What 35 Years Behind the Screen Taught Josh Heath About Designing TTRPGs (Episode 271)

What happens when a veteran designer with 35 years of GMing experience asks himself: "What if He-Man was a mechanic, not just a character?" The answer is Swords and Science, and Josh Heath of High Level Games joins us to break it all down.Josh has spent decades studying how TTRPGs work, and that depth of knowledge shows in every design decision he made on this game. We dig into the Great Hero System, a brilliant concept that captures the DNA of 80s action cartoons like He-Man, She-Ra, Voltron, Thundarr the Barbarian, Power Rangers, and more. What evolves is a genuinely fresh tabletop experience where players aren't waiting to be the hero. They are the world the hero shows up to save.🎲 In this episode:The clever design problem Josh solved to keep every player at the table engagedHow the Great Hero System captures the feel of your favorite 80s cartoons mechanicallyA deep dive into the dice pool system at the heart of Swords and ScienceJosh's journey from lifelong He-Man fan to TTRPG publisherWhether you're a seasoned game designer, an 80s cartoon enthusiast, or just someone who wants to roll dice and summon a legend at the perfect moment, this one's for you. 🗡️⚡✅ Like✅ Subscribe✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an Episode🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeSwords and Science: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/560739/swords-and-science-ashcan-editionHigh Level Games: highlevelgames.caTabletop Journeys Links:🧡 Patreon: patreon.com/ttjourneys🦋 Bluesky: @ttjourneys.bsky.social📘 Facebook: www.facebook.com/ttjourneys▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneys🌐 Website: https://ttjourneys.com/📧 Email: [email protected]#TabletopJourneys #TabletopCafe #TTRPG #SwordsAndScience #JoshHeath #HighLevelGames #GameDesign #DicePool #HeMan #80sCartoons #Voltron #ThundarrTheBarbarian #PowerRangers #IndieRPG #TabletopGaming #RPGDesign #DungeonsAndDragons #PodcastInterview #TTRPGCommunity #RollForIt