Welcome back to the Heart of the Dominion and season 2 of my Ironsworn: Sundered Isles series. 

Having fled the horrible ambush on the sky island, Cassidy gets back to the Revenant just as several ships close in on the sky island for their own chance to reap the rare sky iron resources - known in the Dominion as oléthrios iron. She musters the crew and sails boldly back through the ships and meets back up with Quon to plan out the jailbreak of Damaris Iver, an Ebb Investigator currently being held in Deepwater Harbor's impenetrable dungeons...

Learn more about Ironsworn here.

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I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)

Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:

LinkTree |  BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark

Rene's Games:

MECH | One Last Quest

email: [email protected]

Music in the Episode (in order of appearance):

Vault of Terror by TabletopAudio.com

Ship of the Line by TabletopAudio.com

High Seas Pursuit by TabletopAudio.com

Trireme by TabletopAudio.com

Dark City by TabletopAudio.com

Dull Braam (D) by Monument Studios

Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands

Welcome back to Mining Media where we turn your binging into better TTRPG experiences by missing my chance to say the right thing, then botching the chance I got to redeem myself, then thinking it's all hopeless until the stars align and we're standing across from one another in the first place we ever met... We're talking Romance!

 Continuing our February Valentine's theme through to Mining Media, let's talk about the oft-ill-handled but ever so tempting and promising idea of romantic plots in your tabletop RPGs. 

I watched a lot of rom-coms and referenced a fair amount of my RPG collection for helpful language and sections of books talking about handling romance responsibly, safely, and carefully, and here's my take-home points for romance at the table:

Games Referenced: 

Homework: Think about your character and what type of person might draw their romantic side out. How would their behavior change? How would that affect their goals, existing relationships, and more?

Now go put on a rom-com or grab your favorite romance novel and tell me what kind of plot-line your character would want to explore!

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I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)

Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:

LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky | Threads | DMs After Dark

email: [email protected]

Music in the Episode:

From Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/needmospace/afternoon-nap 

Welcome back to the Heart of the Dominion and season 2 of my Ironsworn: Sundered Isles series. 

After a brief conversation with Quon, the clockwork contact for the Ebb, about freeing an important prisoner in Deepwater Harbor's dungeons, Cassidy rushes to fulfill her iron vow to Church of the Enduring Servant's Inquisitor Azriel Stirling to protect the crew of the Enduring Blade as they claim it for resources. However, when the Revenant arrives before any others, Cassidy investigates the sky island and experiences a horrible prophecy in the mists... One that quickly comes true as the Bloodsworn descend on the sky island.

Learn more about Ironsworn here.

----more----

If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.

I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)

Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:

LinkTree |  BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark

MECH | One Last Quest

email: [email protected]

Music in the Episode (in order of appearance):

Mother of Deceit Reprise by Monument Studios

Wherever the Path May Lead by Vindsvept

Solemn Vow by TabletopAudio.com

Voyage Begins by TabletopAudio.com

A World Divided by Vindsvept

Skull Island by TabletopAudio.com

Terror in the Woods by TabletopAudio.

Forsaken by Vindsvept

Happy Heart Day! As a bonus episode for the month of February (and because we love a good reason to do a holiday themed session), I've brought my wife Lynn back for a Valentine's Day one-shot. Last year was the not-so-romantic Call of Cthulhu scenario, but this year we're really leaning into the theme with...

Star Crossed by Alex Roberts! A game about two characters with a forbidden love, who really really want to, but really really can't!

We decide to keep the TTRPG vibes strong and go with a love story about two adventurers in the same party on a long, arduous quest. Would their love bring about the ruin of their mission, or are they just holding themselves back? Hope you enjoy!

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If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.

I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)

Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:

LinkTree |  BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark

MECH | One Last Quest

email: [email protected]

Music in the Episode:

Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands

Welcome back to the Heart of the Dominion and season 2 of my Ironsworn: Sundered Isles series. 

In this episode, Cassidy negotiates with Azriel - an Inquisitor of the Church of the Enduring Servants and the resurrected brother of her ghost lover Leigh Stirling. After swearing an iron vow to protect the Enduring Blade in the upcoming race to the sky isle, she then reflects on the vow made in blood to her ship, The Revenant, and travels to the city of Crania on the largest island of Kyros, home of the Kyrody Dominion, to meet with her clockwork contact for the Ebb, who has an urgent, unexpected question...

Learn more about Ironsworn here.

----more----

If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.

I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)

Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:

LinkTree |  BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark

MECH | One Last Quest

email: [email protected]

Music in the Episode:

Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands

The Drowned Tower by TabletopAudio.com

Interrogation Room by TabletopAudio.com

Foreshadow by Monument Studios

Puzzle Dungeon by TabletopAudio.com

Haven by TabletopAudio.com

Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss what they love about this wonderful hobby!

This month's episode is dropping on the first of the month because Tanya Floaker's newest game Mum Chums is now crowdfunding on Kickstarter! Tanya is a game designer, writer, and consultant out of Edinburgh, Scotland and they are someone I've always enjoyed hearing their WEALTH of knowledge about roleplaying games all over the internet.

During this interview we talk about what made Tanya want to make a slice of life game about the people who care for young children, and how those relationships between parents, carers, friends, and kids all intersect, how people grapple their daily burdens in the routine of it all, and more. We also talk a lot about roleplaying game theory and how terms have changed over time, making these experiences better, a trend which will hopefully continue!

You can find more of Tanya's games on their Itch.io page

Here are some of the games & TTRPG things brought up in the episode:

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If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.

I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)

Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:

LinkTree |  BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark

MECH | One Last Quest

email: [email protected]

Music in the Episode:

Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands

A new series?! I hope so! I'd love to make this concept for a monthly episode happen, so if you have a game that you're itching to play but have no one to play it with, please email me at [email protected] !

For the very first Tabletop Tutorial I'm joined by Dan Bronson-Lowe of Almost Bedtime Theater, a podcast of a father and daughter (and her cousin) who learn and play TTRPGs together. You may also know Dan as the creator of the Crit Award winning solo TTRPG The Librarian's Apprentice or his other games you can find on his itch.io page.

We sit down to play i'm sorry did you say street magic? by Caro Asercion, which is an incredible city-building game derived from games like Microscope by Ben Robbins.

By the end, we build a pretty awesome little city built around a strange natural incursion into an infinite library as part of Dan's upcoming Song of the Scryptwyrm Backerkit campaign for Pocketopia! So if you like what you hear, go sign up to be notified when it goes live and get a copy so you can play in this endless library!

----more----

If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.

I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)

Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:

LinkTree |  BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark

MECH | One Last Quest

email: [email protected]

Music in the Episode:

Evenfall by Vindsvept

Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands

Aaaaand it's officially begun! Ironsworn: Sundered Isles season 2 is underway with the first episode of this series. Cassidy makes her way to the Talan Flotilla, a neutral collection of traders dealing in vice and smuggling in Kyrody waters, to track down the captain of the Enduring Blade, who may or may not have valuable information toward achieving her goal of ridding herself of her ex-lover's ghost haunting her.

Learn more about Ironsworn here.

----more----

If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.

I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)

Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:

LinkTree |  BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark

MECH | One Last Quest

email: [email protected]

Music in the Episode:

Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands

Trireme by TabletopAudio.com

Ship of the Line by TabletopAudio.com

Noir Procedural by TabletopAudio.com

Interrogation Room by TabletopAudio.com

Skull Island by TabletopAudio.com

Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss what they love about this wonderful hobby!

This month's episode is a late upload from last year, but it fits perfectly well to kick off 2025 - we're talking about getting into TTRPGs with Amber & Jess from DMs After Dark, my original RPGs on the internet homies! We talk about how to approach playing as a new player, where to find games, how to best communicate and find a good group, as well as tips for new GMs to avoid common early pitfalls.

Go check out the EXTENSIVE backlog of great RPG actual plays on the DMs After Dark channel (podcast & YouTube)! 

TTRPG Charity Event for Doctors Without Borders!

Please please please check out friend of the podcast Star from Characters Without Stories and her friends' charity event going on all through January over at: https://tinyurl.com/TabletopTitan . You can donate however you'd like, but you can also redeem great things with your donation like TTRPGs, a seat at professionally GM'd tables, and more! It's a great cause, so consider going and donating. If you do, send me proof and I'll send you a free copy of MECH or some stickers or something!

----more----

If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.

I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)

Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:

LinkTree |  BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark

MECH | One Last Quest

email: [email protected]

Music in the Episode:

Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands

We're back for season 2 of Ironsworn: Sundered Isles and this time the story will be taking place shortly after the conclusion of Dyne's story from last year in a very different location - The Heart of the Kyrody Dominion itself!

Rene goes through the campaign creation steps to adjust some of the Truths from season 1 to reflect for the new part of the world this story takes place in, creates his character for the game - Cassidy McCabe, a Haunted Cutthroat Spy - and makes a map of the Myriads we'll be exploring in this season!

TTRPG Charity Event for Doctors Without Borders!

Please please please check out friend of the podcast Star from Characters Without Stories and her friends' charity event going on all through January over at: https://tinyurl.com/TabletopTitan . You can donate however you'd like, but you can also redeem great things with your donation like TTRPGs, a seat at professionally GM'd tables, and more! It's a great cause, so consider going and donating. If you do, send me proof and I'll send you a free copy of MECH or some stickers or something!

----more----

If you haven't but you'd like to, get yourself some stickers or give me some feedback by filling out my poll here.

I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)

Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:

LinkTree |  BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark

MECH | 

email: [email protected]

Music in the Episode:

Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands

Downtime Acoustics by Monument Studios

Trireme by TabletopAudio.com

Pirates by TabletopAudio.com

Map Chamber by TabletopAudio.com

Windswept Realms, Volume III by Vindsvept