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
Wizard's of the Coast is hiring new D&D designers, but can they fill Chris Perkins or Jeremy Crawford's shoes? A new D&D video game is announced, and World of Darkness publisher White Wolf rises from the grave!
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:24 - Best question for Session 0?
13:40 - WotC hiring game designers
22:23 - White Wolf returns
28:38 - A new D&D video game!
33:53 - UK Games Expo
36:05 - Balancing a TTRPG
45:23 - Monstrous BBEG
A surprised Unearthed Arcana launches the Psion back into D&D! Wizards of the Coast inks an new video game publishing deal, while Baldur's Gate 3 goes Pathfinder 2e. Should TTRPG players git gud?
Hunt for Monsters of Drakkenheim on D&D Beyond: https://marketplace.dndbeyond.com/category/DB4KDB0Q1
Wizards of the Coast signs deal with Giant Skull: https://newsroom.hasbro.com/news-releases/news-release-details/wizards-coast-announces-exclusive-publishing-agreement-giant
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:15 - Best TTRPG settings
06:53 - The Psion Unearthed Arcana
22:36 - Monsters of Drakkenheim
24:56 - New WotC video game?
32:17 - BG3's Pathfinder mod
34:05 - Does player skill matter in a TTRPG?
We celebrate the launch of Daggerheart from Darrington Press, whilst comparing encounter design between Draw Steel, D&D, and Critical Role's new TTRPG.
Click to enter the Grim Hollow Player Pack D&D Beyond giveaway: https://forms.gle/RxFKrvYyJFFKHeTa7
Sign up to GM at Gen Con 2025: https://www.baldmangames.com/gencon-2025-dm-signup/
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
08:50 - Weirdest place to play TTRPGs
10:16 - Daggerheart releases
27:10 - GM at Gen Con 2025
30:16 - Building Draw Steel encounters
48:59 - Improvising fun NPCs
How do 1-on-1 D&D sessions differ from a typical big party campaign? The fate of Gen Con's most infamous rogues is revealed! How can you create a gripping atmosphere at your gaming table or online?
Click to enter the Lairs of Etharis D&D Beyond giveaway: https://forms.gle/kyNDnZBxGjBJA65r7
Tariff Pause the Bare Minimum: https://www.wargamer.com/board-games/gloomhaven-tariff-pause
Game Publishers Brace for Shipping Price Hike: https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/05/13/board-game-publishers-brace-for-shipping-price-hike-delays-as-us-drops-tariffs-on-china-to-30-in-90-day-truce/
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:46 - 1 on 1 D&D
14:52 - Gen Con heist news
23:22 - Diana Jones Emerging Designers
27:24 - TTRPG tariff update
38:00 - Daggerheart actual play
39:47 - Creating game atmosphere
D&D 2024 unleashes new Horror Subclasses like the Artificer Reanimator in the latest Unearthed Arcana. But how frightening can 5e be? Plus there's a sneak peak at the new Eberron book and why TTRPG publishers might be pulling out of Gen Con?
Click to enter the Lairs of Etharis D&D Beyond giveaway: https://forms.gle/kyNDnZBxGjBJA65r7
Check out Lairs of Etharis on D&D Beyond, here: https://marketplace.dndbeyond.com/settings/SRC-00130
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
00:48 - Favorite type of horror
07:54 - Horror subclasses UA
26:43 - Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
42:56 - TTRPG publisher pulls out of Gen Con
49:03 - What's a bandit lord?
54:46 - Humanoid villains
Is Sage Advice the same without Jeremy Crawford? WotC publish the latest 2024 rules update on D&D Beyond, Roll20 and Demiplane launch a cross compatibility beta, and a titan of the TTRPG industry comes to an abrupt end.
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:21 - New Spell: Mike's Hard Lemonade
03:54 - Sage Advice for D&D 2024
31:36 - Roll20 & Demiplane beta
38:09 - Polygon layoffs
44:53 - Alarums and Excursions
48:05 - Profanity in D&D books
Stop your TTRPG players from sleeping through your early campaign lore dumps! We're also dissecting dragons and the SRD 5.2. Will WotC dodge tariff chaos with D&D and MtG?
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Best dragon harvest
05:20 - WotC vs tariffs
11:39 - Tariff lightning round
14:50 - SRD 5.2 deep dive
29:35 - Westmarch style systems
40:55 - How much lore, too much?
Does releasing the SRD 5.2 for D&D 2024 fulfill the last of the WotC promises? Can 3rd party 5e publishers finally rejoice? We ponder these questions while the Tabletop Games industry collapses around us due to tariffs.
D&D Beyond changelog: https://www.dndbeyond.com/changelog#2024CoreRulesErrata
TTRPG industry survey: https://cardboardedison.com/tariffs
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
05:54 - SRD 5.2
15:24 - Baldur's Gate 3 final patch
24:07 - Xanathar's puppet
25:50 - Dungeons and Cabins
28:40 - Meredith Placko resigns
30:18 - Tariffs toll on the industry
39:54 - GM Presentation
Jeremy Crawford leaves D&D and Wizards of the Coast, Daggerheart gets an early release Down Under, and how will Dragon Delves make dragons in 5e fun?
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Diana: @dianaoftherose
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:25 - Your First GM
06:00 - Daggerheart Early Release
09:48 - Dragon Delves
22:32 - D&D Beyond MAPS
32:04 - Jeremy Crawford Leaves WotC
41:20 - Tariffs check-in
42:15 - Visualizing a dungeon
Will Tariffs destroy the TTRPG industry? This week we roleplay economists to explore the global issue from the side of game publishers, hobby shop owners, and fans whose books are about to get a LOT more expensive!
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Teos: @Alphastream
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:23 - Arby's dice
05:00 - Chris Perkins retires
17:47 - Free Sigil minis
23:15 - Tariffs vs TTRPG's
43:07 - Creating new monsters
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