YSGARD: Send us demons so we can kill them!
The RPGBOT.Podcast
In this riotously entertaining episode, the RPGBOT.Podcast crew embarks on a wild ride from the expressive chaos of Nicolas Cage's acting to the mythic battlegrounds of Ysgard, the Viking heaven of Norse mythology. Along the way, the hosts take pit stops in Glorium's rowdy streets, wander the dwarven stronghold of Nidavellir, and contemplate the celestial politics of Seluna and Shar. Whether you came for cinematic hot takes, planar travel lore, or tactical GM advice, this episode has something for everyone who enjoys myth-heavy mayhem and tactical improvisation. The crew dives into the layers...
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PF2e PLAYER CORE 2 - First Classes for the Brave (or Clueless)
The RPGBOT.Podcast
This episode is sponsored by DungeonFlow. Build epic dungeons in minutes with Dungeon Flow—no signup, no stress. Start now at ! In a sweeping odyssey from futuristic drone deliveries to ancient alcoholic beverages to gummy bear supremacy, the hosts embark on a chaotically charming journey. Along the way, they sprinkle in heroic (and sometimes tragic) roleplaying stories, before dive-bombing into the real main course: Pathfinder 2’s Player Core 2 classes. From the Alchemist's "rocket science with acid" vibes to the Monk's "please read an entire pamphlet before punching" complexity, the...
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TRANSITIONING TO A NEW GAME (Remastered) - Burn the rulebook and never look back
The RPGBOT.Podcast
Ever felt like your game was getting stale, your rogue was phoning it in, and combat felt like a chore? Then ditch your old system and found something that actually slapped. In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the hosts tackle the treacherous terrain of transitioning from one TTRPG system to another—whether by choice, necessity, or that one player who just won’t stop talking about Pathfinder 2e. They discuss how to manage the shift from familiar mechanics to new rulesets, how to keep your players engaged through the change, and why it's okay if not everyone wants to come along for the...
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PF2E CLASS SELECTION - It's actually quite simple
The RPGBOT.Podcast
Oh no, that is too many choices! How will anyone ever possibly pick a class for their first Pathfinder character? The RPGBOT.podcast team takes a look at the classes in Pathfinder 2e's Player Core 1 and discusses which classes are and aren't good choices for new players. Will Fighter fit? Cleric is certainly correct. But is Bard better? Can we come up with other alliteration for the classes? Apparently not! Materials Referenced in This Episode () Materials Referenced in This Episode () If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on , or your favorite podcast app....
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PF2 NPC CORE - All Killer, No Filler!!!
The RPGBOT.Podcast
We rip open Pathfinder 2E’s NPC Core like a loot chest at midnight—all killer, no filler, just gun-wielding witches, charming villains, and side characters spicy enough to steal the spotlight (and maybe your party’s gold). #Pathfinder2E, #NPCCoreRules, #PF2GMFuel () Show Notes In this episode, the RPGBOT crew opens up Pathfinder 2E’s NPC Core and immediately gets lost in the endless possibilities of building bartenders who could solo a dragon and criminals with the fashion sense of a runway model. They dig into the shockingly well-organized stat blocks, and the book's...
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BUILDING UNDEAD CHARACTERS II (Remastered) - It's fun to be the life of the party...after you've lost yours
The RPGBOT.Podcast
Join us as we dig up the real secrets of playing undead—because dying was just the beginning! In this episode, the RPGBOT team continues their exploration of undead creatures in tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs). Shifting focus to the player's perspective, they delve into strategies for combating undead, methods for befriending them, and approaches to portraying undead characters in gameplay. The discussion encompasses both mechanical aspects and narrative considerations, offering insights applicable to systems like Dungeons & Dragons 5e and Pathfinder. Links () RPGBOT.Podcast...
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D&D CLASS SELECTION: It's like speed dating, but with swords and spell slots...
The RPGBOT.Podcast
Not sure which D&D class to start with? We break down the best and worst picks for new DnD players—featuring confused Wizards, exploding Artificers, and the ever-reliable Barbarian. Summary In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the hosts explore which Dungeons & Dragons classes are best suited for new players. With humor, experience, and a healthy dose of debate, they walk through the ins and outs of each class—from the accessible Fighter to the complicated Wizard—highlighting which choices provide a smooth introduction to tabletop RPGs and which might send new players reaching...
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W40K IMPERIUM MALEDICTUM - Creating a Character: Min-maxing in the name of the Emporer
The RPGBOT.Podcast
Stats, scars, and sarcasm—because in the Imperium, your character’s death is just character development. Links () () () Show Notes In this episode, the RPGBOT.Podcast crew dives deep into the dark, dystopian world of Warhammer 40,000's Imperium Maledictum, focusing specifically on character creation and the mechanics that shape storytelling in this grimdark RPG. The hosts bring their trademark humor and insight as they recount personal anecdotes, character-building decisions, and the mechanical intricacies of designing a unique persona in this rich and brutal universe....
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UNDEAD (Remastered) - Because sometimes the best minions are already dead
The RPGBOT.Podcast
We dive into the multifaceted role of undead creatures in tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs). They explore the unique characteristics of undead from both storytelling and mechanical perspectives, offering insights on how to effectively integrate these entities into gameplay. Narrative Significance of Undead: The hosts discuss how undead creatures can enhance storytelling by introducing themes of horror, mystery, and moral ambiguity. They examine the symbolic meanings of various undead types, such as zombies representing loss of control or vampires embodying eternal temptation. ...
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WARHAMMER 40K IMPERIUM MALEDICTUM - An Introduction: Mutants, Mayhem, and Middle Management
The RPGBOT.Podcast
The RPGBOT.Podcast team dives headfirst into the chaos, corruption, and cosmic bureaucracy of Warhammer: 40,000 - Imperium Maledictum—where your worst day in HR is just the beginning. Links () () () In this episode, the RPGBOT hosts take a deep dive into the dark, dystopian world of Warhammer 40,000 through the lens of its RPG adaptation, Imperium Maledictum. The conversation blends humorous banter with insightful analysis, offering listeners both entertainment and education. The hosts start with an overview of the setting’s lore, including the Emperor's role, the brutal nature of the...
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In this particularly chaotic and deeply nerdy episode, the hosts embark on a magical journey through Pathfinder: Lost Omens Rival Academies, but not before getting sidetracked by their own brand of ridiculousness. The episode kicks off with an exciting announcement about an upcoming West Marches-style game, loosely inspired by Monster Hunter—because who doesn’t love a good excuse to whack giant beasts with unnecessarily large weapons?
Once they finally manage to refocus, the hosts dive into the Rival Academies supplement, offering an in-depth exploration of the convocation of magical schools, the history of the World Wound (which, surprise surprise, involves wizards making bad choices), and the fascinating cultural dynamics of Golarion’s magical academia. They break down each of the six academies, ponder the mechanics of running adventures in a world of scholarly spellcasters, and try to decide whether demon hunting is a practical career choice or just a competitive college sport with higher-than-usual mortality rates.
As the episode progresses, the conversation somehow takes a hard turn into discussing the Seven Deadly Sins, leading to an amusing debate about which sin best represents each host as a Rune Lord. Things escalate quickly as they delve into personal anecdotes about gluttony—both in terms of food and drink—revealing that some of them may have majored in "College Drinking Games 101." The discussion wraps up in true RPGBOT fashion: a delightful mess of nostalgia, absurdity, and the realization that teleportation magic would make them all incredibly lazy.
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Key Takeaways:
- The upcoming West Marches campaign promises flexible, player-driven adventuring and likely many, many large weapons.
- Lost Omens Rival Academies is essentially a magical World’s Fair, full of weird and wonderful academic rivalries.
- The World Wound was created by wizards summoning demons, proving yet again that wizards should probably not be left unsupervised.
- The convocation of magic schools is all about rebuilding lost historical knowledge, which is noble—if not also a great excuse for some high-stakes academic drama.
- Golarion’s magic schools provide diverse character options, making them a playground for role-playing and mechanical depth.
- The hosts love letting discussions flow organically, even if that means they occasionally spiral into completely unrelated nonsense.
- Player engagement is key to making a game world feel alive, especially in settings as rich as Pathfinder’s.
- The historical lore surrounding the World Wound adds a dramatic backdrop for adventures, reinforcing that bad wizard decisions have long-term consequences.
- Each magic school has its own unique theme and mechanical flavor, ensuring something for everyone—whether you want to be a scholarly necromancer or a wizard athlete.
- Rune Lords remain one of the most beloved and terrifying elements of Golarion’s lore, because nothing says “respect my authority” like wielding ancient, sin-powered magic.
- Demon hunting in Rival Academies is not just a grim necessity—it’s practically a competitive sport. If you’re not slaying demons for clout, are you even trying?
- The city at the heart of the convocation serves as an adventuring hub, making it easy to introduce characters and plotlines.
- Political intrigue can be seamlessly woven into magical academia, proving that wizard politics are just as cutthroat as regular politics—but with more fireballs.
- The thematic elements of the Rune Lords and their ties to the Seven Deadly Sins make for compelling character and villain concepts.
- Anathemas in magic should not be taken lightly—unless, of course, you enjoy watching your character suffer terrible consequences for breaking them.
- Indulging in sin can lead to some of the best role-playing moments, but portraying pride or lust effectively is harder than it sounds.
- The book is packed with lore-rich content, though some DMs might find it lacking in practical tools for structuring campaigns.
- New wizard schools introduce fresh gameplay mechanics, making it a great resource for players looking to spice up their spell-slinging.
- The podcast’s Question of the Week prompts some self-reflection, ultimately proving that given the choice, teleportation and summoning magic would make everyone incredibly lazy adventurers.
- The discussion on gluttony goes beyond overeating, touching on the nature of indulgence in all its forms—especially when it involves alcohol.
- Nostalgia plays a huge role in the hosts’ humorous drinking stories, as they recall their reckless college days and questionable beverage choices.
- Lust proves to be a particularly challenging sin to explore in role-playing, leading to some entertainingly awkward moments.
- Cigars and alcohol somehow make their way into the discussion, proving once again that any RPG conversation can and will derail into personal anecdotes.
- The episode ends in beautifully chaotic fashion, as all good RPGBOT episodes should.
Final Thoughts: If you’re a fan of Pathfinder, wizard academies, or just enjoy listening to a group of nerds veer wildly off-topic before pulling everything back together at the last second, this episode is for you. Whether you’re here for deep lore discussions or just the occasional tangent about irresponsible college drinking, RPGBOT delivers yet another entertaining and insightful episode filled with laughter, lore, and just the right amount of nonsense.
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Tyler Kamstra
Ash Ely
Randall James
Producer Dan