Tycho's Tales

Guys, it's an average-length episode I swear. We talk about NPCs giving out information, and dice. Wow, that sounds boring.

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 Pathfinder, and making character-focused adventures; and also speculate wildly about the Cosmere RPG. This episode contains some spoilers for the second Mistborn trilogy.

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 some recent instances of intra-party conflict (when some of our player characters had... disagreements with one another), the benefits and potential drawbacks of that sort of roleplay, and how to navigate it so that everyone still has fun at the table. 

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, f...

We make up a dumb spell-of-the-week: https://tychostales.com/articles/sharizes-charm-differential-etherealness/

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 a bunch of spoilers for The Wheel of Time. Obviously :)

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 Michael E. Shea's excellent essay on spiral campaign development, from the Kobold Guide to Worldbuilding Volume 2 (Kobold Press).

Michael also goes by Sly Flourish, and you can find a version of this essay on his website: https://slyflourish.com/spiral_campaign_building.html.

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...

We continue our chat with Matt about his experience playing D&D for the first time; character sheet nostalgia; player preparation etiquette; and, for some reason, again, LARPing.

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 joined by special guest Matt to chat about his first time playing D&D. We talk about how difficult it is to get into roleplaying; discovering creativity; bad habits; and the possibly apocryphal Ocean Schlaggermine.

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 the horrific film Mazes and Monsters; one-shots; guest appearances; and roleplaying serious characters.

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 back with new listener mail about The Lord of the Rings; we complain with no self-awareness or irony about negativity and clickbait from TTRPG content creators; and Walt gets some suspicious beads.

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 metagaming, different types of encounters, healing in tabletop and video RPGs, and low-stakes combat.

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 about to make characters for a new campaign, so we talk about how we think about character motivations, alignment and backstories; how you should use your own personality; the relationship between min-maxing and roleplaying; and why it's always a work in progress. 

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 t...

We talk about spells we'd like to take in real life, and why The Lord of the Rings is still so damn 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 talk about the relative value of a life; inherent evil in modern fantasy; and RPGs as vehicles for moral questions.

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).

The story of the first time I used the classic Cleric feature, Divine Intervention.

Note that my interpretation of a d100 is inconsistent with rules as written; I've written at length about why I think the official rules are bonkers. 

Referenced in this episode: 

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...

We make a level two Fighter using the 2024 rules. It's recommended only to listen to this episode if you have a great disdain for your own time.

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 audiobooks, Discworld, The Name of the Wind, Game of Thrones, the Stormlight Archive and Cosmere RPG, and other nerdy things. 

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 recent one-shot, The Hangover.

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 which Stringybutt Lotsalegs has her special day.

Music by Robert Mullis, Olivia Moore and Tabletop Audio.

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).

The gang goes to Fellbarrow...

Music by Olivia Moore, Calum Robertson, and Aim to Head.

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 upcoming actual-play homebrew one-shot, The Hangover.

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 dungeons. (No dragons though.) And puzzles.

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 LLMs in tabletop RPGs, Wild Shapes, the danger of jumping to conclusions, and NPC personalities. The 'jumping to conclusions' chapter contains some minor spoilers for the Storm Lord's Wrath module.

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 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.

E...

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: 

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.

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: 

Tycho's Tales is an informal discussion podcast about tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Drag...

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: 

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: 

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: 

This episode contains minor spoilers for Exandria Unlimited: Calamity and the Mistborn series. 

In this GM support group episode, we talk about making three-dimensional antagonists; gods and religion; improvisational and empathetic GMing; political systems; safe NPCs; and the fact that nobody ever thinks the same way that you do. 

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 re...

We talk about the implications for multiclassing of One D&D's standardisation of subclasses at level three, and our experiences GMing and playing in campaigns in the Feywild. 

Referenced in this episode: 

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...

What's the difference between LARPing and cosplay? Is a PhD in philosophy worth it? We've also brought back our much-lauded Spell of the Week segment courtesy of Walt just wanting to play a barbarian, and Lars takes us back to school. 

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, e...

In this GM support group episode, we talk about what makes a good one-shot for audiences vs home games; Brennan Lee Mulligan; and reasonable people in unreasonable worlds. 

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 the most important thing that players can bring to the table; what we found surprising in our campaigns; unintended consequences of d100s; accidentally learning about ourselves through our characters; and our incredibly unqualified opinions on LARPing. This last part was basically recorded to give us a bunch of content for future Correction of the Week segments; you're welcome. 

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 fi...

In this episode, we talk in depth about multi-phase combat encounters, how we think about lore and worldbuilding, and why you shouldn't get too attached to things. 

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 a bunch of spoilers for the D&D and Lego collaboration adventure, Red Dragon's Tale. 

We talk about our experiences building the set, and playing and GMing the adventure, including what we thought about the Lego itself, the character builds, itemization, storyline, pacing, combat encounters, and overall reflections on the adventure. 

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/ab...