Episode Notes
Can You Survive a Highstorm with Just a Character Sheet and Poor Life Choices? We Tried the Cosmere RPG.
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In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the hosts crack open the covers of Brotherwise Games’ Cosmere RPG, diving headfirst into the Stormlight Handbook and World Guide. From spren to highstorms, the episode is packed with crunchy mechanics, deep lore, and just enough existential dread to make Brandon Sanderson proud.
The gang begins with a brief height-based tangent (because no TTRPG is complete without weirdly tall characters), before delving into the key mechanical and narrative innovations of the system. Topics include:
- The Plot Die, a unique mechanic that lets narrative tension escalate like a Shardbearer duel.
- A look at the Personal Goals system, designed to reward character growth beyond “I punch it harder now.”
- The complexity curve compared to D&D 5e and Pathfinder—spoiler alert: this one’s for the lore nerds and narrative junkies.
- Character creation as a journey through Roshar’s cultures, forms, talents, and Radiant oaths.
- Magic systems in the Cosmere—ambitious to adapt, but steeped in storytelling potential.
- The fear of breaking someone else’s toys when homebrewing in a tightly structured setting like the Cosmere.
From audience engagement to the challenge of niche game design, the episode hits on what makes this RPG exciting, where it might fall flat for some players, and how deeply it leans into the lore-rich worlds of Brandon Sanderson’s imagination.
Materials Referenced in This Episode
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