🎲 Inside Gen Con 2026: Michael’s Games, Surprises & First LARP | Tabletop Café

The dice have stopped rolling, but the stories are just beginning. Michael Ross returns from Gen Con 2026 with tales from North America’s largest tabletop convention—from the packed exhibit hall and major D&D announcements to memorable RPG sessions, his first LARP, and the community that makes it unforgettable.

Pull up a chair at the Tabletop Café for the highlights, challenges, and surprises of Gen Con.

What convention keeps calling you back—or remains on your bucket list?#ttrpg #LiveShow #JoinTheConversation #GMTips #PlayerTips #TTRPGConvention #AcadeCon #GenCon #TabletopJourneys #CallYourBoysTTJ-------------------------------------------------☕ Tabletop Café was recorded live. Watch every other Wednesday at 8:00 PM EST on YouTube and join the conversation:
https://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneys

Tabletop Journeys is hosted by Josh Newton and Lewanika Miller, with Michael Ross

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If you would like to explore the galaxy alongside the Dilamus Christian and those serving aboard Asselin Station. or check out our Patreon page

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What if your cleric, paladin, or warlock finally had a deity worth believing in? One rooted in real-world religious history, myth, and complexity. This week, the crew sits down with The Game Master's Handbook of Patrons, Pacts, and Pantheons author Colby Whittaker (@dm_hagiologist) for a conversation that just might change how you worldbuild forever.

Colby returns to Tabletop Journeys for his second visit, and this time, he's bringing his solo debut book to the table. With two degrees in religious studies, nearly a thousand rollable table entries across his published works, and a passion for making DMs' lives easier, Colby breaks down why most fantasy TTRPG settings get religion wrong and exactly how to fix that at your table.

We dig into:

🕌 Why D&D settings tend to default to either "Disney's Hercules" polytheism or fire-and-brimstone Christianity and what's missing from both

📜 How real-world religious history (schisms, sects, regional variations, folk belief) is weirder and richer than most fantasy worldbuilding

🧙 Why DMs panic the moment a cleric walks in and how this book rescues them

🌿 The Feywild, Eldritch Patrons, and how to make pacts with cosmic powers feel meaningful

🎲 Behind the scenes on nearly 1,000 rollable table entries drawn from actual history and myth

💀 Why your non-religious rogue might still pray before battle and why that's great storytelling

🌍 How the same deity can be worshipped in radically different ways across your world (and why that's historically accurate!)

📖 The famous "Idiot Ball" theory of tabletop storytelling and why sometimes you have to charge into the room full of liches

Plus: Gen Con debrief with Michael Ross, a new Patreon card deck for the Kudje species, and plenty of the TTJ chaos you've come to love. 🎉

Game Master's Handbook of Patrons, Packs, and Pantheons releases August 18th. Pre-order now and don't miss the 40-page bonus chapter packed with magic items for every single patron in the book!

✅ Like ✅ Subscribe ✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an Episode

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned in the Episode

📘 Game Master's Handbook of Patrons, Packs, and Pantheons by Colby Whittaker — Available August 18th via Media Lab Books

🔗 Colby on Bluesky: @dm_hagiologist

🔗 Colby on Instagram: @dm_hagiologist

🔗 Colby's website: hagiologist.com

Tabletop Journeys Links:

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🦋 Bluesky: @ttjourneys.bsky.social

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🌐 Website: https://ttjourneys.com/

📧 Email: [email protected]

#TabletopJourneys #TTRPG #DungeonsAndDragons #DnD #DnD5e #TabletopRPG #GameMaster #DMTips #ColbyWhittaker #Patrons #Pantheons #WorldBuilding #TabletopGaming #RPGPodcast #DrHomebrew #TabletopCafe #FantasyRPG #ReligionInGames #CriticalRole #Pathfinder #TTRPGCommunity #DnDCommunity #GameMastersHandbook

The mission is over, but Starfleet’s judgment is just beginning. In this Preservations bonus episode, the crew faces Reputation Rolls after the events of S4 Ep. 2. Success, risk, restraint, and questionable choices all come under review as Acclaim, commendations, favors, and consequences are decided. See how Star Trek Adventures 2E turns a mission’s aftermath into character development and how Reputation can help GMs make TTRPG mission and adventure design matter long after the final scene at the table.🌌 #ttrpg #roleplayerswanted #seekingGM #lookingforgame #SciFi #StarTrekAdventuresRPG2E #2D20 #TTRPG #StarTrek #ActualPlay #IDICYall #TabletopJourneys #CallYourBoysTTJ==================================Star Trek Adventures RPG is published by Modiphius Entertainment🛸 Star Trek and all related marks, logos, and characters are owned by CBS Studios Inc.🎲 Star Trek Adventures is published by Modiphius Entertainment.🎲 2d20 System Designer: Nathan Dowdell📊 Project Manager: Jim JohnsonCharacter Sheet images courtesy of the🌐STA Character Builder (BC Holmes): https://sta.bcholmes.org👏 Special Shout Out: BC Holmes (https://www.patreon.com/c/bcholmes/posts)===================================Tabletop Journeys is hosted by Josh Newton and Lewanika Miller, with Michael Ross🎧 Listen & Watch:You can support the channel by sharing the episode with your friends and leaving a comment.If you would like to explore the galaxy alongside the Dilamus Christian and those serving aboard Asselin Station. or check out our Patreon page🌐 Patreon: https://patreon.com/tabletopjourneys🌐 Website: https://tabletopjourneys.com🌐 Discord: https://discord.gg/tabletopjourneysAnd remember:✅ Like✅ Subscribe✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an episode.

❄️ OtRP (S2 Ep. 30) – Forged by the Cold: Building Better Campaigns with NorthlandsA frozen frontier is more than snow and longships—it's a culture that should shape every encounter. In this episode of On the Right Path, we explore how Kobold Press's Northlands gives GMs practical tools to build richer campaigns through honor, reputation, prophecy, and unforgettable traditions. Whether you run Tales of the Valiant, D&D 5E, or another fantasy TTRPG, discover how borrowing the right ideas can make your world feel alive long before initiative is rolled.❄️ #ttrpg #GMToolkit #GMtips #KoboldPress #TOV #talesofthevaliant #northlands #TTRPgamereview #Campaignbuilding #TabletopJourneys #CallYourBoysTTJ===================================Tabletop Journeys is hosted by Josh Newton and Lewanika Miller, with Michael Ross🎧 Listen & Watch:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/tabletopjourneysYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneys🎲 TABLETOP JOURNEYS NETWORK 🎲 On the Right Path – Bite-sized GM advice & TTRPG discussion 🧪 Dr. Homebrew – Custom content, mechanics, & design breakdowns 🖖 Star Trek: Preservations – STA Actual Play ☕ Tabletop Café – TTRPG conversations & communityYou can support the channel by sharing the episode with your friends and leaving a comment.If you would like to explore the galaxy alongside the Dilamus Christian and those serving aboard Asselin Station. or check out our Patreon page🌐 Patreon: https://patreon.com/tabletopjourneys🌐 Website: https://tabletopjourneys.com🌐 Discord: https://discord.gg/tabletopjourneys📚 Check Our Library of Content:🌐 On DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/28665/tabletop-journeys-llc🌐 On DM's Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/browse?keyword=tabletop%20journeys%20llccAnd remember:✅ Like✅ Subscribe✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an episode.

The Names We Preserve (Act 3.3)The mission is almost over… until everything begins to fall apart. In The Names We Preserve (Act 3.3), the crew faces impossible odds as lives hang in the balance, split-second decisions reshape the mission, and teamwork becomes the only path to survival. This Star Trek Adventures RPG 2E Actual Play showcases cinematic TTRPG mission design, tactical combat, dramatic rescues, and the unforgettable moments that define a Starfleet crew.🌌 #ttrpg #roleplayerswanted #seekingGM #lookingforgame #SciFi #StarTrekAdventuresRPG2E #2D20 #TTRPG #StarTrek #ActualPlay #IDICYall #TabletopJourneys #CallYourBoysTTJ--------------------------------------------------🎲 Star Trek Adventures RPG CreditsStar Trek Adventures RPG is published by Modiphius Entertainment🛸 Star Trek and all related marks, logos, and characters are owned by CBS Studios Inc.🎲 Star Trek Adventures is published by Modiphius Entertainment. 🎲 2d20 System Designer: Nathan Dowdell 📊 Project Manager: Jim Johnson Character Sheet images courtesy of the    🌐STA Character Builder (BC Holmes): https://sta.bcholmes.org 👏 Special Shout Out: BC Holmes (https://www.patreon.com/c/bcholmes/posts)--------------------------------------------------------------------Tabletop Journeys is hosted by Josh Newton and Lewanika Miller, with Michael Ross🎧 Listen & Watch: - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/tabletopjourneys- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneys🎲 TABLETOP JOURNEYS NETWORK 🎲 On the Right Path – Bite-sized GM advice & TTRPG discussion 🧪 Dr. Homebrew – Custom content, mechanics, & design breakdowns 🖖 Star Trek: Preservations – STA Actual Play ☕ Tabletop Café – TTRPG conversations & community---------------------------------------------------------------You can support the channel by sharing the episode with your friends and leaving a comment.If you would like to explore the galaxy alongside the Dilamus Christian and those serving aboard Asselin Station, or check out our Patreon page: 🌐 Patreon: https://patreon.com/tabletopjourneys 🌐 Website: https://tabletopjourneys.com 🌐 Discord: https://discord.gg/tabletopjourneys----------------------------------------------------📚 Check Our Library of Content:🌐 On DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/28665/tabletop-journeys-llc🌐 On DM's Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/browse?keyword=tabletop%20journeys%20llcc-------------------And remember:✅ Like✅ Subscribe✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an episode.

OtRP (S2 Ep 29) - On the Right Path to Kobold Press's NorthlandsWhat makes a campaign setting more than just another fantasy world? Step into Kobold Press's Northlands as we crack open this epic tome and uncover the legends, cultures, monsters, and adventure hooks waiting beneath the ice. Whether you run D&D 5E, Tales of the Valiant, or another fantasy TTRPG, this spoiler-free first look explores what makes a setting inspire unforgettable adventures before a single die is rolled.#TTRPG #KoboldPress #TOV #Northlands #Unboxing #GameReview #TabletopJourneys #CallYourBoysTTJ===================================Tabletop Journeys is hosted by Josh Newton and Lewanika Miller, with Michael Ross🎧 Listen & Watch:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/tabletopjourneysYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneys🎲 TABLETOP JOURNEYS NETWORK🎲 On the Right Path – Bite-sized GM advice & TTRPG discussion🧪 Dr. Homebrew – Custom content, mechanics, & design breakdowns🖖 Star Trek: Preservations – STA Actual Play☕ Tabletop Café – TTRPG conversations & communityYou can support the channel by sharing the episode with your friends and leaving a comment.If you would like to explore the galaxy alongside the Dilamus Christian and those serving aboard Asselin Station, or check out our Patreon page:🌐 Patreon: https://patreon.com/tabletopjourneys🌐 Website: https://tabletopjourneys.com🌐 Discord: https://discord.gg/tabletopjourneys📚 Check Our Library of Content:🌐 On DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/28665/tabletop-journeys-llc🌐 On DM's Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/browse?keyword=tabletop%20journeys%20llcc

🌌 A forgotten archive. An impossible deadline. Shadows closing from every direction.The search for the truth reaches a dangerous turning point as the crew of the USS Dilamus Christian uncovers a hidden Cardassian installation buried beneath an alien world. Every discovery opens another mystery, every solution reveals another obstacle, and with hostile forces converging, the away team must rely on Starfleet ingenuity, teamwork, and courage to complete a mission where knowledge may prove more valuable than firepower.If you enjoy Star Trek Adventures 2E, cinematic TTRPG actual plays, 2d20 gameplay, mission-focused storytelling, Star Trek roleplaying, and cooperative problem solving, you're in the right place.🌌 #SciFi #StarTrekAdventuresRPG2E #2D20 #TTRPG #StarTrek #ActualPlay #IDICYall #TabletopJourneys #CallYourBoysTTJ👍 Like the video🖖 Subscribe to Tabletop Journeys🔔 Ring the Bell so you never miss an episode!--------------------------------------------------------------------🚀 Want to join our Star Trek Adventures universe as a player? 🌐 Patreon: https://patreon.com/ttjourneys🛸 Join our community for in-person games, online discussion, and events! 🌐 FB : https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1HieGmHSXx/ 🌐 Discord: https://discord.gg/tCMdWMTh----------------------------------------------------------------------------🎲 Star Trek Adventures RPG is published by Modiphius Entertainment🛸 Star Trek and all related marks, logos, and characters are owned by CBS Studios Inc. 🎲 Star Trek Adventures is published by Modiphius Entertainment. 🎲 2d20 System Designer: Nathan Dowdell 📊 Project Manager: Jim JohnsonCharacter Sheet images courtesy of the 🌐 STA Character Builder (BC Holmes): https://sta.bcholmes.org👏 Special Shout Out: BC Holmeshttps://www.patreon.com/c/bcholmes/posts--------------------------------------------------------------------🎙️ Tabletop Journeys is hosted by Josh Newton and Lewanika Miller, with Michael Ross.🎧 Listen & WatchSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/tabletopjourneysYouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneys🎲 TABLETOP JOURNEYS NETWORK 🎲 On the Right Path – Bite-sized GM advice & TTRPG discussion 🛠️ Dr. Homebrew – Homebrew, mechanics, & design breakdowns 🖖 Star Trek: Preservations – Star Trek Adventures Actual Play ☕ Tabletop Café – TTRPG conversations & communityYou can support the channel by sharing the episode with your friends and leaving a comment.--------------------------------------------------------------------If you would like to explore the galaxy alongside the crew of the USS Dilamus Christian and those serving aboard Asselin Station, or join one of our ongoing games, check out our Patreon page.🌐 Patreon: https://patreon.com/tabletopjourneys🌐 Website: https://tabletopjourneys.com🌐 Discord: https://discord.gg/tabletopjourneys📚 Check Our Library of Content 🌐 On DriveThruRPG:https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/28665/tabletop-journeys-llc 🌐 On DM's Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/browse?keyword=tabletop%20journeysAnd remember:✅ Like✅ Subscribe✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an episode.

You asked, so Dr. Homebrew delivered! After the huge response to the original Window Boxing episode, Josh is back with a hands-on, adventure-by-adventure breakdown — putting the framework into practice with Vaderin's Vault, the level 7 heist adventure from Keys from the Golden Vault. 🗝️✨

This time it's all application. Josh walks through exactly how to lift, reskin, and rebuild a published module piece by piece:

🚪 On-Ramps. How to get your party into the vault heist seamlessly, and what to do with the diadem MacGuffin if the built-in Patreon hook doesn't fit your world

🎭 NPCs. Which characters are ready to lift as-is (hint: Nyxlana Vidorant is a gem) and which need a little extra work to shine

🗺️ Location & Map. Why this vault might be the most "plug-and-play" location you'll find in any published adventure

💰 Loot. The one place this module needs a homebrew assist, and how to fix it

🚪 Off-Ramps. How to handle the adventure's multiple possible endings, and why you're always allowed to just... ignore all of them

Plus a great connective tissue tip: tying Samphith Goldenbeard to Prisoner 13 (another Golden Vault adventure) for some real plot continuity between one-shots. 🔗

If the first episode gave you the theory, this one hands you the toolkit. Perfect for any DM looking to run Keys from the Golden Vault — or any anthology adventure — as part of a living campaign instead of a one-off. 🎲🔥

💬 Drop a comment: Have you run anything from Keys from the Golden Vault? How did you make it your own?

And remember:

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🔗 Links & Resources mentioned in the episode:

Keys from the Golden Vault (D&D anthology adventure)

A Catalogue of Relics of Power https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/509933/a-catalogue-of-relics-of-power

Bridgewell Chronicles drivethrurpg.com/en/product/574146

Tabletop Journeys links:

Patreon: patreon.com/ttjourneys

Bluesky: @ttjourneys.bsky.social

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ttjourneys

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneys

Website: https://ttjourneys.com/

Email: [email protected]

#DnD #DungeonsAndDragons #DnDHomebrew #TTRPG #DungeonMasterTips #DMTips #KeysFromTheGoldenVault #WindowBoxing #TabletopRPG #WorldBuilding #DnD5e #DungeonMaster #HomebrewCampaign #TTRPGCommunity #DrHomebrew #TabletopJourneys

A forgotten Cardassian outpost. A child who keeps proving everyone wrong. A doorway that refuses to surrender its secrets. 🖖 The expedition finally reaches the hidden archive, but the journey underground is anything but routine. Strange sounds echo through the caverns, long-abandoned defenses still wait for unsuspecting visitors, and an unexpected member of the team continues to surprise even Starfleet's finest. As confidence grows, one split-second mistake changes everything; and the mission takes a dangerous turn.Will preparation be enough when history refuses to stay buried?🌌 #SciFi #StarTrekAdventuresRPG2E #2D20 #TTRPG #StarTrek #ActualPlay #IDICYall #TabletopJourneys #CallYourBoysTTJ--------------Join Tabletop Journeys for Act 3 of Star Trek: Preservations, where exploration, teamwork, and unforgettable roleplay collide in this cinematic Star Trek Adventures 2E Actual Play.👍 Like, Subscribe, and Ring the Bell so you never miss another mission.🖖 Become part of the adventure! Join our ongoing Star Trek Adventures A.E.G.I.S. Living Campaign on Patreon:👉 https://patreon.com/ttjourneys🌍 Want to play in this same shared universe?Join our community on Facebook and Discord:👉 Discord: https://discord.gg/tabletopjourneys🌐 Website: https://tabletopjourneys.com--------------🎙️ MORE FROM TABLETOP JOURNEYS 🧭 On the Right Path – Bite-sized GM advice. 🖖 Star Trek: Preservations – Cinematic Star Trek Adventures Actual Play. ☕ Tabletop Café – Conversations with creators and the tabletop community.--------------Star Trek Adventures RPG is published by Modiphius Entertainment🛸 Star Trek and all related marks, logos, and characters are owned by CBS Studios Inc. 🎲 Star Trek Adventures is published by Modiphius Entertainment. 🎲 2d20 System Designer: Nathan Dowdell 📊 Project Manager: Jim JohnsonCharacter Sheet images courtesy of the 🌐STA Character Builder (BC Holmes): https://sta.bcholmes.org 👏 Special Shout Out: BC Holmes (https://www.patreon.com/c/bcholmes/posts)

He wrote the book on how to run better games with less prep. Then he wrote a better book. And now Mike Shea of Sly Flourish is sitting down with us at Tabletop Journeys and this conversation does NOT disappoint.

If you're a Game Master who has ever stared at a blank page two hours before session, built an entire world your players will never see, or wondered why skill challenges always feel a little off at the table, you aren't alone. MIke is here to help!

We talk through the origin story of the legendary Eight Steps, break down the difference between clocks and skill challenges (and why one of them is actually better for improv GMs), take a peek inside the new book *Rise of the Lazy Game Master*.

Timestamps:

00:00:47 Introduction

00:03:06 Mike's bio/background

00:06:15 Origin of the Eight Steps

00:16:47 Is overpreparing actually "prep" or is it something else?

00:30:37 Do you ever feel like you're repeating yourself?

00:36:05 The tech/tools. Generators, artisanal database, GitHub

00:40:36 Clocks vs. Skill Challenges

00:48:51 Favorite style/genre to run vs. play

00:52:47 Closing question

00:58:00 Rise of the Lazy Gamemaster

Whether you're running your first campaign or your fiftieth, this one has something for you. Share it with your DM, your whole party, your entire Discord server. Let's get this conversation going in the comments. 💬⬇️

And remember:

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🔗 Links & Resources mentioned in the episode:

- 🎲 **Rise of the Lazy Game Master on Kickstarter:** https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/slyflourish/rise-of-the-lazy-game-master

- 🌐 **Sly Flourish:** https://slyflourish.com

- 🧰 **Sly Flourish Tools & Generators (GitHub):** https://github.com/SlyFlourish

Also discussed:

- 🎮 **Blades in the Dark** (clocks mechanic) — Evil Hat Productions

- 🚀 **Nimble RPG** — Evan Diaz

- 🖖 **Star Trek Adventures** — Modiphius Entertainment

- 📚 *The Expanse* RPG & novels (James S.A. Corey / Traveller roots)

🗺️ Tabletop Journeys links:

Patreon: [patreon.com/ttjourneys](http://patreon.com/ttjourneys)

Bluesky: @ttjourneys.bsky.social

Facebook: [www.facebook.com/ttjourneys](https://www.facebook.com/ttjourneys)

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneys

Website: https://ttjourneys.com/

Email: [email protected]

#TTRPG #DnD #DungeonsAndDragons #SlyFlourish #MikeShea #LazyDungeonMaster #DungeonMasterTips #GameMasterTips #TabletopRPG #TTRPGCommunity #DnD5e #RPGPrep #GameMaster #LazyGM #TabletopGaming #Kickstarter #IndieRPG #DrHomebrew #TabletopJourneys