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
Less D&D news this week (except for WotC threatening legal action for a Baldur's Gate 3 mod) leads into listener emails about incentivizing selfish players, why GM's shouldn't be scared of math, and whether the GM or player should control the wizard's familiar?
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
06:23 - WotC threaten legal action
08:56 - Paul Sawyer passing
10:17 - Playing selfish players
25:05 - Scared of math? GM Anyway!
32:47 - GM or player run familiars?
Wizards of the Coast call it quits on Project Sigil, leaving the 3D VTT to mothball on D&D Beyond. Meanwhile the world gets strange as Texas lawmakers try to outlaw roleplaying in schools for entirely imaginary reasons.
Start your Companion Quest here: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGLC_GGCQ_2025_2_003
Rascal article about Texas roleplay bill: https://www.rascal.news/texas-furries-act-tabletop-roleplaying-games-in-schools/
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @dailydael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:00 - Giving your players news
04:26 - Sigil's sad fate
24:00 - Texas to outlaw roleplaying
32:31 - Avenues for self publishing
44:24 - How to finish a project
The D&D 3D VTT is off to a bumpy launch. MCDM quietly tinkers with it's own Draw Steel VTT. We ponder whether the Hero Forge dice are balanced while Ben and Dael argue what a Critical Role video game might (not) look like.
Start your Companion Quest here: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGLC_GGCQ_2025_2_003
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @dailydael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:04 - Dice collections
08:45 - Hero Forge dice
16:06 - Critical Role video game
28:29 - Sigil’s bumpy release
34:58 - The MCDM VTT
38:21 - Companion Quest
40:13 - Low level Legendary Monsters
Are tariffs about me to make buying D&D and TTRPG products A LOT more expensive for US gamers? And right when a new 5e 2024 starter set could make learning the game easier than ever! What makes a good Warlock patron?
Start your Companion Quest here: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGLC_GGCQ_2025_2_003
BoardGameWire article: https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/03/06/fewer-releases-spending-freezes-and-rising-prices-board-game-publishers-face-volatile-financial-future-as-us-hikes-china-tariff-to-20-brings-in-25-canada-mexico-tariffs/
Rascal News article: https://www.rascal.news/tabletop-companies-are-waiting-for-the-ship-to-come-in-on-tariffs/
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @dailydael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
02:27 - New D&D starter set
14:29 - Companion Quest
17:40 - Chris Cocks interviews
27:35 - Tariffs vs tabletop games
34:56 - DriveThruRPG prices rise
39:21 - Warlock patrons
48:12 - Greyhawk introduction
WAIT! Project Sigil has launched on D&D Beyond? The Artificer is getting a new subclass? D&D 2024 is getting a new Starter Set? All that TTRPG news, and more!
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
James: @jamesjhaeck
Dael: @dailydael
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:13 - THE BEST D&D miniature
04:17 - Winter Fantasy recap
09:39 - Project Sigil launches!
20:16 - New D&D starter set
28:10 - Artificer Unearthed Arcana
33:57 - Ernie Gygax passes
35:01 - Mega dungeon design
45:04 - Monster Manual art
Big D&D news as WotC announces a Lorwyn Shadowmoor 5e setting book, another 3rd party release hits D&D Beyond, and the Monster Manual 2025 gets a second patch, and we all geek out about video games!
Check out the new D&D Beyond Drakkenheim adventure: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_NILE_2025_2_178
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
James: @jamesjhaeck
Monty: @montycmartin
Kelly: @kaiinreallife
Dungeon Dudes: @DungeonDudes
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:18 - Video game influences
11:08 - A new D&D video game?
15:00 - In Search of Smugglers' Secrets
25:47 - Lorwyn book announced
32:50 - Dragon Delves cover art
36:02 - Kobold Press' cosy RPG
43:28 - D&D Beyond monster errata
49:51 - Escape Room game design
Pathfinder introduces NPC romance and relationship rules, D&D signs a deal with Netflix for a Forgotten Realms tv series, and evil Drow could be returning to 5e 2024!
Explore Jarren's Outpost here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dndnerds/jarrens-outpost
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @dailydael
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Adam: @RetroArchetype
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
02:13 - Favorite D&D species
11:54 - Evil Drow returning!
14:15 - D&D Netflix Series
21:59 - Jarren's Outpost
27:39 - Pathfinder romance rules
39:08 - Kickstarter Pledge Over Time
44:31 - Steve Jackson Games & Possum Creek
49:05 - Fantasy travel between settlements
The 2025 Monster Manual receives a day 1 patch, we finally address the D&D Orc controversy, Daggerheart gets a release date to revolutionize the TTRPG industry, and Ghostfire is making a boardgame!
Start your Companion Quest here: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGLC_GGCQ_2025_2_003
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @dailydael
Logan: @Runesmith
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
00:49 - No orcs
07:01 - Monster Manual day 1 patch
11:28 - Monster initiative
18:20 - Companion Quest
24:23 - Magic the Gathering cinematic universe
36:43 - Daggerheart release date
38:07 - Diamond debt reclamation
40:57 - Spells in monster stats
49:56 - How to recap a campaign
Amidst the Monster Manual news, Wizards of the Coast announce as new Unearthed Arcana, a new Starter Set: Heroes of the Borderlands, new setting guides, and a free D&D 5e adventure! Can we convince James to like Dinosaurs?
Check out A Time Traveler's Guide to Dinosaur Hunting: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/splatteredink/a-time-travelers-guide-to-dinosaur-hunting?ref=6p3q3u
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @dailydael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:08 - Monster Manual 2025
06:32 - A free 5e adventure
12:19 - D&D movie sequel?
13:57 - Our favorite dinosaurs
22:31 - End of Critical Role Era?
32:36 - All D&D 2025 releases
34:26 - Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
40:00 - Starter Set: Heroes of the Borderlands
45:10 - Return to the Forgotten Realms
48:18 - Greyhawk Organized play
52:11 - Unearthed Arcana: Subclasses
Dael refuses to talk about AI Dungeon Masters and whether they give better D&D immersion. Then we debate how much descriptive text DM's should give players during a TTRPG?
Leon Barillaro's article: https://barilleon.com/blog/the-liches-method-of-boxed-text-descriptions/
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @dailydael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
00:49 - DM descriptions
05:54 - How much description to players
15:11 - AI Dungeon Masters
19:51 - New D&D boardgame
22:18 - Artefacts & Alignment
32:15 - Why not play as a werewolf?
44:45 - Forgotten D&D antagonists
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