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

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

D&D Beyond releases an Unearthed Arcana for the Artificer while Pathfinder commences the Impossible Playtest on two new classes. Meanwhile, why is that one relative asking you about Dungeons & Dragons all of a sudden?

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

James: @jamesjhaeck

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:21 - Secret Level (spoilers)

06:05 - Artificer UA review

18:44 - Pathfinder's 'Impossible playtest'

22:48 - D&D licensing corner

30:46 - Wyrmwood layoffs

31:42 - D&D in the New York Times

43:26 - Using real myths in D&D

We start the year with a mailbag of listener questions, including whether you can play an entire D&D campaign as a familiar? How do you use 5e character abilities outside combat? How to make your gaming sessions last longer?

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Diana:  @DianaOfTheRose 

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:56 - Best social media platform?

05:42 - Play as a familiar?

14:43 - Class features outside combat

26:34 - Rule of Cool

29:58 - Longer session playtime

40:12 - Showing the GM's hand

The Eldritch Lorecast celebrates another year of D&D and the TTRPG industry with the Elly Awards!

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

James: @jamesjhaeck

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:06 - Personal yearly highlights

07:03 - Biggest news of 2024

20:42 - Best TTRPG release

30:36 - Best TTRPG related release

33:44 - Best Con of 2023

38:33 - Guests of the year

42:46 - Best Lorecast moments

48:50 - New Years resolutions

Let's talk strategies for finding compatible players for your D&D table, how to design adventures that don't cater only for certain 5e classes, and how magic shops can add to the worldbuilding of your campaign.

Late Pledge to Enchanting Emporiums: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eldermancy/the-seekers-guide-to-enchanting-emporiums?ref=83s14q

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Brooks: @brookstho

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:40 - Creative strengths

14:12 - Enchanting Emporiums

22:02 - Finding compatible players

38:49 - Adventure design and player classes

Are safety tools important for your D&D game? We discuss the pros and cons of deploying the X-card during a TTRPG, and reflect on the multimedia success of Critical Role, Daggerheart, and what they're planning next!

This Effin GM's video about Safety Tools: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07dLCOgEjqE

Critical Role article from Rolling Stone: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/rs-gaming/critical-role-dungeons-and-dragons-interview-1235188141/

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

James: @jamesjhaeck

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:39 - Game randomizers

09:58 - Critical Role Christmas Album

12:18 - Daggerheart

24:36 - A CR videogame?

31:25 - US tariffs impacting TTRPGs

34:34 - Safety tools at the table

53:52 - Teaching TTRPG designers

The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying arrives on D&D Beyond, possibly opening the door for other "Valiant" non-D&D games? We try to solve the mystery of the Exodus tabletop game, Elon Musk hints at purchasing Hasbro, and how much should you prep your campaign before session 1?

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Teos:  @AlphastreamRPG 

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:37 - Thanksgiving

04:06 - LotR on D&D Beyond

23:47 - What is the Exodus RPG?

33:02 - Tabletop to video game pipeline

37:00 - Elon Musk buying Hasbro?

43:05 - How to prep before Session 1

Bob World Builder joins once more to dissect Dimension 20's explosively free TTRPG, the MCDM Illrigger class makes it to D&D Beyond, WotC continue to talk video games, and Elon Musk tells Hasbro to "burn in hell".

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Bob:  @BobWorldBuilder 

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:31 - One shot TTRPG's

08:32 - Dimension 20's free RPG

22:50 - Illrigger on D&D Beyond

30:07 - Hasbro's done with movies?

40:44 - Elon Musk vs WotC

47:48 - TTRPG creators on Bluesky

51:06 - False rumors in your game

Bob World Builder joins the crew to briefly review the D&D 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide, Ben gushes about the Bastion system, Shawn still wants less world building, and Dael idolizes Indiana Jones!

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Bob:  @BobWorldBuilder 

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:30 - D&D's mascot

05:39 - #3 podcast in the realms

07:16 - D&D DMG 2024

15:36 - Bastions are cool?

33:08 - Lorecast in December

35:46 - Creating living worlds

49:00 - Avoiding no-fun consequences

1:00:00 - TTRPG YouTube back to basics

Where should you focus your DM prep when planning a D&D campaign? Will Bastions be included in future 5e adventure modules? Is AI art infiltrating boardgames? All that and more, right now!

BoardGameWire article: https://tinyurl.com/BoardGameWireArticle

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

James: @jamesjhaeck

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro01:51 - Infinite GM prep time?

09:02 - How much is too much prep?

18:22 - AI art in the boardgames

34:45 - Tabletop games jobs fair

37:44 - Steamforged Games partnerships

39:49 - Well wishes Darryl Mott

40:31 - Bastions in adventure modules?

50:21 - Is the DMG Essential?