Heroic Round | Actual Play TTRPG Podcast

Answer of Answers

When a goddess asks for your heart, what answer do you give?

Deep within the Thornhaven Forest, L.S. faces Callista’s extraordinary proposal: her hand in marriage, a share of her divine power, and a kingdom to call his own. But some questions are easier to ask than to answer.

Meanwhile, in the sacred halls of Sanctum, Flavius finds himself at the center of a prophecy he barely understands. Accompanied by the mysterious Inquisitor Coil, he seeks a way back to Thornhaven—but the Knower’s Treasury holds more than ancient relics, and an old friend may have reason to question his newest ally.

One hero is searching for an answer. Another is being told that he is the answer.

But are either of them asking the right questions?

Find out on Heroic Round!

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Intro Music by Bollsch - https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Ni0pDimedGrY3TJ64JG3y?si=oaxkTUrmTC-kdF0ylL7MgA&nd=1&dlsi=223992d6743d4460

What to Expect from Heroic Round:

A captivating introduction to our homebrew world.

High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.

Unforgettable characters, unexpected twists, and the camaraderie that fuels every Heroic Round adventure.

🎲 Ready to roll the dice?

Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!

One open d4 roll deleted every NPC from our campaign — and we didn't see them again for 20 episodes. So… should DMs fudge the dice?

—THIS EPISODE—

Is a campaign truly collaborative if the DM secretly fudges the dice — or are the players just acting out a pre-written script?

Zach, Brandon, Jon, and our DM Chad get honest about cheating at the table: who has fudged a roll and got caught. Why players actually cheat, and why the dice might be the third author of your campaign. Plus the carriage roll that erased every NPC for 20 episodes, the nat 20 one of us wished he could take back, and the railroaded game that taught us what too much fudging really costs.

Be honest in the comments: have YOU ever fudged a roll DM or player? 👇

—CHAPTERS—

00:00 Is Your DM Secretly Fudging the Dice?

01:12 Lie Detector: Who Here Has Cheated on a Roll?

02:46 DM Fudging vs Player Cheating

04:26 The Forever DM Who Wanted to Cheat (Mothership)

06:06 The Dice Are the Third Author

07:18 Casino D&D: Dice That Create Chaos

08:18 The Owlbear-Steak Problem

10:24 Open Rolls, Dice Trays & Table Law

12:36 The Nat 20 He Wished He Could Take Back

13:53 The d4 Roll That Erased Every NPC

17:02 Fudging Is Only Bad When It's Against the Players

18:46 When Fudging Becomes Railroading

20:00 Prep Problems, Not Solutions

21:33 Let the Final Boss Come Down to One Roll

22:37 The Best Game Is the One They Come Back For

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🎙 Heroic Round an actual-play Pathfinder podcast ("A Wizard's Folly") plus Round Table TTRPG discussions. New episodes every Thursday. Live heroic, die historic.

Follow Heroic Round:

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❤️ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/heroicround

Intro Music by Bollsch

What to Expect from Heroic Round:

🗺️ A captivating homebrew world, unforgettable characters, unexpected twists, and the camaraderie that fuels every adventure.

Catch every moment subscribe, like, and tell us your favorite take in the comments!

#DnD #TTRPG #DungeonsAndDragons #HeroicRound #TabletopRPG #Pathfinder #DungeonMaster

Forget heroics this week it's time to walk into the Fog. The Heroic Round crew is trading high fantasy for the dark, dreary fairytale horror of Fatherfog for our Halloween Special TTRPG One-shot 🌫️🎃

Three travelers venture into a fog-choked village where children have been vanishing. What they find is a witch with horrific tastes and eldritch energies compelling her. We aren’t adventures, but we have to try and save the little ones, and getting to her cottage through the fog is half the battle.

In Fatherfog, death is never far away, and the Fog takes everyone in the end. Will any of them make it out, or does the witch feast tonight?

If you love TTRPG Actual Play podcasts, Folk Horror, or the brutal beauty of Fatherfog, settle in. This is our darkest episode yet — with just enough levity to make the deaths hurt more.

⚠️ Content warning: child endangerment, character death, dark horror themes.

Why You Should Watch/Listen

For TTRPG Fans: See the Fatherfog system in action! Experience a tense, single-session descent into fairytale horror that captures the "dark bedtime story" vibe.

For Fatherfog Players & Wardens: We're playing a full one-shot. See how the two-character rule, cursed Legacy Artifacts, and the Fog's cruel arithmetic play out across one deadly session all three characters included.

Featuring: Fatherfog Zero Edition from Tuesday Knight Games and the module Into the Fog

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Follow Heroic Round:

IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast — https://www.instagram.com/heroicroundpodcast

TikTok ⚔️ Heroic Round — https://www.tiktok.com/@heroicround

YouTube ⚔️ https://www.youtube.com/@HeroicRound

#fatherfog #ttrpg #oneShot #folkhorror #actualplay #tabletoprpg

Making a character in FATHERFOG, the fairytale horror RPG from Tuesday Knight Games where death is near guaranteed, so you roll TWO characters and your backup inherits your cursed Legacy Artifact when the first one dies.

In this video we walk through the full Fatherfog character creation, step by step: rolling Stats (Strength, Intellect, Will) and Saves (Body, Mind, Spirit) on d10s, choosing between the four classes — Worker, Philosopher, Hunter, and Stranger then picking a Rucksack, and the best part: rolling your Cloak, Brooch, Trinket, Coin, and a secret Legacy Artifact straight out of folklore.

Whether you are trying out Fatherfog for the first time or looking for a folk horror RPG with real lethality, this is how a Fatherfog character comes together.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why you need TWO characters in Fatherfog

• Character creation process for Fatherfog

• Initial reaction to our Fatherfog Characters

Remember that 0e of Fatherfog

New episodes of the Heroic Round Podcast drop every Thursday.

Subscribe, live heroic, and die historic.

#Fatherfog #TTRPG #DungeonsAndDragons #HeroicRound #TabletopRPG #Mothership #TuesdayKnightGames

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What to Expect from Heroic Round TTRPG Podcast:

🗺️ A captivating return to our homebrew world.

⚔️ High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.

🧙‍♂️ Unforgettable characters, unsettling choices, and the bonds that hold it all together.

🎲 Ready to roll the dice? Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/HeroicRound

IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcast

Will LS say yes to the evil dryad Callista? Episode 41 continues the first season of Heroic Round's actual play TTRPG podcast "A Wizard's Folly"

---THIS EPISODE---

FlFlavius ventures deeper into Sanctum’s hidden halls and catches sight of someone he never expected to see within the Hall of the Incomprehensible Question.

Meanwhile, Mac and L.S. return to Thornhaven with their wounded companions, only to discover a trail of glowing flowers leading away from the road and into the deep woods.

At the end of that trail waits a secret bower hidden in the rot of the forest.

And waiting within it...

Callista.

Old promises resurface. Strange gifts are offered. And L.S. is forced to face a question that could change his future forever.

Some offers are far more dangerous than threats.

CALLISTAS OFFER — a new episode of Heroic Round!

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Follow Heroic Round for updates

IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcast

TikTok ⚔️ Heroic Round - / heroicround

Spotify ⚔️ Heroic Round Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/1KoIg6i...

What to Expect from Heroic Round:

A captivating introduction to our homebrew world.

High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.

Unforgettable characters, unexpected twists, and the camaraderie that fuels every Heroic Round adventure.

🎲 Ready to roll the dice?

Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!

Why do we still roll dice together after 30 years?

From drawing up characters on the elementary school playground to rolling thousands of hours across decades of campaigns, Zach, Brandon, Jon, and our DM Chad sit down for a candid conversation about what keeps bringing us back to the table.

Whether your journey started with Chainmail, AD&D, or you just rolled your very first d20 last week, this episode dives into the shared memories, table bonds, and creative obsession behind a lifelong tabletop habit.

In this episode, we explore:

• ​ The Playground Days: How TTRPGs first brought four friends together
• ​ The Longevity Factor: Why we keep showing up after thousands of hours at the table
• ​ Life Around the Dice: The real-world impact tabletop roleplaying has had on our lives, careers, and friendships

What keeps YOU coming back to the table year after year? Share your story in the comments below.

New episodes of the Heroic Round Podcast drop every Wednesday.

Subscribe, live heroic, and die historic.

#DnD #TTRPG #DungeonsAndDragons #HeroicRound #TabletopRPG #Pathfinder

#dungeonsanddragons #D&D #TabletopRPG #TTRPG #Roleplaying #DungeonMaster #CharacterCreation #DnDtips #Gaming #Fantasy

What to Expect from Heroic Round TTRPG Podcast:

🗺️ A captivating return to our homebrew world.

⚔️ High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.

🧙‍♂️ Unforgettable characters, unsettling choices, and the bonds that hold it all together.

🎲 Ready to roll the dice? Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/HeroicRound

IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcast

Main Quest - Episode 40 "Serpentine Bloodline" continues the first season of Heroic Round's actual play TTRPG podcast "A Wizard's Folly"---THIS EPISODE---Flavius has escaped the frozen ruin—but not his fate.Barefoot and battered, Flavius finds himself deep inside the Labyrinth of Whispers with Inquisitor Coil. But Coil is hiding far more than his face.Behind the porcelain mask lies Lucerius Morvath, heir to the Zealous Eye and secret leader of the Serpentine Bloodline—a faction willing to tear open forbidden truths in pursuit of the Great Mysterium.And now Morvath believes Flavius may be the answer they have been waiting for.Ancient bloodlines. Unstable portals. A creature buried in the Cradle of the Stars. A prophecy promising the final reason for existence itself.Then Flavius sees Catarina.And she isn’t alone.Meanwhile, far from Sanctum, another sacred connection is violently severed as Callista’s tree is torn from L.S.Was it corrupting him?Or was it the only thing keeping him alive?And what happens when a goddess discovers what they’ve done?SERPENTINE BLOODLINE — a new episode of Heroic Round.!_-_-_-_-_Follow Heroic Round for updates IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcast TikTok ⚔️ Heroic Round - / heroicround Spotify ⚔️ Heroic Round Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/1KoIg6i...What to Expect from Heroic Round:A captivating introduction to our homebrew world.High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.Unforgettable characters, unexpected twists, and the camaraderie that fuels every Heroic Round adventure.🎲 Ready to roll the dice?Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!

Have you ever played at a table with their own homebrew rules, classes, or world?⚔️ Does your table play by the book or have you done your own D&D homebrew for years? Welcome to the Heroic Roundtable! Today, we’re tearing a few pages out of the rulebook to talk all things Homebrew in TTRPGs: what it actually is, why we love it, and how to stop it from completely breaking your campaign.After thirty years of playing together, Zach, Brandon, Jon, and our DM Chad have homebrewed everything from custom settings and house mechanics to entire campaign frameworks. In this episode, we break down how to customize your tabletop game without creating a mechanical nightmare.Whether you're a player trying to bring an unofficial class to the table without looking like a power gamer, or a DM trying to balance wild mechanics on the fly, here’s how to make homebrew work for your group.What We Cover in This Episode: What Counts as Homebrew? Breaking down the spectrum from custom campaign lore to unofficial classes and tweaked table rules. The Player’s Pitch: How to realize unique character concepts Rules as Written (RAW) can’t support—and how to pitch custom ideas to your DM the right way. The DM’s Balancing Act: What to do when player homebrew breaks the game, and how to seamlessly introduce your own custom rules without overwhelming the party. Reskinning vs. Rebuilding: Why starting small with flavor and reskins often beats building complex mechanics from scratch. The Golden Rule of Homebrew: Establishing the essential table social contract: the right to patch, tweak, or roll back rules if they aren't fun. Final Takeaways: One actionable tip from each host to level up your homebrew game.#dungeonsanddragons #D&D #TabletopRPG #TTRPG #Roleplaying #DungeonMaster #CharacterCreation #DnDtips #Gaming #FantasyMake sure to listen to the Heroic Round actual play TTRPG. https://open.spotify.com/episode/3JjOIqxrOhwb8C3DuYIset?si=fe260cb3bc1547daWhat to Expect from Heroic Round TTRPG Podcast:🗺️ A captivating return to our homebrew world.⚔️ High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.🧙‍♂️ Unforgettable characters, unsettling choices, and the bonds that hold it all together.🎲 Ready to roll the dice? Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/HeroicRoundIG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcast

Flavius is still alone.

Lost inside a frozen ruin, he stumbles onto a secret ceremony surrounding something ancient—something buried deep inside the glacier that was never meant to wake.

Then it sees him.

And it speaks.

Meanwhile, Mac and L.S. are still trying to piece together what remains after the destruction of Damon’s Retreat when Flavius’ mysterious shield begins behaving strangely. Chains stretch into the trees. A familiar eye appears where it shouldn’t.

And then, for the first time...

Gentle speaks.

The party may be scattered, but something is connecting them—and whatever is reaching across that distance seems to know exactly who they are.

What are these voices trying to tell them? And what happens when something that has been silent for centuries finally answers?

Find out now on Heroic Round!

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Follow Heroic Round for updates

IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcast

TikTok ⚔️ Heroic Round - / heroicround

Spotify ⚔️ Heroic Round Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/1KoIg6i...

What to Expect from Heroic Round:

A captivating introduction to our homebrew world.

High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.

Unforgettable characters, unexpected twists, and the camaraderie that fuels every Heroic Round adventure.

🎲 Ready to roll the dice?

Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!

Every TTRPG group faces conflict eventually, but how do you handle in-game drama without ruining out-of-game friendships? ⚔️

In episode 16 of the Heroic Roundtable, Zach, Brandon, Jon, and our resident Dungeon Master, Chad, tackle the stuff most tables avoid talking about: de-escalation, out-of-game communication, and table health. Drawing on over 25 years of playing TTRPGs together, the guys share how to handle heavy character clashes, read the room when player fatigue sets in, and use the mid-session "pause" to keep everyone on the same page.

Whether you’re in a brand-new campaign or trying to keep your long-term group rolling, this episode is packed with tips to keep the game fun for everyone.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and let us know in the comments: How does your table handle in-game conflict?.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you don't miss our next episode on improving your tabletop RPG skills and group dynamics.

#dungeonsanddragons #D&D #TabletopRPG #TTRPG #Roleplaying #DungeonMaster #CharacterCreation #DnDtips #Gaming #Fantasy

Check out the Main Quest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-KHP18j3IA

What to Expect from Heroic Round TTRPG Podcast:

🗺️ A captivating return to our homebrew world.

⚔️ High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.

🧙‍♂️ Unforgettable characters, unsettling choices, and the bonds that hold it all together.

🎲 Ready to roll the dice? Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!

IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcast

TikTok ⚔️ Heroic Round - / heroicround

Main Quest - Episode 38 "Severed" continues the first season of Heroic Round's actual play TTRPG podcast "A Wizard's Folly"

Welcome! If you are just joining us, go back and listen to Part 1 of Venom and Lightning -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRRgwT3P9Co&list=PL1OdZ_8xV2-ieJieqAUW2YdXCw9kWT6t_

---THIS EPISODE---

Flavius went through the door.

And somehow… he’s alive.

Alone, freezing, and separated from his companions, Flavius must survive a place he doesn’t understand while contending with frostbite, the voices of the dead, and an impossible chant whispering in the darkness.

Meanwhile, Mac and L.S. are left to deal with the aftermath of a catastrophic teleportation. Damon’s Retreat has been ripped apart and scattered across the landscape, Burdette and her precious research are nowhere to be found, and treasure is quite literally falling from the sky.

The party has been severed.

Can Flavius find his way home? Can Mac and L.S. pick up the pieces of their shattered world? And after everything that just happened… where exactly did that door take him?

Find out now, on Heroic Round: Severed!

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Follow Heroic Round for updates

IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcast

TikTok ⚔️ Heroic Round - / heroicround

Spotify ⚔️ Heroic Round Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/1KoIg6i...

What to Expect from Heroic Round:

A captivating introduction to our homebrew world.

High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.

Unforgettable characters, unexpected twists, and the camaraderie that fuels every Heroic Round adventure.

🎲 Ready to roll the dice?

Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!

Welcome to another Heroic Roundtable! In this side quest episode from our main actual play campaign we explore how to deal with the consequences that come from player choices.

Consequences aren't punishment; they're the collision between player choice and a living world. Where the dice can act as the arbiter of outcomes.

Does a terrible outcome in your campaign ruin the fun, or is leaning into disastrous consequences where the best roleplay actually happens? Is it the DM job to punish actions, how do you avoid coming off spiteful?

We Chat About...

How do players handle the good and the bad of consequences of actions during TTRPG and custom homebrew campaigns.

How to develop a tabletop experience that is built on players and Dungeon Masters working together on consequences of actions.

How Dungeon Masters avoid being spiteful against players when they are disruptive with their actions.

Listen to the Heroic Roundtable and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Live Heroic, Die Historic.

#HeroicRound #TTRPG #DnD5e #Pathfinder #TabletopGaming #DungeonsAndDragons #HeroicRoundtable

Check out the Main Quest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-KHP18j3IA

What to Expect from Heroic Round TTRPG Podcast:

🗺️ A captivating return to our homebrew world.

⚔️ High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.

🧙‍♂️ Unforgettable characters, unsettling choices, and the bonds that hold it all together.

🎲 Ready to roll the dice? Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!

IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcast

TikTok ⚔️ Heroic Round - / heroicround

It is time to make a choice, fight against the falling rumble that crushes you or take your chance through a magical door...

Survival has never this difficult for Flavius (Paladin), Mac (Druid), and LS (Rogue/Sorcerer). All of the heroes find themselves scatter and trapped in the collapsed tower. All fighting for survival. All unsure if they will live..

The fight for survival is about to conclude. Time to find who makes it out alive and who has to go Through the Door

Find out now, on Heroic Round.

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What to Expect from Heroic Round TTRPG Podcast:

🗺️ A captivating return to our homebrew world.

⚔️ High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.

🧙‍♂️ Unforgettable characters, unsettling choices, and the bonds that hold it all together.

🎲 Ready to roll the dice? Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!

IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcast

TikTok ⚔️ Heroic Round - / heroicround

Welcome to another Heroic Roundtable! In this side quest episode from our main actual play campaign, we step behind the DM screen and explore how to give your D&D characters power outside of just level ups.

Does your character feel completely blocked in power by just relying on level ups for power spikes? Or is your Dungeon Master willing to explore other options to give their players powers

We Chat About...

True character growth doesn’t only have to happen with levels. It happens when you can shift your perspective on where power can come from in your group.

How character power can come from really good roleplaying as well as items.

How the Dungeon Master can grant specific powers based on how their players are interacting with the world around them.

Listen to the Heroic Roundtable and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Live Heroic, Die Historic.

#HeroicRound #TTRPG #DnD5e #Pathfinder #TabletopGaming #DungeonsAndDragons #HeroicRoundtable

Check out the Main Quest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-KHP18j3IA

What to Expect from Heroic Round TTRPG Podcast:

🗺️ A captivating return to our homebrew world.

⚔️ High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.

🧙‍♂️ Unforgettable characters, unsettling choices, and the bonds that hold it all together.

🎲 Ready to roll the dice? Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!

IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcast

TikTok ⚔️ Heroic Round - / heroicround

The secrets beneath Damon’s Retreat have finally come to light.

The battle beneath Damon’s Retreat is over... but surviving it may prove to be an even greater challenge.

As the last servant of the Drowned Queen falls, the ancient temple begins to awaken. Black waters freeze, forgotten magic stirs, and the old watchtower above starts to tear itself apart from the inside.

With precious treasure left behind, Burdette trapped within the crumbling tower, and every passing second bringing the entire structure closer to collapse, our heroes must make impossible choices while racing for their lives.

But the greatest question remains unanswered.

L.S. lies motionless.

Can he be saved... or has the party already suffered its greatest loss?

Find out now, on Heroic Round.

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What to Expect from Heroic Round TTRPG Podcast:

🗺️ A captivating return to our homebrew world.

⚔️ High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.

🧙‍♂️ Unforgettable characters, unsettling choices, and the bonds that hold it all together.

🎲 Ready to roll the dice? Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!

IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcast

TikTok ⚔️ Heroic Round - / heroicround

Welcome to another Heroic Roundtable! In this side quest episode from our main actual play campaign, we step behind the DM screen and explore fails, fumbles and how your take handles when mistakes about rules occur

Does one fumble completely kill the momentum of your session? If you play a rule wrong as a mistake do you stop the session to fix it?

A fumble isn’t always falling on your face, sometimes it is a success with a serious complication.

We Chat About...

Mistakes on how the rules are handling at your TTRPG table? Do you stop and talk through the rules or save it for after the session? Is it fair to constantly make mistakes

Fumbles. You are just as likely to fumble as you are to rolling a critical hit. How does a DM manage fumbles so the session doesn't get derailed. Chad the Heroic Round DM talks about his way of playing "success with consequences." As a player how to keep the good feeling going when you keep fumbling with those natural 1's/

Failure at the table. How do players manage failures? Does characterizing make the failure easier?

Listen to the Heroic Roundtable and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Live Heroic, Die Historic.

#HeroicRound #TTRPG #DnD5e #Pathfinder #TabletopGaming #DungeonsAndDragons #HeroicRoundtable

Check out the Main Quest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-KHP18j3IA

What to Expect from Heroic Round TTRPG Podcast:

🗺️ A captivating return to our homebrew world.

⚔️ High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.

🧙‍♂️ Unforgettable characters, unsettling choices, and the bonds that hold it all together.

🎲 Ready to roll the dice? Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!

IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcast

TikTok ⚔️ Heroic Round - / heroicround

The secrets beneath Damon’s Retreat have finally come to light.

Deep beneath the old watchtower, our heroes descend into the flooded temple of Brax, where the truth behind Thornhaven's curse is guarded by the drowned dead... and something far more ancient.

As undead sentinels rise from the depths and a horrifying avatar of the Drowned Queen bursts from an ancient cradle, the party must fight for their lives in a desperate underwater battle unlike anything they've faced before.

But surviving the temple may prove easier than surviving its aftermath.

One impossible decision at the very end of the session leaves the entire party stunned... and raises a single heartbreaking question:

Can L.S. be saved?…

Find out now, on Heroic Round!

Our heroes awaken to startling new revelations after their conversation with Markus Foxtail and Heimer the He-Witch . An old friend appears in Mac's dreams with a warning: another of Verda's Seven Seeds lies hidden somewhere within Thornhaven... and the answers they seek are buried beneath Damon’s Retreat itself.Descending below the old watchtower, the party uncovers a forgotten temple dedicated to Brax, the Drowned Queen. There, beneath freezing black waters, they discover an ancient altar, a powerful relic, and a terrible truth about the origins of Thornhaven's thorny borders.But some secrets were never meant to be disturbed.As an ancient oath is read aloud, the waters awaken... and the dead rise to defend the shrine.Will our heroes rise to the challenge? Or will they choke on black waters?Find out now on Heroic Round.-----What to Expect from Heroic Round TTRPG Podcast:🗺️ A captivating return to our homebrew world.⚔️ High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.🧙‍♂️ Unforgettable characters, unsettling choices, and the bonds that hold it all together.🎲 Ready to roll the dice? Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcastTikTok ⚔️ Heroic Round - / heroicround

Welcome to another Heroic Roundtable! In this side quest from our main actual play campaign, we step behind the DM screen and dive deep into the guts and gears of TTRPG design, mechanics, and table dynamics.

In this episode, we break down what "crunch" really means for player immersion, how over-indexing on shopping trips can derail a session's momentum, and whether every campaign truly needs to end in a massive, set-piece boss battle. From secret DM confessions about using loot tables to save prep time, to the legendary backstory of the "Battle Maxster" and character death, we cover it all.

Are you a rules lawyer, a casual roleplayer, or a total loot goblin? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

We Chat About...

What is TTRPG Crunch? Is a rules-heavy system like Pathfinder or D&D 3.5 actually more fun, or do streamlined systems like 5e give players better narrative control?

The Loot Mini-Game: How rolling on randomized tables can turn standard treasure hunting into a high-stakes casino game.

Combat vs. Conversation: Does every major campaign milestone require a massive boss fight, or can a high-stakes conversation carry the same weight?

Rolling with the Punches: A look back at the chaotic Alpha Manticore fight, player reactions to character death, and leaning into the narrative when the dice don't go your way.

Live Heroic, Die Historic.

00:00 – Intro to the Heroic Roundtable

00:54 – Breaking Down TTRPG "Crunch" & System Complexity

04:02 – Does Heavy Mechanics Kill Character Immersion?

05:43 – Defining a "Good Roleplayer" (It’s All About Effort)

07:55 – The Dice as the Third Author

09:49 – Turning Loot and Treasure into a Mini-Game

11:46 – DM Confessions: Using Loot Tables to Save Prep Time

13:12 – The Legendary "Bender-Eever" Set & Memorable Magic Items

14:44 – The Alpha Manticore Fight: Did the "Battle Maxster" Target Us?

16:11 – Handling Character Death and Flipping to Undead

19:05 – Do All Campaigns Need a Set-Piece Boss Battle?

21:03 – Outro & Where to Follow Us

#HeroicRound #TTRPG #DnD5e #Pathfinder #TabletopGaming #DungeonsAndDragons #HeroicRoundtable

Check out the Main Quest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-KHP18j3IA

What to Expect from Heroic Round TTRPG Podcast:

🗺️ A captivating return to our homebrew world.

⚔️ High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.

🧙‍♂️ Unforgettable characters, unsettling choices, and the bonds that hold it all together.

🎲 Ready to roll the dice? Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!

IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcast

TikTok ⚔️ Heroic Round - / heroicround

Main Quest - Episode 33 "With A Vow" continues the first season of Heroic Round's actual play TTRPG podcast!

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Fresh from their battle with Grumpa the ettin, our heroes encounter an unexpected face from their past: Burdette "Birdie," the gnomish historian they unknowingly drove away from the ruins of House Corbeau. Birdie has not forgotten their last meeting... nor has she forgiven them for making off with her research.

But old grudges quickly give way to darker matters when the sound of approaching hoofbeats announces the arrival of Markus Foxtail. Using the body of the fallen Torv, Markus performs a profane ritual that summons a figure from the greenfaiwth: Heimer the He-Witch.

The apparition's presence is unsettling enough, but the counsel he offers may prove even more dangerous. Elaria has once again fallen under the influence of Lord Galen Thornhaven, and if Markus truly intends to claim the throne, Heimer believes there is only one path forward: a bargain with Callista Fey.

As ancient powers stir and impossible choices loom, our heroes are forced to consider just how much they are willing to sacrifice in the fight for Thornhaven's future.

Find out now, on Heroic Round!

Until next time, remember to Live Heroic, and if you must Die... Die Historic! 🤘

#dungeonsanddragons #D&D #TabletopRPG #TTRPG #Roleplaying #DungeonMaster #CharacterCreation #DnDtips #Gaming #howtoplayd&d #pathfinderrpg

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What to Expect from Heroic Round TTRPG Podcast:

🗺️ A captivating return to our homebrew world.

⚔️ High-stakes mystery, moral dilemmas, and plenty of dice rolls.

🧙‍♂️ Unforgettable characters, unsettling choices, and the bonds that hold it all together.

🎲 Ready to roll the dice? Catch every thrilling moment by subscribing now. Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment with your favorite moment!

IG ⚔️ heroicroundpodcast - / heroicroundpodcast

TikTok ⚔️ Heroic Round - / heroicround