Episodic Adventures: TTRPG Module Reviews

Beware, ye who enter “The Crack’d and Crook’d Manse”! In this spooky seasonal episode, Jordy, Lisa and Sean investigate a classic module republished in Call of Cthulhu 7th Editition’s Mansions of Madness, Vol 1. We discuss the murder house trope, copious red herrings, mysterious letters, and whether the players should know the name of their fears.

Note: Chaosium recently made the decision to change the original name of Shub-Gorath. You can read more about the update here.

CW: sanity, harm to animals

Mark Morrison’s Blog where he describes the creation of this module 

“The Crack’d and Crook’d Manse” is written by Mark Morrison and published by Chaosium as part of Mansions of Madness, Vol 1.

Call of Chthulhu 7th Edition is published by Chaosium.

Intro excerpt from “The Crack’d and Crook’d Manse”.

Theme music credited to Zane Little.

New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventures

Have gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

This week, Jordy and Lisa are all about the money. We discuss Jordy’s foray into quantum quest-writing, crowdfunding (and Kickstarter fatigue), and personal hobby economics. 

Note: Academia Arcana is available for pre-order! 

As a supplement to this convo, Bright Bard Games recently blogged about their successful experience vending at GenCon with a group of other indie publishers–it’s a worthwhile read for small games creators and the people looking to see them thrive.

CW: finances 

Pax Deorum 

Plus One Exp GenCon sales recap 

Patchwork Paladin Kickstarter whales 

Theme music credited to Zane Little.

New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventures

Have gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

Kneel before us, mortals, as Sean, Jordy and Lisa chase immortality in Lichdom, a solo roleplaying game about sorcerers reaching for eternal life. We discuss inciting events, pesky interlopers, the highs and lows of probability, mastering your own game, and playing with fate.

Note: A limited print rerun of Lichdom: Immortal Edition is Kickstarting soon, for ye nefarious mages.

CW: undeath, suicide

Lichdom is written by Adrian Lopez Sanjuan and published by Feral Wizard.

Intro excerpt from Lichdom.

Theme music credited to Zane Little.

New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventures

Have gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

For this doubly special episode, Lisa and Sean convene with special guest Mel the GM to review our first-ever system agnostic adventure: Broken Heart of the Castle! We discuss beastly curses, burying your gays, a hair-trigger confrontation, and, inexplicably, another duck.

Note: “Sleeping Heart of the Garden” is Cloud Curio’s woodsy system neutral entry

CW: “Bury your gays” trope

“Broken Heart of the Castle” is written by SC Ormond and published by Cloud Curio.

You can find Mel at @MeltheGM on Instagram!

Intro excerpt adapted from “Broken Heart of the Castle.”

Theme music credited to Zane Little.

New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventures

Have gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

Welcome back to another Sidebar with Lisa and Sean! This week, we discuss our gaming family tree and how our roots spread.

Theme music credited to Zane Little.

New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventures

Have gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

This week, Sean, Jordy, and Lisa descend into a downright Jaquaysian tangle of tunnels in search of the “Dark Tower,” a fantasy game aid for AD&D. We discuss the joy, humor, and mischief of Jaquays’ design, leading with artifacts, the horrible hall of the silent ball, and a super-secret hidden (main) boss, plus the hosts share their hot slash fic of the dungeon denizens.

“Dark Tower” is written by Jennell Jaquays and originally published by Judges Guild in 1980. It was restored and re-released by Goodman Games in 2024.

Theme music credited to Zane Little.

New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventures

Have gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

Grab a blade from the pile and join Jordy, Lisa, and Sean in arms with Temple of 1000 Swords, an adventure module for Old-School Essentials. We discuss rusty swords, random swords and secret swords, the maternal instincts of cannibalistic duck-men, and playing god (of swords).

CW: body horror

“Temple of 1000 Swords” is written and published by Brad Kerr.

Old-School Essentials is designed by Gavin Norman and published by Necrotic Gnome.

Theme music credited to Zane Little.

New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventures

Have gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

Join Jordy and Sean, Masters of Shadow and… Daggers, as they bring you another Sidebar! We discuss Origins Game Fair, Free RPG day, metacurrency in Daggerheart and Draw Steel, Shadowdark and donating blood (O Bros for life).

Note: Legends in the Mist won multiple 2026 ENNIE categories, including Best Game (silver). The DCC Free RPG Day offering this year was Pretenders to the Rat King’s Throne.

American Red Cross

First Aid Comics

Free RPG Day

Wires in the Woods - solo and duet RPG

Theme music credited to Zane Little.

New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventures

Have gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

Ahoy! Join Sean, Jordy, and Lisa for another nautical escapade in “The Temple of Endless Sea,” a Dragonbane adventure location from Arkand – City of Waves and Flame. We discuss water cult anthropology, a rowdy cityscape, trying not to drown, and swan men of mystery.

CW: Cults, demons, drowning, self-harm (drowning), thalassophobia

Arkand – City of Waves and Flame and Dragonbane are published by Free League Publishing.

Theme music credited to Zane Little.

New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventures

Have gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected]

Weekend bonus episode Surprise Round! In this con special, Sean follows up with three of the wizards of Wizard Staffing Co., a cohort of tabletop roleplaying game enthusiasts and event runners, to discuss their time at Gen Con 2026. Mel, Jonah, and Evan discuss games played and ran, con highlights, and lessons learned.

Note: A database of the ENTIRE, LIFETIME catalogue of Gen Con events is available through the Best 50 Years in Gaming! Enjoy, fellow lookie-loos!

Wizard Staffing Co.

Mel’s IG: @MeltheGM

Jonah’s links 

Evan’s links

Evan’s IG: @lecture.stone and @linguaarcanattrpg

Theme music credited to Zane Little.

New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventures

Have gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].