Happy Jacks RPG Podcast: GM & Player TTRPG Advice – Details, episodes & analysis

◇ Gurg Murg asks how to resurrect old campaigns, Spattz asks for recommendations for an open table style game, From the Archive 2018: Harold from St. Louis has a D&D question | Hosts: Kimi, Pooja, & Jay ◇

00:33Welcome & Episode Summary

01:13Announcements

02:05Indie Designer of the Month

02:21Mailbag 1

20:16Mailbag 2

45:56Mailbag 3 – From the Archive

57:46Episode Closing

61:33Music

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Ed from FL asks what is the point of playing ttrpgs?, Robin (from the UK) asks about pacing games, From the Archive 2021: Shawn from just outside Washington, DC asks about unanticipated PVP in their game | Hosts: Kimi & Riley ◇

• 00:33 – Welcome & Episode Summary |
• 01:55 – Announcements: Game Daze went great! Keep an eye out for info on JACKERCON, our weekend-long online gaming event this summer! | Patreon is changing the way their RSS feed works, so I’ll be going through and updating the access to the backlog in about two weeks (when school is out)
• 02:36 – Indie Designer of the Month: JMatthew Orr, Creative Director at Wet Ink Games. You can find his work on wetinkgames.com or DriveThruRPG |
• 04:05 – Ed from FL asks what is the point of playing ttrpgs? |
• 23:41 – Robin (from the UK) asks about pacing games |
• 47:15 – From the Archive 2021: Shawn from just outside Washington, DC asks about unanticipated PVP in their game |
• 01:10:27 – Episode Closing |
• 01:13:56 – Music |

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

Ⓒ2025 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Rick asks about gaming groups without anyone to GM, Eric from New Jersey asks how to learn an IP world fast, From the Archive 2019: Falco from Germany calls out our pro-PBTA anti-dnd content | Hosts: Kimi & Riley ◇

• 00:33 – Welcome & Episode Summary |
• 01:16 – Announcements: The next Game Daze is March 29th! It’s free and everyone is welcome to join us at happyjacks.org/discord.
• 01:57 – Indie Designer of the Month: Jean Luc Lariviere-Lacombe You can find his work on thedungeonskey.com or DriveThruRPG |
• 04:28 – Rick asks about gaming groups without anyone to GM |
• 26:32 – Eric from New Jersey asks how to learn an IP world fast |
• 50:56 – From the Archive 2019: Falco from Germany calls out our pro-PBTA anti-dnd content |
• 01:13:06 – Episode Closing |
• 01:16:47 – Music |

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

Ⓒ2024 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Budding Butlerian in New Zealand shares a story about players using ChatGTP, Toby wants advice about a disappointing convention experience, Steve from Wisconsin shares his return to gaming and LARP knowledge. | Hosts: Kimi, Nick, CADave ◇

• 00:32 – Welcome & Episode Summary |
• 01:19 – Announcements: Tell your friends (or enemies!) about Happy Jacks!
• 03:03 – Indie Designer of the Month: AshyFeet Games (ashyfeet.com) |
• 04:08 – Budding Butlerian in New Zealand shares a story about players using ChatGTP |
• 25:20 – Toby wants advice about a disappointing convention experience |
• 46:02 – Steve from Wisconsin shares his return to gaming and LARP knowledge |
• 01:05:05 – Episode Closing |
• 01:07:58 – Song: “Heigh-ho! The Holly” by The Merry Wives of Windsor (mwow.net)

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! Our fantastic supporters keep us independent so we can play and say what we want instead of catering to companies for ad or sponsorship money. We are a not-for-profit entity, so all the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. We do it because we love it! patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

Ⓒ2023 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Thomas from Denmark asks why the GM gets to make all the final calls in a TTRPG, Eric from New Jersey asks about the pros and cons of gaming on Discord and if he should stop using Skype, Rose asks about some of our favorite experiences with PC relationships | Hosts: Kimi, Riley, Jason ◇

• 00:32 – Welcome & Episode Summary |
• 01:10 – Announcements: Successful OrcCon 2023!
• 01:56 – Indie Designer of the Month: AshyFeet Games (ashyfeet.com) |
• 05:24 – Thomas from Denmark asks why the GM gets to make all the final calls in a TTRPG |
• 38:00 – Eric from New Jersey talks about gaming on Discord |
• 01:02:39 – Rose asks about some of our favorite experiences with PC relationships |
• 01:16:26 – Episode Closing |
• 01:18:07 – Song: “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher” by The Mary Sues (marysuesband.com)

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! Our fantastic supporters keep us independent so we can play and say what we want instead of catering to companies for ad or sponsorship money. We are a not-for-profit entity, so all the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. We do it because we love it! patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

Ⓒ2023 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ MiniPainterJen asks how to run a session where PCs have personalities in two different realities, Steffi from Scotland asks how to clean up lose ends when a player leaves a game mid campaign, Ed from Minnesota, now in Florida has a challenge for the Happy Jacks hosts about introducing new people to the hobby. | Hosts: Kimi, Rose ◇

• 00:33 – Welcome & Episode Summary |
• 01:22 – Announcements: Successful OrcCon 2023!
• 02:37 – Indie Designer of the Month: Jennifer Adcock (jen-adcock15.itch.io & indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/The-Price-of-Coal.html) |
• 04:35 – MiniPainterJen asks how to run a session where PCs have personalities in two different realities: tv actors and the characters in the show they are on |
• 20:08 – Steffi from Scotland asks how to clean up lose ends when a player leaves a game mid campaign |
• 35:33 – Ed from Minnesota, now in Florida has a challenge for the Happy Jacks hosts about introducing new people to the hobby |
• 01:09:08 – Episode Closing |
• 01:10:26 – Song: “Wake Up Whole Again” by Sportive Tricks (sportivetricks.com)

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! Our fantastic supporters keep us independent so we can play and say what we want instead of catering to companies for ad or sponsorship money. We are a not-for-profit entity, so all the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. We do it because we love it! patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

Ⓒ2023 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ Live from OrcCon 2023 at the Hilton LAX in Los Angeles! A great panel show with members of our audience and stories from lots of different con games. Since it is a live event, the audio quality is not the same as our normal episodes recorded in our studio. ◇

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! Our fantastic supporters keep us independent so we can play and say what we want instead of catering to companies for ad or sponsorship money. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

Ⓒ2023 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ OrcCon 2023 is happening Feb 17-20th at the Hilton LAX in Los Angeles! Steffi from Scotland replies to our discussion about mystery games, Vyrrk from DC asks for recommendations for games besides D&D that have the same vibe and flavor, Blake shares a horror story from his first gaming group | Hosts: Nick, Jameson, Mike & Jim ◇

• 00:33 – Welcome & Episode Summary |
• 01:24 – Announcements: Happy Jacks will be at Strategicon “Orccon” 2023! Feb 17-20th at the Hilton LAX in LA.
• 14:30 – Indie Designer of the Month: Jennifer Adcock (jen-adcock15.itch.io & indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/The-Price-of-Coal.html) |
• 15:47 – Steffi from Scotland replies to our discussion about mystery games |
• 34:38 – Vyrrk from DC asks for recommendations for games besides D&D that have the same vibe and flavor |
• 53:54 – Blake shares a horror story from his first gaming group |
• 01:02:47 – Episode Closing |
• 01:03:49 – Song: “Agincourt Carol” by The Poxy Boggards (poxyboggards.com)

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! Our fantastic supporters keep us independent so we can play and say what we want instead of catering to companies for ad or sponsorship money. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

Ⓒ2023 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ We had some slight audio troubles with Rose’s remote audio for the first part of this episode, but they get cleared up pretty quick. OrcCon 2023 is coming Feb 17-20th! Thomas from Denmark brings up GMs fudging their dice rolls, Ken from Canada asks how to tell if a player’s reaction is warranted, and Andreas in Sweden replies to our discussion about what makes a “traditional game.” | Hosts: Kimi, Nick, Rose ◇

• 00:33 – Welcome & Episode Summary |
• 01:17 – Announcements: Happy Jacks will be at Strategicon “Orccon” 2023! Feb 17-20th at the Hilton LAX in LA.
• 02:23 – Indie Designer of the Month: Jennifer Adcock (indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/The-Price-of-Coal.html) |
• 05:50 – Thomas from Denmark brings up GMs fudging their dice rolls |
• 40:23 – Ken from Canada asks how to tell if a player’s reaction is warranted |
• 52:29 – Andreas in Sweden replies to our discussion about what makes a “traditional game” |
• 58:18 – Episode Closing |
• 01:00:03 – Song: “John Barleycorn Shall Die Right Here” by The Netbusker Folke Shoppe Podcast (netbusker.net)

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! Our fantastic supporters keep us independent so we can play and say what we want instead of catering to companies for ad or sponsorship money. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

Ⓒ2023 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

◇ OrcCon 2023 is coming! Richard asks how to get players to grab plot hooks, Emily asks how to entice board game players to play RPGs, and Daniel asks about our favorite published adventures for non-fantasy campaigns. | Hosts: Kimi, Nick, Riley, Jameson ◇

• 00:33 – Welcome & Episode Summary |
• Announcements – Happy Jacks will be at Strategicon “Orccon” 2023! Feb 17-20th at the Hilton LAX in LA.
• 05:59 – Indie Designer of the Month: Gem Room Games (gemroomgames.com) |
• 10:41 – Richard asks how to get players to grab plot hooks |
• 42:57 – Emily asks how to entice board game players to play RPGs |
• 58:13 – Daniel asks about our favorite published adventures for non-fantasy campaigns |
• 01:06:12 – Episode Closing |
• 01:07:52 – Song: “Side Quest” by The Dread Crew of Oddwood (thedreadcrewofoddwood.com)

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇ Twitch ◇ Twitter ◇ Instagram ◇ Facebook ◇ Discord or find all these links at happyjacks.org .

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! Our fantastic supporters keep us independent so we can play and say what we want instead of catering to companies for ad or sponsorship money. https://patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

Ⓒ2023 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org