Tabletop Journeys

You asked, so Dr. Homebrew delivered! After the huge response to the original Window Boxing episode, Josh is back with a hands-on, adventure-by-adventure breakdown — putting the framework into practice with Vaderin's Vault, the level 7 heist adventure from Keys from the Golden Vault. 🗝️✨

This time it's all application. Josh walks through exactly how to lift, reskin, and rebuild a published module piece by piece:

🚪 On-Ramps. How to get your party into the vault heist seamlessly, and what to do with the diadem MacGuffin if the built-in Patreon hook doesn't fit your world
🎭 NPCs. Which characters are ready to lift as-is (hint: Nyxlana Vidorant is a gem) and which need a little extra work to shine
🗺️ Location & Map. Why this vault might be the most "plug-and-play" location you'll find in any published adventure
💰 Loot. The one place this module needs a homebrew assist, and how to fix it
🚪 Off-Ramps. How to handle the adventure's multiple possible endings, and why you're always allowed to just... ignore all of them

Plus a great connective tissue tip: tying Samphith Goldenbeard to Prisoner 13 (another Golden Vault adventure) for some real plot continuity between one-shots. 🔗

If the first episode gave you the theory, this one hands you the toolkit. Perfect for any DM looking to run Keys from the Golden Vault — or any anthology adventure — as part of a living campaign instead of a one-off. 🎲🔥

💬 Drop a comment: Have you run anything from Keys from the Golden Vault? How did you make it your own?

And remember:
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🔗 Links & Resources mentioned in the episode:

Keys from the Golden Vault (D&D anthology adventure)
A Catalogue of Relics of Power https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/509933/a-catalogue-of-relics-of-power
Bridgewell Chronicles drivethrurpg.com/en/product/574146

Tabletop 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: podcast@ttjourneys.com

#DnD #DungeonsAndDragons #DnDHomebrew #TTRPG #DungeonMasterTips #DMTips #KeysFromTheGoldenVault #WindowBoxing #TabletopRPG #WorldBuilding #DnD5e #DungeonMaster #HomebrewCampaign #TTRPGCommunity #DrHomebrew #TabletopJourneys

A forgotten Cardassian outpost. A child who keeps proving everyone wrong. A doorway that refuses to surrender its secrets. 🖖 The expedition finally reaches the hidden archive, but the journey underground is anything but routine. Strange sounds echo through the caverns, long-abandoned defenses still wait for unsuspecting visitors, and an unexpected member of the team continues to surprise even Starfleet's finest. As confidence grows, one split-second mistake changes everything; and the mission takes a dangerous turn.Will preparation be enough when history refuses to stay buried?🌌 #SciFi #StarTrekAdventuresRPG2E #2D20 #TTRPG #StarTrek #ActualPlay #IDICYall #TabletopJourneys #CallYourBoysTTJ--------------Join Tabletop Journeys for Act 3 of Star Trek: Preservations, where exploration, teamwork, and unforgettable roleplay collide in this cinematic Star Trek Adventures 2E Actual Play.👍 Like, Subscribe, and Ring the Bell so you never miss another mission.🖖 Become part of the adventure! Join our ongoing Star Trek Adventures A.E.G.I.S. Living Campaign on Patreon:👉 https://patreon.com/ttjourneys🌍 Want to play in this same shared universe?Join our community on Facebook and Discord:👉 Discord: https://discord.gg/tabletopjourneys🌐 Website: https://tabletopjourneys.com--------------🎙️ MORE FROM TABLETOP JOURNEYS 🧭 On the Right Path – Bite-sized GM advice. 🖖 Star Trek: Preservations – Cinematic Star Trek Adventures Actual Play. ☕ Tabletop Café – Conversations with creators and the tabletop community.--------------Star Trek Adventures RPG is published by Modiphius Entertainment🛸 Star Trek and all related marks, logos, and characters are owned by CBS Studios Inc. 🎲 Star Trek Adventures is published by Modiphius Entertainment. 🎲 2d20 System Designer: Nathan Dowdell 📊 Project Manager: Jim JohnsonCharacter Sheet images courtesy of the 🌐STA Character Builder (BC Holmes): https://sta.bcholmes.org 👏 Special Shout Out: BC Holmes (https://www.patreon.com/c/bcholmes/posts)

He wrote the book on how to run better games with less prep. Then he wrote a better book. And now Mike Shea of Sly Flourish is sitting down with us at Tabletop Journeys and this conversation does NOT disappoint.

If you're a Game Master who has ever stared at a blank page two hours before session, built an entire world your players will never see, or wondered why skill challenges always feel a little off at the table, you aren't alone. MIke is here to help!

We talk through the origin story of the legendary Eight Steps, break down the difference between clocks and skill challenges (and why one of them is actually better for improv GMs), take a peek inside the new book *Rise of the Lazy Game Master*.

Timestamps:
00:00:47 Introduction
00:03:06 Mike's bio/background
00:06:15 Origin of the Eight Steps
00:16:47 Is overpreparing actually "prep" or is it something else?
00:30:37 Do you ever feel like you're repeating yourself?
00:36:05 The tech/tools. Generators, artisanal database, GitHub
00:40:36 Clocks vs. Skill Challenges
00:48:51 Favorite style/genre to run vs. play
00:52:47 Closing question
00:58:00 Rise of the Lazy Gamemaster

Whether you're running your first campaign or your fiftieth, this one has something for you. Share it with your DM, your whole party, your entire Discord server. Let's get this conversation going in the comments. 💬⬇️

And remember:
✅ Like
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✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an Episode

🔗 Links & Resources mentioned in the episode:
- 🎲 **Rise of the Lazy Game Master on Kickstarter:** https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/slyflourish/rise-of-the-lazy-game-master
- 🌐 **Sly Flourish:** https://slyflourish.com
- 🧰 **Sly Flourish Tools & Generators (GitHub):** https://github.com/SlyFlourish

Also discussed:
- 🎮 **Blades in the Dark** (clocks mechanic) — Evil Hat Productions
- 🚀 **Nimble RPG** — Evan Diaz
- 🖖 **Star Trek Adventures** — Modiphius Entertainment
- 📚 *The Expanse* RPG & novels (James S.A. Corey / Traveller roots)

🗺️ Tabletop Journeys links:
Patreon: [patreon.com/ttjourneys](http://patreon.com/ttjourneys)
Bluesky: @ttjourneys.bsky.social
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/ttjourneys](https://www.facebook.com/ttjourneys)
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneys
Website: https://ttjourneys.com/
Email: podcast@ttjourneys.com

#TTRPG #DnD #DungeonsAndDragons #SlyFlourish #MikeShea #LazyDungeonMaster #DungeonMasterTips #GameMasterTips #TabletopRPG #TTRPGCommunity #DnD5e #RPGPrep #GameMaster #LazyGM #TabletopGaming #Kickstarter #IndieRPG #DrHomebrew #TabletopJourneys

Preservations: The Names We Preserve (Act 2)Two stowaways. Two away teams. One mission already beginning to unravel.As an archaeological expedition launches into hostile territory, an unexpected discovery forces Starfleet officers to choose between protocol, compassion, and family. While one team battles unforgiving terrain, another confronts secrets that could reshape the mission before the first artifact is ever found. Every choice has consequences, and not every challenge waits inside the ruins. A cinematic Star Trek Adventures 2E Actual Play featuring immersive roleplay, mission design, adventure storytelling, and the 2d20 System.🌌 #ttrpg #SciFi #StarTrekAdventuresRPG2E #2D20 #TTRPG #StarTrek #ActualPlay #IDICYall #TabletopJourneys #CallYourBoysTTJ===================================Star Trek Adventures RPG is published by Modiphius Entertainment🛸 Star Trek and all related marks, logos, and characters are owned by CBS Studios Inc.🎲 Star Trek Adventures is published by Modiphius Entertainment.🎲 2d20 System Designer: Nathan Dowdell📊 Project Manager: Jim JohnsonCharacter Sheet images courtesy of the🌐STA Character Builder (BC Holmes): https://sta.bcholmes.org👏 Special Shout Out: BC Holmeshttps://www.patreon.com/c/bcholmes/posts===================================Tabletop Journeys is hosted by Josh Newton and Lewanika Miller, with Michael Ross.🎧 Listen & WatchSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/tabletopjourneysYouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneys🎲 TABLETOP JOURNEYS NETWORK 🎲 On the Right Path – Bite-sized GM advice & TTRPG discussion Dr. Homebrew – Custom content, mechanics, & design breakdowns 🖖 Star Trek: Preservations – Star Trek Adventures Actual Play ☕ Tabletop Café – TTRPG conversations & communityYou can support the channel by sharing the episode with your friends and leaving a comment.If you would like to explore the galaxy alongside the crew of the USS Dilamus Christian and those serving aboard Asselin Station, or join one of our ongoing games, check out our Patreon page.🌐 Patreon: https://patreon.com/tabletopjourneys🌐 Website: https://tabletopjourneys.com🌐 Discord: https://discord.gg/tabletopjourneys📚 Check Our Library of Content 🌐 On DriveThruRPG:https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/28665/tabletop-journeys-llc 🌐 On DM's Guild:https://www.dmsguild.com/en/browse?keyword=tabletop%20journeys%20llccAnd remember:✅ Like✅ Subscribe✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an episode.🌌 #IDICYall #StarTrekAdventuresRPG2E #2D20 #TTRPG #CallYourBoysTTJ #tabletopjourneys

🔥 Beat the Heat? Frozen Glory Awaits! ❄️ | Journey to Kobold Press's NorthlandsDescription:It's the height of a Northeast summer—but the greatest escape might be into a land of ice, giants, runes, and legendary sagas. Join Lewanika for an unboxing of Kobold Press's Northlands Worldbook, Rune Deck, and Rune Tiles as we explore what makes this Norse-inspired setting more than just another Viking campaign. From immersive tabletop accessories to mythic storytelling, unforgettable player options, and GM tools you can steal for your own cold-climate adventures, this is only the beginning. And trust me... we're just getting started.Word Count: 84Character Count (description only): 605Hashtags#TTRPG #Roleplayerswanted #Gamereview #Unboxing #KoboldPress #TalesoftheValiant #TOV #Northlands #Vikings #TabletopJourneys #CallYourBoysTTJ🎬 ON THE RIGHT PATH CREDITSWritten, Hosted, & Edited by Lewanika MillerTheme: “The Lewanika Jam” by David HerreraOpening and Closing sequences produced and edited by David Herrera at Bow Tie StudiosTabletop Journeys is hosted by Josh Newton and Lewanika Miller, with Michael Ross🎧 Listen & Watch:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/tabletopjourneysYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneys🎲 TABLETOP JOURNEYS NETWORK🎲 On the Right Path – Bite-sized GM advice & TTRPG discussion🧪 Dr. Homebrew – Custom content, mechanics, & design breakdowns🖖 Star Trek: Preservations – STA Actual Play☕ Tabletop Café – TTRPG conversations & communityWebsite:https://tabletopjourneys.comPatreon:https://patreon.com/tabletopjourneysDiscord:https://discord.gg/tabletopjourneys📚 Check Our Library of Content:🌐 On DriveThruRPG:https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/28665/tabletop-journeys-llc🌐 On DM's Guild:https://www.dmsguild.com/en/browse?keyword=tabletop%20journeys%20llcAnd remember:✅ Like✅ Subscribe✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an episode.