Why Your World Feels Empty (And How to Fix It) Artwork

Goblin Salvage Rites

Since 2007, the Pathfinder community has been gathering around tables all across the world to roll dice and share exciting stories about dungeons, dragons, and their many magical acquisitions. Each week, we will drill down into a different RPG-related topic that has sprung up from conversations at our tables over the years. While the vast majority of our content is specific to Pathfinder 2nd edition, we occasionally dip into other staples of the modern rpg landscape.

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Goblin Salvage Rites

Why Your World Feels Empty (And How to Fix It)

April 09, 2025 • Obligatory Media

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Your world isn't broken—it just needs more life.
In this episode of Goblin Salvage Rites, we dig into why some tabletop RPG settings feel hollow or artificial, and how to fill them with the messy, beautiful chaos of real life. From forgotten alleyways to noisy marketplaces, we're talking about the subtle details that make players feel like they're actually there.

Whether you're a forever GM, a first-time worldbuilder, or just someone obsessed with weird fantasy economies, this one's for you.

🧠 Let's salvage something awesome!

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00:00 - Intro & What Is "Well-Built" Worldbuilding?
02:00 - Iconic Goblins & Patreon Setting Reveal
04:45 - Actual Play Recap: Kingmaker & Blood Lords
12:00 - Using Geb as a Worldbuilding Case Study
14:30 - Hard Worldbuilding vs. Soft Worldbuilding
26:50 - Cutaways, Character Knowledge & Story Control
40:00 - The White Glove Society & Living Lore
54:00 - Hexcrawls, Survival Stories & Player Buy-In
1:08:00 - Ravenloft & The 3 Worldbuilding Spectrums
1:18:00 - Final Thoughts & Goblin Worldbuilding Philosophy