Reading D&D Aloud
Ben Riggs
It's like Bible study for D&D fanatics!
Slaying the Dragon author and historian Ben Riggs & TRPG scholar Dr. Scott M. Bruner read and analyze the most sacred texts of Dungeons & Dragons (from original edition rules to modern adventures)! They are often joined by special guests, including current and former Wizards employees, contemporary academics, and modern designers, to meditate on the inspirations, ambitions, past & future of the medium of tabletop roleplaying. Listen to a historian, an academic, and some special guests read D&D texts aloud and comment on them!
Slaying the Dragon author and historian Ben Riggs & TRPG scholar Dr. Scott M. Bruner read and analyze the most sacred texts of Dungeons & Dragons (from original edition rules to modern adventures)! They are often joined by special guests, including current and former Wizards employees, contemporary academics, and modern designers, to meditate on the inspirations, ambitions, past & future of the medium of tabletop roleplaying. Listen to a historian, an academic, and some special guests read D&D texts aloud and comment on them!
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 19, 2024 • 51min
Does the D&D Magic System Suck? Ep 010
Would anyone designing a magic system for an RPG today use D&D's fire-and-forget magic system? A reading from the DMG on how the Illusionist gets their spells spins into RPG history and, shockingly, a link to Scott's dissertation. We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the pleasure of knowing that deep down, you really are the best.
May 13, 2024 • 59min
The Religious Work of D&D- Ep. 009
If you have not heard Dr. Joseph Laycock speak about the religious elements of tabletop role-playing games, prepare to have your mind blown. This conversation is like nothing you've heard before. Check out his book on D&D and other RPGs here. We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the pleasure of knowing that deep down, you really are the best.
May 6, 2024 • 1h 9min
Cthulhu in 1st Ed AD&D- Ep 008
Cthulhu is an unknowable eldritch blasphemy. How many hit points does it have? Was it copyright infringement for this octopoid monstrosity to appear in an AD&D product? Find out today when Ben & Scott talk to Jim Lowder, TSR alumnus, master freelancer, and specialist on the big green guy. We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the pleasure of knowing that deep down, you really are the best.
Apr 29, 2024 • 57min
How the 1st Ed Wizard Got Their Spells- Ep 007
A discussion on how 1st edition Wizards got their spells leads us down unexpected paths, and leads us to Dangerous Games... We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the pleasure of knowing that deep down, you really are the best.
Apr 21, 2024 • 56min
How Would You Save D&D if You Were the New CEO? Ep 006
Cynthia Williams is out at WotC, which begs the question: If you were hired as the new CEO, what would you do to right the ship of game and sail us all to safer waters? We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the pleasure of knowing that deep down, you really are the best.
Apr 15, 2024 • 51min
How Faithful Does a Polytheistic Cleric Have to Be? Ep 005
Today, we examine how clerics get their spells, and discuss what did and did not influence Gary Gygax in the creation of the cleric. Ben's book, Slaying the Dragon: A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons is now only $2.99 for Kindle on Amazon! Buy it! Gift it! Love it! I assume this will only be for a limited time, so get it now! We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the pleasure of knowing that deep down, you really are the best.
Apr 8, 2024 • 59min
Reading Aloud "Time" from the 1st Ed Dungeon Master's Guide
This week, Scott & Ben look at a piece of text which has proved shockingly influential: "Time." Click here to read about Ben Robbins's original West Marches campaign. Click here to read more about West Marches. We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the pleasure of knowing that deep down, you really are the best.
Mar 24, 2024 • 56min
The TSR-Tolkien Letters Ep 003
In 1992, TSR attempted to acquire the rights to produce Lord of the Rings roleplaying products. How much do you think they offered for the rights? Thanks to Tolkien scholar John Rateliff, we now know the answer! Ben & Scott read aloud the actual correspondence between TSR and Tolkien representatives that reveals the shocking answer. We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the pleasure of knowing that deep down, you really are the best.
Mar 18, 2024 • 49min
The Truth About the Last 10 Years at Wizards of the Coast Episode 002
In December, Wizards fired numerous key members of the D&D team. Ben, of course, has been interviewing them. In another episode in which we fail to so much as read a single sentence of D&D aloud, Ben and Scott discuss the truth of what has been happening at Wizards these past 10 years... Let's talk on Discord! Join our Patreon here and for the price of a cup of coffee per month, keep the show up and releasing episodes weekly, and chat with Scott and Ben on the Discord! Ben promises to talk, even though he hates Discord!
Mar 9, 2024 • 43min
Reading Aloud Zeb Cook's Intro to the 2nd Ed Player's Handbook!
A historian and an academic read and talk over the intro do the 2nd edition Player's Handbook for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons! Let's talk on Discord! Join our Patreon here and for the price of a cup of coffee per month, keep the show up and releasing episodes weekly, and chat with Scott and Ben on the Discord! Ben promises to talk, even though he hates Discord!
