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The Eldritch Lorecast

Latest episodes

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Jul 2, 2025 • 59min

#196. Daggerheart Playtest Rules Ruin Friendships!

Daggerheart releases two new classes into playtesting, triggering a heated rules debate over moons! Meanwhile, another Unearthed Arcana brings the Necromancer Wizard and Hexblade Warlock back to D&D 2024.Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:14 - What is an Undead?06:04 - Unearthed Arcana subclasses23:11 - The missing Todd in the room24:50 - New Daggerheart playtest46:09 - Tabletop Workers United47:23 - Taking GM notes
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Jun 25, 2025 • 59min

#195. We Could Have Had ANOTHER Baldur's Gate 3!

More industry shuffles as Hasbro lays off more staff, Ivan Van Norman leaves Darrington Press, and we get a sneak peak at a cancelled D&D video game!Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:06 - Siege weapons in D&D05:02 - Hasbro layoffs07:47 - WotC cancelled video game18:45 - Ivan Van Norman departs Darrington Press26:10 - Character combat parity42:55 - Player input on adventures
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Jun 18, 2025 • 57min

#194. Has D&D Taken a Dagger to the Heart?

What will Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford joining Darrington Press mean for D&D 5e? Todd Kenreck is laid off from WotC, D&D's Vice President resigns, and other industry shaking events unfold!Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:52 - Todd Kenreck laid off from WotC13:29 - Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford join Darrington Press28:50 - Jess Lanzillo leaves WotC30:59 - Darrington Press' own OGL
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Jun 11, 2025 • 57min

#193. WotC Tries Replacing the D&D Design Team

Wizard's of the Coast is hiring new D&D designers, but can they fill Chris Perkins or Jeremy Crawford's shoes? A new D&D video game is announced, and World of Darkness publisher White Wolf rises from the grave!Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:24 - Best question for Session 0?13:40 - WotC hiring game designers22:23 - White Wolf returns28:38 - A new D&D video game!33:53 - UK Games Expo36:05 - Balancing a TTRPG45:23 - Monstrous BBEG
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Jun 4, 2025 • 58min

#192. What Does the Psion Add to D&D 2024?

A surprised Unearthed Arcana launches the Psion back into D&D! Wizards of the Coast inks an new video game publishing deal, while Baldur's Gate 3 goes Pathfinder 2e. Should TTRPG players git gud?Hunt for Monsters of Drakkenheim on D&D Beyond: https://marketplace.dndbeyond.com/category/DB4KDB0Q1Wizards of the Coast signs deal with Giant Skull: https://newsroom.hasbro.com/news-releases/news-release-details/wizards-coast-announces-exclusive-publishing-agreement-giantEmail your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:15 - Best TTRPG settings06:53 - The Psion Unearthed Arcana22:36 - Monsters of Drakkenheim24:56 - New WotC video game?32:17 - BG3's Pathfinder mod34:05 - Does player skill matter in a TTRPG?
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May 28, 2025 • 57min

#191. Which of D&D's Biggest Rivals is for You?

We celebrate the launch of Daggerheart from Darrington Press, whilst comparing encounter design between Draw Steel, D&D, and Critical Role's new TTRPG.Click to enter the Grim Hollow Player Pack D&D Beyond giveaway: https://forms.gle/RxFKrvYyJFFKHeTa7Sign up to GM at Gen Con 2025: https://www.baldmangames.com/gencon-2025-dm-signup/Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro08:50 - Weirdest place to play TTRPGs10:16 - Daggerheart releases27:10 - GM at Gen Con 202530:16 - Building Draw Steel encounters48:59 - Improvising fun NPCs
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May 21, 2025 • 1h 4min

#190. The Secrets to Running D&D With Only 1 Player!

How do 1-on-1 D&D sessions differ from a typical big party campaign? The fate of Gen Con's most infamous rogues is revealed! How can you create a gripping atmosphere at your gaming table or online?Click to enter the Lairs of Etharis D&D Beyond giveaway: https://forms.gle/kyNDnZBxGjBJA65r7Tariff Pause the Bare Minimum: https://www.wargamer.com/board-games/gloomhaven-tariff-pauseGame Publishers Brace for Shipping Price Hike: https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/05/13/board-game-publishers-brace-for-shipping-price-hike-delays-as-us-drops-tariffs-on-china-to-30-in-90-day-truce/Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:46 - 1 on 1 D&D14:52 - Gen Con heist news23:22 - Diana Jones Emerging Designers27:24 - TTRPG tariff update38:00 - Daggerheart actual play39:47 - Creating game atmosphere
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May 14, 2025 • 1h 7min

#189. Rating D&D's Horror Subclasses from Unearthed Arcana!

D&D 2024 unleashes new Horror Subclasses like the Artificer Reanimator in the latest Unearthed Arcana. But how frightening can 5e be? Plus there's a sneak peak at the new Eberron book and why TTRPG publishers might be pulling out of Gen Con?Click to enter the Lairs of Etharis D&D Beyond giveaway: https://forms.gle/kyNDnZBxGjBJA65r7Check out Lairs of Etharis on D&D Beyond, here: https://marketplace.dndbeyond.com/settings/SRC-00130Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro00:48 - Favorite type of horror07:54 - Horror subclasses UA26:43 - Eberron: Forge of the Artificer42:56 - TTRPG publisher pulls out of Gen Con49:03 - What's a bandit lord?54:46 - Humanoid villains
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May 7, 2025 • 56min

#188. Is Sage Advice Needed to Fix D&D 2024?

Is Sage Advice the same without Jeremy Crawford? WotC publish the latest 2024 rules update on D&D Beyond, Roll20 and Demiplane launch a cross compatibility beta, and a titan of the TTRPG industry comes to an abrupt end.Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:21 - New Spell: Mike's Hard Lemonade03:54 - Sage Advice for D&D 202431:36 - Roll20 & Demiplane beta38:09 - Polygon layoffs44:53 - Alarums and Excursions48:05 - Profanity in D&D books
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Apr 30, 2025 • 60min

#187. Why Your D&D Players Sleep Through Session 1

Stop your TTRPG players from sleeping through your early campaign lore dumps! We're also dissecting dragons and the SRD 5.2. Will WotC dodge tariff chaos with D&D and MtG?Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Best dragon harvest05:20 - WotC vs tariffs11:39 - Tariff lightning round14:50 - SRD 5.2 deep dive29:35 - Westmarch style systems40:55 - How much lore, too much?

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