We're sharing HORROR stories from our early days GM'ing for D&D or other TTRPG's, giving tips on how to improve as a game master, and digging deeper into Vampire: The Masquerade on D&D Beyond.

Pre-order Vampire: The Masquerade - Bound by Blood: https://marketplace.dndbeyond.com/category/4IQF87I?pid=DB4IQF87I

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Todd:  @ToddKenreck 

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @jberrt 

Topics:

00:00 - GM Horror Stories!

08:27 - Lorecast SURPRISE interview?

10:53 - Arcana Unleashed subclasses

14:45 - Free RPG Day

17:51 - Diana Jones Award nominees

20:38 - First WotC workers union

21:34 - V:tM Bound by Blood

29:21 - Easy GM mistakes?

38:56 - Level up your GM'ing

50:51 - Player consequences

HUGE News this week with Vampire: the Masquerade landing on D&D Beyond while WotC reveals more of how Unearthed Arcana 5.5e playtesting works. Jennifer Kretchmer joins us to talk TTRPG accessibility, educating the next generation of game designers, and what playing a Paladin truly means!

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Todd: ‪ ⁨@ToddKenreck⁩ 

Jen: @dreamwisp

Editor: ‪ @jberrt 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

18:29 - VtM: Bound by Blood

26:04 - UA and WotC transparency

47:49 - D&D rules reference cards

49:49 - Why the Paladin hate?

Joined this week by special guest Logan, we question whether the FATE TTRPG is dying, chonky dragons in chonkier dice, Hasbro IP's coming to D&D 5.5e and how to survive your first Convention in style!

Email your questions to [email protected]

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Dael: @dailydael

Todd: ‪@ToddKenreck‬

Logan:  @Runesmith 

Editor: ‪ @jberrt 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

05:03 - The End of Fate?

10:04 - Themberchaud D20 Chonk

14:55 - Toy franchises in 5.5e?

20:35 - Legends of Greyhawk on D&D Beyond

25:25 - Advice for Your First Convention

32:46 - Large Scale Battles in D&D

42:59 - 3rd Party Spells

Is WotC listening to the community with the changes to D&D Beyond Drops? We meet the members of the D&D Advisory Group, Hasbro starts up an AI company, and Paizo are forced to make some difficult choices.

Grim Hollow now Available: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHRF_2026_6_244

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Todd:  @ToddKenreck 

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @jberrt 

Topics:

00:00 - What is Homebrew?

09:08 - D&D Beyond Drops update

13:31 - D&D Advisory Group

19:14 - New D&D book and Baldur’s Gate 2?

27:58 - Hasbro AI studio

32:50 - Paizo layoffs

35:55 - Neon Odyssey breaks records

45:24 - John Blanche

46:42 - Digital dice themes

Grim Hollow 5.5e FINALLY brings horror and grimdark adventures to D&D! Meanwhile D&D Beyond makes good on another promise, and we gear up to celebrate the International Day of Play!

Grim Hollow now Available: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHRF_2026_6_244

Start your Adventures in Etharis here:https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHRF_2026_6_243

Learn more about the UNICEF Day of Play:https://www.unicef.org/parenting/day-of-play

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Todd:  @ToddKenreck 

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @jberrt 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

06:54 - Grim Hollow 5.5e is HERE!

13:56 - Gen Con D&D events

18:50 - International Day of Play

22:22 - D&D Beyond Journals

27:07 - Political intrigue adventures

49:01 - 3rd party D&D starter sets

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 [email protected]

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

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 [email protected]

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

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 [email protected]

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

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 [email protected]

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.

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 [email protected]

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?