RPGBOT.Podcast

Character creation in Pathfinder 2e is like walking into a fantasy bakery: everything looks amazing, you want all of it, and somehow you leave with a perfectly balanced character instead of a chaotic pile of half-baked ideas. In this RPGBOT.Quickstart episode, we guide you through the PF2e character creation process step by step without analysis paralysis, spreadsheet-induced panic, or accidentally building a wizard who can't read their own spellbook. Pathfinder 2e Re-Releases! Just in time for cozy dice rolling and awkward family game nights, RPGBOT is re-releasing our Pathfinder 2e episodes for the 2025 holiday season! Whether you're onboarding new players, rebuilding old characters, or finally convincing your D&D group to try PF2e, our Quickstart Pathfinder 2e series is coming back to help you start strong and play smart. Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Quickstart series, we break down Pathfinder Second Edition character creation from start to finish, helping new and returning players understand how PF2e builds characters that are flexible, balanced, and deeply customizable. We walk through the full process: ancestry, background, class, ability boosts, skills, feats, and proficiencies, and explain how each choice shapes your character's role in the party. The discussion focuses on how Pathfinder 2e character creation differs from other tabletop RPG systems, emphasizing player choice at every stage without overwhelming complexity. We explain how ability scores are generated, why feats matter at level one, and how proficiency tiers influence long-term character growth. Whether you're building a frontline fighter, a cunning rogue, or a spellcaster with a carefully tuned spell list, this episode gives you the tools to make informed, confident decisions. If you're new to Pathfinder Second Edition or helping others get started, this episode serves as a clear, approachable character creation guide that sets you up for success before the first initiative roll. Key Takeaways Pathfinder 2e character creation is modular, flexible, and highly balanced. Ancestry, background, and class all provide meaningful mechanical benefits. Ability boosts replace traditional rolling, ensuring fair and effective characters. Feats at level one define character identity early in the game. Proficiency tiers shape how characters grow over time. PF2e supports strong character concepts without trap choices. A solid character foundation makes learning Pathfinder 2e much easier. Join the RPGBOT Patreon! Want to go deeper into Pathfinder 2e and beyond? Join the RPGBOT Patreon and unlock: Access to RPGBOT.Podcast recording sessions Ad-free RPGBOT.net articles and content Ad-free recordings of the RPGBOT.Podcast Early access to new episodes, remastered series, and exclusive discussions Support RPGBOT, sharpen your character builds, and help us keep making the tabletop content you love. Join the RPGBOT Patreon today! Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Ever wondered how many actions it takes to brew a cup of coffee in Pathfinder 2e? The RPGBOT crew did, and we're pretty sure we provoked an opportunity attack from the espresso machine. In this RPGBOT.Quickstart episode, we bravely tackle Pathfinder Second Edition, learn how to read a character sheet without summoning a demon, and maybe, just maybe, figure out what the heck a "reaction" actually is. Holiday Announcement – Pathfinder 2e Re-Releases! Big News! RPGBOT is re-releasing our Pathfinder Second Edition episodes during the 2025 holiday season! Whether you're brand-new to PF2e, teaching friends, or planning a holiday gaming binge, our remastered Quickstart series will help you jump right into battles, skill checks, and glorious crits! Show Notes In this introductory episode of the RPGBOT.Quickstart series, we take new players step-by-step into the rules and systems of Pathfinder Second Edition, focusing on what makes the game unique, approachable, and extremely rewarding even at level one. We explore the fundamental differences from other tabletop RPG systems, including the three-action economy, proficiency tiers, skills and training, and how to read your character sheet without consulting a wizard or cleric. Whether you're a brand-new player or transitioning from Dungeons & Dragons, our Pathfinder Second Edition beginner rules breakdown explains character creation, basic mechanics, and how to confidently walk into your first PF2e session without rolling a natural 1 on understanding the rules. We also look at how PF2e combat flows, what kinds of strategies matter, and how actions and reactions drive tactical gameplay. If you're curious about Pathfinder Second Edition, wanting a quickstart guide, or simply preparing your group for a brand-new campaign, this episode has the foundational tips you need to begin adventuring right away. Key Takeaways Pathfinder 2e uses a three-action economy, giving players tactical freedom. Proficiency matters—trained, expert, master, legendary all influence your rolls. Pathfinder 2e emphasizes tactical positioning and deliberate decision-making. Character creation focuses on choosing an ancestry, background, and class to determine strengths and abilities. Combat relies heavily on actions, reactions, and movement, making every turn meaningful. Pathfinder 2e is ideal for players seeking rich choices and balanced gameplay. The system is easy to learn with the right quickstart guidance—like this episode! Join the RPGBOT Patreon! Want even more Pathfinder goodness? Join the RPGBOT Patreon and get: Access to RPGBOT.Podcast recording sessions Ad-free versions of RPGBOT.net content Ad-free recordings of the RPGBOT.Podcast Early access to upcoming episodes and special PF2e content Support RPGBOT. Support great tabletop content. Become a patron today and join us behind the GM screen! Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Have you ever wished you could travel back in time, wield 10th-level spells, and tell ancient archmages that "no seriously, this is definitely going to end badly"? Well congratulations, this episode is for you! Today we explore Netheril's majestic flying cities, magical decadence, and the absolute worst urban-planning decision ever: putting time portals in extremely obvious places. Grab your arcane seatbelts; gravity is optional. RPGBOT Video Reviews on YouTube Heads-up, adventurers! RPGBOT review episodes may soon begin appearing in full video on YouTube. If you've ever wanted to see our horrified facial expressions while discussing Netheril's magical OSHA violations—this might be your moment. More information coming soon! Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the hosts dive deep into Netheril's Fall, the newest official supplement set during the height (and imminent collapse) of the ancient Netherese Empire. The cast explores Netheril's lore, the rise of magical elitism, the role of 10th-level spells, and the unique position this supplement occupies as mainly a Dungeon Master resource rather than a player-option book. The crew also discusses the magical decadence of flying cities, the oppressive social structure of the High Netherese vs Low Netherese, and introduces magical anomalies that shape how DMs can run Netheril-era adventures. Meanwhile, Tyler, Randall, and Ash debate the biggest question: Should Netheril EVER be saved? Or is this empire truly doomed? Finally, the hosts explore the controversial time-gate mechanics that enable PCs to visit this legendary era. Is this an exciting campaign hook, or a plot hole the size of a mythallar? (Spoiler: opinions are strong.) Key Takeaways Netheril's Fall provides primarily DM-focused content, not player options The supplement covers flying cities, magical aristocracy, and Netherese history Time-travel mechanics are interesting—but potentially world-breaking for campaigns Magical anomalies and arcane hazards add unique adventure hooks Adventures include encounters in both floating cities and ground-level Nethereese settlements Strong lore content connects directly to Forgotten Realms history, Baldur's Gate 3, and classic D&D themes The supplement works best if treated as a mini-campaign or one-shot instead of long-term setting Join the RPGBOT Patreon Want even more deep-dive analysis, lore breakdowns, and behind-the-scenes discussions like this one? Join the RPGBOT Patreon! Patrons can attend RPGBOT.Podcast recording sessions live, get ad-free content on RPGBOT.net, and listen to ad-free recordings of every RPGBOT.Podcast episode. Support the show and help us keep producing content that levels up your tabletop experience. Join at: Patreon.com/RPGBOT Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Have you ever wondered what would happen if Baldur's Gate 3 romance options escaped into your tabletop rules? Today, we dive into Astarion's Book of Hungers, where vampires are sexy, feats are thirsty, and WotC's DLC pricing… is definitely giving "gaslight, gatekeep, vampire spawn." The team reviews the digital-only D&D supplement Astarion's Book of Hungers, a Baldur's Gate-themed 32-page add-on focused on vampires, Dhampir characters, feats, and mini-adventures, tied to Faerûn but clearly intended as DLC-style tabletop content. Highlights Dhampir species updated, but weakened from 2014 (loss of Deathless Nature, bite now unarmed strike). New backgrounds tied to vampire themes (Devotee, Survivor, Carouser) with strong roleplay hooks. Feat quality varies from flavorful to "why is this here" (looking at you, Bomber). Epic boons are thematically fun but situational. Bestiary mostly devils + vampire variants (Infernalist, Wardens). Two adventures, but they're basically the same fight twice set in Rat's Run Tavern. Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the crew reviews Astarion's Book of Hungers, the digital-only supplement featuring the updated Dhampir species, vampire-flavored feats, new backgrounds, devil monsters, and two short adventures centered around the Rat's Run Tavern in Baldur's Gate. The hosts analyze the design changes, compare Dhampir options between the 2014 and 2024 rules, evaluate feat quality, and critique the DLC-like release strategy. They share lore details about Astarion, his abusive sire Kassador, and how Baldur's Gate 3 influenced this supplement's tone and art direction. Listeners get practical advice on when the rules matter, when the flavor shines, and whether this $15 digital release actually delivers value, or whether players are better off saving their money for bigger releases. Key Takeaways Dhampir changes are mechanical changes; same flavor, less abusable. New feats range from fun to unoptimized; several needed Unearthed Arcana playtesting. Bestiary is small but flavorful with devil-focused lore. Adventures feel duplicated and minimal. The value proposition feels overpriced for what's delivered. Strong warnings that this sets an unwelcome D&D DLC precedent. Join the RPGBOT Patreon If you enjoy episodes like this, join the RPGBOT Patreon, where you can: Listen to RPGBOT.Podcast recording sessions live Get ad-free RPGBOT.net content Listen to ad-free episodes of the podcast And be part of every critical fail, hot take, and vampire thirst moment (purely for research purposes, of course). Join the RPGBOT Patreon and support deep-dive TTRPG analysis with zero commercials interrupting your build planning. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Picture this: you've just rolled up to the dungeon entrance, everyone looks heroic… and then the rogue vanishes before initiative even begins. Classic. In this remastered RPGBOT.Podcast episode, we get delightfully sneaky about how to build the perfect scoundrel from level 1 through 10 without needing a 20-page backstory explaining why you stole the wizard's lunch (again). Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the team takes a dagger-sharp dive into how to build and optimize a Dungeons & Dragons Rogue from the earliest levels through level 10. We unpack class features, subclass decisions, damage expectations, ability score priorities, and the irresistible allure of Sneak Attack. Whether you're a stealthy assassin, a charming thief, or just someone who really, really likes stabbing things once per round, but really hard, this episode will give you the tools you need to play a rogue that's both effective and memorable. We cover stealth fundamentals, combat math, common pitfalls, party synergy, and which subclass choices help you maximize your strengths (or make up for weaknesses). Whether you're planning to pick locks, disable traps, or carry the entire narrative while the rest of the table fails Perception checks, we've got you. HANDBOOKS FROM RPGBOT.net Rogue 5e: DnD 5th Edition Class Guide Rogue Subclass Breakdown Rogue Races Breakdown RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes Fighters! Unleashing Your Inner Warrior - RPGBOT.Podcast Key Takeaways Sneak Attack scales fast; plan your combat actions around enabling it every turn Rogues are defined by mobility and positioning: staying alive is step one to doing anything cool Expertise dramatically changes your skill roles—choose skills that matter beyond combat Subclass choice shapes your playstyle: Assassin, Thief, Arcane Trickster—each has unique tactical benefits Rogues thrive with teamwork; make friends with the party members who keep enemies occupied Cunning Action is one of the most powerful class features in early game combat Ability Score priorities are typically Dexterity first, Constitution second, then flavor to taste Your role isn't "hit things constantly", it's "hit things when it hurts most, steal the scene, and disappear" Liven up your winter with Startplaying.Games Winter nights are long and cold, so warm them up by playing a game on StartPlaying.Games! Whether you want to try a new system, learn to play a rogue, or find a great GM in your time zone, StartPlaying.Games can match you with real people and great adventures. Find your next table today and sneak into a campaign before anyone notices you were missing! Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati