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...
#176. There's Already Updates to the 2025 Monster Manual
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 [email protected]: @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
--------
1:02:26
#175. WotC Reveals their Entire D&D 2025 Release Slate!
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 [email protected]
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
--------
57:50
#174. Protesting AI Dungeon Masters!
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 [email protected]
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
--------
54:06
#173. How Alignment Will Destroy Your D&D Campaign!
We review more D&D 2025 Monster Manual news before musing whether a TTRPG is a game or a philosophical exercise? And should a GM force permanent changes on a player character?
Email your questions to [email protected]
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @dailydael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:41 - Male medusa
05:20 - Monster Manual 2025
09:22 - Player character creature types
17:07 - Does alignment ruin campaigns?
27:24 - Bankruptcy in the games industry
33:02 - Reducing D&D group size
43:00 - Character altering consequences
--------
59:42
#172. The D&D 2024 Monster Manual is a Horror Show!
A MASSIVE preview of the D&D 2024 Monster Manual sparks discussions about variant stat blocks, Legendary Actions, monster type changes, and whether a monster's gender is important to your campaign?
Late pledge to Grim Hollow here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/grim-hollow?ref=9y5qai
Email your questions to [email protected]
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @dailydael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:27 - Monsters from myth
08:00 - New Grim Hollow playtest
13:55 - Monster Manual 2024
22:00 - Legendary Actions return!
26:26 - How to index your monsters
33:13 - Monster type changes
36:08 - Challenge Rating fixed?
42:16 - Monster gender changes
48:72 - New monster artwork
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.