Hi! Is there a listener's guide for Hope's Hearth? Are there specific good places to start, or should one just start from episode one?
Ah, the thing I have been meaning to make for three years has finally come to bite me in the butt.
For you Anon, I present:
The Hope's Hearth Listening Guide 2025 (made just now)
This is gonna break each season into it's Game Arcs, and anything with an asterisk (*) next to it is part of the wider storyline with connecting characters. Not everything is connected like that, but some of it is!
My recommendations are to start with our first two games, and then pick and choose from there. Not a lot is currently linear, so you aren't going to spoil yourself listening to the Hungry Gnoles Eat The Rich game before the Los Arboles game.
Full guide under the cut!
Season 1
Episodes 1-4: Mythomorphosis (previously known as Apotheosis)*
World building game where we make dogs a foundational building block of our entire solarpunk world
Episodes 5-11: This Town Is Full Of Monsters*
There is a town and it is full of mysteries, people, and always monsters. We flesh out our world and the people living in it
Episodes 12-13: Things, Eldritch and Terrifying*
You should listen to this after the previous arc since it involves two of those characters being gay
Bonus: Death of the Bone God short story
Episode 14: CONNECTED TO - [ANONYMOUS]
Two people connect on an app and talk about their lives and hopes before being disconnected.
Episodes 15-16: Candide
A retired military veteran starts a garden, and it is full of memories good and bad. A young child befriends the gardener, and helps remind them that not everything in this world is bad.
Episode 17: Divine|Mundane
A mortal is brought into the world of gods. One of them is a ho. Yes Dirk that is how I'm going to describe Obsidian. Tell me I'm wrong.
Episodes 18-20: With Fire Thy Affections Hold A Wing
A dragon and her rider save two worlds from total destruction, and sacrifice almost everything to do it.
Episodes 21-30: Flotsam*
Back in our mysterious town from before, we step into the lives of four new people. Old locals and new arrivals struggling to live in a unique society.
Episodes 31-32: Be Not Afraid
In which the goddess of "Mom, I can't work, I'm gay" gets her first paladin. Played with guest Jade Koda Oxford Rose from Follow The Leader
Episodes 33-41: Galactic 1e*
We begin exploring the rest of our universe about Ducky, the space ship held together with hopes, prayers, and spuct (space duct) tape. We'll meet again on Hope's Promise. (if you're here from the sexiest podcast character competition, this is where Husky first shows up)
Season 2
Episodes 44-45: Ech0
Three siblings try and help a ghost find their fallen mech, and learn more about what their world used to be like. Played with guests Jupiter and Erin from The Hades Project
Episodes 46-47: Los Arboles
The woods call, and our players answer. Willingly or not, each will go into the woods and come back changed, or not at all. Played with guest William A. Wellman from Hello From The Hallowoods
Episodes 48-49: Navigator
One seeks answers, the other guides them to it. What they find along the way tests their mettle, and brings them closer together.
Episodes 50-51: Sapphic Space Pirates
What is says on the tin! They're sapphic, they're in space, and they're pirates. We played with Charm Person Games' Stephanie and Natalie
Episodes 52-53: Cage of Sand
A world plunged into an unknown plague, each day looping over and over, more clues coming to light with each repetition. Content warning for plagues and pandemics. A single player game.
Episodes 54-56: Alongside Our Divine
A pilgrimage turned caravan roadtrip through the countryside. Three people squished into one camper, with the God of Hope tying them together. Jealously, anger, and trauma make the trip difficult in many ways, but hope wins above all.
Episodes 57-58: Mobile Frame Zero: Firebrands
A rebellion against the upper class and the fascists led by the working class.
Episodes 59-61: The Land Whispers
More of Hope's Promise is found and explored. New plants, new animals, and two young scientists on a team hope to keep this new space intact for years to come. Played with guest Kit from Abbey Archives
Episodes 62-63: Ocean Tides
Younger days of a character seen previously, taunted by a god who knows too much. Played with guest August from Follow The Leader!
Episodes 64-65: Long Night In The Mech Bay
Two old friends find each other after years spent apart. They each thought the other dead, and realize things about themselves and each other that change their relationship. Is it for the better? Only time will tell.
Episodes 66-68: Let Me Follow*
The chosen prophet of a distant god and their chosen paladin hop the universe, helping those in need and bringing faith where the brush falls. Played with guest Filo T. Hazard from Admiralty Blues
Episodes 69-71: When You Meet Your Doppelganger on the Road, You Must Make Out With Them
A strange hitchhiker, a mysterious hotel in a familiar place, and oddities unable to be placed. Two people experience a closeness only doppelgangers can, but are they both human? Or is one a monster waiting in disguise?
Episodes 72: Catharsis and Shit (or, From Which Lilacs Bloom)
Two gods come to witness an annual event, something beautiful and strange that must be seen to be understood. Knowingly or unknowingly, they offer care to someone who needs it, and give them the strength they need.
Episodes 73-74: Come Home
Stranded, floating between the earth below and the vastness of space, a lone astronaut struggles to choose a home to go to.
Episodes 75-82: This Night On The Rooftops*
Four young children roam the city, playing, stealing, running, and learning about everything and anything. From magic and gods to mud and thread, they shape their little world, and are shaped by it in return.
Season 3
Episode 83: We All Meet In A Tavern
Adventurers and mercs for hire meet in a tavern to discuss their plans. Committing crimes under the nose of a fascist empire takes planning and care after all!
Bonus: He Who Laughs short story
Episodes 84-88: Mage Against The Machine*
Four time travelling mages fight against the fascist empire by pulling at the threads of history. The butterfly effect ripples out with each tug, but in the end, was it worth the cost?
Episodes 89-90: Are My Wings Even
Young fae, on the cusp of self discovery, spend time getting ready to sneak out and go to a human party. They talk about their hopes and fears and dreams, and the air vibrates with unbroken tension and excitement between them.
Episodes 91-92: Sexy Battle Wizards
You have three stats! Sexy! Battle! Wizard! Our wizards are hired by an old god to fetch a book from his old home, which is overrun with demons. (If you're here from the sexiest podcast character competition, this is where Husky is in a whole game)
Episode 93: Honey Heist
The fascist empire took all the god damn honey and you are a GOD DAMNED BEAR! Get the honey back! (Husky's in this one too!)
Episodes 94-96: It's Going To Be A Long Day
Okay I don't have an interesting blurb for this. It's a Homestuck game. We basically just do Homestuck with some characters and have fun. It's fun. Join us in our fun. Played with guest Solace Grey
Episodes 97-99: Hungry Gnoles Eat The Rich
A city of gnoles is being bought out by the fascist empire, but they refuse to go quietly. They refuse to allow themselves to be overtaken and worked into the ground. Played with game author Z.W. Garth and guest GM Filo T. Hazard from Admiralty Blues
Episodes 100-102: My Grandfather's Axe
An artifact through generations, found, reclaimed, stolen. A family watched over by a very good dog. With guest Filo T. Hazard from Admiralty Blues
Episodes 103-104: Celestial Bodies, Orbital Mechanics
Forced to relocate as the fascist empire closes in, a leader must choose what kind of leader they'll be. How will they handle the rebellious child? Played with guest Solace Grey.
Episodes 105-106: In Dreaming Avalon
The fae bring mortals astray in dreams. What fools they be! Will they awake and pine for those dreams? Played with guest Richard from The Room Where It Happened
Episodes 107-110: If Not Us Then Who?*
A super sentai anti fascist propaganda cartoon about space pirates with powers saving the universe from evil! Played with game author Riley Hopkins from Riley Hopkins and Their Amazing Friends (and other Moonshot podcasts!)
Season 4 (ongoing)
Episode 111: Fairy vs Walrus
A fairy and a walrus make their way through a city to the doorstep of an unsuspecting human. Shenanigans occur, as expected.
Episodes 112-114: A Duet of Steel*
Two rivals trade blows, with words, with steel, with whatever be their weapon. Our rivals trade blows in the mind, as one inhabits the other like a parasite.
Episodes 115-116: Tarot Telling For Two
Using tarot cards, two players tell a collaborative story, using the cards as a guide. Will and Izze tell the tale of a ruler to be and their guard. The ruler, fleeing responsibility, the guard making sure they live to rule.
Episodes 117-118: Be The Cowboy
Your skills are rootin', tootin' shootin' and be kind. Four cowboys work hard to protect their lil town from all sorts a problems. From cattle escapin, to rowdy miners, to folks who want to take advantage of the town.
Episodes 119- (current arc): Sapphic Space Pirates
This game again? Yes this game again! Join Husky and her crew as they fly through the galaxy in The Gilted Rose, making trouble, finding trouble, and doing their best by each other. This game was promised in round 2 or 3 (I cant remember) of the Sexiest Podcast Character Bracket Unscripted Tournament 2024
