Chapter 3 of Curse of Strahd reads like a Barovian Career Fair. Choose from: Trapped in Cellar, Doll-like Bride, Buried Father, Ground Into Pie. Or get your degree. You can major in Expectations Management or Accounting. critical-lit.simplecast.com/episodes/cri...

Chapter 2 of our Barovian tour closes with an illuminating look at Vistani leader Madam Eva that should have come much earlier! The Mad Mage is, and Strahd might just be the Demiurge of Gnostic myth. Hylics of the world unite! critical-lit.simplecast.com/episodes/cri...

There once was a peasant named Vlad Who felt neither happy nor sad With no soul inside T'wasn't grim when they died Though the dirt nap did drive them quite mad ^^^ This is our way of saying that in this new episode LIVE NOW we talk all about soulless Barovians without souls (and much more)!

TPT #393: #DrawSteel Review. @ihsien.bsky.social & @mundangerous.bsky.social accrue Drama in an extra-long review of @hellomcdm.bsky.social's new #RPG system. We walk you through the classes, ancestries, rules & rewards & let you know if it’s worth buying. megaphone.link/OSPN8564423138

Our second episode on Curse of Strahd is live! We talked about the Tarokka deck, the kinda iffy portrayal of the Vistani, the provided adventure Hooks (s/o creeping fog), and Thee Death House

I-Hsien's new podcast drops today! Critical Lit is a cross between a book review and MST3K, a tongue-in-cheek re-examination of classic RPG modules that answers important questions like What is the nature of a predator? and Is Strahd hot or not? He's joined by Dan Dillon, Amelia Som & Sal Tamarkin.

TPT #392: Daggerheart Review. @wairpodcast.bsky.social host @fkth.bsky.social joins @ihsien.bsky.social to review the new RPG from @criticalrole.bsky.social's @darringtonpress.bsky.social to let you know if it’s worth bringing to your table. #ttrpg megaphone.link/OSPN5397530559

TPT #391: #DnD 2024 Final Thoughts and Alternative RPG Systems. @ihsien.bsky.social & @mundangerous.bsky.social drop a final assessment of the newest D&D system—and suggest other options for gaming groups that don’t want to make the switch. #ttrpg #rpg megaphone.link/OSPN3929564703

TPT #390: 2025 #DnD 5e Monster Manual Review. In this extra-long cover-to-cover review, @ihsien.bsky.social & @mundangerous.bsky.social analyze the changes to monster lore, math & design philosophy. #ttrpg megaphone.link/OSPN1192426661

TPT #389: Responsible Representation and the New #DnD 2024 Monk. @ihsien.bsky.social is joined by @danielhkwan.itch.io of @aznsrepresent.bsky.social to talk about aesthetic & mechanical changes to the monk & how to portray real-world cultures authentically. megaphone.link/OSPN1327003335 #ttrpg

TPT #388: Playing Lone Wolves and Antisocial Characters—Without Being a Jerk About It. @ihsien.bsky.social & @mundangerous.bsky.social discuss how to play grumpy, ornery, recalcitrant PCs, without pissing off the group. And in Gates of Mourning, the party scrubs in. megaphone.link/OSPN7400471173

TPT #387: Handling High-Level Magic & Game-Breaking Effects. @ihsien.bsky.social & @mundangerous.bsky.social discuss how to run and adjudicate powerful, open-ended magic, artifacts, and technology. And the party reconnects in the Gates of Mourning campaign. megaphone.link/OSPN4490100006

TPT #386: Comparing RPG Crafting Systems & Building Your Own. @ihsien.bsky.social & @mundangerous.bsky.social discuss what makes a robust and fun item crafting system. (Hint: Your game probably doesn’t have one.) And in Gates of Mourning, the party gets grim news. #dnd megaphone.link/OSPN3902911332

TPT #385: How to Homebrew RPG Houserules That Your Table Won’t Hate. @ihsien.bsky.social & @mundangerous.bsky.social discuss creating table rules to help everyone have more fun & the party reunites with their oldest friend in Gates of Mourning #dnd #ttrpg megaphone.link/OSPN6929185386

TPT #384: 2024 #DnD 5e Dungeon Master’s Guide Review. @ihsien.bsky.social & @mundangerous.bsky.social discuss the new rules for running adventures, DM tools, magic items & bastions. How does it stack up to previous DMGs & is it worth adding to your collection? #ttrpg open.spotify.com/episode/3GQb...