The End? The Apocalypse, Star Wars, and Why D&D Campaigns Never Finish

The End? The Apocalypse, Star Wars, and Why D&D Campaigns Never Finish

Author: Josh Varty and Kristoffer Hansen May 30, 2025 Duration: 30:52

Josh and Kris talk about their favorite apocalypses, from Fallout-style nuclear war (and the haunting film The Road) to the underrated movie The Book of Eli and terrible ones like Waterworld and After Earth. The conversation shifts to the ultimate TTRPG challenge: finishing a campaign. They discuss why most D&D groups never finish a multi-year story, the shift from collaborative world-building to "being entertained," and the influence of actual-play shows like Critical Role and D20 on modern player expectations and "doing bits."


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
No Plot Only Lore 21: Adaptation II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:39
In this episode of No Plot, Only Lore, we dive deep into the rich and varied world of media homages to Dungeons & Dragons. Join us as we explore the fascinating intersections between D&D and popular culture, with a speci…
No Plot Only Lore 19: Talk to Me [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:30
Social and non-combat encounters are great, but can be super awkward and weird to run.
No Plot Only Lore 18: The Histories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:31
Bringing historical elements into your games is sometimes fraught with peril, but the past contains all the the things that have ever happened, so it's a decent resource.
No Plot Only Lore 15: My House, My Rules [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:49
Wherein we discuss the role of house rules at our tables and the difference between a house rule that enhances things and a house rule that sucks.