Best 2d20 Podcasts (2025)

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Traveller’s “Safari World” Adventure - Big Game Hunting in the Spinward Marches 46:29

Play Pause

2d ago46:29

46:29

We continue with James’ Traveller campaign and share some different perspectives on he we each ran the same adventure, and how you can launch your own Traveller Spinward Marches campaign.

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d8 Shadowdark House Rules (S5E1) 41:59

8d ago41:59

41:59

With help from the Lair community, we collected eight house rules for Shadowdark. On this episode, we run through them, offering our thoughts on how they might impact the game (most of these are not rules we've tried ourselves, so we'd love some more field reports! Leave them in the comments, or email us at [email protected] the episo…

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Art in RPGs: What’s Its Purpose and What’s Up With What WOTC is Putting Out Now? 55:37

9d ago55:37

55:37

Art and TTRPGs have a long, cooperative history, with DnD’s art being something of the flagship and standard for what gaming art can be, can look like, and the role it plays in your game. Herein we discuss this and some of the topics with which it overlaps. For the ‘classic’ DnD art mentioned in the episode… Watch the documentary, Eye of the Behold…

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Unboxing the GM Companion for Shadowdark 12:31

16d ago12:31

12:31

We unbox the GM Companion for Shadowdark, a supplemental rulebook designed to make the game master's life easier. Written by Chubby Funster, it's got a ton of random charts for the world above and the world below, plus monsters, treasure, and much more. Get the GM's Companion for Shadowdark at DriveThruRPG. Chapters0:00 Intro & GM Needs for Shadowd…

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Combat Encounter Planning Basics 36:26

16d ago36:26

36:26

Where do you start when planning a conflict (combat?) encounter? It’s not with CR, or mechanical balance, or XP values…it’s deeper and more interesting, in fact. We discuss some of the most fundamental questions you should ask and issues you should consider when planning where and when to add a fight to your tabletop RPG sessions.Join our friendly …

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Ep 12 - Mikey's (in)Famous Moonshine 1:15:03

21d ago1:15:03

1:15:03

Hello and Welcome Back to A Wasteland Story. In this episode of the show, your heroine and mine SosKaid, along with Brotherhood of Steel initiate Hawthorn and goodboy Dogmeat, continue to try and work out what the hell is going on with 'feral' ghouls in Keshar. From shotgun antics in the barn, unexpected visitors in the forest and Mikey's hell of a…

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BDaB Plays Fallout "Uranium Moonpie" Campaign #7: Ghoulus Ex Machina 1:40:39

23d ago1:40:39

1:40:39

Our story continues as our plucky heroes desperately try to fend off an attack from feral ghouls. We meet some new NPCs, see some new sights, and learn a bit more about the weird goings-on in the irradiated waste that is the Gulf Commonwealth. Background: The "Uranium Moonpie" campaign is an ongoing adventure set in our own home-brew take on the US…

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Getting Started with Traveller: What to Buy First 23:31

24d ago23:31

23:31

After our episodes about James running High & Dry, I thought it’d be useful to give some advice to the new or would-be Traveller GM or player. There are a lot of Drinaxout there for the game - where should you get started? I help. Our Discord: https://discord.gg/ydwwPHNuG9 The core book: https://tinyurl.com/tpjf358z Third Imperium: https://tinyurl.…

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Space Holes - 6- SWD&D 5E One Shot 47:53

29d ago47:53

47:53

In this 6 episode One Shot Mei is the gamemaster and takes us to the world of Space Balls as our crew survives the horror of space mall

1
Session Report - Traveller High & Dry Pt2 41:57

1M ago41:57

41:57

Herein we discuss session 2, and the completion of, the great introductory adventure for Traveller, “High & Dry.” Check out our discussion of the first part of the adventure: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/suIB5wTulWb Read about the adventure on Mongoose’s site: https://www.mongoosepublishing.com/products/marches-adventure-1-high-and-dry Fi…

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Space Holes - 5 - SWD&D 5E One Shot 49:53

1M ago49:53

49:53

In this 6 episode One Shot Mei is the gamemaster and takes us to the world of Space Balls as our crew survives the horror of space mall

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Three Ways to Approaching Mapping an Encounter or Scene 37:43

1M ago37:43

37:43

Where do you start when planning an encounter, or scene, for a TTRPG adventure? How do you think about the location and how to convey its details to your players? We discuss in today’s episode.

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First Steps in Planning a New Campaign - Where to Start 40:17

2M ago40:17

40:17

You’re a GM interested in starting a new campaign…what are the first steps you should take? What are the initial ideas and issues you need to nail down before sinking in all that world and adventure building work? We tackle these issues in this part 1 of a multi-episode arc.

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BDaB Plays Fallout "Uranium Moonpie" Campaign #6: Dr. Floor-Pills 1:33:52

2M ago1:33:52

1:33:52

Having finally left the flooded coastal swamps of Mississippi, the survivors make their way to a known trading post, seeking information and supplies. On the way, they stop at a long abandoned township, drawn in by the irresistible lure of that iconic ol' Red Rocket sign, looming overhead in the distance... Also, we're doing a bit of catch-up here!…

1
Session Report: Traveller's High and Dry pt1 38:24

2M ago38:24

38:24

Traveller’s a great game set in a massive universe - but where should you start? High and Dry is an excellent introduction for players and GMs new to Traveller, and in this episode we discuss James’ first session of the adventure with his group - all of them new to Traveller.

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How to Plan for the First Session of a New Game 37:50

2M ago37:50

37:50

Session prep can be tough - and prep for a game that neither you nor your players have played before is tougher. Herein we discuss James' upcoming first session of Traveller, using it as a vehicle to talk about some foundational session prep practices any GM can use.

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BDaB Plays Fallout "Uranium Moonpie" Campaign #5: Tastes Like Communism 1:25:52

2M ago1:25:52

1:25:52

Time to fight some Communist ghouls! Give us a listen to find out how our Gulf Coasters survive this one. What other secrets lie hidden in this sinking Mississippi barn? Also, we're doing a bit of catch-up here! The release automation process for episodes 3 through 6 didn't run properly, so now they're finally hitting both the audio feed and the we…

1
Rebooting Fluff n Crunch and Some Sharing Some Great GM Advice 37:24

2M ago37:24

37:24

Herein we talk about the reboot, and then get down to the important business of discussing some pithy, useful GM tips.

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Cyberpunk RED Actual Play Chapter 11: Get Out (S4E27) 1:20:39

4M ago1:20:39

1:20:39

In this episode of the Cyberpunk campaign, the Edgerunners navigate the treacherous Elysium HQ after awakening Hera, a vengeful AI. They embark on a mission to plant AI-spawned seeds across the city, facing various challenges including combat with scavengers and the emergence of the Glow Boys amidst a radioactive sand storm.Get more Cyberpunk RED:C…

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Ep11 - Daisy's Dress 55:20

5M ago55:20

55:20

Hello and Welcome Back to A Wasteland Story. Todays show is packed with all sorts of Wastelandy SoloRolePlaying goodness. Think; travel supercuts, published adventure musings, a bizarrely constructed city, another enigmatic leader (hopefully this one lives a little longer than the last, thanks Mythic), and mountains of sweet sweet crafting...oh so …

1
d8 ShadowDark Monster Resources (S4E26) 22:52

5M ago22:52

22:52

With help from the Lair community, we collected eight house rules for Shadowdark. On this episode, we run through them, offering our thoughts on how they might impact the game (most of these are not rules we've tried ourselves, so we'd love some more field reports!) Leave them in the comments, or email us at [email protected] more Shad…

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Cyberpunk RED Chapter 10: Hera’s Wrath (S4E25) 43:15:00

5M ago43:15:00

43:15:00

The edgerunners finally flipped the switch at the bottom of Elysium HQ's subbasements. As the power surged back, a wrathful AI queen named Hera burst to life, proclaiming her refusal to serve any false gods or corporate masters. She sees to draw the crew — APT, Angry Bob, Omen, and Atlas — into her web of revenge against Jason Antilles, a tech bro …

1
Player Agency (Campaigns & Coffee) 27:13

5M ago27:13

27:13

Grab your coffee and join the Lair crew as we unpack the challenge of fostering player agency in tabletop RPGs. We explore how to spark proactive decisions, avoid the paralysis of infinite choice, and leverage mechanics that reward bold, cinematic play.Chapters0:00 Intro1:00 Star Wars Sparks and hesitant players3:00 Fear of splitting the party and …

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Space Holes - 4 - SWD&D 5E One Shot 1:02:56

5M ago1:02:56

1:02:56

In this 6 episode One Shot Mei is the gamemaster and takes us to the world of Space Balls as our crew survives the horror of space mall

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[A Quick Update] 3:20

5M ago3:20

3:20

Just a quick update to let you all know what's going on. Notes: Check out soloroleplayersnetwork.comBy PJSack

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Fallout 2d20 Wrap-up (Campaigns & Coffee) 26:11

5M ago26:11

26:11

With the first arc of our Fallout 2d20 campaign completed, we sit down with some coffee to reflect on the game.We talk about the 2d20 system's strengths, campaign story arcs, funky dice, perk cards, and immersive mechanics. Looking ahead, we think about future campaign goals, new characters, and deeper dives into Fallout-style survival gameplay.Wan…

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Space Holes - 3 - SWD&D 5E One Shot 46:09

5M ago46:09

46:09

In this 6 episode One Shot Mei is the gamemaster and takes us to the world of Space Balls as our crew survives the horror of space mall

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BDaB Plays Fallout "Uranium Moonpie" Campaign #4: The Democratic Process 2:12:15

5M ago2:12:15

2:12:15

In this episode, Dr. Phyll learns a lesson about post-apocalyptic gastronomical distress, and the party discovers the current state of Communism in the irradiated state of Mississippi... Background: The "Uranium Moonpie" campaign is an ongoing adventure set in our own home-brew take on the US Gulf Coast region, as it might exist in the future of th…

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Summer Reading List 2025 (S4E24) 14:29:00

6M ago14:29:00

14:29:00

Join us for the Lair of Secrets' annual summer reading list! We run down a few of the books on our respective lists, but we're always looking for more!Featured in this episode are: Red Sonja Consumed by Gail SimoneWhen the Moon Hits Your Eye by John ScalziCold Eternity by S.A. BarnesSpace Opera by Catherynne M. ValenteInfinite Archive (The Midsolar…

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Space Holes - 2 - SWD&D 5E One Shot 47:16

6M ago47:16

47:16

In this 6 episode One Shot Mei is the gamemaster and takes us to the world of Space Balls as our crew survives the horror of space mall

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BDaB Plays Fallout "Uranium Moonpie" Campaign #3: Ambigulous 2:56:20

6M ago2:56:20

2:56:20

Our rootin-tootin Fallout 2d20 campaign continues! In this session, the team finally gets some rest, and we learn a lot more about their origins. Background: The "Uranium Moonpie" campaign is an ongoing adventure set in our own home-brew take on the US Gulf Coast region, as it might exist in the future of the Fallout series of role-playing video ga…

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Fallout 2d20 Chapter 5: Thriftway Throwdown (S4E23) 1:41:30

6M ago1:41:30

1:41:30

The crew infiltrates a raider lair to rescue a kidnapped girl, navigating irradiated sewers, sentry turrets, and a heavily armed Thriftway gang. Steve NuGunnar faces off against his nemesis Thriftway in a brutal final encounter to reclaim his prized NuRay 3000.Fallout 2d20 Campaign Page: An overview of the campaign, plus links to episodes and relat…

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Space Holes - 1 - SWD&D 5E One Shot 44:41

6M ago44:41

44:41

In this 6 episode One Shot Mei is the gamemaster and takes us to the world of Space Balls as our crew survives the horror of space mall

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Support Your Local Convention: ShadowDark, Mothership, & Gaslands Recaps (S4E22) 35:55

6M ago35:55

35:55

On this episode, Ken recaps running ShadowDark, Mothership, and Gaslands Refueled at a local RPG convention. We also delve into how to support your local conventions (MEPACon in the Pennsylvania, and Who's Yer Con? in Indiana).Chapters0:00 Intro & MEPACon Setup2:10 Venue Upgrade & Con History4:00 ShadowDark: Morka Norden Recap7:00 Learning from Liv…

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Fallout 2d20 Chapter 4: Shotgun Justice (S4E20) 1:42:46

6M ago1:42:46

1:42:46

After some bartering in Covenant, the Wastelanders continue their quest to hunt down Thriftway's raiders. The Wastelanders' goal? Recover Steve NuGunner's NuRay 3000. Oh, and a girl who was kidnapped from Covenant by the raiders.Fallout 2d20 Campaign Page: An overview of the campaign, plus links to episodes and related game resources.Fallout 2d20 R…

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BDaB Plays Fallout "Uranium Moonpie" Campaign #2: The Danger Arm 2:14:24

6M ago2:14:24

2:14:24

Our Fallout 2d20 campaign continues, this time with special guest appearances from Boo-Boo and Tasty Treat! Background: The "Uranium Moonpie" campaign is an ongoing adventure set in our own home-brew take on the US Gulf Coast region, as it might exist in the future of the Fallout series of role-playing video games. This campaign uses the 2D20 versi…

1
Moonbeam Chasing (S4E20) 36:06

7M ago36:06

36:06

Ken and David explore Moonbeam.stream, a streaming platform made for tabletop gamers and creatives, while sharing their live-streaming experiments and future content plans.They also dive into their respective ShadowDark campaigns, filled with dungeon chefs, dagger-bound skeletons, and low-level party drama. Ken preps for his return to Philmont, whi…

1
Ep10 - Sticks & Stones 46:33

7M ago46:33

46:33

Hello and welcome back to A Wasteland Story. On todays episode of the show our heroine SosKaid, her little pal dogmeat, and their unexpected companion Hawthorn have tracked a band of raiders to a clearing in the forest. Having laid a trap of mines, they take their shot at rescuing Hawthorns comrades Ramirez, and diverting a disaster in the nearby s…

1
d8 ShadowDark Mistakes We Made (S4E19) 33:01

7M ago33:01

33:01

On this episode, we talk about the top mistakes we made running ShadowDark (aka "how Ken accidentally enabled hard mode for his campaign").Our mistakes include "overly complicate torch management", "create deadlier rat diseases", "don't use Luck points", and more!Looking for more ShadowDark content? Check out these Lair episodes:d12 Ways ShadowDark…

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Fallout 2d20 Chapter 3: Raiders & Rumors (S4E18) 1:05:45

7M ago1:05:45

1:05:45

Our group of wastelanders (and one former Vault dwelling weapons tester) defend the fortified town of Covenant from raiders in the latest chapter of our Fallout 2d20 Actual Play campaign. The raiders defeated, the group gains access to Covenant, where they uncover rumors about a ghoul named Thriftway dealing in slaves for the Enclave. Fallout 2d20 …

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Fallout Zones (S4E17) 38:55

7M ago38:55

38:55

Fallout 2d20 uses zones instead of conventional battle maps or theater of the mind to describe where your characters (and their enemies) are in the game world. In this episode, we talk about how Fallout zones work, offer advice on how to use them, and take a peak at some other games that use zones. After fighting our way through the wasteland, we g…

1
How to Play Your Best Game pt4 - Learn the Rules 25:53

7M ago25:53

25:53

It might sound absurd, but if you want your best TTRPG session, you need to know the rules. Herein I provide some real-world-tested techniques for learning and remembering the rules to your games and your characters.#ttrpg #closereading Join our friendly Discord: https://discord.gg/5AtydRUDjX Subscribe on to our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.…

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BDaB Plays Fallout "Uranium Moonpie" Campaign #1: Roll Tide 2:08:08

7M ago2:08:08

2:08:08

Huzzah, we're back! It's been a while ("It's been a whiiiile...") since we put something out on this podcast feed, but after dusting off the gaming table and kicking back some spirits, we are back with the first episode of a new extended Actual Play RPG campaign, using the Fallout 2d20 tabletop RPG. This campaign is entitled "Uranium Moonpie" and t…

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Fallout 2d20 Chapter 2: Covenant Clash (S4E16) 1:03:44

8M ago1:03:44

1:03:44

As our Fallout 2d20 Actual Play campaign continues, the party treks across the wasteland toward the settlement of Covenant. Along the way, they encounter dangers both grotesque and ridiculous, from gutting radioactive bugs for dinner to dodging their own teammates grenades.And yeah, Steve's still trying to recover his prototype laser pistol from th…

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Your Best Session pt3 - Engagement Techniques for GMs and Players 25:38

8M ago25:38

25:38

Engagement, by GM and players, is essential if you want a fun, interesting, and memorable TTRPG session...but how do you achieve it? What does it look like? Here are some specific techniques - for players and GMs - to help you get and stay engaged with the game, story, and each other.Join our friendly Discord: https://discord.gg/5AtydRUDjX Subscrib…

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Ep9 - Sleeping Dogz Lie 53:37

8M ago53:37

53:37

Hello and Welcome Back to another episode of A Wasteland Story. In this episode, your heroine and mine SosKaid and her fellow Brotherhood captive find themselves in the sleazy grip of a nasty raider. Can they escape? Will he get what's coming to him? and...are there any Iguana's in the wasteland? Find out the answer to some of these questions and m…

1
d12 Ways ShadowDark is Awesome! (S4E15) 33:25

8M ago33:25

33:25

On this episode, we delve far from the light to geek out about Shadowdark. The old-school-inspired RPG strips Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition to its essentials, and then adds in some modern sensibilities.We talk about our favorite mechanics, how it's impacted our other games (looking at you D&D 5th Edition!), and our players' penchant for wandering …

1
S2E3 | Boops and Bird Calls 1:38:12

8M ago1:38:12

1:38:12

Use this link to send us a text with your thoughts! Welcome back to "The Big Red Button"—where the wasteland's wild but the dice are wilder! In this episode, our fearless adventurers dive deeper into the Fallout universe, uncovering secrets and facing unexpected twists! Crazy Carl — or should we say Carlos Mendoza — has left a trail of mystery, and…

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How to Play Your Best Game - Pt2 - Leave Out Real World Politics 24:29

8M ago24:29

24:29

Why is it that everything is so politicized these days? Is it possible to play a game without the inclusion of your political positions while at the table, or as a purity test for players? Listen and find out the lab-tested truth of the matter. Get caught up with the first episode in this series here: https://youtu.be/10o8pt2qEY0 Join our friendly …

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Fallout 2d20 Chapter 1: Wasteland Wake-Up (S4E14) 1:26:01

8M ago1:26:01

1:26:01

We kickoff our Fallout 2d20 campaign with the protagonists (not sure we can call them "heroes" just yet) waking up in the Wasteland.Fallout 2d20 Campaign Page: An overview of the campaign, plus links to episodes and related game resources.Chapters0:00 - Intro & Audio Shenanigans3:15 - Meet the Survivors8:40 - Escape from the Hospital Basement14:55 …