekers of Glorantha session videosShared Hearth free open gaming event is coming October 1st - October 4th, 2026The xkcd "Average Familiarity" comicPlayingcards.io Help Rae Recover Links  Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @[email protected]     00:00 Introduction01:50 Moria & Basic Fantasy RPG09:48 Shane & Fearful Symmetries17:38 Tea & Void Technicians27:58 Giving Me Life

...to the last, I prattle with thee; from a studio apartment, I yap at thee; for the game's sake I pod my last cast at thee!! In the first-ever live studio recording of the show, José & Ian spend a (very warm) summer evening bouncing off of each other about games & gaming. We discuss bringing newcomers into the hobby, embracing (and even aiming for) imperfection, and our forever-implausible "ideal" games. Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunityOur website - Check out the Shared Hearth event!Support us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @[email protected] Our info:Email: [email protected]: https://lloydeaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-different-kind-of-hexJack de Quidt's Music - https://notquitereal.bandcamp.com/ Help Rae Recover Links  Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla 01:05 - Intro02:53 - José's Poison, the "Pied Piper"14:00 - Ian's Poison, the "Need for Speed"23:47 - White Whales; or, the "ideal" game45:56 - Pearls of Wisdom55:27 - Outro

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Gwen talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Jex (Bump in the Dark) and Mads discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth (Blades '68, Firebrands and Dungeon World 2), and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently. Links:Jex Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lastpinepress.com Itch: https://jexjthomas.itch.io/ RPG Trader: https://rpg-trader.com/creator/197/last-pine-press Mads YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Madelancholy Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/madelancholy.bsky.social Itch: https://madelancholy.itch.io/ Gwen Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/drgwenmarshall.bsky.social Itch: https://drgwenmarshall.itch.io/ Games & Misc Discussed: Going for Broke series Blades '68 More about Good Society 2E playtesting ZealZaddy on Twitch Mobile Frame Zero: Firebrands In Dreaming Avalon You Can Check Out Any Time You Like, But You Can Never Leave Hearts of Magic: Threads Entangled Once More Into the Void The King is Dead Winter's Daughter Cantrip Lichcraft Dungeon World 2 Beta Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (2026) Camp (2026) Help Rae Recover Links  Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @[email protected]     00:00 Introduction 02:06 Jex & Blades '68 09:36 Mads & The Firebrand System 24:05 Gwen & Dungeon World 2 35:47 Giving Me Life

Welcome to the first episode of a new series on the Around the Hearth podcast feed: Known Territory: GMs Talk Games. Each episode we sit down with an experienced game facilitator who has played a specific TTRPG extensively. They will discuss how they pitch the game, best practices for running, useful tools, potential pitfalls, and more. We hope this will be a useful primer for both GMs and players interested in this game. For this first episode we have on Jim Crocker to discuss Band of Blades, Evil Hat's military fantasy Forged in the Dark TTRPG. Jim's run complete campaigns of this striking and complex story game of military survival and horror. Jim on itch.io Games MentionedBand of BladesBand of Blades on Roll20Blades in the DarkThe WatchNight Witches If you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe. This episode's host is Lowell Francis,  designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community. He's the co-author of the Transverse Noir series of Shadowrun novellas. You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG. Help Rae Recover Links Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla Music: ‘Mission Control’ by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @[email protected]

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History looks at Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness, one of the earliest and most successful licensed supers games, kicking around for many more years than any competitors. We talk about the game's mechanics, how it conveys the pitch, and the unique approach to splitting combat and skills. We then cover the publication history of the line and how it helped cement Palladium's role in the TTRPG industry. We talk a little about the Turtles themselves and how important this game is to the history of the TMNT licensing behemoth. We finish up by giving our general thoughts about TMNT and the recent Kickstarter reprint. If you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe. Jay's the author of By Aecer’s Light, The Clockwinders for Fate, Cortex Prime's Supers, and a contributing author on Pathfinder’s Mwangi Expanse, Trophy Gold, Hit the Streets: Defend the Block, and the upcoming Lifted: Indomitable RPG, a supers game about everyday folks with extraordinary powers in a tech-aggressive world. Check out Mad Jay's work at Play.Fearless and at the Diceology Podcast. Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community. He's the co-author of the Transverse Noir series of Shadowrun novellas. You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG. Help Rae Recover Links Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @[email protected] 00:00 Intro01:36 Pitch and Mechanics07:22 Publication History17:33 Media History21:39 Thoughts

Love, lust, friendship, strong attachment-- the emotional beats which support drama and play. In this community talk, we consider romance in TTRPGs: running it, playing it, planning it. Drawing on experiences we explore break ups, cool mechanics, the line between system and play, objects of affection, good romance GM moves, and more. This is part of our Open Hearth series of community RPG talks. Selected LinksEyes on the PrizeGirl by MoonlightThirsty Sword LesbiansApocalypse KeysStar CrossedGood SocietyMasksUrban ShadowsPasión de las PasionesEscape from Dino IslandApocalypse World 3eHearts of WulinDIE RpgImage mentioned during talk Help Rae Recover Links  Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @[email protected]

Ian, José, and special guest Elle discuss the inner worlds of our characters and of ourselves! How do we as players express interiority and why would we want to, anyways. Along the way, there are guilty confessions, moments of uncertainty, and unexpected plot twists. Elle’s work: https://bloodygorgeous.carrd.co/ Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunityOur websiteSupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @[email protected] Our info:Email: [email protected]: https://lloydeaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-different-kind-of-hex Help Rae Recover Links  Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla 0:02:16 - Pick Your Poison0:16:05 - What is Interiority?0:25:50 - Why do it?0:28:01 - Plot twists & interiority0:33:20 - José’s guilty confession0:38:05 - Can opaqueness be good?0:54:52 - How to show interiority 1:07:21 - Encouraging it in other players1:18:00 - Pearl of Wisdom1:21:01 - Outro

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Tea talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Amanda (Sprigs and Kindling) and Cale discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth (Planet Raygun, Embers of the Void, and A Land Once Magic), and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently. Links:Amanda Cale:  https://vengefulpickle.com/ https://warboard.vengefulpickle.com/ Games discussed:  Planet Raygun (in development) Embers Of the Void (in development) A Land Once Magic Games mentioned: Pirate Borg by Limithon MÖRK BORG  Starhold: a Space-Themed Survival Horror TTRPG  A Fool’s Errand by j strautman and b marsolier Trophy: Ruin Once More into the Void Band-Aids & Bullet Holes Thirsty Sword Lesbians The King is Dead Uneasy Lies the Head The Last Caravan The Emperor is Undead  Fomoria Fearful Symmetries Cairn Armor Astir Advent MF0: Firebrands  D&D The Between  Stonetop Quiet Year/The Deep Forest Exquisite Biome Microscope: Chronicle  Pull Over, I Need to Pee For the Queen Agon Blades in the Dark Help Rae Recover Links  Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @[email protected]     00:00 Introduction06:27 Amanda & Planet Raygun (in development)12:29 Cale & Embers Of the Void (in development)18:43 Tea & A Land Once Magic26:31 Giving Me Life

In our seventh episode of Roll for Mutation, we look at a game series originally from a Spanish publisher, translated and released in English by Fantasy Flight. We talk about mechanics, how each book is structured, and the presentation of "mid-" and "post-" apocalypse. We then talk about cross-company publication history and Fantasy Flight's swingy history with TTRPGs. Lastly we talk about some media touchstones, the five scenarios in each book, and our thoughts and impressions of this line-- including our favorite concepts. ReferencesEdge EntertainmentEdge Studio (where the FF RPGs went)The End of the World: Alien InvasionThe End of the World: Revolt of the MachinesThe End of the World: Wrath of the GodsThe End of the World: Zombie ApocalypseOur Last Best HopeHelp Rae Recover Links Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla For other shows like this, check out Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History. Marc Majcher is an award-winning game designer, performer, educator, director, woodworker, writer, and all-around goblin-man recently relocated from Austin, Texas to East Lansing, Michigan. You can find their RPGs and LARPs inspired by the works of Philip K. Dick, a bird apocalypse, eldritch startup cults, viral videos, and much, much more at https://majcher.itch.io/ and everything else at https://majcher.com/. Lowell Francis is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community. You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG. Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @[email protected] Music: Here Comes the Night Karl Casey @White Bat Audio Chapters00:00 Introduction01:09 Premise and Mechanics07:55 Publication History13:19 Media Sources17:20 Apocalyptic Scenarios24:19 Thoughts and Impressions

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, Lowell (edige23) talks with a pair of community members about their gaming. This time Chrys Sellers (Defy the Gods) and Jolene discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth (Raccoon Sky Pirates, the Masks hack Capers, Star Wars Citizen for Mongoose Traveller 2e), Lowell worries about complexity, and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently. Links:RSP Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hecticelectron/raccoon-sky-pirates-total-chaos-edition  Chrys Central: https://hecticelectron.com  Itch: https://hecticelectron.itch.io/  Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hecticelectron.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hecticelectron/  Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/hecticelectron  Stag Dance: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/708446/stag-dance-by-torrey-peters/ Capers (Masks Hack): https://www.reddit.com/r/PBtA/comments/due766/masksvillainous_hack_capers_improved_pdf_files/?rdt=45538 War Rocket Ajax: https://zencastr.com/War-Rocket-AjaxStar Wars Citizen (Traveller hack): https://www.reddit.com/r/traveller/comments/1ezh01l/beta_release_full_conversion_guide_for_star_wars/ Help Rae Recover Links  Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @[email protected]     00:00 Introduction01:50 Chrys & Raccoon Sky Pirates11:05 Jolene & Capers (Masks)24:52 Lowell & Star Wars Citizen (Traveller)36:30 Giving Me Life