Most RPGs tell a story of some kind. Some are deeper than others, but there is a story hiding under the cover of the mechanics somewhere. Since most RPGs are played in a group, this makes the storytelling collaborative. At least, it should be collaborative. If it’s not, then the person telling the story to […]

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GC_215_tryingnewgames-final.mp3 Join Ang along with Jared and Tomas as they talk about how to get a group stuck on playing one particular game to try something else. Links: Wildmage Press Deerstalker Pictures The Forever DM Hearth Magazine

Part 1 of a 3 part series on dice analysis: a general approach

If you’ve done some tabletop and dabbled in or heard about some larp, there’s one thing I think everyone who appreciates a good collaborative, mechanics light game has picked up on: the conversations about safety in larp are lightyears ahead of what we’re talking about at the table. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking […]

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/GC_214_Styles-of-play_Final.mp3 Join Ang, along with Josh and Senda as they talk about the different styles of roleplaying games and why it can help improve your experience to understand what types you enjoy most. Links: Conscience USA Origins Game Fair 2025 Book Riot – Fight Back Against Book Bans

I am Phil, and I am suffering from Session Interruptus, and it’s impacting my gaming and feelings about gaming.  Lately, I can’t seem to get two concurrent sessions of a game to go off, that I am either running or in which I am playing. There is no central reason; it is a series of […]

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CG_213_Lou_Anders_Fury_of_the_Forsaken_final.mp3 Join Jared as he interviews Lou Anders and discusses Fury of the Forsaken. An addition to the Thrones and Bones, it explores Norrøngard, a setting inspired by Norse myth and Scandinavian folklore. Links: Fury of the Forsaken Kickstarter

The Chaos Gremlin archetype looks at the chaotic square on an alignment chart and says, "I'll take two." These are the people who read, "In a TTRPG, you can do anything you can imagine," and just said, "Bet." The fantasy of a Chaos Gremlin is one of ultimate freedom. They embody the no gods, no kings, no masters mindset. They're the epitome of "Doing it for the plot." And they don't see a reason to follow the rules because rules are all made up anyway.

Here’s a strong opinion of mine. I’ll die on a hill defending this opinion as well. Here goes. The main point of role playing games is to get a group together to tell stories in a collaborative and fun manner while using a set of rules to guide the storytelling though its paces. Let’s break […]

It’s a classic TTRPG punchline: the GM spends hours crafting a recurring villain—personality, motivation, master plan, and fatal flaw—and 20 minutes into his grand debut, the players kill him. This is followed by hastily retconning someone else into being the “real” head villain. Some GMs use cults or cabals instead of named villains. Others hold […]