This week we polled our discord for their "hot takes" on things in the TTRPG world. This could be anything from system design, acceptance of rules, homebrew, anything at all. And we were delighted by the number of responses we received. Sara an

Table Lingo

8 days ago 1h 7m

TTRPGs often have their own lexicon of terms we need to learn to engage with the game, with terms like "THAC0" and "Benny" to describe the mechanics. The in-game world can often have unique terms as well, with "Netrunners sporting some preem ch

System Spotlight: Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy

15 days ago 2h 8m

Tonight's show is our April System Spotlight, and it is focused on System Spotlight: Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy. This urban fantasy investigative ttrpg trusts your intellect, and has its gameplay focused on WHO your character is, with

Dessert in Storytelling

22 days ago 1h

Not every session needs to be about the plot. Sometimes your characters need to see what makes life worth living, talk to other NPCs, or simply just fool around. This week, Sara and Rob will be addressing the moments in stories when players and

Game systems that we would love to see

28 days ago 1h 15m

Special Note: This show had some audio issues, the opening is a bit different due to this. We are sorry.After 5 years of system spotlights, Sara and Rob have seen a ton of different settings and themes for games. But this just opened the door

Is D&D Hurting the Hobby?

Mar 21st, 2024 1h 38m

A frequent rant of Sara’s has been about the damage that D&D has done to the gaming community. This week, she officially drags out the soap box and takes a good long deep dive into the full negative impact that D&D5e’s popularity has done to th

System Spotlight: Tiny D6 (Tiny Taverns)

Mar 14th, 2024 1h 11m

Do you have 3 six sided dice, some 3x5 notecards, pens, and a bit of time? Well you can not only learn but also play Tiny D6! This week Rob & Sara review this minimalistic rule set that explores many different settings.Listen to us live, ever

OSR vs Narrative

Mar 7th, 2024 1h 14m

Ok, we are Storyteller Conclave not “roll the dice and consult the charts” Anonymous. But why can’t we have stories in OSR? What makes dice such an adverse reaction to narrative. This week Rob and Sara pull back their sleeves and start to discu

What BDSM teaches us about TTRPGs

Feb 29th, 2024 1h 28m

It’s come up more than once when writing shows and its time to bring it to light. Sara and Rob have made more than one reference between BDSM and TTRPGs and how much it can teach. So find a comfy leather back chair, grab a warm drink, and be at

Evolving Relationships

Feb 22nd, 2024 1h 19m

Love and Hate are extremes that follow our PC’s and NPC’s alike. But there are shades of gray, moments of understanding, and possibly even attraction that can infiltrate. Join Rob and Sara as they pen letters of envy on the topic of Evolving Re

System Spotlight: Thirsty Sword Lesbians

Feb 15th, 2024 1h 29m

Defined as “joyously fun and disastrously romantic”, Thirsty Sword Lesbians, from Evil Hat Games, is our system spotlight for this very RED month. Keeping up with the theme of February, Sara and Rob grab their weapons, don their gayest apparel,

Adult Themes

Feb 8th, 2024 1h 12m

TTRPGs are often about escape from reality, a step away from the drama of our lives. But there are still adult themes there to explore. No, not just romance, but loss, grief, depression, and even death. This week Rob and Sara step into the mont

How Games Teach Us to Play Them

Feb 1st, 2024 1h 27m

We say it in our system spotlights, “Games teach you how to play them”. Things like instincts, backgrounds, hubris/virtue, and goals give PCs direction for their characters. This episode, Rob & Sara round up those tools and discuss how that cou

Escapism vs Realism

Jan 18th, 2024 1h 17m

While framing stories, we often want the game to feel a particular way. A key part of that is how “real” it should feel and what consequences should be. This episode, Rob and Sara will discuss where escapism and realism collide when defining fe

System Spotlight: Wanderhome

Jan 11th, 2024 1h 11m

Wanderhome is a “slice of life” TTRPG, where players explore their characters versus the world around them through conversation and moves. So this week Rob and Sara will take a journey, village to village, season to season, to explore the mecha

Keeping group harmony

Jan 4th, 2024 1h 12m

It’s one thing to have a good group play well together, but another to have their methods of play mesh. One might be an opportunist, another plans, and others just want to adopt NPCs. This week Sara and Rob discuss what group harmony looks like

Year End Review 2023

Dec 28th, 2023 1h 19m

Let's sit back, relax, and recap the year. Join us live @ 7pm Eastern on MixLR.com/storyteller-conclave for our Year-End Review! The Discord Live Chat will be open to all, so please come hang out with us! Ask questions, review the year, and tal

Handling Stealth Scenes

Dec 21st, 2023 1h 20m

Stealth is a mechanic that nearly every TTRPG has. Who hasn’t dreamt of playing the mysterious ninja or catburglar? However, it can seem like your players are avoiding all of the obstacles you've laid out! This week, Sara & Rob discuss the best

System Spotlight: Star Trek Adventures

Dec 14th, 2023 1h 41m

With a TV series that started back in 1966, Star Trek is the longest continuously running universe ever to grace our media. This week Sara and Rob will be reviewing one of the newest TTRPG adaptations by Modiphius Entertainment, and boldly goin

Storytelling 202: Lifelike NPCs

Dec 7th, 2023 1h 40m

As Storytellers, we strive to make our games feel like living worlds. Having lifelike NPCs can make or break that feeling of immersion. This week, Sara & Rob take a deep-dive into the best ways to make your NPCs not only feel like they belong,

The Core Gameplay Loop

Nov 30th, 2023 1h 10m

Often recognized as the “compulsion loop”, TTRPG’s contain a core gameplay loop that we build into our games. But it isn’t the same loop if it's narrative or more combative. This week Sara and Rob discuss a few different loops that games have a

Game Mechanic Swap Meet

Nov 23rd, 2023 1h 15m

Every game system has something unique to offer; a reputation system, a world building tool, a neat relationship mechanic. Is there any reason we shouldn't borrow these mechanics for our own games? This week, Sara & Rob look at mechanics that a

Reskinning Stories

Nov 16th, 2023 1h 20m

We all struggle with the thought that our plots might not be "original." There are only 9 basic plots, after all! This week, Sara & Rob discuss how to lean into repurposing plots for your own home games by filing off the identifying marks and u

System Spotlight: Monster of the Week

Nov 9th, 2023 1h 19m

This week, Sara & Rob shine the Systems Spotlight on Monster of the Week by @EvilHatOfficial. Hunt high school beasties a la Buffy the Vampire Slayer, travel the country to bring down unnatural creatures like Supernatural, or lead the governmen

Storytelling 202 : MacGuffins

Nov 2nd, 2023 1h 1m

A storytelling trope that spans into any genre, is the MacGuffin - the object of importance that sits at the center of the story. The heroes and villains both seek it, and control of it means victory! This week, Sara & Rob look at interesting w