Born To Lose - Torchbearer RPG Podcast
A variety show podcast for the Torchbearer tabletop roleplaying game. Expect a mix of interviews, boastful tales, gameplay insights, and follow along with our actual play campaign.
Ross is our regular host with different guests every week. If you'd like to come onto the pod, please contact us!
https://www.torchbearerrpg.com/
Torchbearer is a riff on the early model of fantasy roleplaying games. In it, you take on the role of an adventurer seeking his or her fortune. To earn that fortune, you must explore forlorn ruins, brave terrible monsters and retrieve forgotten treasures. However, this game is not about being a hero. It is not about fighting for what you believe. This game is about exploration and survival. You may become a hero. You might have to fight for your ideals. But to do either of those things, you must prove yourself in the wilds. Because there are no jobs, no inheritance, no other opportunities for our deadbeat adventurers. This life is their only hope to prosper in this world.
Episodes

8 hours ago
8 hours ago
1hr 2 min
Owen talks about Mordite Press and its history. We then talk about hesitancy for creators to create imperfect work. Then a lot about Torchbearer Planescape and the changes from 1E to 2E Torchbearer.
Owen's LinksLootersArtefactumVox VulgarisCervantes' Thieves GuildMordite Press Drivethru RPGShadowrunBlades in the DarkPathfinderBurning WheelMouse Guard ComicJared's ClassesCastle ArdmorePlanescapeThe Sinister Secret of SaltmarshThe Village of Hommlet
Born To Lose is a community-based podcast for the Torchbearer tabletop roleplaying game.
Torchbearer: https://www.torchbearerrpg.com/
Contact: borntoloseTBpodcast@gmail.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/BornToLose_TorchbearerpodcastWebsite: https://borntolose.podbean.com/Intro/Outro Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2KYhSNyhDoxAQfOVmB8wq5Logo: Instagram @kcassady87Bluesky: @borntolosepodcast.bsky.social

Jul 13, 2026
Jul 13, 2026
1hr 14 min
We talk about Price's experiences running Dark Sun Torchbearer for the last six months and many other tangents.
Price's LinksConan the BarbarianWatchmenDark SunRed NailsThe Black RoadThe Lost CityOld School EssentialsLegend of the Five RingsBlades in the DarkFireball!Lawrence of Arabia
Born To Lose is a community-based podcast for the Torchbearer tabletop roleplaying game.
Torchbearer: https://www.torchbearerrpg.com/
Contact: borntoloseTBpodcast@gmail.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/BornToLose_TorchbearerpodcastWebsite: https://borntolose.podbean.com/Intro/Outro Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2KYhSNyhDoxAQfOVmB8wq5Logo: Instagram @kcassady87Bluesky: @borntolosepodcast.bsky.social

Jul 6, 2026
Jul 6, 2026
48 min
We shoot the breeze and talk about how great Torchbearer is and how wrong all the haters are.
Kilivan's LinksBattleTech
Born To Lose is a community-based podcast for the Torchbearer tabletop roleplaying game.
Torchbearer: https://www.torchbearerrpg.com/
Contact: borntoloseTBpodcast@gmail.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/BornToLose_TorchbearerpodcastWebsite: https://borntolose.podbean.com/Intro/Outro Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2KYhSNyhDoxAQfOVmB8wq5Logo: Instagram @kcassady87Bluesky: @borntolosepodcast.bsky.social

Jun 15, 2026
Jun 15, 2026
1hr 7 min
Eric talks about his work on multiple indie games with layout, design, and how that elevates the gaming experience. Also, we touch on the digest-sized-books great divide.
Eric's LinksSteamed HamsNarrative Dynamics (Goblinville & Rebel Crown)SherwoodMy Chivalric RomanceCloud-Giant.itch.ioPro Wrestling Board GameMazes & MonstersShadowrunMouseguardMothership
Born To Lose is a community-based podcast for the Torchbearer tabletop roleplaying game.
TorchbearerContactPatreonWebsiteIntro/Outro MusicLogo: Instagram @kcassady87Bluesky: @borntolosepodcast.bsky.social

Jun 8, 2026
Jun 8, 2026
1hr 21 min
I sit down with Shane King to create a starship using his (tentatively titled) RIP scifi roleplaying game based on Torchbearer. My ideas are 1000% inspired from this short story series.

Jun 1, 2026
Jun 1, 2026
1hr 9 min
Dave talks about death and faeries.
Dave's LinksWorld of DarknessOnce Upon A TimeAvariceAegon's Conquest MegaGame5th Edition Team DeathmatchDarkest DungeonFFXI
Born To Lose is a community-based podcast for the Torchbearer tabletop roleplaying game.
Torchbearer: https://www.torchbearerrpg.com/
Contact: borntoloseTBpodcast@gmail.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/BornToLose_TorchbearerpodcastWebsite: https://borntolose.podbean.com/Intro/Outro Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2KYhSNyhDoxAQfOVmB8wq5Logo: Instagram @kcassady87Bluesky: @borntolosepodcast.bsky.social

May 25, 2026
May 25, 2026
49 min
Born To Lose is a community-based podcast for the Torchbearer tabletop roleplaying game.
Torchbearer
ContactPatreonWebsiteIntro/Outro MusicLogo: Instagram @kcassady87Bluesky: @borntolosepodcast.bsky.social
Jared & Ross' Links
Momento MoriEberronGideon the NinthFrom Beyond
Suggested Music (Bela Legosi's Dead, by Bauhaus)
HUMAN GRAVEROBBER
Ability Scores: Distribute 8 points between Will and Health.Skills: Laborer 3, Ritualist 3, Summoner 3, Healer 2, Butcher 2Trait: Grave-scent. You can smell out things, but also you're kind of stinky.
Nature Descriptors: Sneaking, Demanding, RunningDo you wait for the cover of night to ply your dark trade in shadow-filled alleys? Or do you revel in the grisly macabre and its effect on civilized folk?+ If you lurk in darkness, increase your Nature by one.+ If you are unashamed of the necessity of your work, increase your class trait to Level 2.
Level 1 Benefit: Graverobbers may wield daggers, polearms, halberds, cleavers, hooks, and similar implements. They can use Butcher and Laborer skill tools as improvised weapons that aren't broken or lost at the end of a Kill, Capture, or Drive-Off Conflict.Graverobbers can use leather armor; but no other armor, helmets, or shields.
Level 2 BenefitsSpirits of Terror: Spirits of fear and terror have whispered to you since the day of your birth, and you have grown inured. You are granted +1D to tests to resist fear (e.g., the Malison of the Lords of Terror invocation) and to recover from the afraid condition.Diagnosis: Once per phase, you may make a Will test versus an undead or demon target’s Nature. If successful, the game master reveals one of the following: creed, a trait or the last evil deed committed by the target. This test does not cost a turn.
Level 3 BenefitsBinder: Lesser spirits tremble at your name. Increase your Precedence for the purpose of binding by one. Combine this bonus with other bonuses from spells, invocations and magical items.Wormy Guts: Add +1D to recover from the sick condition or to any tests to resist diseases or poisons.
Level 4 BenefitsExtended Pineal Gland: You can commune and channel the powers of creatures from beyond. Gain Urdr 1 and the ability to cast invocations from the Theurge invocations lists.Burke: You know how to snuff out the life of those most vulnerable. You are granted +1s to Feint against creatures when you have the benefits of Gain Position or against enemies who suffer from the penalty of Impede. Add this benefit to any weapon or Might bonuses also in play for the Feint.
Level 5 BenefitsFlatliner: When you Pay the Terrible Price, you may choose which Nature descriptor is removed in lieu of the Game Master. Ghoul-Friend: You have a new Friend, they happen to be a ghoul. There's nothing wrong with that in this day and age. When visiting them in the graveyard they haunt, you may choose to stay with them. If the ghoul stays at a Town, treat their accommodations as a Stables. Otherwise, it stays at a new Base Camp outside of an established Town. Set up a new Base Camp (LMM p. 161), skipping the Survivalist test. It has shelter, but not water. You live in the dirt. Your Ghoul-friend is very understanding and extremely loyal. It is totally gross.
Level 6 BenefitsCommand Undead: You can speak to the fragments of lost souls still clinging to undead flesh and understand their pain. Undead creatures lose their 'Mindless' ability when you speak to them. They can hear and speak with you, regardless of their original known languages. Once per phase, you may make a Will test versus an undead or demon target’s Nature. If successful, the game master reveals one of the following, adding one where necessary: creed, a trait or the last injustice perpetrated on the target. This test does not cost a turn.Seventh Gateway: Increase your Urdr by one.
Level 7 BenefitsExpert: Increase your rating cap for Butcher, Healer, Ritualist, or Laborer from 6 to 7. You may advance the chosen skill to rating 7 with six passed tests and five failed tests.Leverage: You have dug up a lot of dirt on a lot of people. Increase your Precedence by one. Also, you possess the Leverage weapon (+1D Attack) in convince conflicts. To use leverage, you must have something over your target—a secret, a threat, a need, etc.
Level 8 BenefitsDemonslayer: Increase your Might by one when contesting with spirit, demon or undead type creatures.A Life in the Shadows: You suffer no penalty for dim light and only -1s in darkness. You can act in darkness without conflict restrictions provided you can smell, hear and touch.
Level 9 BenefitsHeroic Ability: Choose Will, Laborer, Ritualist, or Summoner. The chosen skill becomes "heroic". When rolling, 3-6 indicates a success (rather than the standard 4-6).Transformed: Change one Nature descriptor to Re-Animating, Flaying, or Exorcising. You may use this benefit to replace a lost Nature descriptor.
Level 10 BenefitsReanimator: If you spend a Persona point, you can bring back the dead. Remove the dead condition from a companion or fellow adventurer, follow the procedures, and pay The Terrible Price (LMM, p.94). The graverobber pays the Persona point and makes all relevant decisions.From Beyond: When you have the Dead condition, you may still make tests.

May 18, 2026
May 18, 2026
1hr 23 sec
Keegan talks about art and we do a little brainstorming session on creating high level Torchbearer scenarios.
Keegan's LinksLittle Ducks First SwimInstagramRebel CrownUnder the House of Three Squires
Born To Lose is a community-based podcast for the Torchbearer tabletop roleplaying game.
Torchbearer: https://www.torchbearerrpg.com/
Contact: borntoloseTBpodcast@gmail.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/BornToLose_TorchbearerpodcastWebsite: https://borntolose.podbean.com/Intro/Outro Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2KYhSNyhDoxAQfOVmB8wq5Logo: Instagram @kcassady87Bluesky: @borntolosepodcast.bsky.social

May 11, 2026
May 11, 2026
58 min
Duamn talks about dungeon art, Argentinian gaming, and the philosophy of the murder-hobo.
Duamn's LinksMordite PressNoctis LabyrinthNew Edge MagazineFantasy In My Backyardmrdrhobo.itch.ioWorld of Blades The Holy MountainDelta GreenLiquid SteelBlades in the Dark
Born To Lose is a community-based podcast for the Torchbearer tabletop roleplaying game.
Torchbearer: https://www.torchbearerrpg.com/
Contact: borntoloseTBpodcast@gmail.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/BornToLose_TorchbearerpodcastWebsite: https://borntolose.podbean.com/Intro/Outro Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2KYhSNyhDoxAQfOVmB8wq5Logo: Instagram @kcassady87Bluesky: @borntolosepodcast.bsky.social

May 4, 2026
May 4, 2026
56 min
Sean talks about his vast array of RPG project work, his adventure Stone Dragon Mountain, and what it was like in 2013 stumbling through Torchbearer without all of the rules.
Sean's LinksEvil HatAgonBBConRock Club (Playtest)Ride or DieJohn Harper blueskyBlades 68Spell & BladeThe Shadow of YesterdayShadowdarkseannittner.comactualplaynarrative controlGoPlay NWStone Dragon Mountain
Born To Lose is a community-based podcast for the Torchbearer tabletop roleplaying game.
Torchbearer: https://www.torchbearerrpg.com/
Contact: borntoloseTBpodcast@gmail.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/BornToLose_TorchbearerpodcastWebsite: https://borntolose.podbean.com/Intro/Outro Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2KYhSNyhDoxAQfOVmB8wq5Logo: Instagram @kcassady87Bluesky: @borntolosepodcast.bsky.social







