S37E14 | Back to TTRPGs after 30 Years, Explorers vs Gardeners, and Story Time

S37E14 | Back to TTRPGs after 30 Years, Explorers vs Gardeners, and Story Time

Author: Happy Jacks RPG Network August 2, 2026 Duration: 1:09:04

◇ Jay is returning to gaming after 30 years and has some questions, Nathan has some input about Exploring vs Gardening players, and from the archive 2021: Matt has some stories for us | Hosts: Kimi, Jason, & Matthew Nevers ◇

00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary

01:42◇ Announcements – Game Daze will be happening August 08! Sign up to run or play games for this free, fun, safe online game event at happyjacks.org/discord ◇ We will be at LFG Con! August 13–16, 2026 in Burbank California! lfg-con.com ◇

04:51◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Matthew Nevers (he/him) of Coffee All Night Games at https://coffeeallnight.itch.io/ or https://coffeeallnight.com

07:22◇ Mailbag 1 – Jay is returning to gaming after 30 years and has some questions

33:50◇ Mailbag 2 – Nathan has some input about Exploring vs Gardening players

47:38◇ Mailbag 3 – From the archive 2021: Matt has some stories for us

62:43◇ Episode Closing

66:10◇ Music

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

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Ⓒ2026 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org


Gathering around a table with friends, rolling dice, and getting lost in a shared story is at the heart of the tabletop roleplaying experience, and that's precisely the feeling you'll find with the Happy Jacks RPG Advice Show. From the Happy Jacks RPG Network, this weekly session feels less like a formal broadcast and more like you've pulled up a chair to a lively game night where the conversation just happens to be about RPGs. The crew brings a genuine, unbridled enthusiasm to every topic, blending practical guidance with a lot of humor and the easy rapport of longtime friends. You'll hear diverse perspectives on everything from crafting compelling narratives and managing tricky player dynamics to choosing the perfect system for your group, all delivered with an inclusive and welcoming spirit. It's that unique mix of informative discussion and infectious camaraderie that makes this podcast such a reliable source of both ideas and entertainment. Whether you're a seasoned Game Master navigating a complex campaign or a newcomer looking for a friendly entry point into the hobby, tuning in feels like getting solid advice from people who are just as passionate about the game as you are.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Happy Jacks RPG Podcast: GM & Player TTRPG Advice
Podcast Episodes
S37E11 | Player Contributions, System Styles, GM Tricks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:56:11
◇ Wes in Indianapolis asks how to get players to help build a sand box, Gregory from Wisconsin talks about system styles, From the archive 2021: Ben from TX asks about what tricks we fall back on as GMs | Hosts: Kimi, Po…
S37E10 | Fun Dungeon Crawls, A Horror Story, & Slow GMing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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◇ Gurg Murg asks about making rewarding dungeon crawls, Steffi from Scotland shares a horror story, and From the archive 2024: Steve from Cambridge wants to talk about slow GMing | Hosts: Kimi, Clara, CADave, & Artem ◇ 0…
S37E09 | Live from GamEx 2026! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:08
◇ Live from GamEx 2026 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 no…
S37E07 | Stolen Moments, Success Story, and Surprise PC Roleplaying [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:18
◇ Jake from Illinois asks about stolen moments, Wesley Street on the Discord sends in a success story, From the archive 2022: Taurelin wants to know how to handle it when PCs don’t do what’s their players expect | Hosts:…
S37E06 | Pets in Campaigns, Pax East, Electronics at the Table [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:45
◇ Gregory from Wisconsin writes in about pets in campaigns, Matty All Night shares some con game stories from Pax East, From the archive 2022: Weaselcreature asks about electronics at the gaming table | Hosts: Kimi, Jaso…
S37E05 | PBTA Prep, FATE, & A Gaming Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:31
◇ Robin asks about sharing PBTA prep as an Improv GM, Christopher in Carolina replies to us about FATE, From the archive 2023: Doogler shares a gaming story | Hosts: Jason, June, & Kodi ◇ 00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary…