Around the Hearth cover art

Around the Hearth

Around the Hearth

By: Open Hearth Gaming Community
Listen for free

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.© 2026 Open Hearth Gaming Community
Episodes
  • Open Hearth Podcast Ep 20: Planet Raygun, Embers of the Void, A Land Once Magic
    Jun 25 2026
    In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Tea talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Amanda (Sprigs and Kindling) and Cale discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth (Planet Raygun, Embers of the Void, and A Land Once Magic), and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently. Links:AmandaCale: https://vengefulpickle.com/https://warboard.vengefulpickle.com/Games discussed: Planet Raygun (in development)Embers Of the Void (in development)A Land Once MagicGames mentioned:Pirate Borg by LimithonMÖRK BORG Starhold: a Space-Themed Survival Horror TTRPG A Fool’s Errand by j strautman and b marsolierTrophy: RuinOnce More into the VoidBand-Aids & Bullet HolesThirsty Sword LesbiansThe King is DeadUneasy Lies the HeadThe Last CaravanThe Emperor is Undead FomoriaFearful SymmetriesCairnArmor Astir AdventMF0: Firebrands D&DThe Between StonetopQuiet Year/The Deep ForestExquisite BiomeMicroscope: Chronicle Pull Over, I Need to PeeFor the QueenAgonBlades in the DarkHelp Rae Recover Links Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcillaFind out more about the Open Hearth Gaming CommunitySupport us on Patreon!Our actual play podcast can be found hereFollow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpgMastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp 00:00 Introduction06:27 Amanda & Planet Raygun (in development)12:29 Cale & Embers Of the Void (in development)18:43 Tea & A Land Once Magic26:31 Giving Me Life
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • Roll for Mutation: Post-Apocalyptic TTRPG History: Ep. 7 The End of the World
    Jun 18 2026

    In our seventh episode of Roll for Mutation, we look at a game series originally from a Spanish publisher, translated and released in English by Fantasy Flight. We talk about mechanics, how each book is structured, and the presentation of "mid-" and "post-" apocalypse. We then talk about cross-company publication history and Fantasy Flight's swingy history with TTRPGs. Lastly we talk about some media touchstones, the five scenarios in each book, and our thoughts and impressions of this line-- including our favorite concepts.

    References
    Edge Entertainment
    Edge Studio (where the FF RPGs went)
    The End of the World: Alien Invasion
    The End of the World: Revolt of the Machines
    The End of the World: Wrath of the Gods
    The End of the World: Zombie Apocalypse
    Our Last Best Hope

    Help Rae Recover Links

    Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla


    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 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 find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.

    Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community
    Support us on Patreon!
    Our actual play podcast can be found here
    Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpg
    Mastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp

    Music: Here Comes the Night Karl Casey @White Bat Audio

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction
    01:09 Premise and Mechanics
    07:55 Publication History
    13:19 Media Sources
    17:20 Apocalyptic Scenarios
    24:19 Thoughts and Impressions

    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • Open Hearth Podcast Ep 19: Raccoon Sky Pirates, Capers, Traveller
    Jun 11 2026

    In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, Lowell (edige23) talks with a pair of community members about their gaming. This time Chrys Sellers (Defy the Gods) and Jolene discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth (Raccoon Sky Pirates, the Masks hack Capers, Star Wars Citizen for Mongoose Traveller 2e), Lowell worries about complexity, and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently.

    Links:
    RSP Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hecticelectron/raccoon-sky-pirates-total-chaos-edition

    Chrys Central: https://hecticelectron.com

    Itch: https://hecticelectron.itch.io/

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hecticelectron.bsky.social

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hecticelectron/

    Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/hecticelectron

    Stag Dance: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/708446/stag-dance-by-torrey-peters/
    Capers (Masks Hack): https://www.reddit.com/r/PBtA/comments/due766/masksvillainous_hack_capers_improved_pdf_files/?rdt=45538

    War Rocket Ajax: https://zencastr.com/War-Rocket-Ajax
    Star Wars Citizen (Traveller hack): https://www.reddit.com/r/traveller/comments/1ezh01l/beta_release_full_conversion_guide_for_star_wars/

    Help Rae Recover Links

    Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla

    Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community
    Support us on Patreon!
    Our actual play podcast can be found here
    Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpg
    Mastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp


    00:00 Introduction
    01:50 Chrys & Raccoon Sky Pirates
    11:05 Jolene & Capers (Masks)
    24:52 Lowell & Star Wars Citizen (Traveller)
    36:30 Giving Me Life

    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet