🌞 The sands of Athas may stir once more… In this episode, we dig into what we’d most like to see in a new Dark Sun book from Wizards of the Coast. From psionics systems to defiling & preserving magic, from brutal survival mechanics to expanded lore on the Sorcerer-Kings, we share the changes and updates that could make Dark Sun shine in the modern era of D&D 5e.This isn’t just nostalgia—it’s about reimagining Dark Sun for today’s players:⚔️ Mechanics that capture the harsh survival of the desert.🧠 A meaningful place for psionics at every level of play.🔥 Defiling magic that actually changes the game.🏜️ Rich worldbuilding that makes Athas feel alive—and dangerous.💬 What’s on your Dark Sun wishlist? Comment below and let’s keep the discussion going! And don’t forget to share this episode with your gaming group so we can dream of Athas together.And remember:✅ Like✅ Subscribe✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an Episode🔗 Links & Resources mentioned in the episodeNew Unearthed Arcana: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/ua/apocalyptic-subclassesTabletop Journeys links:Patreon: patreon.com/ttjourneysBluesky: @ttjourneys.bsky.socialFacebook: facebook.com/ttjourneysYouTube: youtube.com/@ttjourneysWebsite: ttjourneys.comEmail: [email protected]#DarkSun #DnD #TTRPG #DungeonsAndDragons #Athas #Psionics #SorcererKings #DefilingMagic #TabletopJourneys #DMTips #DnD5e

🌞 TTJ Ep 242 – Apocalyptic Subclasses | Dark Sun Rising? 🌵⚔️The Tabletop Journeys crew dives deep into the brand-new Unearthed Arcana 2025: Apocalyptic Subclasses, exploring what these gritty new options could mean for D&D—and whether this is the long-awaited return of Dark Sun!From Circle of Preservation Druids to Defiled Sorcerers, from Gladiatorial Fighters to Warlocks of the Sorcerer-Kings, we break down what works, what misses, and how these subclasses tie directly to themes we’ve been talking about since Episode 22, where we first tackled Dark Sun with Zagai from Better Homes & Dungeons.🔥 Could this UA be paving the way for a wasteland revival?⚔️ Which subclasses hit the mark thematically and mechanically?🌍 What crucial elements are still missing for a true Dark Sun comeback?Join the conversation in the comments and let us know what YOU think Wizards of the Coast got right—or wrong—about these apocalyptic options. Then, go back and revisit Episode 22 for even more Dark Sun speculation and design talk.#DnD2025 #UnearthedArcana #DarkSun #TTRPG #DungeonsAndDragons #TabletopJourneys #CallYourBoysTTJAnd remember:✅ Like✅ Subscribe✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an Episode-----------------------------------------------------------------🔗 Links & ResourcesPatreon: patreon.com/ttjourneysBluesky: @ttjourneys.bsky.socialFacebook: facebook.com/ttjourneysYouTube: Tabletop Journeys ChannelWebsite: ttjourneys.comEmail: [email protected]

🎬 In a galaxy where shadows hide secrets and every move could expose the truth…An undercover mission begins.

🌌 Cmdr. Oshen Ch’zylrirh steps off the books, into the unknown, where loyalty, deception, and survival blur into one. 👁️‍🗨️🚀 This is not a mission of fleets and phasers—this is a covert journey where one Starfleet officer walks alone, infiltrating danger, uncovering whispers in the dark, and racing against hidden enemies who always seem one step ahead. 🕶️🖖🎲 Played live using the Star Trek Adventures RPG (2E), this episode of Preservations Quick Treks delivers everything you love about #TTRPG #ActualPlay: high-stakes drama, cinematic storytelling, and a dive into the clandestine side of Star Trek.🕵️ If you crave intrigue, espionage, and character-driven storytelling at warp speed—this is your mission briefing.------------------------------------------------------------------------------This is not just a game.🎙️ It’s cinematic storytelling.🖖 It’s Star Trek: Preservations.And remember: ✅ Like ✅ Subscribe ✅ Ring the Bell to never miss a mission 🖖🚀🌌🎲

We sat down with Peter Olsen, the mind behind The Genesis Deck! This innovative storytelling tool is changing how GMs and players approach worldbuilding, improv roleplay, and creative writing.

👉 Don’t forget to like 👍, subscribe 🔔, and comment 💬 your favorite takeaway!

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

02:14 – What is The Genesis Deck?

07:32 – How did you come up with the idea?

13:27 – Who do you imagine using this deck?

19:05 – Favorite card prompts and why they resonate

26:48 – Biggest challenges in designing the deck

34:10 – Unexpected ways players have used The Genesis Deck

41:22 – How the deck helps with worldbuilding

49:15 – Advice for aspiring TTRPG creators

56:03 – What’s next for The Genesis Deck?

01:02:45 – Closing thoughts & where to find it online

✨ What You’ll Learn:

How The Genesis Deck works and why it’s unique

Practical GM tips for using it in campaigns

The creative process of indie RPG design

Advice for making your own TTRPG tools

🔗 Links & Resources

🌐 The Genesis Deck: https://thewhaleshark.itch.io/the-genesis-deck

🌐 Order a copy of the deck here: https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/the-genesis-deck

📱 Follow Peter Olsen: https://bsky.app/profile/thewhaleshark.bsky.social

🔥 If you love TTRPGs, worldbuilding, and creative GM tools, this episode is for you!

#️⃣ Hashtags

#TTRPG #Worldbuilding #TheGenesisDeck #TabletopGames #GMtips #Storytelling #IndieRPG

🚀✨ In the dark between duty and destiny, one officer must confront the unshakable weight of the past... and the unyielding future of Starfleet’s most secret weapon.🎙️ Join the Tabletop Journeys crew as Lt. Cmdr. Te’nari steps into the unknown in Star Trek Preservations Quick Treks: “Immutable Laws.”This isn’t just an RPG session—it’s a cinematic Actual Play of Star Trek Adventures 2E where character, philosophy, and loyalty collide.🌌 Tensions rise. Secrets stir. And a single choice could alter the course of ship, crew, and Federation forever.Will law remain immutable… or can even the most unbreakable code be rewritten?📺 Beam aboard now and experience the thrill, mystery, and character-driven drama that Star Trek: Preservations is known for. This is not just a game.
🎙️ It’s cinematic storytelling.🖖 It’s Star Trek: Preservations.And remember: ✅ Like ✅ Subscribe ✅ Ring the Bell to never miss a mission 🖖🚀🌌🎲

🎲✨ Rogues Take on the Golden Claw Casino! 💰🤫

Welcome back, adventurers!

After swiftly dispatching a formidable vampire in their "audition," our rogues receive their real mission from the mysterious Mr. Vex: a high-stakes heist at the infamous Golden Claw Casino!

Their target? A powerful, secret object hidden deep within the casino's vault. The Golden Claw, owned by a formidable Rakshasa, is bustling with patrons for a gladiatorial fight night, and a strict no-weapons policy is in effect for all visitors. This is no mere smash-and-grab; stealth and cunning are paramount!

What was your favorite moment of infiltration and deception? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more epic D&D adventures! Hit the notification bell so you don't miss our next "Class Warfare" episode featuring Clerics! 🔔

#ClassWarfare #Rogues #DND #DungeonsAndDragons #HeistMission #DNDPodcast #ActualPlay #TTRPG #FantasyAdventure #DnD5e #SoulKnife #ArcaneTrickster #ThiefRogue #AssassinRogue #HandOfVecna #GoldenClawCasino #DMLife #TabletopJourneys #RPG #AdventureTime #CriticalRole #GamingCommunity 🤫

🛰️ Star Trek: Preservations Quick Treks (S3): “The Cost of Kindness” (Part 2)

🖖 What price must be paid to protect the future?

🌌 When diplomacy, discovery, and duty collide…

Captain Sabian Tobor’s mission to negotiate resettlement on Velkaria takes a turn into ancient mysteries and buried secrets. As Captain Tobor and Lt. Dori delves into the ruins of a transcendent species, a former flame stirs old feelings and uncovers dangerous truths. The past could feed the future, or fuel the resentments of past wrongs. With Federation interests and Romulan lives on the line, Captain Tobor must make a choice that could define the legacy of his command and the fate of sector.

🔍 Science. 💔 Secrets. ⚖️ Sacrifice.

This is Star Trek Adventures at its core, at its most human.

#TTRPG #ActualPlay #StarTrekAdventuresRPG2E #CallYourBoysTTJ #TabletopJourneys

---------------------------

📺 Beam aboard now and experience the thrill, mystery, and character-driven drama that Star Trek: Preservations is known for.

This is not just a game.

🎙️ It’s cinematic storytelling.

🖖 It’s Star Trek: Preservations.

And remember:

✅ Like

✅ Subscribe

✅ Ring the Bell to never miss a mission

🖖🚀🌌🎲

Welcome to Class Warfare Rogues! 🎲✨

Dive into the thrilling first half of our D&D one-shot as our cunning rogue crew attempts the impossible.

Meet the Crew! 🎭

◦ Lyari (Elven Soul Knife): Our psychic powerhouse and master of deception. With a +11 to persuasion and deception, she's the social engineering brains of the operation. She wields psychic blades, teleports, and boasts a formidable Barrier Tattoo for defense!

◦ Davlin (Elven Assassin Rogue): The Batman-inspired damage dealer and stealth expert. He's got a dramatic Cape of Billowing and the unique "Vex ability" for boosted attacks.

◦ The Great Houtini (Halfling Arcane Trickster Rogue): A charismatic stage magician and illusionist, specializing in misdirection and disabling foes with spells like Sleep and Tasha's Hideous Laughter. He's got a Deck of Illusions, perfect for an "Ocean's Eleven" style plan!

◦ Silas Thornwhip (Rogue Thief): The whip-wielding brawler, ready for close combat and tactical support. His Slippers of Spider Climbing allow him to scale any surface, hands-free, making him an expert in unconventional entry!

The Audition of Fire: Mr. Vex's Challenge! 🔥🧛‍♂️

Summoned by the mysterious Beholder, Mr. Vex, our rogues must prove their worth in a surprise combat trial against a powerful Vampire! Cunning strikes, hideous laughter, psychic blades, and a skilled assassin try to prove their mettle for their would-be employer. But what does Vex really have in store for them?

#DND #Rogues #Heist #DungeonsAndDragons #ActualPlay #TTRPG #GoldenClaw #HandOfVecna #CasinoHeist #AssassinRogue #ThiefRogue #SoulKnife #ArcaneTrickster #MrVex #Beholder #Vampire #DND2024 #TabletopJourneys #Lorecastle #OneShot #RPG #Adventure #FantasyGaming #CriticalRole #DNDComedy #TabletopRPGFails #DNDFunnyMoments

🖖 A shuttle. A mission. A second chance.

Captain Sabian Tobor embarks on a diplomatic assignment with unexpected emotional gravity—literally and figuratively. Assigned to negotiate observation rights on a fiercely independent colony, he must also carry an urgent addendum from the office of Admiral Picard himself. What begins as a simple diplomatic endeavor quickly becomes a crossroads of history, legacy, and personal truth.

Beside him is Lt. Zhal’ari Dori—an Orion scientist with a personal past tangled in the colony’s roots. When family, politics, and Federation responsibility collide, diplomacy becomes more than negotiation... it becomes personal.

🎲 Step into this emotionally layered and politically charged Star Trek Adventures RPG 2E Actual Play presented by Tabletop Journeys. This is diplomacy at warp speed, told with cinematic clarity and deep character stakes.

📺 Beam aboard now and experience the thrill, mystery, and character-driven drama that Star Trek: Preservations is known for.

This is not just a game.

🎙️ It’s cinematic storytelling.

🖖 It’s Star Trek: Preservations.

And remember:

✅ Like

✅ Subscribe

✅ Ring the Bell to never miss a mission

🖖🚀🌌🎲

#TTRPG #ActualPlay #StarTrekAdventuresRPG2E #CallYourBoysTTJ #TabletopJourneys

Welcome to Tabletop Journeys!

This week, Josh and Lewanika sit down with Shawn Merwin, a titan in the tabletop role-playing game industry. Known for his extensive work with Wizards of the Coast, Ghostfire Gaming, Star Trek Adventures, and other favorites, Shawn shares insights from his decades-long career.

We dive into Shawn’s inspiring origin story, the challenges of professional game design, and his unique philosophy on creativity and success. You'll hear about his work on D&D, Star Trek games, and the innovative systems in Ghostfire Gaming's Grim Hollow Transformed. Whether you're a seasoned GM, an aspiring designer, or just a fan of fantastic stories, this episode is packed with invaluable lessons and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the TTRPG world.

Timestamps

0:00:00 - Introduction

0:03:00 - Shawn's Extensive TTRPG Resume

0:05:34 - Shawn's Origin Story

0:08:50 - The Art of Game Design

0:11:28 - Running Games for Diverse Groups

0:15:08 - Halls of Undermountain & Production Limitations

0:26:05 - Defining Success and the Drive to Create

0:30:24 - Grim Hollow Transformed

0:41:20 - Podcasting's Impact on Design & Writing Process

0:47:19 - Grim Hollow Traits

0:54:48 - Dream IP to Work On

0:58:10 - Community Members Shawn Merwin Would Like to Meet

01:01:23 - Conclusion#TabletopJourneys #ShawnMerwin #TTRPG #GameDesign #DungeonsAndDragons #DnD #GrimHollow #GhostfireGaming #MasteringDungeons #EldritchLorecast #HardyBoys #NancyDrew #GameMaster #ContentCreation #RPG #TabletopGames #Interview