Tycho's Tales

We're back with a GM support group, where we talk about directing player characters, low-prep campaigns, and preparing NPCs before environments.

Tycho's Tales is an informal discussion podcast about tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. Get in touch by sending us a text message or an email, and find out more about us at https://tychostales.com/about.

Episodes are released every Tuesday at 5 pm GMT (or, for the Kiwis, every Wednesday at 6 am NZST).

This week we talk about the state of the tabletop RPG scene, including recent WoTC drama, and competition among different systems.

Tycho's Tales is an informal discussion podcast about tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. Get in touch by sending us a text message or an email, and find out more about us at https://tychostales.com/about.

Episodes are released every Tuesday at 5 pm GMT (or, for the Kiwis, every Wednesday at 6 am NZST).

This episode contains minor spoilers for the Riftwar Saga book series by Raymond E. Feist.

Welcome to our inaugural fantasy book club episode! Besides talking about a few fantasy books, we talk about an alternative mana system for managing spell slots, and some controversial takes on fudging numbers and dice rolls. 

Tycho's Tales is an informal discussion podcast about tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. Get in touch by sending us a text message or an email, and find out more about us at https://tychostales.com/about.

Episodes are released every Tuesday at 5 pm GMT (or, for the Kiwis, every Wednesday at 6 am NZST).

We wonder whether a gritty-realism campaign would actually be fun, and talk about AD&D's resurrection mechanic, the rarity of magic, righteous and wrong character decisions, wish fulfilment and roleplaying the apocalypse. 

Referenced in this episode: 

• Wyloch's Armory - I bought a sealed D&D 2nd Edition Starter Set for $350......let's unbox it.

Tycho's Tales is an informal discussion podcast about tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. Get in touch by sending us a text message or an email, and find out more about us at https://tychostales.com/about.

Episodes are released every Tuesday at 5 pm GMT (or, for the Kiwis, every Wednesday at 6 am NZST).

In this episode, we talk about currency and the economy in TTRPGs, why you should consider playing a Druid if you're planning on becoming an evil mastermind, and living with the consequences of your actions. 

Tycho's Tales is an informal discussion podcast about tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. Get in touch by sending us a text message or an email, and find out more about us at https://tychostales.com/about.

Episodes are released every Tuesday at 5 pm GMT (or, for the Kiwis, every Wednesday at 6 am NZST).

We talk about our magical evening at The Golden Gnome, Little Beer Quarter's fantasy alter-ego. 

Tycho's Tales is an informal discussion podcast about tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. Get in touch by sending us a text message or an email, and find out more about us at https://tychostales.com/about.

Episodes are released every Tuesday at 5 pm GMT (or, for the Kiwis, every Wednesday at 6 am NZST).

We're reviewing all of the changes to classes in D&D's 2024 rules update; this time, the Sorcerer! We cover changes to the spellcasting rules and existing features Font of Magic, Metamagic and Sorcerous Restoration; as well as new features Innate Sorcery, Sorcery Reincarnate and Arcane Apotheosis. We also cover changes to the four included subclasses: Draconic Bloodline, Wild Magic, Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul. 

Referenced in this episode: 

• 2024 Sorcerer vs. 2014 Sorcerer: What’s New
• New Sorcerer | 2024 Player's Handbook | D&D

Tycho's Tales is an informal discussion podcast about tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. Get in touch by sending us a text message or an email, and find out more about us at https://tychostales.com/about.

Episodes are released every Tuesday at 5 pm GMT (or, for the Kiwis, every Wednesday at 6 am NZST).

We're reviewing all of the changes to classes in D&D's 2024 rules update; this time, the Fighter! We cover changes to Fighting Styles, Second Wind and Indomitable; as well as new features Weapon Mastery, Tactical Mind, Tactical Shift, Tactical Master and Studied Attacks. We also cover changes to the the four included subclasses: Battle Master, Champion, Eldritch Knight and Psi Warrior. 

Referenced in this episode: 

• New Fighter | 2024 Player's Handbook | D&D 
• 2024 Fighter vs. 2014 Fighter: What’s New 
• We Need To Talk About D&D's New Warriors (Fighter, Barbarian and Paladin) 
• The D&D 2024 Fighter Is Really Good 

Tycho's Tales is an informal discussion podcast about tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. Get in touch by sending us a text message or an email, and find out more about us at https://tychostales.com/about.

Episodes are released every Tuesday at 5 pm GMT (or, for the Kiwis, every Wednesday at 6 am NZST).

We're reviewing all of the changes to classes in D&D's 2024 rules update; this time, the Wizard! We cover changes to cantrips, the number of prepared spells, spellcasting foci and Spell Mastery; as well as new features Scholar and Memorize Spell. We also take a look at the updated subclass Savant feature, and dive into the four included subclasses: Abjurer, Diviner, Evoker and Illusionist. 

Referenced in this episode: 

• D&D's NEW Wizard | D&D 2024 | How good is it? 
• The Best and Worst New Classes In D&D - Full Breakdown (Wizard, Warlock, Druid, Rogue) 
• 2024 Wizard vs. 2014 Wizard: What’s New 
• New Wizard | 2024 Player's Handbook | D&D 

Tycho's Tales is an informal discussion podcast about tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. Get in touch by sending us a text message or an email, and find out more about us at https://tychostales.com/about.

Episodes are released every Tuesday at 5 pm GMT (or, for the Kiwis, every Wednesday at 6 am NZST).

We're reviewing all of the changes to classes in D&D's 2024 rules update, starting with the Barbarian! We cover changes to Rage, Danger Sense and Relentless Rage, as well as a bunch of new features including Weapon Mastery, Primal Knowledge, Instinctive Pounce, Brutal Strike, and the Epic Boon. We also cover changes to the existing two subclasses, Path of the Berzerker and Path of the Wild Heart (formerly Totem Warrior), as well as the two new subclasses (at least to the base PHB), Path of the World Tree and Path of the Zealot. 

Referenced in this episode: 

• 2024 Barbarian vs. 2014 Barbarian: What’s New 
• Your Guide to Weapon Mastery in the 2024 Player's Handbook 
• The 2024 D&D Barbarian is a GAME Changer - Insight Check 

Tycho's Tales is an informal discussion podcast about tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. Get in touch by sending us a text message or an email, and find out more about us at https://tychostales.com/about.

Episodes are released every Tuesday at 5 pm GMT (or, for the Kiwis, every Wednesday at 6 am NZST).