Vox Arcana

This is it. In this final episode of Vox Arcana, William, Jake, and David look back on our favorite moments from the show, and say goodbye to you, Dear Listener. Keep subscribed to this feed to eventually get all of the Patreon bonus episodes.

Every Dungeon Master has certain quirks which make their tables unique including things that drive us nuts! This episode we look at some of our various pet peeves in our games including methods of alleviating them. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast

It is impossible to tell a story without tropes. In this episode, we dive into what tropes are, how to use them in your games, ensuring tonal consistency, and how to enhance some overused tropes. In the Question Vault, we answer a question about resisting the urge to metagame. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected]

Adversaries are essential in all roleplaying games. Here’s how to make those enemies strike fear into the hearts of all PCs! Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] For more episodes: patreon.com/voxarcana

We heard hot takes are selling like hot cakes, so we decided to assemble a few of our own. Here’s our spicy, scalding, blazing hot takes about D&D and tabletop RPGs. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] For more episodes: patreon.com/voxarcana

This episode we dive into gruesome injuries, lingering effects, and how to make combat more scary and less trivial. In the Question Vault we answer a question about essential GM supplies we each utilize at the table. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] For more episodes: patreon.com/voxarcana

Friend of the pod Matt Corley returns to talk about module design, historical fiction, and the tabletop RPG community coming together during crisis. Check out Matt's kickstarter right here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/37222410/the-devils-city-for-5e Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] For more episodes:  patreon.com/voxarcana

Do you prefer your sessions bustling with players piled around the table or a smaller scale, more intimate experience? In this episode, William, Jake, and David discuss the pros and cons of small parties and large parties. Finally, we dig into the newly released Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount and create a backstory utilizing some of the random tables held within. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] For more episodes: patreon.com/voxarcana

From world building to scene description, an element of mystery can make any game better. In this episode, William, Jake, and David discuss how to control your genre and tone, creating interesting backstories, and tips for injecting intrigue into your sessions. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] For more episodes: patreon.com/voxarcana

When the players aren’t traversing dungeons or slaying monsters, they do all sorts of other things: Shopping, training, carousing, running businesses, researching… The list goes on and on! This episode we dive into all sorts of downtime activities and how to make downtime incredible. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] For bonus episodes: patreon.com/voxarcana

Sadly, episode #59 is lost, but instead you'll hear one of our Patreon bonus episodes where Will tells us about his first total party kill. The conversation quickly turns into one about lethality, tone, and the nature of death in role playing games. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected]

Every Game Master wants to free up their players to explore the world around them, but how? In this episode William, Jake, and David go through tips and tricks for creating an amazing sandbox for your players to play in. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] For more episodes: patreon.com/voxarcana

The times, they are 'a changin'! Before the new year, we look back at our favorite moments and important lessons from 2019, as well as looking forward to the future in perhaps our most introspective episode yet. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] For more episodes: patreon.com/voxarcana

William, Jake, and David discuss a controversial gameplay philosophy to solve D&D's biggest problem: Scheduling! Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] For more episodes: patreon.com/voxarcana

Collaboration plays a central part in every single tabletop RPG, so in this episode, dungeon masters William, Jake, and David dive into how to best collaborate with players from character creation to story arcs to mind control. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] For more episodes: patreon.com/voxarcana

Note taking? Game prepping? Improve your techniques in this week’s round-table discussion that will surely reduce the amount of time you spend wasting on prep! Follow us on social media: Twitter memes and deep thoughts: @voxarcanapod Facebook: Articles and gaming news @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: Amazing fantasy art and some behind-the-scenes materials @voxarcanapodcast Email questions and feedback to: [email protected]

Gods, pantheons, cults, creation myths, crusades... This episode we get downright theological as William, Jake, and David dive into all things divine in roleplaying games. In 'The Creature Feature,' we discuss angels and how to utilize them at your table. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] For more episodes: patreon.com/voxarcana

In this episode William, Jake, and David dive into Matt Colville’s D&D 5e supplement Strongholds & Followers and see where it fits in the D&D product ecosystem. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] If you want more episodes of Vox Arcana, head to patreon.com/voxarcana to get access to our back-catalogue of bonus episodes.

Dirty pirates, cunning smugglers, beautiful port cities, horrors from the depths – this episode is all about maritime campaigns and what makes them great! Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] If you want more episodes of Vox Arcana, head to patreon.com/voxarcana to get access to our back-catalogue of bonus episodes.

For our 50th episode, we add more thoughts on to our very first episode and delve back into the topic of dungeons! This time around, we discuss mega-dungeons, misconceptions, and exploration. In the Question Vault, we answer a question about health, long rests, and grievous injuries. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] If you want more episodes of Vox Arcana, head to patreon.com/voxarcana to get access to our back-catalogue of bonus episodes.

Those little numbers on your character sheet determine a lot about how your character operates in the game. This episode is devoted to those little numbers, their importance, and character stats’ overall effect on the game. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] If you want more episodes of Vox Arcana, head to patreon.com/voxarcana to get access to our back-catalogue of bonus episodes.

Listen up, players! It’s time to up your roleplaying game. This week, we talk about how to build better backstories and make them useful within your game as well as tips and tricks for playing the role of your character more effectively. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

There’s more to being a Dungeon Master than drawing maps and writing notes; don’t forget to roleplay! In this episode, William, Jake and David discuss how to be a better roleplayer while running your game. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] For more bonus episodes: patreon.com/voxarcana

What’s the fastest way to play D&D? In a one-shot, of course! We present our best practices for making a thrilling night of gaming with the highest stakes imaginable. Towards the end, William, David, and Jake get wild while designing a one-shot based on five random action verbs. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] For more episodes: patreon.com/voxarcana

This episode is an interview with game designer Matt Corley, where we dive into how to infuse horror in tabletop RPGs, general game design, and the tabletop gaming industry. Matt Corley is the creator of Lamp's Light Sanitarium which is available today! Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] For more episodes: patreon.com/voxarcana

When adventuring, death is always a possibility... In this episode, William, Jake, and David discuss encounter lethality and what to do when a character’s life ends. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] If you want more episodes of Vox Arcana, head to patreon.com/voxarcana to get access to our back-catalog of bonus episodes.

Magic is essential to nearly every fantasy roleplaying world. In this episode, Jake, William, and David discuss the importance of magic and the effects magic has on roleplaying, worldbuilding, and gameplay. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

The question vault was filling up with listener questions, so we decided to devote this entire episode to answers some of them. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... Stars Wars is a rich universe to explore; ripe with compelling stories and intriguing situations. In this episode we talk about role playing in the Star Wars universe and all the wonderful adventures that come with it. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

This week's episode is an interview with graphic designer and magic item creator Griffin Macaulay. We talk about what makes magic items great, how to balance all types of items, and then we take a look at some of our favorite items Griffin has created. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

Leveling up is one of the most rewarding experience in RPG games. How that happens, however, can take many forms. This episode we dive into experience systems, level ranges, and how to best allow the players to progress. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

What happened after the end of the world? In this episode we dig into how to create post-apocalyptic worlds and ways to build adventures in worlds altered by cataclysms. Towards the end, we mess around with a post-apocalyptic world generator and see where creativity takes us! Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

Get in line and wait your turn! It’s time to organize ourselves into combat order and take turns discussing combat rules and their alternatives. Plus a bonus discussion on the Triton race, and a juicy question vault about the Help action. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

Filling your world with interesting groups and organizations is a great way to bring your sessions to life. In this episode, we look at how create compelling factions and how to use them effectively at your table. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

There’s a game designer inside all GMs, but everyone needs a little help sometimes. Here are our best practices for making house rules! Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

Signing a deal with the devil can't be that bad, right? This week, we conclude our series of deep-dives into the D&D 5e classes with the warlock. Enjoy the discussion about warlock patrons, abilities, and character concepts! Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

From dice rolls, to random tables, to the players themselves, unpredictability is a huge part of role-playing games. Here’s some tips and tricks on how to manage randomness at your table.

This episode is a little different. As many of you know, Jake hosts a different podcast about obscure stories from history called Historium. This episode is from that podcast and is all about the origins of D&D and the moral panic surrounding the game in the 1980s. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

Holy moley! Bless up and get ready to learn about everyone’s favorite holy warrior that isn’t the Paladin. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

How do we, as Dungeon Masters, convey the tone we want? How do we use music and sound effects to create the perfect atmosphere for our games? William, Jake, and David answer all of those questions and more! Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

Discussing subclasses, creating backstories, and Jake making a case that Harry Potter is actually a sorcerer... All that and more on this episode all about the Sorcerer class from 5e Dungeons & Dragons. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

Hulking bosses, set-piece encounters, epic finales. All that and more in this episode where we share all of our tips and tricks to improving boss battles in all tabletop roleplaying games. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

Fly into a ferocious rage with us as we examine the 5e barbarian class; where we look at class features, subclasses, and character concepts. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

Christopher Columbus. Lewis and Clark. Sir Francis Drake. Champions of exploration and discovery. Since the real world has been mapped out, it’s time to explore our own fantastic worlds! Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

William, Jake, and David explore the fifth edition Druid class by looking at history, analyzing the subclasses, and thinking up some sweet character concepts. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

This episode we venture into our mailbag and answer some of your questions! Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

Grab your best flute and put on your pants, this week the Bard is making us dance! Introduction by Alan Moore. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

There's no school like the old school! Much has changed in the 40+ years D&D has been around. We discuss the finer points and some major differences between the past and the present. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana

Life in a monastery is tough. Carrying buckets of water. Punching through boards. Welcome to our 5e monk class episode!

Building worlds is one thing; building cities is another. We discuss our techniques for developing realistic, believable hubs of civilization. Follow us: Twitter: @voxarcanapod Facebook: @voxarcanapodcast Instagram: @voxarcanapodcast Email: [email protected] Donate: patreon.com/voxarcana