Bob World Builder joins the crew to briefly review the D&D 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide, Ben gushes about the Bastion system, Shawn still wants less world building, and Dael idolizes Indiana Jones! Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Bob: @BobWorldBuilder Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:30 - D&D's mascot 05:39 - #3 podcast in the realms 07:16 - D&D DMG 2024 15:36 - Bastions are cool? 33:08 - Lorecast in December 35:46 - Creating living worlds 49:00 - Avoiding no-fun consequences 1:00:00 - TTRPG YouTube back to basics
Where should you focus your DM prep when planning a D&D campaign? Will Bastions be included in future 5e adventure modules? Is AI art infiltrating boardgames? All that and more, right now! BoardGameWire article: https://tinyurl.com/BoardGameWireArticle Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro01:51 - Infinite GM prep time? 09:02 - How much is too much prep? 18:22 - AI art in the boardgames 34:45 - Tabletop games jobs fair 37:44 - Steamforged Games partnerships 39:49 - Well wishes Darryl Mott 40:31 - Bastions in adventure modules? 50:21 - Is the DMG Essential?
A torrent of TTRPG news hits, including 5e 2024 monsters previewed on D&D Beyond, Critical Role touring the globe, DriveThruRPG increasing AI browsing features, and a new Ravenloft novel! Late Pledge Grim Hollow Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/grim-hollow?ref=5z40qv Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Videogames into TTRPGs 07:55 - D&D Funko pop 09:32 - D&D Beyond oopsie 12:51 - DriveThruRPG filters AI 18:40 - Critical Role global tour 31:51 - New Ravenloft novel 37:30 - 5e '24 monster changes 43:42 - Character red flags
Hasbro changes its corporate structure which leads to layoffs, new jobs, and a new future for D&D 5e. We also discuss which TTRPG will make you a better GM, and celebrate our Lorecast Halloween tradition! FINAL DAYS to back the Grim Hollow Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/grim-hollow?ref=5z40qv Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Halloween costumes! 02:26 - Grim Hollow KS ending 06:40 - New DM Screen 16:49 - Hasbro corporate restructure 31:13 - Chris Perkins new job 37:02 - October recap 44:47 - Games that teach GMing
LIVE from Gamehole Con, the Eldritch Lorecast peaks inside the D&D 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide with LaTia Jacquise. It's a whole Dungeon Master toolbox filled with chase rules, the entire Greyhawk setting, and... doors? Back the Grim Hollow Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/grim-hollow?ref=5z40qv Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Joe: @_Joe_Raso LaTia: @latiajacquise Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:03 - Gamehole Con 08:12 - 2024 DMG 16:04 - Greyhawk setting 21:38 - D&D movie sequel? 27:14 - Losing animal companions 35:44 - Hobby vs profession 46:37 - Player red flags
Live from PAX Aus, the Eldritch Lorecast hosts a discussion about the toll YouTube takes on the mental health of D&D and Tabletop creators. Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @GhostfireGaming Trent: @Miscast Luna: @Luboffin Dave: @TabletopTime Dael: @MonarchsFactory __ Editor: @ZsDante
After a quick convo about community etiquette and making the internet safer, we dive into the D&D 2024 DMG update and which Bastion system is right for you? Back the Grim Hollow Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/grim-hollow?ref=5z40qv Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:01 - Staying current with editions 06:53 - Convention news 12:46 - MTG Commander community 23:23 - DMG 2024 preview 41:07 - Low magic in 5e
We explore our favorite TTRPG settings and what makes a good campaign setting, whether the 80's D&D cartoon will ever get a revival, and can 5e be played in low magic worlds? Back the Grim Hollow Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/grim-hollow?ref=5z40qv Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:44 - Best TTRPG settings 09:57 - Deep lore vs flexible lore 26:19 - Critical Role cartoon is free 28:45 - Free D&D Beyond one shot 30:41 - 80's cartoon revival? 35:52 - D&D 2024 sales 41:13 - Is low magic better? 55:55 - Polymorph clarification
Kobold Press takes a strong stance on AI in the TTRPG industry, Adventurer's League integrates D&D 2024 into its organized play, and we redesign Strahd for the modern age! Follow the Grim Hollow Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/grim-hollow?ref=5z40qv Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @JamesJHaeck Adam: @RetroArchetype Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:46 - Favorite CRPG 09:53 - Adventurer's League 2024 25:19 - Ravenloft novel 35:31 - Kobold Press and AI 50:32 - Making Strahd better
Comments from Hasbro CEO ignites another discussion on AI tools in D&D, MCDM releases their creator license for Draw Steel, and we debate whether being a YouTuber helps or hinders success for TTRPG creators? Follow the Grim Hollow Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/grim-hollow?ref=5z40qv Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro01:11 - Scheduling regular games 06:30 - Chris Cocks talks AI 15:30 - D&D preorders cancelled 16:26 - Draw Steel! creator license 23:27 - YouTube & TTRPG publishers 40:31 - DriveThru game jam 49:32 - Grim Hollow Transformed! 54:46 - In-game laws of magic
This week the Lorecast discusses the ethics of designing wargames for the military, discusses whether bounded accuracy supports a "heroic fantasy" ludonarrative, and revises the Grim Hollow transformation rules! Follow the Grim Hollow Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/grim-hollow?ref=5z40qv Check out People Make Games' excellent video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYaDXZ2MI-k Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 04:58 - Structuring adventures 13:48 - Grim Hollow transformations 26:09 - Designing games for the military 43:12 - Bounded accuracy
Matt Colville joins the Lorecast to explore whether digital tools like D&D Beyond or Project Sigil actually improve tabletop gaming? Also, which action economy is right for you? Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Shawn: @shawnmerwin Matt: @mcolville Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 02:01 - Digital tools in TTRPGs 17:25 - Project Sigil 34:57 - D&D 2025 releases 50:26 - Greg Tito leaves WotC 51:52 - Prescribed actions vs free actions 01:00:00 - Changing action economy
James Introcaso from MCDM joins us to talk Draw Steel and whether developing games publicly make for better TTRPG's? D&D Beyond and Paizo both walk back unpopular policies, and can RPG's have purely storytelling rules without dice? Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Big Jimbo: @JamesIntrocaso Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 02:50 - Developing Draw Steel 18:18 - D&D Beyond updates 29:52 - Paizo licensing 32:17 - Cosmere breaking records 40:03 - Mighty Nein series 48:07 - Purely narrative mechanics
Good news and bad news in the TTRPG industry this week as D&D books are delayed, Geek & Sundry return, Paizo changes their 3rd party licensing, and Deborah Ann Woll teaches us all about roleplaying games! Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 02:05 - Deborah Ann Woll teaches D&D 11:23 - D&D 2024 delays 12:28 - Geek & Sundry return 15:12 - Patreon problems 24:20 - Critical Role are Among Us 27:11 - Paizo licensing changes 31:19 - Roll20 preorder incentives 34:35 - Writing your first adventure
In the aftermath of Gen Con, a miscommunication from WotC leads to big trouble for D&D YouTubers. Meanwhile, a new record in TTRPG crowdfunding is being broken. Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Shawn: @shawnmerwin Dael: @dailydael James: @JamesJHaeck Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Con drop 07:52 - Gen Con news recap 22:47 - WotC vs YouTube 42:07 - D&D's digital future? 53:15 - Cosmere Kickstarter
LIVE from Gen Con we explore the D&D 2024 Player's Handbook with WotC designers Makenzie De Armas and Justice Ramin Arman. We also get a sneak peak at Project Sigil, the D&D 3D VTT, and prepare ourselves to Draw Steel! Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Shawn: @shawnmerwin Makenzie: @MakenzieLaneDA Justice: @justicearman Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:11 - Gen Con 06:29 - Puncheons & Flagons 09:12 - 2024 PHB 24:54 - The "Math" 32:43 - Designing for humans 36:04 - Monster Manual 41:25 - Designing from art 48:07 - Project Sigil 53:27 - Draw Steel!
We dismantle the D&D 2024 crafting rules to discover why players like to craft, before diving in to fix the 5e exploration pillar and ask whether it's simply misunderstood? Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - New dragon types 06:34 - D&D 2024 Crafting rules 11:34 - In game economies 15:17 - Why do players craft? 18:36 - Is crafting player facing? 27:36 - Gen Con 2024 30:48 - Non-combat pillars of play 42:15 - Exploration pillar deep dive
The Eldritch Lorecast gets hype for Gen Con, where you can buy the first copies of the D&D 2024 Player's Handbook! What does the new president of WotC spell for the game's future? Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 04:45 - 2024 PHB selling at Gen Con 09:40 - USPS D&D Stamps 11:37 - Ghostfire at Gen Con 13:26 - WotC's new president 20:55 - Role Gate buys Tabletop Mirror 27:40 - San Diego Comic Con 29:43 - Favorite character flaws
The new D&D Monk splits the Lorecast crew, Wizards of the Coast reshuffle their staff with a notable absence, and a new streaming service strives to compete with Twitch. Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 06:14 - Monk 2024 27:13 - Bard 2024 30:51 - Sorcerer 2024 32:37 - Cleric 2024 35:23 - Kyle Brink leaves WOTC 38:50 - D&D stamps 41:58 - Moonbeam 52:40 - Sci fi TTRPG's
A pre-order bonus for the D&D 3D VTT has us wondering how close it is and how WotC plan to monetize it? Are the new dragons an upgrade from the old? Wouldn't you like to custom make your character's species? Playtest Grim Hollow's heritage system: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHPG_2024_7_145 Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @JamesJHaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 04:29 - Sam Riegel 07:24 - D&D 3D VTT update 20:31 - D&D Preorder bonuses 34:50 - Roll20 data leak 38:11 - 2024 Ennie nominations 41:15 - New heritage system 49:12 - Ranger core fantasy
Purple Vampyr
Great episode, as always, love the Curse of Strahd workshopping at the end, more of that type of stuff please. Nothing better than seeing people doing what they do best. Plus Ben's description of a vampire was magnificent.
Somnambulist_23
a lot of prophecy that has come true in this episode