This is the edited version of an older seminar by Lowell Francis talking about planning and running TTRPG mysteries. It's about 50 minutes of talk followed by a Q&A. Lowell talks about his approach and best practices for running mysteries in rpgs. Topics include: Kinds of mysteries (set, set variable, improv) Plotting mysteries The power of the timeline Information handling Keeping player involvement Table management ...and more. See here for an outline of the talk Lowell is the designer and...
Aug 12, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 31
This time Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History jumps forward in time to the mid-1990s. Hosts Jay Brown and Lowell Francis look at Underground (1993) , Mayfair's attempt to build on the DC Heroes system with a dystopian, cyberpunk supers setting. Content warning: cannibalism, PTSD, transphobia, regressive treatment of disabilities and mental illness. We go over what the game is, its place in the history of gaming, and what was going on in comics media at the time. We then move to general discuss...
Aug 05, 2025•47 min•Ep. 30
In the inaugural episode of Fireside Chat with Agatha, Agatha is joined by Lowell Francis, Community Manager for the Open Hearth and designer of Hearts of Wulin , to talk game design. Listen as Agatha pushes Lowell for more stuff for HoW and beyond! Agatha Cheng is the Co-Creator and Co-Host of the Asians Represent! and The Game Design Game Show podcasts She works as a Cultural Consultant for content on Chinese history and mythology + the Chinese diaspora and Taiwan She is the designer of Deadly...
Jul 29, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 29
In this episode we cover a wide range of games old and new. Host Lowell Francis is joined by Rich Rogers ( +1 Forward, Hit the Streets ) and Jay Brown ( Diceology, Life: Indomitable ). Smallville Flying Circus Blackout Mythomorphosis Spooky Asian Club Just King Things Find Rich Rogers' Hit the Streets here +1 Forward Podcast Archives Jay's the author of By Aecer’s Light , The Clockwinders for Fate , Cortex Prime's Supers , and a contributing author on Pathfinder’s Mwangi Expanse , Trophy Gold, H...
Jul 22, 2025•57 min•Ep. 28
Be sure to check out the Hearts of Wulin Bundle of Holding running through Wednesday July 23rd, 2025. This is an edited and cleaned up version of a talk Lowell Francis, designer and co-writer on Hearts of Wulin, gave talking about moves, NPCs, set ups, and other topics in this game of wuxia melodrama. It is split between presentation and audience Q&A. This is part of the Open Hearth series of seminars, discussions, and workshops. Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community Support u...
Jul 17, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 27
Horror as a genre can be a great tool to use in your ventures in GMing horror games, but horror movies aren’t the only place to pull from. You can pull from many forms of media including books and real life situations. Sit down with us folks and let’s see how we each approach running horror ttrpgs! This panel talk is part of the Open Hearth series of seminars, discussions, and workshops. Host Jellyfishlines moderates a panel with Mads, Vixie, and David Robles. The panel wraps with some audience ...
Jul 15, 2025•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 26
In this second episode of Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History , hosts Jay Brown and Lowell Francis look at Villains & Vigilantes , the superhero rpg that broke the genre open. We go over what the game is, its place in the history of gaming, and what was going on in comics media at the time. We then move to general discussion, including what we found weird and what we dug. If you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe. Jay's the author of By Aecer’s Light , The Clockwinders for...
Jul 08, 2025•42 min•Ep. 25
In this episode we talk recent gaming and look at some really interesting and intense games. Host Mike Minutillo is joined community members Gwen Marshall and Ethan Harvey. Night Witches : https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/146173/night-witches Fathom: https://sulcata.itch.io/fathom Impossible Landscapes: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/344408/delta-green-impossible-landscapes Gwen https://bsky.app/profile/drgwenmarshall.bsky.social https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/browse?keyword=gwe...
Jul 01, 2025•50 min•Ep. 24
A recording of a talk by Lowell Francis about handling world building and collaborative elements. This session was part of Shared Hearth, the Open Hearth Gaming Community free ttrpg weekend. In this talk/discussion we hit on Reasons for a shared approach How existing games handle this Online tools and techniques Managing collaborative building ...and more. Talk Outline and Notes This was a mixed discussion and Q&A. We talked about adapting a more fixed setting, like Duskvol from Blades in th...
Jun 24, 2025•59 min•Ep. 23
In this first episode of Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History , hosts Jay Brown and Lowell Francis look at Superhero 2044 , arguably the first supers role-playing game. We go over what the game is, its place in the history of gaming, and what was going on in comics media at the time. We then move to general discussion, including what we found weird and what we dug. If you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe. Jay's the author of By Aecer’s Light , The Clockwinders for Fate , Cort...
Jun 19, 2025•37 min•Ep. 22
Ian & José are joined by Marc Majcher to discuss how we develop & pursue both in- and out-of-character aspirations. What makes a goal, and how can having one drive play? Along the way we talk about how closely we identify with our PC’s, and peer briefly into using techniques from improv theatre to improve our gaming. Timecodes: 0:01:30 Pick Your Poison 0:09:55 Setting character goals 0:18:55 Goals & Plot 0:25:44 How do games help us form goals? 0:36:37 Instrumental play & balanci...
Jun 17, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 21
In this episode we talk recent gaming and look at two really interesting projects. Host Lowell Francis (edige23) is joined community members Amanda Mullins ( iamatrex ) and Chrys Sellers ( Hectic Electron ). We talk Sprigs and Kindling , Defy the Gods , and a hack of Microscope for a Star Wars writers' room. LINKS Sprigs and Kindling Amanda's website The Between: Unsinkable on the Critshow's youtube The Defy the Gods Kickstarter The Defy the Gods Quickstart Chrys's website The Ugly Stepsister Am...
Jun 10, 2025•54 min•Ep. 20
Part of the Open Hearth series of seminars, discussions, and workshops. Rich Rogers ( Hit the Streets, +1 Forward ) and Lowell Francis ( Hearts of Wulin, Gauntlet Podcast, Open Hearth Podcas t) talk all things superhero rpgs: challenges, combat, world-building, villainy, solo gaming, and beyond. We’re joined by a group of community members for this discussion/round-table (Jim C, Anders, Rod Santos, Sabine and Jolene). Hosts Show Notes Selected Games Mentioned Anti-Heroes Better Angels Capes in t...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 19
In this podcast, community members join us to talk about their recent gaming and discuss one in depth that they really enjoyed. Host Andrea Rick ( https://plotbunnygames.itch.io/ ) is joined today by Agatha ( https://mightyyshrimp.itch.io/ ) and Wyllora ( https://wyllora.itch.io/ ). Games Discussed Take the Universe Triangle Agency Apocalypse Keys Andrea Rick https://plotbunnygames.com/ https://plotbunnygames.itch.io/ https://curiouscat.carrd.com/ Agatha https://mightyyshrimp.itch.io/ https://bs...
May 20, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 18
Ian and José chat with Agatha Cheng about how we develop narrative arcs for our PCs and the art of calling scenes to illustrate those arcs. Along the way, we indulge in bad boy tropes and the joys of PC/PC fandom. Agatha’s Work: Game Design + Consultancy: https://agathacheng.carrd.co/ Asians Represent ! Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community Support us on Patreon! Our actual play podcast can be found here Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg Bluesky: htt...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 17
In this podcast community members join us to talk about their recent gaming and discuss one in depth that they really enjoyed. Host Rae Nedjadi ( https://temporalhiccup.itch.io/ ) is joined today by Mint ( https://mint-rabbit.itch.io/ ) and Casey. Games Discussed Protect the Child Yazeba’s Bed & Breakfast Blades '68 (in Playtest) Also Mentioned There's a RPG for that! The Righteous Gemstones South of Midnight Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community Support us on Patreon! Our act...
May 06, 2025•55 min•Ep. 16
Another in our series of Open Hearth Community talks, this time discussing hacking Powered by the Apocalypse and Forged in the Dark : approaches, challenges, best practices. Host Lowell Francis is joined by Anders, Puckett, Bryan L, Brushman, Amaze, Ethan, Dom, and Cinna . Selected Games Mentioned Adventures on Dungeon Planet Ars Magica Blades in the Dark Girl by Moonlight Good Society Hearts of Wulin Impulse Drive Monster of the Week Mountain Home Pasión de las Pasiones Slugblaster The Veil Vei...
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 15
In this podcast community members join us to talk about their recent gaming and discuss one in depth that they really enjoyed. Host Fumi is joined today by Jesse (jesseabe) and Mads (madelancholy, https://www.youtube.com/@Madelancholy). Games Discussed Urban Shadows Second Edition The David Web Wanderhome Some Other Games Mentioned Teeth Apocalypse World 2e Inevitable Books Mentioned Astral Weeks: A Secret History of 1968 (Ryan Walsh ) Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed Worl...
Apr 08, 2025•36 min•Ep. 14
Ian and José welcome their first guest, Gwen Marshall, to talk about how players navigate the character creation process. We discuss our personal approaches to the process, reveal our recurring character “types”, and wonder how characters continue to evolve after Session Zero. Link to Gwen’s work: https://drgwenmarshall.carrd.co/ Contact Ian & José at: adifferenthex@gmail.com Open Hearth Gaming: https://openhearthgaming.com/ Show music: https://lloydeaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-different-kind-...
Mar 25, 2025•57 min•Ep. 13
Welcome to our fifth episode! In this podcast community members join us to talk about their recent gaming and discuss one in depth that they really enjoyed. Host Lowell Francis (edige23) is joined today by Sherri and Anders. Final Girl Thousand Year Old Vampire DIE Anders Gabrielsson https://undeshga.itch.io/ Lowell Francis https://youtube.com/@lowellfrancis?si=p_rpzF2RWnNz3WEi https://age-of-ravens-games.itch.io/ Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community Support us on Patreon! Our ac...
Mar 11, 2025•56 min•Ep. 12
In this inaugural episode, hosts Ian and José introduce the new podcast’s focus on the player perspective in TTRPGs: As players, how do we optimize our own fun, as well as that of our peers? How do we learn to recognize, appreciate, and develop our own individual play styles? How do we embrace our own agency within games and deploy it to support the greater community of players? Contact Ian and José at adifferenthex@gmail.com
Mar 04, 2025•51 min•Ep. 11
Welcome to our fourth episode! In this podcast community members join us to talk about their recent gaming and discuss one in depth that they really enjoyed. Host Lowell Francis (edige23) is joined today by Dom and Donogh. Wilderfeast Bump in the Dark Sunken Hearts AP Playlist Rain World Free from the Shadow Character Keeper Free from the Shadow Play Materials Donogh Mastodon - https://dice.camp/@donogh YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Donogh itch.io - https://donogh.itch.io/ Lowell Francis Yo...
Feb 25, 2025•55 min•Ep. 10
Host Lowell Francis (edige23) is joined this episode by community members Jex Thomas and Mike Minutillo to talk about their recent gaming experiences and in-depth discussions about a game they each enjoy. Jex's Links: Bump in the Dark The Last Caravan Urban Shadows 2E The Haunting of Cliff Cove The Girls of Genziana Hotel Last Pine Press on Itch: https://jexjthomas.itch.io/ Last Pine Press on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lastpinepress.com Mike's Links: A Warning to the Curious SUPER BANDIT ...
Feb 11, 2025•58 min•Ep. 9
Hey! We made it to Episode 2! In this podcast community members join us to talk about their recent gaming and discuss one in depth that they really enjoyed. Host Lowell Francis (edige23) is joined today by Horst and Will H. Horst's Mythic Bastionland Links: https://newschoolrevolution.com/how-i-do-play-by-post/ https://weirdwonder.bearblog.dev/mythic-bastionland/#fn-1 Pbp transcript https://blackcitygauntlet.blogspot.com/search/label/pbp Red Markets 2e Beta : https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/prod...
Jan 28, 2025•57 min•Ep. 8
Hey! It's the first episode of our long-promised podcast. In this podcast community members join us to talk about their recent gaming and discuss one in depth that they really enjoyed. Host Lowell Francis (edige23) is joined today by Marc Majcher and Jim Crocker. Marc Majcher: https://majcher.itch.io/ Jim Crocker: https://jimlikesgames.itch.io/ (you can also find Jim at StartPlaying ) Lowell Francis: https://age-of-ravens-games.itch.io/ Community Radio: https://thoughtcrimegames.itch.io/communit...
Jan 14, 2025•56 min•Ep. 7
A collection of favorite tabletop rpgs of 2024 from our community members. It’s split into three sections, with host picks in-between. To learn more about Open Hearth Gaming Community, check out openhearthgaming.com . Podcast feed: https://aroundthehearth.openhearthgaming.com/ AP Podcast: https://playingatthehearth.openhearthgaming.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OpenHearthGaming Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg Bluesky: @openhearthrpg.bsky.social Mastodon: https://dice...
Dec 31, 2024•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 6
(00:00) - Introduction (07:05) - Using our Playabl Calendar App (19:30) - After Posting Your Session (35:05) - Running Session Zero/One (58:14) - General Topics Talk Outline: https://bit.ly/3UDCye3 This is a talk/seminar about game facilitation, particularly in our Open Hearth Gaming Community. In this single session, I will be walking through the material I usually cover in session one of our Game Facilitator Camps. I’ll walk through that syllabus, and we can stop off for questions and tangents...
Nov 02, 2024•2 hr 7 min
Rich Rogers ( Hit the Streets, +1 Forward Podcast ) and Lowell Francis ( Hearts of Wulin, the Gauntlet Podcast ) talk NPCs: creating, presenting & working with them. We discuss these ideas with a small GM group-- getting their ideas and suggestions. Links mentioned in episode: Behind the Names Markov Name Generator Speech Patterns for NPCs...
Jun 25, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 5
Open Hearth Gaming's recorded gaming sessions are now available in an audio-only podcast format. For more information, check out Playing at the Hearth at https://playingatthehearth.openhearthgaming.com/ . For more information about Open Hearth Gaming, including how to sign up for games, please visit https://openhearthgaming.com/ . Thanks, everyone, and happy gaming!...
Apr 28, 2024•1 min
This is a talk by Lowell Francis about Legacy: Life Among the Ruins, a PbtA game of post-apocalyptic families and factions. Lowell (@edige23 on most social media) walks through the facets of the game giving advice and insight, with feedback and questions from the seminar participants. Talk Outline Example Character Keeper Sample Map Legacy: System Guide for New Players World Building: Collaborative Maps You can check us out on Patreon , YouTube , or our website ....
Apr 18, 2024•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 4
