The Eldritch Lorecast

Less D&D news this week (except for WotC threatening legal action for a Baldur's Gate 3 mod) leads into listener emails about incentivizing selfish players, why GM's shouldn't be scared of math, and whether the GM or player should control the wizard's familiar?Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro06:23 - WotC threaten legal action08:56 - Paul Sawyer passing10:17 - Playing selfish players25:05 - Scared of math? GM Anyway!32:47 - GM or player run familiars?

Wizards of the Coast call it quits on Project Sigil, leaving the 3D VTT to mothball on D&D Beyond. Meanwhile the world gets strange as Texas lawmakers try to outlaw roleplaying in schools for entirely imaginary reasons.Start your Companion Quest here: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGLC_GGCQ_2025_2_003Rascal article about Texas roleplay bill: https://www.rascal.news/texas-furries-act-tabletop-roleplaying-games-in-schools/Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @dailydaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:00 - Giving your players news04:26 - Sigil's sad fate24:00 - Texas to outlaw roleplaying32:31 - Avenues for self publishing44:24 - How to finish a project

The D&D 3D VTT is off to a bumpy launch. MCDM quietly tinkers with it's own Draw Steel VTT. We ponder whether the Hero Forge dice are balanced while Ben and Dael argue what a Critical Role video game might (not) look like.Start your Companion Quest here: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGLC_GGCQ_2025_2_003Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @dailydaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:04 - Dice collections08:45 - Hero Forge dice16:06 - Critical Role video game28:29 - Sigil’s bumpy release34:58 - The MCDM VTT38:21 - Companion Quest40:13 - Low level Legendary Monsters

Are tariffs about me to make buying D&D and TTRPG products A LOT more expensive for US gamers? And right when a new 5e 2024 starter set could make learning the game easier than ever! What makes a good Warlock patron?Start your Companion Quest here: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGLC_GGCQ_2025_2_003BoardGameWire article: https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/03/06/fewer-releases-spending-freezes-and-rising-prices-board-game-publishers-face-volatile-financial-future-as-us-hikes-china-tariff-to-20-brings-in-25-canada-mexico-tariffs/Rascal News article: https://www.rascal.news/tabletop-companies-are-waiting-for-the-ship-to-come-in-on-tariffs/Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @dailydaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro02:27 - New D&D starter set14:29 - Companion Quest17:40 - Chris Cocks interviews27:35 - Tariffs vs tabletop games34:56 - DriveThruRPG prices rise39:21 - Warlock patrons48:12 - Greyhawk introduction

WAIT! Project Sigil has launched on D&D Beyond? The Artificer is getting a new subclass? D&D 2024 is getting a new Starter Set? All that TTRPG news, and more!Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comJames: @jamesjhaeckDael: @dailydaelShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:13 - THE BEST D&D miniature04:17 - Winter Fantasy recap09:39 - Project Sigil launches!20:16 - New D&D starter set28:10 - Artificer Unearthed Arcana33:57 - Ernie Gygax passes35:01 - Mega dungeon design45:04 - Monster Manual art

Big D&D news as WotC announces a Lorwyn Shadowmoor 5e setting book, another 3rd party release hits D&D Beyond, and the Monster Manual 2025 gets a second patch, and we all geek out about video games!Check out the new D&D Beyond Drakkenheim adventure: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_NILE_2025_2_178Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneJames: @jamesjhaeckMonty: @montycmartinKelly: @kaiinreallifeDungeon Dudes:  @DungeonDudes  Editor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:18 - Video game influences11:08 - A new D&D video game?15:00 - In Search of Smugglers' Secrets25:47 - Lorwyn book announced32:50 - Dragon Delves cover art36:02 - Kobold Press' cosy RPG43:28 - D&D Beyond monster errata49:51 - Escape Room game design

Pathfinder introduces NPC romance and relationship rules, D&D signs a deal with Netflix for a Forgotten Realms tv series, and evil Drow could be returning to 5e 2024!Explore Jarren's Outpost here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dndnerds/jarrens-outpostEmail your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @dailydael Shawn: @shawnmerwinAdam:  @RetroArchetype Editor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro02:13 - Favorite D&D species11:54 - Evil Drow returning!14:15 - D&D Netflix Series21:59 - Jarren's Outpost27:39 - Pathfinder romance rules39:08 - Kickstarter Pledge Over Time44:31 - Steve Jackson Games & Possum Creek49:05 - Fantasy travel between settlements

The 2025 Monster Manual receives a day 1 patch, we finally address the D&D Orc controversy, Daggerheart gets a release date to revolutionize the TTRPG industry, and Ghostfire is making a boardgame!Start your Companion Quest here: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGLC_GGCQ_2025_2_003Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @dailydaelLogan:  @Runesmith Shawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante Topics:00:00 - Intro00:49 - No orcs07:01 - Monster Manual day 1 patch11:28 - Monster initiative18:20 - Companion Quest24:23 - Magic the Gathering cinematic universe36:43 - Daggerheart release date38:07 - Diamond debt reclamation40:57 - Spells in monster stats49:56 - How to recap a campaign

Amidst the Monster Manual news, Wizards of the Coast announce as new Unearthed Arcana, a new Starter Set: Heroes of the Borderlands, new setting guides, and a free D&D 5e adventure! Can we convince James to like Dinosaurs? Check out A Time Traveler's Guide to Dinosaur Hunting: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/splatteredink/a-time-travelers-guide-to-dinosaur-hunting?ref=6p3q3u Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor:  @ZsDante  Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:08 - Monster Manual 2025 06:32 - A free 5e adventure 12:19 - D&D movie sequel? 13:57 - Our favorite dinosaurs 22:31 - End of Critical Role Era? 32:36 - All D&D 2025 releases 34:26 - Eberron: Forge of the Artificer 40:00 - Starter Set: Heroes of the Borderlands 45:10 - Return to the Forgotten Realms 48:18 - Greyhawk Organized play 52:11 - Unearthed Arcana: Subclasses

Dael refuses to talk about AI Dungeon Masters and whether they give better D&D immersion. Then we debate how much descriptive text DM's should give players during a TTRPG? Leon Barillaro's article: https://barilleon.com/blog/the-liches-method-of-boxed-text-descriptions/ Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor:  @ZsDante  Topics: 00:00 - Intro 00:49 - DM descriptions 05:54 - How much description to players 15:11 - AI Dungeon Masters 19:51 - New D&D boardgame 22:18 - Artefacts & Alignment 32:15 - Why not play as a werewolf? 44:45 - Forgotten D&D antagonists