Dark Star Adventurecast

Dark Star Adventures
  • 5.0 (2)
  • SCIENCE FICTION
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

THE VERIDIAN EXPANSE IS A PLACE WHERE DEBTS ARE PAID IN BLOOD. In a galaxy of corporate cold wars and fading fringe worlds, the crew of the Scapegoat is just trying to stay flying. From high-stakes planetary heists to the silent terrors of deep-space shipwrecks, one bad jump is all that separates a payday from a cold grave. Dark Star Adventurecast is a Stars Without Number actual play TTRPG podcast. If The Expanse and Firefly are your kind of sci-fi and you've been looking for a tabletop show that actually stakes something, give it a listen. MEET THE CREW: Thorne (Brian): spent a decade in a corporate prison for something he didn't do. He runs the crew now. The man who framed him is still out there.Felix (Scott): hacker who changed his name, his face, and his voice to infiltrate the company that murdered his brother. The plan is still ongoing.Haleyy (Stephanie): fighter, biopsionic. Something changed in her head a while back and her powers haven't stopped growing since.Robert (Doja): the pilot. Somewhere out there, copies of him are trying to kill the crew....and Star Master Jeff, who built this sector one bad decision at a time. JOIN THE INNER CIRCLE: Star Master Logs two weeks early, ad-free episodes, and exclusive world-building archives at patreon.com/DarkStarAdventurecast SHOP THE SECTOR: Official merchandise and tabletop adventures written by Jeff at darkstaradventures.com New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Star Master Log debriefs on the off-weeks.

  1. Good Job, You Monster | Star Master Log: There's a Crater

    3D AGO

    Good Job, You Monster | Star Master Log: There's a Crater

    This Star Master Log was released two weeks early for patrons. To skip the wait on every episode, Star Master Log, and rules breakdown, join us at https://www.patreon.com/DarkStarAdventurecast Jeff breaks down Haleyy's two moments from the session, the same character from opposite ends, then gets into what a failed roll actually owes the players. He also opens up the Void Cult lore on Unhallowed vs. Untethered, and answers the ship scale question that's been quietly wrong for 22 episodes. He covers: (00:00) Introduction: "Good Job, You Monster - Auction, Part 2"(01:30) Fog of War: Haleyy's 1Y/2Y split surfaces twice in one session, from opposite ends(05:45) Engine Room: When a failed roll just stops the story vs. when it moves things forward(10:59) Deep Dive: The difference between Unhallowed and Untethered, and what it means for Haleyy(16:18) One Question: How big is the Scapegoat, really?(25:30) Star Master Spec: Firefly, "Out of Gas"; a ship episode about what a ship means to the crew that built their lives around it New Star Master's Logs drop every other Tuesday, bridging the gap between our main adventure episodes. Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/darkstaradventurecast

    28 min
  2. SWN Rules Explained: How Starship Combat Works in Stars Without Number

    MAY 14 ·  BONUS

    SWN Rules Explained: How Starship Combat Works in Stars Without Number

    This rules breakdown was released two weeks early for patrons. To skip the wait on every episode, Star Master Log, and rules breakdown, join us at https://www.patreon.com/DarkStarAdventurecast Brian breaks down starship combat in Stars Without Number, using a scene from Episode 22 as a case study. In this episode: How starship combat rounds work in Stars Without Number -- and why they last 15 minutes instead of secondsThe five crew departments (bridge, gunnery, comms, engineering, captain) and what each one doesCommand points: the core resource that drives the action economy and what happens when they run outShip crises: how any player can declare one, what the GM rolls, and how to scale difficulty based on the planA cargo hold breach from Episode 1 that became lasting ship canon -- still referenced 20+ episodes later New SWN Rules Explained episodes drop every other Thursday, breaking down the mechanics behind the Stars Without Number adventure. Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/darkstaradventurecast

    10 min
  3. Good Job, You Monster - Auction, Part 2

    MAY 12

    Good Job, You Monster - Auction, Part 2

    This episode was released two weeks early for patrons. To skip the wait on every episode, Star Master Log, and rules breakdown, join us at https://www.patreon.com/DarkStarAdventurecast Locked inside their own ship by an Omnitek admin override, the crew has one option left: cut their way out. The ship-to-ship combat that follows happens on the ground, fifty meters apart, with no room to maneuver and nowhere to run. Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/darkstaradventurecast Meet the Crew: Jeff as Star MasterBrian as Captain ThorneStephanie as the warrior HaleyyDoja as the wildcard pilot RobertScott as the transhuman hacker FelixSpecial thanks to Brad and Holly, our Scapegoat Syndicate members! They're keeping the lights on, and the airlocks sealed.

    40 min
  4. Welcome to Your Prison | Star Master Log: Policy 872.3

    MAY 5

    Welcome to Your Prison | Star Master Log: Policy 872.3

    This Star Master Log was released two weeks early for patrons. To skip the wait on every episode, Star Master Log, and rules breakdown, join us at https://www.patreon.com/DarkStarAdventurecast Jeff breaks down "Welcome to Your Prison," the first episode of the auction arc, covering the table moment seven sessions in the making when Thorne cited corporate policy to get out of handcuffs, and why Strake's most effective weapon was never his soldiers. He covers: (00:00) - Introduction: "Welcome to Your Prison - Auction, Part 1"(01:02) - The Crew Logs: Encrypted reports from the players(04:34) - Fog of War: How Brian set up Policy 872.3 Section C seven sessions ago and waited for exactly the right moment(08:50) - Engine Room: Why Strake's most dangerous tool is a Virodyne admin key, not a gun(13:50) - Deep Dive: The Auctioneers Guild, the sector-wide neutral body no corporation can destroy because they all need it too much(20:14) - Subspace Signals: How do you keep players invested in a long-running mystery over dozens of sessions?(25:14) - Star Master Spec: Leverage (2008-2012), a heist show built around a misfit crew where every plan falls apart(28:50) - Next Episode Preview New Star Master's Logs drop every other Tuesday, bridging the gap between our main adventure episodes. Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/darkstaradventurecast

    31 min
  5. SWN Rules Explained: How the Expert Class Works in Stars Without Number

    APR 30 ·  BONUS

    SWN Rules Explained: How the Expert Class Works in Stars Without Number

    This rules breakdown was released two weeks early for patrons. To skip the wait on every episode, Star Master Log, and rules breakdown, join us at https://www.patreon.com/DarkStarAdventurecast Brian (Thorne's player and assistant star master) breaks down the Expert class from Stars Without Number, using scenes from "Welcome to Your Prison" as a case study. Expert class vs. Warrior: how they're built differently and what the Specialist focus actually doesHacking / Program skill: how difficulty and time requirements work, and what line shunts are forNPC reaction rolls: when to roll them and how they can change a scene New SWN Rules Explained episodes drop every other Thursday, breaking down the mechanics behind the adventure. Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/darkstaradventurecast

    10 min

  6. APR 28

    Welcome to Your Prison - Auction, Part I

    This episode was released two weeks early for patrons. To skip the wait on every episode, Star Master Log, and rules breakdown, join us at https://www.patreon.com/DarkStarAdventurecast The crew wakes up in handcuffs on Sibylen with Viktor Strake holding all the cards. Before they can find out what he plans to do with them, Thorne cites a corporate policy clause from memory and walks everyone free. They have 24 hours before Strake can take them back into custody, and there's a $1.06 billion alien artifact auction to work. Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/darkstaradventurecast Meet the Crew: Jeff as Star MasterBrian as Captain ThorneStephanie as the warrior HaleyyDoja as the wildcard pilot RobertScott as the transhuman hacker FelixSpecial thanks to Brad and Holly, our Scapegoat Syndicate members! They're keeping the lights on, and the airlocks sealed.

    44 min
  7. Haleyy's Story | Star Master Log: And Hug

    APR 21

    Haleyy's Story | Star Master Log: And Hug

    This Star Master Log was released two weeks early for patrons. To skip the wait on every episode, Star Master Log, and rules breakdown, join us at https://www.patreon.com/DarkStarAdventurecast Jeff breaks down Haleyy's Focus episode, where the entire session takes place inside her unconscious mind. He digs into how he designed a dream climax with no dice rolls, the hero's journey structure he used to walk Steph from denial to acceptance, and the full reveal of the mechanism behind Haleyy's identity split. He covers: (00:00) Introduction: "She Never Existed" (00:48) Crew Log: Haleyy (03:33) Fog of War: Dream combat misses, Robert trying to shoot a child, and Froggy in a bike basket (10:15) Engine Room: Designing a climax with no dice, the hero's journey in one session (18:50) Deep Dive: The truth behind Haleyy's identity split and what the fork actually did (24:20) Subspace Signals: Planning for multiple endings when the player has to choose (26:00) Star Master Spec: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) New Star Master's Logs drop every other Tuesday, bridging the gap between our main adventure episodes. Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/darkstaradventurecast

    29 min
  8. SWN Rules Explained: How "Club Up a Weapon" Works

    APR 16 ·  BONUS

    SWN Rules Explained: How "Club Up a Weapon" Works

    This rules breakdown was released two weeks early for patrons. To skip the wait on every episode, Star Master Log, and rules breakdown, join us at patreon.com/DarkStarAdventurecast New series! Brian (Thorne's player and assistant [to the] star master) breaks down the rules behind the scenes of the Dark Star Adventurecast, a Stars Without Number actual-play podcast. In this episode, Brian covers the "Club Up a Weapon" move action from the Stars Without Number revised rulebook (page 50), using the dreamscape combat from Episode 20 as a case study. What happens when a warrior gets stuck in melee with a rifle? The weapon-breaking rule on max damage created an unscripted chain reaction, and custom expert gadgets (a flashlight and an adhesive gun) gave the non-combat characters meaningful options in a fight. New SWN Rules Explained episodes drop every other Thursday, breaking down the mechanics behind the adventure. Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/darkstaradventurecast

    7 min
See All (51)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

THE VERIDIAN EXPANSE IS A PLACE WHERE DEBTS ARE PAID IN BLOOD. In a galaxy of corporate cold wars and fading fringe worlds, the crew of the Scapegoat is just trying to stay flying. From high-stakes planetary heists to the silent terrors of deep-space shipwrecks, one bad jump is all that separates a payday from a cold grave. Dark Star Adventurecast is a Stars Without Number actual play TTRPG podcast. If The Expanse and Firefly are your kind of sci-fi and you've been looking for a tabletop show that actually stakes something, give it a listen. MEET THE CREW: Thorne (Brian): spent a decade in a corporate prison for something he didn't do. He runs the crew now. The man who framed him is still out there.Felix (Scott): hacker who changed his name, his face, and his voice to infiltrate the company that murdered his brother. The plan is still ongoing.Haleyy (Stephanie): fighter, biopsionic. Something changed in her head a while back and her powers haven't stopped growing since.Robert (Doja): the pilot. Somewhere out there, copies of him are trying to kill the crew....and Star Master Jeff, who built this sector one bad decision at a time. JOIN THE INNER CIRCLE: Star Master Logs two weeks early, ad-free episodes, and exclusive world-building archives at patreon.com/DarkStarAdventurecast SHOP THE SECTOR: Official merchandise and tabletop adventures written by Jeff at darkstaradventures.com New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Star Master Log debriefs on the off-weeks.

Information

  • Creator
    Dark Star Adventures
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dark Star Adventures LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Dark Star Adventurecast

You Might Also Like