The Eldritch Lorecast

Ghostfire Gaming

Ben Byrne, Dael Kingsmill, Shawn Merwin, and Todd Kenreck 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.

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29 episodes
weekly
Avg 56 min
English

Episodes 29

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#243
May 27 · 45 min
#243. A New Horror TTRPG Emerges from D&D's Biggest Rival
A D&D game is cancelled and details about a new horror TTRPG from the makers of Pathfinder and Starfinder! Meanwhile, are you a Gamist, Narrativist, or Simulationist gamer? Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Todd: @ToddKenreck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @jberrt Topics: 00:00 - Intro 05:46 - Paizo’s horror TTRPG 23:09 - D&D game cancelled 28:20 - GNS game theory 35:43 - Weaving Character Backstories
#242
May 20 · 58 min
#242. Is Playing D&D a "Selfish" Power Fantasy?
D&D 5e is accused of being 'artistically hollow' by one of tabletop gaming's biggest influencers, alongside Pathfinder, Draw Steel, and Daggerheart. So we explore if that's true? Quinns Quest review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH5-uQj4uOA Saga of the Seasons 5e Adventure: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHVC_2026_5_242 Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Todd: @ToddKenreck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @jberrt Topics: 00:00 - Intro 05:04 - Gen Con events 07:39 - Quinns vs D&D 26:15 - Are Optimizers truly the villains? 40:20 - Stories vs Railroads
May 13 · 1 hr 3 min
#241. Have "Drops" Just Changed D&D FOREVER?
Outrage explodes at WotC over D&D Beyond Drops, which give new 5.5e content to subscribers only! But is the latest controversy real or overblown? Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Todd: ⁨@ToddKenreck⁩ Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: ⁨@jberrt⁩ Topics: 00:00 - Intro 04:32 - D&D Beyond Drops 30:49 - Chris Cocks Interview 38:37 - Neon Odyssey 41:40 - High Level Campaigns 48:54 - Optimizer Discourse
May 6 · 57 min
#240. How to Transform D&D Adventure Modules to Other Settings!
This week we minimize DM prep by converting D&D adventure modules to other settings like Grim Hollow, and which one-shots make for the perfect side quests and starter adventures to kick off your TTRPG campaign! Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @jberrt Topics: 00:00 - Intro 01:36 - Best side quest one-shots 09:32 - D&D Beyond Starter Packs 15:33 - Ted D&D episode 21:10 - WotC's AI rules lawyer 31:26 - WotC workers union 35:10- Supporting New DM’s 40:01 - Transforming adventure modules 49:58 - "Pilot Episode" D&D sessions.
#239
April 29 · 59 min
#239. Are You Still Getting These D&D 5.5e Rules Wrong?
This week we revisit the hidden differences between D&D 5e and 5.5e, review the Dungeon Masters live play "Play Along Pack", and Dael actually reads an Unearthed Arcana including the Barbarian Path of Lament, Monk Warrior of Venom, and Warlock Primordial Patron. LAST WEEK to back Lairs of Etharis: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHLA_2026_4_236 Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Todd: @ToddKenreck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @jberrt Topics: 00:00 - D&D 5.5e rules Quiz 14:39 - Do you like a one-shot? 23:10 - D&D live play "Play Along Pack" 38:53 - Unearthed Arcana: Villains 2 49:03 - Louis Zocchi passing 50:24 - D&D 6e on the horizon?
#238
April 22 · 1 hr
#238. Is the OFFICIAL D&D Liveplay About to End Critical Role?
WotC is launching an 'official' D&D liveplay campaign, with talent from Dimension 20 and Baldur's Gate 3. But can it hope to topple Critical Role? Meanwhile, have TTRPG's become a luxury purchase? Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Todd: @ToddKenreck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @jberrt Topics: 00:00 - Intro 06:00 - Ravenloft book reveals 21:50 - Daggerheart & luxury TTRPG goods 25:35 - Dungeon Crawler Carl sets records! 29:10 - The "Official" D&D live play 38:42 - Players missing sessions 46:41 - Complex villains & worlds
#237
April 15 · 1 hr 3 min
#237. Is D&D 5.5e Abandoning Full Adventure Modules?
Not a single full adventure module has released for D&D 5.5e! Have Wizards of the Coast abandoned modules in favor of only setting guides? Or does a new role at WotC suggest 3rd party creators will make the adventures, now? Delve into the Lairs of Etharis: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHLA_2026_4_236 Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Todd: @ToddKenreck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @jberrt Topics: 00:00 - Intro 04:52 - Adventure prep in 30mins 11:05 - D&D abandoning adventure modules? 22:06 - WotC hire new 3PP role 29:11 - Lairs of Etharis 31:12 - World of Darkness OGL 40:26 - Worst part of turning into a monster 44:55 - A return to analog TTRPG's?
#236
April 8 · 58 min
#236. How D&D's New UA Misses the Point of Playing Evil Characters!
Unearthed Arcana unlocks the power of EVIL for D&D 5.5e, with a villainous new Cleric, Druid, Fighter, and Sorcerer subclass. With villainous feats also empowering players, does WotC miss the point of playing evil characters?\ Delve into the Lairs of Etharis: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHLA_2026_4_236 Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Todd: @ToddKenreck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @jberrt Topics: 00:00 - Intro 07:00 - Lairs of Etharis x Mega Dungeon Month 10:55 - Unearthed Arcana: Villainous Options 27:10 - Villainous transformations 32:52 - Hasbro vs the netrunners 35:02 - Greyhawk: Shield Lands 36:33 - Free League OGL
April 1 · 57 min
#235. The D&D Digital Era Continues with the Quickbuilder
D&D Beyond releases the character Quickbuilder while MCDM launches the Codex for Draw Steel on Steam marketplace. Player or GM, the digital age of TTRPG's is here to stay! Delve into Mega Dungeon Month: https://www.backerkit.com/c/collections/mega-dungeon-month The Codex Pricing & Distribution: https://www.patreon.com/posts/codex-pricing-153537787 Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com Ben: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydael Todd: @ToddKenreck Shawn: @shawnmerwin Editor: @jberrt Topics: 00:00 - Intro 05:26 - Cyberpunk Red reprint 08:55 - D&D Beyond Quickbuilder 13:36 - The Draw Steel Codex 22:22 - Mega Dungeon Month 25:46 - Are 5.5e Gish overpowered? 40:54 - Living up to a Forever DM

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