Tabletop Journeys

Ever stare at a blank stat block and wonder where to even start? In this episode of Dr. Homebrew, we pull back the curtain on the monster-building framework we use here at Tabletop Journeys. It's a rules-first, narrative-driven system we've refined across dozens of NPCs, published adventures, and card decks.

Whether you're crafting a terrifying custom beast or a compelling villain NPC, this episode breaks down our full process step by step. We cover everything from how Challenge Rating (CR) anchors the entire stat block, to feature points as a spendable currency, to how we handle spellcasting differently from the official Monster Manual and why we made those calls.

We even walk through a brand new NPC, Arwir Echagüe (CR4, undead, and very hard to read 👀), to show you exactly how it all comes together in practice.

🔑 Topics covered in this episode:
Why CR is the foundation of every stat block we build
Feature points, the hidden currency that balances your monsters
Why we put spells directly into the action economy (and why it matters at the table)
A full live walkthrough of a CR4 NPC stat block

Shoutouts to the incredible work of Teos Abadía, Mike Shea, and Tom Dunn that helped shape our process

💬 We want to hear from YOU! Drop a comment and let us know: Are we getting it right? Would you want access to the full ruleset? Interested in a Foundry module? Tell us below!

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

Tao Sabadia & Mike Shea: https://slyflourish.com/lazy_5e_monster_building_resource_document.html
Tom Dunn: https://tomedunn.github.io/the-finished-book/monsters/monster-manual-2024/

🧭 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: [email protected]

#DnD #DungeonsAndDragons #DrHomebrew #TabletopJourneys #TTRPG #HomebrewMonsters #DungeonMaster #DMTips #StatBlock #DnD5e #HomebrewDnD #TableTopRPG #MonsterDesign #ChallengeRating #DMsGuild #FoundryVTT #NPC #RPG #TabletopGaming #DnDCommunity

Talking Star Trek Preservations with Lt. Neelan (S3 Bonus Ep)
Go behind the scenes of Star Trek: Preservations as we sit down with Lt. Neelan for a deep dive into Season 3. This bonus episode explores the character’s evolution, the scientific and emotional challenges faced aboard the U.S.S. Dilamus Christian, and how key moments shaped the trajectory of the crew.
From high-stakes decision-making to the quiet personal beats that define leadership in Starfleet, this conversation highlights the collaborative storytelling that drives Tabletop Journeys. We also discuss how Star Trek Adventures mechanics support narrative tension, character growth, and meaningful consequences at the table.
Whether you are a GM, a player, or a fan of character-driven science fiction, this episode offers insight into the philosophy and execution behind one of our most impactful seasons.
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Star Trek Adventures First Edition to Second Edition Conversions
Free download and purchase information
🌐 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 (https://www.patreon.com/c/bcholmes/posts)
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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%20llc

Support the channel by subscribing to our Patreon page, and 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
🖖🚀🌌🎲

#TTRPG #2D20 #StarTrekAdventuresRPG2E #callyourboysttj #TabletopJourneys

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
🦋 Bluesky: @ttjourneys.bsky.social
📘 Facebook: www.facebook.com/ttjourneys
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneys
🌐 Website: https://ttjourneys.com/
📧 Email: [email protected]

#TabletopJourneys #TabletopCafe #TTRPG #SwordsAndScience #JoshHeath #HighLevelGames #GameDesign #DicePool #HeMan #80sCartoons #Voltron #ThundarrTheBarbarian #PowerRangers #IndieRPG #TabletopGaming #RPGDesign #DungeonsAndDragons #PodcastInterview #TTRPGCommunity #RollForIt

🎬 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