The Jaunty Mantis TTRPG Podcast

Matt Herzberg & Jesse Sauer
  • 5.0 (15)
  • GAMES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Three expert GMs explore the craft of tabletop roleplaying—why rules feel good, why scenes work, and how stories land. Through casual conversation, creative experiments, and honest breakdowns, this podcast celebrates what makes the hobby special and helps you run better games.

  1. 6D AGO

    JM132 -Terrain: The Third Army

    Three expert GMs explore the craft of tabletop roleplaying—why rules feel good, why scenes work, and how stories land. Through casual conversation, creative experiments, and honest breakdowns, this podcast celebrates what makes the hobby special and helps you run better games.

  2. FEB 4

    JM131 - Where and how do we prep for games? Software, setting, stimulants.

    Three expert GMs explore the craft of tabletop roleplaying—why rules feel good, why scenes work, and how stories land. Through casual conversation, creative experiments, and honest breakdowns, this podcast celebrates what makes the hobby special and helps you run better games.

  3. JM130 - Danger & Death

    JAN 28

    JM130 - Danger & Death

    Death and danger aren’t just threats in Dungeons & Dragons—they’re what give stories weight. In this episode of Jaunty Mantis, the gang digs into why real risk matters at the table, how rules and scenes create tension, and what makes RPG storytelling truly land. The Arcane Library article discussed on the episode: https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/the-importance-of-danger-and-death-in-your-dnd-game?srsltid=AfmBOoq7WfPKBDnaHKnVMJGfQ2PLkLYEzz8f0Ka9SGTV4qbMKFzinsbH

  4. JM129 - Always Split the Party? | GM Advice for Better RPG Storytelling

    JAN 21

    JM129 - Always Split the Party? | GM Advice for Better RPG Storytelling

    Should you really never split the party? In this episode of Jaunty Mantis, Jesse and Chris dig into one of tabletop RPG’s oldest rules of thumb—and turn it on its head. From D&D and Vampire to Traveler and Powered by the Apocalypse, we talk about why splitting the party can actually improve pacing, roleplay, tension, and storytelling at your table. Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio

  5. JM128 - Our Tabletop Gaming Goals for 2026

    JAN 15

    JM128 - Our Tabletop Gaming Goals for 2026

    What do healthy, fun, and sustainable tabletop gaming goals actually look like in 2026? Jaunty Mantis here, this week we sit down to talk about our personal and shared TTRPG goals for the year ahead—as game masters, players, creators, and people who love this hobby but want to avoid burnout. From campaign pacing and storytelling priorities to how often we actually want to be at the table, we break down what we’re aiming for (and what we’re leaving behind). Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio

  6. JM127 - Session endings: are yours satisfying?

    JAN 7

    JM127 - Session endings: are yours satisfying?

    Ending a tabletop RPG session can feel awkward, rushed, or flat—even when the rest of the game was great. So how should a session end? In this episode of The Jaunty Mantis, we unpack why session endings matter, why Game Masters are often overly self-critical, and how to end sessions in ways that build momentum instead of killing it. From cliffhangers and cutaways to ending mid-combat (on purpose), we explore practical techniques you can use immediately—without burning yourself out trying to be “cinematic” every time. Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio

  7. JM126 - What’s the Point of Roleplaying Games? | Power, Story, Violence & Community

    12/31/2025

    JM126 - What’s the Point of Roleplaying Games? | Power, Story, Violence & Community

    Why do we play tabletop roleplaying games? In this episode of Jaunty Mantis, we dive deep into the philosophy of RPGs—exploring power fantasy, collaborative storytelling, violence as conversation, rules vs. narrative, and why dice-driven games feel so different from novels, improv, or video games. Funny, thoughtful, occasionally unhinged, and deeply personal - heres what we cover: Whether RPGs are about story or process How power and agency evolve from adolescence to adulthood Why violence is baked into many RPG systems RPGs as ritual, catharsis, and even modern church The lessons roleplaying games teach us without permission Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio 00:00 Goblins, group projects, and chaotic RPG energy 04:20 Mechs, demons, china cabinets, and Chaos Earth 07:30 Music in RPGs & table atmosphere 12:45 Vampire: The Masquerade highlights (content warning) 18:30 Mage, aesthetics, and growing out of edgy design 19:25 So… what is the point of a roleplaying game? 21:15 Why not just write a novel? 23:10 RPGs, mythmaking, and the “magic circle” 28:40 Power fantasy: bad GMs vs. healthy agency 32:10 Sharing vs. surrendering authorial control 37:15 RPGs as bar stories and social rituals 38:50 Do rules matter? 45:30 Violence as conversation in RPGs 50:15 Story vs. process 53:20 What RPGs taught us about ourselves 56:40 Why this hobby matters so much

  8. JM125 - Don’t Cancel the Game: Creative Fixes for Missing Players

    12/22/2025

    JM125 - Don’t Cancel the Game: Creative Fixes for Missing Players

    What happens when a player can’t make it—and the story needs them? In this episode of Jaunty Mantis, Jesse, Matty, and Chris tackle one of tabletop gaming’s most frustrating problems: last-minute absences. From running flashbacks and side games to stealing scenes, leaning into OSR one-shots, and even letting story beats happen without the missing player, the crew shares hard-earned advice, devilish ideas, and genuinely practical GM techniques. Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio

See All (132)

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Three expert GMs explore the craft of tabletop roleplaying—why rules feel good, why scenes work, and how stories land. Through casual conversation, creative experiments, and honest breakdowns, this podcast celebrates what makes the hobby special and helps you run better games.

Information

You Might Also Like