STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE HOW TO PLAY - Actual Play 1: Technical Glitches, Chasm Fiends, and Shardblades

The RPGBOT crew brave technical glitches, angry chasm fiends, and their own questionable tactics in the Stormlight Archive TTRPG—somehow surviving long enough to bond a Shardblade and argue about the rules.

Want to roll dice with Ash Ely? You can! Ash is running games right now on StartPlaying.games — sign up to join his tables and bring your own chaos straight to the adventure.

Show Notes

What happens when a group of seasoned RPG players and podcasters try to explore the Stormlight Archive TTRPG gameplay while also fighting their greatest nemesis: technical difficulties? Chaos, laughter, and some surprisingly good strategy.

In this episode, the RPGBOT crew dive into Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere RPG session and tackle everything from collaborative character creation to survival strategies in tabletop campaigns. Along the way, they explore the chasms of Roshar, narrowly avoid becoming lunch for a chasm fiend, and stumble their way into a Shardblade bonding that changes the party forever.

This is not just a deep dive into fantasy adventure game mechanics and Cosmere lore, it's also a reminder that sometimes the biggest boss fight is your own internet connection. Expect plenty of table banter, a mix of strategy and combat in Stormlight Archive RPG, and the occasional rules lawyer moment when someone tries to figure out exactly how healing and recovery in RPG combat works mid-fight.

If you've ever wanted to know how storytelling through Cosmere role-playing feels when the stakes are survival, or if you just enjoy hearing gamers yell "We did it!" after almost dying in the chasms, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways

• Technical difficulties are the real BBEG – even the most prepared podcasters get crit-hit by audio gremlins.
• Collaborative character creation isn't just fun; it sets up all the chaos and heroics that follow.
• Lore-driven gameplay in fantasy RPGs adds immersion and weight—knowing the world changes how you play it.
• Chasm fiend encounters in tabletop RPGs are terrifying, hilarious, and an excellent way to test teamwork.
• Combat in Stormlight Archive RPG is as much about strategy as it is about rolling well.
• Survival strategies in tabletop campaigns matter—sometimes "run away" is the best spell.
• Healing and recovery in RPG combat are clutch; without them, the only thing you're bonding with is the afterlife.
• Storytelling through Cosmere role-playing proves why Sanderson's worlds are so good for the tabletop.
• Shardblade bonding in role-playing games changes character dynamics—and makes players feel way cooler than they deserve.
• The unpredictability of RPGs keeps every session fresh, funny, and full of unexpected discoveries.

Like what you heard? Support the show by sharing this episode with your fellow adventurers, leave us a review on your favorite podcast app, and don't forget to check out more RPG, Dungeons and Dragons, and Cosmere TTRPG content at RPGBOT.net.

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Meet the Hosts

• Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix.

• Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme.

• Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy.

Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos.

How to Find Us:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

Tyler Kamstra

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

Ash Ely

• Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
• BlueSky: @GravenAshes
• YouTube: @ashravenmedia

Randall James

• BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG
• Amateurjack.com
• Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link)

Producer Dan

• @Lzr_illuminati