RPGBOT.Podcast

Ever looked at a monster stat block and thought, "That's cool… but what if it was full of wasp parasites, haunted by Victorian metaphors, and could bend reality like a jaded demigod?" Well buckle in, because Keith Ammann—monster maestro and author of Making Enemies—is back to teach us how to create RPG nightmares smarter than your party's wizard, sneakier than a rogue with reliable talent, and more layered than a Dark Souls boss.

Keith Ammann's books, including The Monsters Know What They're Doing, Live to Tell the Tale, How to Defend Your Lair, and now Making Enemies, are all available through your friendly local game store or online via your favorite bookseller. Find more at themonstersknow.com—and level up every system at your table. Get your own copy of Making Enemies and start building smarter monsters today!

Support local shops first, but if they don't have it in stock? Use the affiliate link in our show notes and help us keep the show going too! Buy it here! (affiliate link)

The Monsters Know author Keith Ammann returns for his third masterclass to discuss his new book, Making Enemies. We explore everything from designing creatures with realistic biological traits, to metaphorical monsters rooted in culture, to how to mess with your most OP players using quirks and weaknesses. Keith breaks down monster creation for five game systems: D&D 5e, Pathfinder 2e, Cypher System, Call of Cthulhu, and Shadowdark—and why your eldritch beast might benefit from wasp logic or a cursed Victorian metaphor.

• Making Enemies (affiliate link)
• Keith Ammann
  • TheMonstersKnow.com
  • Keith's Existing Books
    • The Monsters Know What You're Doing (affiliate link)
    • Live to Tell the Tale (affiliate link)
    • MOAR The Monsters Know What You're Doing (affiliate link)
    • How to Defend Your Lair (affiliate link)
• RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes
  • KEITH AMMANN STRIKES BACK (Remastered)
  • How to Defend Your Lair with Keith Ammann
  • MOAR The Monsters Know What They're Doing with Keith Ammann

• Making Enemies works as both a practical toolkit and a design philosophy for creating smarter, more thematic monsters in tabletop RPGs—across multiple systems from D&D to Cypher.
• Keith talks about using real-world biology and evolution (think wasps, cephalopods, and parasitoids) to create monsters that defy typical humanoid/mammal tropes. It's unsettling... and that's the point.
• Monsters as metaphors: Your horrors can represent societal fears, personal anxieties, or moral dilemmas—but choose stories your table wants to confront and conquer, not retraumatize.
• Phased monsters (like Dark Souls bosses) add tactical and narrative depth—now adapted for multiple RPG systems and not just legendary D&D bosses.
• Weaknesses and Quirks: Make monsters memorable by letting players discover and exploit lore-backed vulnerabilities—not just AC and HP pools.
• Magic in Monster Design: Keith breaks down four ways monsters wield magic—spellcasting, innate magic, psionics, and reality-bending—each with different narrative implications.

You can hear Keith talk more about monster decision-making, smart combat encounters, and defeating TPK machines like a pro in our earlier interviews:

• Masterclass #1 – The Monsters Know What They're Doing

• Masterclass #2 – How to Defend Your Lair

• Bonus – Combat Tactics, Intelligence Checks, and Mastering Boss Fights

Catch up on all Keith episodes at RPGBOT.net/podcast or wherever you get your shows.

Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you.

Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players.

Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings.

Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community.

• 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:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

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

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

• @Lzr_illuminati

It's a day of celebration in the RPGBOT multiverse—because Keith Ammann has just released his new book, Making Enemies! To mark the occasion, we're reopening the vaults and re-releasing one of our all-time favorite episodes: Keith Ammann Strikes Back. Join us as we revisit Keith's tactical genius, his deep-dive into creature combat, and the strategic secrets every GM should have at their fingertips. Listen now to get your mind battle-ready—because we're gearing up for a brand-new masterclass with Keith all about Making Enemies, and trust us… you'll want to be prepared.

If your monsters fight like confused toddlers and your villain's lair has all the security of a roadside inn, you need this episode—Keith Ammann is back on the RPGBOT.Podcast to help you terrorize your players properly!

The RPGBOT.Podcast is back with a new episode, revisiting our masterclasses with Keith Ammann. This time, we're taking a deep dive into MOAR! The Monsters Know What They're Doing and How to Defend Your Lair.

We'll explore monsters that actually use smart tactics, lairs so well-defended they'll make your rogue give up, and strategies that will completely change the way you run combat. If you've ever wondered why your villains keep getting steamrolled, this episode is for you.

Tune in now before your next dungeon fight turns into an existential crisis.

LINKS

• Keith Ammann
• How to Defend Your Lair (affiliate link)
• TheMonstersKnow.com
• Keith's Existing Books
• The Monsters Know What You're Doing (affiliate link)
• MOAR The Monsters Know What You're Doing (affiliate link)
• Live to Tell the Tale (affiliate link)
• RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes
• RPGBOT.News – MOAR The Monsters Know What They're Doing with Keith Ammann
• Other Stuff
• Gamehole Con

If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners.

If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings.

Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ

How to Find Us:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

Tyler Kamstra

• Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET
• Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet
• Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social

Ash Ely

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

Randall James

• @JackAmateur
• Amateurjack.com

Producer Dan

• @Lzr_illuminati

Ever outrun a demon deer with too many teeth, watched a mine explode for reasons you definitely didn't cause, and then discovered a whistle that works like a horror movie pause button? No? Then you haven't listened to Part 3 of the Old Gods of Appalachia charity stream, where the RPGBOT crew learns the hard way that in Williams Holler, even the local wildlife deserves a GM intrusion.

Your donation today could help save someone's tomorrow. The RPGBOT team streamed this series to support the MD Anderson Cancer Research Center, a world leader in cancer treatment, research, and prevention. You can continue that mission right now by visiting https://mdanderson.donordrive.com/participants/9351. Every dollar fights for better treatments and a future free of cancer.

In Part 1, Jessie and Isaiah arrived in Williams Holler and learned two things: the town is (1) deeply superstitious, and (2) definitely full of supernatural creatures. After a chilly sermon and a backyard horror encounter, the party descended into the mine for "community service."

In Part 2, things got darker underground—literally and metaphorically. Armed with lanterns, folk tales, and a little moonshine, the group met Tommyknockers, broke into an ancient part of the mine, found cursed artifacts, and narrowly escaped through collapsing tunnels.

Now, in Part 3, they face what's waiting above ground: hungry not-deer, orchard-bound protections, and a whole new misunderstanding about what they unleashed beneath the mountain. Let's grab our rifles, run uphill, and hope Jam's whistle can save us again.

Recorded live as part of a charity stream benefiting MD Anderson Cancer Research, this episode continues the flight for survival through Old Gods of Appalachia, using the Cypher System. As Jessie, Isaiah, and Jam escape through the woods, they're hunted by not one but two things that are not deer—abominations with antlers, claws, and too many reasons to drag trespassers back into the mountain.

Episode highlights include:

• Clue the dog becoming the true MVP
• A silent whistle that scares off eldritch horrors
• Evidence that the orchard is protected by something older, and possibly hungrier, than anything underground
• Jessie's moment of terror in the creek, reminding us how trauma echoes
• The return of Mr. T and his legendary rifle skills
• Hard questions about why ancient boundaries were broken—and who (or what) wants to mend them

• Environmental horror works best when nothing is safe – Water, dirt, light, and air all become points of tension.
• Player intrusions build cinematic moments – The ability to introduce surprise allies or repel enemies makes scenes feel like horror films.
• Animals matter – Clue the dog's ferocity creates bond and bravery, giving the party both plot and emotional stakes.
• The orchard hints at deeper power – Something about the trees turns horrors away, but no one knows if it's a shield or a cage.
• Group trauma drives the narrative – Jessie's flashback and Isaiah's guilt contextualize the horror on a personal level, not just a cosmic one.
• Mr. T is officially the coolest person in Williams Holler – Long rifles, gold chains, dead-eyed deer standoffs: what more do you want?

Huge thanks once again to Steve Shell, Cam Collins, and the entire DeepNerd Media team for creating Old Gods of Appalachia, and to Monte Cook Games for bringing the series to the table with the Old Gods of Appalachia Roleplaying Game.

To experience this world for yourself:

• Listen to Old Gods of Appalachia wherever you get your podcasts
• Buy the RPG at montecookgames.com/old-gods-of-appalachia-rpg
• Bring some "not a deer" terror into your next campaign

The Old Gods are whispering. Let them in—in your ears, and at your table.

Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you.

Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players.

Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings.

Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community.

• 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:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

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

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

• @Lzr_illuminati

Ever had that moment when you realize your party has been talking to the same "new guy" for weeks... but no one can remember his name? Welcome to the world of the False Hydra, the D&D monster that gaslights your characters harder than a reality TV producer. Join the RPGBOT crew as they peel back the layers of this memory-munching menace and ask the big questions: how did we miss this thing, and is it too late to blame the bard?

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we unravel the mystery of the False Hydra, a terrifying and unforgettable (ironically) monster from the world of Dungeons & Dragons. Known for its eerie ability to manipulate memory and perception, the False Hydra is a favorite among Dungeon Masters looking to inject psychological horror into their campaigns.

The hosts discuss how to introduce the False Hydra into your tabletop RPG campaign, explore the creature's disturbing lore, and offer practical tips for roleplaying terrifying monsters. They share advice on how to design suspenseful encounters, how to pace scenes using the False Hydra's memory-altering abilities, and how to keep your players on their toes without losing them entirely to existential dread.

Whether you're building a mystery-laden campaign or just looking for fresh monsters to terrify your adventurers, this episode is packed with insights on how the False Hydra can reshape your game world, and possibly your players' trust in NPCs forever.

• The False Hydra is a monster that alters player character memories, making it an ideal choice for mystery-themed RPG campaigns.
• It uniquely blends psychological horror with traditional Dungeons & Dragons encounters.
• Roleplaying the False Hydra well involves pacing, dramatic reveals, and managing player paranoia.
• The creature is a powerful tool for Dungeon Masters who want to explore unconventional storytelling structures.
• Adding monsters like the False Hydra can create a compelling shift in tone, altering how players interact with the game world.
• Tips include using background music, shifting NPC behaviors, and introducing new "facts" mid-session to keep the players guessing.

If you're ready to experience mind-bending monsters like the False Hydra in your own campaign, hire Ash Ely to run a game for you on StartPlaying.games. Ash specializes in weaving unforgettable stories and unforgettable horrors... or are they just what he wants you to remember? Book Ash Ely today and level up your tabletop experience.

Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you.

Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players.

Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings.

Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community.

• 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:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

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

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

• @Lzr_illuminati

Want more episodes like this, plus early access, live recordings, or ad-free listening? Join our Patreon at patreon.com/rpgbot and help us keep the mics on (and the ghosts at bay). Every little bit helps us roll with advantage!

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the crew dives deep into Ghosts in tabletop RPGs—both as monsters and as masterful storytelling tools. From the mechanics of possession and rejuvenation to the raw narrative potential of ghost encounters, Tyler, Randall, and Ash explore how ghosts have changed across editions of Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder 2e, and what makes them so uniquely haunting at the table.

The RPGBOT crew kicks things off with a hilariously chaotic session involving the Deck of Many Things—complete with birthday gifts, legendary armor, spontaneous Feywild portals, and even a Strahd ventriloquist doll that summons a sorrow sworn. From there, they dive into what exactly defines a ghost in RPGs, how it differs from related undead like poltergeists and banshees, and how various game systems handle them. The hosts break down 5e's ghost mechanics, including the often-overlooked possession rules, wisdom saves against horrifying visages, and the now-removed aging effect. They also contrast ghosts in Pathfinder 2e, touching on templates, telekinetic assaults, and rejuvenation mechanics that bring them back after destruction. Along the way, they explore how to homebrew ghost encounters, emphasizing NPC potential, unfinished business as story hooks, and the role of safety tools when handling possession and tragic backstories.

• Ghosts are more than incorporeal monsters—they're great vehicles for storytelling and emotional stakes.
• Possession is a powerful narrative and mechanical tool, but requires trust, consent, and player agency.
• Ghost rejuvenation mechanics in PF2e make them durable story elements rather than one-and-done foes.
• Using ghosts as NPCs or tragic quest-givers deepens the campaign world and encourages non-combat solutions.
• Cosmic horror, ghostly bargains, and unfinished business can dramatically raise the stakes of your story.
• Try dScryb for Ghostly Flavor!

Looking to bring your ghost encounters to life—or unlife? Check out dScryb.com for rich, system-neutral descriptive text and soundscapes that make every haunting feel real. Use code RPGBOT at checkout for 5% off your first subscription and unlock the narrative power of evocative boxed text. Perfect for your next possession scene or haunted house crawl!

Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you.

Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players.

Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings.

Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community.

• 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:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

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

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

• @Lzr_illuminati

Have you ever gotten up for a full day's work in a haunted coal mine and thought, "Boy, I really hope that bird in a cage doesn't stop singing and doom us all"? No? Then you clearly weren't with the RPGBOT crew in Part 2 of our Old Gods of Appalachia charity stream—where coal dust has claws, headlamps are your best friend, and it turns out you can get shot-in-the-foot vibes without ever firing a gun. Buckle up, y'all. Things are getting deep, dark, and very dusty.

Before we go further, remember: this campaign was part of a live charity event supporting MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the top cancer hospitals in the world. Their mission is simple but critical: end cancer for patients everywhere through advanced research, treatment, and compassionate care.

You can still make a difference.

Donate today at https://mdanderson.donordrive.com/participants/9351 — every dollar helps bring hope, healing, and lifesaving treatment to real people in the fight for their lives.

Previously, on the RPGBOT charity stream: Jessie and Isaiah arrived in Williams Holler—an Appalachian company town where coal mine doom meets fire-eyed-almost-deer and fatal sermons about salvation through suffering. After a run-in with a not-deer and a meet-and-greet with Mister T and his questionable Applejack theology, our heroes found themselves deep in the mines for mandatory community service, hammering rocks for redemption.

Episode 2 picks up right where we left off: with moonshiner chaos, clumsy pickaxe injuries, Tommyknocker rituals, and a collapsing mine shaft that proves this town is as deadly belowground as it is above.

In this episode of the RPGBOT Podcast, the gang digs deeper into Old Gods of Appalachia—both narratively and literally—as they're sent into the bowels of the Williams Holler coal mine to "earn their keep" under the watchful eye of foreman Josh CC.

Join Jessie and Isaiah as they:

• Learn about Tommyknockers—ghostly Appalachian mine spirits who love pennies and hate eye contact.
• Perform citation-needed rituals involving canaries, fish bits, and whispered thanks.
• Fail basic pickaxe maneuvers (looking at you, Isaiah) and experience the dark gift of GM intrusions, brought to you by generous donors.
• Discover strange, ancient artifacts deep underground—hint: they might belong to the town's ominous apple orchard daughter.
• Encounter a creature that definitely isn't a dog made of coal and bad vibes.
• Try desperately to outrun physics, collapse, and tiny angry men with stone axes through lightless tunnels.

All while raising money for MD Anderson Cancer Research, whose work helps real people—unlike some podcast characters we could name.

• Horror is better underground: Claustrophobic tunnels, unstable lanterns, and monster-dust dogs? That's premium Appalachian fear.
• Cypher System shines in survival tension: Speed and might rolls build both narrative and actual sweat.
• Tommyknockers are the coal miner's cryptid: They warn you with knocks—if you leave them snacks and don't embarrass them.
• GM intrusions are extra spicy during charity games: The more you donate, the more you make the players quietly panic.
• Jessie can shoot, quip, and pull people out of holes: The perfect outlaw protagonist energy.
• This mine is getting worse by the minute: Strange artifacts, broken elevators, dead canaries? It's all very "maybe we leave now."
• Basket of weird fruit: The orchard, Mr. T, and a thing calling itself "the green" are part of a cosmic tug-of-war that's barely begun.

A huge thank-you to Steve Shell, Cam Collins, and the DeepNerd Media team for creating the masterwork that is Old Gods of Appalachia. Their audio drama is the gold standard of Appalachian horror storytelling—and the Old Gods of Appalachia Roleplaying Game, built on Monte Cook Games' Cypher System, brings that dread to your table with terrifying finesse.

Want to experience this world for yourself?

• Listen to Old Gods of Appalachia wherever you get your podcasts
• Buy the RPG at montecookgames.com/old-gods-of-appalachia-rpg
• Bring some "not a deer" terror into your next campaign

Let the Old Gods whisper you home.

Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you.

Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players.

Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings.

Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community.

• 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:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

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

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

• @Lzr_illuminati

Have you ever stared at your D&D character sheet, wondering if you picked the right fighting style, and suddenly felt like someone out there was judging you? That's because they were—and it was your DM, silently counting how many times you could've picked Defense instead of Dueling. But worry not, because in this episode, we're unlocking your character's true martial potential faster than a fighter can Action Surge after a long rest.

Want to hear Tyler, Randall, and Ash critique character builds in real-time, or maybe even share your hottest takes live? Join the RPGBOT Patreon today. You'll get ad-free episodes, access to live recordings, bonus content, and maybe even the secret to getting the most out of the Two-Weapon Fighting style without regretting your life choices.

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the hosts take a deep dive into fighting styles in Dungeons & Dragons, unpacking how these choices can optimize your martial build and define your character's combat identity. They explore the classic styles available to Fighters, Rangers, and Paladins, and evaluate how each style synergizes with class features, feats, and weapon choices—especially in the new landscape of D&D 2024.

They analyze popular choices like Dueling, Great Weapon Fighting, Archery, Defense, and why Protection either makes you the party MVP or the target of everyone's complaints. Along the way, they offer practical advice on build planning, weapon synergies, narrative flavor, and how fighting styles impact your role in combat and the party dynamic.

Whether you're building a min-maxed Fighter, a divine smiting machine Paladin, or a bow-wielding Ranger with dreams of Legolas-tier accuracy, this episode arms you with the knowledge to bring out your character's best in the battlefield.

• Fighting styles are a crucial decision point for martial characters like Fighters, Paladins, and Rangers in Dungeons & Dragons, defining your combat specialty.
• Different styles fit different builds and playstyles. Archery is amazing for ranged builds, while Dueling and Great Weapon Fighting shine for melee smiters and strikers.
• Some fighting styles synergize with specific feats or class features, especially in D&D 2024 where changes may affect how much value you get from styles like Two-Weapon Fighting.
• Optimization matters—Defense may look boring, but +1 AC goes a long way in making your character survivable, especially at low levels.
• Don't forget the roleplaying opportunities: the story behind your fighting style can give your character depth beyond combat efficiency.

Loved this conversation about martial mastery? Like and subscribe to the RPGBOT.Podcast on your favorite podcast platform to stay up to date with the latest D&D strategy, character building tips, and tabletop RPG goodness. And remember—your build matters, but listening to this podcast might just give you the edge you need to crit in both combat and creativity.

Ever wondered what happens when you cross a high-fantasy campaign setting, a Louisiana bayou, and a magical eel with moonshine for blood? The RPGBOT crew found out the hard way when they sat down with Drew Foulke, the founder of Norse Foundry and Hexed Publishing, to talk about his new system-agnostic roleplaying world: Titanskeep. It's a world where gods and titans feud like divorced parents with cosmic custody issues, and adventurers are just trying to survive long enough to figure out whether the lich-titan is actually the good guy.

Want to hear episodes like this ad-free? Join the RPGBOT Patreon today. Get early access to recordings, bonus discussions, and the chance to listen live as Tyler, Randall, and Ash interview RPG creators like Drew Foulke, Keith Baker, and more. Your support helps keep the dice rolling (and the Billy Eels wiggling).

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, hosts Randall James, Tyler Kamstra, and Ash Ely sit down with Drew Foulke, founder of Norse Foundry and Hexed Publishing, to explore the upcoming Titanskeep campaign setting — a high-fantasy, system-agnostic world designed for Dungeons & Dragons (5e/2024), Pathfinder 2e, and beyond.

Titanskeep, set in the living world of Kalidor, pits gods against titans in a divine power struggle that reshapes the world's fate. Players can join guilds, align with deities, or swear loyalty to mighty titans — and every choice changes the ongoing narrative. Built to support convention-based raid events, local game store play, and ongoing modular releases, Titanskeep promises a living campaign ecosystem that evolves through player decisions.

Drew discusses Hexed Publishing's approach to system-agnostic design, collaboration with industry legends like Ed Greenwood, Keith Baker, B. Dave Walters, and Deven Rue, and his goal of producing a constantly supported RPG world rather than a one-and-done campaign book.

Tyler shares his own experience designing monsters for the Houdan region, a New Orleans-meets-Venice bayou crawling with illusion-magic, giant bugs, and the now-legendary Billy Eel — complete with random mutations and "moonshine in its veins."

Throughout the conversation, the hosts and Drew dive into:

• The challenge of creating a 5e and Pathfinder 2e compatible RPG setting.
• The use of guild systems, living world events, and player-driven raids.
• The design philosophy of Norse Foundry: making dice and props that players actually use.
• The plan for Titanskeep's Kickstarter (October 2026), free Patreon content, and playtesting rewards.
• The future of Hexed Publishing, from Gazetteers to modular adventure paths, and how community playtesting shapes their development.

• System-Agnostic Design: Titanskeep bridges 5e, 2024 D&D, and Pathfinder 2e, with future support for systems like Daggerheart, Savage Worlds, and Fate.
• High Fantasy, Low Tech: Magic drives Titanskeep's world; technology exists only where titans allow it.
• Living World Structure: Players influence world events through guilds, deities, and Titan allegiance — shaping global outcomes.
• Convention Integration: The setting includes a raid-style convention system, where multiple tables impact shared encounters and titanic battles.
• Collaborative Worldbuilding: Drew enlisted industry veterans like Ed Greenwood, Keith Baker, B. Dave Walters, Jay Foster, Deven Rue, and Crystal Sully.
• Player Rewards: Free adventures, Patreon-exclusive ancestries, and physical props (like keys, pins, and holy symbols) connect the digital world to your table.
• The Billy Eel Legacy: A chaotic creature from the Houdan region, proof that player imagination and worldbuilding can get delightfully weird.
• Ongoing Support: Titanskeep isn't a single book — it's a long-term evolving campaign world with modules, Gazetteers, and live play updates.
• Community-Driven Playtesting: Players providing feedback can win $50 Norse Foundry gift cards.
• Kickstarter 2026: The official launch of Titanskeep will include free metal D20s for backers from the Patreon or newsletter list.

Ready to step into a world where gods and titans wage endless war — and you might just become one?

• Visit Titanskeep.com and join the Patreon at patreon.com/HextRPG for free playtest content, ancestries, and adventures.
• Check out Norse Foundry for premium metal dice, RPG accessories, and updates on upcoming Titanskeep Kickstarter 2026 releases. Support the creators, roll some legendary dice, and remember — if your eel starts sweating moonshine, maybe it's time to roll for Constitution.

Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you.

Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players.

Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings.

Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community.

• 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:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

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

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

• @Lzr_illuminati

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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Thank you for helping support hope, healing, and the future of cancer care.

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.

• 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

• 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.

About RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast

Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you.

Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players.

Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings.

Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community.

• 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:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

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

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

• @Lzr_illuminati

You know that moment when your players spend ten minutes searching a room, roll a 5, and you sigh before saying, "You find… nothing"? Yeah, we're done with that. In this episode, the RPGBOT crew grabs the Dungeon Master's Guide by the binding and asks the real questions: Why are searches so boring, and why do your players keep looting every chair leg like it's the Ark of the Covenant? It's time to make treasure exciting again — and maybe throw in a cursed spoon or two for good measure.

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the hosts dive into using random treasure and how to make it fun. Not ready for the burden of homebrewing every magical baubel the players find? Still want treasure to feel cool and exciting instead of handing out 2d4 silver pieces? Grab a random treasure table and listen in.

They cover:

• How to curate random treasures so rewards feel tailored, not tacked on.
• Procedural generation and OSR-style loot tables for DMs who want surprise without chaos.
• The psychology of reward design—why a potion of healing can feel more exciting than a +1 sword.
• How Pathfinder 2e's treasure parcel system solves common D&D loot issues.
• Turning random loot into story hooks that feed back into your worldbuilding.

Whether you're running a gritty hexcrawl, a dungeon delve, or a modern urban fantasy, you'll walk away with tools to hoard of treasure hoards and make every treasure feel earned.

• Roll less, describe more. Replace meaningless Perception checks with interactive exploration and sensory clues.
• Random doesn't mean meaningless. Curate your treasure tables around your campaign's themes.
• Passive Perception is your pacing tool. Use it to keep exploration snappy without robbing players of agency.
• Economy matters. Gold, consumables, and downtime rewards all affect campaign health.
• Player engagement > item rarity. Surprise players with creativity, not just loot value.
• Procedural tools save prep time. Random tables and generators can be incredible when you understand their purpose.
• Reward discovery, not just dice. Make your players feel clever when they find something hidden — even if you planned it all along.

If you've ever caught yourself saying "You find nothing," it's time to level up your DM game. Head to RPGBOT.net for guides on treasure design, reward pacing, and exploration mechanics, and don't forget to subscribe to the RPGBOT.Podcast on your favorite platform. Rate and review to help other GMs find the show — and maybe, just maybe, help us all stop handing out 17 identical potions of healing.

Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you.

Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players.

Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings.

Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community.

• 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:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

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

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

• @Lzr_illuminati