Oops, All Corpses: Making TPKs Fun, Fair, and Hilariously Devastating

Now on YouTube! That's right—RPGBOT.net is bringing the RPGBOT.Podcast archive to YouTube, so now you can re-live your favorite episodes or finally hear all the ones you missed while you were rolling death saves. Whether you're commuting, cooking, or crying over your latest character sheet, we've got you covered with full episodes, remastered for maximum tabletop chaos.

Episode Notes In this hilariously grim episode, the RPGBOT.Podcast crew puts the "fun" back in "TPK." That's right—we’re talking about Total Party Kills: when the dice betray you, the GM stops pulling punches, and your entire party is wiped out like yesterday’s initiative order.

Tyler, Randall, and Ash dissect the delicious disaster of a good ol’ fashioned TPK—from the tactical errors that cause them to the storytelling opportunities they unlock. Whether your death was noble, stupid, or hilariously ironic, the gang’s got hot takes and hard truths about why sometimes, failure is the most fun you can have with your character sheet still smoking.

Also: funeral pyres, surviving by plot armor, and the one time someone definitely had it coming.

RPGBOT.Pocast Episodes

• RPGBOT.Podcast Episode 10 – Horror
• RPGBOT.Podcast Episode 9 – Death
• RPGBOT.Podcast S2E10 – Session 0
• Mörk Borg Cult: Heretic – RPGBOT.News S2E32
• Fate of the Norns – RPGBOT.News S3E33
• Doomed Forgotten Realms – RPGBOT.News S2E50

Content from RPGBOT.net

• Fate of the Norns – A Review
• DnD 5e – Practical Guide to Summoning Spells

Other Stuff

• Leroy Jenkins
• Planescape: Torment
• Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft (affiliate link)

Topics Covered:

• What actually qualifies as a TPK (spoiler: one wizard running off doesn’t count).
• When to kill 'em all—and when to fudge the dice.
• How to make character death meaningful and not just “you slipped in a trap again.”
• Player buy-in and embracing the end like a dramatic Shakespearean hero.
• GM tips for turning a TPK into a launchpad for the next arc (or next party).
• The glory of high-stakes gameplay—because sometimes, you really should fight the dragon at level 3.

Key Takeaways:

• Not all TPKs are bad: A well-earned TPK can be an epic finale, a new beginning, or a group-wide punchline.
• Fairness matters: If you’re going to kill the party, make sure they had a fighting chance—or at least a cool last stand.
• Story is king: A good TPK should feel like a narrative climax, not just a punishment for bad tactics (though sometimes it’s both).
• Session Zero helps: Set expectations early—if your GM is a killer DM, your group should know they’re not here for storytime with Elmo.
• Debrief after death: Processing character loss together helps the group move forward—and maybe even laugh about it.
• Use TPKs creatively: Whether as a tragic end, a heroic sacrifice, or the cursed prequel to the real campaign, lean into the drama.
• Reincarnation is a thing: In fantasy RPGs, death might not be the end—unless it really needs to be.

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

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

Ash Ely

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

Randall James

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

Producer Dan

• @Lzr_illuminati