Around the Hearth

Welcome to another episode of our new series on the Around the Hearth podcast feed: Known Territory: GMs Talk Games. Each episode we sit down with an experienced game facilitator who has played a specific TTRPG extensively. They will discuss how they pitch the game, best practices for running, useful tools, potential pitfalls, and more.
This time we have designer, consultant, and co-creator of Asians Represent!, Agatha Cheng. She's here to talk about the amazing game Good Society, a diceless TTRPG of romance, passion, and drama. We talk about a lot, including the Kickstarter for Good Society 2nd Edition.
Good Society 2nd Edition Kickstarter
"2 Good 2 Society: Storybrewers do a lot with small changes in the new edition of the beloved Austen-like" (Rascal, Thomas Manuel)
Games Mentioned
Good Society
Pasión de las Pasiones
Woolf Society: Percival
Take the Universe
Gothic Society
Thinly Veiled
Agatha on itch.io

Check Open Hearth's free online gaming event: Shared Hearth happening Oct. 1st- Oct. 4th, 2026
If you dig this series, please rate, review, and subscribe.
This episode's host is Lowell Francis,  designer and co-author of Hearts of Wulin. He's the ENnie-winning creator of the Age of Ravens blog and community manager for the Open Hearth Gaming Community. He's the co-author of the Transverse Noir series of Shadowrun novellas. You can find Lowell's work on YouTube, on Itch.io, and on DriveThruRPG.
Help Rae Recover Links
Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla

Music: ‘Mission Control’ by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio
Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community
Support us on Patreon!
Our actual play podcast can be found here
Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg
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Mastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Dominik talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Guy and Anders discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth (Trespasser, The One Ring 2e, and Slugblaster), and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently.
Games Discussed:
Trespasser
The One Ring 2e
Slugblaster
Shared Hearth
Registration is now open for the Shared Hearth free open gaming event October 1st - October 4th, 2026! More information at https://openhearthgaming.com/shared-hearth
Help Rae Recover Links 
Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla
Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community
Support us on Patreon!
Our actual play podcast can be found here
Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpg
Mastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp    
00:00 Introduction
01:16 Anders & Trespasser 
09:43 Guy & The One Ring 2e
22:08 Dominik & Slugblaster
34:07 Giving Me Life

In this episode, Gwen talks with community member & layout/designer David MK and game designer Will Munn about Arium the Worldbuilding RPG. They cover the game's core concepts, adaptability, and new elements added by Arium: Evolve.  The Kickstarter for the new boxed edition of Arium, which includes the new supplement, runs through Wed, Sept 16th, 2026.
The Arium Kickstarter
Arium's Homepage
Aquavertigo (David MK) 
Shared Hearth free open gaming event is coming October 1st - October 4th, 2026
Help Rae Recover Links 
Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla
Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community
Support us on Patreon!
Our actual play podcast can be found here
Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpg
Mastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Tea talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Moria and Shane discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth (Basic Fantasy RPG, Fearful Symmetries, and Void Technicians), and then the group finishes up with some things they've been digging recently.
Links:
Moria
Hobby blog: https://trashpile.blog/
Carrd: https://the-trashpile.carrd.co/

Shane
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Shane-Marble/videos

Games Discussed:
Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game - https://www.basicfantasy.org/
Fearful Symmetries by Steve Dempsey for Trail of Cthulhu - https://pelgranepress.com/product/fearful-symmetries/
Void Technicians - https://thecastlebuilder.itch.io/void-technicians

Other Games & Misc Mentioned:
Basic Fantasy RPG is not to be confused with Basic Roleplaying
Shadowdark
Lancer
Mothership
Strange Towns for Cortex Prime
Good Society
Under Hollow Hills
For The Queen
Beach Blanket Body Bag (Carved from Brindlewood)
Rune Seekers of Glorantha (in development)
Rosewood Abbey
Biophage
With Fire Thy Affections Hold A Wing
Harvest
Ghosts of El Paso for The Between
Goblin Errands
Armor Astir: Advent
Ocean Tides
D&D
Oh Captain, My Captain!
Stonetop
Turnip 28

Other Mentions:
Fearful Symmetries session videos
Rune Seekers of Glorantha session videos
Shared Hearth free open gaming event is coming October 1st - October 4th, 2026
The xkcd "Average Familiarity" comic
Playingcards.io
Help Rae Recover Links 
Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla
Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community
Support us on Patreon!
Our actual play podcast can be found here
Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpg
Mastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp    
00:00 Introduction
01:50 Moria & Basic Fantasy RPG
09:48 Shane & Fearful Symmetries
17:38 Tea & Void Technicians
27:58 Giving Me Life

...to the last, I prattle with thee; from a studio apartment, I yap at thee; for the game's sake I pod my last cast at thee!!
In the first-ever live studio recording of the show, José & Ian spend a (very warm) summer evening bouncing off of each other about games & gaming. We discuss bringing newcomers into the hobby, embracing (and even aiming for) imperfection, and our forever-implausible "ideal" games.
Find out more about the Open Hearth Gaming Community
Our website - Check out the Shared Hearth event!
Support us on Patreon!
Our actual play podcast can be found here
Follow us on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/open-hearth-rpg
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openhearthrpg
Mastodon: @openhearthrpg@dice.camp
Our info:
Email: adifferenthex@gmail.com
Music: https://lloydeaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-different-kind-of-hex
Jack de Quidt's Music - https://notquitereal.bandcamp.com/
Help Rae Recover Links 
Support or donate at https://patreon.com/swordqueengames or https://ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla
01:05 - Intro
02:53 - José's Poison, the "Pied Piper"
14:00 - Ian's Poison, the "Need for Speed"
23:47 - White Whales; or, the "ideal" game
45:56 - Pearls of Wisdom
55:27 - Outro