Rephonic
Artwork for Dice Exploder
Game Design
Tabletop Rpgs
Tabletop RPG Design
Tabletop RPG
Apocalypse World
Dungeons & Dragons
LARP
Heart: the City Beneath
RPG Mechanics
Actual Play
You Will Die In This Place
Role-Playing Games
Community Engagement
Blades In the Dark
Dice Forager
Yazeba's Bed & Breakfast
Wreck This Deck
Indie Rpgs
Tabletop RPG Mechanics
Dungeons and Dragons

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 Seraphina Garcia Ramirez and a rotating roster of designers. Part of the Many Sided Network. diceexploder.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes120Founded4 years ago
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Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Dice Exploder

Latest Episodes

Transcripts available at diceexploder.com

Socials

Sam's short film Toothless, live today

Em on Bluesky and Linktree

Sam on Bluesky and itch

Sera on Bluesky and itch

The Dice Exploder blog is at diceexploder.com

Join the Dice Exploder Discord t... more

Transcripts available at diceexploder.com 

Further Reading

Pendragon 6e, The House Edge

Socials

Caleb on Bluesky and Haunted Table

Seraphina on Bluesky and itch

The Dice Exploder blog is at diceexploder.com

Join the Dice Exploder Discord to ta... more

Transcripts available at diceexploder.com

Further Reading

Dark Ages, Apocalypse World, Blades in the Dark, Under Hollow Hills, 3:16 Carnage Amongst the Stars

Socials

John on Bluesky and itch

Sam on Bluesky and itch

The Dice Exploder blog is at ... more

Transcripts available at diceexploder.com

Further Reading

Beyond the Pale, Tannic, Landmark, Hidden, Secret

Socials

Amanda P. on Bluesky and at Weird Wonder

Sam on Bluesky and itch

The Dice Exploder blog is at diceexploder.com

Our logo was des... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Caleb Zane Huett
Creative director at Haunted Table and designer of Triangle Agency
Haunted Table
Episode: Traits (Pendragon) with Caleb Zane Huett
John Harper
Designer of Lady Blackbird, Lasers and Feelings, and Blades in the Dark
Episode: Rights (Dark Ages) with John Harper
Amanda P.
Tabletop adventure author of Tannic and Orstruck
Weird Wonder
Episode: NPCs with Amanda P.
Zedeck Siew
RPG adventure writer and designer
Slow Lores Press / various game design projects
Episode: Thri-Kreen (Dark Sun) with Zedeck Siew
Craig Shipman
Designer and host of Third Floor Wars / Tabletop Talk
Goblin Archives / Third Floor Wars
Episode: Fallout (Liminal Horror) with Craig Shipman
Caro Murphy
Designer and LARP performer described as a designer behind Galactic Star Cruiser; cast member on Tower Runners
Incantrix Productions; Tower Runners
Episode: De-Roling with Caro Murphy
Kendo Smith
Media Production Manager at Cobalt Press; game designer; creator and creative director of Tales Yet Told
Tales Yet Told/Cobalt Press
Episode: Our Lives in the Wood with Kendo Smith
Ash Kreider
Author of Parksville Community Witch and game designer
Night Witches / The Watch designer
Episode: Duty Stations (Night Witches) with Ash Kreider
Viditya Voleti
Game designer and creator of Band-Aids and Bullet Holes; Firebrands advocate
Kickstarter project Band-Aids and Bullet Holes
Episode: Minigames (Firebrands) with Viditya Voleti

Host

Sam Dunnewold
Host of the show

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 81 ratings
  • An intersting exploration of ttrpg mechanics. I have finished the first season, and it's been wonderful

    Podcast Addict
    5
    jay cat
    21 days ago
  • 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
    Germanya year 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 Statesa year 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

Listeners Say

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

Listners note the show is a top pick for inspiration among game designers and kickstarter backers.
Fans highlight the nerdy, design-forward discussions and variety of indie titles discussed.
Explosive!says listeners enjoy the deep dive into mechanics and great guests.
Praises the host interview quality and focus on a single mechanic per episode.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#24
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#13
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#37
United Kingdom/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#14
Germany/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#34
Australia/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#80
France/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Traits (Pendragon) with Caleb Zane Huett
Q: What do you think are the lessons or specific parts of this you think designers could take away from this game?
Writing traits can clarify a game's setting and the lens through which characters approach challenges. Trait mechanics can also support role-play, create tension, and use slower resolution to give emotionally important scenes more weight.
Traits (Pendragon) with Caleb Zane Huett
Q: What are traits for those in the audience who aren't familiar?
Traits are 13 pairs of opposing personality qualities that total 20 per pair. When a situation puts a trait in focus, rolls help determine how a character feels and what behavior they are compelled toward.
Rights (Dark Ages) with John Harper
Q: How do rights relate to Apocalypse World moves and their fictional triggers?
Moves make clear which fictional circumstances call for mechanics, while rights can state character facts or grant mechanical procedures. Both help define what happens in play and how players negotiate when expectations conflict.
Rights (Dark Ages) with John Harper
Q: What are rights in Dark Ages, and how do they work when another character denies one?
Rights establish agreed-upon facts or abilities for a character. When one is denied, the player selects from escalating responses, which can lead to fictional consequences, bargaining, or direct player negotiation.
NPCs with Amanda P.
Q: What are your sort of biggest guiding pieces of advice on writing NPCs in Adventures?
Start with a broad idea, establish what the NPC wants and what they will do regardless, then connect them to multiple problems so the adventure's relationships and conflicts are interwoven.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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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 into tabletop RPG design, focusing episode by episode on a single mechanic or design concept and unpacking how it shapes play, narrative, and table dynamics. Guests are primarily designers and writers from indie and small-press RPGs, who speak to practical design decisions, pacing, and the way mechanics drive storytelling. The format favors rigorous, design-forward conversations that can illuminate how to build or run games with a strong emphasis on player agency, collaboration, and cinematic moments. A standout aspect is the breadth of mechanics covered—from deck-building and calling cards to genre emulation and GM-less systems—often tied back to well-known games or design philosophies, making it useful for aspiring design... more

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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. Rascal News
3. Talk of the Table
4. Around the Hearth
5. Friends at the Table

How many episodes of Dice Exploder are there?

Dice Exploder launched 4 years ago and published 120 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Dice Exploder?

Recent guests on Dice Exploder include:

1. Caleb Zane Huett
2. John Harper
3. Amanda P.
4. Zedeck Siew
5. Craig Shipman
6. Caro Murphy
7. Kendo Smith
8. Ash Kreider

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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