Roleplay Geeks Podcast

Follow Roleplay Geeks Podcast
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Roleplay Geeks explores various roleplaying systems, gameplay, and industry trends through the lenses of five lifelong friends. Join us as we laugh, cry (laughing), and sometimes shout (laughing), while we share our wisdom (and lack of wisdom) in this hourish-long podcast.

The Roleplay Geeks


    • Feb 27, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 4m AVG DURATION
    • 74 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Roleplay Geeks Podcast with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Roleplay Geeks Podcast

    Theater of the Mind

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2022 65:47


    Taking a break from out game publishing series while we play test and prep for the next episode in that series, we look at our upcoming Cthulhu game and discuss game choices from our previous campaign and what, if anything, we would do differently.

    Design, Develop, and Publish - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2022 40:13


    We have moved on to the second step of our roleplaying game development, selecting the game setting.  We have three settings to select from, a western, a space setting, and a UFO setting from the 1940s.  We also have John on with us in this episode to help guide us on the next leg of our journey, the rules engine!

    Design, Develop, and Publish - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 52:13


    In this episode, the Geeks tackle game development as they start the journey to design, develop, and publish their very own roleplaying game.  In this kick-off episode, they talk about he 10,000 foot view of game development and charter a course into the unknown!

    Reboot

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2022 39:18


    We went on an unexpected hiatus about six months ago.  Burnout, other projects, an attack by a ninja robot, and bad meat kept us on the sidelines but now we are back.  We start back up with just Jim and Frank, but we have other episodes schedule with the rest of the gang and look back to having all five of us on at the same time in the near future!  In this episode Frank struggles to find just the right ruleset and we discuss the top 10 most anticipated games coming out in 2022.

    Sleep Deprived

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2021 41:24


    The geeks look at the rest game mechanic and how it can be used to advance the story and create opportunities for side quest.  Also, Jim's gnome is offered up as a breastplate.

    Hooking The Players

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2021 71:26


    How do you lure players into an adventure?  You use the right bait and put it on a hook.  That or you use a net.  

    Take a Look Back

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2021 12:38


    Summer is the perfect time to get yourself outdoors and enjoy the weather!  The Geeks decided to do just that and were not able to record this week so instead, we take you back to some of the moments that keep us coming back to the recording booth each week to do this.  Well, except for this past week ;)

    Balancing Encounters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2021 50:13


    Balancing an encounter is an art.  Making each encounter hard enough to challenge the players but not too hard so you don't discourage them.  Then there's the purpose of the encounter, to either liven up play or progress the story.  Regardless, finding a method that works for both the players and the story takes time.  This week the geeks discuss strategies and recount failures when tackling this important part of tabletop roleplaying.

    Playtesting and Rule Changes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2021 42:35


    Gaming Burnout Solutions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2021 38:14


    If you play long enough and often enough you are bound to have burnout at some point.  What's a gamer to do when their favorite pastime isn't fun anymore?  In this episode the the Token Hippie, the West Virginia Treat, and the Other Steve provide a few suggestions to get you out of your funk.

    Non Player Characters & Reindeer Cats

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2021 69:57


    The Geeks discuss how to craft and use NPCs effectively and come up with some interesting ideas along the way.Also, Jingle Bells by Steven's Cat.

    Owl Bear Rodeo VTT

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2021 70:07


    This week we look at Owl Bear Rodeo which is not to be confused with Albert (with a French accent) Rodeo. 

    Savage Worlds, Deadlands and the Weird West

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2021 73:21


    Yippee ki-yah!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2021 61:37


    The Geeks take a run at the Western Roleplaying Scene and come away wanting more!

    Why Wizards Suck

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2021 52:37


    Why Clerics Suck!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2021 54:05


    The Geeks do a deep dive on clerics and layout both the pros and the Kahns of playing this contentious D&D class.

    Blades in the Dark: Combat!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2021 60:08


    Blades in the Dark is a roleplaying game unlike any other the Geeks have played.  This week we were neck deep in combat and boy was it different than our typical fare.  Let's talk about this new approach to combat and roleplaying as we dive deeper down the rabbits hole that is Blades in the Dark!

    It's a Trap!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2021 66:03


    The Geeks look at space combat in roleplaying games for both tactical play and theater of the mind.

    Our Big D&D Movie

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2021 64:52


    A new big budget Dungeon and Dragons film is on the way and everyone is hopeful, yet wary of what to expect.  The Geeks get together to discuss what we know about it, what we would like it to be, and reflect on fantasy movies in general in this episode of Roleplay Geeks.

    Blades in the Dark: Character & Crew Creation

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2021 75:20


    The Geeks dive headlong into Blades in the Dark, a roleplaying game unlike anything they have ever tried.  It should be a wild, wild ride!

    Introduction to Blades in the Dark: Pronunciation and Peril

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 63:26


    Frank has the unenviable task of taking us through a completely new, completely unfamiliar gaming system. May (the) G/god(s) have mercy on his soul...Blades in the Dark is a storytelling-driven gaming system that will have the Geeks questioning more than whether or not goats and ghosts can co-exist in a world where Frank won't let us play vampires, we can't be monster whalers, and we can't wrap our heads around the pronunciation of 'hull'.Join us for a shallow dive into the kiddie pool as we learn the basics of Blades in the Dark.

    Exploring Exploration

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 75:54


    Ever wonder what's around the next corner? We have. In this episode the Geeks talk about exploration in our games as both players and game masters. Stick around for some more music from the Midnight Sun Chronicles, some information on the dungeons and dragons movie, and other interesting things in the world of table top gaming.

    X Marks The Spot, Who's Got The Map?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2021 85:31


    The Geeks look into the utility of maps and the different ways they are used to tell stories in our roleplaying games.

    Runequest Review!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2021 98:45


    After several runs of Runequest, the Geeks feel like they can drop an initial review of the game. Spoiler, it's a mixed bag :)

    (Don't) Kill 'Em All!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2021 70:51


    It's time to discuss non combat encounters, what they are, types of non combat encounters and how they enhance your gameplay.

    Runequest Character Creation

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2021 89:48


    It's time for a new game and that game is Runequest! This week the Geeks make their characters and discuss the character creation process.

    Home Sweet Home in the Dungeon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2021 55:48


    The Geeks explore the differences between your home and your "home base of operations" including castles, towns, space ships and planets. We then look at how using a home or base of operations can help bring your world alive with familiar places and NPCs. Jim is He-Man, Steven is Skeletor, Castle Greyskull is our home and we are the Masters of the Universe!

    The Open Versatile Anime Roleplaying Game Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2021 78:52


    The guys are back from playing several sessions of OVA and we share our thoughts on this open-ended gaming system loaded with charm and possibilities.

    Roleplay Chat

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2021 67:55


    John, Frank, and Jim chat about character sheets, roleplaying around the campfire, The Beastmaster, Dragon Slayer, and King Conan. It's a hodgepodge episode without the Steves. It's where chaos thrives.

    Introduction to Open Versatile Anime RPG

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2021 82:27


    We dive into the Open Versatile Anime Roleplaying System starting with Character Creation.

    RPG 2020 in Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2020 60:39


    We take a look back and try to find some good in 2020 while looking forward to 2021 with new ideas and new plans.

    RPG Review, a Root Wrap-Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2020 91:36


    We're done with Root, and we had fun with our woodland avatars. We take the experience apart, critique what we learned about the system, and try to decide if we enjoyed the setting or the system more than the gameplay.And there are some interesting tidbits of news and discovery before we start gnawing on our critter characters.Plus, we wrap up the Solstice origin story of Amanita Falstaff, from our Christmas episode, in this week's intro.

    The Christmas Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2020 81:20


    Here we are, Geeks! It's time to think about good will and togetherness and PRESENTS!And if there was ever a year we needed to look forward to that together time we can't possibly have, it's this year... Thanks, 2020.This week we've got last minute suggestions for the Geeks on your lists, the nerds in your gift exchanges, or stocking stuffers for the gamers in your house. You can almost feel the holiday spirit... almost.Plus, there's part 1 of a two-part holiday intro installment in the world of our favorite gnomish fire department.

    Celebrities and the Wrong Side of the Tracks

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2020 71:30


    Celebrities playing D&D, some cool accessories, living on the wrong side of the tracks, and playing with yourself...this episode has it all!

    The Necronomicon and the Spirit in Willie Nelson's Guitar

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2020 82:19


    This week we cover many projects in the gaming industries including Frosthaven, XWing, Dune, popup miniature buildings, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, and several other spooky things.

    Root Character Creation

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 79:56


    The Geeks look a the Root Roleplaying Game, starting with character creation.

    Combat Tactics

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2020 74:49


    This week we explore effective combat tactics for roleplaying games.

    Let's try a new game!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2020 83:05


    This week each roleplay geek picks a new game for us to try out and then we vote on which one we should play next. Time to get out and vote!

    The Halloween Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2020 79:24


    Horror games, movies, inspiration and goldfish fighting parakeets, that and more on this week's episode.

    Campaigns and One Shots

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2020 76:24


    What style of adventures do you like? Let's look at adventures by size from one shots to campaigns to see if we can discover the pros and cons and which ones we prefer.

    Encumbrance and ammo. Little rules, big pain in the...

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2020 61:00


    Jimmy confesses to Stevicide, Frank references a classic Christmas movie, John wonders about the necessities of keeping track of what's what, and Steven... talks.Is keeping track of encumbrance necessary? How many bullets does a space marine fighting aliens need, anyway? Should gold really weigh as much as it does?

    The Missing Steves

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2020 51:00


    Where does the gaming talk wander when the Steves go missing? Tune in to find out!

    Literary Influences

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2020 77:42


    We look to our literary roots to discover the source of game ideas and we still don't know why it is Stevo feels the need to kill everyone.

    Magic Items

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2020 79:33


    This week's show is about magic items; how they can make or break adventures, how they can be abused, and whether or not they're overused.

    Character Backgrounds

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2020 81:55


    This week we explore how rich character backgrounds can elevate your games and story telling.

    When Things Go Sideways

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2020 95:38


    Players start fighting, somebody decides to ignore an adventure hook, a bad roll leads to an unexpected character's demise, what is a game master to do? This week we discuss various solutions to some of the problems that make games go sideways.

    Roll vs. Role

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2020 81:06


    When do you roll for something to happen versus when do you just roleplay it. We have Chris back to weigh in along with the rest of the geeks to see if we can find the sweet spot between the two approaches.

    Gaming in the Material World

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2020 66:21


    We are well into the pandemic and each of us are dealing with it in different ways. One aspect of our life that has changed quite a bit is how we game. Staying social and keeping safe at the same time has required adjustments many other gamers have adopted. Lets look at the pros and cons of gaming in the virtual world vs the material world.

    Trapped!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2020 81:23


    How do you run an adventure when your options are limited because you are in a prison? In this episodes we share our dos and don't of running a prison adventure and provide some resources to help you navigate one of the more difficult adventure settings out there.

    Claim Roleplay Geeks Podcast

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel