VJ Talks: Recent Episodes
V.J. Harris
VJ Talks is a podcast dedicated to talking about the breadth and depth of the TTRPG space and wider pop culture. From Dungeons and Dragons to Mork Borg and everything in between.
Join me as I review different TTRPGs, give design tips, bring on guests, host one-shots, and more! Follow me on twitter and tiktok at @vjhcreations
Hedron is a one-stop shop for TTRPG homebrew tools. Design and play entirely new TTRPGs, build robust worlds for your home games, and connect with your community – sharing your lore, worldbuilding, homebrew, and other creations!
I had the lovely opportunity to interview Varun Singh, the creative mind behind this new platform! Once you've listened to this episode make sure to check out the Hedron Walkthrough Part One - The GMs Tools over on my YouTube channel!
And make sure to check out Hedron for yourself!
In a kingdom where magic is forbidden, a charming trio of adventurers embark on a dangerous quest in search of the legendary Sovereign Wand, which is needed to overthrow an evil queen and restore magic for all.
I sat down with the main cast and creative minds behind Empire Queen, Chris Dane Owens, Jason Schulz, and Ciel Post to talk about inspirations, the journey 15 years in the making, and more! Check out the video that started this WHOLE journey, Shine On Me.
Here's where you can find our wonderful guest:
Chris Dane Owens: Instagram, Twitter, Website, Youtube
Ciel Post: Instagram
Jason Schulz: Instagram, Twitter,
Here's where you can watch Empire Queen:
Google Play
Apple TV
Amazon Prime
In today's Interlude Episode, I interview Nick Chong, a close friend of mine who worked on Baldur's Gate 3 as a playtester and quality control manager.
Here's where you can find Nick:
Twitter: https://x.com/NicksNat1
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nicksnat1469
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/nicksnat1
Welcome back! Thanks for joining us after our mid season break! This week we're talking about Pro-Gming, specifically the dangerous of it when unregulated and how it can AND is BETTER when regulated through a company like Start Playing Games. With special guest Devon Chulick, co-founder of SPG.
Here's where you can find Devon (he/him): Twitter, Tiktok, Instagram,
Total Party Chill Website, Twitter, Tiktok
Start Playing Games Website, Twitter, Tiktok
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Hello and welcome! This month for Pride I've highlighted FOUR indie games that either have queer creators and/or queer content! All four games are different genres, affordable and will offer so much fun and laughter for yourself and anyone you recommend to play!
CHECK OUT THE PLAYTHROUGHS
Apex Predator, Two Stand to Fall, Threads of Intrigue Playthrough
Swear on Your Honor Play Through (2 parts)
BUY THE GAMES!
Apex Predator & Swear on Your Honor by Cat McDonald (@catlingun)
Threads of Intrigue by Charlie Arlet (@CharlieArlet)
Two Stand to Fall by Amorphous & Empwnleon (@_morphous & @empwnleon)
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Apex Predator Music by Teknoaxe
Swear on Your Honor by Jonathan Segev
Threads of Intrigue Music by Michael Ghelfi
Two Stand to Fall Music by Ross Bugden
Hey everyone! In honor of pride here's a follow up to the trans comedy episode I did last year! Enjoy! This is an 18+ explicit episode!
Trans Comedy Part One: Spotify, Website, Podbean, Amazon
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Check out my ko-fi and product page,
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Hello and welcome! I'm back with TWO guest, Rals and Caroline! This episode I talk briefly about a new RPG I'm making (out on May 30th) called HuntRPG a Guided by Firelights game and then myself and my amazing guests give you a peak into the setting of the game!
Rals (they/them): Twitter, Tiktok,
Caroline (she/they): Twitter, Tiktok
Check out HuntRPG on May 30th!
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Hello and welcome! I'm back with ANOTHER guest the amazing Saffron Hefta-Gaub, creative director for Mignight Ceremonies Media, GM for The Cromwell Chronicles, Stephanie Chaplin in The Valkyrie Cycle AND MORE. So much was discussed and learned! I've got a "new" found love for Stephanie Chaplin (was already enamored with The Valkyrie Cycle), learned more about fan studies scholarship AND we reminisced about our time as Critical Role fans!
Saffron Hefta-Gaub (she/her): Twitter, Tiktok, Reel
Midnight Ceremonies Media: Twitter, Website, The Valkyrie Cycle
Nominate The Valkyrie Cycle for The CRIT Awards
Referenced Material: The Philosophy of Games That Is Really a Philosophy of Life” from The Ezra Klein Show, The Rise and Fall of the McElroy Fandom” by Sarah Z, Fan studies scholar, Stitch, Notes on Role-Playing Texts” by Jaakko Stenros, Creating Canons in Tabletop Role-Playing Games Played Online” by Maria Alberto, from "Roleplaying Games in the Digital Age: Essays on Transmedia Storytelling, Tabletop RPGs and Fandom
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Individuals of the jury. Myself and my esteemed colleague Barnaby have come to you today to present our case in the defense of one Scott Matthews Summer. Now many will have you believe he is the worse, most boring wonder bread X-Man to date, but we know better and now so shall you.
Here's where you can find Barnaby (they/them): Twitter, Tiktok, Linktree, Unprepared Casters Arc 10
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Hello and welcome! In today's episode I'm joined by the amazing Erika J Algard, the creator of the Obligate series over on tiktok and youtube. We had a wonderful conversation about worldbuilding in her scifi world and tips and tricks if you want to start building your own fictional language!
Erika Algard (she/her): Twitter, Tiktok, Youtube, Instagram, Linktree
Binge the Obligate and Only Human on the Spaceship series!
Checkout Erika in The Hunt For Glory Warhammer 40k Podcast!
Additional Resources for Interlude: A Tale of Two Inventors, Netherlands-Flemish Institute Talk, American Typographer Interview
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This week I'm joined by two amazing people in the TTRPG space, James and Dillin to discuss everything Dragon Age from the multiple video games and their plot to the newest addition to the franchise; Dragon Age Absolution. We take a deep dive into what they've been inspired by from the series and the many ways the series has failed.
Here's where you can find Dillin (he/she/they): Twitter, Tiktok, Twitch, Website, The Atomless, Unprepared Casters Arc 11
Here's where you can find James (she/they): Twitter, Tiktok, Starlight Tales Twitch & Youtube, Unprepared Casters Arc 5 & Arc 9
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In the inaugural episode of a new series for the podcast, Sagas of Eimioc: Runebound follows four Hvalen's condemned to death for their actions as they fight for their life in the hopes of earning the judgement of banishment instead when fate intervenes and they're set on a path that will have their names echoing throughout the annals of history.
Here's where you can find AJ(he/they): Twitter, Tiktok, Twitch, My Links
Here's where you can find Mason (he/they): Twitter, Tiktok, Website
Here's where you can find Linda (he/they): Twitter, Tiktok, Gizmodo
Here's where you can find Reed (he/they): Twitter, Tiktok, Twitch, Starlight Tales, Unprepared Casters Arc 8
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Additional Music Credits: Adrian Von Ziegler, Anton Shilo, Pawl. D Beats, Skalla,
Hey everyone! No new episode this week apologies about that but I've got two amazing things coming next week and the week after when we are back to our regularly scheduled programing!
This week's episode of VJ Talks we're discussing Dark Sun! In an interview with Bob Worldbuilder Kyle Brink made it pretty clear WOTC would not be touching Dark Sun and of course this ignited a larger discussion across twitter and even tiktok. So join me as we take a dive into the discussion, history of the setting, and I challenge some of the things people have said.
This is part one of two, the second part will be going even deeper into Dark Sun setting, it's plot lines and maybe even having some words people who were there at it's inception and played the game during it hayday.
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We're back to talking about 5e in this episode of VJ Talks! This week is all about class design as Dael Kingsmill and I dive into Villains and Heroes of Theros, Dael's first product on the Dmsguild AND the Kingsmill Patch a rework of the dungeons and dragon 5e classes and subclasses. Y'all better strap in this is a particularly long episode clocking in at two and a half hours!
Here's where you can find Dael (she/her): Twitter, Youtube, Twitch, The Eldritch Lorecast, Dmsguild
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Happy Black History Month! In this episode of VJ Talks, I bring on an amazing guest to talk about solo rpgs and a bundle made to help Jasper's Game Day, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, whose mission is to raise funds for suicide prevention and awareness.
Pick up the Solo But Not Alone 3 Bundle HERE.
Here's where you can find Cat (she/they): Twitter, Peach Garden Games Website, Peach Garden Games Itch.
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That's all for now folks! The first season of V.J. Talks has come to a close! We'll be back on January 4th new and improved and with a bunch of new content!
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In this episode of VJ Talks, I bring on six amazing mixed-race individuals in the TTRPG/Cosplaying space and we talk about everything there is to talk about in regards to mixed-raced identity in D&D.
Here's where you can find Amihan (he/they): Carrd.Co.
Here's where you can find Isaiah (he/him): Twitter and DmsGuild.
Here's where you can find Joe (he/him): Twitter and Twitch.
Here's where you can find Kimchi (he/him): Youtube and Twitter.
Here's where you can find Logan (he/him): Twitter.
Here's where you can find Stefan (he/him): Twitter and Kickstarter.
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In this VJ Extra Isaiah Grandinetti, a long-time friend of the show, and I watch the newest Wakanda Forever trailer and briefly discuss our reactions!
This is part two of however many Wakanda Forever trailers we get + whenever we discuss the actual movie!
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This week's episode of VJ Talks I discuss world history as fiction a little bit and start a reading corning for Advanced Dungeons and Dragon's 2nd Edition Player's Guide to the Forgotten Realms.
Player's Guide to the Forgotten Realms
The Bastard and the Consort - In Progress
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In this week's episode of VJ Talks, we take a quick look at the Paladin in 5e to answer the question rules as written DO PALADIN'S NEED GODS? My answer is no but follow me as I explain why and break down an argument that was made to me over on twitter at the end of August.
The Redcaps Podcast - Episode 7 - Paladins and Gods
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In this VJ Extra for the first time since this podcast launched, I finally talk about wilder pop culture! Isaiah Grandinetti, a long-time friend of the show, and I watch the Wakanda Forever trailer and discuss not only the trailer but any and everything that comes to find.
This is part one of however many Wakanda Forever trailers we get + whenever we discuss the actual movie!
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And we're here! The finale to the three-part series exploring Boo's Astral Menagerie.
Minor Tweaks to Stat Blocks
The Professor's Comprehensive Collection of Character Classes - Commander abilities used for Astral Elf Commander
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With the release of Spelljammer comes Astral Adventurer's Guide, Boo's Astral Menagerie, and Light of Xaryxis. In this episode, I start part 2 of a 3 part series walking you through the bestiary and giving my initial thoughts on each monster!
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With the release of Spelljammer comes Astral Adventurer's Guide, Boo's Astral Menagerie, and Light of Xaryxis. In this episode, I start a 3 part series walking you through the bestiary and giving my initial thoughts on each monster!
Follow my Twitter and TikTok for updates
Shoot me an email with any questions!
Come play D&D with me!
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GenCon is the largest tabletop game convention in North America by both attendance and number of events. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, live-action role-playing games, collectible card games, and strategy games.
This year, 2022, GenCon is partnering with Rose Gauntlet to host a BIPOC Lounge that is focused on highlighting, uplifting and connecting BIPOC members of the TTRPG space. Upon its announcement right wingers screamed that the lounge was an act of segregation. In this episode, I talk about what the right is saying, define segregation, give a brief historical perspective and give a definitive answer to the question Is GenCon Pro Segregation? 10 bucks says you can guess the answer.
Episode Transcript
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In this week's episode, I take a look at the updated Drow lore WOTC put out last year, go over the history of the Drow up until the creation of Menzoberranzan and how I would modify the updated lore so it still feels like it's about drow.
D&D: WotC Adds Three New Types Of Drow, Retcons Drow Lore
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In this week's episode, another Shooting the Shit with Isaiah Grandinetti! So no script! We talk about whatever comes to mind! We start off discussing Critical and EXU Calamity episode 3 so spoilers for that and then we go wherever the wind takes us!
Link to Isaiah's Images
Link to Topless Beastheart Taz'Rael
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Hello everyone! I've got covid so putting out my usual episode was a bit harder this week but I did have a short comedy special to share with you all about me being a transmasc/ trans guy! Hope you enjoy. Next week there will be a full-length episode.
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Check out my ko-fi and product page,
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This episode we have a special guest, Apollo Pierce! We talk about the man of vengeance himself! Batman in a fantasy setting. We go over this 20th level, 5-way multiclass discussing its strengths and weakness, how to run him as a player and an NPC. Lair and Legendary actions and discuss what a one-shot could look like with him.
This folder contains everything we've talked about today. Character Sheet, Breakdown of the Character, NPC stat block with Lair Actions, and our one shot ideas.
Follow Apollo on Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok, and make sure to check out Team Emerald Cosplay and The Green Horizon.
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In this episode of VJ Extra - Economics in D&D Part 1, Professor Norman Maynard, Aaron Gant, and I talk about the economy in D&D! We discuss what is an economy, how the economy can affect the world and the players, and give some examples from our own games.
Find Aaron Gant on TikTok and Twitter.
Find Professor Norman Maynard on TikTok and Twitter.
This episode also had the first intro ad and break ad! If you're interested in supporting me or checking out the Q&A I mentioned here are the links:
Check out my ko-fi and product page.
Check out TransplanarRPG's Twitch and Youtube.
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In this week's episode we discuss the resurgence of the conversation around orcs having to be evil and I give two different suggestions on how to handle orcs in your games! One that's grounded in the lore we have for orcs and their gods and the other a complete departure!
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Transcript
Hello! No new episodes taking a mental health break! Back next week.
Find your local abortion fund to support & don't forget to include trans men, afab nonbinary folk, intersex cis men, and anyone else with a uterus in your activism! A lack of inclusion means oppression and death.
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In the 8th episode (6th official) of VJ Talks I bring on four amazing Jewish creators in the TTRPG space and we talk everything Jewishness in D&D.
Here’s where you can find Ben (they/them): Trans Tales, Tuesday 8 pm EST, Tiktok, and Twitter! Note Ben is the #1 Ted Cruz hater, and rightfully so.
Here’s where you can find Reed Barkowitz (they/any pronouns): Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok, Starlight Tales (Twitter, Twitch, Youtube), Unprepared Casters Arc 8 (Patreon, Instagram, Twitter)!
Here’s where you can find Ezra W (she/he): Tiktok!
Here’s where you can find Eric Silver (he/him): Join the Party Pod (Twitter, Website), and Twitter!
Honorable Mention
Here’s where you can find Chaia Ella (she/her): Trans Tales, Tuesday 8 pm EST, Tiktok, and Instagram!
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In this week's episode, I take a deeper look at Wizards of the Coast's Adventure Return to the Glory published on the Dungeon Masters Guild. I talked about it briefly in a previous episode, Shooting the Shit with Isaiah Grandinetti. I take you through the introduction to the adventure, target some of the major problem areas and then give solutions.
Get Book of Demigods and The Adventurer's Domestic Handbook
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Transcript
In this episode of VJ Extra - Shooting the Shit, Isaiah Grandinetti, and I talk for about nearly three hours about anything that comes to mind about TTRPGs. We talk about Call of the Netherdeep, Race changes in Monsters of the Multiverse, Critical Role and Racism, and more.
I'm still working on embeddable time stamps but trigger warning for discussion of racism in Critical Role starting at timestamp 1:17:45 and ending at 2:09:30. Trigger warning for a specific story about racism I experienced in the Critical Role fandom starting at 1:48:35 and ending at 1:55:15
Link to Isaiah's Drawing
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Transcript PENDING
We've got no new episode this week due to technical difficulties! I'm updating my software so this doesn't happen in the future.
In the meantime please check out this google form to ask any questions you have about Jewishness and D&D. The May 11th episode, Jewishness and D&D is a round table with amazing Jewish creators and we'll have a section answering community questions.
Jewishness and D&D Question Form
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In 2021 after Tasha's Cauldron of Everything came out, I did a 55 part deep dive on the book over on TikTok, detailing how I was disappointed in the way it handled race and racism within D&D.
If you're wanting to move away from the biosessentialism inherent in DnD and want more choices than Tasha's Cauldron of Everything offers check out these products:
An Elf and an Orc Had a Little Baby Volumes I and Volume II by Adam Hancock and myself, V.J Harris.
Ancestry & Culture: An Alternative to Race in 5e by Arcanist Press.
Grazilaxx's Guide to Ancestry by Realmwarp Media, Ryan Langr, Adam Hancock, Laura Hirsbrunner.
Class Modifier Module (CMM) by Gabe Hicks.
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Episode 5 Transcript
In this episode, we discuss the textual evidence as to why people with disabilities would exist in D&D worlds such as the Forgotten Realms, despite the fact that magic items and spells exist.
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In the first VJ Extra - Shooting the Shit, Aaron Grant (morphitime on TikTok), and I talk for about an hour about anything that comes to mind about TTRPGs. We talk a little about creating homebrew items and the DND economy.
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Transcript PENDING
In this episode, we discuss discourse that started on Twitter around the phrase "Don't Add Racism To Your Game." I share a number of tweets I saw, a discussion I was involved in, and have a nuanced discussion around the phrase the conversation at large.
Here are the links to the original Twitter thread, the first time I spoke with TrooperSJP Academic Foxhole and the second time we spoke for a much more extensive time.
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Episode 2 Transcript
In the inaugural episode of VJ Talks, we start an ongoing segment titled Anything But Racism.
In the Dnd and DND adjacent (Pathfinder, Starfinder, OSR) community, there have been multiple conversations about removing racism from your games and pushback from certain parts of the community claiming that without racism there wouldn't be any actual villains and institutions to fight. This ongoing series aims to convince you to remove racism from your games and replace it with other evils.
This segment talks about adding Colonialism and Imperialism in your games while removing the racist trapping the two systems are typically steeped in.
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Episode 1 Transcript
Take this poll on Twitter (Twitter poll is open until February 16th)