S4:E7 - When Is It Appropriate To Say No?
The boys discuss scenarios and best practices for Game Masters to recognize and address situations when they should say “No-but” instead of “Yes-and”.
S4:E6 - Making Aliens Interesting
The boys explore ideas and methods for designing truly alien lifeforms for your science fiction and fantasy games.
S4:E5 - Handling IP In A Role Playing Game
Jesse and Matty explore the appeal and pitfalls of gaming in established intellectual properties.
S4:E4 - Handling Boredom At The Table
The boys discuss the circumstances around player boredom and how GMs should assess and handle it.
S4:E3 - Ending A Campaign
The boys discuss ending long running campaigns
S4:E2 - Our Gaming Inspirations
The boys discuss the media that inspires their GMing style
S4:E1 - Resources For Newish GMs
The boys discuss games, mechanics, and GMing resources that helped them level up.
Bonus - Burning Down The House
Wheat happens when your PCs bypass critical encounters of your game?
Bonus - Workshopping Character Concepts With The DM
Here is an example of how we workshop a character concept for the DM’s campaign.
Bonus - Is D&D Beyond STILL The Best Thing About 5E?
The boys discuss the merits of D&D Beyond as a platform and its value add to the overall D&D franchise.
Bonus - RPG Bucket Lists
Matty experiences a gaming midlife crisis and realizes he’s never attempted a 1 to 20 level D&D campaign. Jesse makes fun of him for reversing his opinions about 5e D&D. The two begin debating the concept of a Gaming Bucket List.
Bonus - D&D 2024 Player's Handbook First Impressions!
The boys discuss initial thoughts on the new D&D 2024 Player’s Handbook
Bonus - Are 'Slice Of Life' Games Fun?
The boys discuss ‘Cozy Fantasy’ and ‘Slice of Life’ style, and cartoon shows from the late 90’s
Bonus - Matty Makes A D&D Roguelike (Part 2)
Matty updates Jesse on how the first run attempt with his latest fantasy heartbreaker
Bonus - Matty Makes A D&D Rougelike (Part 1)
In this bonus episode, Matty pitches an idea for a D&D rougelike to Jesse…who doesn’t completely hate it.
Bonus - Mecha Military Style Games
In this bonus episode, Jesse and Matty discuss two genres of gaming that they both have very little experience playing in.
Bonus - Is My Game Too Silly?
Is it possible to have too much humor in your TTRPG? Should the GM be the straight man or a cartoonish ringmaster? In this bonus episode, the boys discuss Jesse’s New West Vampire Hunters game and the silly nature of RIFTS.
Bonus - The One About Lower Decks
Fresh off the SDCC teaser for Stark Trek Lower Decks Season 5, the boys talk about the show and the merits of generational storytelling. Some TTRPG talk happens also!
Bonus - Should We Get Matching Beard Tattoos?
In this bonus episode - the Jaunty Mantis boys discuss Ed Greenwood and The Forgotten Realms. Also, how we as gamers perceive the time honored tropes of fantasy peoples (such as dwarves and orcs).
Bonus - Do We Need To Be OP?
Jesse and Matty discuss gamer’s compelling desires to play overpowered characters and exploit mechanics for optimal gain.