All Episodes

September 30, 2020 250 mins

When the chips are down and your party is in the thick of it, foes abound in your games. Whether your party is facing off against enemies, villains, thugs, ne'er-do-wells, hardened criminal, misfits, or pariahs - the nature of Adversaries in the Genesys RPG is a universal constant that gamemasters must manage and player characters must tackle. But how do you ensure the adversaries in your encounters balance to that of your party? How do you craft adversaries using all the best tenets of the Genesys System and good game design?

To tackle this adversarial question, we welcome back a legend to the show: the amazing Keith Kappel. With Keith's help, we plough headlong into the process of NPC and Adversary creation in Genesys - with a special focus on the Power Levels introduced in the Expanded Players Guide. From start-to-finish, this in-depth discussion lays out the best ways to not only create easy and balanced NPCs - but using Power Levels to ensure your NPCs are balanced to the encounter and the party they are up against!

So prepare to twirl your moustaches, Gamer Nation, make your villainous speeches, and reveal all of your secret plans to the heroes nearing certain death trapped in your machine of doom - as GM Chris, GM Hooly, and Keith Kappel offer you some Adversarial Advice on The Forge.

CONTACT US: LISTEN/WATCH: SUPPORT: REVIEW:

iTunes (US) | iTunes (UK) | iTunes (Australia) | iTunes (Canada) | iTunes (Ireland) | iTunes (Germany) | iTunes (NZ)

Don't forget to drop us a review on Facebook, iTunes, YouTube or send us an e-mail.

The Forge: A Genesys RPG Podcast is a proud member of the d20 Radio Network. For more information about the network visit www.d20radio.com.

CHAPTER NOTES:
  • 00:00:00 - PATREON ANNOUNCEMENT
  • 00:00:49 - INTRODUCTION
  • 00:09:05 - STOKING THE FIRE
  • 00:09:18 - Podcast of the Week - Shared Sagas Podcast
  • 00:10:40 - News & Announcements
  • 00:23:22 - THE FURNACE: NPC Creation
  • 00:28:41 - The Basics: NPC Creation
  • 01:09:15 - The Basics: Power Levels
  • 01:23:33 - Step 0: Concept
  • 01:27:50 - Step 1: Choose Adversary Type
  • 01:45:22 - Step 2: Assign Characteristics
  • 01:54:15 - Step 3: Soak, Defence, WT & ST
  • 02:32:14 - Step 4: Skill Selection
  • 02:51:45 - Step 5: Talents and Special Abilities
  • 03:17:50 - Step 6: Equipment
  • 03:33:36 - Finishing Touches
  • 03:37:32 - Using Power Levels in Your Game
  • 03:52:12 - UNDER THE HAMMER
  • 03:52:44 - Q1. Vehicles - The Rubber Band Game
  • 03:58:27 - Q2. Magic: Spell Maintenance
  • 04:07:09 - WRAP UP
Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.