RPGBOT.Podcast

Murder, mystery, and... undead paperwork?! This week on the RPGBOT.Podcast, the gang dives into the tangled case of Father Gustav’s death and Carl Leifson’s suspicious alibi. Between questioning Morticcio’s pun-filled career choices, dodging ominous ravens, and debating the ethics of grave-digging (yes, really), the chaos is nonstop. Throw in a confrontation with a church grim that’s definitely not a fan of Carl, and you’ve got an episode packed with suspense, shenanigans, and supernatural drama.

Will they crack the case or just crack under pressure? Tune in now and find out!

Summary

In this episode of RPGBOT.Podcast, the crew dives headfirst into a mystery so tangled even Carl Leifson’s alibi couldn’t wriggle free. Between the death of Father Gustav, Carl's suspicious smirk, and Morticcio’s questionable mortician puns, there’s no shortage of drama. The gang wrestles with ethical debates about grave-digging (because who doesn’t love a good "should we unearth the dead?" moment) while dodging ominous ravens, church grims, and Councilwoman Ingrid’s very pointed questions.

With a cocktail of supernatural horror, character clashes, and someone accidentally suggesting the church was haunted by "undead paperwork," this episode brings the perfect mix of suspense and shenanigans. Will our adventurers solve the mystery? Or will the ravens peck away at their sanity first? Tune in for laughs, gasps, and a healthy dose of chaos.

Links

• Vaesen (affiliate link)
• Content from RPGBOT.net
• Vaesen & the Mythic Britain and Ireland Expansion - A Review
• RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes
• Zoe Franznick Reviews Free League's Vaesen

Episode Takeaways

This episode dives into the intricate dynamics of a murder mystery fueled by supernatural undertones. Rut takes the role of a servant archetype, aiding Ash’s character as the investigation kicks off with a cryptic letter about a savage murder. Suspicion quickly falls on the church grim, a creature that requires dark rituals and a dead animal to summon. The brutal death of Father Gustav, along with hints of financial discrepancies within the church, points to deeper, sinister motives.

Councilwoman Ingrid’s reactions suggest she knows more than she lets on, while the mortician Morticcio’s reluctance to share information further complicates matters. Leaf’s sudden death and the sensitive discussions around exhumation add emotional weight to the mystery. Ravens emerge as ominous symbols, warning of dangers ahead.

As the players navigate ethical dilemmas, hidden relationships, and a web of deception, teamwork becomes essential in piecing together the truth. The unpredictability of dice rolls in the Year Zero Engine adds tension, while humor helps balance the darker themes. Through character interactions and development, the narrative explores loss, the importance of understanding the past, and the power of confronting hidden secrets in storytelling.

Tabletop roleplaying games offer players the chance to immerse themselves in fantastical worlds and become heroes in their own stories. Combat, magic, and intrigue are common elements in these games; but the adventure that always keeps players on the edge of their seats is the mystery.

In this episode of the RPGBOT. Podcast, we talk about mysteries in TTRPGs. They come in many forms, from crime-solving in a medieval city to unraveling the secrets of a haunted mansion. They offer a unique challenge to players and game masters alike, nut require careful planning and improvisation to keep the story engaging and the players invested. If you’re looking for a thrilling adventure with an increased level of immersion, tension, surprise then don't hesitate to add a mystery to your next TTRPG session.

MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE

RPGBOT.net Articles

• Zoe Franznick Reviews Free League's Vaesen

RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes

• Vaesen & the Mythic Britain and Ireland Expansion
• RPGBOT.Podcast S2E11 - Puzzles
• Descriptions Masterclass Part I with dScryb's Alex ...
• Descriptions Part II with Alex Gray - RPGBOT.Masterclass S2E91

If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It’s a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners.

If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings.

Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ

How to Find Us:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

Tyler Kamstra

• Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET
• Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet
• Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social

Ash Ely

• Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
• Twitter: @GravenAshes
• YouTube@ashravenmedia

Randall James

• @JackAmateur

Producer Dan

• @Lzr_illuminati

The swirling vortex of chaos, the endless expanse of malevolent intent, the Abyss beckons with its promise of boundless power and insidious pleasures. In this post, we delve into the twisted depths of the Abyss, home to the demonic hordes that threaten to consume all that stands in their way. Join us as we explore the unfathomable layers of this chaotic universe and uncover its secrets, dangers, and enticing rewards. Welcome to the Abyss, where madness and malevolence reign supreme.

• DnD 5e
• Dungeon Master’s Guide
• Monsters of the Multiverse
• 3.5 Expedition to the Demonweb Pits (affiliate link)
• Pathfinder Wiki
• Demon Lords
• Qlippoth
• Outer Rifts

If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It’s a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners.

If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings.

Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ

How to Find Us:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

Tyler Kamstra

• Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET
• Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet
• Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social

Ash Ely

• Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
• Twitter: @GravenAshes
• YouTube@ashravenmedia

Randall James

• @JackAmateur
• Amateurjack.com

Producer Dan

• @Lzr_illuminati

Pathfinder 2E: Guns & Gears Remastered is here, proving once and for all that the best way to balance a game is by strapping explosives to your boots, firing an elephant gun from horseback, and praying Overdrive doesn’t betray you.

Guns & Gears Remastered is bringing more chaos than a malfunctioning automaton with a loaded musket. The RPGBOT crew dives into the madness, covering everything from gadget-wielding Inventors to Gunslingers finally getting the respect they deserve.

Highlights include:

• Overdrive no longer punishing you for trying
• Firearms with enough kickback to send you into the next campaign setting
• The Harmona gun, because apparently, we needed a weapon specifically for hunting elephants
• Gadget Skates and Blast Boots proving that fashion and explosions CAN mix
• A technological wheelchair, making combat both more inclusive and way more stylish

If you like high-speed chases, overly complicated weaponry, and questioning whether all of this is actually balanced (spoiler: it is, but barely), you need to check this out. Saddle up, grab your gnome amalgam musket, and prepare for the most mechanically unhinged ride in Pathfinder history.

Links

• Guns and Gears Remastered (affiliate link)
• Guns and Gears Review from the RPGBOT.Podcast

Welcome to the wild world of Guns & Gears Remastered, where firearms meet finely tuned mechanical madness. The hosts take a deep dive into the updated Inventor and Gunslinger classes, the Automaton ancestry, and the fallout from the OGL fiasco that led to the Pathfinder Remaster.

Expect heated discussions on whether all weapons are viable (spoiler: yes, but also no), how Overdrive is now slightly less heartbreaking, and why the Harmona gun is just excessive (unless you're an elephant, then it's terrifying). The crew also explores the absurdity of gadgets, gizmos, and gloriously impractical firearms, questioning just how many springs, cogs, and explosives one character really needs. The answer is always more.

The episode also highlights the introduction of a technological wheelchair, making combat more accessible and proving that even in a world of magic and mayhem, inclusivity matters.

So grab your gnome amalgam musket, strap on your Gadget Skates, and get ready for a mechanically enhanced ride through Pathfinder’s most ridiculous (but undeniably fun) rulebook.

• Inventors Gonna Invent – The Inventor class is all about making wild contraptions and hitting things with them. Who needs spells when you have gadgets?
• Slingers Get Some Love – The Gunslinger class gets a well-deserved glow-up, proving that gunpowder and class mechanics can mix well.
• Overdrive Wins, Even on Failure – Now players still get a minor bonus even when their roll goes horribly wrong.
• Automatons Are Steampunk Terminators – The Automaton ancestry lets players live their best robotic medieval fantasy dreams.
• OGL Fiasco Leads to a Pathfinder Remaster – The fallout from the licensing mess led to this refined edition. No new content, just streamlined and improved mechanics.
• Gadgets Are Not Gizmos – They are mechanical consumables with distinct rules, and the difference may or may not confuse players forever.
• Ridiculous But Effective – Blast Boots, Gadget Skates, and absurd firearm traits add both strategy and pure chaos to combat.
• Harmona Gun is Overkill in a Barrel – A gun designed specifically for hunting elephants, with a massive 1d10 damage die, because apparently subtlety is overrated.
• Mount Up or Brace for Recoil – Firing certain firearms on horseback cancels out their kickback penalty, making mounts the unsung heroes of gunfighting.
• Firearms Have Range and Quirks – Scatter blasts, kickback mechanics, and fatal aim traits introduce both tactical depth and comic relief.
• Vehicles and Combat Drivers Expand the Game – High-speed chases and mechanized warfare are now part of the Pathfinder experience.
• Technological Wheelchair Brings Inclusivity – One of the most impactful additions, ensuring that mobility aids can be just as powerful as any warhorse.
• Pathfinder Embraces Maximum Absurdity – The Guns & Gears book (and this episode) prove that the best RPGs allow players to embrace the fun, the chaos, and the sheer unpredictability of a well-placed gadget.

Guns & Gears Remastered is an absolute blast. Whether you’re an engineer of doom, a sharpshooter with a flair for the dramatic, or just someone who wants to ride into battle on a mechanical unicycle, this book has something for you.

Now go forth and build ...

This episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast has everything: magic, mayhem, and at least one person realizing they should have read the rules on push mechanics before trying them in combat.

Things are getting wild on the RPGBOT.Podcast as the crew sets sail into a maelstrom, only to find themselves face-to-face with a Kraken, a legendary pirate, and a whole lot of questionable choices. Between spells flying, swords clashing, and a mysterious coin that nobody fully understands, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Naval combat, unexpected betrayals, and a few too many reckless ideas make this one of the most chaotic sessions yet. Will teamwork save the day, or will bad dice rolls and impulsive plans sink the ship? There’s only one way to find out.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts and join the adventure!

Summary: In this action-packed episode, the hosts start with their usual dose of chaotic humor, discussing the struggles of modern comedy, the challenge of new music, and the universal truth that nobody likes change. Then, they dive headfirst into an intense Dungeons and Dragons session featuring a maelstrom, a Kraken, and a whole lot of questionable decision-making.

As the players prepare for naval combat, they receive a cryptic coin from their patron, leading to rampant speculation, bad theories, and at least one failed insight check. The session quickly escalates into an epic battle involving pirates, betrayal, and ship repairs that may or may not have been handled responsibly. With spells flying and teamwork being tested, the players must strategize their way through chaos while dodging betrayal, Kraken tentacles, and the ever-present risk of rolling a natural one.

Between dramatic moments, surprising tactics, and plenty of player banter, this episode highlights the creativity, excitement, and occasional confusion that makes tabletop role-playing games so much fun. Whether it's using Mass Suggestion to manipulate enemies, questioning their own character choices, or debating whether dragons are friend or foe, the players bring high stakes, high drama, and just enough bad decisions to keep things interesting.

Key Takeaways:

• Change is scary, but so is fighting a Kraken.
• Comedy and music take time to appreciate, just like a good D&D strategy (or a bad one).
• The mysterious coin is probably important, but nobody knows why.
• Naval combat is fun until your ship needs repairs.
• Teamwork makes the dream work, but betrayal keeps things spicy.
• Players are never 100% confident in their character builds.
• Spellcasting can be the difference between victory and disaster.
• Rolling for initiative can make or break a combat encounter.
• The DM's storytelling can be both a gift and a curse.
• Bold moves often have bold consequences (and sometimes tragic ones).
• The importance of trust in a party cannot be overstated—until someone stabs you in the back.
• Dragons: helpful allies or terrifying enemies? It depends.
• Creativity and quick thinking are the best weapons in any RPG session.
• Strategic planning is great—right up until the dice decide otherwise.
• Sometimes, the most memorable moments come from absolute chaos.

If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It’s a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners.

If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings.

Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ

How to Find Us:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

Tyler Kamstra

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

Ash Ely

• Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
•