Dungeons And Dragons Episodes

Justin Gagliani brings Jessica Jeroux to the table. Jessica is a drow trans woman pursuing knowledge of lost civilizations. Justin and I discuss what it means to be a trans woman in gender-segregated drow society, learning to explore and express your gender, and the narrative implications of D&D mechanics. This character is built for D&D 5e. Justin Gagliani is a co host of the So You Want to Be a Dungeon Master podcast, a TTRPG content creator, and a published writer. You can learn more abou...

Content warning this episode for discussions of sexual assault and sexual harassment. We don’t go into any detail, but if this topic is a trigger for you, I recommend you skip it. Alejandra Wilhelm brings Reyna to the table. Reyna is a fierce and loyal barbarian hiding her identity from the archfey her father sold her to. Alejandra and I discuss parasociality, bad behavior on Discord, and roleplay on TikTok. We also talk about self-insert characters - from physical appearance to emotional trau...

Savannah Rayne brings Kit to the table. Kit is a con woman on the run in disguise as a man, who finds family and the confidence to harness her innate magic on a pirate ship. Savannah and I discuss roleplaying away from a table in private chat and public cosplay. We also talk about Savannah's two favorite tropes - found family and the sorcerer gaining the confidence to wield her magic. This character is built for D&D5e. Savannah Rayne is an RP enthusiast, art witch, and podcaster. While relati...

Grant brings Orco the Magnificent to the table. Orco is not a very good wizard, but he gives it his best shot. Grant and I discuss religious trauma, high school theater, and the opposite of min-maxing. This character is built for D&D5e. Grant Nordine is the titular game master of Game Master Monday and the guide for Bella's Comet. Grant is an award-winning actor and writer with stage, film, music, and podcasting credits. As the GM of Game Master Monday, he runs a new one-shot in a new system ...

Chriss brings Rhan Halvard to the table. Rhan was a wizard who became a revenant in the service of Istus when her attempt to change her fate had unexpectedly dire results. Chriss and I discuss death, grief, and catharsis, the role of fate in a fantasy story where gods are real, and how much backstory you truly need. This character is built for D&D5e. Chriss Knight is a life long creative who found her calling with D&D in college where she earned a degree in theatre. After a winding road of va...

Joseph brings Otto Von Kurtzel to the table. Otto is a family man who built a mech suit to help him live with a degenerative disease. Joseph and I discuss punching dragons, having people worth fighting for, and tinkering for good. This character is built for D&D5e. Joseph Byler, an aspiring TTRPG writer and nurse. They're also a proud redneck and leftist. You can learn more about Joseph at: https://www.characterswithoutstories.com/guests/joseph-byler This episode, I recommend the podcast Bl...

Jeffrey Baker brings an unnamed soldier to the table. The unnamed soldier is a grizzled drill sergeant who motivates his party through tough love and (bardic) inspirational speeches. Jeffrey and I discuss playing older characters with life experience, roleplay bleed and after care, and being the party dad. This character is built for D&D5e. Jeffrey Baker is a dad, LARPer, and game designer; Jeffrey has been playing TTRPGs ever since his older brothers would allow him to join. His creative wel...

In this very special episode, I interview my costars on DnDenial's The Moonstone Matriarchy actual play stream, an all-women D&D game set in the home brew world of Solandria. I Sneeze Stars is the DM GM of Reven is Anemone Juniper is Clover Mamaicailleach is Delphra Dungeon Mistress Katie is Rosalind Scxrlet is Syn These characters are built for D&D5e. View the previous mini-campaign and watch the full campaign of The Moonstone Matriarchy on Twitch Saturdays at 5:30PM PST starting November 11....

Natasha Ticotin brings Niko de Cielo to the table. Niko is an Oath of Conquest paladin who will soon find out he's not the main character he thinks he is. Natasha and I discuss "fixing" characters from pop culture, finding community in fandoms, and how characters' self-perceptions might not live up to their level 2 realities. This character is built for D&D5e. Natasha is an artist, corgi mom, and Princess of Genovia. You can find Natasha at: Website: https://natashagalya.com TikTok: https://...

Natalie Marley brings Dewey Aberforth to the table. Dewey is an accidental folk hero and a selfish jerk who happens to have a wonderful aquiline nose. Natalie and I discuss playing a selfish character without making your friends hate you IRL, how to play a man, and developing the confidence to take up space at the table and in the story. This character is built for D&D5e. Natalie is a behavior therapist who primarily works with children under the age of 10, teaching social communication, self...

Caroline Vahrenkamp brings Jurdgel Sharptooth to the table. Jurdgel is a goblin customs official who would like nothing more than staying home with a cup of tea and a romance novel. Caroline and I discuss the challenge of voicing a male character as a trans woman, discovering something about yourself playing TTRPGs, and what neutrality means. This character is built for D&D5e. Caroline Vahrenkamp is a suburban parent of two who does silly D&D character voices on TikTok from time to time. Caro...

Joseph Speak brings Skips to the table. Skips is a sheltered monk who took a vow of silence thrust into a noisy world when dragon-induced tragedy strikes. He becomes a mime to find a way to honor his vow while exploring the world. Joseph and I discuss challenging yourself as a roleplayer, 'voicing' a nonverbal character, and the perfectly legitimate fear of dragons. This character is built for D&D5e. Joseph Speak is a chronic DM that desperately wants to play Dungeons and Dragons but is stuck...

Sophie Katz brings Ekra to the table. Ekra is a dad on a mission, a Kenku finding his own way to communicate in a world that considers him less than human. Sophie and I discuss how we create and learn language, the trauma of having to speak in your oppressor's language, and other ways that bards can inspire. This character is built for D&D5e. Sophie Katz is a Jewish, aromantic/asexual writer, storyteller, and all-around nerd! She is the host of the podcast "I Love This Thing So Freaking Much,...

VJ Harris brings Varqoor to the table. Varqoor is a mind flayer losing their hold on their host and finding their own path away from the Elder Brain as a spore druid. VJ and I discuss how their supplement, An Elf and an Orc Had a Little Baby, takes on the problems with race in D&D, what it's like to play a monster, and what mind flayers sound like. This character is built for D&D 5e. V.J. Harris is a professional TTRPG designer and pro game master. They're most well known for their work with ...

Abstract brings Torden Stormborn to the table. Torden is convinced he is the prophesied herald of the Everstorm, an apocalyptic maelstrom. Abstract and I discuss playing evil characters, the limitations of the alignment system in D&D, and what happens when a prophecy doesn't come true. This character is built for D&D 5e. Abstract is a forever DM and D&D TikToker working towards owning a gaming store and cafe. Matthew Colville's video mentioned in the episode: https://youtu.be/DgPhiLBW7jo Le...

Rachel Voss brings Madame Azlu to the table. Madame Azlu sails across the Sea of Stars, chasing constellations in a crystal ship. Rachel and I discuss how our characters are influenced by our lives and the media we consume, including disabled characters in D&D, and how TTRPGs have given her the opportunity to confront the ableism she deals with in the real world. This character is built for D&D 5e. Rachel Voss, a retired wheelchair athlete who uses her more than 20 years of disability experie...

Wesley Magee-Saxton brings Farthing to the table. Farthing is a disabled high elf who became an accidental stowaway and an accidental pirate. Wesley and I discuss finding inspiration in historical research, creating magical items that help bring disabled characters to life in D&D, and how characters who need mobility aids can still be badass. This character is built for D&D 5e. Wesley is a disabled, queer performance artist and disability advocate based in Tkaronto Canada. They are the co-fou...

Stevie brings Requiem to the table. Requiem is a Tiefling Warlock who pledged her service to Asmodeus to save her girlfriend, losing everything in the process. Stevie and I discuss the unique origins of the tiefling race, finding inspiration in unusual places, living your authentic self in TTRPGs, and how the idea of found family is central both to D&D and to the queer community. This character is built for D&D 5e. Stevie is currently a grad student studying to become a mental health counselo...

Jay brings Qurr to the table. Qurr is an Aarakocra Barbarian on a mission to prove herself to the goddess Syranita. Jay and I discuss how introducing randomness into character building can help bring characters to life, creating detailed backstories that leave room for growth, how an aarakocra might adjust to a city built for non-flying characters, and how even a pun can inspire a character. This character is built for D&D 5e. Jay is a retired U.S. Navy Broadcast Journalist, a High School Eng...

Andrew Rahman brings Bart Biggityburg to the table. Bart is a Tortle Drakewarden Ranger who has trained to be a championship marathon runner. Andrew and I discuss turning the tables on common misconceptions about what a character can do, finding inspiration in myth and fable, and using game mechanics to tell a story. This character is built for D&D 5e. Andrew Rahman has been playing D&D for 10 years in his home, at local game stores, gaming conventions, and now online. He's introduced hundred...