Characters Without Stories
Characters Without Stories
Star
Characters Without Stories is a tabletop role playing game podcast about the roads not yet traveled.Every episode I bring in a friend to tell me about their unplayed character and their approach to creating characters. I cover all kinds of RPGs - from indies to D&D.I've had some fascinating conversations about how our characters intersect with and reveal our identities and how play is a gateway to understanding ourselves. I hope you'll give it a listen.Thank you and may all your characters find their stories.
Mogmoden, Sheltered Academic - Being Curious with Rene Legault (Fabula Ultima)
Rene Legault brings Mogmoden to the table. Mog is a teenage academic in the pursuit of practical knowledge and answers to intellectual mysteries in his first time venturing out into the world. Rene and I discuss creating characters who are curious about the world, imaginary bestiaries, and the drama of JRPGs. Mogmoden is built for Fabula Ultima by Emanuele Galletto. Rene Legault is one of the founding members of the DMs After Dark streaming group focused on highlighting small publisher and in...
Mar 2, 2025
52 min
Petty Dreadful, a Survivor - Breaking the Game with Rowan Zeoli (Deathmatch Island)
Rowan Zeoli brings Petty Dreadful to the table. Petty is a rage-fueled, attention-seeking drag queen Playing to Win. Rowan and I discuss gender performance, radical imagination, and the parallels between reality television and actual plays. Petty Dreadful is built for Deathmatch Island by Tim Denee. Rowan Zeoli is a journalist covering the intersection of progressive thought and niche cultural movements. She is co-founder of Rascal News, a worker-owned, reader-supported, tabletop journalism o...
Feb 15, 2025
1 hr 2 min
Sarge, Norma, and Harmony - Troupe Style Play with Andrew Beauman (Out of Orbit)
Andrew Beauman brings Sarge and Norma to the table, and we create Harmony together. Sarge, Norma, and Harmony are survivors of a spaceship crash hoping to make it back out of orbit. Andrew and I discuss troupe-style mechanics and playing multiple characters - and how that changes the way we create characters. We discuss finding empathy through TTRPGs and learning that not everything is made for our perspective. These characters are built for Out of Orbit, currently Kickstarting as part of Zin...
Feb 1, 2025
1 hr 18 min
Aria Godey, Pirate Captain - Embodying Your Character with SpunkyTaylor (Thirsty Sword Lesbians)
Taylor brings Captain Aria Godey to the table. Captain Aria is a pirate who touched a gold piece that is slowly consuming her and turning her into gold. Taylor and I discuss belonging as a Black creator in the TTRPG space, learning to accept that plus size bodies can be desired, and how cosplay informs character building. This character is built for Thirsty Sword Lesbians by April Kit Walsh. Taylor is a Black variety content creator and TTRPG performer located on the east coast. She loves to ...
Jan 18, 2025
59 min
Chase Cameron, aka Showtime - Alternate Futures with Will Malkus (Masks: a New Generation)
WIll Malkus brings Chase Cameron, aka Showtime, to the table. Chase is a teenager who recently became a superhero when he found a watch that can stop time. Will and I nerd out on comics, deconstruct the women in refrigerators trope, and discuss how TTRPGs let us play out better futures. This character is built for Masks: a New Generation by Brendan Conway. Will Malkus is an ex librarian, ex music journalist, ex photographer, and current streamer, producer, and editor, mostly for the not-for-p...
Oct 14, 2024
1 hr 4 min
Jessica Jeroux, Drow Archeologist - Transition and Leveling Up with Justin Gagliani (D&D 5e)
Justin Gagliani brings Jessica Jeroux to the table. Jessica is a drow trans woman pursuing knowledge of lost civilizations. Justin and I discuss what it means to be a trans woman in gender-segregated drow society, learning to explore and express your gender, and the narrative implications of D&D mechanics. This character is built for D&D 5e. Justin Gagliani is a co host of the So You Want to Be a Dungeon Master podcast, a TTRPG content creator, and a published writer. You can le...
Sep 29, 2024
1 hr 18 min
Chris Strausman, Socially Isolated Streamer - Growing Up and Showing Up with Blerdy Disposition (Call of Cthulhu)
Blerdy Disposition brings Chris Strausman to the table. Chris is a Twitch streamer with a lot of growing up to do, searching Reddit and relying on his followers to find his missing sister. Blerdy and I compare Lovecraftian horrors to YouTube comments, discuss the importance of being there for your community, both in and out of character, and talk about growing up in a landscape of social isolation and internet-only friendships. This character is built for Call of Cthulhu 7e. Blerdy Dispositio...
Sep 14, 2024
1 hr
Everett Nichols, a Protector Who Defends What Matters - Healing from the Past with DJ BeeZee (Old Gods of Appalachia)
Content Warning this episode for brief mentions of forced sterilization (49:03-49:53) and death of a child (57:40-57:48). DJ BeeZee brings Everett Nichols to the table. Everett is a union man, through and through, who defends those closest to him. DJ and I discuss healing from generational trauma, the union history of Appalachia, and how finding player agency in TTRPGs can be cathartic when we lack agency in our lives. This character is built for Old Gods of Appalachia, a Cypher System game ...
Sep 7, 2024
1 hr 18 min
Don Rigals, Communist Clark Kent - Representation and Speaking Out with AC Lawrence (Call of Cthulhu)
Adrian Lawrence brings Don Rigals to the table. Don is a fur-obsessed secret communist delving into New York's underground to find his brother. Adrian and I discuss being outspoken about your political values, the power of representation, and not being "Mexican enough." This character is built for Call of Cthulhu. AC Lawrence is a Mexican-American DM who co-hosts a podcast named Dungeons & Degrees, where he interviews individuals in the TTRPG space to show that the path to creativity isn'...
Aug 17, 2024
52 min
Looking Back on Two Years - Diversity Report and Giveaway Announcement
I've been bringing characters without stories and the creators who made them to the table for TWO YEARS! It felt like a good time to get reflective and talk about something I've been working on - diversifying my guests and the games we talk about. I also did a two year anniversary giveaway - tune in to find out who won! Send us a text Cover art by The Curiographer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecuriographer Sign up for my Newsletter to stay up-to-date on the podcast: https://dashbo...
Aug 10, 2024
11 min
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