Episodes

  • Rambunctious Reptiles: Extraplanar Dragons pt.4 - Episode 185
    Feb 25 2026

    This week, we finish our circuit of the Outer Planes with the dragons from the chaotic-good quadrant of the Great Wheel cosmology. Join us as we discuss the dragons found in the planes of Elysium, the Beastlands, Arborea, Ysgard, and Limbo.

    I had the opportunity to talk with Rene over on his show, Rene Plays Games, and that episode is now live. On this episode of Perspective Checks, I discuss homebrew, game design, and other similar elements. Check it out here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/55zpcdOVPwLaTHgA994vgM?si=d5e7e116b2ee4c87

    The Solo But Not Alone 6 bundle is now live, through the end of March. This is a fundraiser bundle to help support the mental health charity Take This!, and can be found here: https://itch.io/b/3481/solo-but-not-alone-6

    Our website is live! Head on over to undercommontaste.com to find links to all of our social media, streaming sites, Patreon, Itch store, and Discord.

    Our theme song is Massacre Anne, written and performed by Mary Crowell, and used with permission. You can find Mary's work online at marycrowell.bandcamp.com, or on Patreon at patreon.com/DrMaryCCrowell.

    Our logo was illustrated by David Sutherland. You can find David's work online at instagram.com/wilex_73, or on DeviantArt at deviantart.com/davidsutherland.

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    52 mins
  • Passive Play - Episode 184
    Feb 11 2026

    This week, we talk about ways to play TTRPGs that don't require a multi-hour time block sitting around the table. Join us as we discuss play styles like play-by-post, correspondence play, and standing setups, with some ideas on how to implement them to get your game on when it's all your schedule allows.

    We mentioned a bunch of stuff in this episode, so here are some links:

    The Time We Have, by Elliot Davis, is a 2-player RPG that takes place during a zombie apocalypse, played on either side of a closed door. You can find the game here: https://moreblueberries.itch.io/ttwh; and you can find an interview with the designer talking about it on the Yes Indie'd podcast, here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2kwBdh9RzBMtmD1DjeMl4B?si=b9ec346e5f6b4737

    SPINE is a solo RPG where you are trying to discern the secrets of immortality from a tome which is also trying to eat you. You can find the game here: https://backwards-tabletop.itch.io/spine; and you can watch the game review by MyLifeIsAnRPG on YouTube, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWtfYXOJ9zg&t=4s

    Finally, Matt Colville did an episode about Diplomacy and how to play it that was less long ago than I thought (only 2018, but the Before Times are all starting to blur together). You can find that video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWt0AQWjhPg

    I had the opportunity to talk with Rene over on his show, Rene Plays Games, and that episode is now live. On this episode of Perspective Checks, I discuss homebrew, game design, and other similar elements. Check it out here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/55zpcdOVPwLaTHgA994vgM?si=d5e7e116b2ee4c87

    The Solo But Not Alone 6 bundle is now live, through the end of March. This is a fundraiser bundle to help support the mental health charity Take This!, and can be found here: https://itch.io/b/3481/solo-but-not-alone-6

    Our website is live! Head on over to undercommontaste.com to find links to all of our social media, streaming sites, Patreon, Itch store, and Discord.

    Our theme song is Massacre Anne, written and performed by Mary Crowell, and used with permission. You can find Mary's work online at marycrowell.bandcamp.com, or on Patreon at patreon.com/DrMaryCCrowell.

    Our logo was illustrated by David Sutherland. You can find David's work online at instagram.com/wilex_73, or on DeviantArt at deviantart.com/davidsutherland.

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    36 mins
  • Goody Two-Wings: Extraplanar Dragons pt.3 - Episode 183
    Jan 28 2026

    This week, we're back on that extraplanar grind as we discuss the dragons from the Lawful Good quadrant of D&D's Great Wheel cosmology. Join us as we discuss dragons who are exotic fish collectors, golden retrievers with wings, living spotlights, problematic flavor text (circa 2004), and strangely absent.

    The Solo But Not Alone 6 bundle is now live, through the end of March. This is a fundraiser bundle to help support the mental health charity Take This!, and can be found here: https://itch.io/b/3481/solo-but-not-alone-6

    Our website is live! Head on over to undercommontaste.com to find links to all of our social media, streaming sites, Patreon, Itch store, and Discord.

    Our theme song is Massacre Anne, written and performed by Mary Crowell, and used with permission. You can find Mary's work online at marycrowell.bandcamp.com, or on Patreon at patreon.com/DrMaryCCrowell.

    Our logo was illustrated by David Sutherland. You can find David's work online at instagram.com/wilex_73, or on DeviantArt at deviantart.com/davidsutherland.

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Solo But Not Alone 6, with Leon - Episode 182
    Jan 14 2026

    This week, we return from our holiday break with our annual visit from Leon, the organizer of the Solo But Not Alone game bundle. Join us as we discuss the bundle, early internet culture, and showcase the setup process of our in-development solo journaling game, All Is Well With My Soul.

    The Solo But Not Alone 6 bundle is now officially live! You can pick up 90 games for $10, and support the mental health charity Take This! here: https://itch.io/b/3481/solo-but-not-alone-6

    You can find Leon on BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/catlinggun.bsky.social), and on Itch at peachgardengames.itch.io.

    The game "Jonathan Frakes Wants Your Attention and You Must Not Give it to Him", which was mentioned in the episode, can be found here: https://jeffstormer.itch.io/jonathan-frakes-wants-your-attention-and-you-must-not-give-it-to-him

    Our website is live! Head on over to undercommontaste.com to find links to all of our social media, streaming sites, Patreon, Itch store, and Discord.

    Our theme song is Massacre Anne, written and performed by Mary Crowell, and used with permission. You can find Mary's work online at marycrowell.bandcamp.com, or on Patreon at patreon.com/DrMaryCCrowell.

    Our logo was illustrated by David Sutherland. You can find David's work online at instagram.com/wilex_73, or on DeviantArt at deviantart.com/davidsutherland.

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    1 hr and 27 mins
  • Holiday Special 2025: Forever Home - Episode 181
    Dec 17 2025

    This week, we're getting around to showcasing a game we made almost three years ago: Forever Home! Join us as we play through the hijinks of a social media DIY influence vlogger and their 200-year-old house's attempts to play matchmaker in a game we would consider to be a Hallmark movie prequel.

    You can find Forever Home on our Itch page, https://undercommontaste.itch.io/forever-home, for the low low price of $3! Go pick up your copy today.

    As mentioned in this episode, comedian Deric Cahill has an ongoing bit that he calls "F*** This House", which parallels the sort of scenarios Forever Home is designed to evoke. You can find his videos on most short-form video platforms under the handle @boldfam; here's his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@boldfam

    Our website is live! Head on over to undercommontaste.com to find links to all of our social media, streaming sites, Patreon, Itch store, and Discord.

    Our theme song is Massacre Anne, written and performed by Mary Crowell, and used with permission. You can find Mary's work online at marycrowell.bandcamp.com, or on Patreon at patreon.com/DrMaryCCrowell.

    Our logo was illustrated by David Sutherland. You can find David's work online at instagram.com/wilex_73, or on DeviantArt at deviantart.com/davidsutherland.

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    1 hr and 40 mins
  • Apocalypse How - An Interview with Rene from Rene Plays Games
    Dec 3 2025

    This week, we're joined by Rene, the host of the Rene Plays Games podcast to talk about post-catastrophe and post-apocalyptic settings. Join us as we discuss ecology, infrastructure, and how to wreck your home town* for the purposes of generating a TTRPG setting.

    * in a fictional sense. Do not actually wreck your home town.

    We've mentioned Rene and his podcast a couple of times in recent months. We strongly encourage everyone to go and check out his work here, or on your podcatcher of choice: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/rene-plays-games-5573891/episodes/recent

    Our website is live! Head on over to undercommontaste.com to find links to all of our social media, streaming sites, Patreon, Itch store, and Discord.

    Our theme song is Massacre Anne, written and performed by Mary Crowell, and used with permission. You can find Mary's work online at marycrowell.bandcamp.com, or on Patreon at patreon.com/DrMaryCCrowell.

    Our logo was illustrated by David Sutherland. You can find David's work online at instagram.com/wilex_73, or on DeviantArt at deviantart.com/davidsutherland.

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Everyone Gets a Cantrip! - Episode 179
    Nov 19 2025

    This week, we do a little bit of homebrew worldbuilding, asking the question: what does a setting look like when everyone is capable of casting spells? Join us as we discuss the implications of having a society full of spellcasters, some ways that even combat-focused cantrips could be used as utility spells, and just what to do about Eldritch Blast.

    Our website is live! Head on over to undercommontaste.com to find links to all of our social media, streaming sites, Patreon, Itch store, and Discord.

    Our theme song is Massacre Anne, written and performed by Mary Crowell, and used with permission. You can find Mary's work online at marycrowell.bandcamp.com, or on Patreon at patreon.com/DrMaryCCrowell.

    Our logo was illustrated by David Sutherland. You can find David's work online at instagram.com/wilex_73, or on DeviantArt at deviantart.com/davidsutherland.

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    59 mins
  • Madness! Fangs! Tentacles!: Extraplanar Dragons, pt.2 - Episode 178
    Nov 5 2025

    This week, we're venturing into the Chaotic Evil quadrant of the Great Wheel to discuss the extraplanar dragons of Carceri, Pandemonium, and the Abyss. Join us as we discuss feral chihuahuas (relevant), eldritch horrors (RELEVANT), and The Human Centipede (also, unfortunately, relevant).

    CONTENT WARNING: Once we get to the Abyss (around the 33 minute mark), there are elements of body horror, non-consentual body modification, and other elements which may be upsetting to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

    Ian was in an actual play to promote Friend of the Show C.R. Rowenson's new book, Spawn Point! There are three videos total - two pre-recorded sessions and one livestream VOD - which can be found on Clark's YouTube channel, The Magic Engineer. You can find the first session here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHwSyIiORgc

    Our website is live! Head on over to undercommontaste.com to find links to all of our social media, streaming sites, Patreon, Itch store, and Discord.

    Our theme song is Massacre Anne, written and performed by Mary Crowell, and used with permission. You can find Mary's work online at marycrowell.bandcamp.com, or on Patreon at patreon.com/DrMaryCCrowell.

    Our logo was illustrated by David Sutherland. You can find David's work online at instagram.com/wilex_73, or on DeviantArt at deviantart.com/davidsutherland.

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    58 mins