Episodes

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,...

Jim S brings Janie to the table. Janie became a chemically-inhanced super soldier to gain the strength to find her missing sister. Jim and I discuss what you have to give up to gain the power you need, what it means when your character's strengths become their weaknesses, and going out in a blaze of glory. This character is built for Savage Worlds Rifts. Content warning: brief mention of child abuse. Skip 1:17-1:56 to avoid this section. Songs referenced: "Janie's Got a Gun" by Aerosmith "Th...

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...

Damian brings Malcolm Cain to the table. Malcolm was the muscle of an art-smuggling business who finds his brother slain, leading him to become wrapped up in a shadowy conspiracy. Damian and I discuss how facing the monstrous within the mundane can change you, how a character's skills can tell you a lot about a person, and what goes in a backstory. This character is built for Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition. Damian is a TTRPG malcontent who just wants to tend their garden and tell stories with fr...

Kurt Refling brings Altabella to the table. Altabella is a sea silk diver who is turned into a vampire, slowly losing her memory and becoming a predator in the process. Kurt and I discuss how a good prompt leads to creative storytelling, what it means to become a vampire, and why we tell sad stories in TTRPGs. This character is built for Thousand Year Old Vampire, a game by Tim Hutchings. https://thousandyearoldvampire.com/products/thousand-year-old-vampire Kurt Refling is a designer, writer,...

This podcast is about characters. And when it comes to characters in Dungeons and Dragons, there have been problems with how the game defines race from the very beginning. You may have heard about the most recent example, and oh boy it’s a doozy. The latest Wizards of the Coast release, Spelljammer, contains a character race called the Hadozee. The way the race is characterized and depicted in the book is, to be straightforward, racist. For more information, here are some creators who have exp...

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...