The RPGBOT crew descends into the haunted hollers of Appalachia, where faith, fire, and coal run deep, and the locals don't much care for outsiders asking questions. Between GM intrusions, cursed deer, and whiskey-soaked theology, our heroes quickly learn that in Old Gods of Appalachia, salvation's a dangerous business. Welcome to the mines, y'all. Hope you brought your holy water and your lucky charm.

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Show Notes

In this replay of our livestream episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the crew journeys into Old Gods of Appalachia, a horror RPG built on the Cypher System. Recorded live for the MD Anderson Cancer Research Fundraiser, the team brings their trademark humor and chaos to the eerie mountains of Kentucky. Expect supernatural horror, Southern Gothic storytelling, cursed mine towns, and a few honest-to-God GM intrusions.

As the crew's characters, Jessie Miller, a trouble-magnet moonshiner, and Isaiah Wells, a displaced New York reporter, arrive in Williams Holler, they uncover something foul beneath the coal seams. Between sermons about salvation through suffering and sightings of "not-deer" with too many eyes, it's clear that this isn't your average Sunday service.

Listeners will find a mix of roleplaying tension, Appalachian folklore, and dark humor, all wrapped in a heartfelt cause to support cancer research.

Topics Covered

• Old Gods of Appalachia system overview and horror setting
• Cypher System gameplay mechanics (effort, intrusions, and ciphers)
• Character introductions and backstories
• Southern Gothic and coal-mine horror themes
• Roleplaying moral tension and faith under pressure
• Fundraising for MD Anderson Cancer Research
• Audience interactions and GM intrusions via donations
• Appalachian folklore: the Not-Deer, the Hollow Men, and haunted mines

Key Takeaways

• Atmosphere is everything. The crew's immersion into the eerie tone of Old Gods of Appalachia shows how sound design, music, and folklore blend into deeply effective storytelling.
• Charity gaming builds community. The live donation incentives—GM intrusions, player healing, and ciphers—added chaos, laughter, and heart to the stream while raising funds for a real-world cause.
• Cypher System flexibility. Even first-time players picked up the mechanics quickly, demonstrating how adaptable the system is for horror, mystery, and narrative-driven play.
• Character depth drives horror. Jessie's criminal past and Isaiah's skepticism ground the supernatural elements in human struggle—faith, guilt, and survival.
• The Appalachian setting matters. The language, faith, and labor politics of Williams Holler reflect both real history and mythic dread, making the horror feel lived-in and authentic.
• GM intrusions enhance storytelling. Audience-triggered twists, like the arrival of malformed deer and the burning man apparition, show how unpredictability heightens tension.
• Humor and horror coexist. Even in a grim setting, the RPGBOT team's banter—about whiskey, bootleggers, and bad theology—keeps the experience fun and distinctively RPGBOT.

Shout Out to the Old Gods and Monte Cook Games!

We want to give a heartfelt thank-you to the incredible minds behind Old Gods of Appalachia — Steve Shell, Cam Collins, and the team at DeepNerd Media — for creating one of the most haunting, beautiful, and uniquely American horror settings ever put to microphone or tabletop. The Old Gods audio drama set a new standard for Appalachian Gothic storytelling, blending folklore, cosmic dread, and working-class tragedy into something that feels both timeless and terrifying.

Their partnership with Monte Cook Games brought that same dark magic to the tabletop in the Old Gods of Appalachia Roleplaying Game, built on the Cypher System. If you love rich narrative horror, player-driven mystery, and a world where coal dust hides cosmic evil, this game belongs on your shelf.

Listen to the original Old Gods of Appalachia podcast wherever you get your audio dramas, and pick up the RPG from Monte Cook Games. Support the creators who gave us this masterpiece — and remember: somewhere deep in the holler, the dark is listening.

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Meet the Hosts

• Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix.

• Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme.

• Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy.

Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos.

How to Find Us:

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Tyler Kamstra

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Ash Ely

• Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
• BlueSky: @GravenAshes
• YouTube: @ashravenmedia

Randall James

• BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG
• Amateurjack.com
• Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link)

Producer Dan

• @Lzr_illuminati