Around the Hearth

Open Hearth Gaming Community
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Around the Hearth features discussion on a wide range of topics relevant to tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) featuring members of the Open Hearth Gaming Community. We talk games, gameplay, design, and the games being played at the Open Hearth Gaming Calendar. Our online games are free and open to all! If you'd like to join the fun, visit openhearthgaming.com for more information.

  1. Open Hearth Podcast Ep 12: Rangers of a Broken World, Aberrant, Masks

    2 DAYS AGO

    Open Hearth Podcast Ep 12: Rangers of a Broken World, Aberrant, Masks

    In this episode Host Rae Nedjadi (Apocalypse Keys, Once More into the Void) talks with Sebastian Yūe and Matthew Arcilla about games, superheroes, villainy, gender, and much more. They look at Evil Hat's forthcoming ttrpg, a classic from White Wolf, and a more modern take on heroism (which is apparently getting a second edition). Content warning for second segment: mention of sexual assault in a short story. Rangers of a Broken World (aka Heroic Chord)AberrantMasks: A New GenerationNever Whistle at NightBurn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in HollywoodRules, retcons, and rightsholders: The tough road for superhero RPGs  Sebastian can be found at: sebastianyue.ca, sebastianyue @itch and bsky.socialSign up for SHIFT here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shiftrpg/shift-rpgHit Point Press: https://hitpointpress.com/ Matthew can be found here: experimentego.bsky.social Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found here Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp  00:00 Introduction02:55 Rangers of a Broken World14:58 Aberrant26:35 Masks: A New Generation46:50 Giving Me Life

    59 min
  2. Tribes in the Dark Kickstarter: Roll for Mutation Bonus Ep

    28 AUG

    Tribes in the Dark Kickstarter: Roll for Mutation Bonus Ep

    In this "bonusode*" for Roll for Mutation: Post-Apocalyptic TTRPG History, we talk with Wil Hutton aka Rivetgeek, lead developer for Tribes in the Dark. TitD reworks and re-imagines Tribe 8, Dream Pod 9's fantastical post-apocalyptic rpg from the late 1990s. This new version adapts the Forged in the Dark mechanics to this game of tribes, outcasts, and prophecy. Tribes in the Dark is Kickstarting through September 14 2025. Tribe 8 on WikipediaTribe 8 on DTRPGTribe 8 on RPGGeekWil on Bluesky  @rivetgeek.aggregatecognizance.com‬ *term borrowed from the Ranged Touch podcast... Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found here Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp  Music: Here Comes the Night Karl Casey @White Bat Audio

    42 min
  3. Roll for Mutation: Post-Apocalyptic TTRPG History: Ep. 1 Gamma World

    26 AUG

    Roll for Mutation: Post-Apocalyptic TTRPG History: Ep. 1 Gamma World

    First episode of Roll for Mutation, a new series looking at the history of Post-Apocalyptic TTRPGs. In this one hosts Lowell Francis and Marc Majcher cover the extended history of Gamma World, with a focus on the first two editions (of many). We talk about what Gamma World is, where it fits in gaming history, what the media context is like, and our general thoughts about the game. Roll for Mutation won't be covering things chronologically, but we do hope to hit the "tentpole" games in the genre early. ReferencesGamma World on WikipediaGamma World on RPG Geek Grognardia on Gamma World Grognardia on Gamma World 2e Designers & Dragons Volume 1 The 1970sGame Wizards For other shows like this, check out Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History. Marc Majcher is an award-winning game designer, performer, educator, director, woodworker, writer, and all-around goblin-man recently relocated from Austin, Texas to East Lansing, Michigan. You can find their RPGs and larps inspired by the works of Philip K Dick, a bird apocalypse, eldritch startup cults, viral videos, and much, much more at https://majcher.itch.io/ and everything else at https://majcher.com/. Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community. You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG. Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found here Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp  Music: Here Comes the Night Karl Casey @White Bat Audio 00:00 Introduction: Gamma World02:05 What is it?10:10 Gaming History19:12 The Media Context25:30 Our Thoughts

    47 min

  4. 19 AUG

    Open Hearth: What Is It?

    Lowell Francis provides a short introduction to the Open Hearth Gaming Community: what we are, what we do, how you can join, and how you can support what we do. Website Discord Invite Patreon Playabl Shared Hearth Community Code of Conduct Online Play Resources Around the Hearth Playing at the Hearth YouTube Play Issues Gameway Contact Us: openhearthgamingcommunity@gmail.comFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp   00:00 Introduction00:52 What is Open Hearth04:07 Joining Us07:36 Signing Up For Games14:20 What Happens When You Sign Up17:03 What to Expect from Play19:38 Getting Into Sessions21:37 Running Games23:25 Play Issues26:53 Open Hearth Projects and Events 34:06 How to Support Us

    37 min

  5. 12 AUG

    Talking Mysteries: Running Mystery TTRPGs

    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 co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community. You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG. Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found here Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp

    1h 5m
  6. Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History: Ep. 3 Underground

    5 AUG

    Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History: Ep. 3 Underground

    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 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, Cortex Prime's Supers, and a contributing author on Pathfinder’s Mwangi Expanse, Trophy Gold, Hit the Streets: Defend the Block, and the upcoming Lifted: Indomitable RPG, a supers game about everyday folks with extraordinary powers in a tech-aggressive world. Check out Mad Jay's work at Play.Fearless and at the Diceology Podcast. Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community. You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG. Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found here Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp  00:00 Intro00:25 The Pitch03:35 Gaming History11:40 Comics & Media History15:42 Thoughts

    47 min

  7. 29 JUL

    Fireside Chat with Agatha: Ep 1 Lowell Francis

    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 podcastsShe works as a Cultural Consultant for content on Chinese history and mythology + the Chinese diaspora and TaiwanShe is the designer of Deadly Society Lowell Francis is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community. You can check out all of Lowell's actual plays on YouTube. You can find Hearts of Wulin and more on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG. Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found here Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp

    1h 5m
  8. Open Hearth Podcast Ep 11: Smallville, Flying Circus, Mythomorphosis

    22 JUL

    Open Hearth Podcast Ep 11: Smallville, Flying Circus, Mythomorphosis

    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 ClubJust 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, Hit the Streets: Defend the Block, and the upcoming Lifted: Indomitable RPG, a supers game about everyday folks with extraordinary powers in a tech-aggressive world. Check out Mad Jay's work at Play.Fearless and at the Diceology Podcast. Lowell is the designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community. You can check out all of Lowell's actual plays on YouTube. You can find Hearts of Wulin and more on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG. Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found here Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp  00:00 Introduction 01:15 Rich and Smallville16:14 Jay and Flying Circus32:45 Lowell and Mythomorphosis44:45 Giving Me Life

    57 min
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About

Around the Hearth features discussion on a wide range of topics relevant to tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) featuring members of the Open Hearth Gaming Community. We talk games, gameplay, design, and the games being played at the Open Hearth Gaming Calendar. Our online games are free and open to all! If you'd like to join the fun, visit openhearthgaming.com for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Open Hearth Gaming Community
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Open Hearth Gaming Community
  • Show Website
    Around the Hearth

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