No Plot, Only Lore

03/06/2026

N***s are only good for one thing, and that's as a target for guilt-free violence and as a force against which joyous rebellion may rise up. Fascism bad. Stabbing fictional fascists in your game with point swords good. And they do make GREAT villains.

Why do N***s make the ultimate antagonists for your tabletop campaigns? In this episode of No Plot, Only Lore, Josh and Kris break down the mechanics of using fascist-coded villains to create high-stakes, morally clear, and narratively complex stories without falling into the "both-sides" trap.

We discuss why fascist structures provide perfect hierarchical challenges for players, how to use anti-intellectualism and bureaucratic evil to build tension, and the essential "do’s and don’ts" for maintaining a meaningful narrative. From creating identifiable symbols and scapegoats to portraying joyful resistance, learn how to build villains your players will love to hate—and why it’s always okay to throw them off a train.

Link in the Comments!

02/27/2026

We’re back with part two of our deep dive into Sumo history! This episode covers the transformation of the sport from the Meiji era to today. We discuss the formalization of the Yokozuna rank, the impact of international wrestlers on Japanese tradition, and the fascinating, messy politics of the JSA. Don’t miss this look at the world’s most intense, high-speed game of chess. Link in the comments!

02/21/2026

Wanna hear Josh talk at length about Sumo (of course you do)? Well do we ever have some news for you! No Plot Only Lore will be starting a new podcast in March called "Maple Sumo" where you can catch up with the latest Sumo news, get Josh's opinion on the latest tournament showing, and get lava-hot takes on the state of the sport!

Also, here's a breakdown of how much Lore is in Sumo, and it's more than I thought there would be! Enough that this is a part 1 of two!

Join Josh and Kris on No Plot, Only Lore as they dive into the surprising world of professional Sumo—a sport Josh argues is the "purest representation" of ph...

02/06/2026

This week on No Plot Only Lore, Kris was wrong about AI! He's still wrong about AI, to be honest. Let's talk about it! Link in the comments.

01/30/2026

Oh hey! There's another episode of No Plot Only Lore kicking around, if that's the sort of thing you're into. This week we're continuing our conversation about how Kickstarter and the crowdfunding economy impact the tabletop space.

In this episode of No Plot Only Lore, Josh and Chris dive into the recent collapse of the Darkest Dungeon board game by Mythic Games. We discuss the $5 milli...

01/23/2026

Oh hey, did you know we were doing a full video version of the podcast now? No? Because we never actually communicate with anyone about anything? I guess that makes sense.

Come watch Josh and Kris talk about the pitfalls of Kickstarter as it applies to the tabletop games industry! From Josh’s $475 board game installment plan to the cautionary tale of the $3 million Stellaris "vaporware" saga, we break down how the platform shifted from a haven for scrappy ideas to a bloated pre-order system.

Is Kickstarter saving the tabletop industry or slowly strangling it? This week on No Plot Only Lore, Josh and Kris dive into the "infinite hope machine" that...

01/16/2026

Oh dang we're back! Talking about the open gaming license and how great 4th Edition D&D! Also, it's in full beautiful video now! This week on No Plot, Only Lore!

We're back! We're doing audio and video now like a couple-a lunatics! We're doing a deep dive on the open gaming license and its impact on the entire tableto...

07/04/2025

This week on No Plot, Only Lore, we're taking another crack at gritty reboots of beloved franchises, and this time the gloves are off. Cockfighting and Cold War Espionage!

https://no-plot-only-lore.captivate.fm/listen

06/06/2025

This week on No Plot Only Lore, we tackle Folklore with a twist! Gross selkies and queer-coded Baba Yaga and cutesy chupacabra await! https://no-plot-only-lore.captivate.fm/listen