Advertise on podcast: The Eldritch Lorecast

Does Demiplane's NEW Campaign feature give it an edge over D&D Beyond? Meanwhile, WotC continues hiring game designers, and how can YOU design the best dungeons? Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Todd:  @ToddKenreck  Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor:  @jberrt  Topics: 00:00 - Intro 03:59 - WotC hires MORE designers 05:49 - New Hasbro board members 08:07 - Why AI can't play D&D 15:19 - New Demiplane features 21:16 - Designing GREAT dungeons 35:56 - Setting Ability Check DC's

D&D introduces itself to Fortnite players, WotC hires ANOTHER fantastic game designer, and we decide upon the TOP 3 D&D 5e Adventure Modules! Follow Neopia Quest here: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GGNQ_2026_1_226 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Todd:  @ToddKenreck  Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor:  @jberrt  Topics: 00:00 - TOP 3 D&D Adventure Modules 12:18 - WotC Hires Shawn 13:30 - D&D Fortnite collab 18:01 - D&D Beyond 3rd party updates 25:42 - Neopia Quest 29:45 - DriveThru RPG price rise 30:50 - Farewell Jean Rabe 32:08 - Making solo scenes work 43:45 - Homebrew magic items Fortnite island codes: D&D Boxfights – 1190-4691-0255 D&D Treasure RNG – 4958-2624-5634 D&D Dungeon Deathrun – 5806-6430-0158 D&D Bossfight – 2218-1049-5866 D&D Zombie Dragon Adventure (early access) – 2525-9596-3235

Is the D&D Shrinkflation getting more noticeable with Eberron: Forge of the Artificer? Are bigger or smaller TTRPG books better? Does Critical Role or Stranger Things sell more D&D? All that, and more! Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Todd:  @ToddKenreck  Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor:  ⁨@jberrt⁩  Topics: 00:00 - D&D book shrinkflation 08:34 - Ed Greenwood on RPG book quality 18:58 - Non-WotC Forgotten Realms book? 25:45 - WotC staff shuffle 32:42 - The Stranger Things effect 40:31 - Unearthed Arcana: Mystic Subclass 47:49 - Games Workshop says "No AI" 53:11 - Are miniatures needed?

Why ARE D&D, Daggerheart, and Draw Steel the ONLY roleplaying games folks talk about? What is Crows and when can you playtest it? How do you tackle GM mental overload? Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Todd:  @ToddKenreck  Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ⁨@DannyCalamari⁩  Topics: 00:00 - Intro 00:29 - Non-D&D games we play 03:55 - Why we DON'T talk non-D&D games 17:05 - What is Crows? 25:47 - Handling GM mental overload 39:11 - Hex grid vs square grid 48:38 - Alternate combat win conditions

The biggest D&D news podcast welcomes their newest Co-Host! Critical Role plans for their future while WotC is yet to reveal any D&D books for 2026. Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Todd:  ⁨@ToddKenreck⁩  Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor:  ⁨@jberrt⁩  Topics: 00:00 - Intro 03:34 - Todd Kenreck's new job! 05:45 - D&D's plans in 2026 13:03 - Stranger Things S5 (spoilers) 17:46 - Future of Critical Role 32:45 - Adhoc and Crit Role video game 36:00 - Industry passings 37:09 - Stat Block integrity

The Eldritch Lorecast says another sad farewell! We try deciphering our own Spotify wrapped while pondering whether systems of magic inherently make it impossible to balance a TTRPG, and is that a bad thing? Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor:  ⁨Danny Camilleri Topics: 00:00 - Intro 04:23 - Lorecast's terrible analytics 20:51- Another sad farewell 24:03 - Systems of magic 34:25 - Balancing spellcasters 46:06 - Is balancing the party important? 56:16 - Favorite poems

What was the BEST game released in 2025? What stories reshaped the TTRPG industry? The Eldritch Lorecast celebrates another year of D&D and tabletop gaming with the Elly Awards! Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor:  ⁨@jberrt⁩  Topics: 00:00 - Intro 02:23 - Biggest news of 2025 12:01- Best TTRPG release 16:56 - Best TTRPG related release 22:59 - Best Con of 2025 27:46 - Guests of the year 30:01 - A sad farewell 35:04 - New Years resolutions 45:29 - Best Lorecast moments 2025

Paying your DM can change the dynamic at your D&D table, but do paid dungeon masters ruin the TTRPG hobby for everyone? Meanwhile, WotC makes a pact for the next D&D video game: Warlock! LAST CHANCE to Late Pledge to Grim Hollow: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/grim-hollow?ref=5z40qv Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor:  @jberrt  Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:05 - Divinity trailer 04:24 - Warlock D&D game 19:43 - Jason Carl departs White Wolf 24:30 - New head of D&D! 26:59 - Holiday stream schedule 28:55 - Finding regular players 40:54 - Paid GMing

The Cosmere RPG set the record for TTRPG crowdfunding and then vanished? So where did it go? Meanwhile D&D Beyond plans for the future and why is Jubensha the best roleplaying game you've never heard of? Enter the Enchanting Emporiums with 30% off (use EE30): https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_ELEE_2025_12_219 People Make Games⁩ Jubensha documentary: https://youtu.be/6_dlxbGUNNQ?si Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael Shawn: @shawnmerwin Brooks: @brookstho Editor: Jess Berthelsen-Murray Topics: 00:00 - Intro 02:50 - Is Cosmere over already? 14:46 - Jubensha (scripted murder) 28:43 - An Italian 5e adventure 31:40 - Future for D&D Beyond 39:38 - Enchanting Emporiums 43:09 - Evil Hat Production pitches 45:05 - Make 5e combat challenging

D&D sales figures expose the REAL popularity of 5e 2024, we're give our gift giving guide for the TTRPG fan in your life, and discuss how to bring adventure campaigns to that satisfying conclusion! Transform your wardrobe at the Ghostfire merch store: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_Store_2025_11_204 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor:  @ZsDante  Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:13 - TTRPG gift guide 05:09 - D&D sales lies! 19:02 - Restarting a Campaign after hiatus 30:28 - Satisfying campaign endings

Has Daggerheart conquered Pathfinder as the #2 most popular TTRPG? Is D&D 5e next on the chopping block? Or is the success of Darrington Press all smoke & mirrors? FINAL WEEK of Dungeons of Drakkenheim: Daggerheart - https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_DKDH_2025_10_210 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael Shawn: @shawnmerwin Adam: @RetroArchetype Editor:  @ZsDante  Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:45 - 2nd most popular TTRPG? 09:03 - Is Daggerheart new #2? 18:09 - Daggerheart: Hope & Fear 22:21 - Daggerheart adventure module 25:21 - Ed Greenwood rewrites Forgotten Realms 28:44 - TTRPG player skill types 42:24 - Skill challenges (that actually work!)

The Mighty Nein animated show gets pulled from YouTube ahead of it's Amazon release! The D&D Netflix series could be in trouble, and is there a difference between game crunch and 'control', and which camp do 5e, Daggerheart or Draw Steel fall into? Transform your wardrobe at the Ghostfire merch store: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_Store_2025_11_204 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor:  @ZsDante  Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:08 - Too many stat blocks? 08:17 - Mighty Nein animated series 12:11 - D&D Netflix 22:01 - Forgotten Realms books delay 23:10 - D&D Nexus rebrand 29:30 - Kickstarter strike ends 31:08 - Ghostfire Gaming merch 33:30 - rules crunch & control 49:18 - System agnostic adventures

Hero Forge divides fans with a licensing agreement, the Fantasy Grounds VTT goes Free-to-Play, and should D&D bring Prestige Classes back to 5e 2024? Check out the Ghostfire merch store: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_Store_2025_11_204 Delve into the Dungeons of Drakkenheim: Daggerheart - https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_DKDH_2025_10_210 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor:  @ZsDante  Topics: 00:00 - Intro 00:23 - Evil player-characters 08:40 - Dark Sun? 11:03 - Moonbeam wanes 19:43 - Hero Forge controversy! 37:48 - Fantasy Grounds goes FTP 42:36 - Prestige classes in 5e 2024

Daggerheart launches its first adventure module Kickstarter set in the eldritch city of Drakkenheim! The Blood Hunter also finds its way into Daggerheart while D&D revives Xanathar's subclasses through Unearthed Arcana. Delve into the Dungeons of Drakkenheim: Daggerheart - https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_DKDH_2025_10_210 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor:  @ZsDante  Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:08 - Min/Maxing combos 06:32 - Daggerheart's first adventure 16:43 - Blood Hunter in Daggerheart 21:38 - Unearth Arcana: Subclasses 38:17 - D&D's new T&C's 45:32 - Tariff relief? 46:42 - Making Con adventures fun

Sigil has failed its final death save! Is D&D Beyond Maps a good enough replacement? Dragonlance gets resurrected, 5e 2024 could be the most successful edition yet, and what level should you start your campaign? Delve into the Dungeons of Drakkenheim: Daggerheart - https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_DKDH_2025_10_210 Email your questions to [email protected] Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @DailyDael James: @jamesjhaeck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor:  @ZsDante  Topics: 00:00 - Intro 02:20 - Games of paranoia 05:27 - Critical Role goes mainstreamer 09:03 - Daylight savings 09:47 - Sigil laid to rest 15:09 - Dungeons of Drakkenheim: Daggerheart 17:32 - Dragonlance returns? 26:34 - 5e 2024 is D&D's fastest seller 30:56 - Best D&D starting level? 48:39 - Narrative leveling