Rephonic
Artwork for Rolling with Difficulty

Rolling with Difficulty

Rolling with Difficulty Table
Planescape
Sigil
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons
Beastlands
Mind Flayers
Character Development
Elder Brain
Grove Of the Unicorn
Per Aspera
Fortune's Wheel
The Beastlands
Chronosphere Of Lagos
Laurel Lockwood
Planar Trade Consortium
Nix
Open and Shut
Leveling Up
Paladin
Sensory Stones

Throughout the Planescape there are countless wars between good and evil, lawful and chaotic. Forces of great power shift the very nature of reality. These are not their stories... Join Rolling with Difficulty as we explore the Planescape, following adventurers out on the Astral Sea, on the streets of the City of Doors, and beyond! Every episode of this D&D 5e actual play podcast follows a differe... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes143Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesFictionLeisure

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Rolling with Difficulty

Latest Episodes

Content Warning: Character Conflict, Character Death

The fractured party splits only further. As each Knight loses themselves in their own obsessions, will they remember to come together for the sake of the Beastlands?

---Our show contains fantasy ... more

The party is split but the cast is together! We answer your questions in our mid-season Q&A!

---Our show contains fantasy violence (and the occasional foul language), treat us like a PG-13 program!---

VR-LA and Vhas enamel pins available now! Order... more

Alone again, Katya is drawn by the threads of destiny towards the Prowl. Who, or what, awaits the Seer Stray there?

---Our show contains fantasy violence (and the occasional foul language), treat us like a PG-13 program!---

Thank you to our friend... more

One wizard poorer, the remaining Unicorn Knights resolve to focus on their quest. The bivalves wait for no one, but they are not the only ones lurking in the Sessile Pools...

---Our show contains fantasy violence (and the occasional foul language), ... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Overly Sarcastic Podcast
Overly Sarcastic PodcastOverly Sarcastic Productions
Moviestruck
MoviestruckSophia Ricciardi
Worlds Beyond Number
Worlds Beyond NumberWorlds Beyond Number
Critical Role
Critical RoleCritical Role

Recent Guests

Jack Lepiars
Guest player known from radio, performs as Jacques ze Whipper
Guest performer
Episode: Rolling with Difficulty Presents: "Dark Heart of the Wood"
Linnie Schell
TTRPG player, DM, and creative director of Twice Roll Tales
Twice Roll Tales
Episode: Open and Shut Season 2 Episode 6: "Monstrous Intent"
Adam Gonzalez
Co-host from 5 GMs in a Podcast
5 GMs in a Podcast
Episode: Rolling with Difficulty Presents: "Heartwood Coven"

Hosts

Noir
Co-host contributing gameplay insights; player in campaign; musician
Austin
Dungeon Master/GM across campaigns; core creator of the campaign arc

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 1.7k ratings
  • D&D

    The best dnd podcast I have ever listened to!!!

    Thank you Red for introducing me to the podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nodnarb9455
    United States3 months ago
  • Good DnD. Great podcast.

    This show is my favorite DnD podcast because it does a great job of being narratively entertaining while maintaining the joy of playing a casual game with friends. The characters are interesting, the way the players engage with game mechanics is fascinating, and the world of the planescape is excellently fleshed out. Plus, the music achieves tones and moods exactly as intended.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dnd play
    United States4 months ago
  • I’m here against my will and I love it

    My brother sucked me in to this and now I can’t leave, but I don’t care

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    An ADHD teen
    Canadaa year ago
  • Best Actual Play Ever

    I love you guys so much you always find a way to make the most stressful decisions and events funny. Though I miss the Per Aspera campaign I have loved the Open and Shut campaign from what I’ve heard as well. Though I am also sad that the campaign has ended so short too I’m sure that the next campaign will be better than the last. The character interactions and Wally’s character in the Open and Shut campaign (though I can’t remember his name. XD) is great the accent is so good and I wanted to kn... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MaplewoodReports
    United Statesa year ago
  • This podcast has my favorite piece of media I’ve consumed

    Vr-la’s monologue is worth it alone to consume every bit of this podcast to that point. It it my favorite piece of media I have ever consumed. And not just that speech but the entire podcast is beyond amazing. I envy people who get to listen to this the first time. The bit of Vr-la gives me goosebumps every time, even just thinking about it has that affect. Bravo noir, and thank you Sophie and red for osp that helped me end up here.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ChefJoe7
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Engaging, approachable hosts with deep knowledge of Planescape and D&D mechanics.
High praise for editing, pacing, and music; standout moments in action scenes.
Vibrant open-world adventures with strong character dynamics.
Consistent quality with a welcoming community and insightful behind-the-scenes details.
Noted for cinematic combat and cliffhanger-driven storytelling.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#39
United States/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#234
United States/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#87
Canada/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#148
United Kingdom/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#25
Australia/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#63
Italy/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Hunting Party Q&A: Gone Fishin'
Q: How do you balance high‑level threats like the Aboleth slime with player agency?
The DM emphasizes letting players improvise and show resilience, using escalating slime points as a mechanic to raise stakes while still rewarding creativity and teamwork.
Hunting Party Q&A: Gone Fishin'
Q: Was the subclass change planned from the start?
No; the idea for Guru's class change emerged as the story unfolded and became a deliberate narrative decision to deepen the character and the Beastlands arc.
Hunting Party Q&A: Fresh Prey
Q: 1231720 question: How do you make D&D combat more strategic and give players meaningful choices?
They emphasize maps with varied terrain and environmental hazards, set clear objectives beyond simply killing enemies, and incorporate skill challenges and puzzle-like goals to force players to plan, coordinate, and use non-combat options to influence outcomes.
Hunting Party Q&A: Fresh Prey
Q: 563760 question: Was it always the plan to kill Vasilix this season, or did you envision a different role for him?
The plan evolved. The storyteller initially expected the big bad to be defeated earlier but adjusted as solo arcs lengthened the season. Keeping Vasilix alive for meaningful encounters allowed the party to meet and interact with him, increasing his weight and the drama of his eventual fate.
Hunting Party Q&A: Fresh Prey
Q: 126800 question: Where do you get your sources for building the Beastlands, and is it mostly canon, old books, or homebrew?
Austin explains that they pull ideas from canonical Planescape materials, especially second edition sources, and supplement with the Codex of the Infinite Planes and community wikis; they also rely on homebrew additions and live-session prep, often cross-referencing with the group's own live-streamed prep and Patreon posts.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Rolling with Difficulty

What is Rolling with Difficulty about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This actual-play tabletop podcast mixes cinematic combat, intricate Planescape lore, and character-driven storytelling across evolving campaigns. Listeners often encounter cinematic dungeons, interplanar intrigue, and a stylish blend of humor and high-stakes decisions that reward longform worldbuilding and tactical play. A standout here is the balance between crunchy rules discussion and narrative moments, plus a rotating cast of players and a DM who emphasizes cinematic momentum, house rules, and early access to future arcs. Potential listeners who enjoy intelligent banter, large-scale adventures, and a strong sense of camaraderie will likely find it engaging and repeatable across seasons.

Where can I find podcast stats for Rolling with Difficulty?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Rolling with Difficulty. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Rolling with Difficulty and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Rolling with Difficulty get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Rolling with Difficulty, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Rolling with Difficulty?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Rolling with Difficulty, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Rolling with Difficulty have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Rolling with Difficulty has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Rolling with Difficulty?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Rolling with Difficulty:

1. Overly Sarcastic Podcast
2. Moviestruck
3. Worlds Beyond Number
4. The Magnus Archives
5. Critical Role

How many episodes of Rolling with Difficulty are there?

Rolling with Difficulty launched 5 years ago and published 143 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 Rolling with Difficulty?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Rolling with Difficulty?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Rolling with Difficulty from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Rolling with Difficulty?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Rolling with Difficulty. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Rolling with Difficulty?

Recent guests on Rolling with Difficulty include:

1. Jack Lepiars
2. Linnie Schell
3. Adam Gonzalez

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days