We start the year with a mailbag of listener questions, including whether you can play an entire D&D campaign as a familiar? How do you use 5e character abilities outside combat? How to make your gaming sessions last longer?

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Diana:  @DianaOfTheRose 

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:56 - Best social media platform?

05:42 - Play as a familiar?

14:43 - Class features outside combat

26:34 - Rule of Cool

29:58 - Longer session playtime

40:12 - Showing the GM's hand

The Eldritch Lorecast celebrates another year of D&D and the TTRPG industry with the Elly Awards!

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

James: @jamesjhaeck

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:06 - Personal yearly highlights

07:03 - Biggest news of 2024

20:42 - Best TTRPG release

30:36 - Best TTRPG related release

33:44 - Best Con of 2023

38:33 - Guests of the year

42:46 - Best Lorecast moments

48:50 - New Years resolutions

Let's talk strategies for finding compatible players for your D&D table, how to design adventures that don't cater only for certain 5e classes, and how magic shops can add to the worldbuilding of your campaign.

Late Pledge to Enchanting Emporiums: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eldermancy/the-seekers-guide-to-enchanting-emporiums?ref=83s14q

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Brooks: @brookstho

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:40 - Creative strengths

14:12 - Enchanting Emporiums

22:02 - Finding compatible players

38:49 - Adventure design and player classes

Are safety tools important for your D&D game? We discuss the pros and cons of deploying the X-card during a TTRPG, and reflect on the multimedia success of Critical Role, Daggerheart, and what they're planning next!

This Effin GM's video about Safety Tools: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07dLCOgEjqE

Critical Role article from Rolling Stone: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/rs-gaming/critical-role-dungeons-and-dragons-interview-1235188141/

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

James: @jamesjhaeck

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:39 - Game randomizers

09:58 - Critical Role Christmas Album

12:18 - Daggerheart

24:36 - A CR videogame?

31:25 - US tariffs impacting TTRPGs

34:34 - Safety tools at the table

53:52 - Teaching TTRPG designers

The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying arrives on D&D Beyond, possibly opening the door for other "Valiant" non-D&D games? We try to solve the mystery of the Exodus tabletop game, Elon Musk hints at purchasing Hasbro, and how much should you prep your campaign before session 1?

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Teos:  @AlphastreamRPG 

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:37 - Thanksgiving

04:06 - LotR on D&D Beyond

23:47 - What is the Exodus RPG?

33:02 - Tabletop to video game pipeline

37:00 - Elon Musk buying Hasbro?

43:05 - How to prep before Session 1

Bob World Builder joins once more to dissect Dimension 20's explosively free TTRPG, the MCDM Illrigger class makes it to D&D Beyond, WotC continue to talk video games, and Elon Musk tells Hasbro to "burn in hell".

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Bob:  @BobWorldBuilder 

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:31 - One shot TTRPG's

08:32 - Dimension 20's free RPG

22:50 - Illrigger on D&D Beyond

30:07 - Hasbro's done with movies?

40:44 - Elon Musk vs WotC

47:48 - TTRPG creators on Bluesky

51:06 - False rumors in your game

Bob World Builder joins the crew to briefly review the D&D 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide, Ben gushes about the Bastion system, Shawn still wants less world building, and Dael idolizes Indiana Jones!

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Bob:  @BobWorldBuilder 

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:30 - D&D's mascot

05:39 - #3 podcast in the realms

07:16 - D&D DMG 2024

15:36 - Bastions are cool?

33:08 - Lorecast in December

35:46 - Creating living worlds

49:00 - Avoiding no-fun consequences

1:00:00 - TTRPG YouTube back to basics

Where should you focus your DM prep when planning a D&D campaign? Will Bastions be included in future 5e adventure modules? Is AI art infiltrating boardgames? All that and more, right now!

BoardGameWire article: https://tinyurl.com/BoardGameWireArticle

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

James: @jamesjhaeck

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante 

Topics:

00:00 - Intro01:51 - Infinite GM prep time?

09:02 - How much is too much prep?

18:22 - AI art in the boardgames

34:45 - Tabletop games jobs fair

37:44 - Steamforged Games partnerships

39:49 - Well wishes Darryl Mott

40:31 - Bastions in adventure modules?

50:21 - Is the DMG Essential?

A torrent of TTRPG news hits, including 5e 2024 monsters previewed on D&D Beyond, Critical Role touring the globe, DriveThruRPG increasing AI browsing features, and a new Ravenloft novel!

Late Pledge Grim Hollow Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/grim-hollow?ref=5z40qv

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor: @ZsDante

Topics:

00:00 - Videogames into TTRPGs

07:55 - D&D Funko pop

09:32 - D&D Beyond oopsie

12:51 - DriveThruRPG filters AI

18:40 - Critical Role global tour

31:51 - New Ravenloft novel

37:30 - 5e '24 monster changes

43:42 - Character red flags

Hasbro changes its corporate structure which leads to layoffs, new jobs, and a new future for D&D 5e. We also discuss which TTRPG will make you a better GM, and celebrate our Lorecast Halloween tradition!

FINAL DAYS to back the Grim Hollow Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/grim-hollow?ref=5z40qv

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

James: @jamesjhaeck

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  @ZsDante 

Topics:

00:00 - Halloween costumes!

02:26 - Grim Hollow KS ending

06:40 - New DM Screen

16:49 - Hasbro corporate restructure

31:13 - Chris Perkins new job

37:02 - October recap

44:47 - Games that teach GMing