Reading D&D Aloud

Today, enjoy this conversation between 3rd edition D&D lead designer Jonathan Tweet and TTRPG historians Shannon Appelcline and Ben Riggs! They discuss one of the hotbeds of gaming ferment, St. Olaf College, which produced nerd legends like Lisa Stevens, Mark Rein-Hagen, Nicole Lindroos, and Tweet himself. Then they move on to discuss one of the most influential games of all time: ARS MAGICA. Because Ben is a nerd, he wrote poems introducing the pair of them:   This is a poem named Jonathan Tweet:  Behold the mage of rules, whose art is deep, The spellwright bold, our guest Jonathan Tweet. From ARS MAGICA’s birth to d20’s grand reign, His hand has shaped the games that fire the brain. With visions vast, mechanics deft and true, He forged new worlds for countless fans to view. Tonight we call his wisdom to our show, To learn how tales of wizards first did grow.   This is a poem named Shannon Appelcline: Behold the sage who tracks our gaming lore, The chronicler of nerdy days of yore. From Designers & Dragons he drops the whole score, The wins, the fails, the beefs, the stats, and more. So buckle up folks, ‘cause tonight we’re online, With gaming’s hot chronicler, Shannon Appelcline.   You can find Shannon's latest history, THIS IS FREE TRADER BEOWULF, here.   Jonathan suggest you check out his book on evolution for kids, GRANDMOTHER FISH, here.   And you can always buy Ben's book, SLAYING THE DRAGON: A SECRET HISTORY OF DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, which is excellent, here.

Join Richard Baker, a legendary Dungeons & Dragons designer who shaped iconic settings like the Forgotten Realms and crafted beloved adventures. He reveals the journey of 'The Lost Mine of Phandelver' and its success amid the rise of D&D during the pandemic. Baker discusses how creativity flourishes under pressure, reflects on the evolution of the game, and offers insights into the interplay of gaming and history. Listeners will love his anecdotes and glimpse into future projects that promise to enrich the D&D universe!

D&D is bigger than it has ever been, but being a D&D fan in 2025 is deeply confusing.  The questions come on and on. Why do extensive promotion of a virtual tabletop for D&D, Sigil, and then give it no marketing at rollout and kill it a month later?  Why has there been an exodus of staff from the company?  Why, after a golden age during the game’s 5th edition, has Wizards struggled to find traction since the debut of 2024 D&D? In this seminar from Gen Con 2025, I try to answer a bunch of these questions.  Listen, and enjoy! Support the podcast and get extra content on Patreon here!

Is Wizards messing this up? We discuss with two titans of the TTRPG industry! First up, David M. Ewalt – journalist, editor, and author of the engaging and wonderful Of Dice and Men. He is currently the editor in chief of Scientific American, which may make him the most prestigious personage I’ve ever had on this podcast. He is also the author of Defying Reality: The Inside Story of the Virtual Reality Revolution and has worked at Forbes and the Wall Street Journal. Welcome David!  And then there’s Sean McCoy, the creative whirlwind behind Mothership, the award-winning sci-fi horror RPG that has taken the RPG scene by storm. Mothership is tense, terrifying, totally unforgettable, and yet somehow rules light! He is without a doubt a hot shot of 21st century game design, and he’s a real “get” for the podcast. Welcome Sean! Support the podcast and get extra content on Patreon here!

This week, we go deep into the Old School Revolution with Old School Essentials creator Gavin Norman and Josh McCrowell of His Majesty the Worm! Gavin Norman is the mind behind some of the most exciting work in the modern OSR scene. He is best known for Old-School Essentials, the gold standard for clean, accessible retro-gaming rules that have brought thousands of new players into old-school play. His work doesn’t just celebrate the roots of tabletop RPGs—it refines them, making them sing with clarity and style. If you’ve ever cracked open an OSE book, you know exactly what I mean: sharp design, killer layout, and an unwavering love for the game. Gavin Norman is, simply put, one of the defining voices of today’s old-school revolution. Josh McCrowell is the creator of His Majesty the Worm—a deeply weird, beautiful, and melancholy dungeon crawler that uses tarot cards as its core mechanic. It’s also up for an ENNIE this year! Josh is also one of the brains behind Knock Magazine, that gloriously chaotic love letter to the DIY RPG scene, packed with ideas, art, and inspiration. His work blends creativity with a genuine sense of wonder. Josh McCrowell is a designer who reminds us that the dungeon isn’t just for killing monsters—it’s for exploring what it means to be alive. Find Gavin's work on OSE here! https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/pages/old-school-essentials Acquire Josh's brilliant game here: https://www.hismajestytheworm.games/#h.mvmqxy70j0s9 Ben's Gen Con seminar this year is entitled "Solving the Mysteries of the D&B Business." He's interviewed dozens of former and current WotC employees, and has real answers to questions we all have about the game. Why do extensive promotion of a virtual tabletop for D&D, Sigil, and then give it no marketing at rollout and kill it a month later? Why has there been an exodus of staff from the company? Why, after a golden age during the game’s 5th edition, has Wizards struggled to find traction since the debut of 2025 D&D? These questions and more Ben will attempt to answer in his sold-out Gen Con seminar! Given demand, Ben is going to livestream a rehearsal of the show on Zoom on Tuesday, July 29th, at 9 PM EST/ 6 PM PST. But the only way you can listen is by being a Patreon subscriber! It's only $3 a month. Click here to join now! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=121641556&utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink  

Richard Dansky, a renowned writer and narrative designer known for his work on Wraith: The Oblivion, joins Lou Prosperi, developer of the classic Earthdawn RPG. They delve into the profound emotional weight of 'Charnel Houses of Europe: The Shoah,' exploring its unsettling integration of Holocaust history and RPG storytelling. The conversation touches on the responsibility of creators in portraying sensitive subjects, the evolution of narratives in tabletop games, and the artistic depth of RPGs. Personal anecdotes enrich their insights into crafting impactful stories.

Ben Milton, a prominent game designer and YouTube content creator known for his work in the Old-School Renaissance, teams up with Steve Winter, a legendary D&D designer who helped shape the game's evolution over decades. They dive into the creative journey of RPG design, discussing the importance of random tables and collaboration. The allure of dungeons is explored, along with innovations and personal anecdotes from their gaming experiences. Their conversation highlights the vibrant landscape of independent game design while emphasizing player engagement techniques.

Join RPG historians Jon Peterson and Shannon Appelcline as they dive into the rich tapestry of role-playing games. They reflect on the social significance of gaming, especially during the pandemic, and speculate about D&D's digital future amid industry shifts. The conversation also tackles the potential and pitfalls of AI in tabletop gaming, and the dominance of D&D in the RPG market. With personal stories and historical insights, Peterson and Appelcline illuminate the past and future of this beloved genre.

I can't believe I got these two on the show together! First, Kevin Crawford is a TTRPG design legend. My favorites from his work are Stars Without Number, and Worlds Without Number, both of which have been tremendously successful and influential as paragons of sleek game design and peerless GM tools. Stars was what I ran during the pandemic, and Worlds I read, and since the birth of my son, I read about one RPG every six months, but I had to put Worlds in that rotation just to see what Kevin did in it. To give just a taste of Kevin’s influence, Blades in the Dark creator John Harper said that the origin of Blades in the Dark was a Stars Without Number campaign. And Blades, which is itself an epochal piece of design, birthed an entire universe of games using its system.  Second, we have D&D icon Steve Winter. It is possible that Steve has the longest D&D career of anyone in the history of the game. He began working on D&D back at TSR in downtown Lake Geneva, and once even broke into the offices by climbing in a second storey window. He was a vital voice on 2nd edition AD&D. He was one of the first people to work on 3rd edition D&D, even though that project then passed on to other hands, and he followed D&D from Wisconsin to Renton, Washington where he continued to produce work for D&D through 5th edition. Check out Kevin's work here! On July 15th, Patrons of our pod will get a special treat! We will be doing a book club on Shoah for Wraith: The Oblivion. The conversation will include the book's developer, Richard Dansky, and Earthdawn developer Lou Prosperi. Patrons can participate live, and even ask questions! If that sounds good, hie thee forth to our Patreon to subscribe!    

In this conversation, Ryan Dancey, former executive at Wizards of the Coast and architect of the Open Gaming License, discusses his pivotal role in revitalizing Dungeons & Dragons. He shares anecdotes from the game's transition from TSR, emphasizing the balance between creativity and business strategy. Ryan also reflects on the explosive growth of tabletop RPGs, including the impact of live play and crowdfunding. Additionally, he humorously recounts his last day at Wizards, coinciding with significant historical events.