Tabletop Journeys

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 engaged
How the Great Hero System captures the feel of your favorite 80s cartoons mechanically
A deep dive into the dice pool system at the heart of Swords and Science
Josh's journey from lifelong He-Man fan to TTRPG publisher

Whether 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. 🗡️⚡

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🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned in the Episode
Swords and Science: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/560739/swords-and-science-ashcan-edition
High Level Games: highlevelgames.ca

Tabletop Journeys Links:
🧡 Patreon: patreon.com/ttjourneys
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📘 Facebook: www.facebook.com/ttjourneys
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneys
🌐 Website: https://ttjourneys.com/
📧 Email: [email protected]

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🎬 OtRP (S2 Ep 18) – Don’t Rebuy Your BooksWhat if upgrading your game didn’t cost you your collection?What if a new edition didn’t replace your library… but respected it?In this episode of On the Right Path, Lewanika breaks down one of the most important—and overlooked—features of Star Trek Adventures 2nd Edition: the free conversion guide system.This isn’t just about rules updates.This is about trust, continuity, and a design philosophy that puts your table first.Whether you’re a veteran GM with shelves full of 1E books or a new player deciding where to begin, this episode sets the stage for everything that follows in this series—showing you how to move forward without leaving anything behind.🖖 The mission stays the same.🚀 The systems just got better.📚 And your books? They still matter.----------------------------------------------------------------📥 Star Trek Adventures Credits & Resources📥 Free downloads & purchase info:🌐 https://modiphius.net/en-us/pages/star-trek-adventures-downloads🏢 Published by Modiphius Entertainment🎲 2d20 System Designer: ⭐ Nathan Dowdell📊 Project Manager ⭐ Jim Johnson🙌 Special Shout Out: BC Holmes🌐 Character Builder: https://sta.bcholmes.org/index.html🌐 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/bcholmes/posts--------------------------------------------------------------------🚀 Tabletop Journeys Content & SupportOur latest Kickstarter was funded in under 6 hours—join the fun:🌐 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ttjourneys/make-100-the-bridgedwell-chronicles-part-1🔗 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%20llc--------------------------------------------------------------------🛠️ Support the ChannelSupport the channel by subscribing to Patreon. Join the conversation and comment below; share the episode with your friends.And remember:✅ Like✅ Subscribe✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an episode✅ Leave a comment if you would like to explore the galaxy alongside the Dilamus Christian and those serving aboard Asselin Station🌐 https://tr.ee/WqccYf4COR🖖🚀🌌🎲#TTRPG #2D20 #StarTrekAdventuresRPG2E #CallYourBoysTTJ #tabletopjourneys

What if the problem with your character… is that nothing is wrong with them?Perfect characters look great on paper, but fall flat at the table.In this episode of On the Right Path, we break down why tension, contradiction, and imperfection are what make characters actually work, and how the best characters are built on contradiction: * Master in one world… rookie in another * Right answers… wrong process * Expertise that solves problems… and creates new ones-------------------------⭐ Star Trek Adventures Credits📥 Free downloads & purchase info: 🌐 https://modiphius.net/en-us/pages/star-trek-adventures-downloads🏢 Published by Modiphius Entertainment🎲 2d20 System Designer: ⭐ Nathan Dowdell📊 Project Manager ⭐ Jim Johnson🙌 Special Shout Out: BC Holmes 🌐 Character Builder: https://sta.bcholmes.org/index.html 🌐 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/bcholmes/posts-------------------------Our Latest Kickstarter was funded in under 6 hours; join the fun by checking out the link below: 🌐https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ttjourneys/make-100-the-bridgedwell-chronicles-part-1🔗 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%20llcSupport the channel by subscribing to Patreon. Join the conversation and comment below; share the episode with your friends. And remember: ✅ Like ✅ Subscribe ✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an episode. ✅ Leave a comment if you would like to explore the galaxy alongside the Dilamus Christian and those serving aboard Asselin Station, or check out our Patreon at https://tr.ee/WqccYf4COR 🖖🚀🌌🎲#techobable #TTRPG #2D20 #StarTrekAdventuresRPG2E #complications #CallYourBoysTTJ #tabletopjourneys

What happens when 5E goes modern?No magic. No fantasy.Just operators, investigators, medics… and missions where every decision matters.In this episode of On the Right Path, Lewanika dives into Everyday Heroes RPG, a modern-action TTRPG built for cinematic storytelling, high-stakes encounters, and grounded, tactical gameplay. From firefights and car chases to mission-driven narratives, this system transforms the world you already know into a dynamic playground for heroes who don’t get a second chance.Whether you are a GM looking to expand beyond fantasy, or a player ready to explore modern RPG storytelling, this episode provides a top-level breakdown of the system, core books, and table experience—all through the lens of TTRPG mission design and adventure structure.No spoilers. Just a look at what’s possible…and why this system might be exactly what your table needs next.🎲 Why This Episode MattersExplore modern TTRPG design using a 5E frameworkLearn how mission-based storytelling enhances player engagementDiscover tools for action-driven encounter and adventure designSee how cinematic pacing translates to the tabletop experience---------------------------------------------------⭐ Everyday Heroes Credits🌐 https://evilgeniusgames.com/product-line/everyday-heroes/🏢 Published by D. Todd Scott (Evil Genius Games)🎲 Game Designers: Sigfried Trent & Chris "Goober" Ramsley📊 Design Consultant: Jeff Grubb------------------------------------------------Our Latest Kickstarter was funded in under 6 hours; join the fun by checking out the link below:🌐https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ttjourneys/make-100-the-bridgedwell-chronicles-part-1🔗 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%20llcSupport the channel by subscribing to the Patreon (https://tr.ee/WqccYf4COR), and comment below; share the episode with your friends.And remember:✅ Like✅ Subscribe✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an episode.✅ Leave a comment and join the conversation🖖🎲 #techobable #TTRPG #ModernRPG #EvilGenius #EverydayHeroes #roleplayerswanted #CallYourBoysTTJ #TabletopJourneys

What if the problem with your character… is that nothing is wrong with them?Perfect characters look great on paper, but fall flat at the table.In this episode of On the Right Path, we break down why tension, contradiction, and imperfection are what make characters actually work, and how the best characters are built on contradiction: * Master in one world… rookie in another * Right answers… wrong process * Expertise that solves problems… and creates new ones-------------------------⭐ Star Trek Adventures Credits📥 Free downloads & purchase info: 🌐 https://modiphius.net/en-us/pages/star-trek-adventures-downloads🏢 Published by Modiphius Entertainment🎲 2d20 System Designer: ⭐ Nathan Dowdell📊 Project Manager ⭐ Jim Johnson🙌 Special Shout Out: BC Holmes 🌐 Character Builder: https://sta.bcholmes.org/index.html 🌐 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/bcholmes/posts-------------------------Our Latest Kickstarter was funded in under 6 hours; join the fun by checking out the link below: 🌐https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ttjourneys/make-100-the-bridgedwell-chronicles-part-1🔗 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%20llcSupport the channel by subscribing to Patreon. Join the conversation and comment below; share the episode with your friends. And remember: ✅ Like ✅ Subscribe ✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an episode. ✅ Leave a comment if you would like to explore the galaxy alongside the Dilamus Christian and those serving aboard Asselin Station, or check out our Patreon at https://tr.ee/WqccYf4COR 🖖🚀🌌🎲#techobable #TTRPG #2D20 #StarTrekAdventuresRPG2E #complications #CallYourBoysTTJ #tabletopjourneys