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Episodes
Short, bite-sized RPG advice, tips, and tricks for DMs and players of tabletop role playing games (TTRPG)
Episodes
7 days ago
7 days ago
Please accept my apologies that this episode sounds a bit hollow. I am having problems with Hindenburg, my audio processing software and their support has been very unsupportive. I’m working to get the audio issue fixed.
In this episode, we’re flipping the script to explore the reasonable expectations players should have of their GMs. We’re breaking down why the DM screen is an honor, not a crown, and discussing the three essential pillars of a great game. Give this episode a listen!
#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #playertips
Resources:
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
Sunday Jun 07, 2026
Sunday Jun 07, 2026
Game night being derailed by players poor attitudes, unsure actions, and unreliability? Don’t be that player. In this episode I talk about the social contract of tabletop RPGs and what YOU can do to support your DM and not be a distraction.
#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #playertips
Resources:
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
Sunday May 24, 2026
Sunday May 24, 2026
Is your long-running RPG group stuck in a rut, playing the same game system year after year? In this episode, we tackle the toughest quest in tabletop gaming: convincing your friends to try something new. I’ll talk about reasons for resistance, the best arguments for trying new systems and some tips for making it successful
#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #NewRPG
Resources:
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/taking20podcast.bsky.social
Chris Cocks Interview: https://www.gamesradar.com/tabletop-gaming/our-players-are-going-to-be-pretty-psyched-hasbro-ceo-talks-d-and-d-video-games-and-playing-to-win/
Ep 184 - Preparing One Shots - https://www.taking20podcast.com/e/ep-184-preparing-one-shots/
Ep 221 - Rules Light RPGs - https://www.taking20podcast.com/e/ep-221-rules-light-rpgs/
Sunday May 10, 2026
Sunday May 10, 2026
Let’s look at Golems! Mindless, magically-constructed automatons that are the ultimate guardians. We break down the classic types—Flesh, Clay, Stone, and Iron and give some essential DM tips for deploying these terrifying, tireless constructs in your D&D and Pathfinder campaigns.
#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #golems
Resources:
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/taking20podcast.bsky.social
Sunday Apr 19, 2026
Sunday Apr 19, 2026
Want to make your characters better? Consider adding flaws to your character. What kinds of flaws are there and how do you add them in a way that’s not disruptive to the game? Give this episode a listen and find out.
#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #playertips #tabletop #backstory
Resources:
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/taking20podcast.bsky.social
WOTC TRPG Publishing Lead - https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4385555228/
Sunday Apr 05, 2026
Sunday Apr 05, 2026
Want to make your characters better? Consider adding flaws to your character. What kinds of flaws are there and how do you add them in a way that’s not disruptive to the game? Give this episode a listen and find out.
#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #playertips #tabletop #flaws
Resources:
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/taking20podcast.bsky.social
Sunday Mar 22, 2026
Sunday Mar 22, 2026
NOTE: My apologies for the audio quality. The entire recording/audio processing chain was rushed this week.
Is your TTRPG campaign falling apart after only a few sessions? The problem might be that you need a Session Zero. In this third part of our "setting expectations" series we dive into the vital, often-overlooked conversations DMs and players need to have before rolling the first die. Learn how to align your creative visions, manage game logistics, and agree on crucial player safety tools to ensure everyone is on board with the social contract for a lasting, fun adventure.
#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #playertips #tabletop #startingcampaign #sessionzero #session0
Resources:
Ep 47 - Comprehensive Session 0 Guide for DMs - https://www.taking20podcast.com/e/ep-47-comprehensive-session-0-guide-for-dms/
Ep 48 - Session 0 Guide for Players - https://www.taking20podcast.com/e/ep-48-less-comprehensive-session-0-guide-for-pcs/
Ep 271 - Setting & Tone - https://www.taking20podcast.com/e/ep-271-setting-and-tone/
Ep 214 - House Rules to Make Your Game Easier - https://www.taking20podcast.com/e/ep-214-house-rules-to-make-your-game-easier/
Ep 215 - House Rules to Make Your Game Harder - https://www.taking20podcast.com/e/ep-215-house-rules-to-make-your-game-harder/
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/taking20podcast.bsky.social
Sunday Mar 08, 2026
Sunday Mar 08, 2026
In this episode we continue the “setting expectations” series, hopefully helping to stop mismatched expectations from derailing your TTRPG campaign! GMs, this episode is packed with practical advice for designing and effectively communicating your game's Tone and Setting.
#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #playertips #tabletop #tone #setting #expectations
Resources:
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/taking20podcast.bsky.social
Sunday Feb 22, 2026
Sunday Feb 22, 2026
Ready to start your TTRPG campaign in some way besides a boring tavern? Episode 270 is here to help! We dive deep into the real purpose of a campaign's beginning and explore three powerful ways to unite your party from the jump
#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #playertips #tabletop #startingcampaign
Resources:
Episode 47 - Comprehensive Session 0 Guide for DMs - https://www.taking20podcast.com/e/ep-47-comprehensive-session-0-guide-for-dms/
Episode 100 - Starting Anywhere But A Tavern - https://www.taking20podcast.com/e/episode-100-starting-anywhere-but-a-tavern/
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/taking20podcast.bsky.social
Sunday Feb 01, 2026
Sunday Feb 01, 2026
Do your descriptions fall flat? Are your characters, locations, and NPCs just static items in time that never change? In this episode I’ll give players some tips for changing their character descriptions and for GMs to change NPC and place descriptions to improve their game.
#rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #playertips #tabletop #burnout #descriptions
Resources:
Crispy’s Tavern, The Real Matt Mercer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV-4HnJT_Rg
Roll 4 Initiative - A Guide to Better Descriptions - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhFmAW3KIYY
Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/taking20podcast.bsky.social