The RPG Rundown is back for a brand-new season! Jeff Evans sits down with author Colby Whittaker to talk about The Game Master’s Handbook of Patrons, Pacts, and Pantheons and how Game Masters can make gods, archfey, archfiends, supernatural patrons, faith, bargains, and divine influence feel more meaningful at the table. Colby shares practical advice for creating compelling relationships between characters and powerful beings, explains the book’s favor-and-gifts system, explores how timing can make supernatural bargains irresistible, and highlights some of his favorite deities, patrons, subclasses, boons, curses, and campaign ideas. Whether you’re a worldbuilding-heavy GM or just looking for something you can drop into your next session, this conversation is packed with ideas for making supernatural forces a bigger part of your TTRPG storytelling.

Seth and Jeff wrap up their Critical Review series by breaking down the final letter: Learning Curve. In this episode of The RPG Rundown, they discuss how a TTRPG’s learning curve affects both players and GMs, from rules density and character creation to onboarding tools, terminology, combat complexity, and long-term campaign play. Using examples like Traveler, Daggerheart, Draw Steel, City of Mist, Dragonbane, Cosmere RPG, Avatar Legends, and Star Wars RPG, they explore what makes a system easy to teach, hard to master, or just right for a specific table.

On this episode of The RPG Rundown, Seth & Jeff take a close look at how artwork and design shape the tabletop RPG experience long before the dice start rolling.

From cover art and visual identity to layout, typography, maps, and production quality, they explore how great design can improve readability, support worldbuilding, reduce cognitive load, and keep gameplay flowing smoothly at the table. They also discuss common design pitfalls, including cluttered pages, inconsistent art styles, poor contrast, and layouts that prioritize style over usability.

Using the CRITICAL Framework, Seth & Jeff evaluate what makes TTRPG artwork and design truly effective in both print and digital formats.

Website: https://lovethynerd.com/podcastnetwork/the-rpg-rundown/