Tabletop Adaptations - What works and what doesn't when adapting an IP to the game table?

Tabletop Adaptations - What works and what doesn't when adapting an IP to the game table?

Author: Josh Varty and Kristoffer Hansen March 27, 2026 Duration: 42:11

This week we delve into the world of... worlds! What needs to be in place for a successful adaptation of your favorite smutty romantasy series? Why does Magic's Universes Beyond piss us off so much? What are some games that have gotten it very right?


In No Plot, Only Lore, hosts Josh Varty and Kristoffer Hansen settle in for a conversation that feels like pulling up a chair at a familiar table. Their focus is the intricate, often messy, and deeply rewarding world of collaborative storytelling games, examining them not as rulebooks to be won but as frameworks for shared imagination. Each episode digs into the craft behind these experiences-how a setting’s history shapes a character’s decision, why a particular game mechanic fosters better stories, or what it means to build a narrative together without a predetermined endpoint. You’ll hear two seasoned practitioners reflect on the subtle art of being a player and a guide, discussing the tools and philosophies that transform a simple game night into a memorable saga. This podcast is for anyone who has ever gotten lost in a character’s backstory or spent more time discussing a campaign’s lore than actually rolling dice. It’s a thoughtful, meandering, and personal look at the stories we tell when we play, offering insights that resonate long after the session ends. Join Josh and Kristoffer for a deep, comfortable dive into the heart of why we gather to imagine together.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 93

No Plot, Only Lore
Podcast Episodes
Creating Character [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:55
Josh tries to make a dirt-simple character while Kris asks him ridiculous questions about his deep, detailed backstory.
Balancing Act | No Plot Only Lore [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:36
www.noplotonlylore.comThis week we talk about balance in tabletop role-playing games!
Gamifying Everything | No Plot, Only Lore [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:09
In this episode, Josh and Kris tackle the benefits and drawbacks of game systems appearing in everything from childhood education to modern gambling. But like, in a fun way?
Heroes and Cornplating | No Plot Only Lore [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:25
www.noplotonlylore.comhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-plot-only-lore/id1717725243https://open.spotify.com/show/4aRL19z6CwVhoDaFWoRgqqThis week we talk about Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey and how it doesn't re…
Genre | No Plot Only Lore [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:07
www.noplotonlylore.comhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-plot-only-lore/id1717725243https://open.spotify.com/show/4aRL19z6CwVhoDaFWoRgqqTalking about the nature of Genre and how we interact with genre tropes in our…
D&D Five Point Five | No Plot Only Lore [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:04
www.noplotonlylore.comThere's a new D&D edition coming out this year. Sort of. We figured we should probably talk about that.
Complexity | No Plot Only Lore Episode 23 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:17
www.noplotonlylore.comWe talk about that time a guy came into my game store to insult my mom, and also about the nature of complex systems in role-playing games!
Villains | No Plot Only Lore Episode 22 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:15
Star Wars has some pretty good villains sometimes. Your roleplaying games can have some pretty good villains in them too!
No Plot Only Lore 22: Theme, Tone, Context [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:21
Kristoffer's failings as a parent are a jumping-off point for a discussion of themes, tone, and context in storytelling and role-playing games.