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XP Is XP:  The Many Faces of Role-Playing 

Arcadia, Malcolm, and Jess are in the studio this week while Tori is off gaming at her other table—because let’s be honest, every table needs their rogue.

This episode dives into a conversation that’s close to many gamers’ hearts: video games versus tabletop RPGs. The crew explores what makes each experience unique, starting with one of the biggest differences—the human element. Around a physical table, you can see your friends laugh, react, and connect. Video games, on the other hand, sometimes take that face-to-face energy away… but they bring their own kind of magic.

Jess admits she’s our resident video gamer, while Arcadia and Malcolm explore how both kinds of gaming can serve different needs. Whether it’s stress relief, immersion in another world, or just a healthy bit of dissociation, digital games offer plenty of benefits. And yet, as we’ve discussed in past episodes, TTRPGs offer something deeply personal: connection, creativity, and those small rituals that make every session feel special (snacks included).

The group also talks about safety in online anonymity—how it can let you try on different versions of yourself or make choices you might hesitate to make in person. But there’s also something to be said for the freedom of the tabletop sandbox, where imagination sets the limits and the dice decide the rest.

In the end, both experiences can offer community, catharsis, and that little serotonin hit we all chase. So why not both?

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How Local Game Shops Became the Heart of Our Hobby 

This week, Malcolm, Arcadia, and Jess dive into a topic close to every gamer’s heart — local game shops! These hometown heroes are the backbone of every local gaming scene.

Back in the day, hobby shops weren’t solely focused on gaming. Model kits and crafting supplies dominated the shelves, while games were often tucked into a small corner with maybe one lonely bookshelf of rulebooks. Jess’s introduction to local game stores came a little later, when they had grown into more well-rounded spaces — places where you could find everything from dice and minis to the latest adventures and accessories.

Game stores have always been essential hubs for discovering new games, meeting fellow players, and finding your community. Over time, they’ve evolved from simple retail spaces into true gathering places — where you can learn, play, and connect with like-minded folks.

While many shops faded for a while due to the rise of digital content, the past decade has brought a renaissance of local gaming. Where once there were only one or two stores in a city, now there might be eight or ten thriving spaces! This resurgence reflects the growing appreciation for in-person play, community, and shared storytelling.

Games have never been just for kids — they’ve always been for anyone ready to imagine, laugh, and roll the dice together.

Welcome to the table, friends — there’s room for all!

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Welcome back to the table! Malcolm sits down with Rachel Vosgrove and Wesley Magee-Saxton, the founders of Forge Ahead: A Party to Access, to discuss their mission to make gaming more inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities.

Rachel and Wesley share how their organization works to remove barriers—both physical and social—that can make it difficult for people with disabilities to fully participate in tabletop gaming. From ensuring that gaming spaces, tables, and tools are physically accessible to encouraging authentic representation in game worlds and materials, Forge Ahead is leading the charge toward a more inclusive community.

The conversation explores the importance of visibility, accurate representation, and allyship within the gaming community. As more players see the benefits that people with disabilities bring to the table, it opens minds, strengthens communities, and creates richer storytelling experiences for everyone.

Malcolm, Rachel, and Wesley also discuss how allies can help support and include friends with disabilities in meaningful, positive ways both at and away from the gaming table.

Our Sources:
Forge Ahead: A Party to Access Website

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Supporting Veterans, One Game at a Time

Welcome back to the table! Malcolm and Tori sit down with Jason Cottom, founder of Dungeons & Dogtags, to talk about the power of tabletop role-playing games to bring people together and support those who’ve served.

Jason shares the inspiration behind his organization and how it creates safe, welcoming spaces for veterans and active-duty personnel to connect, heal, and grow through storytelling and community. Their conversation explores the therapeutic benefits of gaming, the unique challenges veterans face, and the lasting impact of having a seat at the table.

Jason also discusses how others can get involved—whether by volunteering, supporting the mission, or simply helping spread the word.

Our Sources:

• Dungeons & Dogtags Website
•  Dungeons & Dogtags Facebook

Music Credit:

Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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Radiance and Random Inspiration: Building Atoria With Oddfish Games 

Welcome back to the table! In this episode, the FA gang dives into Oddfish Games’ Adventure Engine to help flesh out a mysterious corner of Atoria. This was our first time using the system, and honestly? We had a blast.

We put the Radiance deck through its paces to give some backstory to a blank spot on our homebrew map—and ended up with way more ideas than we expected. These cards are an awesome way to spark creativity and throw in twists you might never have come up with on your own. Whether you’re building out a campaign world or just looking to add some flavor to your next session, Radiance is a great tool for storytellers and GMs alike.

The best part? You can even use it for solo RPG play, which opens up a whole new way to tell stories. Along the way, Arcadia and Jess have a full-on anime nerd moment (no regrets), and the crew talks about how randomness can turn into real magic when it comes to storytelling.

Massive shoutout to our friends at Oddfish Games and The Epic Adventure Podcast—you continue to be an inspiration and a delight.

Links:

•  Oddfish Games
•  The Epic Adventure Podcast
•  Radiance by Oddfish Games

Music Credit:
Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi — licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

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Another Epic Interview With OddFish Games

This week, we had the pleasure of interviewing Christina Stiso, one of the hosts of The Epic Adventure Podcast!

Christina is a game designer, GM, gamer, PhD student, and Creative Designer at Oddfish Games. She’s also a passionate advocate for inclusivity in gaming and serves as the Outreach Director for Tabletop Gaymers — the folks who hand out those iconic ribbons at conventions, helping create safe and welcoming spaces for everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Beyond the table, Christina explores how TTRPGs can be used as powerful educational tools. As a teacher herself, she brings games into the classroom to inspire creativity and engagement — even using Radiance to spark short stories and fuel her students’ imaginations.

We’re so grateful to Christina for joining us and sharing her insights. We can’t wait to see what she creates next!

Music Credit:
Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi — licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

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Are You Ready for an Epic Interview?
After months of emails and coordination, we’re thrilled to feature our very first interview: Steve Kellams, host of The Epic Adventure Podcast. Together, we dive into our shared passions for TTRPGs and the power of podcasting as a medium.

Steve shares how his background in law enforcement and early strategy war games led him to the table. Combining a love of games and storytelling, he has been informing and entertaining listeners alongside Mike and Christina on Epic Adventure for three seasons. As a game runner, player, and designer, Steve keeps his finger on the pulse of the hobby, describing this era as nothing short of its Golden Age.

We love highlighting members of our community who uplift, support, and encourage rather than gatekeep, and Steve embodies that spirit.

While he’s keeping his cards close to the chest about what we might see from Oddfish Games at Gen Con 2026, we’re deeply grateful to him for making the time to join us. We can’t recommend Epic Adventure Podcast or Oddfish’s game products highly enough!

Music Credit:
Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi — licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

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The 8 Types of TTRPG Players (And Their Strengths and Pitfalls)

Welcome back to the table—this week, the whole party’s here! Tori took us down a delightful rabbit hole into the world of player archetypes that pop up at so many TTRPG tables.

Which one sounds like you (or your friends)?

• Storytellers
• Explorers
• Tacticians
• Actors
• Slayers
• Jokers
• Guardians
• Collectors

Most players lean into one archetype but dip into others over the course of a campaign. Each type comes with its own strengths and its own pitfalls—for both the players and the GM. And when your table has a mix of them all, keeping everyone feeling relevant can be its own challenge.

So take a moment to appreciate your GMs—they juggle a lot, and they deserve every bit of love.

Extra thanks to our friends over at Epic Adventure Podcast for their support!

Music Credit:
Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi — licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

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Community News, London Pub Scenes, and Player Archetypes Unpacked

Welcome back to the table! Malcolm kicks things off with some stories circulating in the TTRPG community. Tori, Jess, and Arcadia dive into topics making the news, including recent moves from Paizo and Glass Cannon Unplugged. The group also takes a closer look at London’s TTRPG pub scene—how it fills a niche for both gamers and pub owners alike.

After the break, Tori digs into different playstyles at the table. We explore how players approach games based on their builds, experiences, and preferences. Blended styles (and some truly terrible acronyms) get their moment, too, as we talk through the games and GM approaches that represent distinct styles of play.

Music Credit:
Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi — licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

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Exploring Love, Fandom, and TTRPGs

Welcome back to the table! Finding Atoria Studios is packed today for a lively discussion on the rise of Romantasy TTRPGs and their growing presence in the gaming market. Have these elements always been hidden in the gems of our roleplaying games—or is there something different about the current moment?

We dive into the stats and mechanics that help romance flourish in games and settings, while also exploring the origins of this wave of RPG-curious readers and the literary inspirations behind it. With blockbuster titles like Fourth Wing drawing attention, many creators are seizing the opportunity to build at the intersection of fandoms.

The community, too, is carving out space for more adult, niche, and experimental settings, with tables embracing narrative-driven gameplay in record numbers. Join Tori, Jess, Malcolm, and Arcadia as we unpack how Romantasy is reshaping both systems and stories in the TTRPG world.

Music Credit:
Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi — licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

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Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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