The Eldritch Lorecast

Does Demiplane's NEW Campaign feature give it an edge over D&D Beyond? Meanwhile, WotC continues hiring game designers, and how can YOU design the best dungeons?Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @dailydael Todd:  @ToddKenreck  Shawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @jberrt  Topics:00:00 - Intro03:59 - WotC hires MORE designers05:49 - New Hasbro board members08:07 - Why AI can't play D&D15:19 - New Demiplane features21:16 - Designing GREAT dungeons35:56 - Setting Ability Check DC's

D&D introduces itself to Fortnite players, WotC hires ANOTHER fantastic game designer, and we decide upon the TOP 3 D&D 5e Adventure Modules!Follow Neopia Quest here: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GGNQ_2026_1_226Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @dailydael Todd:  @ToddKenreck  Shawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @jberrt  Topics:00:00 - TOP 3 D&D Adventure Modules12:18 - WotC Hires Shawn13:30 - D&D Fortnite collab18:01 - D&D Beyond 3rd party updates25:42 - Neopia Quest29:45 - DriveThru RPG price rise30:50 - Farewell Jean Rabe32:08 - Making solo scenes work43:45 - Homebrew magic itemsFortnite island codes:D&D Boxfights – 1190-4691-0255D&D Treasure RNG – 4958-2624-5634D&D Dungeon Deathrun – 5806-6430-0158D&D Bossfight – 2218-1049-5866D&D Zombie Dragon Adventure (early access) – 2525-9596-3235

Is the D&D Shrinkflation getting more noticeable with Eberron: Forge of the Artificer? Are bigger or smaller TTRPG books better? Does Critical Role or Stranger Things sell more D&D? All that, and more!Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @dailydael Todd:  @ToddKenreck  Shawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  ⁨@jberrt⁩  Topics:00:00 - D&D book shrinkflation08:34 - Ed Greenwood on RPG book quality18:58 - Non-WotC Forgotten Realms book?25:45 - WotC staff shuffle32:42 - The Stranger Things effect40:31 - Unearthed Arcana: Mystic Subclass47:49 - Games Workshop says "No AI"53:11 - Are miniatures needed?

Why ARE D&D, Daggerheart, and Draw Steel the ONLY roleplaying games folks talk about? What is Crows and when can you playtest it? How do you tackle GM mental overload?Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @dailydael Todd:  @ToddKenreck  Shawn: @shawnmerwinEditor: ⁨@DannyCalamari⁩  Topics:00:00 - Intro00:29 - Non-D&D games we play03:55 - Why we DON'T talk non-D&D games17:05 - What is Crows?25:47 - Handling GM mental overload39:11 - Hex grid vs square grid48:38 - Alternate combat win conditions

The biggest D&D news podcast welcomes their newest Co-Host! Critical Role plans for their future while WotC is yet to reveal any D&D books for 2026.Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @dailydael Todd:  ⁨@ToddKenreck⁩  Shawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  ⁨@jberrt⁩  Topics:00:00 - Intro03:34 - Todd Kenreck's new job!05:45 - D&D's plans in 202613:03 - Stranger Things S5 (spoilers)17:46 - Future of Critical Role32:45 - Adhoc and Crit Role video game36:00 - Industry passings37:09 - Stat Block integrity

The Eldritch Lorecast says another sad farewell! We try deciphering our own Spotify wrapped while pondering whether systems of magic inherently make it impossible to balance a TTRPG, and is that a bad thing?Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @dailydael James: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  ⁨Danny CamilleriTopics:00:00 - Intro04:23 - Lorecast's terrible analytics20:51- Another sad farewell24:03 - Systems of magic34:25 - Balancing spellcasters46:06 - Is balancing the party important?56:16 - Favorite poems

What was the BEST game released in 2025? What stories reshaped the TTRPG industry? The Eldritch Lorecast celebrates another year of D&D and tabletop gaming with the Elly Awards!Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @dailydael James: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  ⁨@jberrt⁩  Topics:00:00 - Intro02:23 - Biggest news of 202512:01- Best TTRPG release16:56 - Best TTRPG related release22:59 - Best Con of 202527:46 - Guests of the year30:01 - A sad farewell35:04 - New Years resolutions45:29 - Best Lorecast moments 2025

Paying your DM can change the dynamic at your D&D table, but do paid dungeon masters ruin the TTRPG hobby for everyone? Meanwhile, WotC makes a pact for the next D&D video game: Warlock!LAST CHANCE to Late Pledge to Grim Hollow: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/grim-hollow?ref=5z40qvEmail your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @jberrt  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:05 - Divinity trailer04:24 - Warlock D&D game19:43 - Jason Carl departs White Wolf24:30 - New head of D&D!26:59 - Holiday stream schedule28:55 - Finding regular players40:54 - Paid GMing

The Cosmere RPG set the record for TTRPG crowdfunding and then vanished? So where did it go? Meanwhile D&D Beyond plans for the future and why is Jubensha the best roleplaying game you've never heard of?Enter the Enchanting Emporiums with 30% off (use EE30): https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_ELEE_2025_12_219 People Make Games⁩ Jubensha documentary: https://youtu.be/6_dlxbGUNNQ?siEmail your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelShawn: @shawnmerwinBrooks: @brooksthoEditor: Jess Berthelsen-MurrayTopics:00:00 - Intro02:50 - Is Cosmere over already?14:46 - Jubensha (scripted murder)28:43 - An Italian 5e adventure31:40 - Future for D&D Beyond39:38 - Enchanting Emporiums43:09 - Evil Hat Production pitches45:05 - Make 5e combat challenging

D&D sales figures expose the REAL popularity of 5e 2024, we're give our gift giving guide for the TTRPG fan in your life, and discuss how to bring adventure campaigns to that satisfying conclusion!Transform your wardrobe at the Ghostfire merch store: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_Store_2025_11_204Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:13 - TTRPG gift guide05:09 - D&D sales lies!19:02 - Restarting a Campaign after hiatus30:28 - Satisfying campaign endings