Best Plot Device Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 463: A Season of Giving - Gifts as Plot Devices in Speculative Fiction 1:02:27

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1h ago1:02:27

1:02:27

Sliding towards the festive season, Jules and Madeleine take a look at gifts. Everyone loves a present, right? But what does a present actually signify? Are they always good things or can they be sinister or manipulative? From fae gifts to mystical burdens, the dragons take a deep dive into the sort of present you can't exchange for something else …

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MacGUFFINS Remastered - Because Sometimes the Real Treasure is the Plot Device 1:01:38

15d ago1:01:38

1:01:38

Ever chased a glowing orb through three dungeons, only to find out it's just... a really fancy paperweight? Congratulations, you've met a MacGuffin! This week, the RPGBOT crew dissects the mysterious art of the object that drives your players forward, whether it's the One Ring, the Orb of Shiny Plot Device, or the legendary Sandwich of Ultimate Pow…

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MYSTERIES (Remastered): Mastering Mind Games and Unlocking Secrets! 1:03:00

2h ago1:03:00

1:03:00

Have you ever watched your players stare at a clue for 25 minutes, slowly realizing they're not unraveling a mystery, you're watching them invent a brand-new conspiracy theory? In today's remastered episode, we dive into the magical art of mystery design: how to build suspense, reveal secrets, and gently nudge players away from wildly incorrect gue…

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FORGOTTEN REALMS: HEROES OF FAERUN Part 1: All Them Subclasses 1:08:33

3d ago1:08:33

1:08:33

If you've ever wondered what happens when three grown adults argue passionately about grammar, moonbeams, seagulls, and the metaphysics of Strahd's horse, all before actually starting the podcast, this episode is for you. Join us as we journey into Heroes of Faerûn, where the subclasses are shiny, the Rangers are frosty, and the Fighters are appare…

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FORGOTTEN REALMS: ADVENTURES IN FAERUN: Dales, Deserts, and Dumb Decisions - The RPGBOT Grand Tour 1:25:47

6d ago1:25:47

1:25:47

What do you get when you mix 40 years of Dungeons & Dragons lore, a 288-page setting book, and three podcasters who can't agree on how to pronounce "Myth Drannor"? Chaos. Pure, lore-filled, map-crossing, Elminster-cheese-eating chaos. In this episode, the RPGBOT crew dives headlong into Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn, a sourcebook that's eq…

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2014 DnD FIGHTERS (Remastered)! Unleashing Your Inner Warrior: Steps for Building the Iconic Class 1:01:22

8d ago1:01:22

1:01:22

You ever look at your sword, then at the wizard's spellbook, and think "wait a minute, why does their magic missile hit harder than my greatsword?" Well, friends, today we fix that. We're diving deep into the art of the Fighter: the tank, the tactician, the unsung hero of every adventuring party. Sharpen your blades, tighten your greaves, and prepa…

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Episode 462: Beauty is a Beast - the Problem with Ugly Characters in Speculative Fiction 1:50:18

5d ago1:50:18

1:50:18

'Ugly' is a subjective term, of course. Tastes vary and opinions are heavily influenced by how we perceive someone or how much we like them. However, there are plenty of characters in speculative fiction who even on the page do not fit the parameters of being conventionally physically attractive. When those books are translated to the screen, often…

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DRAWING A WEAPON - Ash's Existential Weapon Crisis 1:06:28

7d ago1:06:28

1:06:28

You know that moment when your fighter drops their sword, pulls a crossbow, reloads, drinks a potion, and still has the audacity to say "I attack"? Yeah, this episode's for you. The RPGBOT crew tackles the ancient art of drawing a weapon, a rule so universally ignored that half your table just gasped realizing it has rules. Join Tyler, Randall, and…

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STARFINDER 2E ALIEN CORE REVIEW - Paizo Looked at the Void and Said, 'We Can Stat That!' 1:01:52

13d ago1:01:52

1:01:52

Somewhere in the galaxy, a radioactive dragon just wants a hug. Unfortunately, it kills everyone it touches. Welcome to Starfinder 2e, where your best friends are undead, your space pirates have tricorn hats, and your digital ghosts won't log off. The RPGBOT crew dives into Paizo's new Alien Core, exploring the weirdest monsters, creepiest factions…

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Episode 461: The Girl with a Sword - strong female characters and the death of nuance 1:19:59

15d ago1:19:59

1:19:59

Moving slightly away from spooky season and weird folklore, the dragons are clocking in with a writing episode. At the moment, Romantasy is the biggest whale splashing around in the sea of fantasy, partially drowning out other subgenres (at least temporarily). While romantasy is a lot of fun, it's caused further changes in the 'strong female charac…

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ENERGY DRAIN - The Mechanics that Suck the Life Out of You 57:36

12d ago57:36

57:36

Ever had a game session so draining that even your dice lose levels? In this episode, the RPGBOT crew resurrects one of D&D's most dreaded mechanics: energy drain, and the undead horrors that made it famous. From the White Box to Pathfinder 2e, Tyler, Randall, and Ash relive decades of pain, permanent debuffs, and emotional damage, all in the name …

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EXPLICIT: OLD GODS OF APPALACHIA RPG CHARITY STREAM REPLAY Pt 4: Soup, Dynamite, and the Devil in a Three-Piece Suit 1:10:25

20d ago1:10:25

1:10:25

Ever accidentally make a deal with the devil in a three-piece suit, get hit in the face with canned soup, and still manage to save an Appalachian town from a coal-eating mountain? The RPGBOT crew did, and somehow, it's not even the weirdest part of their charity stream. Grab your molasses taffy, kiss your dynamite goodbye, and prepare for the most …

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2014 WILD SHAPE MASTERY (Remastered) - Bear Today, Bard Tomorrow: Shifting Expectations in D&D 49:41

22d ago49:41

49:41

Ever want to turn into a giant octopus just to ruin a pirate's day? Or turn into a squirrel just to steal your party's rations? On this week's RPGBOT.Podcast, we dive into the wild world of Wild Shape, from tactical bear hugs to flying reconnaissance pigeons. Spoilers: size matters, and no, nobody knows how many hit points a badger has without goog…

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Episode 460: Folklore of the Forgotten - Mythic Creatures Born From Obsolete Jobs 1:21:39

14d ago1:21:39

1:21:39

How many jobs and professions have existed over the centuries which we now no longer know anything about? Who thinks about warreners and coopers? Fowlers and knocker-ups? And yet this now unnecessary work lingers in surname origins and in the strange tales that grow up around these jobs. This week, still feeling semi spooky and continuing their rec…

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RPGBOT.MASTERCLASS! Keith Ammann Makes Enemies!!! 1:13:29

19d ago1:13:29

1:13:29

Ever looked at a monster stat block and thought, "That's cool… but what if it was full of wasp parasites, haunted by Victorian metaphors, and could bend reality like a jaded demigod?" Well buckle in, because Keith Ammann—monster maestro and author of Making Enemies—is back to teach us how to create RPG nightmares smarter than your party's wizard, s…

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Re-Release: KEITH AMMANN STRIKES BACK (Remastered) - Smarter Monsters, Stronger Lairs, and Why Your Players Should Be Afraid 1:21:48

25d ago1:21:48

1:21:48

It's a day of celebration in the RPGBOT multiverse—because Keith Ammann has just released his new book, Making Enemies! To mark the occasion, we're reopening the vaults and re-releasing one of our all-time favorite episodes: Keith Ammann Strikes Back. Join us as we revisit Keith's tactical genius, his deep-dive into creature combat, and the strateg…

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EXPLICIT: OLD GODS OF APPALACHIA RPG CHARITY STREAM REPLAY: Pt 3 - Not-Deer in the Orchard, Clue's Fury Unleashed 1:06:42

27d ago1:06:42

1:06:42

Ever outrun a demon deer with too many teeth, watched a mine explode for reasons you definitely didn't cause, and then discovered a whistle that works like a horror movie pause button? No? Then you haven't listened to Part 3 of the Old Gods of Appalachia charity stream, where the RPGBOT crew learns the hard way that in Williams Holler, even the loc…

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FALSE HYDRA (Remastered) - One Head? Seven Heads? Who's Counting? 45:13

29d ago45:13

45:13

Ever had that moment when you realize your party has been talking to the same "new guy" for weeks... but no one can remember his name? Welcome to the world of the False Hydra, the D&D monster that gaslights your characters harder than a reality TV producer. Join the RPGBOT crew as they peel back the layers of this memory-munching menace and ask the…

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Episode 459: The Ghost in the Machine - Folklore Meets Firmware in Speculative Fiction 1:24:38

21d ago1:24:38

1:24:38

Still in the spooky zone, this week Jules and Madeleine take a look at the fascinating phenomenon of folklore being created in real time. There have always been parallels between technology and superstition, magic and science. As technology moves further into the non tangible realm of digital space, ghosts and other entities have begun to echo this…

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GHOSTS (RPGBOT.Bestiary) - Unfinished Business and Undead Bad Decisions 1:10:31

22d ago1:10:31

1:10:31

Ad Free Listening on the RPGBOT Patreon Want more episodes like this, plus early access, live recordings, or ad-free listening? Join our Patreon at patreon.com/rpgbot and help us keep the mics on (and the ghosts at bay). Every little bit helps us roll with advantage! Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the crew dives deep into Ghosts …

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EXPLICIT: OLD GODS OF APPALACHIA RPG CHARITY STREAM REPLAY: Don't Look at the Tommyknockers. No, Seriously, Don't Look 1:13:54

1M ago1:13:54

1:13:54

Have you ever gotten up for a full day's work in a haunted coal mine and thought, "Boy, I really hope that bird in a cage doesn't stop singing and doom us all"? No? Then you clearly weren't with the RPGBOT crew in Part 2 of our Old Gods of Appalachia charity stream—where coal dust has claws, headlamps are your best friend, and it turns out you can …

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FIGHTING STYLES (Remastered) - Roleplay-Driven Combat Tactics for Martial Classes 1:10:58

1M ago1:10:58

1:10:58

Have you ever stared at your D&D character sheet, wondering if you picked the right fighting style, and suddenly felt like someone out there was judging you? That's because they were—and it was your DM, silently counting how many times you could've picked Defense instead of Dueling. But worry not, because in this episode, we're unlocking your chara…

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Episode 458: The Mummy Unwrapped - Bandaged Horror to Unlikely Romantic Hero 1:08:28

1M ago1:08:28

1:08:28

As far as the dragons are concerned it's still spooky season and this week, they are featuring one of the most beloved 'universal monsters' - the Mummy. From Ancient Egypt to Victorian obsession to post war film era, the Mummy has been a symbol for secrets and forbidden knowledge, often reflecting discomforting truths back at us. Jules and Madelein…

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TITANSKEEP - The Gods Are Petty, the Titans Are Hungry, and Drew Foulke Has Dice 44:28

1M ago44:28

44:28

Ever wondered what happens when you cross a high-fantasy campaign setting, a Louisiana bayou, and a magical eel with moonshine for blood? The RPGBOT crew found out the hard way when they sat down with Drew Foulke, the founder of Norse Foundry and Hexed Publishing, to talk about his new system-agnostic roleplaying world: Titanskeep. It's a world whe…

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EXPLICIT: OLD GODS OF APPALACHIA RPG CHARITY STREAM REPLAY: Through Labor Comes Salvation - or Something Worse 1:08:22

1M ago1:08:22

1:08:22

The RPGBOT crew descends into the haunted hollers of Appalachia, where faith, fire, and coal run deep, and the locals don't much care for outsiders asking questions. Between GM intrusions, cursed deer, and whiskey-soaked theology, our heroes quickly learn that in Old Gods of Appalachia, salvation's a dangerous business. Welcome to the mines, y'all.…

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RANDOM TREASURES (Remastered) - Ditch Searches that Suck and Surprise Your Players 53:39

1M ago53:39

53:39

You know that moment when your players spend ten minutes searching a room, roll a 5, and you sigh before saying, "You find… nothing"? Yeah, we're done with that. In this episode, the RPGBOT crew grabs the Dungeon Master's Guide by the binding and asks the real questions: Why are searches so boring, and why do your players keep looting every chair l…

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Episode 457: The Graveyard Shift - Nightmares Sleep Paralysis & Dreamscapes in Folklore and Modern Horror 1:18:50

1M ago1:18:50

1:18:50

Sleep - something so mundane we do it around eight hours out of every twenty-four - makes a great vehicle for horror. Judging by folkloric record and cross cultural points of similarity, it's been part of horror for millennia. From old hag syndrome to nightmares to the simple but essential necessity of being unaware and vulnerable for blocks of tim…

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Monster Party - Halloween 1:12:52

1M ago1:12:52

1:12:52

Treat: our episode on having a howlin' good Halloween party. Trick: It's from this time last year. Back before the world itself was the real horror. Step back in time and come party with us for ever and ever and everBy Leila, Geoff, & Ira

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MORE! UA 2025 ARCANE SUBCLASSES: Old Wizards, new tricks, and a lot of spell slot math we forgot how to do 1:08:41

1M ago1:08:41

1:08:41

Ever had that moment when you realize you've become the "veteran adventurer" in your own party? The RPGBOT crew sure has. In this episode, we channel that energy straight into the Unearthed Arcana Arcane Subclasses, dissecting the Enchanter, Necromancer, and Transmuter Wizards from D&D 2024. Expect laughter, existential dread, and a healthy dose of…

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UA 2025 ARCANE SUBCLASSES UPDATE and the Art of the Fastball - Unearthed Arcana 1:05:01

2M ago1:05:01

1:05:01

Help Creators Roll a Natural 20 Hey listeners! Before we start slinging arrows and conjuring elementals, remember: your ratings and reviews are the Inspiration of podcasting. Whether on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, take a moment to rate, review, and share RPGBOT.Podcast. Every five-star review powers our continued quest for know…

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COVER Remastered - Preparing for the Fall of Humanity 50:17

2M ago50:17

50:17

Show Notes In this episode, the RPGBOT crew explores how to duck and cover in TTRPGS, and how to do it with style. We explore the mechanics of cover, including using your allies as meat shields and ducking behind any convenient bush or bit of rubble that you can. Will it save you from explosions? Probably not. But an AC bonus never hurts. The RPGBO…

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Episode 456: Haunted Attics & Cursed Kitchens - the Paradoxical Terror of the Mundane 1:17:30

1M ago1:17:30

1:17:30

This week's spooky season offering dives past the whole haunted house experience to go deeper. What if the haunting was more specific? An attic or cellar is well known trope, but what about a playground? A nursery? A clock or a mirror? What do those things say about the state of the main character's mind in storytelling? And what exactly is the qui…

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THE PSION RETURNS PT 2: Unearthed Arcana: Mind Over Matter... But Mostly Just Confusion 1:06:47

2M ago1:06:47

1:06:47

What happens when Dungeons & Dragons decides to give psionics another shot? The RPGBOT.Podcast dives headfirst into the Unearthed Arcana Psion Update: an experiment in psychic power, spell mechanics, and a whole lot of questionable design choices. From the disappointing Life Inversion Field to the glorious chaos of Psychic Scream, the crew breaks d…

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HUNTER THE RECKONING PT4 Q&A - The Danger System: It's Not a Bug, It's a Lifestyle 31:03

2M ago31:03

31:03

When you stare too long into the darkness, sometimes the darkness stares back—and then asks about your dice pool. In this episode, the RPGBOT.Podcast team sits down to answer your burning questions about Hunter: The Reckoning, exploring the mechanics, the danger system, and how desperation turns ordinary people into extraordinary survivors in the W…

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DOMAINS OF DREAD (Remastered) - Creating a Campaign for the Irredeemably Evil 57:21

2M ago57:21

57:21

You know that moment when your players say, "We want to be the bad guys"? Yeah, this is the episode where we let them. Pull up your black cloaks, pour a glass of something red (preferably not from the paladin), and join us as we wander into the mists of the Domains of Dread—where even your dice fear to roll. Spooktober Returns! It's Spooktober on t…

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Episode 455: Tangle Bottles & Bone Charms - Everyday Magic in Folklore & Fiction 1:21:56

2M ago1:21:56

1:21:56

It's time for episode three of the dragons' spooky season extravaganza and don't be deceived by the title. Folk Magic can go to some pretty dark places... This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at a magic system that relies on mundane objects and folk knowledge. In fact this type of magic is, on the surface, so mundane that many people would ar…

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THE PSION REVISITED - Unearthed Arcana, Albuquerque, and the Future of D&D Psionics 1:04:03

2M ago1:04:03

1:04:03

Somewhere between the high deserts of New Mexico and the psychic wastelands of Unearthed Arcana, the RPGBOT crew discovered two great truths: Albuquerque has better tacos than Los Angeles, and psionics might finally make sense in Dungeons & Dragons. We know some of you thought the Psion episode was lost forever (vanished into the Astral Plane or ea…

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HUNTER THE RECKONING AP PT3 - Improvised Weapons and Poor Decisions 55:03

2M ago55:03

55:03

Nothing says "modern monster hunting" like breaking into a corporate lab armed with sarcasm, trauma, and a tranquilizer dart you don't fully understand. In this Actual Play of Hunter the Reckoning, our would-be heroes confront the horrors of both the supernatural and the bureaucratic. There's teamwork, betrayal, and just enough humor to make you wo…

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PUBLIC SPEAKING OR DEATH: ENCOURAGING ROLEPLAY (Remastered) 1:05:40

2M ago1:05:40

1:05:40

RANDALL: "They say people fear public speaking more than death. Which means that, statistically, most players would rather TPK than deliver an in-character monologue." ASH: "Honestly? Same." TYLER: "So today we're doing the impossible—convincing gamers that pretending to be a half-elf sorcerer in front of their friends doesn't have to be terrifying…

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Episode 544: The Uninvited Guest - Unseen Entities and Invisible Fear in Myth and Modern Horror 1:14:11

2M ago1:14:11

1:14:11

Continuing their spooky season, this week the dragons pose a question: what's more frightening? The object of terror can see or the entity you can't? A fear of non tangible threats is baked into the essential human make up - we would hardly have survived to evolve as we have if our ancestors had not had the capability to 'what if' about predators c…