
Free Daily Podcast Summary
by Open Hearth Gaming Community
Around the Hearth features discussion on a wide range of topics relevant to tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) featuring members of the Open Hearth Gaming Community. We talk games, gameplay, design, and the games being played at the Open Hearth Gaming Calendar.
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In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Dominik talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Guy and Anders discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth (Trespasser, The One Ring 2e, and Slugblaster), and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently.Games Discussed:TrespasserThe One Ring 2eSlugblasterShared HearthRegistration is now open for the Shared Hearth free open gaming event October 1st - October 4th, 2026! More information at https://openhearthgaming.com/shared-hearthHelp Rae Recover Links Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcillaFind out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp 00:00 Introduction01:16 Anders & Trespasser 09:43 Guy & The One Ring 2e22:08 Dominik & Slugblaster34:07 Giving Me Life
In this episode, Gwen talks with community member & layout/designer David MK and game designer Will Munn about Arium the Worldbuilding RPG. They cover the game's core concepts, adaptability, and new elements added by Arium: Evolve. The Kickstarter for the new boxed edition of Arium, which includes the new supplement, runs through Wed, Sept 16th, 2026. The Arium KickstarterArium's HomepageAquavertigo (David MK) Shared Hearth free open gaming event is coming October 1st - October 4th, 2026Help Rae Recover Links Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcillaFind out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp
In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Tea talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Moria and Shane discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth (Basic Fantasy RPG, Fearful Symmetries, and Void Technicians), and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently.Links:MoriaHobby blog: https://trashpile.blog/Carrd: https://the-trashpile.carrd.co/ShaneYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Shane-Marble/videosGames Discussed:Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game - https://www.basicfantasy.org/Fearful Symmetries by Steve Dempsey for Trail of Cthulhu - https://pelgranepress.com/product/fearful-symmetries/Void Technicians - https://thecastlebuilder.itch.io/void-techniciansOther Games & Misc Mentioned:Basic Fantasy RPG is not to be confused with Basic RoleplayingShadowdarkLancerMothershipStrange Towns for Cortex PrimeGood SocietyUnder Hollow HillsFor The QueenBeach Blanket Body Bag (Carved from Brindlewood)Rune Seekers of Glorantha (in development)Rosewood AbbeyBiophageWith Fire Thy Affections Hold A WingHarvestGhosts of El Paso for The BetweenGoblin ErrandsArmor Astir: AdventOcean TidesD&DOh Captain, My Captain!StonetopTurnip 28Other Mentions:Fearful Symmetries session videosRune Seekers of Glorantha session videosShared Hearth free open gaming event is coming October 1st - October 4th, 2026The xkcd "Average Familiarity" comicPlayingcards.ioHelp Rae Recover Links Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcillaFind out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp 00:00 Introduction01:50 Moria & Basic Fantasy RPG09:48 Shane & Fearful Symmetries17:38 Tea & Void Technicians27:58 Giving Me Life
...to the last, I prattle with thee; from a studio apartment, I yap at thee; for the game's sake I pod my last cast at thee!!In the first-ever live studio recording of the show, José & Ian spend a (very warm) summer evening bouncing off of each other about games & gaming. We discuss bringing newcomers into the hobby, embracing (and even aiming for) imperfection, and our forever-implausible "ideal" games.Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunityOur website - Check out the Shared Hearth event!Support us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.campOur info:Email: adifferenthex@gmail.comMusic: https://lloydeaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-different-kind-of-hexJack de Quidt's Music - https://notquitereal.bandcamp.com/Help Rae Recover Links Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla01:05 - Intro02:53 - José's Poison, the "Pied Piper"14:00 - Ian's Poison, the "Need for Speed"23:47 - White Whales; or, the "ideal" game45:56 - Pearls of Wisdom55:27 - Outro
In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Gwen talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Jex (Bump in the Dark) and Mads discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth (Blades '68, Firebrands and Dungeon World 2), and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently.Links:JexBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lastpinepress.comItch: https://jexjthomas.itch.io/RPG Trader: https://rpg-trader.com/creator/197/last-pine-pressMadsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MadelancholyBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/madelancholy.bsky.socialItch: https://madelancholy.itch.io/GwenBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/drgwenmarshall.bsky.socialItch: https://drgwenmarshall.itch.io/Games & Misc Discussed:Going for Broke seriesBlades '68More about Good Society 2E playtestingZealZaddy on TwitchMobile Frame Zero: FirebrandsIn Dreaming AvalonYou Can Check Out Any Time You Like, But You Can Never LeaveHearts of Magic: Threads EntangledOnce More Into the VoidThe King is DeadWinter's DaughterCantripLichcraftDungeon World 2 BetaTeenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (2026)Camp (2026)Help Rae Recover Links Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcillaFind out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp 00:00 Introduction02:06 Jex & Blades '6809:36 Mads & The Firebrand System24:05 Gwen & Dungeon World 235:47 Giving Me Life
Welcome to the first episode of a new series on the Around the Hearth podcast feed: Known Territory: GMs Talk Games. Each episode we sit down with an experienced game facilitator who has played a specific TTRPG extensively. They will discuss how they pitch the game, best practices for running, useful tools, potential pitfalls, and more. We hope this will be a useful primer for both GMs and players interested in this game.For this first episode we have on Jim Crocker to discuss Band of Blades, Evil Hat's military fantasy Forged in the Dark TTRPG. Jim's run complete campaigns of this striking and complex story game of military survival and horror.Jim on itch.ioGames MentionedBand of BladesBand of Blades on Roll20Blades in the DarkThe WatchNight WitchesIf you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe.This episode's host is Lowell Francis, 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. He's the co-author of the Transverse Noir series of Shadowrun novellas. You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.Help Rae Recover LinksSupport or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcillaMusic: ‘Mission Control’ by Karl Casey @ White Bat AudioFind out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp
Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History looks at Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness, one of the earliest and most successful licensed supers games, kicking around for many more years than any competitors. We talk about the game's mechanics, how it conveys the pitch, and the unique approach to splitting combat and skills. We then cover the publication history of the line and how it helped cement Palladium's role in the TTRPG industry. We talk a little about the Turtles themselves and how important this game is to the history of the TMNT licensing behemoth. We finish up by giving our general thoughts about TMNT and the recent Kickstarter reprint.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.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. He's the co-author of the Transverse Noir series of Shadowrun novellas.You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.Help Rae Recover LinksSupport or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcillaFind out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp00:00 Intro01:36 Pitch and Mechanics07:22 Publication History17:33 Media History21:39 Thoughts
Love, lust, friendship, strong attachment-- the emotional beats which support drama and play. In this community talk, we consider romance in TTRPGs: running it, playing it, planning it. Drawing on experiences we explore break ups, cool mechanics, the line between system and play, objects of affection, good romance GM moves, and more. This is part of our Open Hearth series of community RPG talks. Selected LinksEyes on the PrizeGirl by MoonlightThirsty Sword LesbiansApocalypse KeysStar CrossedGood SocietyMasksUrban ShadowsPasión de las PasionesEscape from Dino IslandApocalypse World 3eHearts of WulinDIE RpgImage mentioned during talkHelp Rae Recover Links Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcillaFind out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp
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Around the Hearth features discussion on a wide range of topics relevant to tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) featuring members of the Open Hearth Gaming Community. We talk games, gameplay, design, and the games being played at the Open Hearth Gaming Calendar.
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