The Eldritch Lorecast

This week we're hyped for 'Arora: Age of Desolation', 'Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel', and Stephen Colbert teaming up with Critical Role again in April! Dael and James reminisce over their favorite Crit Role guest stars, Shawn gives sneaky clues about his new campaign world, and Ben turns EVERY game into an rpg. Discover 'Arora: Age of Desolation': https://ghostfiregaming.com/arora/ Help Choose Stephen's Adventure (Again): https://tiltify.com/@criticalrole/choose-stephen-colberts-adventure-again Email questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @Melb_DM Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Topics: 00:00 - Intro 07:37 - Arora: Age of Desolation 14:07 - Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel 20:34 - Stephen Colbert teaming up with Critical Role 30:48 - Critical Role vs Legacy Media 36:27 - Introducing "Normies" to TTRPGs 43:29 - The Legacy of Dungeons & Dragons 52:51 - Incorporating other hobbies into your D&D game

This week we get hyped for the Dungeons & Dragons movie with Chris Pine and Hugh Grant, and debate whether it feels good to level up in 5e. Ben just keeps his players at level 1, Dael is kinder to leveling than she's been in the past, James is on Witcher Watch this week, and Shawn is glad it's not like earlier editions. Email questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com  Ben: @Melb_DM Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Topics: 00:00 - Intro 05:00 - The upcoming D&D movie! 15:10 - Is Hugh Grant villainous enough? 20:47 - What kind of adventure will the D&D movie be? 22:25 - Leveling up in D&D 5e 29:39 - Milestone vs XP - which is better? 45:13 - Leveling system in Fables: Citadel of the Unseen Sun 50:34 - Defining what spells are "legal" in your campaign

This week we dive deep into Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep, discussing Critical Role Easter eggs, rival parties, and what we're most excited for! James and Shawn give insight into working in the TTRPG industry, and Dael doesn't think that's how lunar magic works while Ben crosses his arms in thoughtful disagreement. Email questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @Melb_DM Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Topics: 00:00 - Intro 04:34 - Working on D&D adventure books and other industry insights 17:08 - What comes first? The stat block or the artwork? 22:19 - Diving into Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep! 31:54 - Tearing apart Unearthed Arcana: Heroes of Krynn 46:36 - Dael is unsatisfied by lunar magic 01:01:49 - Thank you and farewell to Rob, our editor!

We spend this week's podcast exploring our favorite D&D campaign settings and answering listener questions! We chat about player races, NPCs, and whether Saving Throws are redundant? Email questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ghostfire Gaming Discord: https://discord.gg/QamRfm8d2A Ben: @Melb_DM Dael: @DailyDael Logan: @the_runesmith Shawn: @shawnmerwin Topics: 00:00 - Intro 00:38 - Favorite D&D campaign settings 14:17 - World building with the Microscope RPG 21:09 - Should the DM disallow specific player races? 30:53 - Adding stats to your NPCS 49:14 - Are Saving Throws redundant? 01:00:12 - More Australian cuisine

This week we finally deep dive into The Legend of Vox Machina!! We also discuss how Liveplays are changing and what makes one worth watching? Email questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @Melb_DM Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Topics: 00:00 - Intro 05:00 - Re-capping The Legend of Vox Machina 15:30 - Is Legend of Vox Machina good at translating D&D? 24:02 - Swearing in Vox Machina 34:26 - Deborah Ann Woll and Children of Éarte 37:48 - What makes a good liveplay? 51:51 - Dael dismantles the concept of "cringe" 57:04 - The most effort you've gone to as a GM?

This week Jim Davis from  @Web DM  joins the Eldritch Lorecast to help us learn from past editions of Dungeons & Dragons and brew house rules together from what we discover! Email: podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @Melb_DM Dael: @DailyDael Shawn: @shawnmerwin Jim: @therealjimdavis Check out Weird Wastelands: https://weird-wastelands.backerkit.com/ Topics: 00:00 - Intro 07:33 - Web DM & Weird Wastelands 18:10 - Learning from past editions of D&D 30:31 - Alternative ideas for rolling initiative 51:57 - Does a fireball destroy character equipment?

We dirty our souls discussing exactly why NFTs are terrible for the TTRPG industry, and then dive into listener email questions about DnD homebrew mechanics and house rules. Email: podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @Melb_DM Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Topics: 00:00 - Favorite House Rules 11:24 - Why NFTs Are TERRIBLE for the TTRPG Industry! 27:01 - Alternative Exhaustion Mechanics 43:00 - Balancing House Rules & Homebrew

Runesmith returns once more to dive even deeper into the Sunken Isles, their new 5e adventure module. We explore the monster statblocks, including the mighty Shrimp Lord! Dael still hasn't seen The Legend of Vox Machina, James explores 5e condition mechanics, and Ben gushes about violent dragon attacks! Back the Sunken Isles Kickstarter now! Discover more about Purple Mai'a here. Ben: @Melb_DM Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Logan: @the_runesmith Topics: 00:00 - Intro 08:43 - Runesmith on the Sunken Isles 12:21 - Monster Stat Blocks 18:57 - Sunken Isles Inspiration 24:30 - Stretch Goals 32:40 - Legends of Vox Machina Weekly Check-in 35:42 - Drawing Inspiration from Fantasy Television 46:55 - Email Question: Expanding on 5e Conditions

This week James returns to help us celebrate a dice bag's worth of TTRPG news! Fables: Citadel of the Unseen Sun's second episode arrives, Tal'Dorei is Reborn, and we discuss Scanlan's [censored] on The Legend of Vox Machina. Check out the Daemon Oak from @Woodart Vietnam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksxNvJXVh_U Fables: Citadel of the Unseen Sun: https://ghostfiregaming.com/fables/ Ben: @Melb_DM Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Topics: 00:00 - Intro 05:16 - Fables: Episode 2 release 10:07 - Daemon Oak Wood Sculpture 15:08 - Behind the scenes of Tal'Dorei Reborn 22:21 - New Tal'Dorei Statblocks 32:16 - The Legends of Vox Machina review 42:14 - Our Favorite

Railroading isn't such a bad thing, and this week we mount the argument why when discussing running campaigns for uncreative dungeon masters. We also answer email questions about satisfying endings and how to make it fun to outlaw magic. Ben: @Melb_DM Dael: @DailyDael Shawn: @shawnmerwin Logan: @the_runesmith Topics: 00:00 - Intro 10:08 - DMing adventures when you're not creative 18:32 - How do you generally prep and run modules? 25:14 - It's Good to Railroad 31:45 - Ending a long campaign 42:15 - World Building: Magic is Illegal