We like 'em cold, we like 'em hot. It's time for this week’s Action Surge!

This week we talk about bad luck, poor rolls, and everyone’s note-taking abilities. Nobody will be surprised to learn that some people are better at this than others. Welcome to the Alex Jordan mind palace.

We think everyone agrees that the Temple of the Once Wild was a pretty special place. We talk about Magnus, Harry’s inspiration behind him, and let’s be honest, we all agree that Magnus and Lovak would have got into a lot of trouble in the past. Good trouble. Well, bad good trouble. You know what we mean.

From there, we turn our attention to letters, language, and Theolon, a god of two halves. Those letters might not be as unknown as they once were, and if you need a reminder of what they said, you can find them, and so much more, over on our Fandom. Don't forget to check it out!

Harry talks about the challenges of balancing multiple character stories and arcs, and how he switches between them. Ben shares some insight into how he is playing Raidion right now, including the mashing and merging of character sheets.

Finally, we look ahead to Harry’s next big action sequence, the upcoming boat race, and why action at the table does not always have to mean fighting and battles.

Is this our Podracing moment?!

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Sometimes a spark is all you need. A twinkle in a tavern window, a reminder that even in a world where the shadows threaten to flood, light can still be found. And when talk turns to chance, it becomes easy to wonder what might happen if you are willing to take the risk. Even if you only have a 10% chance of succeeding, sometimes it is more about the adventure you have along the way.

Yet certainty can still feel fragile. A weight too heavy, whispers too sharp, and a hand that refuses to loosen its grip no matter the ask. Strength can feel simple until it is questioned, and harder still when you cannot tell who you need to defend it from.

When the time comes, the world might demand a choice. And when life sets two paths in front of you, it can feel like a race to the top. In those moments when you are searching for joy, it’s a test of whether you have the strength to climb and the ability to hold on. And while the ride might be bumpy, the corners sharp, and sometimes even a little greasy underfoot, when you make it to the finish line, a little extra movement can go a long way.

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Join us for the second part of our adventure with Drakonym, a brand-new TTRPG coming soon from the team at ⁨Crossed Paths

With Ruby Rebellion sashes in hand, the race is on. Not soldiers, not quite, but to move forward they must prove themselves, not through loyalty or words, but action.

Competition has a way of sharpening things. Old rivalries resurface, tempers fray, and the line between friendly challenge and something more dangerous begins to blur. Out here, nothing stays simple for long.

Yet the road does not belong only to conflict. There are moments of quiet, and of shared wonder. Under moonlight, dragons reflect something ancient and hopeful, reminding them what this fight might be for. Those you want to protect. Those who stand beside you. The answers you seek.

Sometimes, the future doesn’t arrive with a roar, but with the sound of something beginning to break free.

Want to know more? Get ready for Drakonym, keep up with all the details, and pre-order your copy now:

https://drakonym-a-dragonbonding-fantasy-ttrpg.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders/

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This might genuinely be some of the dumbest nonsense we have ever done. An avalanche, but backwards, improvised on the spot. Sure. Why not.

We start this week’s Action Surge with a quick visit to the media pen, because it is all about those important post-race interviews. Eyes firmly on the prize as we reflect on what was, honestly, an incredibly fitting conclusion for a horrible, misshapen horse.

This episode took a turn that absolutely nobody was ready for, but was it fun? Absolutely. Raidion walks away with some extra movement, and Aoife takes the opportunity to complain about her lack of cool stuff. Naturally, we also take this moment to remind her that she actually has plenty of cool stuff already. Reality is, we are not especially objective-driven, and we are not particularly loot-driven either, which says a lot about Harry as a DM.

We talk about NPCs and the way they can act as a conduit for conversations that players need to have, but cannot always have directly with each other. They allow space for humour and lightness, but also for more serious moments when they are needed.

We also dig further into that sword, what might have happened if the party had tried to take it, and how the group might start piecing together what it all means. Kelnys, in particular, seems very invested in figuring it out.

We talk about accents and how Harry uses them to subtly guide us as players and characters in certain directions. Yes, there is absolutely something about posh accents that gets a rise out of us, and we spend some time unpacking the impressions they can give.

And now, we are back in the big city, and it is time to start exploring.

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Sometimes a spark is all you need. A twinkle in a tavern window, a reminder that even in a world where the shadows threaten to flood, light can still be found. And when talk turns to chance, it becomes easy to wonder what might happen if you are willing to take the risk. Even if you only have a 10% chance of succeeding, sometimes it is more about the adventure you have along the way.

Yet certainty can still feel fragile. A weight too heavy, whispers too sharp, and a hand that refuses to loosen its grip no matter the ask. Strength can feel simple until it is questioned, and harder still when you cannot tell who you need to defend it from.

When the time comes, the world might demand a choice. And when life sets two paths in front of you, it can feel like a race to the top. In those moments when you are searching for joy, it’s a test of whether you have the strength to climb and the ability to hold on. And while the ride might be bumpy, the corners sharp, and sometimes even a little greasy underfoot, when you make it to the finish line, a little extra movement can go a long way.

Natural Six are Harry McEntire, Doug Cockle, Ben Starr, Hollie Bennett, Alex Jordan, and Aoife Wilson.

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Join Natural Six for a special two-shot adventure with Drakonym, a brand-new TTRPG coming soon from the team at Crossed Paths

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With rebellion spreading across the land, conscription is underway. One by one, hopefuls, outcasts, and stragglers are pulled towards recruitment, each chasing something different: answers, honour, redemption, or simply a way forward. And when you’re the last to arrive, and the last to rise, you may find yourself bound more by circumstance than certainty.

Before war or glory, though, there’s food. Or at least the promise of it. From questionable rations to extremely specific tastes, it doesn’t take long to learn that a rebellion camp isn’t so different from any other school. Cliques form fast, tensions simmer, and even here, playground bullies still exist.

Yet no amount of hunger or hostility can dull the moment between a dragon and its ward. Young or old, stubborn or curious, the bond is unbreakable. It isn’t about power, but companionship, or at least the promise of it.

And sometimes, that’s all you need to begin.

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This Christmas, we are taking a little break from Reliquiae and heading somewhere far more festive!

Welcome to Santa’s workshop, where the party is over, the mess is real, and our characters are very much on clean-up duty. Alex takes the reins for a festive one-shot where our elves (well, technically gnomes, but you get the idea) are paying the price and dealing with more than just the mess from the office Christmas party. Because when danger threatens the peace, someone has to step up and protect the Christmas spirit!

Dice will roll, chaos will ensue, and yes, it is exactly as silly as it sounds.

EGGNOG! 

Natural Six are Harry McEntire, Doug Cockle, Ben Starr, Hollie Bennett, Alex Jordan, and Aoife Wilson.

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An interesting episode of Action Surge this week. Mark at Crafted Campaigns made pretty much everyone hot, and once we recovered from the bi-panic he managed to induce, we had plenty to discuss.

We start by talking about how this might not have been a deadly encounter, but that did not mean we could afford to take too many hits. And this time, I (the character, not the me) did not shrink away! We are still not sure if it was Alex or I, but someone woke up feeling ready for a fight, and ready to break the old hide-shoot-hide-shoot rhythm of a classic rogue.

We also had minis. Yes, we know some people have been itching for action, and in this episode, we had more incredible minis from Mark at Crafted Campaigns. Harry also talks about the limits of his improv, which incidentally seems to be playing someone universally agreed to be incredibly fit. Also, he was apparently going to leave a note in someone’s bag. Do not be a coward, Harry.

We discuss Spare the Dying and how that might have saved Torrian. We also talk about how Harry previously establishing death saves for certain characters might have helped him live to see another day. Either way, if we are trying to keep Elowen from spiralling, then killing her family is not exactly helpful. After all, who does she fight for if not her family? We also break down more information about her brothers and Elowen’s relationship with each of them.

Look, rules are hard, and the application of rules is even harder. We love trying new things at the table, but sometimes, no matter how many times you read something, it is not until you try to use it that you realise how tricky it can be. Lucky for us, all of that is captured on camera. Are we flawless? Absolutely not. But we’re learning as we go, and not being scared to share it is part of our journey too. We will try again next time.

We also talk about supporting each other and supporting our characters. How the DM chooses to pass that information along, how exciting it is to arrive in a new city, and what we might expect when we get there.

Winter sports in Reliquiae? Yes, we discuss those too.

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Strength may hold you steady, but in the chaos of battle, when fear takes hold, even the surest hands can falter, and what once felt like control can begin to slip away.

When reality feels like a nightmare, and dreams feel like the truth, trust begins to fracture beneath the weight of doubt, and when everything you love might slip away, whispers of power can be too sweet to resist. But between the safety of home and the road that still calls, sometimes strength isn’t found in the swing of a weapon, but in the act of letting go.

Yet among it all, when armour can be traded for something far less guarded, there are still glimmers of what makes the fight worth enduring: a spark of laughter, a flush of colour, and the quiet reminder that charm can disarm just as easily as any blade. And when an impressive display turns every head, even those that hadn’t realised they were looking, it’s easy to forget that not every encounter requires a blade. Some of them might have you wanting to go a bit more slowly before deciding to yield.

Natural Six are Harry McEntire, Doug Cockle, Ben Starr, Hollie Bennett, Alex Jordan, and Aoife Wilson.

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Before we can even begin doing what Action Surge is actually here for, which is reflecting on the previous episode, we somehow open the show with legs above the heart and a sexual intimidation roll-off. Naturally. How else were we meant to concentrate?

We talk about how Harry tried to deliver story, lore, and information to the party without dumping it on the players. Despite the warmth and safety of a good, comfortable inn, Raidion's decision to stay sober for an entire session was a genuine moment of character growth. We also look at the role reversal in this episode. Kel really let his hair down, and we were all delighted.

It has also been a while since we met any of the Grēnweard brothers, so Harry shares a bit more insight into the most bookish of them, Torrian, especially when compared to Eiddon. Realistically, not many people compare to Eiddon. And let us be honest, who among us does not have a crush on Dolly? Plus, it might actually be comforting for Elowen to hear news of her brother after everything she has been through.

Naturally, we also talk about the hotties of Reliquiae so far. From Morgan, to Aska (who can absolutely make us feel special any time), to Medea (everyone has a type, we are not here to judge), and now Lovak. The group might have been a little starved for attention, and we're thrilled to hear that he knows what he's doing.

Then there is the amulet. Raidion might not have been drinking, but he certainly didn't stay out of trouble. We chat about that moment, the beauty of detail-oriented Doug and Kelyn's, and how he loves encouraging little character beats to happen.

Finally, we talk about death at the table and the important role it can play when it is used thoughtfully. Harry has never really hidden that he sometimes regrets not killing a brother or two back at Castle Grēnweard. And we also learn that the song From the Darkness Light does not actually have any lyrics, which is frankly devastating. We simply want to hear Harry sing.

Oh, and the Reliquiae master document? It is currently sitting at 328 pages and still growing.

Also, gag reflexes. For reasons.

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