
The Eldritch Lorecast
Ben Byrne, Dael Kingsmill, Shawn Merwin, and James Haeck bring you the latest tabletop hobby news, discussions on roleplaying game design, ideas for players and GMs, and share their passion for tabletop roleplaying games and the community!
For More info be sure to check out ghostfiregaming.com.
Latest episodes

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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?