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PODCAST

Tabletop Hot Takes

Aria Davis & Professor Funky Productions

A Podcast about Tabletop Role Playing Games (TTRPGs), our thoughts and feeling on them, and, of course, hot takes. We explore TTRPG history, indie RPGs, advice, recommendations, and all kinds of other great things. Professor Aria was raised in the fire of TTRPGs having run and played Shadowrun, D&D 5E, Ryuutama, and several indie RPGs. They have Game Mastered for almost ten years. They are trying to make their own system, an exploration of cyberpunk fantasy in an approachable, customizable

leisure games

All Episodes

58:16

Creating Galaxies

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2025/10/20

SPAAACE GHOOOSTS!!Aria and Funky talk about using random tables to create settings, specifically galaxies of explorable planets and solar systems. They talk about knowing where the river is in New Orleans, wombats, and how perfect is the enemy of done.You can follow the link here for a LOT of reference material from Funky that he used for all this. If you are curious about any further details, or just wanna ask questions, feel free to reach out to us at

en

37:02

Get That Pathos off My Table!

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2025/10/06

Funky and Aria discuss Pathos. Why does it not belong on Funky's table? Is Pathos a cat?They get into equity in the spotlight, Trotskyists, and cool warrior-poets.-----------------------------------------Our Patreon-----------------------------------------

en

34:49

Noodle Incidents

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2025/09/22

Funky and Aria discuss Noodle Incidents. What they are, how to use them for fun and profit, and being in silly moods.-----------------------------------------Our Patreon-----------------------------------------

en

42:07

Heroism

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2025/09/08

Funky and Aria discuss Heroism. What it really means, sleep-deprived writing, and Funky's awesome grandmother are all brought up. Funky's audio was pretty messed up for this episode as he tried to figure out a new system. Many apologies are given for this.-----------------------------------------Our Patreon-----------------------------------------Stuff Referenced in this Episode:Behind the Bastards

en

58:24

A Unified Theory of Design

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2025/08/25

Funky and Aria discuss Aria's Unified Theory of Cohesive Game Designtm. They get into hackable systems, generic systems, and the hopeful first sponsor of the podcast.-----------------------------------------Our Patreon-----------------------------------------Systems Referenced in this Episode:Cortex PrimeHack! The RPGApocalypse WorldGURPSForged in the DarkFATEDraw Steel!Battle Systems

en

01:18:59

Exploits

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2025/08/11

Funky and Aria discuss exploiting game writing for fun, not-fun, and profit. We explore the world of why numbers are stupid, the Greater Seattle Polycule™, and carrying hundreds of ceramic plates around. ----------------------------------------------------Our Patreon----------------------------------------------------

en

51:28

Plagiarism: It's Good Actually!

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2025/07/28

Clickbait title aside... Funky and Aria discuss what plagiarism really is, and why you should maybe do it actually. All kinds of niche media abound.----------------------------------------------------------Our PatreonGurren Lagann - Cuz we mentioned it... sorta... Mostly I just wanted an excuse to say the line...Leverage - You REALLY should know more about LeverageBurn Notice - If you feel you want to know more about Burn NoticeYokohama Shopping List - You should know more about Yokohama Shopping

en

01:04:03

Learning Good Lessons from Bad Games

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2025/07/14

Funky and Aria discuss bad games they know with good lessons to learn from them. This delves into pandas in World of Warcraft, 17th century england, and the eponymous classic movie Equilibrium-----------------------------------------Our Patreon-----------------------------------------Systems Referenced in this Episode:Clockwork & Chivalry 2nd EditionTails of EquestriaHackmasterShadowrun

en

52:56

Make Your Aliens WEIRDER!!

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2025/06/30

MAKE YOUR ALIENS WEIRDER!! JUST DO IT! Funky and Aria discuss weird alien people and why they should be weirder. This includes Tolkien, The Doctor, elves, and planets miniaturized into people.------------------------------------------------------------------------Our Patreon - patreon.com/TabletopHotTakes------------------------------------------------------------------------

en

53:02

Genre: Mystery

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2025/06/16

The second in our series about Genres. We pick right up with mysteries. We explore the required baseline for mysteries and how they can and can very much NOT work in TTRPGs.------------------------------------------------------------------------Our Patreon - patreon.com/TabletopHotTakes------------------------------------------------------------------------Mystery Novel Structure Simplified - ZARA ALTAIR AUTHOR - Blog post about mystery structure25 Things You Need to Know About Writing Mysteries

en

01:03:50

TTRPGs & Gender

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2025/06/02

Funky and Aria discuss Gender, Sexuality, and TTRPG history. They chronicle changes to approach of gender in society and games alike.------------------------------------------------------------------------Our Patreon - patreon.com/TabletopHotTakes------------------------------------------------------------------------The First Female Gamers - Medium article about the first female gamers and their experiencesThe Trouble with Gender in LARP - Blog post by queer game designers about gender in LARP

en

51:52

Taxonomy of Players

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2024/12/13

Funky and Aria discuss one way to categorize players. They cover the difficulty of ungendered words to describe mean people, Funky having a bit of a breakdown, and trying to not break Shadowrun.------------------------------------------------------------------------Our Patreon - patreon.com/TabletopHotTakes------------------------------------------------------------------------Matt Colville - Kinds of Players - Matt Colville breaks down his categorization of players that Funky pulls from

en

01:04:10

Eras of TTRPGs, Part 1: Gygax and Michigan

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2024/10/18

Professors Funky and Aria begin their series on the Eras of Role Playing. They discuss Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson, their epic friendship, and eventual rivalry They even mention writing on napkins, and promise not to sue each other.------------------------------------------------------------------------Our Patreon - patreon.com/TabletopHotTakes------------------------------------------------------------------------The Ambush at Sheridan Springs - The article by Jon Peterson on the corporate

en

40:15

Let's Rob RJ McIlhenney and Steal Her Golden Quill

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2024/10/04

We review the small, and very accessible, TTRPG Let's Rob RJ McIlhenney and Steal Her Golden Quill. We cover why it's great, how we could play it with our coworkers at Starbucks, and get bleeped a LOT!Our Patreon - patreon.com/TabletopHotTakesLink for the system:Let's Rob RJ McIlhenney and Steal Her Golden QuillLinks for systems mentioned:Tails of Equestria

en

59:16

Genre: Intro & Horror

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2024/09/20

The beginning of a series exploring genres. We begin with a 101 course into the term of genre. We then explore the Horror genre, how it can work, how it can fail, and some spooky hot takes. We talk about some favorite horror movies and systems, and chat about amish playing TTRPGs.Our Patreon - patreon.com/TabletopHotTakesSources:Alien - Look out! Its a man in a suit! Truly an apex predator.Hot Fuzz - Nick Frost couldn't make a horror film if he TRIED!Sunshine - Sci-Fi Horror Film with low, but

en

42:49

Resolution Systems

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2023/10/16

After last episode, we decided we needed to talk about one of the most polarizing and essential systems in a TTRPG: The resolution systemOur Patreon - patreon.com/TabletopHotTakesLinks for the systems mentioned:Or8cle - A GM-less TTRPG played with a Magic 8-Ball. Short and easy to run.Dread - A Horror TTRPG played with a Jenga tower. When the tower falls, so does your character.Lasers & Feelings - Mostly a discussion piece for the power of a simple system and how it can define the system as a

en

39:51

Strangest TTRPGs We Have Found (Pt. 1)

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2023/10/02

Some of the most unique TTRPGs we have found in our travels. This only scratches the surface of the good, weird stuff out there. There will be a part 2 and onward in the future.Our Patreon - patreon.com/TabletopHotTakesLinks for the systems mentioned:Terror Thirteen: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/63498/Terror-Thirteen?term=terror+thirteenTotally Real Human Adults: https://crlegge.itch.io/totally-real-human-adultsVisigoths Vs. Mall Goths: https://necromancy.itch.io/gothsRod, Reel, and Fist:

en

38:36

Ryuutama - Natural Fantasy RPG

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2023/09/18

We discuss a favorite game of Aria's (and soon to be Funky's too), Ryuutama. It's a fabulous exploration of exploration and pastoral fantasy.Our Patreon - patreon.com/TabletopHotTakesDriveThruRPG link for Ryuutama - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/151366/Ryuutama--Natural-Fantasy-Roleplay

en

31:10

Is the Game Master a Player?

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2023/09/04

We talk perspectives on one of the oldest discourses in TTRPGsOur Patreon - patreon.com/TabletopHotTakesBibliography:Keep on the Borderlands - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/17158/B2-The-Keep-on-the-Borderlands-BasicGamedeveloper - https://www.gamedeveloper.com/disciplines/the-dungeon-master-an-interview-with-gary-gygaxBleak Spirit - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/296546/Bleak-SpiritMatt colville video -

en

39:08

Fave & Least Fave Mechanics

Tabletop Hot Takes ·

2023/08/21

We talk about or favorite and least favorite mechanics or ideas from any TTRPG for an easy first episode.Our Patreon - https://patreon.com/TabletopHotTakes?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkLinks to DriveThruRPG for all the games we mention:Shadowrun - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?filters=1700_0_0_0_0&src=fid1700Scion 1e - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/25833/Scion-HeroScion 2e -

en

20 results

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