Stay ConnectedBen 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.
Copyright: © Ghostfire Gaming
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 podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
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 podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
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 podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
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 podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
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 podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
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 podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
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 podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
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 podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
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 podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
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 podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
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
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
