Above Table is a podcast for Dungeons and Dragons homebrew and indie supplements. Each week your hosts Phil and Josh will pick a theme and explore all the amazing homebrew content around it. Want to play a Bard that isn't a schmoozing singer? Got an idea for a Nigella Lawson inspired Warforged? Tasha's Cauldron of Everything running dry? We got you covered! Every Wednesday, Above Table shines a light on all the different ways to play the world's greatest roleplaying game. If you're new player, working on your 100th character or a DM for life, get inspiration for your next game each week with Above Table. If you're curious about the creators behind some of our favourite projects we've got A Short Rest, lovely chats with lovely ttrpg creators, which is released on Sundays.
This week we divine and dive into the fascinating intersection of tarot cards and tabletop role-playing games. From character creation to game mechanics and storytelling, we explore how tarot can add depth, mystery, and inspiration to your campaigns.
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction to Tarot in TTRPGs
(03:27) Incorporating Tarot into D&D
(12:13) Using Tarot for Storytelling and Adventure Building
(22:41) Tarot Decks and Their In-Game Effects
(31:15) Tarot-Themed Characters and Sub-Classes
(41:43) The Prognosticator Class: Tarot and Fate Manipulation
This episode isn’t about dance moves but the class with probably the most iconic class feature: Druids and their Wildshape. Join us as we explore the new 2024 Druid changes and have a cozy romp through some fun homebrew subclasses from the evolutionary and botanical to the Dragonix and even Irish folklore-inspired.
We're going back to our roots, exploring a class and associated subclasses, and this time it's monks! Accounting for 2024 rules changes, this episode covers new options for Kung Fu monks, boistrous brawlers, dexterous assassins, elemental strikes and healing hands. Oh - and also how the WORST 5e subclass is finally fixed...
Chapters:
(0:00) Exploring the Monk Class
(06:17) 2024 Rules and Changes to the Monk Class
(11:29) 5e Monk Reworks
(15:38) Master Unarmed Combat Techniques
(24:46) Stealth and Subterfuge
(38:40) Wield Strikes and Bursts of Elemental Power
D&D has expanded well beyond original Medieval fantasy, and whether you're world building in a steampunk metropolis, galactic empire or an alternate eldritch Victorian Europe, the subject of firearms will inevitably arise. This episode is all about exploring firearm rules and those who can use them - from new weapon types, properties and explosives to gunslingers, clerics with carbines and monks with muskets, just take aim and fire away!
Hey! Listen! It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this episode full of Zelda content to help with your journey. From different RPG systems and iconic 8-bit dungeon crawls that both emulate the games we know and love, to iconic species and monsters Linked into D&D 5e, this chat serves up more ingredients than you can shake your maracas at! You’ll be a ttrpg tri-force to be reckoned with.
Chapters:
(0:00) Exploring The Legend of Zelda's themes and mechanics
(06:50) What Zelda inspiration can we apply to official rules?
Episode 50! So time to celebrate with some Inspiration! Inspiration has changed in the official rules so we dive into how Inspiration is given out and what it means. We discover a myriad of different ways it can be used at your table from saving up Inspiration for even greater heroics to boon, banes and heroic final actions - there's something to inspire everyone!
Chapters:
(0:00) Understanding Inspiration in D&D
(09:07) Earning and Awarding Inspiration
(17:33) New Rules for Inspiration In 2024
(29:11) Variations on Inspiration Mechanics in D&D
Ever wanted a character's tattoos to have more meaning beyond physical description? Then this episode is for you. From Ink Devil Warlocks to Tattooists with sketchbooks and the Marked class who collect as many tattoos as possible - we explore the options that make tattoos an integral part of a character. But not only that - we explore expanding mundane tattoos with tools and inks as well as reems of magical tattoo designs with lore and artwork to enrich your worlds.
Chapters:
(0:00) Introduction to Tattoos in TTRPGs
(08:05) Exploring Tattoos Tasha's Cauldron of Everything
(16:20) Ink Devil Warlock Subclass and How To Become An Inkbender
(25:02) The Tattooist and The Marked Classes
(35:25) Character Customisation and Integrating Tattoos Into Adventures
From economic powerhouses and adventuring leagues to scholastic societies and, of course, the infamous thieves' guilds - this episode covers them all. We explore full fledged guilds ready to plug into your world and how to craft your guilds with the renown system. Players run guilds are also the perfect companion to the new bastion system so this episode have options for everyone!
Chapters:
(0:00) Why use Guilds in your game
(10:11) Using Renown for easy Guild interactions
(19:53) Setting up your own Guild
(32:59) Expanding the game with pre-made Guilds
(45:08) Stick to the classics with a Thieves Guild
With new games due to start in 2025, we've already covered Safety Tools and Session Zero. But what about Level Zero…? In this episode we explore how playing characters experience before they are plucked from obscurity can enrich personal story, narrative drive and be a bloody good laugh!
Chapters:
(0:00) Welcome Back
(03:26) Exploring Level Zero Play
(13:23) Why is Level 0 not the standard starting point?
(21:59) Dungeon Crawl Classics and Character Creation
(30:26) Understanding the Fifth Edition Funnel
(40:04) Let's roll up a Level 0 Character
(46:07) Inovative Approaches: Humble Beginnings
(54:30) A Life Well Lived
(1:07:40) Level Zero Adventures and Trinket of the Week
The temperature continues to plummet and so we're taking our icy theme to the next level and jumping into Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden. Phil brings an avalanche of supplements into Ten-Towns to bury Josh with and they're all pure gold! For anyone inspired by our winter episodes or planning running RotF in the new year, this episode treads clear paths between must-have guidance and supplements for the ultimate chill!
Chapters:
(0:00) Intro and Year In Review
(1:26) Exploring Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
(4:14) The Sandbox Nature of Rime of the Frostmaiden
(7:29) Campaign Pitch: The Vibe of Icewind Dale
(9:41) Approach to House Rules and Banned Content
(17:24) Dungeon Coach's Arctic Survival Guide
(24:06) Ten-Towns Primers and Resources
(38:47) Enhancing Gameplay with Music & Tools
(44:55) Creative Game Mechanics and Expanding the Bestiary
(1:02:05) Trinket of the Week and Looking Ahead to 2025
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