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Power Word Fail - D&D Actual Play artwork

Power Word Fail - D&D Actual Play

The Homebrew Network·Hosted by Cody Smith, Tyrell Nye, Austin Brady and Nathan Heard·81 episodes

ComedyImprovFictionDramaLeisureGamesD&D actual playCompleted campaignSerialized fantasyEnsemble castComic table banter1-2 hrs/ep

Power Word Fail is a fantasy actual play D&D 5e podcast powered by lush character dynamics, arcane mystery, and the hilarity of the players’ table. Take arms and take heed: all actions have consequences in the world of Power Word Fail. Our first campaign, Chosen of the Crystal Crown, is helmed by DM Cody Smith, with cast members Tyrell Nye, Austin Brady, Nathan Heard, Andi Casuras, Katie Franks, and Ian Davis. This is a Homebrew Podcast. Learn more at actualplaypods.comYou can support the show at patreon.com/thehomebrewJoin the discord @ discord.gg/thehomebrewpodcastIf you are enjoying the show, plea...

Why listen

Power Word Fail is a completed D&D 5e actual play for listeners who want a full fantasy campaign with real table energy, not a polished audio drama pretending the dice are invisible. The cast leans into chaotic choices, character consequences, mystery, and jokes, so you get both an unfolding homebrew story and the fun of hearing players surprise each other. Start at the beginning if you like ensemble fantasy, long character arcs, and campaigns where the party's mistakes become part of the world.

Series(12)

Episodes

1 hr 13 min
Jan 26, 2024Episode 81
Epilogue

Join the crew as we discuss Power Word Fail's epilogue: what happens immediately after the campaign and what legacy do the characters leave?

2 hr 38 min
Jan 8, 2024Episode 80
Part 2 - Endings and Beginnings

The Failures’ journey began in a cave, with a dragon. It will end the same way.

1 hr 50 min
Dec 18, 2023Episode 78
Part 1 - Endings and Beginnings

The Failures finally make it to the Kyln settlement in the Trakari Wilds. A night of joy and celebration follows as Fyrric and Idalia choose a new future together.

1 hr 46 min
Dec 11, 2023Episode 77
Part 2 - Minor Gods and Major Decisions

The Failures emerge from Castle Everton to find the city greatly changed. As they journey north, the party discusses what comes next for them, and Fyrric and Idalia decide what they want their future to look like.

1 hr 41 min
Dec 4, 2023Episode 76
Part 1 - Minor Gods and Major Decisions

Fresh from their victory over the Harbinger of Change, the Failures hope to return to their own plane and get some well-earned rest. The Dark Matron has other plans.

53 min
Nov 27, 2023Episode 75
Part 2 - The Harbinger of Change

The Failures finally come face to face with the Harbinger. A battle ensues, and Atrales’ mind is opened to some of what’s happening behind the curtain.

1 hr 23 min
Nov 20, 2023Episode 74
Part 1 - The Harbinger of Change

The Failures question their prisoner and devise a bold plan to confront the Harbinger at last, but the snake cultists aren’t quite done with them yet. Fyrric makes a fateful choice regarding the task Zorla laid before them.

1 hr 38 min
Nov 13, 2023Episode 73
Part 2 - Brahm and Jerry

The Failures debate the wisdom of unleashing a magical sword upon the world, discover a complicated new friend, and make some typically chaotic decisions.

1 hr 38 min
Nov 6, 2023Episode 72
Part 1 - Brahm and Jerry

The party ventures into the first floor of Castle Everton, where they grapple with the morality of display cases, actually execute on a battle plan for once,  and try not to burn down the library.

1 hr 32 min
Oct 30, 2023Episode 71
Part 2 - The Basement of Secrets

The Failures continue to explore the dungeons below Castle Everton, have more skirmishes with the snake cultists, and learn more about the fate of the Wormleys and the importance of bathtubs with lids.

1 hr 42 min
Oct 23, 2023Episode 70
Part 1 - The Basement of Secrets

The Failures continue fighting their way through the basement of Castle Everton. They confront some familiar enemies and have to unravel the mystery of how to move forward.

1 hr 9 min
Oct 16, 2023Episode 69
Part 2 - Have Fun Storming the Castle!

Battle in the basement. Following Pkelz’ little-evil-man-in-her-head intuition, the Failures descend into the lower levels of Castle Everton and finally find a fight worth picking.

1 hr 30 min
Oct 9, 2023Episode 68
Part 1 - Have Fun Storming the Castle!

The party makes a move. The Failures begin their infiltration of Castle Everton. They make some bold guard-related choices and learn more about what’s going on behind the Wormleys’ walls.

1 hr 26 min
Oct 2, 2023Episode 67
Part 2 - The Castle Plan

The Wrinkles of Time. The Failures take a proactive approach to a problem (for once) and head for the Mayor’s Castle.

1 hr 44 min
Sep 25, 2023Episode 66
Part 1 - The Castle Plan

An investigation on several fronts. The Failures do some snooping, first on the new threat of the Harbinger, and then on the dark history of an old friend.

1 hr 40 min
Sep 18, 2023Episode 65
Part 2 - Untarnished Sunshine of the Pristine Soul

Harbinger of Change. The Failures plot some murder and begin getting to the bottom of the strange goings-on in Everton.

1 hr 36 min
Sep 11, 2023Episode 64
Part 1 - Untarnished Sunshine of the Pristine Soul

A spot of soup and intel. The Failures enjoy the hospitality of the Everton’s Oasis faction, and do a bit of shopping.

1 hr 33 min
Aug 28, 2023Episode 63
Power Word Chill LIVE - Level 9!

Another live episode of Power Word Chill - the show about the show! The cast does a live level up to bring the Failures up to Level 9, and chats about Atrales, the events of Episode 55, and divine conspiracy theories.

1 hr 36 min
Aug 21, 2023Episode 62
Part 2 - A Perfectly Normal Town

A hero’s story. The Failures have a difficult conversation over breakfast and an enlightening conversation with the mother of a lost companion.

1 hr 22 min
Aug 15, 2023Episode 61
Part 1 - A Perfectly Normal Town

The bard-off and the bad deal.  On their first night in Everton, the Failures are  unexpectedly confronted by the past of a long-lost friend (in more ways than one).

2 hr 21 min
Aug 7, 2023Episode 60
Power Word Chill LIVE

A very special live episode of Power Word Chill, the show about the show! The cast answers fan questions and discusses the campaign so far.

1 hr 1 min
Jul 31, 2023Episode 60
Part 2 - The Bad Trip

A head full of evil men. Pkelz goes on a traumatizing quest of self-reflection. In the morning, the Failures forge ahead to Everton and (reluctantly) pick up a traveling companion.

1 hr 22 min
Jul 24, 2023Episode 59
Part 1 - The Bad Trip

Not-quite-a-bridge-troll, not-exactly-a-good-idea.  The Failures encounter rough roads, bad weather, and a very suspicious character on their way to Everton. Ambrose proposes a plan to delve deeper into Pkelz’ strange memories.

1 hr 44 min
Jul 17, 2023Episode 58
Onward from Ortimal Part 2

Fantasy icebreakers. The party hits the road once again. Conversations around the campfire that night lead to unexpected revelations.

1 hr 27 min
Jul 11, 2023Episode 57
Onward from Ortimal Part 1

Introductions and late night visitors. The Failures are reunited and learn more about their new companions. During the night, they have a strange encounter with the inhabitants of a nearby pond.

1 hr 23 min
Jul 3, 2023Episode 56
A Day in the City Part 2

Chase scenes and new friends. The Failures flee the consequences of their actions . . . again. Along the way, they receive aid from an unexpected source.

1 hr 23 min
Jun 26, 2023Episode 55
A Day in the City Part 1

In which the Battle Buggy is invented. The Failures go incognito (sort of) to attend the Ortemalian Games and finally get a glimpse of the Rock of Bristoll.

8 min
Jun 13, 2023Episode 54
Recap: Our Story Thus Far

If you're just joining us - start out here! Join us LIVE on Youtube! Premiering June 18thhttps://www.youtube.com/@thehomebrewdnd

1 hr 9 min
Jun 6, 2023Episode 53
Ortimal

The Master and the mangled gnomes. The Failures make their way to the capital of the Concurrent Theocracy, and get an unexpected lead on an ongoing mystery.

1 hr 3 min
May 30, 2023Episode 52
At Rest

After the mines. The Failures put themselves back together following the deadly conflict with Tarsian and the Dark Matron.

55 min
May 23, 2023Episode 51
Bad Blood

So take a look at what you’ve done. The terrible battle with the Dark Matron concludes.

45 min
May 16, 2023Episode 50
The Dark Matron

Through the portal. The Failures open a door and finally confront the enemy they have come so far to find.

1 hr 8 min
May 9, 2023Episode 49
Au Gratin

The consequences of poking cave potatoes. The Failures battle their most unusual enemy yet.

57 min
May 2, 2023Episode 48
Beware the Potatoes

Chaos in the caverns. The Failures continue their exploration of the mines. They uncover some long-buried secrets and poke some obviously-evil vegetables.

52 min
Apr 25, 2023Episode 47
The Matron’s Mine

And the importance of elevator maintenance. The Failures begin their descent into the underground caverns of the Dark Matron. As always, things immediately go wrong.

1 hr
Apr 18, 2023Episode 46
Midnight Interrogation

An assassin’s story. The Failures question their prisoner from the ambush. They learn a little about him, and a lot about each other.

1 hr 4 min
Apr 11, 2023Episode 45
Stranger Danger

Camping is fun. On the second night of travel toward the Concurrent Theocracy, the Failures camp beside a river and finally get introduced to the other party traveling the same road.

1 hr 12 min
Apr 4, 2023Episode 44
The Jacobsons

Context is everything. The Failures finally depart from the grand city of Mournstead. On their way out of town, they make a stop at Eugene’s parents’ house and an appropriate amount of chaos ensues.

1 hr 11 min
Mar 28, 2023Episode 43
A Night at the Li-BAR-y

Research mode activated. Ambrose leads the party on a quest to understand the Royal Library’s organizational system. After a wild and crazy night of mining for lore, the Failures decompress in their own unique ways.

1 hr 12 min
Mar 21, 2023Episode 42
It’s Free Real Estate!

A deep dive into fantasy tax law. The Failures head to dinner with Cornelius Abernathy, who offers them an unexpected gift. Navara takes steps toward repairing more than one broken soul.

1 hr 8 min
Mar 14, 2023Episode 41
We Three Kings

So say the Heroes of Mournstead. The Failures make an ambitious proposal to the Golden Council regarding Mournstead’s next ruler. A new arrival in the city brings news of the past and hope for the future.

52 min
Mar 7, 2023Episode 40
We Need to Talk About Kelvin

Let’s get the mob’s perspective. The Failures pay Pkelz’s family a visit to learn more about the candidates for the next king of Mournstead. Everyone’s favorite gnomish political operative has some secrets revealed.

1 hr 1 min
Feb 28, 2023Episode 39
Snakes, Secrets, and Midnight Snacks

Lore! Confessions! Mournstead Toast!  Vilvanus’ stories about the good old adventuring days have surprising relevance to the present. Navara and Idalia bond, Pkelz and Miroz trauma dump, and Fyrric gets gloriously drunk.

1 hr 2 min
Feb 24, 2023Episode 38
Two by Two

Always split the party. The Failures spread out in the city for an afternoon. Idalia and Pkelz do some shopping, Fyrric and Miroz have a heart to heart at the Black Rose, and Ambrose and Navara visit the Abernathy Estate.

52 min
Feb 14, 2023Episode 37
The Kingmakers

Guess we’re politicians now. The Failures meet with the Golden Council to discuss the issue of succession. The candidates for the new ruler of Mournstead are presented, and the party is put on the spot to make a choice.

1 hr 7 min
Feb 7, 2023Episode 36
House Party

A night of respite. The Failures celebrate their victory and their sweet new home base by (accidentally) throwing a party. The political machinations of Mournstead’s elite don’t give them much time to rest.

1 hr 7 min
Jan 31, 2023Episode 35
Such Sweet Sorrow

Confessions and funerals. The Failures spend an afternoon navigating their grief and guilt, uncovering some painful truths, and honoring those who fell at Zeos’ hands.

1 hr 2 min
Jan 24, 2023Episode 34
The Saviors of Mournstead

What happens after. With their battle won, the Failures and the city of Mournstead have more questions than answers. The party returns to the Abernathy estate only to find a reminder that Zeos was not the only evil in the world.

48 min
Jan 17, 2023Episode 33
Your Tears Don't Fall

They crash around me… The prolonged battle with Zeos and his monsters reaches its deadly conclusion. Miracles and losses abound.

59 min
Jan 10, 2023Episode 32
You Want a Battle?

Here's a war! The Failures’ showdown with Zeos at the royal court continues. When pushed to his breaking point, the tyrant of Northwatch proves even more dangerous than expected.