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Artwork for Dice Exploder

Dice Exploder

Sam Dunnewold
Game Design
Dungeons & Dragons
Tabletop Rpgs
Playbooks
Ribbon Drive
Stewpot, Tales From a Fantasy Tavern
For the Queen
Character Sheets
Lyric Games
Role Playing Games
Mothership Character Sheet
Tabletop Role-Playing Games
Tabletop RPG
Space Fam
Fiasco
Kagematsu
Cabinet Of Curiosities Games
Cyberpunk
Player Experience
RPG Market Trends

A show about tabletop RPG design. Each episode we bring you a single mechanic and break it down as deep as we possibly can. Co-hosted by Sam Dunnewold and a rotating roster of designers. Part of the Many Sided Network. diceexploder.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes99Founded3 years ago
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Artwork for Dice Exploder

Latest Episodes

Transcripts available at diceexploder.com

I bet you’ve heard of this game Triangle Agency. Big exciting Kickstarter, super flashy product design, a game with… spoilers in the back? It’s corporate horror, it’s packed gorgeous art, it’s a game I spent... more

Transcripts available at diceexploder.com

If the thesis of last week’s episode was “hey the fiction of your game matters a lot and can even have mechanical effects,” how do you know how deeply to define that fiction? Maybe no one in indie games has ... more

Transcripts available at diceexploder.com

In Blades in the Dark, you play as criminals in Doskvol a haunted city where the ghosts are such a problem that they built giant lightning barriers around the whole city to keep them out. That sentence alone... more

Transcripts available at diceexploder.com

There's many ways to decide who has authority over what in an RPG. Traditional games have a bunch of players with one PC each and a GM responsible for everything else, while Dreams Askew / Dream Apart by Ave... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Kodi Gonzaga
A young designer with a new game on Kickstarter.
Extra Ordinary
Episode: Setting Elements (Dream Askew / Dream Apart) with Kodi Gonzaga
Quinten Smith
RPG reviewer, known for Quins Quest and former contributor to Shut Up and Sit Down
Quins Quest YouTube Channel
Episode: Inventory Tetris (Mausritter) with Quinns
Meguey Baker
Game designer and co-creator of Apocalypse World
Indie RPG designer
Episode: The Brainer VS The Brain-Picker (Apocalypse World 2e/3e) with the Bakers
Vincent Baker
Game designer and co-creator of Apocalypse World
Indie RPG designer
Episode: The Brainer VS The Brain-Picker (Apocalypse World 2e/3e) with the Bakers
Ken Lowery
Creator of the solo RPG Void 1680 AM, enthusiastic amateur musician
Episode: Actual Play: Void 1680 AM Community Broadcasts with Ken Lowery
Linnie Schell
Co-founder of Twice Rolled Tales and actual play creator
Twice Rolled Tales
Episode: Actual Play: 4AM at a Diner (Last Train to Brooklyn) with Linnie Schell
Maia Wilson
Host of Maia's Game Room
Maia's Game Room
Episode: Actual Play: An Uncomfortable Offer (Maia's Game Room: The Electric State) with Maia Wilson
Elliot Davis
Co-creator of My First Dungeon and designer under the brand More Blueberries
Many Sided Media
Episode: Actual Play: A Tree Shanty (My First Dungeon: The Wildsea) with Brian Flaherty and Elliot Davis
Brian Flaherty
Co-creator of My First Dungeon and co-host of Talk of the Table
Many Sided Media
Episode: Actual Play: A Tree Shanty (My First Dungeon: The Wildsea) with Brian Flaherty and Elliot Davis

Host

Sam Dunnewold
Co-host and host of the show, frequently leads deep-dive discussions on RPG design mechanics.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 75 ratings
  • Explosive!

    If TTRPG mechanics are your thing, you probably do not want to miss this. Especially when you want discussions about more abstract concepts. Great guests, too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Holle reviewing
    Germany4 months ago
  • A Staple TTRPG Podcast

    Dice Exploder is simply one of the very best TTRPG podcasts being produced. Sam is an excellent interviewer and by centering each episode around a single gaming mechanic he draws out some never-before-heard insights from his all-star guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Just Another Brian
    United States10 months ago
  • Tabletop Game Designers discussing their favorite mechanics from other peoples’ games

    If you are interested in creating storytelling games, this might be the single best podcast to listen to for inspiration. The community behind the show is also incredible.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    becuzitsbitter
    United States2 years ago
  • Loving this!

    I love your episodic exploration of table top role-playing mechanics🙌 it’s such an amazing adventure getting exposed to different games by dynamic discussions about design elements. Amazing amazing amazing🎲🙏🤩 I encourage you to stick with the format, your recent mini dive into DND… is so D&D narrow in a world overly saturated with way-way-way too much DND! I just backed your recent Kickstarter to help support more of your awesome original content and I encourage you to leave D&D to the other... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zombie.Ken
    Canada2 years ago
  • Get a deeper understanding of TTRPGs

    I won’t lie, this podcast may not be for everyone. It gets into the weeds on game mechanics. But if you’re the kind of person who geeks out about game design, who’s backing a dozen game kickstarters a year, who’s dedicated 3 days/week to trying out new TTRPGs- this show is for you. Guests are insightful, enthusiastic luminaries in the scene. I promise you’ll learn something in an engaging way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Starmamac
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Strong production and engaging analysis of real play and design
Centering each episode around a single mechanic yields fresh insights
A must-listen for serious tabletop designers and critics
Shows deep-dit into mechanics and designPrincipled discussions with great guests

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#48
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#89
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#144
United Kingdom/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#142
France/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#157
Australia/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#163
Germany/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Inventory Tetris (Mausritter) with Quinns
Q: How does the game convey its mechanics through its design?
The physicality of the game, including the design of its character sheets and components, helps players understand and engage with the mechanics quickly and intuitively.
Inventory Tetris (Mausritter) with Quinns
Q: What makes Mausritter's inventory system unique?
Mausritter's inventory system uses physical tokens for items instead of just written lists, allowing for a tactile experience that engages players differently.
Actual Play: Void 1680 AM Community Broadcasts with Ken Lowery
Q: What does it feel like to broadcast?
Ken finds it to be a responsibility to create a welcoming environment for listeners and cherishes the sense of communion that broadcasting brings, likening it to a ritual.
Actual Play: Void 1680 AM Community Broadcasts with Ken Lowery
Q: What is your relationship with music like?
Ken describes himself as an enthusiastic amateur who inherits a lot of musical tastes from his siblings, emphasizing the importance of music and live performances in his life.
Actual Play: 4AM at a Diner (Last Train to Brooklyn) with Linnie Schell
Q: What do you think is important about New York in this context?
New York is not a single entity; it's made of many personal experiences and relationships that shape our narratives.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Frequently Asked Questions About Dice Exploder

What is Dice Exploder about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deep-dive show focused on tabletop RPG design, breaking down a single mechanic per episode and exploring its implications for play, storytelling, and game systems. Guests are often designers, critics, and editors who bring practical insights from actual game development, publishing, and live play. Listeners likely include aspiring designers, game writers, and creators who want rigorous, design-focused conversations about how mechanics shape player experience and narrative, with recurring attention to safety, inclusivity, and community dynamics. A standout pattern is the breadth of guest expertise—from core game design and incentives to actual-play production and romance-inspired mechanics—making it a valuable resource for anyone wanting t... more

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How many listeners does Dice Exploder get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Dice Exploder?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Dice Exploder:

1. Yes Indie'd Pod
2. RTFM
3. Talk of the Table
4. My First Dungeon
5. Around the Hearth

How many episodes of Dice Exploder are there?

Dice Exploder launched 3 years ago and published 99 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Dice Exploder?

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What guests have appeared on Dice Exploder?

Recent guests on Dice Exploder include:

1. Kodi Gonzaga
2. Quinten Smith
3. Meguey Baker
4. Vincent Baker
5. Ken Lowery
6. Linnie Schell
7. Maia Wilson
8. Elliot Davis

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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