Podcasts by Total Party Thrill: RPG Advice From Our Table to Yours
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TPT #313: Communal Characters&Sharing Is Caring from 2022-04-08T10:57:31
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane talk about playing shared characters. But first, the party takes a bath in the Gates of Mourning campaign. Later, Sharing Is Caring carries the whole party in the Character ...
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TPT #312: Dice&The Dice Goblin from 2022-03-31T10:57:03
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane hoard shiny math rocks. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party fights mind to mind, and The Dice Goblin rolls with it in the Character Creation Forge. (66m) Bonus Cont...
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TPT #311: The One Ring RPG Review from 2022-03-24T10:57:28
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane brave the wilds of Eriador for an extra-long cover-to-cover review of the 2nd Edition of the RPG set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Same authors, new publisher, and an up...
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TPT #310: Endearing Villains&Carmen Sandiego from 2022-03-17T11:03:45
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane make evil look good. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party botches an experiment, and Carmen Sandiego pulls off monumental capers in the Character Creation Forge. (54...
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TPT #309: Survival Games&Judge Dredd from 2022-03-11T11:03
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane exploit scarce resources as they discuss making survival fun. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party stares at nothing, and Judge Dredd is the law in the Character Cre...
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TPT #308: Plot Armor&The King Under the Mountain from 2022-03-04T11:03:58
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane shield themselves from consequences with the armor of plot. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party hires help, and The King Under the Mountain holds off Smaug in the C...
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TPT #307: Debrief (AP S2E7, Candlekeep Mysteries) from 2022-02-24T11:03:38
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane break down this season’s actual play: what worked, what didn’t, what was changed from the module, and what we’d do differently next time. This episode is part of the second ...
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TPT #306: Death Knocks Twice (AP S2E6, Candlekeep Mysteries) from 2022-02-17T11:03:28
Tez Proudgale brings the battle to the beach—and forces a tough choice. This episode is the finale of the second season of TPT’s Actual Play series, inspired by the Dungeons&Dragons 5E adventure A ...
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TPT #305: The Beast Revealed (AP S2E5, Candlekeep Mysteries) from 2022-02-05T11:03:35
Tez Proudgale comes face-to-face with the mysterious killer. This episode is part of the second season of TPT’s Actual Play series, inspired by the Dungeons&Dragons 5E adventure A Deep and Creeping...
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TPT #304: Blind, Fight! (AP S2E4, Candlekeep Mysteries) from 2022-01-27T11:03:17
Tez Proudgale takes the battle to the Beast to find clues about its true form. This episode is part of the second season of TPT’s Actual Play series, inspired by the Dungeons&Dragons 5E adventure A...
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TPT #303: Graveyard Shift (AP S2E3, Candlekeep Mysteries) from 2022-01-21T11:03:45
The Beast is dead and the reward claimed—but Tez Proudgale is suspicious. This episode is part of the second season of TPT’s Actual Play series, inspired by the Dungeons&Dragons 5E adventure A Deep...
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TPT #302: The Shrouded Village (AP S2E2, Candlekeep Mysteries) from 2022-01-14T11:03:37
Tez Proudgale heads into the fog to look for clues—and finds more than he expected. This episode is part of the second season of TPT’s Actual Play series, inspired by the Dungeons&Dragons 5E advent...
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TPT #301: Hunting Party (AP S2E1, Candlekeep Mysteries) from 2022-01-08T11:03:55
Tez Proudgale begins his first mission for the Trust—whether he likes it or not. This episode is part of the second season of TPT’s Actual Play series, inspired by the Dungeons&Dragons 5E adventure...
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TPT #300: 6th Anniversary Mega-Mailbag&Dora the Explorer from 2021-12-30T11:03:23
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane celebrate another year of Total Party Thrill by answering all your questions about gaming while parenting, game prep shortcuts and much more in a super-sized mailbag special...
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TPT #299: Bad RPG Advice&Just Play a Fighter from 2021-12-23T15:54:08
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane pick apart the worst gaming recommendations the internet has to offer. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party trades thoughts, and we Just Play a Fighter in the Charac...
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TPT #298: Playing Humans&The Steam Knight from 2021-12-16T12:03
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane finally discuss how to play these curious, wily, and fragile creatures in a world where real-life rules don’t apply. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party splits up, ...
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TPT #297: Teaching Old Players New Tricks&The Old Dog from 2021-12-09T16:45:18
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane talk about how to keep things interesting for a jaded gaming group. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party buys a drink, and the Old Dog tries a new path in the Charac...
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TPT #296: Using Demons&Fire Walk With Me from 2021-12-03T17:01:27
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane summon abyssal lore to discuss how to use demons in your games. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party takes flight, and Fire Walk With Me burns but is not consumed in...
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TPT #295: Urban Adventures&the Urban Cowboy from 2021-11-25T11:54:45
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss adventuring in city environments. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party faces justice, and the Urban Cowboy deals with bull in the Character Creation Forge. (...
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TPT #294: Bringing a Campaign to a Close&Nighty Night Bugs from 2021-11-18T14:32:13
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to bring a long-running campaign to a successful conclusion. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party confesses, and Nighty Night Bugs creeps and crawls in t...
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TPT #293: The Problem With Chases&Coheed’s Chase from 2021-11-12T15:28:50
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss best and worst practices for running chase scenes. In Gates of Mourning, the party fights back, and Chase takes inspiration from emo in the Character Creation Forge....
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TPT #292: Telepathy&The Dragonrider of Pern from 2021-11-05T11:52:15
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane use their mouths to talk about communicating with only the mind. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party tests a theory, and the Dragonrider of Pern takes flight in the...
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TPT #291: Focus Fire Tactics&Fire in the Hole from 2021-10-30T15:13:41
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane kick off a new series on combat tactics. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party uncovers a scheme, and Fire in the Hole goes to ground in the Character Creation Forge....
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TPT #290: Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons Review from 2021-10-21T11:03
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane plunder multiversal hoards in a supersized cover-to-cover review of the latest sourcebook for 5th Edition D&D. The Platinum Dragon himself presents new character options, st...
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TPT #289: The Wheel of Time Campaign Setting&Mat Cauthon from 2021-10-15T11:03
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane channel saidin to weave a discussion about playing in the world of Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party confirms their suspicions,...
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TPT #288: Gen Con Online 2021 Panel: ‘Skin Deep’ from 2021-10-07T14:00:35
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane pop into Gen Con Online for a live chat about playing realistic non-human characters and field audience questions about long lifespans, sexual dimorphism, custom armor and m...
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TPT #287: Reconnaissance&Radar from 2021-10-01T14:38:54
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to make gathering intel interesting. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party dishes out a little hellish rebuke, and Radar sees it all and misses nothing in...
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TPT #286: Using Orcs&The All-Nighter from 2021-09-23T18:05:51
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane channel the power of the horde to discuss the classic and misunderstood orc. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party becomes reluctant petitioners, and the All-Nighter ...
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TPT #285: Skipping Ahead to the Action&Time Skip from 2021-09-16T20:31:16
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss jumping past all the boring stuff. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party hears tales of woe, and Time Skip fools with timey wimey stuff in the Character Creat...
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TPT #284: Using Voices&The Big Talker from 2021-09-10T11:03:57
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane chat about how to create immersive voices for your game. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party sets sail, and The Big Talker fights toe-to-toe with the biggest monste...
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TPT AP #15: Debrief (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-08-27T17:11:10
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane break down the show’s first actual play: what worked, what didn’t, what we changed from the module, and how to run it at your own table. This episode is part of TPT’s Actual...
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TPT AP #14: The Best Defense (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-08-13T11:03
In the finale, Tez Proudgale goes on the offensive in a bid to finally claim his diploma. This episode is part of TPT’s Actual Play series, playing through the Dungeons&Dragons 5E adventure Sunless...
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TPT AP #13: Spilling Guts (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-07-30T11:03
Tez Proudgale confronts the Outcast, and the truth about his new friends. This episode is part of TPT’s Actual Play series, playing through the Dungeons&Dragons 5E adventure Sunless Citadel in Tale...
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TPT AP #12: The Dragon’s Quest (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-07-15T15:50:18
Tez Proudgale, Meepo, and Erky discover the original purpose of the sunken fortress. This episode is part of TPT’s Actual Play series, playing through the Dungeons&Dragons 5E adventure Sunless Cita...
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TPT AP #11: Fire in the Hole (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-07-01T16:20:37
Tez Proudgale and party finally venture down into the Outcast’s lair. This episode is part of TPT’s Actual Play series, playing through the Dungeons&Dragons 5E adventure Sunless Citadel in Tales fr...
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TPT AP #10: The Hostile Negotiator (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-06-18T19:32:11
Tez Proudgale and friends face an elite squad of hobgoblins—and the grim reality of death. This episode is part of TPT’s Actual Play series, playing through the Dungeons&Dragons 5E adventure Sunles...
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TPT AP #9: Old Bones Make New Friends (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-06-03T18:47:07
Tez Proudgale and companions (dare we say friends?) delve deeper into enemy territory to confront a hobgoblin menace. And definitely don’t commit an act of heinous blasphemy. This episode is part o...
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TPT AP #8: The Way Opens (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-05-21T13:14:02
Tez Proudgale, Meepo, and Erky hatch a plan to take on the goblins. But first, loot! This episode is part of TPT’s Actual Play series, playing the Dungeons&Dragons 5E adventure Sunless Citadel in T...
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TPT AP #7: The Icy Breath of Death (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-05-06T18:00:26
Tez Proudgale and the poor sods he’s roped into his adventure face down an angry dragon. This episode is part of TPT’s Actual Play series, playing the Dungeons&Dragons 5E adventure Sunless Citadel ...
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TPT AP #6: Best Left Buried (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-04-22T20:23:35
Tez Proudgale succumbs to professional curiosity—and greed—to explore a sealed-off section of the ruins. Where Tez wanders, calamity soon follows. This episode is part of TPT’s Actual Play series, ...
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TPT AP #5: The Goblin Perimeter (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-04-09T14:18:32
Tez Proudgale meets his new companion and contends with dangers both past and present. This episode is part of TPT’s Actual Play series, playing the Dungeons&Dragons 5E adventure Sunless Citadel in...
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TPT AP #4: Reaching into the Past (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-03-26T15:35:11
Tez Proudgale meets his new companion and contends with dangers both past and present. This episode is part of TPT’s Actual Play series, playing the Dungeons&Dragons 5E adventure Sunless Citadel in...
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TPT AP #3: The Friends We Made Along the Way (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-03-11T16:00
Tez Proudgale continues further into the ruins and strikes a bargain with the first denizens he encounters in the Citadel. This episode is part of TPT’s Actual Play series, playing the Dungeons&Dra...
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TPT AP #2: Over the Edge (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-02-25T14:44:11
Tez Proudgale picks up the trail of the missing adventurers and follows them first into a chasm and then into a bona fide local legend. This episode is part of TPT’s Actual Play series, playing the...
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TPT AP #1: Session Zero&The Lonely Archeologist (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-02-11T19:00:22
Tez Proudgale (Shane) sets out on an adventure for fortune and academic prestige in the hinterlands of southern Breland. What triumphs and tribulations does the Dungeon Master (I-Hsien) have in sto...
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TPT AP #1: Session Zero & The Lonely Archeologist (Sunless Citadel) from 2021-02-11T19:00:22
Tez Proudgale (Shane) sets out on an adventure for fortune and academic prestige in the hinterlands of southern Breland. What triumphs and tribulations does the Dungeon Master (I-Hsien) ...
TPT #283: Steampunk Adventures&Iron Man from 2021-01-28T11:03:16
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane gear up and strap in for a discussion of steampunk as an RPG genre. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party sets sail, and Iron Man takes flight in the Character Creati...
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TPT #282: Gaming Hades&Zagreus from 2021-01-14T15:28:26
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane break down the video game Hades as inspiration for your tabletop sessions. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party tries to do no harm, and Zagreus dies escaping yet li...
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TPT #281: Using Giants&Stone’s Throw from 2020-12-31T22:09:30
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane punch down as they discuss using giants in your game. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party puts a history of breaking and entering to good use, and Stone’s Throw kil...
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TPT #280: Using History&The Historian from 2020-12-17T15:25:23
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane correct the record on incorporating pieces of the past into your game. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party fights gravity, and the Historian digs up the truth in th...
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TPT #279: Sword and Sorcery Adventures&Red Sonja from 2020-12-03T14:21:20
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane shed armor and overarching plots for a gritty discussion of sword and sorcery as an RPG genre. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party fights friendly, and Red Sonja is...
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TPT #278: Tundra Adventures&Healing Warmth from 2020-11-26T17:01:17
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane bundle up for a trek across the frozen wastes as they discuss adventures on the tundra. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party looks beneath the surface, and Healing W...
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TPT #277: Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything Review from 2020-11-19T18:05:22
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane see what bubbles up in a supersized cover-to-cover review of the latest sourcebook for 5th Edition D&D. Iggwilv herself presents two dozen subclasses, new race and proficien...
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TPT #276: Speeding Up Combat&Simple Simon from 2020-11-12T21:46:11
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane are in a hurry and just want to finish this fight as they discuss speeding up combat. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party starts connecting the dots, and Simple Sim...
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TPT #275: Plot Hooks V&Undeath Metal from 2020-11-05T17:24:51
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane grab you by the collar with a new round of plot hooks to use in your game. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party brings the house down, and Undeath Metal slays the se...
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TPT #274: Playing Kenku&Sombra from 2020-10-29T14:30:26
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane show off both their lack of creativity and their ability to mimic the sounds of podcast hosts as they discuss playing Kenku. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party dis...
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TPT #273: Verisimilitude&Winston from 2020-10-22T17:07:59
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane lose themselves in realism as they discuss verisimilitude. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party tracks a package, and Winston leaps into the fray in the Character Cr...
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TPT #272: Using the Tarrasque&Mei from 2020-10-15T14:00:16
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane face the force of nature buried at the center of the Earth as they discuss using the legendary Tarrasque. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party opens the floodgates, ...
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TPT #271: Necromancy&Ashe from 2020-10-08T11:03:34
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane go gravedigging for a good discussion about spells that affect the dead. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party faces new horrors, and Ashe shoots from the hip in the ...
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TPT #270: The Midgard Campaign Setting&Torbjorn from 2020-10-01T14:00:33
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane wander into the Margreve as they discuss the Midgard Campaign Setting. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party uncovers new horrors, and Torbjorn kicks off Overwatch-to...
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TPT #269: Lightning Rails and Trains&the Conductor from 2020-09-24T11:03:03
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane pack their trunks and settle in for a journey on lightning rails and other trains. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party hacks healing, and the Conductor punches tick...
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TPT #268: World-Shaking Events&The Shock Jock from 2020-09-17T14:00:58
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane throw out the lore you thought you knew as they discuss events that change your setting at its core. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party bleeds out, and the Shock J...
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TPT #267: Romance&The Heartbreaker from 2020-09-10T13:31:51
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane realize this is a kissing game and pour their hearts into a discussion of love between characters. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party reveals a secret identity, an...
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TPT #266: Astral Plane Adventures&The Guardian of the God-Isles from 2020-09-03T18:35:53
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane slip into the interplanar wonder of thoughts and dreams as they discuss adventures in the astral sea. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party accosts a scientist, and t...
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TPT #265: Mass Combat&The Bugbear-tillerist from 2020-08-27T13:35:09
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane gather the troops for a chaotic battle as they discuss strategies for running mass combat scenarios. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party gets some inside info, and ...
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TPT #264: Using Deities&The Ecclesitheurge from 2020-08-20T19:30:25
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane found a pantheon and and curry worship as they discuss using deities in your games. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party goes spelunking, and the Ecclesitheurge has ...
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TPT #263: Exploring Eberron Review from 2020-08-13T14:16:55
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane take a deep dive into the newest sourcebook from Eberron creator Keith Baker, Exploring Eberron. In this cover-to-cover review, they discuss player options like new races an...
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TPT #262: 5th Anniversary Mailbag&Buffy Summers from 2020-08-06T14:59:56
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane celebrate the fifth year of Total Party Thrill by cracking open the mailbag and answering your questions! Later, Buffy fights supernatural strangeness in a special Sunnydale...
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TPT #261: Random Tables&The Lotto Ticket from 2020-07-30T13:49:25
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the best ways to use and react to the surprising and erratic results of randomized tables. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party attempts magical CPR, and the...
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TPT #260: Playing Kobolds&The Weather Balloon from 2020-07-23T10:00:03
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss playing kobolds, the diminutive descendants of dragons. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party fends off an ambush, and the Weather Balloon drifts in the sky t...
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TPT #259: Lancer Campaign Setting&The Hard Charger from 2020-07-16T15:15:08
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the space-faring tech utopia of the mech skirmish RPG Lancer. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party takes on a job, and the Hard Charger stays in the fight to...
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TPT #258: Divinations and Fortune-Telling&The Medani Prophet from 2020-07-09T12:30:32
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane gazed into the future and saw listeners wanted them to discuss divinations and fortune-telling, so they are. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party arrives in Korth wi...
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TPT #257: Family Members&The Brother-in-Arms from 2020-07-02T13:04:52
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to use family relationships as something other than fodder for a tragic backstory. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party boards a train without a ticket, ...
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TPT #256: Support Characters&The Accomplice from 2020-06-25T10:00:54
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the unsung heroes of every adventuring party: support characters. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party finds themselves yet again with a train to catch, and ...
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TPT #255: Mythic Odysseys of Theros Review from 2020-06-18T13:18:12
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane scroll through the second D&D campaign setting from Magic: The Gathering. Theros is a world based on Greek myth, where adventurers chosen by the gods battle magical creature...
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TPT #254: Using Undead&The Twice-Damned from 2020-06-11T10:00:01
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane raid the catacombs for allies as they discuss using undead in your games. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party responds to a disturbance on the lightning rail, and t...
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TPT #253: Downtime&The Herbalist from 2020-06-04T13:44:22
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane cool their heels in town for a discussion about how to handle game time between high adventures. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party takes a midnight train to troub...
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TPT #252: Airships&Spike Spiegel from 2020-05-28T10:00:08
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane take flight and head to the skies as they discuss airships. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party books a ticket out of town, and Spike Spiegel brings his Jeet Kune D...
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TPT #251: Player Types for Online Games&L from 2020-05-21T11:03:52
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane revisit the Player Personality Types series with updates for the age of online gaming. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party cracks a vault, and L solves mysteries wh...
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TPT #250: Playing Aberrant Dragonmarked Characters&Inuyasha from 2020-05-14T10:00:28
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane consider their unexpected–and unfortunate–heritage as they discuss playing characters with aberrant dragonmarks. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party battles in the ...
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TPT #249: Seafaring Adventures&Sailor Neptune from 2020-05-07T10:03:55
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane journey on the high seas to discuss pirates, leviathans and ship-to-ship combat. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party rescues a friend, and Sailor Neptune is a cultu...
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TPT #248: Using Poison&The Dart Frog from 2020-04-30T10:00:15
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane are in your ears, pouring poison into your games, as they discuss making, using, and curing poisons. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party upgrades their accommodatio...
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TPT #247: Cults, Cultists&The Deprogrammer from 2020-04-23T11:03:21
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane explore a foe that’s typically portrayed as shallow and fanatical to understand their goals, motivations and tactics. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party meets a se...
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TPT #246: Using Slaad&The Toad Battler from 2020-04-16T10:00:48
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane dive into the depths of Dungeons&Dragons lore as they discuss using Slaad in your games. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party dines with an old acquaintance and the ...
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TPT #245: Gaming During the Pandemic&The Nosomatic Chirurgeon from 2020-04-09T11:03:19
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane talk about how games and gaming groups can better adapt to an uncertain, socially-distanced world. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party gets an unexpected assignment...
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TPT #244: The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from 2020-04-02T10:00:39
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane finally dive into the default campaign setting of Dungeons&Dragons 5th Edition: The Forgotten Realms. We’ll cover both its real-world and fictional histories, locations, NPC...
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TPT #244a: The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (The April Fool’s Episode) from 2020-04-01T10:00:08
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane finally dive into the default campaign setting of Dungeons&Dragons 5th Edition: The Forgotten Realms. We’ll cover both its real-world and fictional histories, locations, NPC...
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TPT #243: Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount Review from 2020-03-29T14:19:24
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane dive into the first official D&D book for the campaign setting from Matthew Mercer’s “Critical Role.” Wildemount is a new continent filled with dangerous creatures, scheming...
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TPT #242: Puzzles&The Kundarak Keymaster from 2020-03-19T10:00:15
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane solve for using puzzles in your games so you don’t have to. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party puzzles a priest, and the Kundarak Keymaster leaves even the most da...
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TPT #241: Adversarial GMs&The Troll Hunter from 2020-03-12T11:36:12
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane are no fans of the party, as they discuss gamemasters who think their fun comes at the expense of the players’. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party gets an unwanted...
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TPT #240: Underwater Adventures&The Siren’s Song from 2020-03-05T11:00:53
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane dive right in and immerse themselves in underwater adventures. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party meets a precocious teen, and the Siren’s Song will shipwreck even...
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TPT #239: Playing Aasimar&The Earth Angel from 2020-02-27T11:03:58
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane polish their halos for a discussion about the angelically-descended aasimar race. In the Gates of Morning campaign, the party fights blind, and the Earth Angel channels the ...
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TPT #238: Retconning&The Self-Forged from 2020-02-20T11:00:36
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane make up for past mistakes with a handwave as they discuss retconning. In the Gates of Morning campaign, the party makes some acquisitions, and the Self-Forged crafts themsel...
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TPT #237: Stealing From Forged in the Dark&The Night Fox from 2020-02-13T11:03:27
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane brave a risky position to strip the Forged in the Dark system for parts to use in other games. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party makes a macabre discovery, and th...
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TPT #236: The Star Trek Campaign Setting&Section 31 from 2020-02-06T10:00:05
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane sound red alert, man battlestations, and stand by for main phasers as they discuss the universe of Star Trek as a campaign setting. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the pa...
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TPT #235: Megadungeons&The Dungeoneer from 2020-01-30T10:03:19
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane gear up for a deep delve into massive, 100+ room dungeons. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party regroups, and the Dungeoneer has all the tricks of the trade in the C...
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TPT #234: Using Devils&The Fiendslayer from 2020-01-23T10:00:40
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane whole-heartedly give in to temptation as they discuss using devils in your campaigns. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party gets a happy ending–for a while, at least–...
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TPT #233: Fantasy Warfare&The Field General from 2020-01-16T10:03:34
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane don armor and ready spells to take the battle to the enemy for a discussion about fighting with armies in worlds that never were. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the part...
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TPT #232: Dreams&The Night Watch from 2020-01-09T13:00:16
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane drift off to a land behind their eyelids and discuss using dreams in your games. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party finds unlikely shelter, and the Night Watch kee...
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TPT #231: Long-term Consequences&The Immortal from 2020-01-02T10:03:26
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane are forever changed by a discussion about long-lasting and permanent repercussions. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party braves the battlefield, and the Immortal ref...
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TPT #230: Mournland Adventures&The Cyran Avenger from 2019-12-26T00:56:19
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane venture beyond the dead grey mists and into a land twisted by magic or worse: Eberron’s Mournland. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party forms, and the Cyran Avenger ...
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TPT #229: Playing Online&The Webmaster from 2019-12-19T12:20:16
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane put down their pencils and log in to talk about gaming over the internet. In the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party makes a break for it, and the Webmaster is always in c...
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TPT #228: Playing Dragonmarked Characters&The Blade of Orien from 2019-12-12T12:10:19
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane have been ordered by their houses to discuss how to play members of Eberron’s Dragonmarked races. The Gates of Mourning campaign kicks off with character introductions, and ...
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TPT #227: Teaching New Players&The Headmaster from 2019-12-05T11:03:25
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane make more room at the table as they discuss how to bring new people into gaming . In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders look to the horizon, and the Headmas...
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TPT #226: Pulp Adventures&The MeleeMage from 2019-11-28T13:52:18
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane revisit the classics as they discuss playing and running pulp adventures. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders wrap up loose ends, and the MeleeMage fights...
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TPT #225: Eberron: Rising From the Last War Review from 2019-11-21T10:03:02
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane take a deep dive into the long-awaited official debut of the Eberron campaign setting for 5th Edition D&D. It’s a world where magic is technology and a continent emerges fro...
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TPT #224: Using Dragons&The Dragonslayer from 2019-11-14T10:00:40
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane kick off their series on using monsters by discussing the one on the cover: dragons! In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders uncover Dokk’s secret, and the Dr...
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TPT #223: Campaign Prep&Beatrix Kiddo from 2019-11-07T10:03:47
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane plan ahead, for once, and sketch out the beginnings of new, long-term campaigns. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders finally make some headway, and Beatri...
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TPT #222: Mind Reading&Johnny Mnemonic from 2019-10-31T10:00
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane plumb the depths of each other’s minds to find their true feelings about mind reading. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders take a bath in psychic corrupti...
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TPT #221: Session Zero Redux&Junkrat from 2019-10-24T10:03:56
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane make sure they’re both on the same page as they revisit the best ways a group can prepare for a new campaign. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders face the...
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TPT #220: Amnesia&The Witcher from 2019-10-17T10:00:14
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane forget whatever they intended to talk about, and instead discuss memory loss as both a character backstory and a plot point. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue T...
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TPT #219: Playing Chaotic Evil&The Eye of Gruumsh from 2019-10-10T10:03:30
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane finally complete their discussion of alignment with a whirlwind of destruction and disorder. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders delve deeper, and the Eye...
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TPT #218: Desert Adventures&The Wasteland Ravager from 2019-10-03T10:00:06
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane trade horses for camels as they discuss desert adventures. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders disturb the dead, and Wasteland Ravager stalks the dunes in...
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TPT #217: Band of Blades Campaign Setting&The Mercy from 2019-09-26T10:03:25
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the dark, military fantasy world of the latest Forged in the Dark game system. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders find their way, and healing hur...
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TPT #216: Playing Changelings&The American from 2019-09-19T10:00:17
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane switch things up–at will, constantly–as they discuss playing changelings. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign strike a bargain, and the American embeds in deep cover in the ...
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TPT #215: Ambushes&The Cloaker from 2019-09-12T10:03:39
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane stay on the lookout for surprise attacks during a hushed discussion about ambushes. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders agree to help a witch, and the Clo...
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TPT #214: Reincarnation&The Bodhisattva from 2019-09-05T10:00:51
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane are struck down and return in a new form as they discuss reincarnation. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders hatch a plan with a powerful xeno ally, and th...
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TPT #213: Optional Rules for 5e D&D&Sly Cooper from 2019-08-29T10:03:34
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to use (or not use) milestones, spell points, and other variant rules for 5th edition D&D. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders finally begin t...
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TPT #212: Plots Hooks IV&The Warlord from 2019-08-22T10:00:29
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane aspire to inspire as they bring four brand new plot hooks to try out in your games. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders get a history lesson, and the Warl...
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TPT #211: Gen Con 2019 Wrap-up&Trick Shot from 2019-08-15T10:03:31
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane recount their favorite games, panels, products, and people from this year’s Gen Con. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders get a lesson in following the rul...
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TPT #210: Virtual Realities&The Minesweeper from 2019-08-08T10:00:04
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss leaving the real world behind in favor of cyberspace, alternate dimensions, and other simulation spaces as they discuss virtual realities. In the Dynasty Unwarranted...
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TPT #209: Tropes&The Acrobat from 2019-08-01T10:03:23
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane talk about using and abusing tropes and avoiding clichés. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders hide and live to fight another day, and the Acrobat lifts en...
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TPT #208: Playing Neutral Good&The Rescue Ranger from 2019-07-25T10:00:39
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane continue their series on playing alignments as they discuss the default disposition of the every-hero, neutral good. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders p...
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TPT #207: Creating Lively NPCs Quickly&The Greensinger from 2019-07-18T10:03:26
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane talk about how to breathe life into last-minute additions to the game world. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders log on, and the Greensinger mixes music a...
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TPT #206: D&D Product Review Roundup from 2019-07-11T10:00:47
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane catch up on the slew of recent Dungeons&Dragons 5th Edition releases, including Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Beadle&Grimm’s Ghosts of Saltmarsh Sinister Silver Edition, Acquisitions...
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TPT #205: Awarding Treasure&The Treasure Hunter from 2019-07-04T10:03:04
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane spread the wealth in a discussion about what kind of loot to offer and how much of it to give. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders serve punch and cake, a...
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TPT #204: The Marvel Cinematic Universe Campaign Setting&Spider-Man from 2019-06-27T10:00:37
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss making the most successful film franchise of all time your own for your game as they cover the Marvel Cinematic Universe campaign setting. In the Dynasty Unwarranted...
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TPT #203: Running Wartime Campaigns&Scorpion from 2019-06-20T10:03:44
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane cross their fingers and rush the next hill as they discuss how to play compelling wartime scenarios. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders plan a shindig, a...
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TPT #202: Underground Adventures&The Sapper from 2019-06-13T10:00:13
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane get their hands dirty as they dig in to discuss adventuring underground. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders become the cops, and the Sapper lowers the bo...
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TPT #201: Playing Goblins&The Bugbear Bear from 2019-06-06T10:03:27
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane endure infighting and bullying to bring you a discussion on playing goblins. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders suffer a tongue lashing, and the Bugbear ...
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TPT #200: Mega-Mailbag Anniversary&The Modern Major-General from 2019-05-30T10:00:52
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane celebrate another improbable milestone with tequila and two hours of mailbag questions. The Dynasty Unwarranted campaign takes the week off while the Modern Major-General wi...
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TPT #199: Dungeon Crawls&The Stardust Crusader from 2019-05-23T10:03:21
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane stay alert and inch their way through a cautious discussion of one of the original RPG experiences. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders become hostile inv...
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TPT #198: Playing Lawful Evil&Vegeta from 2019-05-16T10:00:01
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane continue the alignment series with the outlook of those who demand to re-write the rules for their own benefit as they discuss playing lawful evil characters. In the Dynasty...
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TPT #197: Dinner Parties&The Gourmand from 2019-05-09T10:03:19
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane practice their table manners for a night of gossip, diplomacy, verbal jousting, and background heists. It’s the party of the season, and everyone will be there. In the Dynas...
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TPT #196: Resurrection&The Shinigami from 2019-05-02T10:00:02
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane prove death is only the beginning as they discuss dying, the afterlife, and resurrection… in games. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders learn from their m...
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TPT #195: 5e D&D Grab Bag&The Jockey from 2019-04-25T10:03:07
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane sort through news and questions about 5th Edition Dungeons&Dragons in our first single-topic catch-all episode. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders finall...
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TPT #194: Sowing Plot Seeds&The Human Cannonball from 2019-04-18T10:00:57
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the best techniques for planting, nurturing, and harvesting those little nuggets of ideas that become your campaign: plot seeds! In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign,...
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TPT #193: Multiple Game Masters&The DMPC from 2019-04-11T10:03:09
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane take turns running this game, in a tag team discussion of campaigns led by more than one person. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders take a seat, and the ...
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TPT #192: Railroading&The Iron Horse from 2019-04-04T10:00:02
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane can’t be stopped once they get going with their discussion of railroading in RPGs. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders see their plans blow up in their fa...
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TPT #191: Going to the Library&The Bookwyrm from 2019-03-28T10:03:44
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane visit the stacks to borrow some knowledge about how to take the tedium out of in-game research. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders find a line they won’t...
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TPT #190: Playing Drow&Drizzt Do’Urden from 2019-03-21T10:00:52
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane explore the depth and the darkness of the edgiest race in D&D as they discuss playing drow. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders give community outreach a ...
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TPT #189: Running Races&The Marathoner from 2019-03-14T10:03:08
Reluctantly crouched at the starting line, hosts I-Hsien and Shane pump and thump their engines for a full-throttle discussion about racing. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders g...
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TPT #188: The Middle Earth Campaign Setting&The Rider of Rohan from 2019-03-07T10:00:55
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane pay a visit to the place where it all started: Middle Earth. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders face misfortune, and the Rider of Rohan gallops to the re...
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TPT #187: Corruption&The Purifier from 2019-02-28T11:03:16
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane tread down a well-worn path, right into the sweet embrace of evil. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders sit down with a new frenemy, and the Purifier untai...
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TPT #186: Playing True Neutral&The Binding Arbitrator from 2019-02-21T11:00:45
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane continue the alignment series by either picking no side, or picking all sides, or just straddling the line. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders face betra...
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TPT #185: First Dates With a New Game&Cupid from 2019-02-14T10:03:13
Not sure if the new game that caught your eye is the one for you? Hosts I-Hsien and Shane play matchmaker and discuss how to tell real love from a one fight stand. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campai...
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TPT #184: PvP&The Player Killer from 2019-02-07T11:00:17
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane duke it out amongst themselves and the other party members as they discuss Player-vs-Player combat. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders nurse their fledgl...
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TPT #183: Building Monsters&The Mummy from 2019-01-31T10:03:10
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane tear apart enemy stat blocks to see what makes them tick and then stitch them back together. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders place a bet, and the Mumm...
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TPT #182: Curses&The Lycanthrope Hunter from 2019-01-24T10:00:37
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane get what’s coming to them as they discuss curses (don’t worry, we’re not potty-mouths). In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders put the expedite in expedition...
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TPT #181: Using Comedy&The Jester from 2019-01-17T10:04:48
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane knock out a tight five and explain the joke to death. What, are we here to amuse you? We’re talking comedy in RPGs. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders fe...
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TPT #180: Putting Down the Dice&The Improviser from 2019-01-11T06:54
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane seize the narrative from the whims of fate as they put down the dice and focus on roleplay. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders meet some local entreprene...
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TPT #179: Playing Shifters&The Lunatic from 2019-01-03T10:03:13
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane tap into their ancient, bestial pasts as they discuss Eberron’s most underappreciated native race. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders hire a local crew, ...
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TPT #178: Dueling&The Second from 2018-12-27T10:00:21
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane hurl insults, wield swords, and defend their honor as they discuss dueling.In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders hit the ground running, and The Second is t...
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TPT #177: Evil Parties&The Blighter from 2018-12-20T09:03:46
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane finally give in to the Dark Side, and it feels good. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders wish they’d opted for a summary execution, and The Blighter turns...
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TPT #176: High-Level Play&Jack Frost from 2018-12-13T10:00:33
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss playing and running games with high-level characters and all the challenges and rewards that come along with it. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Trade...
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TPT #175: Playing Lawful Neutral&The Hardhead from 2018-12-06T09:03:03
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane continue the alignment series with an outlook that pursues order, unfettered by considerations of morality. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders discover a...
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TPT #174: Guildmaster’s Guide to Ravnica Review from 2018-11-29T13:29:36
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane dive deep into the newest official campaign setting for D&D, as they review Guildmaster’s Guide to Ravnica. They discuss the setting itself–a magical city-planet rife with c...
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TPT #173: Mailbag No. 5&Friar Tuck from 2018-11-22T11:03:33
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane gobble down your letters about betrayal, one-shots, letting PCs soar, and more in a holiday Q&A. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders reap what they’ve sow...
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TPT #172: One-Shots With Long-Term PCs&The Wedlock from 2018-11-15T10:00:44
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane bring their regular characters to an irregular game as they discuss playing one shot games with the PCs from long-term campaigns. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, one Ar...
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TPT #171: Sieges&The Siege Engine from 2018-11-08T17:03
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane scale the ramparts and dodge boiling oil to tear down the walls keeping your game from a good, long siege. Best to hunker down and pray for winter. In the Dynasty Unwarrante...
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TPT #170: The Firefly Campaign Setting&YoSaffBridge from 2018-11-01T10:00:13
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane find a ship, find a crew, and keep flyin’ as they discuss the campaign setting of the short-lived-but-beloved TV show, Firefly. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, Tranq ta...
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TPT #169: Adapting Characters From Media&Tracer from 2018-10-25T10:03:25
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane demonstrate how to copy, steal, crib, replicate, imitate and just plain rip off characters to play in your own games. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders ...
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TPT #168: Mind Control&The Lie Detector from 2018-10-18T10:00:23
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane suggest, charm, command, and even dominate a discussion of the various mind-influencing effects in RPGs. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders strike a barg...
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TPT #167: Scrying and Surveillance&The Eye of Horus from 2018-10-11T10:03:31
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane keep an eye out for the best ways to handle farseeing, remote viewing and good old-fashioned mirror-gazing. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders eat a bull...
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TPT #166: Making Disease Matter&The Rangerer from 2018-10-04T10:00:45
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane have an infectious discussion of ways to make disease more than an inconvenient die roll in your games. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders bid farewell, ...
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TPT #165: Post-Apocalyptic Settings&Furiosa from 2018-09-27T10:03:24
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss what lies beyond the end of the world. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders conduct an experiment by smashing things, and Furiosa fights, shoots, a...
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TPT #164: Playing Kalashtar&The Mindhunter from 2018-09-20T10:00:06
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss playing one of Eberron’s most exotic races, Kalashtar. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders settle in for a home-cooked meal, and the Mindhunter se...
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TPT #163: Using Illusions&The Scarecrow from 2018-09-13T10:03:53
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to dream up and play convincing and creative illusions. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders tour a manor house, and the Scarecrow turns fears ...
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TPT #162: Theater of the Mind&The Psycophant from 2018-09-06T10:00:57
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane use their imaginations–and only their imaginations–as they discuss theater of the mind combat. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders crank up an engine, and...
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TPT #161: Playing Chaotic Good&Robin Hood from 2018-08-30T10:57:01
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane continue the alignment series with an outlook that’s more complex—and even more rewarding—than it seems. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders make an uncha...
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TPT #160: Time Travel&The Highlander from 2018-08-23T10:00:11
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane tackle one of the most difficult–and rewarding–RPG plot devices as they discuss time travel. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders read the instruction manu...
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TPT #159: Using Vehicles and Ships&The Spellslugger from 2018-08-16T10:03
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane wander near and far as they discuss how to fit boats, airships, magic trains and spaceships into your game. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders let the wr...
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TPT #158: The Mega Mournland Mailbag Special from 2018-08-09T10:00:30
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane celebrate the third anniversary of Total Party Thrill with a jumbo-sized mailbag episode. We talk Gen Con, answer listener questions, and give some advice. Finally, we make ...
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TPT #157: Ken Hite&The Nosferatu from 2018-08-02T10:00:19
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane chat with industry legend Ken Hite, the man responsible for Vampire: The Masquerade 5e, Nights Black Agents, The Dracula Dossier, The Fall of Delta Green and way too many ot...
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TPT #156: Vampire The Masquerade 5th Edition Review from 2018-07-26T10:00:45
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane don their trench coats, apply their eyeliner, and sharpen their fangs as they bite into the brand new Vampire The Masquerade 5th Edition to tell you how it tastes. They disc...
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TPT #155: Targeting the PCs&The Homing Missile from 2018-07-19T10:00:41
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to pick on the players and hit them where it hurts, without hurting any feelings. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders finally fight back, and ...
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TPT #154: Crossing the Moral Event Horizon&Sub-Zero from 2018-07-12T10:00:54
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane ponder the tipping point when evil becomes too evil as they discuss crossing the moral event horizon. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders find an unexpect...
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TPT #153: Miniatures&The Mini-Mage from 2018-07-05T11:03:55
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane zoom way in and examine all the ways to get the most out of using minis in your game, whether, painting, collecting or just admiring. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, th...
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TPT #152: The Rifts Campaign Setting&The Glitter Boy from 2018-06-28T10:00:19
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane visit one of the most legendarily bonkers campaign settings in RPG history as they discuss Rifts. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders attempt to repel a s...
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TPT #151: Playing Neutral Evil&Littlefinger from 2018-06-21T11:03:37
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane continue a new series with an alignment that needs a little finesse to play well. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders find the big guns, and Littlefinger ...
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TPT #150: Power Creep in Game Design&The Death Shroud from 2018-06-14T10:00:48
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss both the challenges and merits of power creep in RPGs. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders make a run for it, and The Death Shroud forsakes the li...
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TPT #149: Gaming Conventions&Heavens Above, Hells Below from 2018-06-07T11:03:43
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane pack it up and hit the road for a (metaphorical) tour of gaming gatherings. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders get help from an old friend, and Heavens A...
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TPT #148: Building Strongholds and Bases&Edward Elric from 2018-06-01T03:19:31
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane build it up and break it down as they discuss player-run castles, bases, and strongholds. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders figure out how to read a map...
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TPT #147: D&D 5E’s Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes Review from 2018-05-24T11:03:08
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane break down the latest release for Dungeons&Dragons 5th Edition, Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, including their favorite and least favorite elements, in this extra-long episode...
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TPT #146: Plot Hooks&Goku from 2018-05-17T04:07:57
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane share plot hooks to inspire your next campaign or one shot. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders receive a strange message, and Goku goes super saiyan in t...
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TPT #145: Teaching a New Game System&Sailor Moon from 2018-05-10T11:48:43
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane try to teach old dogs new tricks as they discuss the ins and outs of teaching your group a new RPG. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders split the party an...
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TPT #144: Spicing Up Combat&Izanagi from 2018-05-03T21:51:34
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane help you add a little more flavor, a little more pizzazz to the grind of battle. Bam! In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders finally meet the enemy (and they...
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TPT #143: Random Character Creation&The Promethean from 2018-04-26T12:05:15
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane leave their characters in the hands of fate as they discuss random character creation. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders snoop around the fortress, and ...
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TPT #142: Insanity and Madness&The Mindpiercer from 2018-04-19T11:03:40
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane babble incoherently into the uncaring night as they discuss characters who go crazy. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders fight hidden foes, and The Mindpi...
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TPT #141: Vampire: The Masquerade Campaign Setting&The Monster Within from 2018-04-12T04:30:12
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane don their trench coats, unsheath their katanas, and rollerblade back to the 90s as they discuss the Vampire: The Masquerade campaign setting. In the Dynasty Unwarranted camp...
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TPT #140: Defeating the Players&The Comeback Kid from 2018-04-05T11:03:51
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the best ways to knock the party down so they can rise to the occasion. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the party meets a strange traveler, and the Comeback Kid...
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TPT #139: Adapting Published Adventures&The Master of the Midnight Hunt from 2018-03-29T10:23:12
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss tips and tricks for adapting published adventures to suit your group. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, Trix goes out a-walkin’ after midnight, and the Master of ...
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TPT #138: Chaotic Neutral&The Trickster from 2018-03-22T11:03:49
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane continue a new series and tackle the most unpredictable alignment. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders chase phantoms, and The Trickster channels the fick...
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TPT #137: Large Parties&Dance with the Devil from 2018-03-15T10:18:56
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane suggest the more the merrier, even at a gaming table, as they discuss gaming with large groups. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders employ an art history ...
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TPT #136: Fealty&The Beast of Burden from 2018-03-08T11:03:13
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane talk about how to leverage allegiances, duty, and debt to propel stories forward. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders ruin Very Expensive Things, and The ...
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TPT #135: Playing Warforged&The Lord of Blades from 2018-03-03T18:57:42
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane return to their roots to discuss Warforged, the living constructs of the Eberron Campaign Setting. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders hit the dusty trail...
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TPT #134: Creation Myths&Odin from 2018-02-22T10:00:04
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the origins of a setting, or at least, an origin of a setting. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders find themselves a mission, and Odin places a be...
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TPT #133: Failing Forward&The One-Hit Wonder from 2018-02-15T11:03:59
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane talk about what to do when the dice aren’t cooperating. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders learn dangerous secrets, and the One-Hit Wonder makes a single...
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TPT #132: Rolling in the Open&The Holy Roller from 2018-02-08T10:00:37
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss an alternative for GMs who don’t want to keep their dice behind a screen: rolling them openly on the table. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders ha...
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TPT #131: Lawful Good&The Goody Two-Shoes from 2018-02-01T13:47:46
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane begin a new series on the Nine Alignments and how to play them, and start off with the most controversial one. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders meet th...
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TPT #130: Play-by-Post Gaming&The Mailman from 2018-01-25T10:00:02
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss a way to play RPGs as an exclusively written medium, without needing a fixed schedule, as they discuss play-by-post gaming. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the ...
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TPT #129: Fantasy Flight Games’ Genesys Review from 2018-01-18T11:03:58
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane break down the latest RPG system from Fantasy Flight Games, the modular and customizable Genesys, including their favorite and least favorite elements, in this extra-long ep...
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TPT #128: The Birthright Campaign Setting&Rhuobhe Manslayer from 2018-01-11T23:12:14
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss an AD&D setting in which players are not mere adventurers, but are rather the rulers of their own realms owing to their divine bloodlines. In the Dynasty Unwarranted...
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TPT #127: Bookkeepping&Ghost Rider from 2018-01-04T11:03:58
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to keep track of game info without getting bored or falling behind. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders get ahead, and then lose one, and Ghos...
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TPT #126: Gaming Triumphs&The Poacher from 2017-12-28T16:23:05
To celebrate the New Year, hosts I-Hsien and Shane share listeners’ stories of triumphant moments both in their games and around their gaming tables. Later, the Poacher begs, borrows, and steals th...
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TPT #125: Overly Cautious Players&Safety in Numbers from 2017-12-21T13:23:21
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane talk about how to move the game forward when players dig in their heels. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders mince Words, and Safety in Numbers creates a ...
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TPT #124: Collaborative Storytelling&Prince Xizor from 2017-12-14T12:02:02
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss storytelling when everyone at the table act as a writer, actor, director, and audience. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders follow a bloody trail,...
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TPT #123: Filling the Room&The Whirling Dervish from 2017-12-07T11:03:54
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to prod players to stop chewing the scenery and start interacting with it. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders take a load off, and the Whirli...
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TPT #122: Randomly Generated Backstories&The Armored Arcana from 2017-11-30T12:00:20
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane share their love of creating character histories using little more than a few dice, an ounce of creativity, and pages and pages of tables. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaig...
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TPT #121: Epilogues&The Last Man Standing from 2017-11-23T12:03:03
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to get the most out of an extended ending to your campaign. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders make a deadly charge, and the Last Man Standin...
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TPT #120: D&D 5E’s Xanathar’s Guide to Everything Review from 2017-11-16T11:03:08
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane break down the latest release for Dungeons&Dragons 5th Edition, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, including their favorite and least favorite elements, in this super-sized epi...
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TPT #119: Playing Halflings&The Pint-Sized Punisher from 2017-11-09T11:30:44
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to play halflings, which are definitely not just hobbits. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders prove they can learn from their mistakes, and th...
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TPT #118: Changing the World&The Stoneshaper from 2017-11-02T10:30:22
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss modifying the setting of your games, whether at the outset of a campaign or in response to the players’ shenanigans. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue T...
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TPT #117: RPG Horror Stories&The Headless Horseman from 2017-10-26T11:44:35
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane listen to some of your gaming low points, and share a few of their own. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders wreak off-camera havoc across the sector, and ...
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TPT #116: Respeccing Characters&The Savage Sage from 2017-10-19T17:20:38
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane change their builds but not their personalities as they discuss respeccing characters in RPGs. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders have a surprise waiting...
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TPT #115: Plot Hooks #2&Hercules from 2017-10-12T10:57:49
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane share a new round of plot hooks to use in your games. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders leave their captain breathless, and Hercules is a surprisingly g...
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TPT #114: Resource Management&The Pacemaker from 2017-10-05T10:00:11
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss ways for GMs to pace their adventures’ resource consumption, as well as ways for players to pace their characters’ resource spend. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaig...
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TPT #113: The Eclipse Phase Campaign Setting&The Gatecrasher from 2017-09-28T11:03:13
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss a hard-sci campaign setting full of body-hopping and mind-hacking in the post-apocalypse. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders finally make a deal,...
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TPT #112: The Superhero Problem&Wonder Woman from 2017-09-21T11:12:32
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss one of the most challenging story archetypes to model in RPGs: superheroes. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders piece themselves back together, an...
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TPT #111: The Death Spiral&The Triple Threat from 2017-09-14T11:03:05
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss game systems that pile on the punishment, and ways to mitigate the march toward failure. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders blow things out of pr...
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TPT #110: Characters of Faith&Eisenhorn from 2017-09-07T10:00:26
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss playing and GMing characters that are devoted to their chosen deity. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders keep on Trukkin’, and Eisenhorn demonstra...
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TPT #109: Playing Half-Elves&The Dilettante from 2017-08-31T10:00:47
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to play Half-Elves, now that they’re no longer simply half as good as elves. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, Arch-Militant Tranq faces down a dilemma, and T...
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TPT #108: Gen Con 2017&The Silent Knight from 2017-08-24T11:03:36
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane fill you in on the games, the people, and the podcasters they met at the industry’s foremost annual convention, and the Silent Knight spills blood without a sound in the Cha...
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TPT #107: An Introduction to Role-Playing Games&Beginner’s Luck from 2017-08-17T11:03:24
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane present a special primer on role-playing games: what are they, how do you play, and why would you want to? In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders split up to...
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TPT #106: Greyhawk Initiative&The High Noon Duelist from 2017-08-10T11:03:20
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the qualities to look for in a good initiative system. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the crew proves truth is stranger than heresy, and the High Noon Duelist ...
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TPT #105: Playing as a Team&The Rainmaker from 2017-08-03T10:00:42
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane make the case for making a group effort to think of your RPGs from a team perspective. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the crew gets their just reward (as a team), and ...
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TPT #104: Taking Inspiration from History&Blackbeard from 2017-07-27T10:03:10
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to adapt events from the past into stories for your game. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the crew gets a funny feeling, and Blackbeard is a bit larger than...
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TPT #103: Leveling Up&Iron Face from 2017-07-20T10:00:01
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss ways to handle leveling up at your table and in your games. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the crew escape a storm only to get wrecked, and Iron Face has a dea...
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TPT #102: Tacticians&The Showstopper from 2017-07-13T10:57
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane finish off the last installment of the Player Personality series with a carefully planned discussion about tacticians. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the crew battles ...
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TPT #101: Intersession Communication&The Intercessor from 2017-07-06T10:00:26
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the only way to keep the game going after a session ends: intersession communication. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the crew make a journey into hostile terri...
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TPT #100: The Mega-Mailbag Musical Special&Baron Munchausen from 2017-06-29T10:03:38
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane take a break from their usual antics to answer all your questions, introduce new content, and suffer through their first musical revue…er, review…in this supersized episode....
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TPT #99: Character Falls and Redemption&The Cursebreaker from 2017-06-22T12:03:38
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to handle broken oaths, failure, and eventual redemption. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the crew attends a shindig, and the Cursebreaker smashes arcane sh...
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TPT #98: The Planescape Campaign Setting&Fall-From-Grace from 2017-06-15T13:14:39
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the short-lived but beloved 2nd Edition D&D setting Planescape. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the crew finally lands a commercial opportunity, and Fall-From-G...
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TPT #97: Using Battlemaps&The Battlemapster from 2017-06-08T11:58:53
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to get the most out of combat on a grid. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the crew finds a new world to despoil, and the Battlemapster makes the lay of the l...
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TPT #96: Using Languages&The Polyglot from 2017-06-01T10:00:37
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss ways to use and feature an aspect of RPGs that is easily overlooked: language. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the crew turn inward to their passenger manifest,...
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TPT #95: Playing Gnomes&The Breachgnome from 2017-05-25T11:03
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to play gnomes, those tiny tinkers and tricksters. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, a real-life theft gets an explanation, and the Breachgnome holds the line...
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TPT #94: Fudging Dice&Clutch from 2017-05-18T11:18:03
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss one of gamemasters’ dirty little secrets: sometimes they ignore die rolls. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders run for their lives, and Clutch is ...
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TPT #93: Small Parties&The Halfling Rockslinger from 2017-05-11T10:03:31
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the best ways to run and play in games with just two or three players. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders make a big mess, and the Halfling Rocks...
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TPT #92: Power Creep&The Shadowed Stalker from 2017-05-05T03:28:33
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the RPG hobby’s pay-to-win model, power creep. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders explore a portable hole, and the Shadowed Stalker shows up wher...
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TPT #91: Breadth vs Depth in Characters&The Sandman from 2017-04-27T10:03:54
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to choose between specializing or expanding your character’s abilities. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders let a chance for escape go to thei...
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TPT #90: Booting a Player&The Gray Guard from 2017-04-20T10:03:57
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the best ways to eject the worst players from your game. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders perform some jailhouse reconnaissance, and the Gray G...
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TPT #89: Storytellers&The Bardic College from 2017-04-13T11:59:47
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane continue their series on player profiles with the most narratively-focused gamer: the storyteller. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders meet some unlikely ...
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TPT #88: Minions, Pets, and Companions&The One Man Band from 2017-04-06T12:56:13
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to introduce, play, and possibly kill off beloved familiars, friends, and followers. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Rogue Traders beat a hasty retreat,...
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TPT #87: Star Wars Campaign Setting&George Washington from 2017-03-30T04:43:19
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane examine the most popular movie franchise of all time, Star Wars, as a roleplaying game setting. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, make a disturbing discovery, and he’s co...
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TPT #86: Reflavoring&Captain America from 2017-03-23T11:52:21
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to change in-game names and descriptions to match character concepts and story elements. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the party goes on its first away mi...
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TPT #85: The Goldilocks Levels&Conan from 2017-03-16T10:00:17
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss playing and running games in the sweet spot, after the characters have a few accomplishments to their names, but before they get too powerful. In the Dynasty Unwarra...
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TPT #84: Playing Genasi&The Fistadin from 2017-03-09T10:03:55
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to play genasi, those fire-haired and crystal-faced freaks descended from the power of the Elemental Planes. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the party faces...
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TPT #83: Arena Battles&The Heathen Champion from 2017-03-02T13:49:27
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss planning, prepping, and running gladiatorial combats and structured tournaments. In the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, meet the crew of the Rogue Trader His Enduring ...
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TPT #82: Player Absences&The Batman from 2017-02-23T10:00:51
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane show up to discuss how to handle the session and the story when a player misses a game. In the prologue to the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the party exploits a design flaw...
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TPT #81: The Greyhawk Campaign Setting&The Sexy Beast from 2017-02-16T18:33:51
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane travel back in history to the early days of roleplaying games as they revisit the original D&D campaign setting, Greyhawk. In the prologue to the Dynasty Unwarranted campaig...
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TPT #80: Riddles&The Cagematch from 2017-02-09T11:00:46
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to write and use riddles, and how to help players solve them. In the prologue to the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the acolytes discover something downright rott...
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TPT #79: Creating Character Backgrounds&The Chevalier from 2017-02-02T10:00:57
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to create meaningful and playable backgrounds for characters. In the prologue to the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the acolytes read a stolen diary, and the Chev...
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TPT #78: Using Secrets&Reaper from 2017-01-26T10:00:44
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how players and GMs can create, keep, and reveal secret information. In the prologue to the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the acolytes discover the grain isn’t the o...
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TPT #77: Butt-Kickers&Dhalsim from 2017-01-20T01:29:54
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane continue their series on player profiles as they discuss butt-kickers, the players who just want to throwdown. In the prologue of the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the war b...
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TPT #76: Adapting From Other Media&The Crucible from 2017-01-12T10:00:32
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss a variety of ways to borrow from books, movies, television and other media to enhance your RPGs. In the prologue of the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the war band st...
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TPT #75: Setting the Tone&The Inventor from 2017-01-05T18:08:13
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss techniques for establishing tone in various types and genres of RPGs. In the prologue of the Dynasty Unwarranted campaign, the Inquisition arrives on a backwater far...
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TPT #74: The Thrillie Awards, Resolutions&Aquaman from 2016-12-29T10:00:58
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane present the Second Annual Thrillie Awards to the best gaming products of the year, check-in on last year’s New Years gaming resolutions, and then share new resolutions. In t...
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TPT #73: 2nd Annual Mailbag&The Flash from 2016-12-22T22:29:46
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane sort through the mail and answer listener questions about plot hooks, campaign planning and time management. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the final battle rests on the ou...
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TPT #72: Playing Tieflings&The Faustian Fiddler from 2016-12-15T10:00:24
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to play tieflings, those devil-blooded outcasts that Planescape gifted to the game. In the Mourning Glory campaign, each member of the party must make a final de...
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TPT #71: Burnout&The Smitebiter from 2016-12-08T10:00:02
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to avoid burnout, what to do if you feel yourself getting burned out, and the merits of participating in RPGs as both a player and a gamemaster. In the Mourning ...
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TPT #70: Low Fantasy in D&D&The Lazylord from 2016-12-01T14:10:20
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane explain how to strip out unrealistic elements from traditional fantasy RPGs to run grounded and gritty games. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party’s succes comes back t...
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TPT #69: D&D 5E’s Volo’s Guide to Monsters Review from 2016-11-24T10:00:49
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane breakdown the latest release for Dungeons&Dragons 5th Edition, Volo’s Guide to Monsters, including their favorite and least favorite elements, in this super-sized episode. B...
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TPT #68: Scale in RPGs&The Storm Surge from 2016-11-17T10:00:03
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane try to make sense of a single die roll as they discuss narrative scale in RPGs. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party takes up arms to defend the innocent, and the Storm...
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TPT #67: Splitting the Party&The Beguiler from 2016-11-10T17:35:02
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane encourage you to take a walk on the wild side and do that thing you thought you should never do: split the party. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party adjusts to their ...
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TPT #66: The Dark Sun Campaign Setting&The Wasteland Wanderer from 2016-11-03T16:15:37
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss their favorite sandals and sorcery setting, Dark Sun. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party steps into an unfamiliar realm that ends up all too familiar, and the...
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TPT #65: Designing Epic Destinies&The Psychic Warrior from 2016-10-27T12:29:04
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to create high-level abilities for players that go beyond the baseline offered in most RPGs. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party tries to keep an enemy ali...
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TPT #64: Narrative Control&The Master Illusionist from 2016-10-20T10:07:17
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss narrative control in RPGs and how it is shared by players, GMs, and the rules. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party infiltrates Flamekeep, and the Master Illusi...
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TPT #63: Completing Character Arcs&Swamp Thing from 2016-10-13T12:07:14
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to deliver a satisfying conclusion to a player’s storyline. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party finally faces their archrival, and Swamp Thing starts a pla...
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TPT #62: Playing Half-Orcs&The Drunken Master from 2016-10-06T10:00:15
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the most savage of D&D’s core races, the Half-Orc. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party prepares to settle an old score, and the Drunken Master ties one on in t...
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TPT #61: Revised Ranger, Deck of Many Things&The Gambler from 2016-09-29T10:00:22
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the latest Unearthed Arcana’s revised Ranger class before moving on to the artifact that seems designed to ruined D&D campaigns: the Deck of Many Things. In the Mour...
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TPT #60: Casual Gamers&The Old Man of the Mountain from 2016-09-22T10:00:25
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane continue their series on player profiles with one of the most difficult to engage: the casual gamer. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party learns a dangerous name, and t...
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TPT #59: Monte Cook, Worldbuilding&Invisible Sun from 2016-09-15T10:00:43
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane talk about worldbuilding with one of the greats: Monte Cook, creator of Planescape, Numenera and the new RPG Invisible Sun. He talks about his sources of inspiration, breaki...
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TPT #58: Murder Mysteries&The Investigator in Vestments from 2016-09-08T10:00:11
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss clues, red herrings, and finally discovering whodunit! In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party solves a murder mystery of its own, and the Investigator in Vestment...
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TPT #57: Plot Hooks&The Knife Fighter from 2016-09-01T10:00:14
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss what makes a good plot hook and share some of their own. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party gets a vote of confidence, and the Knife Fighter juggles blades an...
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TPT #56: System Mastery&The Polymorph Fromage from 2016-08-25T10:00:13
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss system mastery, the intimate knowledge of an RPG system. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party figures out how to move forward after a death in the family, and t...
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TPT #55: Warhammer 40k Setting&The Space Marine Librarian from 2016-08-18T10:36
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane get in touch with their giddy, inner-14-year-old selves as they discuss the grimdark sci-fi/fantasy setting Warhammer 40k and its RPG line from Fantasy Flight Games. In the ...
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TPT #54: Gen Con 2016 Recap&The Force Mage from 2016-08-11T11:37:08
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the best four days in gaming, Gen Con 2016, including celebrity sightings, the 2016 ENnie Awards, and, of course, exciting new games. In the Mourning Glory campaign,...
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TPT #53: Using Pre-Gen Characters&The Spell Duelist from 2016-08-04T10:00:27
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the best ways to use and play characters that weren’t created by the players—whether found in the back of a sourcebook or carefully crafted by a GM. In the Mourning ...
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TPT #52: Special Anniversary Episode with Keith Baker from 2016-07-28T12:12:39
To celebrate a full year of Total Party Thrill, hosts I-Hsien and Shane talk with the creator of Eberron and the upcoming game Phoenix: Dawn Command. Keith talks about his favorite Eberron characte...
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TPT #51: Playing Elves&The Wildrunner from 2016-07-21T10:00:11
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to play everyone’s favorite pointy-eared perfectionists. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party drops in on the City of Towers, and the Wildrunner loses her c...
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TPT #50: Character Flaws&The Executioner from 2016-07-14T10:00:24
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how drawbacks and weaknesses create depth and offer role-playing opportunities. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party stalks a foe across Sharn, and the Executio...
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TPT #49: Natural Disasters&The War Correspondent from 2016-07-07T12:12:55
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to plan and run killer storms, city-leveling earthquakes, and uninsurable acts of God. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party makes a promise they might not b...
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TPT #48: Metagaming&The Swordmage from 2016-06-30T10:00:46
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how metagaming and out-of-character knowledge get used and misused at the table. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party calls in a favor from the heavenly host, a...
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TPT #47: Specialist Players&The Hoplite from 2016-06-23T10:00:22
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane continue their series on player profiles with the Specialist — players who love a single archetype. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party finishes an old foe, and the Ho...
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TPT #46: Kaiju Battles&The Giant Slayer from 2016-06-16T18:31:39
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss combat encounters where the enemies are much larger than your average PC. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party makes an impromptu trip to an unexpected place, w...
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TPT #45: Prophecies&The Combat Oracle from 2016-06-09T10:00:59
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to create, use, and fulfill prophecies — those enigmatic and prescient riddles. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party fights a reincarnating dracolich, and t...
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TPT #44: Session Zero&The Fist of the Forest from 2016-06-02T10:00:01
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss one of their favorite techniques for starting new campaigns off on the right foot: session zero. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party takes a break for a well-d...
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TPT #43: Playing Dragonborn&The Talon of Tiamat from 2016-05-26T10:00:54
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss one of the newest and most controversial D&D races. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party works through the last prophecy to discover their final objectives, and...
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TPT #42: Using Published Adventures&The Juggernaut from 2016-05-19T09:00:13
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to run, retool, and reuse published adventures. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party gets its last (and most lyrical) prophecy, and the Juggernaut breaks ev...
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TPT #41: Deadlands Campaign Setting&The Two-Fisted Archaeologist from 2016-05-12T10:00:54
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane tour an America that never was, a land of ghosts, guns, and grim realities called the Weird West. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party jumps out of the frying plane and...
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TPT #40: Dungeon Design&The Berserker Priest from 2016-05-05T09:00:58
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane talk about designing the iconic locations of fantasy RPGs: dungeons. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party plots a reverse-heist deep within the Pit of Five Sorrows, whi...
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TPT #39: RPG Cartography&The Pathfinder from 2016-04-28T10:00:16
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane talk about making and using maps in your game, from a planetary atlas all the way down to hex crawls and 5-foot squares. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party plans a dr...
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TPT #38: The Method Actor&The Iron Archer from 2016-04-21T10:45:01
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane continue their series on player profiles with the Method Actor. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party learns one of the party members’ long-held secrets as the adventure...
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TPT #37: Prepping a Session&The Adventurous Noble from 2016-04-15T15:00:25
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss preparing for a session before walking through Shane’s actual prep for an upcoming session. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party gets their first glimpse of the...
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TPT #36: Urban Adventures&The Shaman from 2016-04-07T10:00:02
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the joys of games set in the big city, from street brawls to palace intrigue. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party returns to the lands of the living, and natur...
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TPT #35: Playing Dwarves&The Dwarven Defender from 2016-03-31T10:00:06
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane show that Dwarf PCs can be more than duty, ale, and facial hair. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party takes a long night’s journey into day, and the Dwarven Defender sh...
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TPT #34: Why D&D&The Sister of Battle from 2016-03-24T18:35:38
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the merits of roleplaying games and why they love D&D specifically. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party holds study hall before making an important decision, a...
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TPT #33: Eberron Campaign Setting&The Gatekeeper Druid from 2016-03-17T15:00:21
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane present everything a group needs to know to decide if Eberron is the right setting for their game. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party mulls over a very personal proph...
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TPT #32: Character Advancement&The Dragon Disciple from 2016-03-10T17:39:44
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane try to make sense of replacing small numbers with larger numbers on your character sheet. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party receives a reward for proving their innoc...
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TPT #31: Trials and Judicial Systems&The Factotum from 2016-03-03T10:00:17
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss planning and running trials and creating a court, kangaroo or otherwise. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party learns the limits of celestial justice, and the Fa...
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TPT #30: Munchkins&The Mystic Theurge from 2016-02-25T23:42:51
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss that oft-troublesome player profile: munchkins! In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party finds themselves on the receiving end of medieval justice, and the Mystic T...
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TPT #29: Playing Non-human Characters&The Master of Many Faces from 2016-02-18T12:30:14
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the nuances of playing PCs that aren’t human. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party discovers an unexpected ally, and the Master of Many Faces checks out early i...
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TPT #28: First Time GMs&The Master Pikeman from 2016-02-11T18:18:29
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane give tips for new Game Masters approaching their first session. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the Day of Mourning dawns as its secrets finally come to light, and the Maste...
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TPT #27: Intra-Party Conflict&The Sneak-Thief from 2016-02-04T10:00:32
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to handle tensions within the party, and how to cause it when necessary. In the Mourning Glory Campaign, the party sets the Monster Manual against itself, and th...
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TPT #26: 5E OGL/DMs’Guild&The Gladiator from 2016-01-28T18:21:52
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the new 5th Edition Open Game License and the DMs’ Guild marketplace unveiled by WotC and OneBookshelf/DriveThruRPG, what it means for your content, and how to use i...
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TPT #25: Salvaging a Dead Campaign&The Corpse Reviver from 2016-01-21T10:00:55
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to keep all the work that went into a campaign that never got off the ground or ended prematurely from going to waste. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party ...
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TPT #24: Character Death & The Mounted Knight from 2016-01-14T10:00:46
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to deal with (or deal out) death without derailing a storyline or making players (too) angry. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party demands some exposition, ...
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TPT #23: The Thrillie Awards, Resolutions, & The Sentinel from 2016-01-07T13:28:53
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane present the First Annual Thrillie Awards to the best gaming products of the year, and then share their New Year’s gaming resolutions. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the par...
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TPT #22: Mailbag & Our Favorite Characters from 2015-12-31T10:00:39
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane answer listener questions from the mailbag, covering topics like dump stats, custom backgrounds, making the leap to D&D 5th Edition, and loot distribution. In the Mourni...
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TPT #21: One Shots & Santa Claus from 2015-12-24T10:00:17
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to put together and run a game that lasts for just a single session but still tells a compelling story. In the Mourning Glory campaign, the party finds the sourc...
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TPT #20: Investigation Adventures & The Jedi from 2015-12-17T12:53:08
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to handle intrigue, puzzles, and whodunits to keep your players guessing and progressing. The heroes of the Mourning Glory campaign get in over their heads, whil...
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TPT #19: Three-Act Structure & The Strength Monk from 2015-12-10T10:00:11
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss a classic method of presenting engaging stories and ways to implement it over the course of a campaign. The Mourning Glory campaign goes where no fantasy characters ...
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TPT #18: Ranger Danger & The Gish from 2015-12-03T12:00:43
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the history and implementation of the Ranger class through every edition of D&D and make recommendations to fix the 5E incarnation. The Mourning Glory campaign f...
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TPT #17: Using the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide & Greco-Roman Wrestler Redux from 2015-11-26T11:00:12
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to use material from the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide as inspiration for your campaign or next PC, even if you don’t play 5E D&D. The Mourning Glory campai...
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TPT #16: Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide Review & Rebuild from 2015-11-20T02:12:14
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane review the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, the first Forgotten Realms setting book for D&D 5E. The Mourning Glory campaign indulges theological imperatives, and they reb...
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TPT #15: Recovering from a Bad Session & The Silver Snakes from 2015-11-12T10:00:49
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to prevent a lackluster session from hurting the plot or player morale. The Mourning Glory campaign fails to rescue survivors, and they explain the Level 3 pre-g...
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TPT #14: Homebrew & The Mastermind from 2015-11-06T16:59:01
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to create new material and lore for your game. The Mourning Glory campaign faces a homebrewed army, and their mastermind outsmarts the official version in the Ch...
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TPT #13: Alignment & The Smuggler from 2015-10-29T10:00:20
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the uses and limitations of the traditional D&D alignment system and argue over a few of their favorite fictional characters. The Mourning Glory campaign confron...
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TPT #12: Improvisation & The Warhammer 40k Inquisitor from 2015-10-22T10:00:32
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to smoothly create new material in the middle of a session and incorporate player suggestions in the moment. The Mourning Glory campaign finally makes it to the ...
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TPT #11: Social Contracts & The Scum-Sucking Lawyer from 2015-10-15T10:00:38
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the unwritten and sometimes misunderstood rules that keep a group together and keep the party in line. The Mourning Glory campaign emerges from Khyber and delves dee...
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TPT #10: Character Goals & The Sniper from 2015-10-08T16:13:04
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss getting the most out of your party’s backstories and crafting narrative arcs that respond to their actions. The Mourning Glory campaign tries to resist the alien mac...
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TPT #9: Villains & Vampire Hunters from 2015-10-01T11:36:36
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss creating competent and compelling enemies for your party. The Mourning Glory campaign introduces (and offs) some new villains, and in the Character Creation Forge, n...
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TPT #8: Deadly Environments & Private Investigators from 2015-09-24T10:00:25
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the opportunities and pitfalls of environmental hazards and the best ways to integrate these passionless killers into your campaign. Meanwhile, the party faces a haz...
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TPT #7: Recruiting New Players & Highway Ronin from 2015-09-17T14:00:53
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the best ways to fill out your player roster or start a new gaming group from scratch, and Brand the Silver Flame inquisitor joins the Mourning Glory campaign. In th...
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TPT #6: Travel & The Bodyguard from 2015-09-11T01:36:02
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss approaches for handling travel options and restrictions in-game, as well as other important considerations for GMs, while the Mourning Glory campaign hops an airship...
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TPT #5: Alternative Combat Objectives & Commandos from 2015-09-03T10:00:49
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss story-driven methods to revitalize your combat encounters and tailor them to different types of player personalities, and the Mourning Glory campaign discovers dark ...
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TPT #4: Magic, Magic Items & Pacifists from 2015-08-27T05:30:23
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss picking a campaign’s magic level, as well as flavorful and appropriate magic items, while the Mourning Glory campaign goes to Sharn. In the Character Creation Forge,...
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TPT #3: Player-Centric Campaigns & Combat Medics from 2015-08-20T16:30:40
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to incorporate player input and feedback into the plot so everyone in the group feels invested in the story. In the Character Creation Forge, they each build a h...
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TPT #2: Humble Beginnings & Greco-Roman Wrestlers from 2015-08-13T13:00:52
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss everything that needs to happen before a campaign begins, from deciding which RPG system to play to Session 0 to the first adventure. In the Character Creation Forge...
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TPT #1: Heists & Swashbucklers from 2015-08-06T13:00:49
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss heist encounters, drawing from their encounter in The Pit of Five Sorrows. In the Character Creation Forge, they each build a Swashbuckler without using the Rogue. (...
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TPT #0: What is Total Party Thrill? from 2015-07-30T13:00:07
Hosts I-Hsien and Shane discuss the purpose and goals of Total Party Thrill and give a brief introduction to the Mourning Glory Eberron campaign. (10m)
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