NPCS: Why Samwise Gamgee Will Always Beat Samesize Gamecheat (LIVE from FateCon 2026)
AI tools are around. Ubiquitous and being forced upon us more and more into our hobbies. Certainly, they can be used for left-brain logistics...but when we surrender our right minds to generative LLMs that scrape the Internet and other peoples' hard work to deliver instant, soulless gratification...we lose that spark that make us us: HUMAN. So this panel will seek to inspire folks to write what they know, borrow what they love, steal what they'd love to emulate, and make a twist for the people at your table. Using my podcast tables, we will randomly generate a NPC, and I will show exactly how I practice what I preach to create a whole NPC with a sidequest with more heart than anything a computer could have done in 3 seconds.
And note: I've included the raw transcript from Zencastr for this episode as well (will work to go back and retrieve and upload others as I'm able). Please note the transcripts are the UNEDITED version, not the final edit you are listening to.
Visit our website at https://www.sidekicksandsidequests.com (https://www.sidekicksandsidequests.com)
Twitter Page (https://twitter.com/SideKQPodcast)
Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/SideKQPodcast)
Subreddit Page (https://www.reddit.com/r/SideKQPodcast)
Instagram Page (https://www.instagram.com/sidekqpodcast)
Discord Server (https://discord.gg/yraJJ6JHEd)
Support Sidekicks & Sidequests (https://www.patreon.com/sidekicksandsidequests)
14 Oct 2026
Anton Stodgley the Gnomish Conductor
We join the table of Jess Mitchell and roll the dice to create Anton Stodgley. An elderly chap who drives a Tenser's Floating Disc Train...but he tells the missus he still works at the mine. This cabal of wizards is forcing him to tell lie after lie, and all he wants is to ask you help him prepare for a date with Mrs. Stodgley...
And note: I've included the raw transcript from Zencastr for this episode as well (will work to go back and retrieve and upload others as I'm able). Please note the transcripts are the UNEDITED version, not the final edit you are listening to.
Podcast art by Chauncy Riley (https://www.behance.net/graphicsbychauncy), Graphics by Chauncy.
Visit our website at https://www.sidekicksandsidequests.com (https://www.sidekicksandsidequests.com)
Twitter Page (https://twitter.com/SideKQPodcast)
Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/SideKQPodcast)
Subreddit Page (https://www.reddit.com/r/SideKQPodcast)
Instagram Page (https://www.instagram.com/sidekqpodcast)
Discord Server (https://discord.gg/yraJJ6JHEd)
Music Used:
"Baba Yaga" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Special Guest: Jess Mitchell.
Support Sidekicks & Sidequests (https://www.patreon.com/sidekicksandsidequests)
16 Sept 2026
Wendell the Halfling Courier
We return to the table of the once Fr. Tom Bombadil now christened Fr. Chris once again! With the idea of a halfling courier on the mind, we explore the long and dedicated life of dear Wendell. But as we soon learn, Wendell is getting older and yearns to reconnect with his family before it's too late. Will you help deliver the letter that he cannot?
And note: I've included the raw transcript from Zencastr for this episode as well (will work to go back and retrieve and upload others as I'm able). Please note the transcripts are the UNEDITED version, not the final edit you are listening to.
Podcast art by Chauncy Riley (https://www.behance.net/graphicsbychauncy), Graphics by Chauncy.
Visit our website at https://sidekicksandsidequests.com (https://sidekicksandsidequests.com)
Twitter Page (https://twitter.com/SideKQPodcast)
Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/SideKQPodcast)
Subreddit Page (https://www.reddit.com/r/SideKQPodcast)
Instagram Page (https://www.instagram.com/sidekqpodcast)
Discord Server (https://discord.gg/yraJJ6JHEd)
Music Used:
"Fiddles McGinty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Special Guest: Fr. Chris.
Support Sidekicks & Sidequests (https://www.patreon.com/sidekicksandsidequests)
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 62 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
98
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
68
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