Rene Plays Games

Perspective Checks | Amber & Jess (DMs After Dark) - Getting Into TTRPGs

Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss what they love about this wonderful hobby!
 
This month's episode is a late upload from last year, but it fits perfectly well to kick off 2025 - we're talking about getting into TTRPGs with Amber & Jess from DMs After Dark, my original RPGs on the internet homies! We talk about how to approach playing as a new player, where to find games, how to best communicate and find a good group, as well as tips for new GMs to avoid common early pitfalls.
 
Go check out the EXTENSIVE backlog of great RPG actual plays on the DMs After Dark channel (podcast & YouTube)! 
 
TTRPG Charity Event for Doctors Without Borders!
Please please please check out friend of the podcast Star from Characters Without Stories and her friends' charity event going on all through January over at: https://tinyurl.com/TabletopTitan . You can donate however you'd like, but you can also redeem great things with your donation like TTRPGs, a seat at professionally GM'd tables, and more! It's a great cause, so consider going and donating. If you do, send me proof and I'll send you a free copy of MECH or some stickers or something!
 

Sundered Isles Season 2 | Episode 0 - Campaign Creation

We're back for season 2 of Ironsworn: Sundered Isles and this time the story will be taking place shortly after the conclusion of Dyne's story from last year in a very different location - The Heart of the Kyrody Dominion itself!
 
Rene goes through the campaign creation steps to adjust some of the Truths from season 1 to reflect for the new part of the world this story takes place in, creates his character for the game - Cassidy McCabe, a Haunted Cutthroat Spy - and makes a map of the Myriads we'll be exploring in this season!
 
TTRPG Charity Event for Doctors Without Borders!
Please please please check out friend of the podcast Star from Characters Without Stories and her friends' charity event going on all through January over at: https://tinyurl.com/TabletopTitan . You can donate however you'd like, but you can also redeem great things with your donation like TTRPGs, a seat at professionally GM'd tables, and more! It's a great cause, so consider going and donating. If you do, send me proof and I'll send you a free copy of MECH or some stickers or something!
 

2024 Retrospective | Rene Plays Games, Year 1

Fill out the Google Form here!
 
It has been 1 full year of my foray into the world of podcasting all on my own, and wow has it been a fulfilling one!
 
I go over some stats, numbers, achievements, goals met and yet to be accomplished, and talk about some more I have for 2025.
 
I am so grateful for anyone out there listening, and I really hope I've shown you a game that makes you want to explore a new way of playing games, or introduced you to a creator you've come to love, or anything that you feel like made your time spent listening to me this year worth it. 
 
See you in 2025.
 
Music in the Episode:
Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands

Bucket of Bolts | Sleigh Full of Santas Holiday One-Player-One-Shot

Happy Merry & hope your holidays are going wonderfully cozy, easy, and not at all stressful.
 
In this Christmas Eve solo holiday special, I'm reskinning Jack Harrison a.k.a. Mousehole Press' Bucket of Bolts from a futuristic spaceship POV experience to inhabiting the iconic sleigh of St. Nicholas himself, instead playing as the sleigh for the many Santas throughout the centuries.
 
It's short, simple, and fun, but definitely made me think about how I would run this game if I was playing in a sci-fi game, especially because it opens up such interesting ideas for sentient ships, AI co-pilots, and just fleshing out the story of an oft-overlooked member of any spacefaring party - the ship itself.
 
Other contributors to Bucket of Bolts whose tables I used included: 
Riley Rethal
Matt Sanders a.k.a. Sealed Library
Anna Blackwell a.k.a. Blackwell Games

LOOT | Sleigh Down Slayground - Holiday One-Shot

Happy holidays! I'm a sucker for holiday themed one-shots, so here we are taking the very cool LOOT by GilaRPGs and reskinning all of its West Marches fantasy goodness into cartoon holiday movie shenanigans!
 
I'm joined by Troy and Jess from the DMs After Dark, friend of the DMs Eileen (@comradeeileen.bsky.social), and home group homie returning to the show Raso (Raso's Beacon) as we play through a holiday themed LOOT sleigh down event.
 
Santa has crashed the sleigh in Tinsel Town (really?) and the locals have taken advantage of the magic of his toy bag to create chaos. Our freelancers are supposed to be on the easiest shift of the year for their interplanar security detail, but now they have to go rescue Santa, his sleigh, and find that toy bag before things get worse and Christmas is ruined...
 

Perspective Checks | Star (Characters Without Stories) - Making Failure Feel Better

Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss what they love about this wonderful hobby!
 
2024's Perspective Checks episodes come to a close with Star from the *amazing* Characters Without Stories podcast as we talk about failure in TTRPGs. Star is a wonderful person I've met this past year and have been lucky enough to chat with on a few occasions, and we break down how failure in games like D&D 5e can leave you feeling a little let down, and how other games take different approaches that can make failure feel so much more meaningful and still satisfying. 
 
You've got homework! Go out there and find a new game that feels like it fits the kinds of stories you like telling at the table and TRY IT. Make a character, test out how it feels when you succeed and see how it prompts you when you fail. Think about why it frames it this way versus another mode of resolution. What do you like/not like?
 
Games mentioned in the episode (probably missed a few):
Brindlewood Bay
Call of Cthulhu
Blades in the Dark
general design principles from the Powered by the Apocalypse engine
Spire/Heart: The City Beneath
 

Koriko: A Magical Year | Volume 7: Year's End

Welcome back to more Koriko: A Magical Year by Jack Harrison & Mousehole Press!
 
Genie's Magical Year has come to an end, and the last few weeks of the year mean she faces the big decision - does she stay in Koriko? Return home to her mentor? Or move on and go somewhere new? I don't think anyone will be surprised by the answer, but there are some really nice moments in this episode to close out our time in Koriko.
 
What an incredible experience and I hope that you all enjoyed it. Oh, and listen to Yvette Young's incredible song Always (and the Fireside Version, too!).
 
"Am I a fool for laughing at the memories? Rainy days spent watching time slip through my fingertips. And I'll pull away. I'll tell myself it's better. Maybe now is not our time to be but I can't deny that always - I will love you always."

Mining Media | Holiday One-Shots

Welcome back to Mining Media where we turn your binging into better TTRPG experiences by reminiscing on the innocent wonder of winter holiday magic in our youths... or was that just me?
 
This month I want to talk about mining holiday movies for ideas for your festive one-shots, whether you take a break to do something silly or expand the lore of your ongoing game's universe or prep something entirely from scratch for holiday shenanigans - there's gold in them there cheesy movies.
 
Take home points & some ideas based on holiday movies:
Everything in the one-shot should reinforce the themes of the holidays - community, charity, family (found or otherwise), innocence, memory, and tradition.
If it can't reinforce these themes, lean hard into the setting - go full winter wonderland.
A Muppet Christmas Carol (or any Christmas Carol, really, but Muppets >>>) - have your party experience visitations from ghosts of past, present, and future based on their actions throughout the campaign (or make specific backstories part of the character creation), then give them a chance to right their wrongs before it's too late.
Nightmare Before Christmas - This one's all setting. Have a transplanar hub where the spirits of the holidays are literally their own demiplanes or extradimensional areas, then have some of the traditions of the holiday they know of & what the party sees clash. While they figure out the true spirit of the holiday, chaos has escaped (or gotten in) and they have to fix things!
Die Hard - This one's perfect, just recreate it and reskin everything. Holiday celebration at an isolated location, lots of bad guys doing bad things, the party has to balance stealth and efficacy achieving their goals, with each success and failure heightening the tension in the race between party & bad guys to succeed.
Klaus - The party finds themselves in an isolated location for the holidays, but there is no festive cheer or spirit because the village/area is inhabited by two factions at war. The party must make connections on both sides, earn little bits of trust, find ways the two sides can connect and come together for the holiday, and just as things seem to be going well, one small infraction threatens all that progress - how will the party bridge the gap?!
Hot Frosty / Jack Frost - An inanimate object is awakened by true holiday magic, but for the most part it's just causing trouble. While most of the town is up in arms and wants this thing brought to justice, the few who've seen it in action can explain that it's naive and means well, the disasters aren't its fault! Fix the problems, find the magic being, and help everyone see the good in it or something equally cheesy.
Now go get your notebook, pop on some cheesy holiday movie, and tell me what you come up with!

Koriko: A Magical Year | Volume 6: Winter

Welcome back to more Koriko: A Magical Year by Jack Harrison & Mousehole Press!
 
Winter comes to Koriko, and Genie is coming up on the end of her Magical Year. She spends time with her Confidants, even meeting a few new ones, and pushes her limits as the city's witch. She steps a bit outside of her comfort zone, but sometimes that's the only way to grow. The season ends with a heartfelt gathering and gift from her friends.
 
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
 
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:
LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark
email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
 
Music in the Episode:
Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands
Court of the Count by TabletopAudio.com
Winter Encampment by TabletopAudio.com
Collegium Magica by TabletopAudio.com
The Madding Crowd by TabletopAudio.com
Winter's Tale by Vindsvept
Into The Mind's Eye, Part I by Vindsvept
Moment's Respite by Vindsvept
Night of the Fae by Vindsvept
Necromancer by Vindsvept
Winter's Quest by Vindsvept

Perspective Checks | Gloria (GlowPinkstah) - Body Representation in TTRPGs

Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss what they love about this wonderful hobby!
 
This month I sat down with Gloria a.k.a. GlowPinkstah, a prolific content creator, TTRPG actual play podcaster, streamer, YouTuber, and advocate for body positivity throughout all media! We talk about all things body representation, playing hot fat characters, how games depict (or don't) all kinds of body shapes and sizes, and how mainstream depictions have created a default negative connotation with fat characters.
 
Gloria was super fun to talk to, an amazing person to follow online, and has some of the best character names I've ever heard.
 
Listen to all of her content at Charm Party, and see her as a guest on Castleton and Somebody's Heroes!
 
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
 
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:
LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark
email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
 
Music in the Episode:
Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands

Koriko: A Magical Year | Volume 5: Autumn

Welcome back to more Koriko: A Magical Year by Jack Harrison & Mousehole Press!
 
In this episode, Autumn tests Genie. We meet a few new Confidants and catch up with older friends in the tail end of the year as the emotionally charged prompts make their appearance. Heading into the final two Volumes of our Koriko AP, Genie doubles down and vows no more holding back.
 
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
 
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:
LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark
email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
 
Music in the Episode:
Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands
Forest Shrine by Monument Studios
Something in the Dark by Monument Studios
Passion by Monument Studios
Cyberpunk Bar by TabletopAudio.com
Lonesome West by TabletopAudio.com
Sombre by Vindsvept
Storm by Vindsvept
Woodland Murmur by Vindsvept

[Bonus] Ghost Club RPG | The Haunted Mansion

There we already 5 Tuesdays in October, but why not upload a 6th episode just for Halloween?!
 
For a Halloween special Rene played alongside Jess from the DMs After Dark and returning guest Lynn (matrimonally obligated to occasionally game) for some Ghost Club RPG by Andrew Dowell (with some extra gear and archetypes from the New Kids Expansion)! Unlike our other spooky one-shots, this one is perfect for the younger crowd, with a minimal amount of truly terrifying content, landing somewhere between Scooby Doo antics and young adult content like Lockwood & Co. or Dead Boy Detectives.
 
Join Zoe "Bunny" Hunt, Eleanor "Dandelion" Harrington, and Remington "Twinkles" Paige as they investigate the terror of Twin Falls - The Haunted Mansion.
 
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
 
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:
LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark
email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
 
Music in the Episode:
Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands
All Hallows Eve from TabletopAudio.com
The Attic from TabletopAudio.com
Barovian Castle from TabletopAudio.com
Haunted from TabletopAudio.com
Haunted Ramparts from TabletopAudio.com
House on the Hill from TabletopAudio.com
Vampire Castle from TabletopAudio.com

Delta Green | Music From A Darkened Room

Spooky October one-shot #2, and this time it's a DEEP conspiracy of actual terror and horror, we're playing Delta Green by Arc Dream Publishing!
 
Specifically, we're playing the scenario Music From A Darkened Room, an investigation for Agents that takes them into 1206 Spooner Avenue, Meadowbrook, New Jersey, and IT. IS. NOT. OKAY.
 
Content Warnings: Suicidal ideation, Dead Children, Violence, and probably a lot more, so be safe, please!
 
I was lucky enough to be joined by two bonafide horrorheads in Amber (published horror author) and Christian (published horror scenario writer) from the DMs After Dark, my streaming crew and local best gaming buds, who helped make this session a lot better, since real terrifying horror is usually not my strength!
 
I hope that you enjoy, but sincerely hope that you do so safely, because this game can be very, very dark. We try to keep it light, but if any content upsets you, make sure you take care of yourself.
 
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
 
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:
LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark
email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
 
Music in the Episode:
Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands
Dark 1 Hour Mix by Monument Studios
Horror Action Scene Setter by Monument Studios

Wraithound | The Roots of Silvermist Pavilion

It's Spooky October One-Shots time!
 
For the first of the three Halloween horror one-shots, Rene sits down with Troy from the DMs After Dark to play Wraithound by Cezar Capacle, an incredible Brazilian game designer whose philosophy I love so much, so it's very exciting to finally play one of his games on the podcast!
 
Wraithound is a zero-prep, GM-less game where you play ghost hunters of an ancient order, tasked with investigating and dealing with supernatural threats. The game uses 2d6 and a standard deck of playing cards (jokers included) to create a location with escalating threats and obstacles to overcome until you confront the final boss!
 
Definitely go check out more of Cezar's games and let me know which you pick! I've got quite a few more to get to myself! In fact, you should go look into and back his new fantasy project Everspark!

Koriko: A Magical Year | Volume 4: Summer

Welcome back to more Koriko: A Magical Year by Jack Harrison & Mousehole Press!
 
In this episode, Summer brings the heat! Genie hangs out with some familiar confidants and gets new perspectives into their places in Koriko, as well as gets a peek behind the curtain, according to Koriko & Ace, glimpsing a bit more of the truth about this incredible city. Lastly, we end with a contentious new confidant and Genie's first impression isn't her best...
 
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
 
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:
LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark
email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
 
Music in the Episode:
Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands
Windswept Realms, Volume II by Vindsvept

Perspective Checks | Ross (Blades of Mayari) - Worldbuilding & Working Mythology into RPGs

Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss what they love about this wonderful hobby!
 
This month's episode is a big one! Worldbuilding is an integral part of storytelling in RPGs, whether you're playing in an established universe like many big named systems provide, or are drawing maps and leaving blanks in the Powered by the Apocalypse emergent narrative style of newer indie games. The shared world that the characters interact with is as much a part of the story as the actions of the characters, reacting and responding to provide new obstacles and opportunities.
 
In this episode, I speak with Ross about his experience bringing pre-colonial Filipino mythology to the forefront in the excellent actual play Blades of Mayari, an exploration of the culture and heritage of the players using FATE. Ross and the cast of the show have done their homework and approach the lore and real-world mythology and culture of the Philippines with the respect and sensitivity it requires. We mostly talk about this setting specifically, but do branch out a bit to talk about the act of drawing inspiration from these historical cultures from the right place.
 
I highly recommend you check out Blades of Mayari, which has completed its first season and should be coming back soon for more!
 
Additionally, Ross recommended the following books & online resources if you're interested in learning more about Filipino history and mythology:
Outline of Philippine Mythology by F. Landa Jocano
Dictionary of Philippine Mythology by Ferdinand Blumentritt
History of the Philippines: From Indios Bravos to Filipinos by Luis H. Francia
Barangay: Sixteenth-Century Philippine Culture and Society by William Henry Scott
The Gods Must Be Crazy - A Philippine Mythology Podcast
The Aswang Project - A Free Resource for Philippine Mythology & Folklore
 
I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)
 
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark
email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
 
Music in the Episode:
Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands

Koriko: A Magical Year | Volume 3: Spring

Welcome back to more Koriko: A Magical Year by Jack Harrison & Mousehole Press!
 
In this episode, our teenage witch Genie and her friendly 3-eyed mink Mog are pretty well established in the city of Koriko, and people are starting to come to her for help! We see some friends made from the last volume and make some new acquaintances in the city, as well, including the city itself, as Genie continues to learn more about herself, her magic, and the world beyond Bonetto as Spring comes and goes in Koriko.
 
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:
LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark
email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
 
Music in the Episode:
Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands
Anvil Square Day by Monument Studios
The Calm Inspirational Seeker B by Monument Studios
Deception by Monument Studios
Bringer of Rain by Vindsvept
Crystal Forest by Vindsvept
Spellbound, Part 2 by Vindsvept
Winter's Morning by Vindsvept
Halfling Lodge from TabletopAudio.com
Rain Cafe Lo-Fi by Aaron from Pixabay
The Ghost of Shepardx2 by Geoffrey Burch from Pixabay
Lucid Dreaming by | e s c p | https://www.escp.space https://escp-music.bandcamp.com 

Mining Media | The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

Welcome back to Mining Media where we turn your binging into better TTRPG experiences by using every monitoring drone we have access to to analyze every last bit of information and set our performance stability to 98% efficiency.
 
This week we're talking about The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, a far future dystopian sci-fi series that follows Murderbot, the Sec-Unit with freedom from its governor module as it explores the universe with free will for the first time and protects humans from being stupid and hurting themselves while just trying to watch its media.
 
It's an incredible series and inspired my character ISIL-8 in my NOTORIOUS Trilogy Mode series.
 
The take home points are:
Go smaller with your adventure arcs and keep them contained to small 1-2 location scenarios which build on the bigger world and campaign / story you're weaving at the table
Consider how perspectives would flavor interactions between characters based on the major player factions of the world (governments, corporations, guilds) and the people who operate within them (humans, non-humans, family units, etc.)
Homework: take one of your favorite books, episodes, etc. and plot it out like a pointcrawl with different types of encounters to be undertaken in a small, contained arc.
 
In case you're reading this and are feeling incredibly generous, I started a Ko-Fi page to cover the cost of podcast hosting, video conferencing, and transcription software subscriptions. No pressure, but if you donate I'll virtually hug and/or hi-five you, your call.
 
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:
LinkTree | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark
email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
 
Music in the Episode:
Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands
Let's Stay In by Braden Deal from Uppbeat | https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/lets-stay-in 

Koriko: A Magical Year | Volume 2: Arrival

Welcome back for episode 2 of Koriko: A Magical Year by Jack Harrison & Mousehole Press, who just so happen to be running a Kickstarter campaign to print some of their other great games like Artefact, Bucket of Bolts, and CounterPart! Go check it out!
 
In this episode, our teenage witch Genie settles into the city of Koriko and meets her first Confidants - NPCs who will be recurring throughout the story as we feel like interacting with them, interspersed with the moments and events of every day life throughout the year. We start using the gameplay loop of tarot cards and dice stacking as we make our way through the next 6 volumes that will make up our Magical Year!
 
Where to Follow Rene Plays Games:
Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter | Threads | DMs After Dark
email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com
 
Music in the Episode:
Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands
Covert Ops from TabletopAudio.com
Elven Glade from TabletopAudio.com
Haven from TabletopAudio.com
Magical Shoppe from TabletopAudio.com
Solemn Vow from TabletopAudio.com
Reverie, Part 2 by Vindsvept

Perspective Checks | Michael Low (Stories RPG) - All Ages Gaming & InfiniBrix!

Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss what they love about this wonderful hobby!
 
I was so honored to have this month's guest Michael Low on to chat about his philosophy in all things TTRPGs. Michael is a teacher and game designer whose work you can hear on his podcast Stories RPG, his writing classes which use RPGs over at Luck of Legends, and check out all his games on his Itch.io page!
 
Not only am I a *huge* fan of Michael's approach to games, his dedication to all ages meaning telling universal, core stories, but I was lucky enough to catch him on the day that he got the thumbs up to talk all about his new project InfiniBrix, which he's creating with Rob Hebert aka Nerdy Paper Games that uses the toys you have around the house to tell stories!
 
I could gush all day about just being able to nerd out with Michael, but I hope you enjoy our chat! It's probably my longest Perspective Checks, and I will not apologize for a single second!