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Have you ever wondered why some tabletop RPG campaigns feel vibrant, dramatic, and full of intrigue—while others fall flat? In this episode of the Wizards of Eem Podcast, we’re diving deep into the power of factions and why they’re the ultimate tool for raising the stakes in your TTRPG.

Factions aren’t just background flavor—they’re story engines. By introducing groups with clear goals, allies, and enemies, you can instantly transform your campaign into a world teeming with drama and consequence. We’ll break down how factions deepen worldbuilding, raise tension, and create unforgettable roleplay moments as players navigate shifting loyalties, rivalries, and alliances.

From friends who provide resources and quests, to foes who raise the tension every session, to intriguing neutral parties with hidden agendas, factions keep the story alive both on and off the table. We’ll share tips on how to build meaningful factions, tie them to character backstories, and let them evolve in ways that reshape the world. Plus, we’ll look at fun examples from Land of Eem, as well as general TTRPGs like noble houses, rebel armies, and secret cults.

Whether you’re a GM seeking to engage your players or a storyteller looking for fresh inspiration, this episode will give you everything you need to make your campaign world feel alive.

👉 Want to learn more about the whimsical fantasy RPG Land of Eem? Visit www.landofeem.com
for the free Quickstart Guide, or grab the full game at Exalted Funeral and at Friendly Local Game Stores everywhere. Created by Ben Costa and James Parks, Land of Eem is a lighthearted, family-friendly TTRPG full of adventure and heart.

If you love the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the Wizards of Eem Podcast!

Rollin' Down the Road is featured in the Rickety Stitch Book 2: The Middle-Route Run by Ben Costa and James Parks.

The lyrics were written by Ben Costa and James Parks, and the song was written by musician Evin Wolverton.

Thank you for listening to the Wizards of Eem Podcast!

Support the show

Visit us at: https://landofeem.com

Support Us
Free Land of Eem Quickstart Guide: https://landofeem.com/quick-start-guide/
Land of Eem RPG: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/pages/land-of-eem
Dungeoneer Adventures: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B41WM4YM
Rickety Stitch Comics: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/rickety-stitch-and-the-gelatinous-goo-the-exalted-collection
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What makes a good player at the table? In this episode of the Wizards of Eem podcast, we dive into what it means to bring your best self to a game of Land of Eem—and really, any TTRPG. From bold roleplay to embracing failure, we explore how to make every session more fun, not just for you, but for your whole group.

We break down the essentials of player ownership, speaking in character, and finding joy in both success and failure. You’ll hear tips for shy players, stories of unexpected roleplay twists (like stealing a trombone that turned into a subplot!), and advice on how to explore the whimsical world of Land of Eem with curiosity and creativity.

Collaboration is at the heart of great roleplaying, so we’ll also talk about sharing the spotlight, building on each other’s ideas with the “Yes, and…” principle, and supporting your fellow adventurers. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or brand new to the hobby, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you shine as a player in any tabletop RPG.

🌟 Land of Eem RPG is available now from Exalted Funeral, carried by many friendly local game stores, and online retailers everywhere. You can also download the free Quickstart Guide at www.landofeem.com.

Created by Ben Costa and James Parks (Rickety Stitch, Dungeoneer Adventures), Land of Eem is a lighthearted, family-friendly fantasy RPG full of hope, humor, and memorable storytelling. And now—it’s an ENNIE Award–winning game!

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share if you love tabletop RPG podcasts and actual play content. Drop a comment below: What’s one thing you do to be a good player at your table?

Rollin' Down the Road is featured in the Rickety Stitch Book 2: The Middle-Route Run by Ben Costa and James Parks.

The lyrics were written by Ben Costa and James Parks, and the song was written by musician Evin Wolverton.

Thank you for listening to the Wizards of Eem Podcast!

Support the show

Visit us at: https://landofeem.com

Support Us
Free Land of Eem Quickstart Guide: https://landofeem.com/quick-start-guide/
Land of Eem RPG: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/pages/land-of-eem
Dungeoneer Adventures: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B41WM4YM
Rickety Stitch Comics: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/rickety-stitch-and-the-gelatinous-goo-the-exalted-collection
Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ricketystitch
Join Our Discord Community: https://discord.com/invite/CMq7BsK
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LandofEem

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Random encounters aren’t just filler—they add depth, immersion, and flexibility to your tabletop roleplaying games! Whether you're running a sandbox campaign or following a published adventure, random encounters provide the juice for entire sessions, making your world feel alive and unpredictable.

In this episode, Ben Costa and James Parks break down why they rely on random encounters in Land of Eem, how they eliminate prep time for live games, and how they help GMs keep the adventure moving even when players take unexpected turns.

Rollin' Down the Road is featured in the Rickety Stitch Book 2: The Middle-Route Run by Ben Costa and James Parks.

The lyrics were written by Ben Costa and James Parks, and the song was written by musician Evin Wolverton.

Thank you for listening to the Wizards of Eem Podcast!

Support the show

Visit us at: https://landofeem.com

Support Us
Free Land of Eem Quickstart Guide: https://landofeem.com/quick-start-guide/
Land of Eem RPG: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/pages/land-of-eem
Dungeoneer Adventures: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B41WM4YM
Rickety Stitch Comics: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/rickety-stitch-and-the-gelatinous-goo-the-exalted-collection
Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ricketystitch
Join Our Discord Community: https://discord.com/invite/CMq7BsK
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LandofEem

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Wizards of Eem EP011 – The Case for Imbalanced Combat

Are you a GM tired of building "perfectly balanced" encounters? In this episode, we explore why Land of Eem embraces unfair fights—and how imbalance leads to better stories.

Topics include:

• Why imbalance creates tension, surprise, and creativity
• How Land of Eem’s conflict system rewards clever thinking
• Famous examples of underdogs overcoming impossible odds
• Real GM tips for using imbalance as a storytelling tool

Forget stat math—this is about drama, discovery, and heroic failure.

Tune in and learn how to make your next unbalanced encounter unforgettable.

Support the Kickstarter for Land of Eem: Dungeoneer Adventures + Underlands:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/exaltedfuneral/land-of-eem-beginners-rpg-for-kids-underlands-expansion

Rollin' Down the Road is featured in the Rickety Stitch Book 2: The Middle-Route Run by Ben Costa and James Parks.

The lyrics were written by Ben Costa and James Parks, and the song was written by musician Evin Wolverton.

Thank you for listening to the Wizards of Eem Podcast!

Support the show

Visit us at: https://landofeem.com

Support Us
Free Land of Eem Quickstart Guide: https://landofeem.com/quick-start-guide/
Land of Eem RPG: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/pages/land-of-eem
Dungeoneer Adventures: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B41WM4YM
Rickety Stitch Comics: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/rickety-stitch-and-the-gelatinous-goo-the-exalted-collection
Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ricketystitch
Join Our Discord Community: https://discord.com/invite/CMq7BsK
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LandofEem

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Are you a parent or educator looking to introduce tabletop roleplaying games to kids? TTRPGs aren’t just fun—they build social skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities while keeping kids off screens!

As new dads, Ben Costa and James Parks wanted to create an RPG that kids can pick up and play without the complexity of traditional games like D&D. That’s why they developed Dungeoneer Adventures: The Beginner’s RPG, designed specifically for families and classrooms.

Rollin' Down the Road is featured in the Rickety Stitch Book 2: The Middle-Route Run by Ben Costa and James Parks.

The lyrics were written by Ben Costa and James Parks, and the song was written by musician Evin Wolverton.

Thank you for listening to the Wizards of Eem Podcast!

Support the show

Visit us at: https://landofeem.com

Support Us
Free Land of Eem Quickstart Guide: https://landofeem.com/quick-start-guide/
Land of Eem RPG: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/pages/land-of-eem
Dungeoneer Adventures: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B41WM4YM
Rickety Stitch Comics: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/rickety-stitch-and-the-gelatinous-goo-the-exalted-collection
Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ricketystitch
Join Our Discord Community: https://discord.com/invite/CMq7BsK
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LandofEem

Send us a text

We Failed Every Roll... and It Was GLORIOUS | Wizards of Eem EP009
June 20, 2025 | Actual Play Tips & GM Advice

In this episode of the Wizards of Eem podcast, we explore one of the most powerful storytelling tools in tabletop RPGs: failure.

Join us as we break down the Land of Eem’s unique dice system and the mechanics that make failure not just tolerable—but fun and essential to great gameplay. Learn how complete failure, failure with a plus, and success with a twist turn missed rolls into incredible moments of creativity, drama, and humor.

In This Episode:

• Why Land of Eem uses a d12 system instead of 2d6
• How "failure with a plus" keeps the story moving forward
• Tips for Game Masters (GMs) and players on leaning into failure
• Why conflict and struggle make your RPG stories unforgettable

Whether you're a GM looking to encourage player creativity or a player tired of binary success/failure outcomes, this episode will inspire you to embrace chaos and find storytelling gold in every misstep.

Listen now and bring these mechanics into your own tabletop RPG sessions.
Download the free Land of Eem beta rules at landofeem.com and start your next great adventure today.

Rollin' Down the Road is featured in the Rickety Stitch Book 2: The Middle-Route Run by Ben Costa and James Parks.

The lyrics were written by Ben Costa and James Parks, and the song was written by musician Evin Wolverton.

Thank you for listening to the Wizards of Eem Podcast!

Support the show

Visit us at: https://landofeem.com

Support Us
Free Land of Eem Quickstart Guide: https://landofeem.com/quick-start-guide/
Land of Eem RPG: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/pages/land-of-eem
Dungeoneer Adventures: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B41WM4YM
Rickety Stitch Comics: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/rickety-stitch-and-the-gelatinous-goo-the-exalted-collection
Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ricketystitch
Join Our Discord Community: https://discord.com/invite/CMq7BsK
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LandofEem

Send us a text

Unleash Dynamic Monsters: How to Make Engaging Creatures for TTRPGs
In this episode of Wizards of Eem, we explore how to create truly memorable monster encounters in your tabletop RPG sessions. Monsters shouldn't just be bags of hit points—they can be fully realized characters that shape your story in unexpected ways.

We cover how to design monsters with depth, motivations, and unique behaviors that go far beyond combat. Learn how to:

• Give your monsters personality, goals, and backstories
• Use social interactions, negotiations, and tricks to create rich roleplaying moments
• Make your monsters reactive, alive, and believable—before, during, and after battle
• Apply practical GM tips to improvise and adapt monster behavior on the fly
• How we approach making creatures in Land of Eem.

This episode is packed with insights for GMs and designers who want their monsters to matter.

Rollin' Down the Road is featured in the Rickety Stitch Book 2: The Middle-Route Run by Ben Costa and James Parks.

The lyrics were written by Ben Costa and James Parks, and the song was written by musician Evin Wolverton.

Thank you for listening to the Wizards of Eem Podcast!

Support the show

Visit us at: https://landofeem.com

Support Us
Free Land of Eem Quickstart Guide: https://landofeem.com/quick-start-guide/
Land of Eem RPG: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/pages/land-of-eem
Dungeoneer Adventures: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B41WM4YM
Rickety Stitch Comics: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/rickety-stitch-and-the-gelatinous-goo-the-exalted-collection
Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ricketystitch
Join Our Discord Community: https://discord.com/invite/CMq7BsK
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LandofEem

Send us a text

Struggling to Hook Your Players? 4 Keys to Better RPG Adventures | Wizards of Eem Podcast

Do your RPG sessions fall flat? Are players ignoring your carefully planned quests? In this episode of Wizards of Eem, we reveal the four essential elements that make any tabletop RPG adventure instantly more engaging—no matter the system you play.

Whether you're running Land of Eem, Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, or another RPG, these storytelling tools will help you design irresistible quests, seed compelling conflicts, and build a world your players want to explore.

We break down:

• How to craft compelling problems that demand player attention
• Why memorable NPCs and adversaries boost immersion
• What makes locations worth exploring
• How enticing rewards (loot, secrets, favors) keep players coming back

Perfect for GMs, storytellers, and adventure designers, this episode is your guide to crafting sessions that hook players from the start and deliver lasting impact.

🔗 Check out the Land of Eem Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/exaltedfuneral/land-of-eem-beginners-rpg-for-kids-underlands-expansion

Rollin' Down the Road is featured in the Rickety Stitch Book 2: The Middle-Route Run by Ben Costa and James Parks.

The lyrics were written by Ben Costa and James Parks, and the song was written by musician Evin Wolverton.

Thank you for listening to the Wizards of Eem Podcast!

Support the show

Visit us at: https://landofeem.com

Support Us
Free Land of Eem Quickstart Guide: https://landofeem.com/quick-start-guide/
Land of Eem RPG: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/pages/land-of-eem
Dungeoneer Adventures: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B41WM4YM
Rickety Stitch Comics: https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/rickety-stitch-and-the-gelatinous-goo-the-exalted-collection
Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ricketystitch
Join Our Discord Community: https://discord.com/invite/CMq7BsK
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LandofEem