

The Eldritch Lorecast
Ghostfire Gaming
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.
For More info be sure to check out ghostfiregaming.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 1, 2023 • 59min
#74. Ardling Any Point to One D&D Right Now?
The ardling exits stage right while the Druid and Paladin receive the One D&D playtest treatment! We dash through the Dimension 20 and Baldur's Gate news before diving deep into the Unearthed Arcana.
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Join the Valikan Clans Kickstarter: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHVC_2023_1_069
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
00:36 - Physical vs digital dice
09:53 - Matt Mercer will DM Dimension 20
10:11 - Baldur's Gate 3 release date
16:11 - Wizkids' life size mimic
19:49 - Valikan Clans kickstarter continues
20:57 - One D&D playtest review: Druid and Paladin
50:18 - Teaching new TTRPGs to your group

Feb 21, 2023 • 58min
#73. All Your Tabletop News in One Place!
We look over the TTRPG news of the week before answering a host of listener questions! How easy is it to convert 5e adventures to other systems, like Pathfinder? How can you surprise a player who's read the adventure module your running? What else can we share from Australian culture?
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Discover Grim Hollow: Valikan Clans: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHVC_2023_1_069
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
04:58 - D&D Movie sneak peak
08:57 - 5e Nexus and Sly Flourish 's take on D&D Beyond
18:44 - Keys from the Golden Vault launches... sorta?
20:27 - A new Tabletop News program announced!
26:24 - Legends of Vox Machina Season 2 wrap up (spoilers!!)
29:24 - Porting 5e adventures to other systems
49:50 - Surprising players who know the adventure module
56:10 - James and Shawn mispronounce 'Pass the Parcel'

Feb 15, 2023 • 1h 9min
#72. Will Black Flag be Better than D&D 5e?
This week we start by launching Grim Hollow: Valikan Clans, the latest 5e Kickstarter from Ghostfire Gaming! Then we're reviewing Kobold Presses first playtest packet for Black Flag.
Raid and sail in Grim Hollow: Valikan Clans: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHVC_2023_1_069
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Scott: @scottfgray
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
02:26 - A mechanic you'd add to 5e
12:11 - Grim Hollow: Valikan Clans
13:46 - Saga of the Seasons adventure module
20:22 - The Raiders Guide to Valika & freeform character building
32:59 - The lore of the clans
37:31 - Introducing raiding mechanics to 5e
43:07 - Black Flag playtest feedback

Feb 8, 2023 • 1h
#71. The Sundering of D&D 5e!
This week we review the Kyle Brink interview over on 3 Black Halflings, discuss the fracturing of D&D 5e into multiple successor games, glimpse the reality of a digital future, and catch up once more on The Legend of Vox Machina!
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Become an Agent of the Empire: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_FB03_2023_2_071
Discover Grim Hollow: Valikan Clans: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHVC_2023_1_069
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
00:53 - 'Worst NPC name' stories
06:28 - Fables: Agents of the Empire - Episode 2
11:38 - Kyle Brink interviewed by 3 Black Halflings
24:32 - D&D Beyond service interruptions
30:01 - Is Project: Black Flag closer to 5.5e than a new system?
46:13 - The Legend of Vox Machina Season 2 check in
49:13 - Vox Machina Spoiler warning
57:35 - Vox Machina Spoilers end

Feb 1, 2023 • 1h 6min
#70. The Aftermath of the 5e OGL Wars...
The OGL wars are over, with Wizards of the Coast reverting to 1.0a and releasing the entire SRD 5.1 to Creative Commons. What does this mean for the future of Black Flag and One D&D? We also fire through the copious Critical Role news this week in order of importance!
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Get updates on Grim Hollow: Valikan Clans - https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHVC_2023_1_069
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
Luna: @luboffin
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Meaningful TTRPG character moments
07:30 - SRD 5.1 is now under Creative Commons
23:40 - Hasbro layoffs
26:52 - 'Keys from the Golden Vault' cover revealed
31:52 - Marisha Ray joins Creator Clash 2
38:09 - Mighty Nein animated series announced!
48:15 - The Legend of Vox Machina Season 2 check in
51:04 - Vox Machina Spoiler warning
01:02:14 - Vox Machina Spoilers end

Jan 25, 2023 • 56min
#69. How Should We Respond to OGL 1.2?
This week is a deep dive into the D&D OGL 1.2, as we consider our responses to the survey. The Legend of Vox Machina Season 2 also kicks off and we find out WTF is up with Fishblade?
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Get updates on Grim Hollow: Valikan Clans - https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHVC_2023_1_069
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Worst NPC names
07:22 - OGL 1.2 in depth breakdown
37:34 - 'The Legend of Vox Machina' Season 2
47:38 - The Legend of Vox Machina spoilers start!
52:15 - Spoilers end
52:29 - Grim Hollow: Valikan Clans update
53:42 - WTF is Fishblade?

Jan 18, 2023 • 1h 1min
#68. Everything's Fine, Why Do You OGL... I mean ask?
This week we reflect on the OGL leaks and all of the fallout since. We also celebrate our 3rd Party Publisher friends and discuss Ghostfire's future plans with 5e. Are you looking forward to the D&D TV show?
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ghostfire Gaming's statement: https://ghostfiregaming.com/blog/forging-our-future/
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:19 - Favorite 3rd Party 5e supplement?
08:01 - Reflecting on all the OGL news
20:21 - 3rd Party Publishers announce future plans
32:21 - D&D TV show being produced for Paramount+
45:29 - Using riddles well in a TTRPG campaign?
58:06 - Dael's riddle

Jan 11, 2023 • 1h 9min
#67. It's Not Too Late to Start Your Dungeon23!
This week we start by addressing the OGL elephant in the room before diving into the fun of #dungeon23. We also experiment with Chat GPT applications in game design and learn more than intended about the Realm of Shadow!
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Didn't back Quest-O-Nomicon? No problem, check it out here - https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_XPQN_2023_1_067
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
05:29 - Ghostfire's response to the OGL news
07:47 - Quest-O-Nomicon fulfilment
08:52 - #Dungeon23
27:57 - Lego Ideas D&D winner
30:33 - What is the Realm of Shadow?
40:54 - Chat GPT and AI adventure writing
57:00 - Hiding your inspiration in your adventures

Jan 4, 2023 • 55min
#66. Ghostfire Gaming's Future with 5e in 2023?
We spill what Ghostfire Gaming has planned for 2023, ponder about D&D 5th and 6th Editions in the coming year, and set our New Year's resolutions!
Accept your first mission in Fables: Agents of the Empire here - https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_FB03_2023_1_066
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:05 - New year's resolutions
05:48 - Fables 3: Agents of the Empire
17:56 - Grim Hollow: Raiders Guide to Valika
35:40 - Ghostfire Gaming 2023 further sneak peak
38:16 - D&D releases and Wizards of the Coast in 2023

Dec 28, 2022 • 1h 1min
#65. The Elly TTRPG Awards for 2022!
We look back on the highlights of 2022 in the D&D and TTRPG industry, and reflect on the first full year of the Eldritch Lorecast! Help us celebrate with the most prestigious of award ceremonies, the Elly TTRPG Awards!
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:36 - The naming of the awards!
04:20 - "Let Me Tell You About My Character" Award (TTRPG highlights)
09:39 - "Tavern Rumors" Award (Biggest news of the year)
16:07 - "Oh no, a Trap!" Award (Worst news of the year)
29:25 - "Recovered Treasure" Award (Best TTRPG product of the year)
41:14 - "Imagination Manifest" Award (Best artwork)
45:35 - "Vivid World Descriptions" Award (Best cinematic trailer)
47:45 - "Can I Play, too?" Award (Thanks to all our guests for the year!)
50:43 - "Thanks for the Memories" Award (Eldritch Lorecast 2022 highlights)