All episodes of The Eldritch Lorecast

Episodes

#135. How to Design a Class like the DnD Monster Hunter

We discuss designing a new 5e class, the difference between psionics and magic in D&D, Hasbro's investor call, and GM'ing for strangers! Discover the Wandering Tavern here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/homieandthedude/the-wandering-tavern?ref=e9y7dz Sign for the Monster Hunter playtest: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHPG_2024_4_134 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn:...

Published 05/01/24

#134. Are New TTRPG's Crowding Out Smaller Indie's?

Cynthia Williams resigns from Wizards of the Coast and leaves behind her D&D legacy, Critical Role showcase Daggerheart rules on stream, and Pathfinder has new classes for you to playtest. Get Monsters of Drakkenheim: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_DDMD_2024_4_131 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 06:30 - Cynthia Williams resigns 14:42...

Published 04/24/24

The Eldritch Lorecast

Published 04/24/24

#133. Does Initiative Make Daggerheart Better or Worse?

We review the changes to Daggerheart and whether it's better or worse with initiative rules, boggle at the price of Dimension 20 live tickets, and consider whether Hasbro's CEO is right about the future of gaming. Get Monsters of Drakkenheim: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_DDMD_2024_4_131 Chris Cocks WBUR-fm interview: https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2024/04/03/dungeons-and-dragons-hasbro Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Shawn:...

Published 04/17/24

#132. What Loot Is Hiding in the D&D LEGO Dungeon?

This week Lexi McQueen joins the Lorecast to look through the D&D LEGO adventure, speculate at the D&D video game news, and then we all try not to panic while our party learns to teleport! Get Monsters of Drakkenheim: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_DDMD_2024_4_131 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael Shawn: @shawnmerwin Lexi: @blackgirlmage Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 05:30 - Making...

Published 04/10/24

#131. D&D Sales Have Dropped in 2023! What Now?

D&D Beyond joins Kickstarter to support Monsters of Drakkenheim, a free 5e adventure is released for Tsojcanth, and are dropping D&D sales in 2023 a problem? Express your style with 10% off at INTO THE AM: https://intotheam.com/GhostfireGaming Get Monsters of Drakkenheim: https://get.monstersofdrakkenheim.com/14 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn:...

Published 04/03/24

#130. Baldur's Gate 4 is Cancelled. Here's Why!

A deluge of gaming news breaks with a sneak peak at the new 5e DMG, Tome of Beast hits D&D Beyond, Wizard's secures more licensing deals, and Larian cancels Baldur's Gate 4! Get Monsters of Drakkenheim: https://get.monstersofdrakkenheim.com/14 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Adam: @RetroArchetype Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Gaming snacks 06:51 - Conquest Melbourne 07:37 - Gary Con...

Published 03/27/24

#129. Daggerheart Doesn't Want You to Roll for Initiative

The Dungeon Dudes drop in to talk the Daggerheart open Beta, their next 5e Kickstarter "Monsters of Drakkenheim", and whether AI creation tools can be used responsibly? Get Monsters of Drakkenheim: https://get.monstersofdrakkenheim.com/14 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne James: @JamesJHaeck Monty: @montycmartin Kelly: @KaiInRealLife Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:28 - Best 5e monster type 13:20 - Monsters of...

Published 03/20/24

#128. 5e Adventurer's League Absorbed by D&D Beyond!

5e Adventurer's League consolidates onto D&D Beyond, Chaosium offers money if you develop for the Basic Roleplaying: Universal Game Engine, and Kobold Press announces a new Tales of the Valiant starter set! Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 06:49 - Chaosium game design competition 20:08 - Adventurers League on D&D Beyond 25:44 -...

Published 03/13/24

#127. How to Playtest Daggerheart for Darrington Press!

Darrington Press announces a Daggerheart open playtest, D&D Beyond updates Maps and offers an exclusive Vecna adventure, and a surprise new TTRPG adventure wants you to play for science! Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 05:23 - Daggerheart playtest 22:28 - D&D Beyond Maps 29:43 - Vecna: Nest of the Eldritch Eye 39:43 - Realms of...

Published 03/06/24

#126. How Many D&D Characters Can You Name?

Does D&D lore need a refresh with more recognizable characters? Why did WotC cut Portuguese translations from their books? Where's the best place to get TTRPG news? All that and more on the Eldritch Lorecast! Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael Shawn: @shawnmerwin Luna: @Luboffin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 04:13 - Rascal TTRPG news 12:54 - D&D in Portuguese cut 16:45 - Candela Obscura season 4 31:46...

Published 02/28/24

#125. Has D&D Cross Marketing Gone Too Far!?

This week's Eldritch Lorecast reignites the Legendary Resistance debate, welcomes more 3rd party publishers to D&D Beyond, gets hyped for LEGO rumors, and charts the rise and fall of Evil Genius Games. Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael Shawn: @shawnmerwin James: @JamesJHaeck Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 02:10 - Legendary resistances 15:46 - Hasbro investor call 25:06 - Humblewood on D&D Beyond 26:51 -...

Published 02/21/24

#124. Will Release Dates Build Excitement for D&D 2024?

The D&D 2024 release schedule arrives just in time for this week's Eldritch Lorecast! We also talk Dragonlance heartbreak and how to use player-character backgrounds effectively? Discover Surviving Strangehollow: http://get.accidentalcyclops.com/4 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael Shawn: @shawnmerwin James: @JamesJHaeck Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:22 - TTRPG romance 05:47 - Dragonlance...

Published 02/14/24

#123. The Rage Bait Meta is Taking Over D&D YouTube!

This week's Eldritch Lorecast Unearths the last of the D&D Arcana and gets rage baited by the latest TTRPG controversies. Express your style with 10% off at INTO THE AM: https://intotheam.com/GhostfireGaming Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @JamesJHaeck Teos: @Alphastream Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:36 - Exciting 5.5e rules 10:00 - Playtest Packet 8 review 22:27 - 5.5e launch dates 28:33 -...

Published 02/07/24

#122. The First D&D VR Game! Would You Join the Adventure?

We announce all the 5e news from Ghostfire Gaming, review the Deck of Many Things continued production issues, and when we can expect D&D in VR? Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael Shawn: @shawnmerwin James: @JamesJHaeck Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 04:48 - 2024 gaming conventions 07:58 - Ghostfire Gaming news! 15:37 - Deck of Many Things manufacturing 21:39 - D&D VR game 31:58 - Netflix TTRPG...

Published 01/31/24

#121. How Nightshade Inflicts Poison Damage on AI Art

Is Nightshade the end of AI art in the TTRPG industry? How do you effectively playtest new rules you've written? What's the worst DM behavior you've put up with in your D&D game? All that, and more! Email your questions to [email protected] Shawn: @shawnmerwin Dael: @DailyDael Logan: @the_runesmith Adam: @RetroArchetype Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:36 - TTRPG creator advice 09:53 - Nightshade poisons AI art 16:55 - Random House cocktails 25:33 -...

Published 01/24/24

#120. Avoid the Pitfalls when Introducing New D&D Players

This week's Eldritch Lorecast celebrates the D&D Movie winning an award, commemorates the passing of Jennell Jaquays, explores Aussie game design, and how NOT to introduce new players to 5e or TTRPG's. Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:26 - Critical fumbles 07:03 - D&D Movie wins! 08:48 - Remembering Jennell Jaquays 12:35 - Ruining...

Published 01/17/24

#119. The Inevitable Rise of AI Art in TTRPG's

Hot takes burn up this week's Eldritch Lorecast as the crew tackle WotC getting caught using AI Art once again, and whether the Golden Age of TTRPG's is dead as Ben Riggs predicts? Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:50 - Gaming over the Break 13:21 - Congratulations MCDM 14:14 - Golden Age of TTRPGs 27:24 - WotC and AI Art... again 45:42 -...

Published 01/10/24

#118. How to Choose a 5e Adventure for the New Year?

This week we discuss integrity in the TTRPG YouTube space, choose new 5e adventures for 2024, and discuss whether the stun condition should be removed from D&D entirely? Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 05:05 - AI Art False Accusation 09:52 - Integrity in TTRPG YouTube 14:32 - Choosing an adventure 29:55 - Max level cap 47:20 - High level...

Published 01/03/24

#117. How to Publish a TTRPG from Homebrew to Hardcover

Learn the entire process of publishing a TTRPG product in the industry, from game design, writing, editing, art, graphic design, project managing, and marketing your book. A special episode of The Eldritch Lorecast recorded LIVE at PAX Aus 2023. Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne James: @jamesjhaeck Phil: @PhilBeckwithDnD Vee: @Rocketeer_Vee Hayley: @storybrewers Editor: @ZsDante

Published 01/02/24

#116. Was 2023 the Best or Worst Year for TTRPG's?

We celebrate a massive year for D&D the Tabletop Roleplaying Game industry as a whole! The ups, the downs, and everything in between. Final hours to back Enchanting Emporiums on Kickstarter: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_ELEE_2023_11_109 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 08:12 - Biggest news of 2023 18:32 - Best TTRPG release 30:01 -...

Published 12/20/23

#115. Could The MCDM RPG Launch be Any More Wild?

After being blown away by The MCDM RPG day 1 success, the team review the 50 Years of D&D panel and all the 5e books set for release in 2024. Support the Enchanting Emporium's Kickstarter: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_ELEE_2023_11_109 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:27 - Most spent on crowdfunding 08:29 - The MCDM RPG 25:21 - 50...

Published 12/13/23

#114. D&D Beyond Unleashes Surprise 3rd Party 5e Content!

Ghostfire Gaming arrives on D&D Beyond with Lairs of Etharis and Dungeons of Drakkenheim, the first 3rd party 5e content after Critical Role. We also take time to answer listener emails. Get Lairs of Etharis on D&D Beyond: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHMG_2023_12_114 Support the Enchanting Emporium's Kickstarter: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_ELEE_2023_11_109 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James:...

Published 12/06/23

#113. Mo' Monk, Mo' Problems - Stunning Strike is Broken!

Reviewing the new D&D Unearthed Arcana playtest packet 8 leads to pondering whether 5e still needs resource management and if it's better for a monk's foe to succeed against Stunning Strike? Follow the Enchanting Emporium's Kickstarter: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_ELEE_2023_11_109 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:33 -...

Published 11/29/23

#112. STOP Making Boring D&D Shopping Sessions!

This week we deep dive into 'The Seeker's Guide to Enchanting Emporiums', and why the latest 5e release 'Peril in Pinebrook' isn't for D&D players! We also discuss the application of crafting in your TTRPG campaign. Follow the Enchanting Emporium's Kickstarter: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_ELEE_2023_11_109 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Logan: @the_Runesmith Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00...

Published 11/22/23