Podcasts about edge of the empire

As was alluded to last time, the Heroes were discussing what is to come with Heroes and what directions they are going, then a house feline decided to have some computer fun. Thankfully both feline and computer are fine, but this is now our second episode of our second session zero. Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found in many placesEnri is playing Isazel Ahn and can be found in may placesSammi is playing Vadillorn Kirst and can be found on the interwebs Special Guest Adam Beltaine who can be found at Force Majeure Hydian Folk Theme by Chris IngThe Hard Road Album Art by Zora We can be found on Twitter @TheHydianWayOn Mastodon as @TheHydianWay@Dice.CampOn the Internet at TheHydianWay.comon iTunes and YouTube Music

The Hydian Heroes had a few stumbles and we had to regroup and get more on the same page. Now we’ve talked and you get to hear it. Part one of our middle session zero is ready for your attention. Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found in many placesEnri is playing Isazel Ahn and can be found in may placesSammi is playing Vadillorn Kirst and can be found on the interwebs Special Guest Adam Beltaine who can be found at Force Majeure Hydian Folk Theme by Chris IngThe Hard Road Album Art by Zora We can be found on Twitter @TheHydianWayOn Mastodon as @TheHydianWay@Dice.CampOn the Internet at TheHydianWay.comon iTunes and YouTube Music

Azi has been shot. Keydra and Isazel in Norin’s body runs to help him stick around. Will Azi be saved from this severe injury? Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found in many placesEnri is playing Isazel Ahn and can be found in may placesSammi is playing Vadillorn Kirst and can be found on the interwebs Special Guest Adam Beltaine who can be found at Force Majeure Hydian Folk Theme by Chris IngThe Hard Road Album Art by Zora We can be found on Twitter @TheHydianWayOn Mastodon as @TheHydianWay@Dice.CampOn the Internet at TheHydianWay.comon iTunes and YouTube Music

Show Notes In this final installment of the RPGBOT.Podcast How to Play Fantasy Flight Star Wars: Edge of the Empire series, the crew wraps things up with a deep dive into questions, answers, and overall system impressions after completing their multi-part Star Wars RPG actual play. After surviving pirate stations, clone cults, and barely escaping Imperial pursuit, the hosts analyze what worked, what didn't, and what makes the Fantasy Flight Games Star Wars RPG system stand out compared to other tabletop RPGs. The discussion opens with discusson of the system's signature narrative dice mechanics, widely praised for creating dynamic storytelling through success, advantage, threat, triumph, and despair results. The hosts emphasize how the dice system encourages collaborative storytelling and reduces reliance on binary success/failure outcomes, especially when supported by dice roller tools or the very cool but very expensive custom dice. From there, the conversation moves into practical gameplay considerations, including the pros and cons of using physical rulebooks vs digital tools. While the books are visually impressive, the lack of searchable digital resources creates friction (especially for online play) highlighting a common challenge in Fantasy Flight Star Wars RPG accessibility and cost in today's digital-heavy TTRPG landscape. We explore character effectiveness and build satisfaction, with players reflecting on how their builds performed during the actual play. What worked, what didn't, and how it help up against what we wanted from the fantasy of Star Wsars. The episode also pulls back the curtain on the adventure itself, with Tyler revealing behind-the-scenes design choices like the origin of the bizarre clone cult and reused campaign elements, offering insight into how to build memorable Star Wars RPG adventures and also whatever absolute madness drives Tyler's games. Key Takeaways The narrative dice system is the standout feature of Fantasy Flight Star Wars, enabling rich storytelling through multi-dimensional outcomes. Using a dice roller or custom dice is strongly recommended, as manual symbol interpretation slows gameplay significantly. Character roles feel impactful but uneven, with combat-focused builds shining more consistently than technical roles like slicing. Combat balance relies on GM intuition, as the system lacks traditional level-based scaling. The game can feel more lethal than Star Wars fiction, with player characters going down more easily than expected for cinematic heroes. Wound thresholds, strain, and critical injuries create meaningful tension, but may clash with the heroic fantasy tone. Enemy design (minions, rivals, nemeses) provides flexible encounter building and narrative pacing. Destiny Points add a strong collaborative storytelling element, allowing players and GMs to influence outcomes dynamically. Starship combat is cinematic but mechanically uneven, with shields feeling underpowered compared to other defensive options. Force powers scale through investment, offering flexibility but requiring XP commitment to reach cinematic potential. Lack of digital support is a major barrier, especially for online play and new players. Improvisation and GM creativity are essential, as the system thrives on narrative flexibility over rigid structure. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Show Notes In this final installment of the RPGBOT.Podcast How to Play Fantasy Flight Star Wars: Edge of the Empire series, the crew wraps things up with a deep dive into questions, answers, and overall system impressions after completing their multi-part Star Wars RPG actual play. After surviving pirate stations, clone cults, and barely escaping Imperial pursuit, the hosts analyze what worked, what didn't, and what makes the Fantasy Flight Games Star Wars RPG system stand out compared to other tabletop RPGs. The discussion opens with discusson of the system's signature narrative dice mechanics, widely praised for creating dynamic storytelling through success, advantage, threat, triumph, and despair results. The hosts emphasize how the dice system encourages collaborative storytelling and reduces reliance on binary success/failure outcomes, especially when supported by dice roller tools or the very cool but very expensive custom dice. From there, the conversation moves into practical gameplay considerations, including the pros and cons of using physical rulebooks vs digital tools. While the books are visually impressive, the lack of searchable digital resources creates friction (especially for online play) highlighting a common challenge in Fantasy Flight Star Wars RPG accessibility and cost in today's digital-heavy TTRPG landscape. We explore character effectiveness and build satisfaction, with players reflecting on how their builds performed during the actual play. What worked, what didn't, and how it help up against what we wanted from the fantasy of Star Wsars. The episode also pulls back the curtain on the adventure itself, with Tyler revealing behind-the-scenes design choices like the origin of the bizarre clone cult and reused campaign elements, offering insight into how to build memorable Star Wars RPG adventures and also whatever absolute madness drives Tyler's games. Key Takeaways The narrative dice system is the standout feature of Fantasy Flight Star Wars, enabling rich storytelling through multi-dimensional outcomes. Using a dice roller or custom dice is strongly recommended, as manual symbol interpretation slows gameplay significantly. Character roles feel impactful but uneven, with combat-focused builds shining more consistently than technical roles like slicing. Combat balance relies on GM intuition, as the system lacks traditional level-based scaling. The game can feel more lethal than Star Wars fiction, with player characters going down more easily than expected for cinematic heroes. Wound thresholds, strain, and critical injuries create meaningful tension, but may clash with the heroic fantasy tone. Enemy design (minions, rivals, nemeses) provides flexible encounter building and narrative pacing. Destiny Points add a strong collaborative storytelling element, allowing players and GMs to influence outcomes dynamically. Starship combat is cinematic but mechanically uneven, with shields feeling underpowered compared to other defensive options. Force powers scale through investment, offering flexibility but requiring XP commitment to reach cinematic potential. Lack of digital support is a major barrier, especially for online play and new players. Improvisation and GM creativity are essential, as the system thrives on narrative flexibility over rigid structure. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Show Notes In Part 3 of this Star Wars Edge of the Empire actual play, the RPGBOT crew finally delivers on the promise teased since Episode 1: full-on Star Wars space combat—and it is every bit as chaotic, cinematic, and barely-survivable as you'd hope. Picking up immediately after their explosive escape from the pirate station, the crew aboard the Malarkey finds themselves pursued by multiple Imperial TIE fighters. What follows is a crash course in Fantasy Flight Games Star Wars starship combat mechanics, including initiative slots, range bands, shield management, and the ever-chaotic narrative dice system. Ash's pilot (Mel) takes center stage, showcasing how gunnery checks, autofire mechanics, and Destiny Points can turn a desperate dogfight into a highlight reel of explosions. Meanwhile, Randall's Wookiee slicer (Fricata) attempts to disable enemy ships mid-combat using computers checks and slicing mechanics, with… mixed results. The real wildcard? Brap-Brap. The party's astromech droid is tasked with performing astrogation calculations to escape to hyperspace, but repeatedly fails at the worst possible moments—turning what should be a tactical retreat into a frantic, high-stakes survival scenario. The tension escalates as the Malarkey takes heavy hull damage, eventually triggering the critical hit system, reducing the ship's maximum speed and pushing the crew to the brink. The encounter becomes a perfect example of how Edge of the Empire blends mechanics and storytelling, with: narrative dice producing wildly swingy outcomes advantage and threat driving cinematic moments and player decisions constantly balancing offense vs survival Despite near disaster—and a lot of yelling at Brap-Brap—the crew manages to turn the tide. A combination of autofire weapon bursts, stacked advantage results, and clutch piloting decisions allows them to systematically destroy the pursuing TIE fighters. The episode ends with the crew battered but alive, having survived: overwhelming Imperial pressure catastrophic system failures and their own questionable tactical decisions This is peak Star Wars TTRPG actual play chaos—where the rules bend just enough to let the story explode (literally). Key Takeaways Starship combat in Fantasy Flight's Star Wars RPG emphasizes narrative over precision, using range bands instead of grids. Initiative slots (not fixed turns) allow flexible team strategy, letting players choose optimal action order. Autofire is incredibly powerful, especially when stacking advantage—capable of destroying multiple enemies in one turn. Destiny Points are critical for survival, enabling upgrades that can swing entire encounters. Astrogation is a bottleneck mechanic for escape, creating tension when the party is under pressure. Critical hits don't end the fight—they escalate it, adding narrative consequences like engine damage instead of instant destruction. Support roles (like slicing or repairs) matter, but can feel situational depending on enemy design. Shield management and evasive maneuvers are essential for survivability in multi-enemy encounters. Failure can still generate advantage, reinforcing the system's focus on story over binary outcomes Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Show Notes In Part 3 of this Star Wars Edge of the Empire actual play, the RPGBOT crew finally delivers on the promise teased since Episode 1: full-on Star Wars space combat! And it is every bit as chaotic, cinematic, and barely-survivable as you'd hope. Picking up immediately after their explosive escape from the pirate station, the crew aboard the Malarkey finds themselves pursued by TIE fighters. What follows is a crash course in Fantasy Flight Games Star Wars starship combat mechanics, including initiative slots, range bands, shield management, and the ever-chaotic narrative dice system. Ash's pilot (Nehl) takes center stage, showcasing how gunnery checks, autofire mechanics, and Destiny Points can turn a desperate dogfight into a highlight reel of explosions. Meanwhile, Randall's Wookiee slicer (Fricata) attempts to disable enemy ships mid-combat using computers checks and slicing mechanics, with… mixed results. The real wildcard? Brap-Brap. The party's astromech droid is tasked with performing astrogation calculations to escape to hyperspace, but apparenly no one told him that the party was in hurry. A series of stunnin failures turn what should be a tactical retreat into a frantic, high-stakes fight for survival, pushing the ship and the crew to the brink. Peak Star Wars, honestly. Key Takeaways Starship combat in Fantasy Flight's Star Wars RPG emphasizes narrative over precision, using range bands instead of grids. Initiative slots (not fixed turns) allow flexible team strategy, letting players choose optimal action order. Autofire is incredibly powerful, especially when stacking advantage—capable of destroying multiple enemies in one turn. Destiny Points are critical for survival, enabling upgrades that can swing entire encounters. Astrogation is a bottleneck mechanic for escape, creating tension when the party is under pressure. Critical hits don't end the fight—they escalate it, adding narrative consequences like engine damage instead of instant destruction. Support roles (like slicing or repairs) matter, but can feel situational depending on enemy design. Shield management and evasive maneuvers are essential for survivability in multi-enemy encounters. Failure can still generate advantage, reinforcing the system's focus on story over binary outcomes Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Last time on RPGBOT.Podcast: we attempted a stealth infiltration of a pirate space station and immediately turned it into a full-blown crisis involving the Empire. This time? It gets worse. Show Notes In Part 2 of this Star Wars Edge of the Empire actual play, the RPGBOT crew continues their mission to infiltrate a hidden pirate station and hack its central maintenance terminal—but things escalate in the most RPGBOT way possible. After escaping the chaos of the cantina and evading Imperial forces, the crew descends into the station's maintenance tunnels. What should have been a straightforward Star Wars RPG dungeon crawl equivalent quickly turns bizarre when they encounter a massive group of identical individuals—revealed to be a strange population of clone-like workers living in isolation. These clones appear confused, unhealthy, and deeply devoted to a mysterious figure known as Astromach—a partially dismantled astromech droid elevated to god-like status. This encounter becomes a perfect showcase of narrative roleplaying in the Fantasy Flight Games Star Wars system, where player improvisation drives the story far more than mechanics. While Fricata (the Wookiee slicer) attempts to complete the objective using computers checks and slicing mechanics, Nelbren (the Twi'lek smuggler) distracts the crowd using deception, persuasion, and sheer confidence. The session highlights how advantage, threat, and triumph results shape outcomes in unexpected ways—including triggering panic, suspicion, and near-disaster. Meanwhile, the slicing operation becomes a race against time, demonstrating how GMs can structure skill challenges in the Genesys / Edge of the Empire system. Just as the crew completes their objective and retrieves the data, they decide—naturally—to kidnap the clone cult's robotic deity and escape. Unfortunately, their exit is interrupted by the arrival of Imperial forces… including a familiar enemy from Nelbren's past. The episode ends with a dramatic cliffhanger as tensions explode into combat, showcasing initiative mechanics (Cool vs Vigilance) and setting the stage for a high-stakes confrontation. Key Takeaways Actual play sessions highlight the strength of narrative dice systems, especially how Advantage and Threat shape scenes beyond success/failure. Improvisation is core to Star Wars RPG gameplay—players turned a random encounter into a full cult infiltration scenario. Skill challenges (like slicing a terminal) can be structured as multi-roll objectives to build tension. Social encounters can be as complex as combat, especially when dealing with unstable NPC groups. Creative roleplay can bypass traditional obstacles, including turning enemies into allies (or followers). Force powers and talents add narrative depth, even when they don't fully succeed. Destiny Points and narrative control mechanics reinforce the push-and-pull between players and GM. Edge of the Empire thrives on chaos, especially in morally gray Outer Rim scenarios. Recurring character backstories (like Nel's Imperial ties) are powerful tools for introducing conflict. No plan survives contact with the players. Ever. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Last time on RPGBOT.Podcast: we attempted a stealth infiltration of a pirate space station and immediately turned it into a full-blown crisis involving the Empire. This time? It gets worse. Show Notes In Part 2 of this Star Wars Edge of the Empire actual play, the RPGBOT crew continues their mission to infiltrate a hidden pirate station and hack its central maintenance terminal, but things escalate in the most RPGBOT way possible. After escaping the chaos of an iconic Star Wars-style cantina and evading Imperial forces, the crew descends into the station's maintenance tunnels. What should have been a straightforward infiltration quickly turns bizarre when they encounter a massive group of inexplicable clones. While Fricata (the Wookiee slicer) attempts to complete the objective using computers checks and slicing mechanics, Nehl Bren (the Twi'lek smuggler) distracts the crowd using deception, persuasion, and sheer confidence. The slicing operation becomes a race against time, demonstrating how GMs can structure skill challenges in the Genesys / Edge of the Empire system. Just as the crew completes their objective and retrieves the data, they decide to liberate (maybe kidnap?) the clone cult's robotic deity and escape. Unfortunately, their exit is interrupted by the arrival of Imperial forces… including a familiar enemy from Nehl's past. The episode ends with a bang. Key Takeaways Actual play sessions highlight the strength of narrative dice systems, especially how Advantage and Threat shape scenes beyond success/failure. Improvisation is core to Star Wars RPG gameplay—players turned a random encounter into a full cult infiltration scenario. Skill challenges (like slicing a terminal) can be structured as multi-roll objectives to build tension. Social encounters can be as complex as combat, especially when dealing with unstable NPC groups. Creative roleplay can bypass traditional obstacles, including turning enemies into allies (or followers). Force powers and talents add narrative depth, even when they don't fully succeed. Destiny Points and narrative control mechanics reinforce the push-and-pull between players and GM. Edge of the Empire thrives on chaos, especially in morally gray Outer Rim scenarios. Recurring character backstories (like Nel's Imperial ties) are powerful tools for introducing conflict. No plan survives contact with the players. Ever. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Welcome back to the RPGBOT.Podcast, where we're teaching you how to play the Star Wars tabletop RPG the best possible way: by immediately committing crimes in space. In this episode, Randall introduces a Wookie slicer with Force powers on the run from the law, while Ash debuts a former Imperial smuggler who solves problems the traditional way: shooting first and then leaving without askin questions. Tyler GMs a Star Wars RPG actual play session which quickly becomes a chaotic adventure featuring pirate stations, suspicious hookahs, questionable dice math, and a cantina band legally required to play the same song forever. A mysterious employer named Fulcrum sends our heroes to a lawless Outer Rim space station to hack a maintenance terminal. Everything is going well until an Imperial Star Destroyer arrives and Ash's obligations immeditaly become a problem. Buckle up for an Edge of the Empire actual play. The dice are weird, the space criminals are weirder, and "failing forward" may be the players' only hope for success. Show Notes In this Star Wars TTRPG actual play episode, the RPGBOT crew dives into the Fantasy Flight Games Star Wars roleplaying system (Edge of the Empire) to demonstrate how the game works in practice. Through a chaotic but hilarious adventure, listeners get a hands-on look at the mechanics of the narrative dice, Destiny Points, and a small taste of combat. Randall plays Fricata, a Wookiee slicer with Force abilities and a confusing criminal history. Ash plays Nehlbren, a Twi'lek smuggler pilot who once served the Galactic Empire but is now carving out her own path in the galaxy's criminal underworld. A mysterious contact known only as "Fulcrum" hires them to infiltrate a hidden pirate station called Comfort Station. Access the station's central maintenance terminal, upload a program via a code cylinder (basically a Star Wars USB drive), retrieve encrypted data, destroy the evidence, and don't let anyone else get the data. Of course, nothing is ever simple in the Outer Rim. The players interact with shady NPCs, explore the environment, and begin scheming their way toward the maintenance systems. The episode also provides practical demonstrations of skill checks and how narrative dice results influence storytelling. If you've ever wondered how Edge of the Empire actually plays at the table, this episode is a perfect example. Key Takeaways Fantasy Flight's Star Wars RPG uses narrative dice, meaning results generate story outcomes beyond simple success or failure. Actual play sessions are one of the best ways to learn the system, showing how mechanics like Advantage and Threat influence the narrative. Character backgrounds drive story complications, such as Nelbren's Imperial past creating immediate conflict when the Empire appears. Social checks (Charm, Negotiation, Deception) can dramatically change encounters—even avoiding docking fees on a pirate station. Knowledge and perception checks help players navigate complex environments, especially when searching for hidden objectives. Slicing (hacking) is a core gameplay element in Edge of the Empire and often requires creative thinking. Force tokens create a dynamic resource pool shared between players and the GM, constantly shifting the narrative balance. The Cool vs Vigilance initiative system determines combat order depending on whether characters were prepared for the fight. Edge of the Empire emphasizes storytelling over rigid mechanics, encouraging improvisation and player creativity. Sometimes the best plan in a Star Wars RPG is still just shooting first. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Welcome back to the RPGBOT.Podcast, where we're teaching you how to play the Star Wars tabletop RPG the best possible way: by immediately committing crimes in space. In this episode, Randall introduces a Wookie slicer with Force powers on the run from the law, while Ash debuts a former Imperial smuggler who solves problems the traditional way: shooting first and then leaving without askin questions. Tyler GMs a Star Wars RPG actual play session which quickly becomes a chaotic adventure featuring pirate stations, suspicious hookahs, questionable dice math, and a cantina band legally required to play the same song forever. A mysterious employer named Fulcrum sends our heroes to a lawless Outer Rim space station to hack a maintenance terminal. Everything is going well until an Imperial Star Destroyer arrives and Ash's obligations immeditaly become a problem. Buckle up for an Edge of the Empire actual play. The dice are weird, the space criminals are weirder, and "failing forward" may be the players' only hope for success. Show Notes In this Star Wars TTRPG actual play episode, the RPGBOT crew dives into the Fantasy Flight Games Star Wars roleplaying system (Edge of the Empire) to demonstrate how the game works in practice. Through a chaotic but hilarious adventure, listeners get a hands-on look at the mechanics of the narrative dice, Destiny Points, and a small taste of combat. Randall plays Fricata, a Wookiee slicer with Force abilities and a confusing criminal history. Ash plays Nehlbren, a Twi'lek smuggler pilot who once served the Galactic Empire but is now carving out her own path in the galaxy's criminal underworld. A mysterious contact known only as "Fulcrum" hires them to infiltrate a hidden pirate station called Comfort Station. Access the station's central maintenance terminal, upload a program via a code cylinder (basically a Star Wars USB drive), retrieve encrypted data, destroy the evidence, and don't let anyone else get the data. Of course, nothing is ever simple in the Outer Rim. The players interact with shady NPCs, explore the environment, and begin scheming their way toward the maintenance systems. The episode also provides practical demonstrations of skill checks and how narrative dice results influence storytelling. If you've ever wondered how Edge of the Empire actually plays at the table, this episode is a perfect example. Key Takeaways Fantasy Flight's Star Wars RPG uses narrative dice, meaning results generate story outcomes beyond simple success or failure. Actual play sessions are one of the best ways to learn the system, showing how mechanics like Advantage and Threat influence the narrative. Character backgrounds drive story complications, such as Nelbren's Imperial past creating immediate conflict when the Empire appears. Social checks (Charm, Negotiation, Deception) can dramatically change encounters—even avoiding docking fees on a pirate station. Knowledge and perception checks help players navigate complex environments, especially when searching for hidden objectives. Slicing (hacking) is a core gameplay element in Edge of the Empire and often requires creative thinking. Force tokens create a dynamic resource pool shared between players and the GM, constantly shifting the narrative balance. The Cool vs Vigilance initiative system determines combat order depending on whether characters were prepared for the fight. Edge of the Empire emphasizes storytelling over rigid mechanics, encouraging improvisation and player creativity. Sometimes the best plan in a Star Wars RPG is still just shooting first. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Every RPG player knows the real game doesn't start when the dice hit the table. No, the real adventure begins when some nerds open a rulebook, stare at a character sheet, and argue about whether a Wookiee hacker with a moral crusade for droid rights is mechanically viable. In this episode of the RPGBOT.Quickstart series, the crew tackles FFG Star Wars RPG character creation in Fantasy Flight's Edge of the Empire. Randall decides the galaxy clearly needs a Force-sensitive Wookie slicer, Ash plans to become the smooth-talking Twi'lek pilot with questionable ethics, and Tyler guides them through the rules like Han Solo navigating an astroid field. Fewer explosions, though. The crew debates Wookie vocal acting, and give a lot of attention to character backgrounds, motivations, and that fancy "obligation" mechanic that Tyler has been gushing about for the past 5 seasons. Show Notes In Part 2 of the RPGBOT Quickstart guide to the Fantasy Flight Star Wars RPG, the hosts dive deep into character creation for Edge of the Empire, walking listeners step-by-step through how to build a playable character from concept to crunch. The episode begins with a quick refresher on the core elements that define a character in the FFG Star Wars: Unlike traditional D&D-style builds focused on race and class alone, Star Wars characters are shaped by several narrative and mechanical layers: species, career, specialization trees, obligation, motivations, skills, and equipment. Understanding the Core Pieces of a Star Wars Character Characters start from their background and motiviation, which are mostly narrative, but your motivation can provide a recurring source of bonus experience points used to advance your character. Ash selects "Freedom," while Randall chooses "Droid Rights." Next is choosing a species, which determines starting attributes, wound thresholds, strain thresholds, and sometimes special abilities. The group reviews options like humans, droids, wookiees, and other iconic Star Wars species, each bringing unique mechanical strengths. From there, players select a career, the Star Wars equivalent of a class. Careers such as Smuggler, Technician, Bounty Hunter, Colonist, Explorer, and Hired Gun are available in Edge of the Empire, with other careers available in other core books. Each career also includes specialization trees: talent grids that players spend XP on to get exciting new talents. The Obligation Mechanic One of the defining mechanics of Edge of the Empire is the Obligation system. Each character begins with one or more "obligations": debts, blackmail, criminal records, or personal responsibilities that can become recurring problems during play. Players can choose from a table of suggestions or work with the GM to create their own. We like a d100 table, so we rolled. Ash rolls Blackmail, suggesting their former Imperial ties might come back to haunt them, while Randall rolls Criminal, representing legal trouble tied to a mysterious identity issue in which he's wanted for his own murder. The hosts discuss how obligation works at the table, and also how you can get some extra goodies at character creation for taking on extra Obligation. Spending Experience Points The group also covers starting XP allocation during character creation. Players spend XP to increase attributes, train skills, and unlock talents from specialization trees. Tyler explains the economic balance behind XP spending: Improving characteristics is expensive but powerful, while skills can offer cheaper and more focused improvements. Talents are similarly powerful, but often more complex than straight numerical improvements. Players can also spend XP to unclock new specializations, including from different careers. Tyler, who is in fact a generous GM, gives Ash and Randall a big pile of extra starting XP so that Randall can get force powers without cutting into his slicing skills. Equipment and Starting Gear Finally, character spend starting credits on equipment. Ash and Randall spend some time eyeballing armor, weapons, and other goodies. Even simple purchases like blaster pistols can dramatically shape a character's early playstyle, and the meager starting credits (500 by default) don't go very far. By the end of the episode, the party has assembled a crew: A Twi'lek smuggler pilot with secrets and imperial entanglements A Wookie slicer fighting for droid rights and running from the law A ship, an NPC astromech droid, and a galaxy full of problems The perfect setup for Star Wars. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Every RPG player knows the real game doesn't start when the dice hit the table. No, the real adventure begins when some nerds open a rulebook, stare at a character sheet, and argue about whether a Wookiee hacker with a moral crusade for droid rights is mechanically viable. In this episode of the RPGBOT.Quickstart series, the crew tackles FFG Star Wars RPG character creation in Fantasy Flight's Edge of the Empire. Randall decides the galaxy clearly needs a Force-sensitive Wookie slicer, Ash plans to become the smooth-talking Twi'lek pilot with questionable ethics, and Tyler guides them through the rules like Han Solo navigating an astroid field. Fewer explosions, though. The crew debates Wookie vocal acting, and give a lot of attention to character backgrounds, motivations, and that fancy "obligation" mechanic that Tyler has been gushing about for the past 5 seasons. Show Notes In Part 2 of the RPGBOT Quickstart guide to the Fantasy Flight Star Wars RPG, the hosts dive deep into character creation for Edge of the Empire, walking listeners step-by-step through how to build a playable character from concept to crunch. The episode begins with a quick refresher on the core elements that define a character in the FFG Star Wars: Unlike traditional D&D-style builds focused on race and class alone, Star Wars characters are shaped by several narrative and mechanical layers: species, career, specialization trees, obligation, motivations, skills, and equipment. Understanding the Core Pieces of a Star Wars Character Characters start from their background and motiviation, which are mostly narrative, but your motivation can provide a recurring source of bonus experience points used to advance your character. Ash selects "Freedom," while Randall chooses "Droid Rights." Next is choosing a species, which determines starting attributes, wound thresholds, strain thresholds, and sometimes special abilities. The group reviews options like humans, droids, wookiees, and other iconic Star Wars species, each bringing unique mechanical strengths. From there, players select a career, the Star Wars equivalent of a class. Careers such as Smuggler, Technician, Bounty Hunter, Colonist, Explorer, and Hired Gun are available in Edge of the Empire, with other careers available in other core books. Each career also includes specialization trees: talent grids that players spend XP on to get exciting new talents. The Obligation Mechanic One of the defining mechanics of Edge of the Empire is the Obligation system. Each character begins with one or more "obligations": debts, blackmail, criminal records, or personal responsibilities that can become recurring problems during play. Players can choose from a table of suggestions or work with the GM to create their own. We like a d100 table, so we rolled. Ash rolls Blackmail, suggesting their former Imperial ties might come back to haunt them, while Randall rolls Criminal, representing legal trouble tied to a mysterious identity issue in which he's wanted for his own murder. The hosts discuss how obligation works at the table, and also how you can get some extra goodies at character creation for taking on extra Obligation. Spending Experience Points The group also covers starting XP allocation during character creation. Players spend XP to increase attributes, train skills, and unlock talents from specialization trees. Tyler explains the economic balance behind XP spending: Improving characteristics is expensive but powerful, while skills can offer cheaper and more focused improvements. Talents are similarly powerful, but often more complex than straight numerical improvements. Players can also spend XP to unclock new specializations, including from different careers. Tyler, who is in fact a generous GM, gives Ash and Randall a big pile of extra starting XP so that Randall can get force powers without cutting into his slicing skills. Equipment and Starting Gear Finally, character spend starting credits on equipment. Ash and Randall spend some time eyeballing armor, weapons, and other goodies. Even simple purchases like blaster pistols can dramatically shape a character's early playstyle, and the meager starting credits (500 by default) don't go very far. By the end of the episode, the party has assembled a crew: A Twi'lek smuggler pilot with secrets and imperial entanglements A Wookie slicer fighting for droid rights and running from the law A ship, an NPC astromech droid, and a galaxy full of problems The perfect setup for Star Wars. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Randall: "So this is a Star Wars RPG where we're not Jedi, not heroes, and not important… we're basically the guy who owes Jabba rent." Tyler: "Correct. You're the reason bounty hunters have a 401k." Ash: "Finally! A system that understands my characters are emotionally complicated, morally questionable, and one hyperdrive failure away from eating space ramen." -The RPGBOT.Podcast cast, probably Show Notes In this Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG How to Play, the RPGBOT crew dives into the core concepts and themes of Fantasy Flight's narrative dice system, a tabletop RPG focused less on galactic heroes and more on desperate scoundrels trying to survive under Imperial rule. Unlike traditional D&D-style tabletop RPG mechanics, Edge of the Empire emphasizes storytelling consequences over binary success and failure. Using custom narrative dice pools, players roll not only to determine success, but also complications, advantages, triumphs, and catastrophic disasters. A blaster shot might hit, but now the Empire knows where you are. A failed stealth check might still reveal useful intel. Every roll advances the story. The hosts explain how the three core game lines: Edge of the Empire (scoundrels), Age of Rebellion (soldiers), and Force and Destiny (Jedi). They share identical mechanics but radically different narrative tones. Edge of the Empire specifically captures the Outer Rim survival fantasy: smugglers, bounty hunters, colonists, and criminals living paycheck-to-paycheck in a galaxy ruled by the Empire. A major highlight is the narrative dice system in Star Wars RPG, where opposed dice cancel symbols to create layered outcomes: success with threat, failure with advantage, or rare triumph and despair moments that dramatically alter scenes. This mechanic encourages cinematic storytelling reminiscent of Andor, Firefly, and The Mandalorian. The episode also introduces one of the system's defining features: the party ship. Players don't just own equipment: they share a starship that acts as a character, home base, and constant financial burden. Fuel, repairs, and debts ensure players stay motivated, reinforcing the "scrappy crew survival" tone. Finally, the hosts discuss why Edge of the Empire excels at collaborative storytelling. Instead of heroes destined to save the galaxy, players create flawed people navigating obligations, debts, and consequences, making it one of the most thematic RPG systems available. Key Takeaways Edge of the Empire focuses on scoundrels and survival rather than Jedi heroics The three core books share mechanics but offer different campaign tones (smugglers, soldiers, Jedi) The Fantasy Flight narrative dice system produces multi-layered outcomes (success + complication) Triumph and Despair create cinematic story moments beyond normal RPG success/failure Players share a ship that functions as a party hub and constant source of financial pressure The system encourages collaborative storytelling over tactical optimization Designed to emulate Firefly-style and Mandalorian-style adventures Force users exist but aren't required — the game works best as a crew drama Resource scarcity ("keeping players hungry") drives plot motivation One roll always advances the story — failure never stalls gameplay Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Randall: "So this is a Star Wars RPG where we're not Jedi, not heroes, and not important… we're basically the guy who owes Jabba rent." Tyler: "Correct. You're the reason bounty hunters have a 401k." Ash: "Finally! A system that understands my characters are emotionally complicated, morally questionable, and one hyperdrive failure away from eating space ramen." -The RPGBOT.Podcast cast, probably Show Notes In this Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG How to Play, the RPGBOT crew dives into the core concepts and themes of Fantasy Flight's narrative dice system, a tabletop RPG focused less on galactic heroes and more on desperate scoundrels trying to survive under Imperial rule. Unlike traditional D&D-style tabletop RPG mechanics, Edge of the Empire emphasizes storytelling consequences over binary success and failure. Using custom narrative dice pools, players roll not only to determine success, but also complications, advantages, triumphs, and catastrophic disasters. A blaster shot might hit, but now the Empire knows where you are. A failed stealth check might still reveal useful intel. Every roll advances the story. The hosts explain how the three core game lines: Edge of the Empire (scoundrels), Age of Rebellion (soldiers), and Force and Destiny (Jedi). They share identical mechanics but radically different narrative tones. Edge of the Empire specifically captures the Outer Rim survival fantasy: smugglers, bounty hunters, colonists, and criminals living paycheck-to-paycheck in a galaxy ruled by the Empire. A major highlight is the narrative dice system in Star Wars RPG, where opposed dice cancel symbols to create layered outcomes: success with threat, failure with advantage, or rare triumph and despair moments that dramatically alter scenes. This mechanic encourages cinematic storytelling reminiscent of Andor, Firefly, and The Mandalorian. The episode also introduces one of the system's defining features: the party ship. Players don't just own equipment: they share a starship that acts as a character, home base, and constant financial burden. Fuel, repairs, and debts ensure players stay motivated, reinforcing the "scrappy crew survival" tone. Finally, the hosts discuss why Edge of the Empire excels at collaborative storytelling. Instead of heroes destined to save the galaxy, players create flawed people navigating obligations, debts, and consequences, making it one of the most thematic RPG systems available. Key Takeaways Edge of the Empire focuses on scoundrels and survival rather than Jedi heroics The three core books share mechanics but offer different campaign tones (smugglers, soldiers, Jedi) The Fantasy Flight narrative dice system produces multi-layered outcomes (success + complication) Triumph and Despair create cinematic story moments beyond normal RPG success/failure Players share a ship that functions as a party hub and constant source of financial pressure The system encourages collaborative storytelling over tactical optimization Designed to emulate Firefly-style and Mandalorian-style adventures Force users exist but aren't required — the game works best as a crew drama Resource scarcity ("keeping players hungry") drives plot motivation One roll always advances the story — failure never stalls gameplay Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

The Heroes are coming together, but some are found in the wildest places. As Norizel is collected by our big lumbering L-One we find out how the port patrol is dealing with the happenings outside of the Codfather… and what happens with the intruder inside. Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found in many placesEnri is playing Isazel Ahn and can be found in may placesSammi is playing Vadillorn Kirst and can be found on the interwebs Special Guest Adam Beltaine who can be found at Force Majeure Hydian Folk Theme by Chris IngThe Hard Road Album Art by Zora We can be found on Twitter @TheHydianWayOn Mastodon as @TheHydianWay@Dice.CampOn the Internet at TheHydianWay.comon iTunes and YouTube Music

There’s one Hero all on their own, their fur matted with spray foam and with two attackers who are changing shape before their eyes. Now the three are cornered and the odds don’t favor Vadillorn. Come and see how their luck breaks. Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found in many placesEnri is playing Isazel Ahn and can be found in may placesSammi is playing Vadillorn Kirst and can be found on the interwebs Hydian Folk Theme by Chris IngThe Hard Road Album Art by Zach We can be found on Twitter @TheHydianWayOn Mastodon as @TheHydianWay@Dice.CampOn the Internet at TheHydianWay.comon iTunes and YouTube Music

The Heroes are gathering in their strength after the Codfather has been attacked and a notable Hutt has been saved. Now they try to find out who is behind this and why the Codfather has been targeted by such powerful forces. Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found in many placesEnri is playing Isazel Ahn and can be found in may placesSammi is playing Vadillorn Kirst and can be found on the interwebs Hydian Folk Theme by Chris IngThe Hard Road Album Art by Zach We can be found on Twitter @TheHydianWayOn Mastodon as @TheHydianWay@Dice.CampOn the Internet at TheHydianWay.comon iTunes and YouTube Music

The Hydian Heroes are starting to come together, realizing the troubles that they’re in one comes back to herself… kind of, and the other finally awakes from an imposed slumber. Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found in many placesEnri is playing Isazel Ahn and can be found in may placesSammi is playing Vadillorn Kirst and can be found on the interwebs Hydian Folk Theme by Chris IngThe Hard Road Album Art by Zach We can be found on Twitter @TheHydianWayOn Mastodon as @TheHydianWay@Dice.CampOn the Internet at TheHydianWay.comon iTunes and YouTube Music

As the Heroes are pulled in so many directions we find ourselves looking in on Hookman and Jones as they attempt to find Trelwe and see if they can help Vadillorn on the way. Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found in many placesEnri is playing Isazel Ahn and can be found in may placesSammi is playing Vadillorn Kirst and can be found on the interwebs Hydian Folk Theme by Chris IngThe Hard Road Album Art by Zach We can be found on Twitter @TheHydianWayOn Mastodon as @TheHydianWay@Dice.CampOn the Internet at TheHydianWay.comon iTunes and YouTube Music

The Heroes are suddenly realizing how bad the fights are going, the assassins are still not caught and Norin is still investigating a very disturbing corpse. Now with emotions heightened they have to come together in a very unexpected way. Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found in many placesEnri is playing Isazel Ahn and can be found in may placesSammi is playing Vadillorn Kirst and can be found on the interwebs Hydian Folk Theme by Chris IngThe Hard Road Album Art by Zach We can be found on Twitter @TheHydianWayOn Mastodon as @TheHydianWay@Dice.CampOn the Internet at TheHydianWay.comon iTunes and YouTube Music

The Hydian Heroes deal with crises from saving a Hutt’s slow moving life to trying to find the weird cause of a disintegration with the sounds of a battle being fought on the outer hull. Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found in many placesEnri is playing Isazel Ahn and can be found in may placesSammi is playing Vadillorn Kirst and can be found on the interwebs Hydian Folk Theme by Chris IngThe Hard Road Album Art by Zach We can be found on Twitter @TheHydianWayOn Mastodon as @TheHydianWay@Dice.CampOn the Internet at TheHydianWay.comon iTunes and YouTube Music

Reeling from from the news that Amor Sil has been dead for weeks the Hydian Heroes are having to protect the Codfather as well as finding out who is after them and what criminal enterprises they've accidentally crossed paths with. Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Touching Nothing"

Sometimes it's a bit harder to get a hold of yourself and those you care about. Finding out why you care and who you care about can be soul shattering, but we can bring pieces of others with us into the future with us… what happens when one of those is a burgeoning force wielder? … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Twilight River"

When the bouncers are two stories tall it becomes even harder to keep out of trouble, when a suspicious being disappears right in front of you. Now Vadillorn dances around security and danger as she starts to pursue from one danger to another. Norin is tearing the Codfather apart to find out what the kriff … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Softly Called Over"

We find Vad and Keydra having to find the now missing coach as well as finding Isazel who has disappeared in the company of her ex girlfriend of questionable intent. Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found … Continue reading "The Hard Road – The Man in The Back"

Isazel and Alis have slipped away from the party to catch up, but how far will the meeting between two ex's go? Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found in many placesEnri is playing Isazel Ahn and … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Breaking Isazel"

The Heroes are in the midst of confusion as the party starts to split in the raucous gala. With eyes off Isazel and now the Codfater is calling with a mystery that is starting to reveal itself the Heroes are having to dig deeper and remain calm. Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Where the Mummy is"

The Heroes have made it to the gala, now what will they see and how will this pretournament gathering play out with such an eclectic group of players and sponsors? Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Girl in the Corner"

We join the Heroes as they get ready for a shopping trip in ways that few would believe, and a bit of a mystery is starting to become unavoidable on the Codfather. Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Shopping for the Reluctant"

The Codfather brings the Heroes in for a landing and gets almost into the right berth. Now they bring the team to where they need to go but is everything actually all right with the team? Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing … Continue reading "The Hard Road – A Difficult Berth"

The Heroes are getting close to the end of the long journey to Bonadon. The team is settling in and even the management is starting to ask for help now that they see how tactically minded the crew is. Find out how the huttball team is expected to fair in the tournament. Andarta Yendall as … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Team Building"

The Heroes set off across the galaxy for Bonadon carrying the eclectic group of Huttball players. The crew is still trying to relax after the last mission and find their new normal as they accept Vadillorn into the mix Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Crowded Codfather"

The Hydian Heroes have a new mission, it seems like a simple one after their last outing. Now will they be able to do a low stress escort mission for a group of athletes? Or will trouble find the crew? Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Teacake Run"

After we talked to the characters of the Codfather, we talk to the players and find out how the seasons have affected them as well as desires for going forward. Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Questioned Players"

As the Heroes find themselves back at the ISR headquarters they find that a reckoning is happening for their adventures in helping a labor movement gone wrong Dramatis Personae Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found in … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Questioned Characters"

We find Trelwe overseeing two ISR members learning more and more about themselves and starting to plan for a future that makes a difference in the wider galaxy. Dramatis Personae Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin Gremian and can be found … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Making Future Plans"

Isazel has found herself on Mirial on a quest to make sure that her crew, and more, stays together. Having found Norin the two explore a bit more about their on insecurities and some history that neither were aware of. Dramatis Personae Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Hearing of the Past"

The Heroes are back at Shadda Bi Boran and have dispersed to the far reaches of the galaxy to get themselves back together and ready for the next mission. If they're to go on a next mission after the loss they've had. We find Trelwe receiving a message from one of the crew and thinks … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Garbled Urgency"

Send us a textRolling in the Netherdeep has evolved into Few and Far Between!!Few And Far Between Ep 116Edge of the EmpireNorth and Voka accost two drunken sailors. Voka prays at the Wildmother's Lighthouse in Nicodranas, while Lapuhs meets a watery friend.Watch us live on Wednesdays 4:30 Eastern/1:30 Pacific on Twitch!Thanks to Critical Role for helping us build worlds of adventure!Connect with us via our Linktree!Ron Murphy – DM, @ron88keysRBDMLaphus Prismawing - Jaiden Ramirez, @ffoxtrotXIVOrgoth Skullcrusher - Bill Roper, @billfreakinroperNorth Star Maedrick - Jaime R. Bishop, @steelcladvicarVoka Nildrith - Mira Luttrell, @cubedmangoesFollow us on Twitter at @SeveredSonsDnD or on Instagram!Join our Discord! Join our Patreon!Now, you can support us through the Buzzsprout website too!Give us a review on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Spotify,  GoodPods or on our Twitter page and we'll read it on the air.   Support the show

The Heroes have steeled themselves into a desperate plan. Now comes the execution of the idea. Will the diminished crew be able to escape Lundhu Braf intact? or will this result in the capture of our Heroes? Dramatis Personae Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 … Continue reading "The Hard Road – What Hotshots Do"

The Heroes try to regroup to plan out what's to come at the Codfather. As our characters take stock of what the new situation is with the Imperials imposing even harsher control on the planet after plans have gone awry. Dramatis Personae Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Unquiet Desperation"

In the aftermath of a single shot the Heroes react and try to bring the tragedies to a conclusion as the Empire decides that the stress the Heroes are under isn't quite enough yet. Dramatis Personae Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Quiet Transmissions"

A prison break is causing chaos as the Heroes fight to stop a mad explosion while the imperials seem to be ramping up the pressure leading to an outcome that will come crashing down Dramatis Personae Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Success and Despair"

The Heroes are scrambling to save the planet and an activist who knows too much. They work in the shadows and caverns out of sight as they try to stop explosions that will decimate the entire planet. Dramatis Personae Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Breakouts and Big Ideas"

The local resistance is needing to exfiltrate a very knowledgeable operator that has been captured by the Empire. Will Shen, Keydra, and Lenore be able to save Garv Danson before it's too late? Dramatis Personae Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 Erica is playing Norin … Continue reading "The Hard Road – A Slick Infiltration"

Isazel and Norin are racing to stop a massive explosion beneath the already ravaged city of Brivis. Will they be able to get there in one piece? Will they be able to stop this ticking time bomb with out having more go wrong? Dramatis Personae Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik … Continue reading "The Hard Road – A Jump to Pressure"

As Shen and Keydra head out into the wilds of Brivis Norin stays around to help out when Isazel gets out of the tube. The two have a heart to heart over the things they've realized while on Lundhu Braf from all the ever increasing trauma. Is there a surprise or two to be had? … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Decanting a Conversation"

As Shen's sister shows up on the Codfather hi-jinx and planning start to happen as an old friend is needing to be rescued unless dangerous information gets into Imperial hands. The pot is starting to boil for the Heroes now. Dramatis Personae Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Panic on the Codfather"

Keydra has found a leader in the shattered remains of Brivis, now after narrowly escaping a snipers shot she tries to entreat with the local resistance. Will her negotiation style match her ability with her sniper rifle? Dramatis Personae Andarta Yendall as the GM Joy is playing Keydra Javik and can be found on Twitch.tv/joyfullyme2 … Continue reading "The Hard Road – Another Falls"