The Eldritch Lorecast

This week's Eldritch Lorecast asks the big question! Which giant is best giant? Why are psionics largely absent from D&D 5e? Is Gandalf a paladin!? Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 00:46 - Which Giant is best? 06:39 - Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants 17:01 - Mirrorscape's augmented reality 24:06 - Best one shot modules 35:44 - Class narrative archetypes 51:39 - Is Gandalf a paladin? 54:49 - Psyonics in 5e

This episode includes Baldur's Gate 3, D&D romances, and a bear! We also congratulate the Ennie Award nominees, and Smosh (finally) starts their live play game. Check out the Aetherial Expanse: Setting Guide: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_AESG_2023_6_089 Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 03:22 - Aetherial Expanse leaving Kickstarter 05:51 - Ennie Award Nominations 13:04 - Romancing a Bear 16:53 - Baldur's Gate 3 Updates 21:24 - Smosh D&D Stream 33:18 - Breaking class stereotypes

The latest Unearthed Arcana drops another 5e playtest packet, prompting more conversation about D&D's goals as a game. We also give a few opinions on the latest changes. Discover 'Arora: Age of Desolation' with new 5e exploration mechanics: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_AR01_2023_7_092 Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 04:28 - The ORC License 04:51 - D&D Playtest Packet 6 15:35 - Too much player success? 29:15 - Exhaustion & storytelling currency 39:56 - Capstones & Bards 42:00 - Druids & Monks 48:36 - Valiant playtest packet 49:25 - Changes to spell learning

Shawn Merwin, Dael Kingsmill and James Haeck hosts this episode discussing the Tales of the Valiant, how to get noticed if you plan to publish your own adventure/TTRPGs and other listener emails with our honoured guest Scott Fitzgeralt Gray! Check out Aetherial Expanse: Setting Guide https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_AESG_2023_6_089 Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Shawn: @shawnmerwin Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Scott: @scottfgray Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 00:58 - Things people dont know about you 05:56 - Tales of the Valiant smashed it! 10:29 - A perfectly delivered advert 11:58 - Importance of symmetry in game design 27:21 - How will the next 10 years look like? 37:23 - Multiclassing still relevant!? 47:57 - The best way to get your work noticed

D&D Community managers Sarah Chaffee and LaTia Jacquise join the Eldritch Lorecast to chat about the spookiest monsters, playing games in public spaces, and being part of this wonderful community! Check out Aetherial Expanse: Setting Guide https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_AESG_2023_6_089 Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne James: @jamesjhaeck Sarah: @sarahiscoffee LaTia: @LaTiaJacquise Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 00:53 - Memorable game moments 09:27 - D&D Beyond Twitch 12:00 - Adventurer's League still strong 20:55 - Being part of the D&D community 25:43 - Running spooky D&D monsters 43:26 - Aetherial Expanse hype 44:58 - Mass combat advice 54:36 - Playing in public spaces

The Aetherial Expanse Kickstarter launches, the city of Baldur's Gate is finally revealed, and Jeremy Crawford predicts another 10 years of D&D 5e. Check out Aetherial Expanse: Setting Guide https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_AESG_2023_6_089 Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne James: @jamesjhaeck Luna: @luboffin Editor: @ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 00:41 - Urban vs Wilderness campaign 08:42 - Baldur's Gate revealed 14:26 - Aetherial Expanse: Setting Guide 28:17 - Ten more years of 5e? 47:20 - Are rogues a selfish class choice? 52:34 - Randomly generated dungeons

Pathfinder tries to separate itself further from D&D with a rules refresh! Teos and Adam rejoin the Lorecast to review the Pathfinder changes and answer some pressing listener emails. Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Shawn: @shawnmerwin Adam: @RetroArchetype Teos: @Alphastream Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 06:05 - Problem with Pathfinder 09:36 - Pathfinder rules refresh 15:42 - Pathfinder removing alignment 23:46 - Changes to lineage 25:45 - New GM Core 41:41 - GM breaking the game? 51:08 - Session 0 advice

The Eldritch Lorecast dives into the Candela Obscura quickplay rules, and answers if there's been a copyright breach? Is the D&D Movie likely to get a sequel? Should we be worried about a TTRPG price rise? Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante  Topics: 00:00 - Intro 04:33 - Candela Obscura 19:07 - Games copyright 33:35 - D&D Movie sequel? 37:01 - 2023 D&D releases 48:35 - D&D books price rise 57:09 - Tales of the Valiant check in 59:13 - Pathfinder Nexus open beta

Blasting through the small amount of D&D and TTRPG news, we then discuss game design through the lens of writing style, flavor text vs rules text, and how to name things. Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 04:27 - Ghostfire's going to Gen Con 2023 12:02 - Dael’s strange experience 14:31 - Latest D&D playtest video 19:19 - Other TTRPG news 20:55 - Importance of writing style 39:16 - flavor text vs rules text 51:49 - Naming characters, monsters, places

We dive into the Aetherial Expanse to explore Ghostfire Gaming's new 5e campaign setting, get hyped for Critical Role's "Candela Obscura", and a fantastic listener email plunges us into a discussion of game design theory. Get notified when The Aetherial Expanse sets sail: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/977277590/the-aetherial-expanse-setting-guide Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ZsDante Topics: 00:00 - Intro 02:54 - Druid & Paladin playtest results 04:05 - Fables is retiring 06:27 - Aetherial Expanse: Campaign Guide 26:47 - Critical Role's Candela Obscura 31:20 - 24/7 D&D streaming channel 39:17 - Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill! 43:21 - Types of play: Gamist, Narrativist, Simulationist