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PODCAST

Around the Hearth

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. Our online games are free and open to all! If you"d like to join the fun, visit openhearthgaming.com for more information.

leisure games

All Episodes

57:28

Roll for Mutation: Post-Apocalyptic TTRPG History:...

Around the Hearth ·

2025/11/18

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

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73:23

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

Around the Hearth ·

2025/11/11

Content Advisory: character death, ritual sacrificeIan & 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/wylloraGame Design - https://wyllora.itch.io/Triangle Agency Holiday-themed Game Jam! - https://itch.io/jam/time-and-a-halfFind out more about the Open Hearth Gaming

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77:40

Talking Space Opera

Around the Hearth ·

2025/11/04

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

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44:19

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

Around the Hearth ·

2025/10/28

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

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52:08

Roll for Mutation: Post-Apocalyptic TTRPG History:...

Around the Hearth ·

2025/10/21

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

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68:09

Talking White Whales and Inadvisable Ideas

Around the Hearth ·

2025/10/14

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

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56:08

Design Chat: Pedro Barrenechea & Rotted Capes 2e

Around the Hearth ·

2025/10/07

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 DTRPGPedro aka StatMonkey on BlueskyFind out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast

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63:40

Talking One-Shots

Around the Hearth ·

2025/09/30

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

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43:53

Open Hearth Podcast Ep 13: Ex Tenebris, Wise Women,...

Around the Hearth ·

2025/09/23

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 GamesBlack Armada on itchJosh Bluesky: @armadajosh.bsky.socialBecky Bluesky: @beckyannison.bsky.socialWise WomenRapscallionStar Trek Adventures 2eSecrets of the Silent WitchFind out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on

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82:03

A Different Kind of Hex Ep. 4 - Bleed

Around the Hearth ·

2025/09/16

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

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49:24

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History: Ep. 4...

Around the Hearth ·

2025/09/09

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

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58:55

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

Around the Hearth ·

2025/09/02

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)AberrantMasks: A New GenerationNever

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42:23

Tribes in the Dark Kickstarter: Roll for Mutation...

Around the Hearth ·

2025/08/28

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 WikipediaTribe 8 on DTRPGTribe 8 on RPGGeekWil on Bluesky

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46:35

Roll for Mutation: Post-Apocalyptic TTRPG History:...

Around the Hearth ·

2025/08/26

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

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37:21

Open Hearth: What Is It?

Around the Hearth ·

2025/08/19

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. WebsiteDiscord InvitePatreonPlayablShared HearthCommunity Code of ConductOnline Play ResourcesAround the HearthPlaying at the HearthYouTubePlay IssuesGamewayContact Us: openhearthgamingcommunity@gmail.comFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon:

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65:16

Talking Mysteries: Running Mystery TTRPGs

Around the Hearth ·

2025/08/12

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

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46:56

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

Around the Hearth ·

2025/08/05

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

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64:43

Fireside Chat with Agatha: Ep 1 Lowell Francis

Around the Hearth ·

2025/07/29

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 podcastsShe works as a Cultural Consultant for content on Chinese history and mythology + the Chinese diaspora and TaiwanShe is the designer of

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56:39

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

Around the Hearth ·

2025/07/22

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 ClubJust King ThingsFind Rich Rogers' Hit the Streets here +1 Forward Podcast Archives 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

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71:25

Talking Hearts of Wulin

Around the Hearth ·

2025/07/17

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. Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming

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49 results

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