Around the Hearth

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History: Ep. 8 Smallville & Marvel Heroic

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:30:00 -0400

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History looks at two closely linked licensed supers games: Smallville and Marvel Heroic. To dig into this pair, Lowell and Jay bring on Rich Rogers (Hit the Streets: Defend the Block; +1 Forward) to give his perspectives as a GM and player. We talk about the system mechanics of the two games, including the big differences, the publication history of MWP, the media touchstones for these properties, and then give our general thoughts-- including wondering where our Smallville retroclones are...

If you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Jay's the author of By Aecer’s Light, The Clockwinders for Fate, Cortex Prime's Supers, and a contributing author on Pathfinder’s Mwangi Expanse, Trophy Gold, Hit the Streets: Defend the Block, and the upcoming Lifted: Indomitable RPG, a supers game about everyday folks with extraordinary powers in a tech-aggressive world.

Check out Mad Jay's work at Play.Fearless and at the Diceology Podcast.

You can find Rich's game, Hit the Streets here.

Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community.

You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community
Support us on Patreon!
Our actual play podcast can be found here
Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpg
Mastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp

00:00 Intro
01:48 Pitch and Mechanics
12:11 Publication History
17:46 Where these Licenses Were
23:28 Thoughts

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 16: Ars Magica, Long Campaigns & Modern Supers

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 07:30:00 -0400

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Lowell Francis (edige23) once again talks with a couple of community members about their recent gaming. This time we have veteran community couple Tyler and Patrick. We talk preparations for an upcoming Ars Magica campaign and how it fits with past campaigns, the challenges and joys of long-running story campaigns, and the intersection of current events and modern superhero gaming. We finish up with some of the things we've been digging recently.

May the Fourth: Star Wars Minicon 2026
Ars Magica Manager
Tyler's YouTube

00:00 Introduction
01:40 Patrick & Ars Magica
16:22 Tyler & long-running story campaigns
29:33 Lowell & the challenges of modern supers games
40:52 Giving Me Life

Talking Playtesting

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:30:00 -0400

This episode presents a community talk from back in 2022. It features Rae Nedjadi, David MK, and myself talking about managing and working with playtests. It seemed like a useful thing to get back into the feed, so I've cleaned up the audio for posting. We talk about planning playtests, setting expectations, dealing with feedback, and filtering input.

Rae Nedjadi on itch.io
Rae Nedjadi on Patreon
David MK on itch.io
David MK on Patreon

Roll for Mutation: Post-Apocalyptic TTRPG History: Ep. 5 Tank Girl & Wizards

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:30:00 -0400

In our fifth episode of Roll for Mutation, we look at two different licensed post-apocalyptic TTRPGs from the 1990s. First, World of Tank Girl, part of West End Games Masterbook series which apparently launched even before the film it was based on hit the theaters. Then we cover Ralph Bakshi's Wizards, based on the eponymous wild animated movie from the 1970s. We talk about what both games do, the source materials, their specific apocalypses, and how both games showcase 1990's game design tendencies: for better or worse (Lowell says worse).

References
Designers and Dragons: The 1980s
Designers and Dragons: The 1990s
Tank Girl on Wikipedia
Wizards on Wikipedia

For other shows like this, check out Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History.

Marc Majcher is an award-winning game designer, performer, educator, director, woodworker, writer, and all-around goblin-man recently relocated from Austin, Texas to East Lansing, Michigan. You can find their RPGs and LARPs inspired by the works of Philip K. Dick, a bird apocalypse, eldritch startup cults, viral videos, and much, much more at https://majcher.itch.io/ and everything else at https://majcher.com/.

Lowell Francis is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community.

You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

Music: Here Comes the Night Karl Casey @White Bat Audio

00:00 Introduction: Licensed Apocalypses
02:02 Tank Girl
24:41 Ralph Bakshi's Wizards

Talking Long Campaigns

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:30:00 -0400

While the Open Hearth Community has often focused on one-shots, two-shots, and monthly short campaigns, there's always the siren call of running a longer series: a quarterly or beyond. In this community talk we're going to talk about "long" campaign best practices, planning, dealing with burnout, and more. Lowell has ideas and he'll be leading this discussion group– relying mostly on the participation of folks who join us and desperately filling dead air in between points. This is part of our Open Hearth series of community RPG talks.

Links
Microscope
Microscope with 13th Age
Arium
Talking World Building (OH Podcast Episode)
Age of Ravens Campaign Builder Decks
Trinity Game Prep Sheet
World Ending Game

A Different Kind of Hex Ep. 7 - Showing & Telling

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:30:00 -0500

Ian, José, and special guest Shane explore the space between direct exposition and embodied demonstration during play. How are these two approaches different? What are their best use cases? And how can they, when used well, support each other, the player, and the entire table?

Jason Morningstar's great essay, "How to End" - https://www.patreon.com/posts/how-to-end-116645883

Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community
Our website - it's 🤖 Mecha March 🤖
Support us on Patreon!
Our actual play podcast can be found here
Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpg
Mastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp

Our info:
Email: adifferenthex@gmail.com
Music: https://lloydeaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-different-kind-of-hex

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History: Ep. 7 Mutants & Masterminds

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:30:00 -0500

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History looks all four editions of one of the most important modern supers TTRPGs, Mutants & Masterminds. Jay and Lowell talk about the core elements of the game-- what has remained the same and how the powers system has shifted over time. They then cover the publication history of the game and how each edition rolled out, followed by talk about how M&M has dealt with media, genres, and a few IPs. The episode then wraps up with a general discussion, where *spoilers* Lowell talks about why this has become his favorite trad-leaning supers game and his most embarrassing convention story.

Mutants & Masterminds 4e Kickstarter (running through March 5, 2026)
The Play Fearless Greatest Crits Zine Kickstarter (Jay's project running through March 1, 2026)
Muses of Play (Mad Jay and Sarah Doom's new podcast project)
Mutants & Masterminds System Guide for 3e
RPGs I Like: Mutants & Masterminds, 2e (Part One)
RPGs I Like: Mutants & Masterminds, 2e (Part Two)

If you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Check out Mad Jay's work at Play.Fearless and at the Diceology Podcast.

Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community.

You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

00:00 Intro
01:13 The Pitch
09:34 Gaming History
17:53 Comics & Media History
25:53 Thoughts

Talking Adapting Modules

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 07:30:00 -0500

Since almost the beginning, game publishers have supplemented games with pre-generated dungeons, scenarios, and campaigns. Some of these have becomes touchstones among players: Isle of Dread, The Enemy Within, Masks of Nyarlathotep, and beyond. But sometimes you don't want to run that system; would like to swap the scenario over to another genre or setting, or don't want to commit to a two-year campaign outline. Rich Rogers- veteran of many Star Wars adaptations and beyond- and Lowell Francis talk about some tactics for adapting these stories and along with questions, comments, and input from community members. This is part of our Open Hearth series of community RPG talks.

Against the Dark Conspiracy
Auspicious Beginnings
Strangers in Prax
Fear of a Black Dragon

Roll for Mutation: Post-Apocalyptic TTRPG History: Ep. 4 Apocalypse World

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 07:30:00 -0500

In our fourth episode of Roll for Mutation, we look at one of the most important post-apocalyptic games, Apocalypse World. We consider both the impact of PbtA and the depiction of "the Apocalypse" in AW-- and how it differs from other contemporary games. Hosts Lowell Francis and Marc Majcher cover the short but rich history of AW and its long tail. We talk about what Apocalypse World is, where it fits in gaming history, our experiences playing it, and our general thoughts about the game.

References
Tabletop RPG Design in Theory and Practice at the Forge, 2001–2012: Designs and Discussions
Designers & Dragons Volume 4 The 2000s
Apocalypse World: Burned Over is kinder and much angrier
The Daily Apocalypse
+1 Forward: A Podcast Powered by the Apocalypse
Apocalypse World Burned Over Kickstarter
Rascal Interview with Macolm Craig

For other shows like this, check out Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History.

Lowell Francis is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community.

You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

Music: Here Comes the Night Karl Casey @White Bat Audio

00:00 Introduction: Apocalypse World
03:30 What It Is
13:26 Publication/Gaming History
25:19 Media Context/Influences
32:23 General Thoughts

Talking RPG Cities

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 07:30:00 -0500

What makes a good city in a role-playing game? People, places, factions, rumors? We're going to be talking about that and bringing together your insights. This community discussion ranges widely but includes: tools for building cities, techniques for making cities feel alive, mapping, citybook resources, and more. While we don't follow my outline, you can see my planning doc here.

A Different Kind of Hex Ep. 6 - The Gift of Offers

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 07:30:00 -0500

As the first installment in a series of episodes on improv tools at the gaming table, Ian & José are joined by Karen Twelves, the author of Improv for Gamers, to discuss how players can make and receive meaningful offers in TTRPGs.

Timecodes
0:04:37 Pick your Poison
0:24:25 What's an Offer?
0:31:17 Creating Offers and Listening for Them
0:36:53 Formal and Informal Ways to Offer
0:46:30 Offers that Endow Others
0:51:02 Nuancing Improv's Rules of Thumb
0:57:15 Prepping for Spontaneity
1:01:09 Ending Scenes
1:06:57 The Pressure to Make Something Happen
1:13:50 Pearl of Wisdom
1:16:10 Outro

Karen's Work
https://karentwelves.com/
Improv for Gamers

Our info:
Email: adifferenthex@gmail.com
Music: https://lloydeaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-different-kind-of-hex

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History: Ep. 6 Godlike & Wild Talents

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 07:30:00 -0500

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History looks at two related RPG systems. First Godlike, the World War II supers game that leans into realism and consistency. Second Wild Talents, the evolution of the systems from Godlike which can follow that history or be recast into a generic supers RPG. The hosts look at what both games do, their place in the history of gaming, and the influence of related comics media. They wrap that up general discussion, including what what's weird and what they dug.

If you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Check out Mad Jay's work at Play.Fearless and at the Diceology Podcast.

Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community.

You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

Thanks to Rich Rogers for the edit of this episode.

00:00 Intro
01:10 The Pitch
09:34 Gaming History
17:00 Comics & Media History
21:44 Thoughts

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 15: Mythic Bastionland, Villa Encantata, Rapscallion

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 07:30:00 -0500

In this episode host Lowell Francis is joined by Kieron Gillen and Cat Rambo to talk about recent games, plans for future games, current writing projects, and more.

Kieron Gillen
Newsletter: buttondown.email/KieronGillen/
Comics: bindings.app/shelf/1FLv6kLb
Website: www.kierongillen.com
@kierongillen.bsky.social on BlueSky

Cat Rambo
https://www.catrambo.com/
Wayward Wormhole Workshop
@catrambo.bsky.social on BlueSky

00:00 Introduction
01:52 Kieron Gillen & Mythic Bastionland
11:42 Cat Rambo & Villa Encantata (still in design)
19:53 Lowell & Rapscallion
30:31 Upcoming Publications & Giving Me Life

Open Hearth Games of the Year 2025

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

A collection of favorite tabletop RPGs of 2025 from our community members. It's split into three sections, with host picks in-between.

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 14: Going for Broke, Grimwild, Band of Blades

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 07:30:00 -0500

In this episode host Lowell Francis is joined by Michael D. and Alun R. to talk about the ups and downs of "funny" game mechanics, a modern approach to traditional fantasy, and facing down what feels like inescapable doom. They examine light rules for sitcoms, new rules with an old feel, and a game that puts you on the losing side of a war.

Please note that we will not be releasing any more episodes in December, but look for our upcoming annual Games of the Year episode dropping at the start of 2026!

Going for Broke
Grimwild
Band of Blades

Panda's Talking Games
Viva La QueerBar (English)
Viva La QueerBar (Deutsch)

Lowell's Dumb Honkai Star Rail Returning Player Code

Michael
https://kpopandrpgs.itch.io/
KPOPandRPGs on social media or @kpopandrpgs or Michael D on Discord.

Alun
https://gallusgames.itch.io/
@gallusgames or Alun R on Discord
@gallusgamesar.bsky.social on BlueSky

00:00 Introduction
01:55 Michael & Going For Broke
16:10 Alun & Grimwild
29:24 Lowell & Band of Blades
49:19 Giving Me Life

Roll for Mutation: Post-Apocalyptic TTRPG History: Ep. 3 Paranoia

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:30:00 -0500

Note: we had some audio issues with this recording (apologies)! In our third episode of Roll for Mutation, a look at the history of Post-Apocalyptic TTRPGs, we bow in abject obeisance Friend Computer and the incomparably perfect TTRPG Paranoia from West End Games and then Mongoose. We consider the different editions and how we live in a phenomenal time which sometimes necessitates updating. But of course it never actually changed, since the Computer tells us that it has always been that way. Hosts Lowell Francis and Marc Majcher cover the extended history of the game and how it desperately raced to keep itself contemporary. We talk about what Paranoia is, where it fits in gaming history, our split experience playing it, and our general thoughts about the game.

References
Paranoia on Wikipedia
Paranoia on RPG Geek
RPGNet Interview with James Wallis, Grant Howitt & Paul Dean
The Toothpaste Disaster
Designers & Dragons Volume 2 The 1980s

For other shows like this, check out Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History.

Lowell Francis is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community.

You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

Music: Here Comes the Night Karl Casey @White Bat Audio

00:00 Introduction: Paranoia
00:45 What is it?
09:28 Gaming History
21:10 The Media Context
28:47 Our Thoughts

A Different Kind of Hex Ep. 5 - Playing to Fail

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 07:30:00 -0500

Content Advisory: character death, ritual sacrifice

Ian & José are joined by Wyllora to explore what it means to fail in an RPG, and why we might want to do it on purpose. How do we define "success" in games, and what are the ways we can step outside that limit with agency?

Wyllora’s Work:
Art - https://www.artstation.com/wyllora
Game Design - https://wyllora.itch.io/
Triangle Agency Holiday-themed Game Jam! - https://itch.io/jam/time-and-a-half

Our info:
email: adifferenthex@gmail.com
music: https://lloydeaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-different-kind-of-hex

Talking Space Opera

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 07:30:00 -0500

Lets talk widescreen, big idea sci-fi. Games of space fleets, interstellar empires, sometimes aliens-- big ideas and lasers. Games like Star Trek Adventures, Traveller, Fading Suns, Space Wyrm vs Moonicorn, Dune, Coriolis, Scum & Villainy, Ashen Stars, Star Wars, Last Fleet, and the like. Talking Space Opera is another in our series of community discussions. It looks at sci-fi gaming and this tent-pole sub-genre. Our discussion ranges widely but includes: What is Space Opera, Space Combat, Aliens, Space Travel, Making Characters Not Feel Small in a Big Universe, Collaborative Building, and more.

Selected Games Mentioned
Once More into the Void
Cluster
Rust Hulks
Fellowship
Starscape
Storm Furies
Rebel Few
Tachyon Squadron
Superbandit
Stars Without Number
Golgotha
Through the Void
Uncharted Worlds

Recommended Reading: Colonialism and the Emergence of Science Fiction

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History: Ep. 5 Base Raiders

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 07:30:00 -0400

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History jumps forward significantly in time to just after the d20 boom/bust cycle. Today's focus is Ross Payton's independently produced and Kickstarted Base Raiders. They go over what the game is, its place in the history of gaming, and what was going on in comics media at the time. They then move to general discussion, including what what's weird and what they dug. We talk a little about how you might adapt this elsewhere and its place in the history of Fate.

If you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Check out Mad Jay's work at Play.Fearless and at the Diceology Podcast.

Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community.

You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

00:00 Intro
00:58 The Pitch
05:11 Gaming History
08:12 Comics & Media History
12:09 Thoughts

Roll for Mutation: Post-Apocalyptic TTRPG History: Ep. 2 Twilight 2000

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 07:30:00 -0400

In our second episode of Roll for Mutation, a look at the history of Post-Apocalyptic TTRPGs, we tackle Twilight 2000 from GDW, focusing on those original editions but with some discussion of Twilight 2013 and Twilight 2K. Hosts Lowell Francis and Marc Majcher cover the extended history of the game and how it desperately raced to keep itself contemporary. We talk about what Twilight 2000 is, where it fits in gaming history, why there used to be a "Men's Adventure" section in bookstores, and our general thoughts about the game.

References
Twilight 2000 on Wikipedia
Twilight 2000 on RPG Geek
Grognardia on Twilight 2000, Merc 2000
RPGNet Review of Twilight 2013
Designers & Dragons Volume 1 The 1970s

For other shows like this, check out Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History.

Marc Majcher is an award-winning game designer, performer, educator, director, woodworker, writer, and all-around goblin-man recently relocated from Austin, Texas to East Lansing, Michigan. You can find their RPGs and larps inspired by the works of Philip K Dick, a bird apocalypse, eldritch startup cults, viral videos, and much, much more at https://majcher.itch.io/ and everything else at https://majcher.com/.

Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community.

You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

Music: Here Comes the Night Karl Casey @White Bat Audio

00:00 Introduction: Twilight 2000
01:43 What is it?
08:34 Gaming History
16:46 The Media Context
21:44 Our Thoughts

Talking White Whales and Inadvisable Ideas

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 07:30:00 -0400

What's the game you've wanted to get to the table but haven't been able to? What's the campaign premise you've considered but don't know how to make it work? What's the rpg that just couldn't actually function if you tried to run it online? What's the wild concept that you know would crash-out but it amuses you just the same?

In this group chat for our Shared Hearth Open Gaming Con, community members talk about the ones that got away and the ones they're fearful of pursuing. We talk about a ton of different games including: Mage, Hearts of Wulin, Slugblaster, Good Society, Legacy: Life Among the Ruins, Scarred Lands, Mountain Home, and many more. A great discussion thread on our Discord inspired this conversation.

Design Chat: Pedro Barrenechea & Rotted Capes 2e

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 07:30:00 -0400

This week we present a bonus episode for both Roll for Origin & Roll for Mutation. Lowell chats with Pedro Barrenechea, lead designer for Rotted Capes 2nd Edition, a post-apocalyptic game of superheroes. They chat early game experiences, how the first edition came about, revising the rules, and more.

Rotted Capes 2e Backerkit Sign Up
Rotted Capes 1e on DTRPG
Pedro aka StatMonkey on Bluesky

Talking One-Shots

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 07:30:00 -0400

For this episode we've cleaned up the audio from an older community seminar on running one-shots. Like several of our other "Talking" episodes, this has Lowell Francis giving a talk, mixed in with questions from the chat and a Q&A at the end. We cover pacing, set up, safety, problem players, structure, and more.

You can check out the outline for the talk here.

Other Resources:

Burn After Running: RPG One-Shots (probably the best resource for this out there)
Running One Shots from Age of Ravens
One Shot Podcast Network
Keith Stetson on Running Itras By as a one-shot

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 13: Ex Tenebris, Wise Women, Star Trek Adventures

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 07:30:00 -0400

In this episode Host Lowell Francis talks with Becky Annison and Josh Fox of Black Armada games about what they've been playing, herbal witches, the final frontier, their Kickstarter for Ex Tenebris, and much more.

The Ex Tenebris Kickstarter

Black Armada Games
Black Armada on itch

Josh Bluesky: @armadajosh.bsky.social
Becky Bluesky: @beckyannison.bsky.social

Wise Women
Rapscallion
Star Trek Adventures 2e
Secrets of the Silent Witch

00:00 Introduction
01:45 Josh & Ex Tenebris
16:25 Becky & Wise Women
25:02 Lowell & Star Trek Adventures 2e
36:26 Giving Me Life

A Different Kind of Hex Ep. 4 - Bleed

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 07:30:00 -0400

Content Advisory: colonialism & imperialism; sexual violence in a horror/vampire context; death of loved ones, including miscarriage; excessive immersion; grief & bleakness.

Mads joins Ian & José to talk about the relationship between player & character, the Magic Circle that divides them, and how experience can Bleed through from one to the other. Along the way we discuss some of the pitfalls of immersive gameplay, how to dial up or down that immersion, ways to stem the Bleed once it’s already started - and, of course, vampires!

Mads’ Work!!
Youtube
Itch
Sprigs & Kindling Vol. 2

Our info:
email: adifferenthex@gmail.com
music: https://lloydeaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-different-kind-of-hex

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History: Ep. 4 Champions (1st-3rd Editions)

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 07:30:00 -0400

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History returns to one of the earliest and most important superhero ttrpgs: Champions. Hosts Jay Brown and Lowell Francis talk about a game which is near and dear to their hearts-- both having played these editions extensively. They go over what the game is, its place in the history of gaming, and what was going on in comics media at the time. They then move to general discussion, including what what's weird and what they dug. This episode focuses just on the earliest editions-- prior to the release of the Champions 4th Edition, the "Big Blue Book."

If you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Check out Mad Jay's work at Play.Fearless and at the Diceology Podcast.

Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community.

You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

00:00 Intro
00:58 The Pitch
07:00 Gaming History
17:46 Comics & Media History
20:00 Thoughts

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 12: Rangers of a Broken World, Aberrant, Masks

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 07:30:00 -0400

In this episode Host Rae Nedjadi (Apocalypse Keys, Once More into the Void) talks with Sebastian Yūe and Matthew Arcilla about games, superheroes, villainy, gender, and much more. They look at Evil Hat's forthcoming ttrpg, a classic from White Wolf, and a more modern take on heroism (which is apparently getting a second edition). Content warning for second segment: mention of sexual assault in a short story.

Rangers of a Broken World (aka Heroic Chord)
Aberrant
Masks: A New Generation
Never Whistle at Night
Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood
Rules, retcons, and rightsholders: The tough road for superhero RPGs

Sebastian can be found at: sebastianyue.ca, sebastianyue @itch and bsky.social
Sign up for SHIFT here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shiftrpg/shift-rpg
Hit Point Press: https://hitpointpress.com/

Matthew can be found here: experimentego.bsky.social

Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community
Support us on Patreon!
Our actual play podcast can be found here
Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpg
Mastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp

00:00 Introduction
02:55 Rangers of a Broken World
14:58 Aberrant
26:35 Masks: A New Generation
46:50 Giving Me Life

Tribes in the Dark Kickstarter: Roll for Mutation Bonus Ep

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 07:30:00 -0400

In this "bonusode*" for Roll for Mutation: Post-Apocalyptic TTRPG History, we talk with Wil Hutton aka Rivetgeek, lead developer for Tribes in the Dark. TitD reworks and re-imagines Tribe 8, Dream Pod 9's fantastical post-apocalyptic rpg from the late 1990s. This new version adapts the Forged in the Dark mechanics to this game of tribes, outcasts, and prophecy.

Tribes in the Dark is Kickstarting through September 14 2025.
Tribe 8 on Wikipedia
Tribe 8 on DTRPG
Tribe 8 on RPGGeek
Wil on Bluesky @rivetgeek.aggregatecognizance.com‬

*term borrowed from the Ranged Touch podcast...

Music: Here Comes the Night Karl Casey @White Bat Audio

Roll for Mutation: Post-Apocalyptic TTRPG History: Ep. 1 Gamma World

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 07:30:00 -0400

First episode of Roll for Mutation, a new series looking at the history of Post-Apocalyptic TTRPGs. In this one hosts Lowell Francis and Marc Majcher cover the extended history of Gamma World, with a focus on the first two editions (of many). We talk about what Gamma World is, where it fits in gaming history, what the media context is like, and our general thoughts about the game. Roll for Mutation won't be covering things chronologically, but we do hope to hit the "tentpole" games in the genre early.

References
Gamma World on Wikipedia
Gamma World on RPG Geek
Grognardia on Gamma World
Grognardia on Gamma World 2e
Designers & Dragons Volume 1 The 1970s
Game Wizards

For other shows like this, check out Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History.

Marc Majcher is an award-winning game designer, performer, educator, director, woodworker, writer, and all-around goblin-man recently relocated from Austin, Texas to East Lansing, Michigan. You can find their RPGs and larps inspired by the works of Philip K Dick, a bird apocalypse, eldritch startup cults, viral videos, and much, much more at https://majcher.itch.io/ and everything else at https://majcher.com/.

Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community.

You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

Music: Here Comes the Night Karl Casey @White Bat Audio

00:00 Introduction: Gamma World
02:05 What is it?
10:10 Gaming History
19:12 The Media Context
25:30 Our Thoughts

Open Hearth: What Is It?

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 07:30:00 -0400

Lowell Francis provides a short introduction to the Open Hearth Gaming Community: what we are, what we do, how you can join, and how you can support what we do.

Community Code of Conduct

Online Play Resources

Around the Hearth

Playing at the Hearth

YouTube

Play Issues

Gameway

Contact Us: openhearthgamingcommunity@gmail.com
Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpg
Mastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp

00:00 Introduction
00:52 What is Open Hearth
04:07 Joining Us
07:36 Signing Up For Games
14:20 What Happens When You Sign Up
17:03 What to Expect from Play
19:38 Getting Into Sessions
21:37 Running Games
23:25 Play Issues
26:53 Open Hearth Projects and Events
34:06 How to Support Us

Talking Mysteries: Running Mystery TTRPGs

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 07:30:00 -0400

This is the edited version of an older seminar by Lowell Francis talking about planning and running TTRPG mysteries. It's about 50 minutes of talk followed by a Q&A. Lowell talks about his approach and best practices for running mysteries in rpgs. Topics include:

Kinds of mysteries (set, set variable, improv)
Plotting mysteries
The power of the timeline
Information handling
Keeping player involvement
Table management

...and more.

See here for an outline of the talk

Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community.

You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History: Ep. 3 Underground

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:24:33 -0400

This time Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History jumps forward in time to the mid-1990s. Hosts Jay Brown and Lowell Francis look at Underground (1993), Mayfair's attempt to build on the DC Heroes system with a dystopian, cyberpunk supers setting. Content warning: cannibalism, PTSD, transphobia, regressive treatment of disabilities and mental illness. We go over what the game is, its place in the history of gaming, and what was going on in comics media at the time. We then move to general discussion, including what we found weird and what we dug.

If you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Check out Mad Jay's work at Play.Fearless and at the Diceology Podcast.

Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community.

You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

00:00 Intro
00:25 The Pitch
03:35 Gaming History
11:40 Comics & Media History
15:42 Thoughts

Fireside Chat with Agatha: Ep 1 Lowell Francis

Agatha Cheng, Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 07:30:00 -0400

In the inaugural episode of Fireside Chat with Agatha, Agatha is joined by Lowell Francis, Community Manager for the Open Hearth and designer of Hearts of Wulin, to talk game design. Listen as Agatha pushes Lowell for more stuff for HoW and beyond!

Agatha Cheng is the Co-Creator and Co-Host of the Asians Represent! and The Game Design Game Show podcasts
She works as a Cultural Consultant for content on Chinese history and mythology + the Chinese diaspora and Taiwan
She is the designer of Deadly Society

Lowell Francis is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community. You can check out all of Lowell's actual plays on YouTube. You can find Hearts of Wulin and more on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 11: Smallville, Flying Circus, Mythomorphosis

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 07:30:00 -0400

In this episode we cover a wide range of games old and new. Host Lowell Francis is joined by Rich Rogers (+1 Forward, Hit the Streets) and Jay Brown (Diceology, Life: Indomitable).

Smallville
Flying Circus
Blackout
Mythomorphosis
Spooky Asian Club
Just King Things

Find Rich Rogers' Hit the Streets here
+1 Forward Podcast Archives

Check out Mad Jay's work at Play.Fearless and at the Diceology Podcast.

Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community.

You can check out all of Lowell's actual plays on YouTube. You can find Hearts of Wulin and more on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

00:00 Introduction
01:15 Rich and Smallville
16:14 Jay and Flying Circus
32:45 Lowell and Mythomorphosis
44:45 Giving Me Life

Talking Hearts of Wulin

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 10:33:36 -0400

Be sure to check out the Hearts of Wulin Bundle of Holding running through Wednesday July 23rd, 2025.

This is an edited and cleaned up version of a talk Lowell Francis, designer and co-writer on Hearts of Wulin, gave talking about moves, NPCs, set ups, and other topics in this game of wuxia melodrama. It is split between presentation and audience Q&A. This is part of the Open Hearth series of seminars, discussions, and workshops.

Talking Horror: Running & Playing Horror TTRPGs

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 07:30:00 -0400

Horror as a genre can be a great tool to use in your ventures in GMing horror games, but horror movies aren’t the only place to pull from. You can pull from many forms of media including books and real life situations. Sit down with us folks and let’s see how we each approach running horror ttrpgs!

This panel talk is part of the Open Hearth series of seminars, discussions, and workshops. Host Jellyfishlines moderates a panel with Mads, Vixie, and David Robles. The panel wraps with some audience Q&A.

Jellyfishlines
https://jellyfishlines.carrd.co/
https://bsky.app/profile/jellyfishlines.itch.io
https://jellyfishlines.itch.io/

Mads
Madelancholy on YouTube and Discord
https://bsky.app/profile/madelancholy.bsky.social
https://madelancholy.itch.io/

Vixie
https://linktr.ee/thepocketdragonpub
https://ko-fi.com/pocketdragonpub
Indie Game Designer Month in September! The PDP is accepting submissions! Email pocketdragonpub@gmail.com

David Robles
https://linktr.ee/streamingrainbow
You can see how David GMs for horror in Mythos of War Journey through the Pyrenees and SS Sophia available on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History: Ep. 2 Villains & Vigilantes

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this second episode of Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History, hosts Jay Brown and Lowell Francis look at Villains & Vigilantes, the superhero rpg that broke the genre open. We go over what the game is, its place in the history of gaming, and what was going on in comics media at the time. We then move to general discussion, including what we found weird and what we dug.

If you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Check out Mad Jay's work at Play.Fearless and at the Diceology Podcast.

Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community.

You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

00:00 Intro
02:50 The Pitch
09:20 Gaming History
13:52 Comics & Media History
17:20 Thoughts

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 10: Night Witches, Fathom, Impossible Landscapes

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode we talk recent gaming and look at some really interesting and intense games. Host Mike Minutillo is joined community members Gwen Marshall and Ethan Harvey.

Night Witches: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/146173/night-witches

Fathom: https://sulcata.itch.io/fathom

Impossible Landscapes: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/344408/delta-green-impossible-landscapes

Gwen

https://bsky.app/profile/drgwenmarshall.bsky.social

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/browse?keyword=gwendolyn%20marshall

https://drgwenmarshall.itch.io

Ethan

https://ethanharvey.itch.io

https://bsky.app/profile/cavedueller.bsky.social

Talking World Building, Collaboration & Beyond

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

A recording of a talk by Lowell Francis about handling world building and collaborative elements. This session was part of Shared Hearth, the Open Hearth Gaming Community free ttrpg weekend.

In this talk/discussion we hit on

Reasons for a shared approach
How existing games handle this
Online tools and techniques
Managing collaborative building
...and more.

Talk Outline and Notes

This was a mixed discussion and Q&A. We talked about adapting a more fixed setting, like Duskvol from Blades in the Dark, and make it into one with even more interesting player input and creation.

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History: Ep. 1 Superhero 2044

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this first episode of Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History, hosts Jay Brown and Lowell Francis look at Superhero 2044, arguably the first supers role-playing game. We go over what the game is, its place in the history of gaming, and what was going on in comics media at the time. We then move to general discussion, including what we found weird and what we dug.

If you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Check out Mad Jay's work at Play.Fearless and at the Diceology Podcast.

Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community.

You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

00:00 Intro
01:30 The Pitch
05:23 Gaming History
08:55 Comics & Media History
12:45 Thoughts

A Different Kind of Hex Ep. 3 - Setting & Following Character Goals

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Ian & José are joined by Marc Majcher to discuss how we develop & pursue both in- and out-of-character aspirations. What makes a goal, and how can having one drive play? Along the way we talk about how closely we identify with our PC’s, and peer briefly into using techniques from improv theatre to improve our gaming.

Timecodes:
0:01:30 Pick Your Poison
0:09:55 Setting character goals
0:18:55 Goals & Plot
0:25:44 How do games help us form goals?
0:36:37 Instrumental play & balancing goals between PC's
0:42:08 Finding goals through improv & PC embodiment
0:48:52 Unconscious PC motivation
0:52:24 Generic systems & stock tropes
0:59:33 Pearls of Wisdom
1:03:13 Outro

Marc’s Work: majcher.com, Twitch.tv/mmajcher

Our info:
email: adifferenthex@gmail.com
music: https://lloydeaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-different-kind-of-hex

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 9: Sprigs and Kindling, Defy the Gods, Star Wars Microscope

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode we talk recent gaming and look at two really interesting projects. Host Lowell Francis (edige23) is joined community members Amanda Mullins (iamatrex) and Chrys Sellers (Hectic Electron). We talk Sprigs and Kindling, Defy the Gods, and a hack of Microscope for a Star Wars writers' room.

LINKS
Sprigs and Kindling
Amanda's website
The Between: Unsinkable on the Critshow's youtube

The Defy the Gods Kickstarter
The Defy the Gods Quickstart
Chrys's website

The Ugly Stepsister
Amplitudes anthology

Star Wars Alternate New History

Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community
Support us on Patreon!
Our actual play podcasts can be found here
Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpg
Mastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:37 Amanda: Sprigs and Kindling
21:28 Chrys: Defy the Gods
37:08 Lowell:
44:17 Giving Me Life

Talking Supers: Running, Playing, Hacking Superhero TTRPGs

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Part of the Open Hearth series of seminars, discussions, and workshops. Rich Rogers (Hit the Streets, +1 Forward) and Lowell Francis (Hearts of Wulin, Gauntlet Podcast, Open Hearth Podcast) talk all things superhero rpgs: challenges, combat, world-building, villainy, solo gaming, and beyond. We’re joined by a group of community members for this discussion/round-table (Jim C, Anders, Rod Santos, Sabine and Jolene).

Hosts Show Notes

Selected Games Mentioned

Ex-Capes

Signal Light (Protean City Comics)

Sword Opera

Union

Age of Ravens Generators

Superhero B-Plots

100 Supers City Events

Supervillain Plot Generator

Solo Gaming

Supersworn

Herosworn

Friendly Neighborhood Superhero

Anyone Can Wear the Mask

For more information about Open Hearth, check out openhearthgaming.com.

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 8: Take the Universe, Triangle Agency, Apocalypse Keys

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 20 May 2025 08:00:00 -0400

In this podcast, community members join us to talk about their recent gaming and discuss one in depth that they really enjoyed. Host Andrea Rick (https://plotbunnygames.itch.io/) is joined today by Agatha (https://mightyyshrimp.itch.io/) and Wyllora (https://wyllora.itch.io/).

Games Discussed
Take the Universe
Triangle Agency
Apocalypse Keys

Andrea Rick
https://plotbunnygames.com/
https://plotbunnygames.itch.io/
https://curiouscat.carrd.com/

Agatha
https://mightyyshrimp.itch.io/
https://bsky.app/profile/mightyshrimp.bsky.social

Wyllora
https://www.artstation.com/wyllora
https://wyllora.itch.io/
https://bsky.app/profile/wyllora.bsky.social
https://artfight.net/~wyllora

Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community
Support us on Patreon!
Our actual play podcast can be found here
Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpg
Mastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:30 Agatha & Take the Universe
17:52 Wyllora & Triangle Agency
29:00 Andrea & Apocalypse Keys
48:06 Giving Me Life

A Different Kind of Hex Ep. 2 - Negotiating Scenes

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 13 May 2025 08:00:00 -0400

Ian and José chat with Agatha Cheng about how we develop narrative arcs for our PCs and the art of calling scenes to illustrate those arcs. Along the way, we indulge in bad boy tropes and the joys of PC/PC fandom.

Agatha’s Work:
Game Design + Consultancy: https://agathacheng.carrd.co/
Asians Represent!

Our info:
email: adifferenthex@gmail.com
music: https://lloydeaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-different-kind-of-hex

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 7: Protect the Child, Yazeba's, Blades '68

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 06 May 2025 08:00:00 -0400

In this podcast community members join us to talk about their recent gaming and discuss one in depth that they really enjoyed. Host Rae Nedjadi (https://temporalhiccup.itch.io/) is joined today by Mint (https://mint-rabbit.itch.io/) and Casey.

Games Discussed
Protect the Child
Yazeba’s Bed & Breakfast
Blades '68 (in Playtest)

Also Mentioned
There's a RPG for that!
The Righteous Gemstones
South of Midnight

Chapters

01:05 Introduction

03:07 Mint & Protect the Child

15:52 Casey & Yazebas Bed & Breakfast

32:52 Rae & Blades '68 (open playtest version)

43:41 Giving Me Life

Talking Hacks: PbtA & Forged in the Dark

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0400

Another in our series of Open Hearth Community talks, this time discussing hacking Powered by the Apocalypse and Forged in the Dark: approaches, challenges, best practices. Host Lowell Francis is joined by Anders, Puckett, Bryan L, Brushman, Amaze, Ethan, Dom, and Cinna.

Selected Games Mentioned

Adventures on Dungeon Planet

Pasión de las Pasiones

Slugblaster

The Veil

Veil: Iterations

TTRPG Hacks and Getting Games to the Table

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 6: Urban Shadows, The David Web, Wanderhome

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this podcast community members join us to talk about their recent gaming and discuss one in depth that they really enjoyed. Host Fumi is joined today by Jesse (jesseabe) and Mads (madelancholy, https://www.youtube.com/@Madelancholy).

Games Discussed
Urban Shadows Second Edition
The David Web
Wanderhome

Some Other Games Mentioned
Teeth
Apocalypse World 2e
Inevitable

Books Mentioned
Astral Weeks: A Secret History of 1968 (Ryan Walsh)
Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World (Anne-Laure Le Cunff)
Waterblack (Alex Pheby)

Chapters
00:27 Introduction
01:33 Jesse & Urban Shadows 2e
10:56 Mads & The David Web
20:41 Fumi & Wanderhome
31:05 Giving Me Life

A Different Kind of Hex Ep. 1 - Character Creation

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0400

Ian and José welcome their first guest, Gwen Marshall, to talk about how players navigate the character creation process. We discuss our personal approaches to the process, reveal our recurring character “types”, and wonder how characters continue to evolve after Session Zero.

Link to Gwen’s work: https://drgwenmarshall.carrd.co/

Contact Ian & José at:  adifferenthex@gmail.com

Open Hearth Gaming: https://openhearthgaming.com/ 

Show music: https://lloydeaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-different-kind-of-hex

Games Mentioned: 
PbtA
Apocalypse World
Hearts of Wulin
Masks: A New Generation
Monsterhearts
Night Witches
Thirsty Sword Lesbians

Blades in the Dark
Lancer
Beacon
Heart: the City Beneath
Fathom

Eldritch High

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 5: Playtesting, Solo Gaming, DIE

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 07:30:00 -0400

Welcome to our fifth episode! In this podcast community members join us to talk about their recent gaming and discuss one in depth that they really enjoyed. Host Lowell Francis (edige23) is joined today by Sherri and Anders.

Final Girl
Thousand Year Old Vampire
DIE

Anders Gabrielsson
https://undeshga.itch.io/

Lowell Francis
https://youtube.com/@lowellfrancis?si=p_rpzF2RWnNz3WEi
https://age-of-ravens-games.itch.io/

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:24 Sherri & Playtesting
14:41 Anders & Solo Board Gaming
31:06 Lowell & DIE
46:56 Giving Me Life

A Different Kind of Hex – Ep.0

José Feito & Ian Mitchell — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0500

In this inaugural episode, hosts Ian and José introduce the new podcast’s focus on the player perspective in TTRPGs: As players, how do we optimize our own fun, as well as that of our peers? How do we learn to recognize, appreciate, and develop our own individual play styles? How do we embrace our own agency within games and deploy it to support the greater community of players?

Contact Ian and José at adifferenthex@gmail.com

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 4: Wilderfeast, Bump in the Dark, Sunken Hearts

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 08:21:57 -0500

Welcome to our fourth episode! In this podcast community members join us to talk about their recent gaming and discuss one in depth that they really enjoyed. Host Lowell Francis (edige23) is joined today by Dom and Donogh.

Wilderfeast
Bump in the Dark
Sunken Hearts AP Playlist
Rain World
Free from the Shadow Character Keeper
Free from the Shadow Play Materials

Donogh
Mastodon - https://dice.camp/@donogh
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Donogh
itch.io - https://donogh.itch.io/
Lowell Francis
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@LowellFrancis
itch.io - https://age-of-ravens-games.itch.io/

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:11 Dom & Wilderfeast
15:56 Donogh & Bump in the Dark
29:44 Lowell & Sunken Hearts
45:05 Giving Me Life

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 3: Girls of Genziana Hotel, Lovecraftesque, Sword Opera

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Host Lowell Francis (edige23) is joined this episode by community members Jex Thomas and Mike Minutillo to talk about their recent gaming experiences and in-depth discussions about a game they each enjoy.

Jex's Links:
Bump in the Dark
The Last Caravan
Urban Shadows 2E
The Haunting of Cliff Cove
The Girls of Genziana Hotel
Last Pine Press on Itch: https://jexjthomas.itch.io/
Last Pine Press on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lastpinepress.com

Mike's Links:
A Warning to the Curious

SUPER BANDIT

CryptidTV

Pasión de las Pasiones
Lovecraftesque 2E

Lowell Francis: https://age-of-ravens-games.itch.io/

Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community
Support us on Patreon!
Our actual play podcast can be found here
Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpg
Mastadon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp

Chapters

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:10) - Jex & The Girls of the Genziana Hotel

(13:18) - Mike & Lovecraftesque

(30:28) - Lowell & Sword Opera

(43:44) - Giving Me Life

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 2: Mythic Bastionland, Red Markets, Kingdom

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Hey! We made it to Episode 2! In this podcast community members join us to talk about their recent gaming and discuss one in depth that they really enjoyed. Host Lowell Francis (edige23) is joined today by Horst and Will H.

Horst's Mythic Bastionland Links:
https://newschoolrevolution.com/how-i-do-play-by-post/

https://weirdwonder.bearblog.dev/mythic-bastionland/#fn-1
Pbp transcript https://blackcitygauntlet.blogspot.com/search/label/pbp

Red Markets 2e Beta: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/509226/red-markets-2nd-edition-beta-playtest

Lowell Francis: https://age-of-ravens-games.itch.io/

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:55 Horst & Mythic Bastionland
18:08 Will H & Red Markets 2e
32:43 Lowell & Kingdom 2e
45:28 Giving Me Life

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 1: UVG, Tomb Raider, Community Radio

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 08:09:10 -0500

Hey! It's the first episode of our long-promised podcast. In this podcast community members join us to talk about their recent gaming and discuss one in depth that they really enjoyed. Host Lowell Francis (edige23) is joined today by Marc Majcher and Jim Crocker.

Marc Majcher: https://majcher.itch.io/
Jim Crocker: https://jimlikesgames.itch.io/
(you can also find Jim at StartPlaying)
Lowell Francis: https://age-of-ravens-games.itch.io/

Community Radio: https://thoughtcrimegames.itch.io/community-radio
UVG: https://wizardthieffighter.itch.io/ultraviolet-grasslands-and-the-black-city-uvg

00:00 Intro
01:40 Marc Majcher
15:17 Jim Crocker
31:47 Lowell
44:49 Giving Me Life

Open Hearth Games of the Year 2024

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 23:44:40 -0500

A collection of favorite tabletop rpgs of 2024 from our community members. It’s split into three sections, with host picks in-between.

To learn more about Open Hearth Gaming Community, check out openhearthgaming.com.

Podcast feed: https://aroundthehearth.openhearthgaming.com/

AP Podcast: https://playingatthehearth.openhearthgaming.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OpenHearthGaming

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg

Bluesky: @openhearthrpg.bsky.social

Mastodon: https://dice.camp/@openhearthrpg

You can join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kpfcuCFzzM

A Complicated Profession

Against Time and Death

Fellowship 2nd edition

Pasión de Las Pasiones

Saltfish & Almanacs

The Slow Knife

Slugblaster

Sunken Hearts (aka Hearts of Yokai)

Yazeba's Bed & Breakfast

Your Abuser is Dead

Talking Game Facilitation

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 16:35:00 -0400

(00:00) - Introduction
(07:05) - Using our Playabl Calendar App
(19:30) - After Posting Your Session
(35:05) - Running Session Zero/One
(58:14) - General Topics

Talk Outline: https://bit.ly/3UDCye3

This is a talk/seminar about game facilitation, particularly in our Open Hearth Gaming Community. In this single session, I will be walking through the material I usually cover in session one of our Game Facilitator Camps. I’ll walk through that syllabus, and we can stop off for questions and tangents. Then we’ll open things up to questions, general discussion, and any kinds of topics folks want to cover.

For more information on Open Hearth, see https://openhearthgaming.com/.

Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVYzlTDwVcQ

GMing Shop Talk: NPCs

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 09:37:22 -0400

Rich Rogers (Hit the Streets, +1 Forward Podcast) and Lowell Francis (Hearts of Wulin, the Gauntlet Podcast) talk NPCs: creating, presenting & working with them. We discuss these ideas with a small GM group-- getting their ideas and suggestions.

Links mentioned in episode:
Behind the Names
Markov Name Generator
Speech Patterns for NPCs

Announcement: Playing at the Hearth

Open Hearth Gaming — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 10:58:48 -0400

Open Hearth Gaming's recorded gaming sessions are now available in an audio-only podcast format. For more information, check out Playing at the Hearth at https://playingatthehearth.openhearthgaming.com/.

For more information about Open Hearth Gaming, including how to sign up for games, please visit https://openhearthgaming.com/.

Thanks, everyone, and happy gaming!

Learning Legacy: Life Among the Ruins

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 09:42:12 -0400

This is a talk by Lowell Francis about Legacy: Life Among the Ruins, a PbtA game of post-apocalyptic families and factions. Lowell (@edige23 on most social media) walks through the facets of the game giving advice and insight, with feedback and questions from the seminar participants.

Talk Outline
Example Character Keeper
Sample Map
Legacy: System Guide for New Players
World Building: Collaborative Maps

You can check us out on Patreon, YouTube, or our website.

Talking Hard Moves, Costs & Consequences

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 10:18:00 -0400

A community event talking about GMing and playing hard moves, managing costs, and balancing consequences for PbtA, Forged in the Dark, and other storygames.

An Introduction to Designing with Cortex Prime

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 14:44:00 -0500

This is a talk Anders did for the Open Hearth gaming community. It contains a brief overview of the history of the Cortex system, an introduction to the mechanics, a look at example characters from some different Cortex Plus games, a look at the different traits available in Cortex Prime, and some discussion on things to think about when making a Cortex Prime game.

The Open Hearth: https://openhearthgaming.com/
Cortex Prime: https://www.cortexrpg.com/compendium/explore-the-rules
The official Cortex Discord server: https://discord.gg/z4y8SpAHpJ

Talking Forged in the Dark

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 11:34:00 -0500

A community event talking about the basics of FitD, challenges for play, best practices, interesting mechanics, and new games. Begins with a 30 minute overview, followed by a longer group discussion of folks' experience with and advice for playing Forged in the Dark Games. This is the actual, unedited audio from the discussion.

You can see an event outline here

For a great look at FitD games, check out the +1 Forward podcast summer series on several of these games.

Open Hearth Games of the Year 2023

Open Hearth Gaming Community — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 14:02:00 -0500

Members of the Open Hearth Gaming Community submit their favorite games and gaming experiences of 2023 in our year-end special episode.

Website: https://openhearthgaming.com/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/openhearthgaming

Mastodon: https://dice.camp/@openhearthrpg

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/open-hearth-rpg/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@OpenHearthGaming

Time Codes

(00:00) - Opening
(01:29) - Rob Abrazado
(02:15) - Ian Mitchell
(05:35) - José
(07:50) - Matt
(11:14) - Donogh
(13:08) - Ethan Harvey
(14:39) - Anya
(17:20) - Horst
(19:45) - Mike M
(22:55) - Chaotic
(23:30) - machinic
(24:55) - Rich Rogers
(28:16) - Tyler Lominack
(29:25) - WillH
(32:53) - Mark W
(33:45) - Anders
(34:50) - Alun
(37:45) - Kpop&RPGs
(40:16) - Shane
(43:28) - Harper
(45:40) - Lowell and Sherri
(59:55) - Casey T
(01:01:48) - Stevie P
(01:03:24) - David MK
(01:04:52) - Gerrit
(01:06:46) - Mike Ferdinando
(01:10:45) - David S
(01:13:42) - Sabine
(01:16:18) - Dan Brown
(01:18:40) - Mads
(01:21:58) - Thomas
(01:24:06) - Closing

Games Mentioned (a partial list)

Arcane Crimes Division
Back Again from the Broken Land
Be Seeing You
Bluebeard's Bride
Bump in the Dark
Court of Blades
Cthulhu Dark
CY_BORG
Demigods
Demon Hunters
Don't Kill a Bird with a Baseball
Eating Oranges Under the Shower
Fall of Magic
Fathom
Fearful Symmetries
Forbidden Lands
Free from the Shadows
Galaxies in Peril
Girl by Moonlight
Good Society
Hearts of Camelot
Hearts of Wulin
Hearts of Yokai
Hit the Streets: Defend the Block
Infinite Galaxies
Long Time Listener, Last Time Caller
Lord Why Have You Forsaken Me
Masks: A New Generation
Mobile Frame Zero: Firebrands
Monster of Week
Monsterhearts
Mothership
Mountain Home
Mutants in the Night
Mythic Bastionland
Nahual
Numberless Secrets: Hearts of Wulin
Old-School Essentials
Pasión de las Pasiones
Public Access
Solar Blades and Cosmic Spells
Speed Rune
Star Trek Adventures
The Between
The Policy of Truth
Thursday
Trail of Cthulhu
Trollbabe
Trophy Dark
Trophy Gold
Wickedness
Yazeba's Bed & Breakfast

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