Taking 20 Podcast

By Taking 20 PodcastLeisure Games

Taking 20 Podcast episodes

October 04 Ep 285 - Mentoring Players and DMs
There’s an art to any kind of mentorship but it’s a critical skill for all of us to learn to bring new players and DMs to the table. Tune in for some of my tips for guiding the next generation to become the TTRPG players and DMs for tomorrow’s games.

#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #playertips #mentoring

Resources:
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
www.taking20podcast.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
22 min
September 20 Ep 284 - Better PCs & NPCs
Ever feel like you're spending too long coming up with backstories or detailed NPC lore that your players completely ignore—or worse, that your characters end up feeling flat at the table? Give this a listen for some essential advice for both GMs and players on how to make your NPCs and PCs truly come alive.
Also, my apologies that the sound quality is a bit diminished this episode, I had a lot of hard “P” and “B” sounds to remove (called plosives) and didn’t have time to do a re-record.
#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #PC #NPC
Resources:
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
www.taking20podcast.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
21 min
September 06 Ep 283 - Saying No
Ever feel like your players' chaotic choices are steering your campaign off a cliff? In this episode, we explore the ultimate tool for protecting your game, your players, and your own sanity: the word "No"
#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #sayingno #no
Resources:
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
www.taking20podcast.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
22 min
August 23 Ep 282 - Cults
Are your players tired of generic hooded villains who just want to be evil for the sake of it? Let’s dive deep into the mechanics of cults, exploring how to craft antagonists that are active, isolationist (or even well-integrated), and genuinely dangerous. Discover how to transform faceless goons into compelling, campaign-level threats that will keep your players guessing—and maybe even looking over their shoulders.

#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #cults

Resources:
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
www.taking20podcast.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
Episode 150 - Rovagug - https://www.taking20podcast.com/e/ep-150-rovagug/
Cult Generator: https://old.reddit.com/r/rpg_generators/comments/1vk05gi/new_generator_secret_society_cults_and/
28 min
August 09 Ep 281 - Soft Debilitating Conditions
Following up on Episode 280, this time we’re going to talk about soft debuffs - slow burn threats like poisons, diseases, curses, and lycanthropy. Tune in for my tips on how to handle these longer-term afflictions.

#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #playertips #debuffs #criticalfail

Resources:
Archives of Nethys: https://archivesofnethys.com/
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
www.taking20podcast.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
30 min
July 19 Ep 280 - Hard Debilitating Conditions
Let’s dive into the "hard debuffs" that threaten to end your players' fun—and their characters—in a single roll. From paralysis and petrification to mind-controlling charm spells, we discuss the fine balance between challenge and player agency. Join us for actionable DM tips on how to foreshadow these lethal threats and replace "save-or-suck" mechanics with progressive failures that keep the table engaged, not frustrated.

#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #playertips #debuffs #criticalfail

Resources:
Archives of Nethys Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nethys
Archives of Nethys: https://archivesofnethys.com/
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
www.taking20podcast.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
22 min
July 05 Ep 279 - Changing Characters
In this episode, we explore the pros and cons of letting players swap characters in the middle of a campaign. We discuss exit strategies, player motivations, and how DMs can facilitate this change with minimal loss to game momentum.

#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #playertips #characterchange
17 min
June 21 Ep 278 - Player Expectations of their GMs
Please accept my apologies that this episode sounds a bit hollow. I am having problems with Hindenburg, my audio processing software and their support has been very unsupportive. I’m working to get the audio issue fixed.

In this episode, we’re flipping the script to explore the reasonable expectations players should have of their GMs. We’re breaking down why the DM screen is an honor, not a crown, and discussing the three essential pillars of a great game. Give this episode a listen!

#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #playertips

Resources:
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
www.taking20podcast.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
22 min
June 07 Ep 277 - GM Expectations of Players
Game night being derailed by players poor attitudes, unsure actions, and unreliability? Don’t be that player. In this episode I talk about the social contract of tabletop RPGs and what YOU can do to support your DM and not be a distraction.

#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #playertips

Resources:
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
www.taking20podcast.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
19 min
May 24 Ep 276 - Try New Games
Is your long-running RPG group stuck in a rut, playing the same game system year after year? In this episode, we tackle the toughest quest in tabletop gaming: convincing your friends to try something new. I’ll talk about reasons for resistance, the best arguments for trying new systems and some tips for making it successful

#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #NewRPG

Resources:
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
www.taking20podcast.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/taking20podcast.bsky.social

Chris Cocks Interview: https://www.gamesradar.com/tabletop-gaming/our-players-are-going-to-be-pretty-psyched-hasbro-ceo-talks-d-and-d-video-games-and-playing-to-win/
Ep 184 - Preparing One Shots - https://www.taking20podcast.com/e/ep-184-preparing-one-shots/
Ep 221 - Rules Light RPGs - https://www.taking20podcast.com/e/ep-221-rules-light-rpgs/
28 min