Heroes & Thieves
A creative world building exercise led by brothers Michael and Greg Starks, in which they attempt to build fantasy and sci-fi worlds every week using only three words as the basis. Good, bad, and ugly ideas are all welcome here.
Episodes
73 episodes
Talkin' About 'Baldur's Gate 3'
Here we take another new season where we get more casual, and a little more exposition-y. It's time to talk about Baldur's Gate 3, and the house that D&D built. How can this great new game improve your worldbuilding? Listen and find out.
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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52:32
The Toilet Bowl Taketh
If you think a twelve hour plane ride is long, this episode will make your skin crawl. This world is has barbarism, cannibalism, and an extremely well-to-do pilot. It's the perfect storm for some 'turbulent' worldbuilding.
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Season 3
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Episode 15
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59:05
Mega Millions Sauna Club
This place is not fun for most, awful for many, but where many of the best deals in the universe happen. Check out how we build mega million money getaways!
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Season 3
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Episode 14
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59:16
Waves Of Creation
Today's episode waxes a little more poetic than normal, as we attempt to make a world that is farther out of the bounds of reality than usual. How did we do?Other topics: Parenting, giving children headphones, allocate, pirates, Cthulhu...
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Season 3
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Episode 13
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1:02:09
Twisted Trials of the Fallen
There's so many ways worldbuilding could go, but this one gets devilish. Worry not, mom and dad, we don't worship any underground deities... yet. Dante's Inferno and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn come together in a beauti...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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55:05
Worlds Will Collide ft. Garrett K. Jones
In today's episode we are joined by Garrett K. Jones, author of a series called The Archives of Icínq-Régn, podcast host, and YouTube creator! We build an alternate Earth, learning a bit about history along the way. Who knew histo...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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59:05
They Will Dig Our Graves ft. Kerry E.B. Black
Are you a horror loving type? How about a good thriller? In this episode we attempt our best horror style world with the help of author Kerry E.B. Black! Are werewolves lame or cool? What about fairies? Find out with us in this episode!...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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59:55
The Great Triangle Wars ft. Adam J. Scholte
A frozen landscape, warring tribal factions, and some documents! Things get hot real fast on this icy world. And, we are joined by a guest author!Adam J. Scholte is the author of The Ramulas Chronicles, a series of fantasy novels starti...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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53:38
Sticks and Stones
Which one hurts more: sticks or stones? If only there was some sort of mantra to answer that for us... I guess we will never know! Welcome to a world of rings and rivers!
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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56:03
The All Consuming
We're at it again with a fun blend of scifi and fantasy, and a few grievances to lay out. Listen as we create worlds, magically, out of nothing but some sub-par words.
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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56:36
Our Gloves Unite Us
Power Gloves? Golden Gloves? Fingerless leather gloves? I can't imagine why we are so obsessed with these hand coverings, but that is the basis of this week's world. They are like socks for our hands!
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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58:33
Justice Is Blind
New year, new us! Kick off 2023 with a sci-fi world full of justice and... whittling? We also have a special guest... our brother Randy! Listen in as he tries his hand at impromptu worldbuilding - it's not as easy as it looks.
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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50:33
Games of the Gods
Do the gods really love us or are we just pawns in their eternal game? This biblically-inspired world will most definitely surprise you, because we were also confused.
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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1:00:48
Philosophical Paper People
Armchair philosophy reigns supreme this time around. Do you have what it takes to match the big brains on display here? Give it a listen and find out!
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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58:59
The Future Is Not Good
Join us as we slowly realize that the world we are building is coming to pass before our very eyes. Influencers, Hollywood stars, and CEO's. All to be found here!
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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52:13
Fight or Blight
Welcome to the first episode of Season 3! Back to the origins of building fresh worlds and inserting some real premium armchair philosophy. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a hot, delicious cup of jasmine green tea while we whisk away your worries!
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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1:02:03
Artia Is Complete
This marks our last foray into the world of Artia! Join us as we reminisce on the process and the ideas that came out of this fantastic fantasy world. Needless to say, there were a lot of lessons learned!
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Season 2
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Episode 34
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58:46
The Polish of Steelglaive
As the sun begins to set on the worldbuilding of Artia, we take a few moments to reflect on all the good work that was done here. And question the creators of gargoyles. Whoever thought they'd be a good addition to classic churches was either a...
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Season 2
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Episode 33
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1:05:48
The Rainfall
What do you do when it rains? Get sad, of course. We discuss the finer points of sadness as it relates to humanity and happiness. Equal and opposite reactions or something like that. In loving memory of Kuang-Hao Chang.
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Season 2
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Episode 32
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58:03
The Rotating City of Steel
Was Friends even a good show? Do pivoting cities excite you? Well they should! This week we dive into Steelglaive and create more workings of the city.
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Season 2
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Episode 31
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1:04:26
Antihero Life Lessons
What makes a hero? What makes a villain? Answers to these and many more hard-hitting questions lie inside this episode. Also included: a crash course in some real world governing principles.
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Season 2
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Episode 30
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1:03:00
Wirey Boys
What's in a name? Why were we both given names that can be shortened? Is there a name that can't be shortened? Also discussed is the importance of hugs to the family unit. All important pieces to the world of Artia!
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Season 2
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Episode 29
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58:53
I Am The One Who Shuts
You know that phenomenon when you say a word so many times that it starts to lose meaning? That happened to us while recording this episode. Happened to Greg twice. Listen in to discover a new character stalking the streets of Meragora!
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Season 2
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Episode 28
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1:03:41