Matt Herzberg's Stuff
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Matt Herzberg's Stuff
 
 

It all started when…

Two best friends decided to record their conversations about role playing games, in case one of them died (prematurely). Now this delve into the oddities of creative gaming is available to all (for better or worse). Yes, another podcast about dumb gaming nerd garbage …but that’s okay we promise it’s different and worth a try. Matty and Jesse aspire to delve deep into the very essence of what makes gaming uniquely great. With tips and tricks, esoteric philosophy, and meaningful examinations of weird mechanics.

This RPG podcast is the, needle in a stack of needles, you didn’t know you were looking for!

Latest Episode:

Looking for a specific episode of the Jaunty Mantis?

The Jaunty Mantis Podcast
S3:E2 - What Is Index Card RPG?
S3:E2 - What Is Index Card RPG?

Season 3 continues as the boys review Index Card RPG

Index Card RPG has slowly built a die-hard following of DIY RPG creators and players over the past 5 years. Until now, it has been found in 3 hardcopy books and numerous PDF's published by Runehammer.

This huge book combines ICRPG's numerous worlds, streamlined D20 rules and critically acclaimed GM know-how all in one PDF, all revised and updated with its latest playtest data, magic system, LOOT tables and so much more.

S3:E1 - What Is Velvet Generation?
S3:E1 - What Is Velvet Generation?

The boys are back for Season 3, Matty and Jesse revisit Velvet Generation for an in-depth review.

Velvet Generation is a tabletop roleplaying game of rock and revolution. Players step into the role of an underground band, trying to survive under the Ministry of Music’s bootheel long enough to strike back and topple the regime from below.

Bonus - Playlists Instead of Paragraphs?
Bonus - Playlists Instead of Paragraphs?

In this bonus episode, the boys have stumbled upon a different (and possibly better) way to create a character backstory. One that involves a playlist of songs instead of paragraphs of backstory.

Bonus - Should Mortal Engines Be A Campaign Setting
Bonus - Should Mortal Engines Be A Campaign Setting

Jesse and Matty talk about the 2018 movie, Mortal Engines and whether or not it would make for a good TTRPG campaign setting. The boys discuss possible mechanics, player options, and necessary thematics.

Bonus - Gaming Podcasts We Like
Bonus - Gaming Podcasts We Like

In this bonus episode, the boys discuss their favorite RPG podcasts

Bonus - Teaching Rules and Gamer Ego
Bonus - Teaching Rules and Gamer Ego

In this bonus episode, the boys discuss best practices for GM’s to teach new gaming systems to their players.

Bonus - Exploring Rifts
Bonus - Exploring Rifts

In this Bonus episode, the boys discuss Rifts and the character creation for their weekly gaming group

Bonus - Should Jesse Hack Dark Sun?
Bonus - Should Jesse Hack Dark Sun?

Jesse wants to hack the AD&D version of Dark Sun and Matty tries to talk him out of it. The boys discuss the core features and tone of the setting and the mechanics for a supplemental system.

Bonus - Avatar The Last Airbender, Star Trek, and For All Mankind
Bonus - Avatar The Last Airbender, Star Trek, and For All Mankind

In this bonus episode the boys talk about Avatar the Last Airbender, Start Trek, and their corresponding TTRPGs

Bonus - Are Skills Necessary In RPGs?
Bonus - Are Skills Necessary In RPGs?

The boys debate the general necessity and purpose of skills in table top roleplaying games.

Bonus - Would A Survival Crafter TTRPG Be Fun?
Bonus - Would A Survival Crafter TTRPG Be Fun?
S2:E12 - Creating A Campaign
S2:E12 - Creating A Campaign

Season 2 Finale; the boys cover their creative process for creating a campaign.

S2:E11 - Creating A Minster
S2:E11 - Creating A Minster

The boys create a Minister using the tools and tables found in Kevin Crawford’s Wolves of God

S2:E10 - Creating A Starship
S2:E10 - Creating A Starship

The boys create a starship for their science fiction setting using the tools and tables found in Kevin Crawford’s Stars Without Number.

S2:E9 - Creating A Sci Fi Setting (part 2)
S2:E9 - Creating A Sci Fi Setting (part 2)

The boys further develop their custom science fiction setting using the tools and tables found in Kevin Crawford’s Stars Without Number.

S2:E8 - Creating A Sci Fi Setting (part 1)
S2:E8 - Creating A Sci Fi Setting (part 1)

The boys set out to create a playable science fiction setting using the tools and tables found in Kevin Crawford’s Stars Without Number.

S2:E7 - Creating a 5e D&D Race
S2:E7 - Creating a 5e D&D Race

The boys round out the weird fantasy block by fleshing out the mechanics for their fantasy race in the Dungeons and Dragons 5e rules set.

S2:E6 - Creating A Fantasy Setting (part 2)
S2:E6 - Creating A Fantasy Setting (part 2)

The boys return from the holiday break to create part 2 of their weird fantasy setting using the tools and tables found in Kevin Crawford’s Worlds Without Number.

Bonus - Holiday Grudges and Thanks
Bonus - Holiday Grudges and Thanks

Will a new Grudge Apprentice lift the curse of Dwarf Day? Will a confused Stormcast Eternal finally get his wings? Who is Final Thunder and why does he make toys for the children? In this special holiday episode of The Jaunty Mantis, the boys summon forth the holiday spirit to serve up a bounty of gaming cheer!

S2:E5 - Creating A Fantasy Setting (part 1)
S2:E5 - Creating A Fantasy Setting (part 1)

The boys set out to create a weird fantasy setting using the tools and tables found in Kevin Crawford’s Worlds Without Number.

S2:E4 - Creating A Cyberpunk Adventure
S2:E4 - Creating A Cyberpunk Adventure

In season two the boys finish out the Cyberpunk section by creating an adventure to run for their freshly created setting.

S2:E3 - Creating A Cyberpunk Setting (part 2)
S2:E3 - Creating A Cyberpunk Setting (part 2)

Season two continues with part 2 of the TJM cyberpunk setting workshop. Jesse and Matty demonstrate their tried and true creative process with a special twist. Using the tools and tables found in Kevin Crawford’s Citifies Without Number the boys create a setting from scratch. And you can too!

S2:E2 - Creating A Cyberpunk Setting (part 1)
S2:E2 - Creating A Cyberpunk Setting (part 1)

Season two is devoted to the creative process and genre specific campaign settings. The boys have dedicated the next few episodes to using the tools and tables found in Kevin Crawford’s Citifies Without Number to create a cyberpunk campaign setting from scratch.

S2:E1 - Genre TTRPGs
S2:E1 - Genre TTRPGs

Season 2 is upon us! Jesse attempts to talk Matty off the ledge as the boys discuss the relevance of genre in table top roleplaying games.

Bonus - Baldur's Gate 3: Murder, Romance, and Disappointment
Bonus - Baldur's Gate 3: Murder, Romance, and Disappointment

In this bonus episode of TJM: Forgotten Realms is actually cool, murdering goblins, stealing the idol, romancing a racist alien from another dimension , and using the Guidance cantrip constantly at the table. Also, Basic Gary.

Bonus - What Is A Murder Hobo?
Bonus - What Is A Murder Hobo?

In this bonus episode the boys discus “Murder Hobos” and if they are as prevalent as the community makes them out to be.

Bonus - Jesse's Re-Obsession With RIFTS
Bonus - Jesse's Re-Obsession With RIFTS

In this bonus episode of TJM we finally get to hear about this RIFTS thing Jesse has been bringing up.

Bonus - Disruptive Characters
Bonus - Disruptive Characters

In this bonus episode, the boys lightly banter about the differences between acceptable and unacceptable disruptive characters in RPGS.

Bonus - The D&D Movie
Bonus - The D&D Movie

In this bonus episode, the boys discuss the D&D movie…nearly 200 days after its initial release. Enjoy!

Bonus - Ahsoka and Modern Star Wars
Bonus - Ahsoka and Modern Star Wars

With Ahsoka concluding this week, the boys discuss the modern state of Star Wars after watching the first four episodes of the series.

MEET THE MANTIS

 

Jesse - Co-Host

twitter.com/JingoistFett

Dad, ESL Teacher, Mini-painter, and Amateur game designer. he/him/his. The one Hufflepuff in the Death Eaters

Matty - Co-Host

As a young boy, Matthew cut his teeth on 2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, and dreamt of a future world without THACO. He considers himself to be truly fortunate to have his first gaming groups be diverse and female positive (as much as they could be back then). Now he dreams of a different future world for gaming…

SHANNON - Logos & Graphix

twitter.com/thedigsy

thedigsy.myportfolio.com/work

Shannon likes to make things happen. She wants to connect people - and believes that her work enables her to accomplish all those things, all while promoting a more well world.

 

Karl Casey - Music

whitebataudio.com

Hundreds of tracks that are 100% safe to use in your creative visual projects and streams, available on my YouTube channel. Royalty free music products including music for games and films, sample/loop packs, sound fx packs, t-shirts, hats and more!