Around the Hearth

Welcome to another episode of our 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.

This time we have designer, consultant, and co-creator of Asians Represent!, Agatha Cheng. She's here to talk about the amazing game Good Society, a diceless TTRPG of romance, passion, and drama. We talk about a lot, including the Kickstarter for Good Society 2nd Edition.

Good Society 2nd Edition Kickstarter
"2 Good 2 Society: Storybrewers do a lot with small changes in the new edition of the beloved Austen-like" (Rascal, Thomas Manuel)

Games Mentioned
Good Society
Pasión de las Pasiones
Woolf Society: Percival
Take the Universe
Gothic Society
Thinly Veiled

Agatha on itch.io

Check Open Hearth's free online gaming event: Shared Hearth happening Oct. 1st- Oct. 4th, 2026

If 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 Links

Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla

Music: ‘Mission Control’ by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio

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: @[email protected]

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:
Trespasser
The One Ring 2e
Slugblaster

Shared Hearth
Registration is now open for the Shared Hearth free open gaming event October 1st - October 4th, 2026! More information at https://openhearthgaming.com/shared-hearth

Help Rae Recover Links 

Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla

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: @[email protected]    

00:00 Introduction
01:16 Anders & Trespasser 
09:43 Guy & The One Ring 2e
22:08 Dominik & Slugblaster
34:07 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 Kickstarter
Arium's Homepage
Aquavertigo (David MK) 

Shared Hearth free open gaming event is coming October 1st - October 4th, 2026

Help Rae Recover Links 

Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla

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: @[email protected]  

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:

Moria

Hobby blog: https://trashpile.blog/

Carrd: https://the-trashpile.carrd.co/

Shane

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Shane-Marble/videos

Games 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-technicians

Other Games & Misc Mentioned:
Basic Fantasy RPG is not to be confused with Basic Roleplaying
Shadowdark
Lancer
Mothership
Strange Towns for Cortex Prime
Good Society
Under Hollow Hills
For The Queen
Beach Blanket Body Bag (Carved from Brindlewood)
Rune Seekers of Glorantha (in development)
Rosewood Abbey
Biophage
With Fire Thy Affections Hold A Wing
Harvest
Ghosts of El Paso for The Between
Goblin Errands
Armor Astir: Advent
Ocean Tides
D&D
Oh Captain, My Captain!
Stonetop
Turnip 28

Other Mentions:
Fearful Symmetries session videos
Rune Seekers of Glorantha session videos
Shared Hearth free open gaming event is coming October 1st - October 4th, 2026
The xkcd "Average Familiarity" comic
Playingcards.io

Help Rae Recover Links 

Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla

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: @[email protected]    

00:00 Introduction
01:50 Moria & Basic Fantasy RPG
09:48 Shane & Fearful Symmetries
17:38 Tea & Void Technicians
27:58 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 Community
Our website - Check out the Shared Hearth event!
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: @[email protected]

Our info:
Email: [email protected]
Music: https://lloydeaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-different-kind-of-hex
Jack 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/matthewarcilla

01:05 - Intro
02:53 - José's Poison, the "Pied Piper"
14:00 - Ian's Poison, the "Need for Speed"
23:47 - White Whales; or, the "ideal" game
45:56 - Pearls of Wisdom
55:27 - 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:
Jex

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lastpinepress.com

Itch: https://jexjthomas.itch.io/

RPG Trader: https://rpg-trader.com/creator/197/last-pine-press

Mads

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

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/madelancholy.bsky.social

Itch: https://madelancholy.itch.io/

Gwen

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

Itch: https://drgwenmarshall.itch.io/

Games & Misc Discussed:

Going for Broke series

Blades '68

More about Good Society 2E playtesting

ZealZaddy on Twitch

Mobile Frame Zero: Firebrands

In Dreaming Avalon

You Can Check Out Any Time You Like, But You Can Never Leave

Hearts of Magic: Threads Entangled

Once More Into the Void

The King is Dead

Winter's Daughter

Cantrip

Lichcraft

Dungeon World 2 Beta

Teenage 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/matthewarcilla

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: @[email protected]    

00:00 Introduction

02:06 Jex & Blades '68

09:36 Mads & The Firebrand System

24:05 Gwen & Dungeon World 2

35:47 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.io

Games Mentioned
Band of Blades
Band of Blades on Roll20
Blades in the Dark
The Watch
Night Witches

If 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 Links

Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla

Music: ‘Mission Control’ by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio

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: @[email protected]

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 Links

Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla

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: @[email protected]

00:00 Intro
01:36 Pitch and Mechanics
07:22 Publication History
17:33 Media History
21:39 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 Links
Eyes on the Prize
Girl by Moonlight
Thirsty Sword Lesbians
Apocalypse Keys
Star Crossed
Good Society
Masks
Urban Shadows
Pasión de las Pasiones
Escape from Dino Island
Apocalypse World 3e
Hearts of Wulin
DIE Rpg
Image mentioned during talk

Help Rae Recover Links 

Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla

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: @[email protected]   

Ian, José, and special guest Elle discuss the inner worlds of our characters and of ourselves! How do we as players express interiority and why would we want to, anyways. Along the way, there are guilty confessions, moments of uncertainty, and unexpected plot twists.

Elle’s work: https://bloodygorgeous.carrd.co/

Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community
Our website
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: @[email protected]

Our info:
Email: [email protected]
Music: https://lloydeaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-different-kind-of-hex

Help Rae Recover Links 

Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla

0:02:16 - Pick Your Poison
0:16:05 - What is Interiority?
0:25:50 - Why do it?
0:28:01 - Plot twists & interiority
0:33:20 - José’s guilty confession
0:38:05 - Can opaqueness be good?
0:54:52 - How to show interiority 
1:07:21 - Encouraging it in other players
1:18:00 - Pearl of Wisdom
1:21:01 - Outro