◇ Alwaysnevers asks how to include trans NPCs in a game in an organic and respectful way, Steffi from Scotland comments on GM-less games, Sean from NJ shares a gaming horror story | Hosts: Kimi, Clara & Rose ◇ 00:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:14 - Announcements: 2023 Feedback Survey! happyjacks.org/survey - Help us improve our shows and content! 01:56 - Indie Designer of the Month: Ryan Khan (the-one-true-ryan-khan.itch.io) 08:10 - Alwaysnevers asks how to include trans NPCs in a game in a...
May 16, 2023•1 hr 11 min
◇ Shawn from DC asks about encounters and experience in games, Jason from California discusses the experience of women in the hobby, Erica Odd shares about “it’s what my character would do!” | Hosts: Kimi, CADave & Nick ◇ 00:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:10 - Announcements: Season 31 is ending soon! We will take a 2 week break after episode 25 and be back with Season 32 the first week of May! 01:52 - Shawn from Washington, DC asks about encounters and experience in games | 35:07 - Jason fr...
May 01, 2023•1 hr 16 min
◇ Eric from New Jersey asks how to handle mixed species PCs, Ben from Texas talks GM plot tropes, & MadKingChristopher asks how we got here | Hosts: Kimi & Clara ◇ 00:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:07 - Announcements: Season 31 is ending soon! We will take a 2 week break after episode 25 and be back with Season 32 the first week of May! 03:53 - Eric from New Jersey asks how to handle mixed species PCs | 28:02 - Ben from Texas talks GM plot tropes | 47:45 - MadKingChristopher asks how we got...
Apr 19, 2023•1 hr 13 min
o Forlornhope22 brings up GMs that punishing Players, Michael asks about elocution, and Sean from NJ has a new frame of mind about safety tools | Hosts: Kimi, Nick, & Rose ◇ 00:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:38 - Announcements: Season 31 is ending soon! We will take a 2 week break after episode 25 and be back with Season 32 the first week of May! 03:36 - Forlornhope22 asks about GMs Punishing Players | 42:29 - Michael asks about elocution | 01:08:45 - Sean from NJ has a comment about safety...
Apr 14, 2023•1 hr 30 min
◇ Jörn in Sweden hates cinematic descriptions in games, Charger347 wants to rename styles of playing TTRPGs, Eric from New Jersey shares a horror story | Hosts: Kimi, CADave, and Alex ◇ 00:32 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:45 - Announcements: Happy Jacks Discord Game Daze! Join happyjacks.org/discord to play in community games on April 8th! 02:58 - Indie Designer of the Month: AshyFeet Games (ashyfeet.com) | 04:44 - Jörn in Sweden hates cinematic descriptions in games | 18:17 - Charger347 want...
Apr 06, 2023•1 hr 5 min
◇ Thomas from Denmark asks how to game with teenagers who act like teenagers, Ken from Canada wants to know how to keep card prompt games fresh with two players, and Eric from Texas asks how we decide to what games to support on crowdfunding sites | Hosts: Kimi, CADave, and Alex ◇ 00:32 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 02:16 - Announcements: Happy Jacks Discord Game Daze! Join happyjacks.org/discord to play in community games on April 8th! 02:49 - Indie Designer of the Month: AshyFeet Games (ashyfe...
Mar 29, 2023•1 hr 15 min
◇ Eric from Oregon talks about ways to work with players as a blind GM, EricaOdd asks how to avoid oppression tourism in games, Rose asks what rules we always skip | Hosts: Kimi, Nick, Moe ◇ 00:32 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:47 - Announcements: Happy Jacks Discord Game Daze! Join happyjacks.org/discord to play in community games on April 8th! 03:49 - Indie Designer of the Month: AshyFeet Games (ashyfeet.com) | 13:32 - Eric from Oregon talks about ways to work with players as a blind GM | 36...
Mar 22, 2023•1 hr 9 min
◇ Budding Butlerian in New Zealand shares a story about players using ChatGTP, Toby wants advice about a disappointing convention experience, Steve from Wisconsin shares his return to gaming and LARP knowledge. | Hosts: Kimi, Nick, CADave ◇ 00:32 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:19 - Announcements: Tell your friends (or enemies!) about Happy Jacks! 03:03 - Indie Designer of the Month: AshyFeet Games (ashyfeet.com) | 04:08 - Budding Butlerian in New Zealand shares a story about players using Chat...
Mar 16, 2023•1 hr 10 min
◇ Thomas from Denmark asks why the GM gets to make all the final calls in a TTRPG, Eric from New Jersey asks about the pros and cons of gaming on Discord and if he should stop using Skype, Rose asks about some of our favorite experiences with PC relationships | Hosts: Kimi, Riley, Jason ◇ 00:32 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:10 - Announcements: Successful OrcCon 2023! 01:56 - Indie Designer of the Month: AshyFeet Games (ashyfeet.com) | 05:24 - Thomas from Denmark asks why the GM gets to make a...
Mar 09, 2023•1 hr 20 min
◇ MiniPainterJen asks how to run a session where PCs have personalities in two different realities, Steffi from Scotland asks how to clean up lose ends when a player leaves a game mid campaign, Ed from Minnesota, now in Florida has a challenge for the Happy Jacks hosts about introducing new people to the hobby. | Hosts: Kimi, Rose ◇ 00:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:22 - Announcements: Successful OrcCon 2023! 02:37 - Indie Designer of the Month: Jennifer Adcock (jen-adcock15.itch.io & indie...
Feb 28, 2023•1 hr 15 min
◇ Live from OrcCon 2023 at the Hilton LAX in Los Angeles! A great panel show with members of our audience and stories from lots of different con games. Since it is a live event, the audio quality is not the same as our normal episodes recorded in our studio. ◇ ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20...
Feb 24, 2023•52 min
◇ OrcCon 2023 is happening Feb 17-20th at the Hilton LAX in Los Angeles! Steffi from Scotland replies to our discussion about mystery games, Vyrrk from DC asks for recommendations for games besides D&D that have the same vibe and flavor, Blake shares a horror story from his first gaming group | Hosts: Nick, Jameson, Mike & Jim ◇ 00:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:24 - Announcements: Happy Jacks will be at Strategicon “Orccon” 2023! Feb 17-20th at the Hilton LAX in LA. 14:30 - Indie Designer ...
Feb 14, 2023•1 hr 6 min
◇ We had some slight audio troubles with Rose's remote audio for the first part of this episode, but they get cleared up pretty quick. OrcCon 2023 is coming Feb 17-20th! Thomas from Denmark brings up GMs fudging their dice rolls, Ken from Canada asks how to tell if a player’s reaction is warranted, and Andreas in Sweden replies to our discussion about what makes a “traditional game." | Hosts: Kimi, Nick, Rose ◇ 00:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:17 - Announcements: Happy Jacks will be at Str...
Feb 08, 2023•1 hr 3 min
◇ OrcCon 2023 is coming! Richard asks how to get players to grab plot hooks, Emily asks how to entice board game players to play RPGs, and Daniel asks about our favorite published adventures for non-fantasy campaigns. | Hosts: Kimi, Nick, Riley, Jameson ◇ 00:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | Announcements - Happy Jacks will be at Strategicon “Orccon” 2023! Feb 17-20th at the Hilton LAX in LA. 05:59 - Indie Designer of the Month: Gem Room Games (gemroomgames.com) | 10:41 - Richard asks how to get ...
Feb 03, 2023•1 hr 11 min
◇ Summary: Eric from Texas asks how much you have to know when running a campaign in a popular setting, Michael E replies to our discussion of when GMs take players stuff away, and Eric from New Jersey shares a LARP gaming triumph | Hosts: Kimi, Nick, Clara ◇ 00:34 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:20 - Indie Designer of the Month: Gem Room Games (gemroomgames.com) | 03:07 - Eric from Texas asks how much you have to know when running a campaign in a popular setting | 19:22 - Michael E replies to ...
Jan 23, 2023•1 hr 6 min
◇ Summary: Eric from New Jersey is returning to running convention games after an 18 year absence and wants tips, Mike from New York replies to our conversation about problematic powers with opponents in ttrpgs, EricaOdd shares her experience with the Avatar PBTA game at a local convention | Hosts: Kimi, Nick, Joey, Jameson ◇ 0:35 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 01:24 - Announcements: Join our mailing list so we don't have to depend on social media platforms happyjacks.org/newsletter 3:06 - Indie ...
Jan 17, 2023•59 min
◇ Summary: Own from New Zealand wants to find a good way to memorialize a gaming friend who has passed away, Will asks about how to balance life with gaming, and Ken in Canada loves considering the biology of monsters | Hosts: Kimi, Nick, Christos & Jason◇ 0:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 1:40 - Indie Designer of the Month: Gem Room Games (gemroomgames.com) | 4:36 - Owen from New Zealand asks how best to memorialize a gaming friend who has passed away | 21:42 - Will O. asks about balancing dif...
Jan 13, 2023•1 hr 10 min
◇ Summary: Curt has issues with Lines and Veils as a safety tool, Steve can't seem to create moments of awe and wonder for the player characters in his games, and DM Pete has finished our backlog and we talk a bit about how Happy Jacks has changed over the years. | Hosts: Kimi, Emily & Clara◇ 0:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 1:24 - Indie Designer of the Month: Noora Rose owner of Monkey’s Paw Games (monkeyspawgames.com) | 4:52 - Curt has issues with Lines and Veils as a safety tool | 19:45 - S...
Jan 01, 2023•1 hr 1 min
◇ Summary: We discuss gender roles in fictional species and societies, including ways to turn them on their head, give universal tips for learning to GM, and share our "white whale" systems that have managed to escape us all these years. | Hosts: Kimi & Adam◇ 0:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 1:07 - Indie Designer of the Month: Noora Rose owner of Monkey’s Paw Games (monkeyspawgames.com) | 3:40 - Steve in So Cal asks about gender roles in fictional species and societies | 33:23 - Shawn from Was...
Jan 01, 2023•1 hr 12 min
◇ Summary: Steve in So Cal wants to discuss how to balance world-building canon while still "yes and-ing" players contributions to the world, Thomas from Denmark asks about mystery and investigation stories in TTRPGS, and Steffi in Scotland wants advice about giving advice | Hosts: Kimi, Adam, & Rose ◇ 0:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 1:23 - Indie Designer of the Month: Noora Rose owner of Monkey’s Paw Games (monkeyspawgames.com) | 6:02 - Steve in SoCal brings up balancing world-building consi...
Dec 19, 2022•1 hr 33 min
◇ Summary: We announce our December Indie Designer of the Month, Richard asks about mechanics helping new players, Adam has great advice for running The One Ring 2nd Edition, and Vyrrk is worried that he has given his players bad habits as their only GM ever | Hosts: Kimi, Riley, and Bill ◇ 0:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 1:59 - Announcements of new Actual Play shows| 4:05 - Indie Designer of the Month: Noora Rose owner of Monkey’s Paw Games (monkeyspawgames.com) | 7:51 - Richard asks if a sy...
Dec 08, 2022•1 hr 36 min
◇ Summary: Batman writes in about the science behind evil fantasy creatures, Curt from Alaska asks about running TTRPGs for a group of 44 kids, and Jolene shares some advice about safety tools and has a reminder for us. | Hosts: Kimi, Adam, & CADave ◇ 0:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 1:59 - Indie Designer of the Month: Christina Stone-Bush (hyvemynd.itch.io) | 5:33 - Announcements of new APs 10:20 - Batman talks about the science of evil creatures | 40:05 - Curt from Alaska writes in about run...
Nov 20, 2022•1 hr 32 min
◇ Summary: Kettle from Germany asks for tips and tricks for streaming games, Steffi from Scotland offers an academically inspired way to pace one-shots, Actual Jessie talks about the The One Ring TTRPG and Kimi goes on a rant about Rings of Power | Hosts: Kimi (@goldenlassogirl), Nick (@Sungrowler) ◇ 0:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 4:02 - Indie Designer of the Month: Christina Stone-Bush (hyvemynd.itch.io) | 6:09 - Kettle from Germany asks about streaming TTRPGS | 39:00 - Steffi from Scotland...
Nov 19, 2022•1 hr 21 min
◇ Summary: We announce our Indie Designer of the Month for November, Mike is running a low fantasy D&D campaign and wants to transition it to high fantasy, Jan-Egil from Norway updates us on how his 10 Candles convention game went, and Taurelin misses post-convention game breakdowns | Hosts: Kimi (@goldenlassogirl), Jay (@jayafrica), and Bill (@billroper) ◇ 0:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 1:21 - Indie Designer of the Month: Christina Stone-Bush (hyvemynd.itch.io) | 6:31 - Mike asks about how ...
Nov 06, 2022•1 hr 9 min
◇ Summary: Array asks about GMing planning styles and "writing style alignment," Steve in SoCal asks about the tone of convention games, and Patrick has a complaint about our GURPS comments | Hosts: Kimi (@goldenlassogirl), Adam (@hoobuk), Nick (@Sungrowler) ◇ 0:34 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 1:15 - Announcements: Starting in November we will feature an indie designer every month! Patreons will get copies of their games and everyone will learn about amazing creators in the TTRPG community! | 7...
Nov 06, 2022•1 hr 25 min
◇ Summary: Batman, yes BATMAN... ok maybe not real Batman, writes in about his first TPK ever, JoLene writes in with a LARP horror story and talks about why she went back a few times anyway, Steve in SoCal asks about problematic powers that mess with player agency and enjoyment. | Hosts: Kimi (@goldenlassogirl), CA Dave (@CASithLord), Courtney (@theanimegoddess), and Jay (@JayAfrica) ◇ 0:34 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 1:52 - Announcements: Starting in November we will feature an indie designer...
Oct 31, 2022•1 hr 10 min
◇ Summary: Shawn asks about games that are designed with inclusive or specifically exclusive concepts about PCs, Rob wants to talk game currency and the Alien RPG, Jonathan asks for advice about writing adventures and designing games | Hosts: Kimi (@goldenlassogirl), Emily (@emilyvdw) ◇ 0:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 2:14 - Announcements: This is the last episode of season 30. We will be taking a 2 week break and be back to record the first episode of season 31 on Oct 21st. | 5:55 - Shawn in...
Oct 09, 2022•1 hr 11 min
◇ Summary: Forlornhope22 asks now a new GM can recover from a too-deadly combat encounter in a campaign, Steve in SoCal asks about how to fit gaming in after having kids and how to raise kids in a way that makes them more likely to enjoy gaming someday, and Andreas has a lighting round of questions | Hosts: Kimi (@goldenlassogirl), Adam (@hoobuk), and Bill (@billroper) ◇ 0:34 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 1:29 - Vyrrk is giving away a copy of Decuma on the Discord happyjacks.org/discord & the Di...
Oct 01, 2022•1 hr 28 min
◇ Summary: Ken in Canada asks if it’s ok to just RP straight white guy characters as a player, James from the Panhandle asks about pacing a 1 shot with no test runs, & Rob in Australia asks about what systems work well for managing inconsistent schedules where players end up missing sessions | Hosts: Kimi (@goldenlassogirl), Jason (@itsProbablyOk), Riley (@rileyjsilverman) ◇ 0:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 1:29 - Vyrrk is giving away a copy of Decuma on the Discord happyjacks.org/discord & th...
Sep 23, 2022•1 hr 20 min
◇ Summary: Forlornhope22 wants us to give some player advice for a change, Alverant wants more information about using a specific safety tool in games, & Friar Greg responds to his kid's show email from a few episodes back | Hosts: Kimi (@goldenlassogirl), Bill (@billroper) ◇ 0:33 - Welcome & Episode Summary | 1:54 - Vyrrk is giving away a copy of Decuma on the Discord happyjacks.org/discord & Happy Jacks seasons will be 25 episodes long| 10:14 - Forlornhope22 asks for advice for players | 46:45...
Sep 20, 2022•1 hr 30 min
