The Eldritch Lorecast

Game designer Peter Lee joins the Lorecast to discuss board game development, how to use playtest feedback, and the history of his career. We also take a look the new D&D Beyond Maps and dissect some D&D sales data! Back Aberration here: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHAB_2023_9_104 Find Teos' blog: https://alphastream.org/index.php/2023/09/25/how-dd-sells-and-what-it-means-for-the-hobby/ Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael Shawn: @shawnmerwin Peter: @minipete Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:24 - Favorite board games 05:59 - Peter Lee's game design career 15:28 - Aberration from concept to Gamefound 20:43 - The Great Beast of Grim Hollow 29:55 - Aberration expansions 32:54 - D&D Beyond: Maps 41:51 - Planescape 43:27 - Dissecting D&D sales data 50:56 - How to use playtest feedback

This week is look at how Baldur's Gate 3 uses initiative, celebrate Grim Hollow: The Monster Grimoire arriving on 5e Nexus, and explore implicit storytelling in TTRPG adventures. Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:07 - Best way to use initiative 15:24 - D&D Beyond VTT alpha 18:35 - Roll20 buys Dungeon Scrawl 24:49 - 3rd parties on 5E Nexus 30:42 - Email about emails 31:46 - Implicit storytelling in RPGs 40:05 - Restricting monster options 59:59 - The truth about thieves guilds

Another full episode of pouring over a playtest packet for D&D 5e (2e), which raises game design questions about opportunity attacks, whether failure is good, and is D&D too "magical"? Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 03:05 - D&D Playtest 7 03:41 - Counterspell 07:24 - Wildheart barbarian 12:59 - Battle Master fighter 19:27 - Opportunity attacks 22:13 - 5e 2024 design goals? 31:58 - Wild Magic sorcerer 41:14 - Mild BG3 spoiler begins 41:57 - BG3 spoiler ends 41:58 - Barbarians are magic now 47:58 - Warlock changes

We're delving below Phandelver to preview the latest D&D 5e adventure, discussing new Pathfinder classes up for playtest, and then relax with a fine drink at the Quest's End. Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael Omar: @OmarNajam Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @ZsDante 00:00 - Intro 04:38 - Phandelver & Below 11:23 - Baldur's Gate Gazetteer 14:22 - New Pathfinder classes 27:43 - Quest's End D&D whiskey 38:26 - Does 5e have too many classes? 50:40 - D&D Beyond: Before the Storm 57:05 - Time travelling campaigns?

This week we take a break from the D&D news to answer YOUR questions about TTRPGs, 3rd party publishing, game mechanics and power rangers! Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Our named wizards spells 04:37 - Our power ranger colors! 06:11 - Hopes for the next 100 episodes 07:32 - Balancing companion NPCs 13:38 - Art inspiration for RPGs 21:28 - Future of 3rd party publishing 26:05 - Best idea you've never run 32:12 - Indie mechanics for D&D 37:14 - What's your favorite color? 39:50 - TTRPG industry networking 43:45 - Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood? 45:48 - What are witches hats? 46:37 - A house rule you can't live without 49:54 - When does 5e become a new game? 53:00 - Names the Lorecast almost had

D&D Beyond publishes it's first 3rd party supplement, Tal'Dorei Reborn from Darrington Press. We also review Glory of the Giants, and decide when it's okay to give players meta knowledge to make in game choices. Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 02:59 - D&D Beyond publishing 3rd parties 22:32 - Dael's giant sized adventure 25:02 - Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants 36:00 - Giving players meta knowledge 49:42 - Class design discussion 57:11 - Oath breakers in 5e

We're diving into the design of Daggerheart from Darrington Press, and just how different it is from D&D 5e. We also announce a new board game, discuss the Playtest 5 survey results, and discover why not everyone's happy with Baldur's Gate 3's success. Discover more about Aberration: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_ABB_2023_7_098 Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor:  ZsDante  Topics: 00:00 - Intro 03:18 - Baldur's Gate 3 16:13 - Aberration: The Board Game 19:06 - D&D playtest 5 survey results 26:26 - Daggerheart preview 49:19 - Dropout back in production 50:45 - How to network at conventions

Live from Gen Con 2023 we discuss AI art infiltrating the TTRPG industry, events from the convention show floor, US pub culture vs Australian, and celebrate industry award winners. Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael Shawn: @shawnmerwin Anthony: @AJoyce_Rivera Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 00:44 - Gen Con 2023 17:14 - USA vs Australia 24:33 - Diana Jones award 26:12 - AI art in Bigby's giants book 39:49 - The Ennies 46:31 - Dnd rules update... update 51:21 - Meta currencies in games

This week we dive into the mailbag to answer your D&D and TTRPG questions, including whether the Kickstarter hype cycle is killing the TTRPG industry, and whether there's a solution to challenge ratings! Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 00:38 - American vs Aussie slang 18:41 - Gen Con 2023 20:12 - Creating a TTRPG moment with music 28:09 - A solution to Challenge Ratings 36:23 - Is Eberron dark fantasy? 44:30 - Is Kickstarter good for the TTRPG industry?

Lots of sneak peaks this week: Matt Colville reveals design goals for the MCDM roleplaying game, Wizards of the Coast preview Planescape, and Candela Obscura announces Chapter 2! Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 00:54 - Best incorporeal undead? 09:52 - Planescape sneak peak 22:23 - MCDM’s new game 39:45 - SAG-AFTRA & live plays 51:59 - Candela Obscura Chapter 2 54:41 - Why spell points suck