Jaunty Mantis 115 - Dinosaur Domains & Blood Magic | Designing Prehistoric Horror in D&D 5e
What happens when dinosaurs, blood magic, and gothic horror collide?
Jaunty Mantis 114 - Turning Prehistoric Power into Epic Settings and Characters
Oral History of TTRPGs: Richard Dansky on Wraith & Writing Across Media
D&D 4E’s Resurgence: Skill Challenges, Bloodied Condition, and the Dark Sun Connection
Level Up Your GM Skills: Rolemaster, Vampire 5e & Mastering Game Pacing
The Oral History of TTRPGs with Bill White
Oral History of TTRPGs with Jared Sorensen – From the Red Box to Indie Innovation
Why make a universal RPG when you can make one that’s about something specific?
Indie legend Jared Sorensen (Inspectres, Lacuna) joins The Jaunty Mantis to share design wisdom, industry takes, and new projects.
Jesse and Chris Talk about Cons, Covid and Credit Card Debt
Jesse’s Journey Through Tabletop Roleplaying: An Oral History of TTRPG Life and Culture
Chris' Journey Through Tabletop Roleplaying: An Oral History of TTRPG Life and Culture
Rolemaster Unlimited Actual Play – Shadow World: Norek Part 1
Blending Wargaming and Role-Playing Part 2: Warhammer 40k Crusade & Forbidden Psalm
Jesse and Chris continue exploring the fusion of wargaming and role-playing with Warhammer 40k Crusade campaign ideas and a dive into Forbidden Psalm. They share narrative strategies, hobby enthusiasm, and lessons from chaotic skirmishes.
Rolling with Momentum: Breaking Down Modiphius' 2d20 System
Join us for a roundtable deep dive into Modiphius' 2d20 system. We unpack mechanics like Momentum, and Threat across games like Dune, Fallout, and Star Trek Adventures—with plenty of hot takes and irreverent laughs. Perfect for players and GMs curious about what makes 2d20 tick.
This Podcast Could Have Been an Email: Pacing, Recaps, and Player Clarity
Between Dice and Drybrush: Exploring the Crossover Between Wargaming and TTRPGs
Killer GM, Master Storyteller: Laurin on Prepping, Pressure, and the One Ring
Beyond the Battle: Running TTRPGs with Minimal Combat
Maximizing Your Elevator Pitch for a Successful Session Zero
Learn how to craft a compelling elevator pitch that sets the tone for your TTRPG campaign. This quick guide helps you hook your players, align expectations, and build excitement from your very first Session Zero. Perfect for GMs who want to start strong and keep players engaged.
Improv Meets TTRPGs – How Improvisation Shapes Better Games
Creating Rolemaster Unified Characters – A Deep Dive into Classic Simulationist TTRPGs
Chris, Will, and Jesse roll up characters in Rolemaster Unified, a modern take on the crunchy simulationist RPG from the 80s. Dive into stat-heavy builds, brutal crits, and old-school charm!