Episodic Adventures: TTRPG Module Reviews

We returned to Madison this year for one of our favorite cons: Gamehole! Join Sean, Jordy, and Lisa as we reminisce about the games we played (and playtested!), multi-table epics, high level gameplay, creative community, good fortune, and Traveller – lots of Traveller. Note: We did not avoid con crud, lol. Mask up! Or at least wash your hands after digging in the community dice bin. CW: drugs Gamehole ConOath Hammer RPGFirelight BrigadeMr. Dragonbane TikTokLurking FearsTheme music credited to Zane Little. New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventuresHave gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

This week, Lisa, Jordy, and Sean take on the horror of the economy (with a side of zombies) in Trabajo, a portfolio for Red Markets, with a focus on the contract “Oil Be Back”. We discuss deals gone wrong, tenuous community bonds, and cruel choices in latest-stage capitalism.Note: The Red Markets 2e playtest materials are live and free!CW: zombies, povertyTrabajo is written by Ross Payton and published by Hebanon Games.Red Markets is written by Caleb Stokes and published by Hebanon Games. Dave Thaumavore review of Red MarketsTheme music credited to Zane Little.New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventuresHave gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

Beware, ye who enter “The Crack’d and Crook’d Manse”! In this spooky seasonal episode, Jordy, Lisa and Sean investigate a classic module republished in Call of Cthulhu 7th Editition’s Mansions of Madness, Vol 1. We discuss the murder house trope, copious red herrings, mysterious letters, and whether the players should know the name of their fears.Note: Chaosium recently made the decision to change the original name of Shub-Gorath. You can read more about the update here.CW: sanity, harm to animalsMark Morrison’s Blog where he describes the creation of this module “The Crack’d and Crook’d Manse” is written by Mark Morrison and published by Chaosium as part of Mansions of Madness, Vol 1.Call of Chthulhu 7th Edition is published by Chaosium.Intro excerpt from “The Crack’d and Crook’d Manse”.Theme music credited to Zane Little.New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventuresHave gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

This week, Jordy and Lisa are all about the money. We discuss Jordy’s foray into quantum quest-writing, crowdfunding (and Kickstarter fatigue), and personal hobby economics. Note: Academia Arcana is available for pre-order! As a supplement to this convo, Bright Bard Games recently blogged about their successful experience vending at GenCon with a group of other indie publishers–it’s a worthwhile read for small games creators and the people looking to see them thrive. CW: finances Pax Deorum Plus One Exp GenCon sales recap Patchwork Paladin Kickstarter whales Theme music credited to Zane Little. New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventuresHave gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

Kneel before us, mortals, as Sean, Jordy and Lisa chase immortality in Lichdom, a solo roleplaying game about sorcerers reaching for eternal life. We discuss inciting events, pesky interlopers, the highs and lows of probability, mastering your own game, and playing with fate. Note: A limited print rerun of Lichdom: Immortal Edition is Kickstarting soon, for ye nefarious mages. CW: undeath, suicide Lichdom is written by Adrian Lopez Sanjuan and published by Feral Wizard. Intro excerpt from Lichdom. Theme music credited to Zane Little. New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventuresHave gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

For this doubly special episode, Lisa and Sean convene with special guest Mel the GM to review our first-ever system agnostic adventure: Broken Heart of the Castle! We discuss beastly curses, burying your gays, a hair-trigger confrontation, and, inexplicably, another duck. Note: “Sleeping Heart of the Garden” is Cloud Curio’s woodsy system neutral entry CW: “Bury your gays” trope “Broken Heart of the Castle” is written by SC Ormond and published by Cloud Curio. You can find Mel at @MeltheGM on Instagram! Intro excerpt adapted from “Broken Heart of the Castle.” Theme music credited to Zane Little. New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventuresHave gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

Welcome back to another Sidebar with Lisa and Sean! This week, we discuss our gaming family tree and how our roots spread.Theme music credited to Zane Little.New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventuresHave gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

This week, Sean, Jordy, and Lisa descend into a downright Jaquaysian tangle of tunnels in search of the “Dark Tower,” a fantasy game aid for AD&D. We discuss the joy, humor, and mischief of Jaquays’ design, leading with artifacts, the horrible hall of the silent ball, and a super-secret hidden (main) boss, plus the hosts share their hot slash fic of the dungeon denizens. “Dark Tower” is written by Jennell Jaquays and originally published by Judges Guild in 1980. It was restored and re-released by Goodman Games in 2024. Theme music credited to Zane Little. New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventuresHave gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

Grab a blade from the pile and join Jordy, Lisa, and Sean in arms with Temple of 1000 Swords, an adventure module for Old-School Essentials. We discuss rusty swords, random swords and secret swords, the maternal instincts of cannibalistic duck-men, and playing god (of swords). CW: body horror “Temple of 1000 Swords” is written and published by Brad Kerr. Old-School Essentials is designed by Gavin Norman and published by Necrotic Gnome. Theme music credited to Zane Little. New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventuresHave gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].

Join Jordy and Sean, Masters of Shadow and… Daggers, as they bring you another Sidebar! We discuss Origins Game Fair, Free RPG day, metacurrency in Daggerheart and Draw Steel, Shadowdark and donating blood (O Bros for life).Note: Legends in the Mist won multiple 2026 ENNIE categories, including Best Game (silver). The DCC Free RPG Day offering this year was Pretenders to the Rat King’s Throne.American Red CrossFirst Aid ComicsFree RPG DayWires in the Woods - solo and duet RPGTheme music credited to Zane Little.New to the show? Check out our links: https://linktr.ee/episodicadventuresHave gaming opinions or questions? Email us at [email protected].