PICKING A TTRPG (That isn’t D&D or Pathfinder Part 1) Remastered - Crunch, Chaos, and Political Backstabs
Release Date: 12/31/2025
EBERRON - FORGE OF THE ARTIFICER 2: Mobile Bastions and Divorced-Dad Energy
The RPGBOT.Podcast
Welcome back to RPGBOT.Podcast, where Ash is a Top GM™, Tyler is still emotionally processing Bastions, and Randall has discovered that Eberron finally lets you live your best divorced-dad-with-a-houseboat fantasy. In Part 2 of our review of Eberron: Forge of the Artificer, we leave the artificer workshop behind and dive headfirst into dragonmarked intrigue, mobile bastions, noir detectives, political backstabbing, and the deeply dangerous question: “What if my base could walk?” This episode contains airships, crime fiction, economic monopolies, and at least one moment where we...
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ELEMENTALS (Remastered): Unleash the Untamed Fury of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth!
The RPGBOT.Podcast
Show Notes Elementals are the walking embodiment of the four classic forces—fire, air, water, and earth—and they’re one of the easiest monster families to drop into any campaign while still feeling mythic, dangerous, and thematically sharp. () In this remastered episode, the RPGBOT crew digs into how to make elementals more than “a pile of hit points with a damage type”—including encounter roles, terrain design, and how to telegraph threats so your table feels challenged instead of cheap-shotted. What elementals are (in play): not just monsters, but mobile hazards and “terrain...
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EBERRON: FORGE OF THE ARTIFICER 1 - Union-Approved War-Forged Opinions
The RPGBOT.Podcast
Welcome back to RPGBOT.Podcast, where optimism is optional, feedback is weaponized, and today we’re firing up the lightning rails straight into Eberron: Forge of the Artificer. This is Part 1 of our review, which means we’re here to ask the most important questions first: Does this book actually understand artificers? Does it respect Eberron’s magic-as-industry vibe? And will Ash rant about corporate design decisions like an angry warforged with a union card? Spoiler: yes. Probably several times. Grab your tool proficiencies and buckle up—this is Eberron, where magic is practical,...
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2025 YEAR END REVIEW - 104 New Episodes a Year Was a Choice
The RPGBOT.Podcast
Show Notes The RPGBOT crew closes out Season 5 the only way they know how: with heartfelt gratitude, passionate rants, accidental comedy, and at least one derailment into pop culture discourse. In this end-of-year recap, Randall, Tyler, and Ash look back on a year of certified bangers, a few corporate-mandated stinkers, and the surprising joy of discovering that people are, in fact, listening. A lot of people. Like… three-quarters of a million downloads a lot. Along the way, the hosts reflect on: Why giving feedback is harder than it sounds (and why Josh should maybe just be hired already)....
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ROGUES LEVELS 11-20 Remastered: Skilled Skullduggery for your Devious Deceiver!
The RPGBOT.Podcast
In this remastered episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we continue to shine a spotlight on building one of the most intriguing classes in the game: the Rogue. With their sneaky tactics and manipulative ways, Rogues add an essential element of mystery and cunning to any adventuring party. Join us as we break down the key components of building a successful Rogue character, and learn how to level up your game with this second part of our two-part series on Rogues. HANDBOOKS FROM RPGBOT.net RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on , or your...
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PICKING A TTRPG (That isn’t D&D or Pathfinder Part 3) - A Galaxy of Games, Crunch, and Chaos
The RPGBOT.Podcast
On this remastered episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we complete our 3-part series on Picking a TTRPG that is not DnD or Pathfinder by adventuring deep into the vast and thrilling universe of tabletop RPGs. From the spine-chilling cosmic horror of Alien RPG to the gritty nihilism of Death in Space, we’re exploring the diverse themes of space exploration, teenage superheroes, cyberpunk chaos, and even the villainous fun of Necessary Evil. Join us as we tackle the art of balancing crunch with accessibility, dive into the rise of one-page RPGs for quick and chaotic adventures, and share tips on...
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PICKING A TTRPG (That isn’t D&D or Pathfinder Part 2) Remastered - Rolling Dice and Brewing Chaos
The RPGBOT.Podcast
Ever wondered what beer chemistry, emo vampires, and broom mechanics have in common? Neither did we—until this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast! We’re diving deep into RPG madness, from the grimy charm of Shadow Dark to the chaos of Warhammer's magic (spoiler: it’s messy). Then, we tackle Symbaroum, where sweeping is serious business, and Vison, the perfect game for overachieving detectives. Horror fans, brace yourselves! It's eldritch chills with Call of Cthulhu, slapstick terror with Pulp Cthulhu, and Appalachian nightmares with Old Gods of...
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2026! Screaming into the void while RPGBOT.chat torments us - A fitting end to 2025!
The RPGBOT.Podcast
Farewell 2025, Hello 2026 As the dice finish rolling on 2025, we want to take a moment—before the initiative tracker resets—to say thank you. This year was packed with bold experiments, deep dives, hot takes, re-releases, masterclasses, actual plays, rule arguments that absolutely mattered, and more than a few moments where we stopped mid-recording and said, “Wait… does that actually work?” Thanks to you, the listeners, it did. In 2025, RPGBOT.Podcast explored new systems, revisited old favorites, broke down mechanics piece by piece, and kept doing what we love most: helping players,...
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PICKING A TTRPG (That isn’t D&D or Pathfinder Part 1) Remastered - Crunch, Chaos, and Political Backstabs
The RPGBOT.Podcast
"Crunchy rules or simple vibes? Political intrigue or straight-up dungeon brawls? Survival in a dying world or low-power fantasy feels?" This remastered RPGBOT.Podcast dives into everything you love (and fear) about tabletop RPGs that aren't D&D or Pathfinder. From decision trees to help you find your perfect game match, to the storytelling magic of Powered by the Apocalypse, and the chaotic survival of Mork Borg, there's something for everyone if you're willing to look past what you already know. Tune in if you’ve ever wondered, "Is my game too crunchy, or am I just lazy?" Summary...
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HOW TO PLAY PATHFINDER 2E (Remastered) - Pt4. Questions and Answer
The RPGBOT.Podcast
You survived the one-shot. No one died permanently. Only some rules were misunderstood. Now comes the most dangerous phase of any tabletop experience: questions. In this episode, the RPGBOT crew sits down after the Pathfinder 2e one-shot to answer the things every new player asks—what worked, what didn’t, what we forgot, and why Pathfinder 2e somehow makes rules discussions feel productive instead of like a rules-lawyer cage match. Pathfinder 2e Re-Releases! Perfect timing for learning, teaching, and holiday one-shots: RPGBOT is re-releasing our Pathfinder 2e Quickstart episodes for...
info_outline"Crunchy rules or simple vibes? Political intrigue or straight-up dungeon brawls? Survival in a dying world or low-power fantasy feels?"
This remastered RPGBOT.Podcast dives into everything you love (and fear) about tabletop RPGs that aren't D&D or Pathfinder. From decision trees to help you find your perfect game match, to the storytelling magic of Powered by the Apocalypse, and the chaotic survival of Mork Borg, there's something for everyone if you're willing to look past what you already know.
Tune in if you’ve ever wondered, "Is my game too crunchy, or am I just lazy?"
Summary
In this episode, the hosts take a deep dive into the diverse landscape of tabletop RPGs, offering a wealth of insights into various systems, mechanics, and themes. They introduce the concept of decision trees, a practical tool to help players identify RPGs that align with their preferences. The discussion covers the spectrum of complexity, from the intricate 'crunch' of detailed systems to the simplicity of more streamlined games.
Key highlights include:
- The Cypher System and Genesis: An exploration of these versatile systems, focusing on their mechanics and adaptability to different genres.
- Powered by the Apocalypse Framework: A look at its elegant simplicity and flexibility, making it an excellent choice for narrative-driven campaigns.
- Legend of the Five Rings vs. Adventures in Rokugan: A comparison of political intrigue-focused gameplay with combat-centric mechanics, illustrating the range of experiences within fantasy RPGs.
- Mörk Borg: An examination of its dark, nihilistic themes, where traditional heroism gives way to survival in a grim and decaying world.
The conversation also ventures into niche areas, such as the unique storytelling potential of solo RPGs, and highlights specific systems like Numenera, with its futuristic exploration themes, and One Ring 2E, celebrated for its low-power fantasy and rich Tolkien-inspired lore. The hosts emphasize the importance of understanding a game's mechanics and setting realistic expectations to maximize the enjoyment of any RPG experience.
Links
- Almost everything below is an affiliate link and Tyler doesn’t want to copy+paste this a zillion times
- Achtung Cthulhu
- Adventures in Rokugan
- Alien RPG
- All Flesh Must Be Eaten
- Apocalypse World
- Battletech
- Bladerunner
- Call of Cthulhu
- Candela Obscura
- Colostle
- CY_BORG
- Cyberpunk Red
- Cypher Core Rulebook
- Death in Space
- Delta Green
- Doctor Who RPG
- Doctors and Daleks
- FFG Star Wars
- Fallout RPG
- Forbidden Lands
- Genesys Core Rulebook
- Imperium Maledictum
- Legend of the Five Rings
- Lord of the Rings Roleplay 5e
- Marvel Multiverse RPG
- Masks
- Mork Borg
- Mörk Borg - A Review
- Mörk Borg Cult: Heretic - A Zine Review
- Mörk Borg Cult: Heretic - RPGBOT.News S2E32
- Numenera
- Old Gods of Appalachia
- Pirate Borg
- Pulp Cthulhu
- Ruins of Symbaroum
- Shadowdark
- Shadowrun
- Symbaroum
- The One Ring 2e
- The Walking Dead RPG
- Vaesen
- Vaesen & the Mythic Britain and Ireland Expansion - A Review
- RPGBOT.Podcast - Zoe Franznick Reviews Free League's Vaesen
- Vampire: The Masquerade
- Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
- Werewolf: The Apocalypse
Takeaways
- Tyler's Interests
- Tyler loves wizards and wants to be one.
- Game Mechanics and Decision-Making
- The decision tree helps players find suitable RPGs.
- "Crunch" refers to the interaction with game mechanics.
- The Captain Crunch scale measures game complexity.
- Understanding game mechanics enhances the RPG experience.
- RPG Systems
- The Cypher System is easy to learn and play.
- Genesis is a generic system based on Fantasy Flight's Star Wars.
- Powered by the Apocalypse is a versatile framework.
- Powered by the Apocalypse games are easy to learn.
- Fate is complex and math-heavy.
- The Year Zero Engine is simple yet effective.
- Solo RPGs can be rewarding experiences.
- Character Creation and Progression
- Character creation in RPGs can vary significantly.
- Character progression in One Ring 2E requires patience and strategy.
- Adjusting difficulty can enhance the gameplay experience.
- Thematic and Genre Elements
- Monster Hearts is popular in the LGBT community.
- Legend of the Five Rings emphasizes political intrigue (combat is discouraged).
- Merc Borg presents a nihilistic view of RPGs.
- Adventures in Rokugan is more combat-focused than its predecessor.
- Colossal is a unique solo RPG experience.
- Mercord uniquely advocates for real-world arson in its gameplay.
- Numenera presents a science fantasy setting a billion years in the future.
- Players in One Ring 2E are grounded, facing impossible odds.
- Exploring the themes of low-power fantasy can lead to rich storytelling.
- Gameplay Depth
- The intrusion system adds depth to gameplay.
- The Eye of Sauron and Gandalf rune add depth to gameplay.
- Solo play in One Ring 2E is well-implemented and enjoyable.
If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It’s a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners.
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How to Find Us:
In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net
Tyler Kamstra
- Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET
- Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet
- Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social
Ash Ely
- Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
- Twitter: @GravenAshes
- YouTube@ashravenmedia
Randall James
- @JackAmateur
- Amateurjack.com
Producer Dan
- @Lzr_illuminati