Libsyn Directory

ABBERATIONS: Nothing says 'Fun Game Night' like Psychic Trauma!

Release Date: 05/31/2025

DAGGERHEART: HOW TO PLAY ACTUAL PLAY - This Swamp Ain't Big Enough for All Our Bad Decisions

The RPGBOT.Podcast

Attention-Grabbing One-Liner: Ever accidentally summon an ancient mage, turn a wooden snake into a god, and commit light-hearted organ donation—all before lunch? Welcome to Daggerheart. A Huge Thank You to Our Sponsor: This episode of The RPGBOT.Podcast is proudly sponsored by — the tool that makes prepping your next chaotic campaign way easier than bargaining with ancient swamp mages. From random traps to tactical encounter builders, DungeonFlow has everything you need to keep your GMing fast, fun, and possibly slightly cursed. Try it today! Episode Notes Join the RPGBOT crew as they...

DAGGERHEART: HOW TO PLAY CHARACTER CREATION - Roll Stats, Choose a Class, Cry About Your Backstory

The RPGBOT.Podcast

Ever wonder what would happen if D&D and a therapy session had a magical woodland baby? Welcome to character creation in Daggerheart. Thank You to Our Sponsor – DungeonFlow.app: This episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast is proudly sponsored by — your new favorite GM tool for organizing campaigns, generating traps, and describing suspiciously pulsing potted plants. Whether you're prepping a one-shot or wrangling a West Marches campaign, DungeonFlow makes your life easier, faster, and way less covered in metaphorical blood. Try it now and streamline your prep time before the rogue does...

SHINKICKING Remastered - Managing Difficulty and Tone in Combat RP

The RPGBOT.Podcast

Ever accidentally traumatize your party during a goblin ambush? We did—so we made a whole episode about it. In this remastered episode, the RPGBOT crew rolls initiative on one of the most delicate balancing acts in tabletop role-playing games: how to manage difficulty and tone in combat scenarios. Whether you’re a GM trying to run a gritty, high-stakes survival encounter or a player who just wants to dropkick goblins and crack jokes, this conversation explores how to harmonize challenge with narrative tone. The hosts unpack the psychology of danger, why tension doesn’t always mean TPKs,...

DAGGERHEART: HOW TO PLAY CONCEPTS AND THEMES - Cue the Spotlight, We're Monologuing Through Combat

The RPGBOT.Podcast

We upgraded Foundry, discovered a few surprise “features,” and then dove headfirst into the hope-and-fear-fueled mayhem of Daggerheart—join us for mechanics, emotions, and at least one character death that felt really personal. This episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast is sponsored by , your one-stop shop for streamlining game prep and powering up your sessions. Whether you're navigating Daggerheart's emotional economy or just trying to remember what room had the spiky floor trap, DungeonFlow has your back. With encounter builders, random traps, and mood-setting room descriptions, it's...

SHADOWFELL - Get Your Gloom On

The RPGBOT.Podcast

What if your depression had hit points and could punch back? Welcome to the Shadowfell. Huge thanks to DungeonFlow.app for sponsoring this episode—because even in the Shadowfell, your dungeon prep shouldn't be a nightmare. Sign up today at and start building better encounters, faster. It's free to try, easy to use, and unlike the Shadowfell... it won’t drain your soul. In this laughably bleak episode, the RPGBOT crew takes a torch (dimly lit, flickering with existential dread) and dives headfirst into the Shadowfell—D&D’s very own Plane of Gloom, where your hopes go to die...

LIGHT AND DARKNESS Remastered - Because apparently no one packs torches anymore...

The RPGBOT.Podcast

If you've ever wondered why your dungeon feels less like a terrifying crawl through the dark and more like a grayscale video game, this episode shines a light on everything wrong—and weird—about darkvision. In this remastered and updated episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the hosts revisit one of their most debated topics: how vision mechanics function in tabletop RPGs, especially Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. They dive deep into how different systems handle lighting, visibility, and the ever-confusing rules around darkvision. The episode unpacks the practical and narrative...

WARHAMMER FANTASY ROLE PLAY Part IV: Review - Fate, Fortune, and Fragile Line Between Hero and Corpse

The RPGBOT.Podcast

. Explore the treacherous roads, clash blades with the forces of corruption, and roll the bones in the grimdark world of Warhammer Fantasy. Whether you're a grizzled veteran or fresh meat for the dice gods, Ash has a seat at the table for you. Show Notes: In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the hosts venture deeper into the grim and perilous world of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. The conversation centers on how chance, mechanics, and narrative intertwine to create memorable and brutal gaming experiences. From unlucky dice rolls to warpstone corruption, the hosts unpack the intricate systems...

WARHAMMER FANTASY ROLE PLAY Pt III: Example Play - Bring Gloves, Trust No One, and Never Sniff the Daisies

The RPGBOT.Podcast

If you’ve ever asked, “How do I actually play Warhammer Fantasy Role Play?”—this episode is your crash course, chaos crash cart, and comedy club all rolled into one. Grab your dice, pack your herbs, and don’t forget your gloves. Things are about to get weird in the woods. Thank you to our sponsor, DM Adamantine! If you're ready to play with an expert GM in a one-of-a-kind setting, check out Dungeon Master Adamantine at or find him on for custom sessions in Greece or online! In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the crew dives headfirst into the brutal, baroque, and...

DEITIES Remastered - Divine powers, celestial politics, and heresy to keep things interesting.

The RPGBOT.Podcast

Ever wondered what happens when your cleric starts a cult, your paladin questions their god, and your podcast host thinks he is one? Tune in and find out. In this episode, the RPGBOT.Podcast crew dives deep into the divine—and the deranged—as they tackle the topic of religion in tabletop RPGs. From the celestial bureaucracy of the Forgotten Realms to Pathfinder’s heavily codified pantheon, the hosts examine how religion shapes settings, drives character motivation, and complicates moral choices. The discussion explores the roles of deities, demigods, and divine casters, while also...

PLANE OF ARBOREA - Where vibes are chaotic, food is suspicious, and trees hold grudges

The RPGBOT.Podcast

If you’ve ever wanted to party in a magical forest where the trees are judging you and the weather is trying to kill you, this is your episode. A massive thank you to Dungeon Master Adamantine for sponsoring this episode! Whether you want to explore mythic Athens in person or dive into the underdark from your living room, Nick Fotopoulos—aka DM Adamantine—runs unforgettable sessions across systems including D&D, Call of Cthulhu, and Vampire: The Masquerade. Book a game with him at or at . Episode Summary: In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the crew ascends to the upper...

More Episodes

In this Remastered Episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we summon the horrors that make your players ask, ‘Can I roll to nope?’

In this episode, the RPGBOT.Podcast team delves into the weird, the squishy, and the utterly incomprehensible world of Aberrations—those delightful horrors that break the rules of reality and challenge players’ expectations. From Mind Flayers to Gibbering Mouthers, the hosts explore how these creatures can be used to discomfort, disorient, and delight your game table. Whether you’re looking to run a horror campaign, design a disturbing encounter, or just want to terrify your players with something that doesn’t have a front or back, this episode will help you lean into the madness.

Content from RPGBOT.net

Call of Cthulhu Starter Set – A Review

Other Stuff

Basic Roleplaying System (affiliate link)

Monstrous Races (affiliate link)

Key Takeaways

Aberrations thrive on unpredictability: Their alien logic and bizarre abilities create dynamic and disorienting encounters that force players to think outside the stat block.
They are story tools, not just combatants: Aberrations can shape entire arcs, create cults, distort time and space, and redefine a campaign’s tone.
Use description and mechanics together: Emphasize the unnatural—describe how a Beholder’s eye twitches in impossible ways, or how an Aboleth speaks directly into a PC’s nightmares.
Madness and corruption are your allies: Aberrations are best when they leave a lingering mark, be it psychic scars, corrupted NPCs, or twisted reality.
Players should come prepared to counter tricks, not just tank hits: Aberrations reward clever tactics, good preparation, and understanding of their lore.

Suggested Resources

Volo’s Guide to Monsters – Excellent for Mind Flayer and Beholder lore.
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything – Optional rules for madness and tone setting.
Spelljammer: Adventures in Space – For space aberrations and bizarre origin stories.
Call of Cthulhu RPG – If you want to go full horror inspiration.

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How to Find Us:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

Key Takeaways

Suggested Resources

Tyler Kamstra

Ash Ely

Randall James

Producer Dan

@Lzr_illuminati

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