Characters Without Stories

It’s Pride Month! While we can and should joyfully celebrate LGBTQIA+ people every day of the year, we come together in June to devote special attention - to pay respects for those who have fought for liberation, and to continue the struggle in the face of increasing hostility and repression.

This episode I’m honoring my trans, non-binary, and queer guests by sharing their unique perspectives on how playing TTRPGs have shaped their identities.

Jay is featured in S1E2, "Qurr the Birbarian - Building Better Backstories with Jay (D&D 5e)."
Website: https://www.betterbackstories.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@allthatjaz22

Stevie is featured in S1E3, "Requiem, the Reluctant Tiefling - Searching for Found Family with Neineyes (D&D 5e)."
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neineyes
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevietealeaf

V.J. Harris is featured in S1E9, "Varqoor, the Mind Flayer Losing Control - The Problems with Races in D&D with VJ Harris (D&D5e)."
Website: https://www.vjhcreations.com
VJ Talks Podcast: https://www.vjhcreations.com/podcast-vjtalks

Caroline Vahrenkamp is featured in S2E2, "Jurdgel Sharptooth, Goblin Customs Official - Gender Identity and Character Voices with Caroline Vahrenkamp (D&D 5e)."
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@caro_the_rpg_mom
Wonders of the World Podcast: https://www.wonderspodcast.com

Amelia and Ryan are featured in S2E3, "Catalina and Esperanza, Twins at Odds - Drama and Romance with Character Creation Cast (Pasión de las Pasiones)."
Character Creation Cast: https://charactercreationcast.com

Simon is a featured in S2E7, "Dex the Gnome Revolutionary - Representing Neurodiversity with Simon (Shadowrun)."
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@simonthetinker

Jack is featured in S2E10, "Shasta and Alistair, a Girl and her Mask - The Masks We Wear with Jack (Pathfinder 2e)."

Music by Ryan Muns, Eyes On The Moon Studios: https://ryanmuns.bandcamp.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnTheMoonStudios
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5lkBYvF9wlQPgcwHfvFMZt

Send us Fan Mail

Cover art by The Curiographer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecuriographer

Sign up for my Newsletter to stay up-to-date on the podcast:
https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/760760/109867356957705889/share

Support the Podcast

You can find Star at:
Website: http://www.characterswithoutstories.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starmamac
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@characterswithoutstories
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@characterswithoutstories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/characterswithoutstories
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/characterswithoutstories.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/characterswithoutstories

Thanks for listening, and may all your characters find their stories!

Jack brings Shasta and Alistair to the table. Shasta is a young Aasimar monk traveling the world and Alistair is the god within the mask she wears.

Jack and I discuss the masks we and our characters wear, player agency and GM input into characters, and what might make you put on a mysterious mask.

This character is built for Pathfinder 2e.

Jack is a Jewish trans man just trying to play and learn as many different games as he can so that he can write his own adventures and games.

Titterpig Academy is mentioned in the episode. You can check out Penny's YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/@PennyLeScroche

We also mentioned a previous episode on the podcast - Season 2, Episode 2: Jurdgel Sharptooth, Goblin Customs Official, where I spoke to Caroline Vahrenkamp about her struggles with voice acting as a trans woman. If the topic interests you, I suggest you check it out.

Music by Ryan Muns, Eyes On The Moon Studios: https://ryanmuns.bandcamp.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnTheMoonStudios
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5lkBYvF9wlQPgcwHfvFMZt

Send us Fan Mail

Cover art by The Curiographer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecuriographer

Sign up for my Newsletter to stay up-to-date on the podcast:
https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/760760/109867356957705889/share

Support the Podcast

You can find Star at:
Website: http://www.characterswithoutstories.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starmamac
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@characterswithoutstories
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@characterswithoutstories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/characterswithoutstories
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/characterswithoutstories.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/characterswithoutstories

Thanks for listening, and may all your characters find their stories!

Quinn brings Aya Bailey to the table. Aya has been called by the gods to serve, but chooses instead to serve the people through activism and direct action.

Quinn and I discuss using TTRPGs as a way to learn about other cultures and identities including your own, growing beyond others' expectations of you, and decolonizing TTRPG spaces.

This character is built for Scion 2e.

Quinn is a 41-year-old trans woman who is decolonizing their TTRPG tables one at a time. They are using TTRPGs to explore decolonization and respecting other cultures without cultural appropriation.

In the episode, we reference the protests against 'Cop City' in Atlanta. Since the interview was recorded a protestor, Manuel “Tortuguita” Terán was shot and killed by police and others have been charged with terrorism. I encourage you to read more about the protests: https://theintercept.com/2022/08/18/atlanta-cop-city-forest-abolition-environmentalism/

In lieu of sharing social media profiles, Quinn wanted to share more information about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. If you're in Texas, you can get involved with Texas Rematriate: https://www.instagram.com/mmiw_tx_rematriate

Music by Ryan Muns, Eyes On The Moon Studios: https://ryanmuns.bandcamp.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnTheMoonStudios
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5lkBYvF9wlQPgcwHfvFMZt

Send us Fan Mail

Cover art by The Curiographer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecuriographer

Sign up for my Newsletter to stay up-to-date on the podcast:
https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/760760/109867356957705889/share

Support the Podcast

You can find Star at:
Website: http://www.characterswithoutstories.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starmamac
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@characterswithoutstories
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@characterswithoutstories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/characterswithoutstories
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/characterswithoutstories.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/characterswithoutstories

Thanks for listening, and may all your characters find their stories!

Natalie Marley brings Dewey Aberforth to the table. Dewey is an accidental folk hero and a selfish jerk who happens to have a wonderful aquiline nose.

Natalie and I discuss playing a selfish character without making your friends hate you IRL, how to play a man, and developing the confidence to take up space at the table and in the story.

This character is built for D&D5e.

Natalie is a behavior therapist who primarily works with children under the age of 10, teaching social communication, self-help, and coping skills.

Music by Ryan Muns, Eyes On The Moon Studios: https://ryanmuns.bandcamp.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnTheMoonStudios
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5lkBYvF9wlQPgcwHfvFMZt

Send us Fan Mail

Cover art by The Curiographer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecuriographer

Sign up for my Newsletter to stay up-to-date on the podcast:
https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/760760/109867356957705889/share

Support the Podcast

You can find Star at:
Website: http://www.characterswithoutstories.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starmamac
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@characterswithoutstories
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@characterswithoutstories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/characterswithoutstories
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/characterswithoutstories.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/characterswithoutstories

Thanks for listening, and may all your characters find their stories!

Simon brings Dex to the table. Dex is a gnome hacker slowly becoming a revolutionary.

Simon and I discuss finding the bravery to be who you are, building characters that embody neurodiversity, and the intersection of masculinity and fantasy races.

This character is built for Shadowrun.

Simon is a queer, non-binary, autistic, and ADHD STEM educator that builds TTRPG characters to appease his brain spiders.

You can find Simon at:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@simonthetinker
St Pete by Night: https://www.twitch.tv/stpetebynight

Music by Ryan Muns, Eyes On The Moon Studios: https://ryanmuns.bandcamp.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnTheMoonStudios
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5lkBYvF9wlQPgcwHfvFMZt

Send us Fan Mail

Cover art by The Curiographer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecuriographer

Sign up for my Newsletter to stay up-to-date on the podcast:
https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/760760/109867356957705889/share

Support the Podcast

You can find Star at:
Website: http://www.characterswithoutstories.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starmamac
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@characterswithoutstories
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@characterswithoutstories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/characterswithoutstories
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/characterswithoutstories.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/characterswithoutstories

Thanks for listening, and may all your characters find their stories!

Morgan Nuncio brings Lucia “Luz” Guadalupe Lozano to the table. Luz is a young Latina wizard learning to control her magic and setting some fires in the process.

Morgan and I discuss finding the comfort in community to play your own race, who's left out when we default to the old white man wizard tropes, and how sometimes you have to make a lot of mistakes on your way to adulthood.

This character is built for Urban Shadows 2e from Magpie Games: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/magpiegames/urban-shadows-second-edition

Morgan Nuncio is a TTRPG writer and content creator. They have written for Kids on Bikes, Teens in Space, and Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall. They are a professional GM and an active actual play streamer and podcaster, most notably with their Podcast, Powered by the Players.

You can find Morgan at:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SirenaBesos
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sirenabesos
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sirenabesos
Huetopia: https://twitter.com/HuetopiaTV
Powered by the Players podcast: https://geekspective.com/show/powered-by-the-players

Music by Ryan Muns, Eyes On The Moon Studios: https://ryanmuns.bandcamp.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnTheMoonStudios
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5lkBYvF9wlQPgcwHfvFMZt

Send us Fan Mail

Cover art by The Curiographer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecuriographer

Sign up for my Newsletter to stay up-to-date on the podcast:
https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/760760/109867356957705889/share

Support the Podcast

You can find Star at:
Website: http://www.characterswithoutstories.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starmamac
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@characterswithoutstories
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@characterswithoutstories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/characterswithoutstories
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/characterswithoutstories.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/characterswithoutstories

Thanks for listening, and may all your characters find their stories!

Ryan and Amelia bring Catalina and Esperanza to the table. Catalina and Esperanza are twins conniving to upstage one another.

Ryan, Amelia, and I discuss how to create character drama and conflict at character creation, sex and romance in roleplaying games, and the tropes we return to again and again when creating characters.

These characters are built for Pasións de las Pasiones by Brandon Leon-Gambetta: https://magpiegames.com/pages/pasion

Amelia and Ryan are the two hosts of the Character Creation Cast podcast, a show where they discuss and create characters with guests using the guest's favorite games. Amelia does most of the social media, organizing and graphic design for the podcast, and was also an ENnies judge for two years. Ryan does the editing and production while also dabbling in game design and freelance audio editing.

You can find Amelia and Ryan at:
Character Creation Cast: https://charactercreationcast.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CreationCast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charactercreationcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creationcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charactercreationcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjyZ8FqYtvBeH0r4Geya1rA

Music by Ryan Muns, Eyes On The Moon Studios: https://ryanmuns.bandcamp.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnTheMoonStudios
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5lkBYvF9wlQPgcwHfvFMZt

Send us Fan Mail

Cover art by The Curiographer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecuriographer

Sign up for my Newsletter to stay up-to-date on the podcast:
https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/760760/109867356957705889/share

Support the Podcast

You can find Star at:
Website: http://www.characterswithoutstories.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starmamac
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@characterswithoutstories
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@characterswithoutstories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/characterswithoutstories
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/characterswithoutstories.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/characterswithoutstories

Thanks for listening, and may all your characters find their stories!

PlotDoc brings Dreams of a Light Reborn to the table. Dreams is a storyteller who seeks to end a bloody war.

PlotDoc and I discuss growing yourself before growing a character, telling stories that change the world, and kicking gods in the nuts.

This character is built for Exalted 2nd Edition.

PlotDoc is a 34 year old stay-at-home dad and TTRPG TikToker, writer, and enthusiast. They focus on narrative heavy, emotionally compelling stories. They are an ADHD gender-fluid "disaster bi" with far too little filter.

You can find PlotDoc at:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theplotdoctor
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theplotdoctor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlotDoctor
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theplotdoctor
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBdW00yCoLX_EXeLoVV3IuQ

Music by Ryan Muns, Eyes On The Moon Studios: https://ryanmuns.bandcamp.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnTheMoonStudios
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5lkBYvF9wlQPgcwHfvFMZt

Send us Fan Mail

Cover art by The Curiographer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecuriographer

Sign up for my Newsletter to stay up-to-date on the podcast:
https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/760760/109867356957705889/share

Support the Podcast

You can find Star at:
Website: http://www.characterswithoutstories.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starmamac
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@characterswithoutstories
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@characterswithoutstories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/characterswithoutstories
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/characterswithoutstories.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/characterswithoutstories

Thanks for listening, and may all your characters find their stories!

Glenn Buettner brings Montgomery Whitlow to the table. Monty is a Vaesen hunter on a fool's errand to join his wife and daughter in the selkie world.

Glenn and I discuss sending your character on a fool's errand, creating characters from your own writing, and making the table a safe space for exploring trauma.

This character is built for Vaesen.

Glenn mentioned The Lost Mountain and Other Sagas podcast, which you can find here:  https://lostmountainsaga.com/

Glenn Buettner has been a tabletop gamer since the 70's and an almost always forever GM. He has been working on the retail side of the gaming industry for the last 16 years and has a self-published rpg, Mistrunner.

You can find Glenn at:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gamesinabunker
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GamesInABunker
itch.io: https://gamesinabunker.itch.io/

Music by Ryan Muns, Eyes On The Moon Studios: https://ryanmuns.bandcamp.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnTheMoonStudios
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5lkBYvF9wlQPgcwHfvFMZt

Send us Fan Mail

Cover art by The Curiographer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecuriographer

Sign up for my Newsletter to stay up-to-date on the podcast:
https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/760760/109867356957705889/share

Support the Podcast

You can find Star at:
Website: http://www.characterswithoutstories.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starmamac
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@characterswithoutstories
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@characterswithoutstories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/characterswithoutstories
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/characterswithoutstories.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/characterswithoutstories

Thanks for listening, and may all your characters find their stories!

Caroline Vahrenkamp brings Jurdgel Sharptooth to the table. Jurdgel is a goblin customs official who would like nothing more than staying home with a cup of tea and a romance novel.

Caroline and I discuss the challenge of voicing a male character as a trans woman, discovering something about yourself playing TTRPGs, and what neutrality means.

This character is built for D&D5e.

Caroline Vahrenkamp is a suburban parent of two who does silly D&D character voices on TikTok from time to time. Caroline’s podcast, Wonders of the World, is about all of the amazing places on Earth and the cultures that created them.

Learn more about Caroline at:
https://www.characterswithoutstories.com/guests/caroline-vahrenkamp

Send us Fan Mail

Cover art by The Curiographer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecuriographer

Sign up for my Newsletter to stay up-to-date on the podcast:
https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/760760/109867356957705889/share

Support the Podcast

You can find Star at:
Website: http://www.characterswithoutstories.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starmamac
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@characterswithoutstories
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@characterswithoutstories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/characterswithoutstories
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/characterswithoutstories.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/characterswithoutstories

Thanks for listening, and may all your characters find their stories!