In this thought-provoking episode, Dale sits down with Dr. Dave Eng, an expert in using board games for educational purposes. Dr. Eng shares his groundbreaking insights on how tabletop games can revolutionize the learning experience. From cooperative classics like Pandemic to the innovative “Matrix Games” that leverage words over numbers, this episode dives into the benefits of interactive gameplay in classrooms. Discover how board games can foster critical thinking, teamwork, and experiential learning in ways traditional lectures cannot. Learn about Dr. Eng’s inspiring work and his mission to bring gaming literacy to educators worldwide. 

Plus, Dale reveals Wyrmworks Publishing’s pioneering effort to introduce the first-ever braille ruleset for tabletop RPGs, making the hobby more accessible than ever before.

0:00 Introducing Braille to the TTRPG hobby

06:49 Interview: Dave Eng, EdD on gamifying education

42:16 An invitation to change the world

Links:

• Wyrmworks Publishing http://wyrmworkspublishing.com/ 
• Braille System Reference Document for D&D 5E on DriveThruRPG https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/472156/5e-SRD-51-System-Reference-Document-Braille-Transcription-and-Tutorial?affiliate_id=2455077 
• Dr. Dave Eng https://davengdesign.com/
• UniversityXP https://universityxp.com/ 
• Banditos Gaming https://www.banditosgaming.com/ 
• Wyrmworks Publishing Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wyrmworkspublishing

Manually captioned. Transcript available at our website.

Please leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice!

We speak with Dr. Tanya Pobuda, an expert on issues of representation and inclusion in tabletop gaming. She shares insights from her groundbreaking research on gender and racial representation in contemporary board gaming.

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Pobuda provides data-driven perspectives on the false narrative that “diversity doesn’t sell” and highlights positive shifts that are possible when inclusive practices are embraced.

0:00 Introduction: Braille in TTRPG
01:50 Interview: Dr. Tanya A. Pobuda
52:49 Patreon Showcase & closing

Manually captioned. Transcript available in the feed and at our website.

Links:

• Dr. Tanya Pobuda’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/PobudaTanya
• Dr. Pobuda’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@tanyapobuda
• Our Family Plays Games YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/OurFamilyPlaysGames
• Wyrmworks Publishing: http://wyrmworkspublishing.com
• Ready-to-Roll: Feyweather Friends adventure on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wyrmworkspublishing/ready-to-roll-last-minute-no-prep-dandd-5e-adventure-1?ref=dqmst7
• Wyrmworks Publishing Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wyrmworkspublishing

Please leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice!

What’s the most unstoppable monster in any D&D game? The tarrasque? An ancient red dragon? Nope.

Throughout its entire history, what monster has wiped out more parties than any other, through every edition?

Nothing can TPK an adventuring party before it even sets out like the dreaded Schedule! (Mwah-hah-hah…yeah, I know. It’s so deadly, it’s not even funny.) Trying to coordinate 4–6 schedules and find a time that works for everyone consistently is a feat that few with outside responsibilities ever gain.

And even when you can set something up, what do you do when three players have to cancel at the last minute?

Imagine a magic item so powerful that it can give you advantage against such a powerful foe! Introducing…

Ready-to-Roll Adventure

Wondrous item, Common

This adventure has 1 charge. While carrying it, you can expend the charge as an action to start an adventure with the 1 or 2 players who could still make it. The adventure regains its charge every time you’re with a different player.

That’s right — a one-shot adventure for a DM and 1–2 players that’s designed to require no prep. You can carry it on your phone, as a pamphlet, or as a card deck in your pocket, ready to play for characters of level 1–4! The adventure includes quick reference tools to help the DM keep track of NPCs and other details. And you can get the whole adventure for only $1!

The First in a Series

The first Ready-to-Roll Adventure, Feyweather Friends, launches on Kickstarter this spring. Mix an invasion of new aberrant Far Realm nasties with fey creatures, and you’re sure to have a great time instead of calling it off and going home!

And of course, like all of our work, this adventure is designed for inclusivity.

Ready-to-Roll Adventures are also ideal when:

• Your kids want to play D&D, and you have some time but didn’t have a chance to prep anything for them.
• You’re waiting for a flight, a bus, or in line for concert tickets.
• You learn that the person next to you on the plane is also a D&D player!
• You want to play during a lunch break, a free hour between classes, or another last-minute opportunity.
• Someone learns that you play D&D and asks you what it is.

Available Extras

If you play online, we’ll have FoundryVTT and Roll20 versions ready.

If you like handouts and other extras so you don’t have to sacrifice a deluxe gaming experience, we’ll have that available as well!

Sign up to get notified when it goes live, and be the hero that saves your party!

Discover new worlds and perspectives through TTRPGs! In this episode, we explore how D&D and other TTRPGs can teach us about different cultures. Dale talks with Rob Martin of Secret Garden Games about his Filipino mythology-inspired Bukana setting and Kickstarter campaign.

00:00 Holiday bundles and gift ideas
04:13 Interview with Rob Martin of Secret Garden Games about his Bukana setting inspired by Filipino and Indonesian mythology
41:06 Patreon updates and appreciation

Links:

• Wyrmworks Publishing Gift Cards: http://wyrmworkspublishing.com/product/wyrmworks-publishing-gift-cards/ 
• Wyrm’s Workshop: http://wyrmworkspublishing.com/product/wyrms-workshop/ 
• 24 for $24 Bundle: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/460567/The-RPG-Advent-Calendar–24-Books-for-24-BUNDLE?affiliate_id=2455077&src=WyrmworksPubPodcast 
• 75% Off Bundle: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/461941/Fantastic-Adventures-Mega-BUNDLE?affiliate_id=2455077&src=WyrmworksPubPodcast 
• Bukana Bestiary on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pineboxllc/bukana-bestiary-a-5e-wakesong-supplement 
• Secret Garden Games on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secretgardengames/ 
• Wyrmworks Publishing Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wyrmworkspublishing

Please leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice!

Manually captioned. Transcript available at our website.

Join Dale as he interviews Jonathan Connor Self, a top-rated pro DM and founder of the D8 Summit, a charitable organization using TTRPGs for good. They discuss using games therapeutically, fostering community, and supporting mental health. Connor also discusses Koboa, an upcoming RPG based on South American mythology.

This episode covers using tabletop RPGs to heal trauma, build connections, and create positive spaces. It’s about leading with compassion at the gaming table and using the hobby to give back. From small local charities to suicide prevention, learn how you can make a difference through something you love. See how gaming can transform lives.

0:00 Introduction
01:37 Interview: Connor Self
42:11 Patreon Showcase & closing

Manually captioned. Transcript available at our website.

Conner Self Links

• Webpage: https://thehealerdm.carrd.com/ 
• Socials: @TheHealerDM
• D8 Summit: https://d8summit.org , email [email protected] 
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness https://nami.org 
• Become mental health first aid qualified. Search for resources local to you on Google.
• Reach out to people 24-7. Text “helpline” to 62640, or call/text 988
• The Word Refinery (to learn more about what we do, and Koboa): https://thewordrefinery.org 

Wyrmworks Publishing

• The Lair: https://cutt.ly/LairYT 
• Get weekly updates: http://wyrmworkspublishing.com/hoard 
• Wyrmworks Publishing: http://wyrmworkspublishing.com

We have exciting news! The pre-launch page for Limitless Champions Adventures is live! We’ve got a groundbreaking Kickstarter campaign on the horizon, and here are the top 10 reasons why you should click that “Notify Me” button right away:

1. Historic Inclusivity: Be part of history by supporting the first-ever published collection of D&D Adventures featuring a wide variety of disabilities represented. Join the movement for a more inclusive gaming world! 
   Click here to get notified 👈
2. You get to push the button! Unlike the elevator buttons where you had to take turns with your siblings to push them, you can push this one yourself without waiting! Push it now! Don’t wait your turn! 🔘👈
3. Versatile Adventures: These adventures can be used in any campaign world and at any 5e table. Whether you’re exploring the urban sprawl, braving the arctic tundra, scaling mountain peaks, wandering enchanted forests, or spelunking in dark caves, we’ve got you covered. Now you have my attention!
   
4. Free Adventure for Early Backers! Get a free bonus horror mystery adventure, The Insiders, if you back it for any reward tier within the first 48 hours of launching. I don’t want to miss out!
   
5. There is no 5th reason. Perfect! I like clicking buttons for no reason!
6. Hardcover Book: Get your hands on a beautifully crafted hardcover book filled with gripping narratives and diverse characters. Sounds like a good addition to my game shelf!
7. Cards and Handouts: Dive deeper into the adventures with tarot-sized character and encounter cards and immersive handouts. It’s all about the details! What a great deal! (Catch what I did there? 🃏)
   
8. Digital Options: We’ve got you covered in the digital realm too! Access our adventures in PDF and other accessible digital formats like plain text, audio, and ePub for easy integration into your campaigns, and all copies include downloadable 4K digital maps for every encounter. I am proficient in clicking!
9. Miniature Add-Ons: Enhance your tabletop experience with miniatures available as add-ons, plus links to extra free downloadable STLs or low-cost printed miniatures to complete the adventures. Paint ‘em, display ‘em, and bring your adventures to life! Color me intrigued!
   
10. Inclusion Tips: The book includes a section to help you make your game more accessible and add representation into your game. That alone sounds like a valuable resource!

So, what are you waiting for? Click that “Notify Me” button, join our quest for limitless adventures, and help us make gaming more inclusive than ever before!

Yes! I like pushing people’s buttons! 😏

This month, we open discussing the new canon autistic character being introduced in D&D, and how meaningful representation is for traditionally marginalized groups. ​​https://www.polygon.com/23850698/dnd-dungeons-dragons-autistic-character-asteria 

Then Dale talks with Aaron Trammell, Associate Professor of Informatics at UC Irvine, about improving representation for people of color in tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons.

Key topics covered:

• How fantasy RPGs have historically lacked racial diversity and inclusion
• Racial stereotypes associated with classic fantasy races like orcs
• Colonialist attitudes reflected in fantasy language use
• Steps publishers and designers can take to improve racial representation in RPG products
• Making your gaming table welcoming for new and diverse players
• Aaron provides insight into issues around race in RPGs, and offers suggestions for how the hobby can become more inclusive. This is an important discussion about seeing diversity reflected in the games we play.

0:00 Introduction: Asteria, the first canon autistic D&D character
6:10 Interview: Aaron Trammell, Associate Professor of Informatics at UC Irvine
54:21 Patreon Showcase & closing

Manually captioned. Transcript available at our website.

Aaron Trammell Links

• Aaron Trammell’s work: http://aarontrammell.com/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/aarontram 

Wyrmworks Publishing

• The Lair: https://cutt.ly/LairYT 
• Wyrmworks Publishing: http://wyrmworkspublishing.com

Dale welcomes George McDermith, a talented gamer and the creative mind behind the character Orrelius from the Limitless Champions campaign. George’s perspective as a blind gamer offers valuable insights into inclusive gaming and the portrayal of disabled characters in Dungeons and Dragons. Discover the importance of authenticity, representation, and accessible gameplay in this enlightening conversation.

0:00 Introduction: Wyrm’s Workshop & Limitless Champions
06:27 Interview: George McDermith
29:10 Patreon Showcase & Closing

Manually captioned. Transcript available at our website.

George McDermith Links

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/blindpaladin 
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/blindpaladin 

Wyrmworks Publishing

• Wyrm’s Workshop: http://wyrmworkspublishing.com/product/wyrms-workshop/ 
• Limitless Champions Miniatures: http://wyrmworkspublishing.com/product-tag/limitless-champions/ 
• The Lair: https://cutt.ly/LairYT (Free 7-Day Trial!)
• Wyrmworks Publishing: http://wyrmworkspublishing.com 

I keep seeing headlines like, “(Some name) becomes first Black/Latino/etc. (some respected position),” and every time, I think, “Wow, what year is it that this is the first time?” But besides women, disabled people are the largest marginalized demographic in the world. Their “firsts” are still rare. For most of those same positions, “…becomes first disabled…,” hasn’t happened yet.

But we tabletop gamers live in worlds filled with minotaurs and merfolk, halflings and centaurs, so we of all people should have no problem imagining people with diverse abilities in every segment of society. And yet we encounter fewer disabled people anywhere in TTRPG worlds than in executive real-world positions.

We want this year to be “that year” in every TTRPG world where that representation isn’t happening yet, and we want to help you make that happen. To that end, we developed the largest, most diverse collection of disabled fantasy minis ever made, now available as downloadable STLs or printed miniatures.

Fighting ableism with stat blocks

Disability representation in tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) fosters inclusive gaming environments. It creates a diverse and welcoming experience. Disabled miniatures enhance the overall storytelling and offer a more authentic and empathetic gaming experience. By incorporating disabled miniatures, RPGs acknowledge and validate the experiences of individuals with disabilities, promoting inclusivity and breaking down barriers. Players with disabilities can recognize themselves reflected in the game, communicating belonging and empowerment.

I never see my condition represented in any media, and now, I’m in D&D!

A Limitless Heroics backer

Diverse miniatures featuring representative characters also broaden the narrative possibilities within TTRPGs. They allow players to explore different perspectives, experiences, and challenges that disabled characters may face. This not only enhances storytelling but also encourages empathy and understanding among players. This representation promotes dialogue, encourages education, and contributes to a culture of acceptance and respect.

Accessible Conditions

Most TTRPG content is still only available in paper or PDF, two of the least accessible formats for blind and low-vision players, especially watermarked PDF, which screen readers can’t access, and PDF without image alt text, which is common due to all layout software except Adobe InDesign refuses to include image alt text capability. For miniatures, condition rings may be color-coded or use embossed text, which gives the same accessibility issues.

So we offer plain text versions of our products and audio and ePub for most, plus the Lair, our online compendium that’s accessible to browser tools and screen readers and offers the most affordable option to access all of our content.

For miniatures, we’ve included condition monitors as bases that give visual and tactile indications of their meaning, and as bases, they’re easy to use—players just set the mini on the base. The bottom of each base also has a braille label as an additional accessibility measure.

Find them all at our store.

Dale interviews Bill Lemmond, a passionate gamer and comic artist. Bill shares his personal story of how tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) have played a pivotal role in transforming his life, from finding joy and relaxation to overcoming depression and pursuing education. Discover the power of gaming to create a supportive community, foster creativity, and provide a much-needed escape. Join us as we explore the impact of TTRPGs on mental well-being and the importance of inclusivity and fun in gaming.

0:00 Introduction: Limitless Champions Update
01:35 Interview: Bill Lemmond
51:30 Patreon Showcase & Closing

Manually captioned. Transcript available at our website.

Bill Lemmond Links

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/PastshelfdateJr 

Wyrmworks Publishing

• The Lair: https://cutt.ly/LairYT 
• Wyrmworks Publishing: http://wyrmworkspublishing.com