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
Sigil has failed its final death save! Is D&D Beyond Maps a good enough replacement? Dragonlance gets resurrected, 5e 2024 could be the most successful edition yet, and what level should you start your campaign?
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
02:20 - Games of paranoia
05:27 - Critical Role goes mainstreamer
09:03 - Daylight savings
09:47 - Sigil laid to rest
15:09 - Dungeons of Drakkenheim: Daggerheart
17:32 - Dragonlance returns?
26:34 - 5e 2024 is D&D's fastest seller
30:56 - Best D&D starting level?
48:39 - Narrative leveling
D&D 5e makes magic a group activity with new Circle Casting, Critical Role pushes actual play further as a performance art, and we debate whether a TTRPG is a Shared Story or an Interactive Narrative.
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
03:17 - D&D's new circle casting
14:10 - Critical Role pushes the industry
23:48 - Passing of Rob Wieland
24:33 - Tariff warning
25:49 - Shared storytelling vs Interactive narrative
How is a D&D Liveplay different from your home game? Diana Fay and Adam Carnevale help explain what makes a TTRPG Liveplay good! Also, should you tinker with 5e monster rules? How do you play test your own homebrew? Do we need to evacuate?
Check out 'Elder Gods And Dragons' & Scryglass Studio: https://www.egnd.com.au/
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
Adam: @RetroArchetype
Diana: @DianaOfTheRose
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:05 - DON'T start a liveplay
10:34 - Scryglass Studio
11:15 - PAX Aus recap
17:03 - Critical Role cartoon updates
22:00 - Players surprising GM's
29:31 - Should you homebrew monsters?
38:01 - Evacuation!
42:44 - How to playtest homebrew
58:51 - Changing D&D's cosmology
Darrington Press attracts HUGE 3rd party talent like the Dungeon Dudes, who announce Dungeons of Drakkenheim: Daggerheart. The Mighty Nein on Amazon gets a launch date, WotC want MOAR D&D video games, and a new 5e 2024 Psion drops in Unearthed Arcana.
Delve into the Dungeons of Drakkenheim: Daggerheart - https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_DKDH_2025_10_210
Sign up to play at PAX Aus: https://ghostfiregaming.odoo.com/events
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
James: @jamesjhaeck
Monty: @montycmartin
Kelly: @kaiinreallife
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:18 - Writing TTRPG worlds
10:56 - Daggerheart in Drakkenheim!
27:00 - Mighty Nein launch date
38:57 - PAX Aus & Gamehole Con
41:12 - MORE D&D video games
43:00 - Kickstarter United strike
44:32 - Unearthed Arcana: Psion
Do the Fey of Lorwyn fit into the Forgotten Realms? Is there a better MtG crossover for 5e 2024? The Grim Hollow Campaign Guide erupts onto D&D Beyond, Stranger Things gets a new box set, and we ponder what power is in a True Name?
Get the Grim Hollow Campaign Guide on D&D Beyond! https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHPG_2025_2_204
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Dael: @DailyDael
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
LaTia: @latiajacquise
Adam: @retroarchetype
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
02:04 - Dream MtG crossovers
09:29 - Lorwyn First Light
24:52 - Grim Hollow Campaign Guide
32:42 - D&D Beyond updates
38:19 - D&D Starter Set
42:44 - Stranger Things Box Set
46:26 - True Names of the fey
Is Unearthed Arcana becoming a problem for WotC? Has 5e 2024 finally gotten the Arcane Archer right? Which D&D edition is the most expensive? What are your thoughts on homebrew?
RACE to get Torque Borg by clicking THIS LINK! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/977140613/torque-borg-a-wasteland-rpg?ref=1fwvx3
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Reasons to play TTRPG's
06:29 - Unearthed Arcana (again!)
18:19 - Torque Borg
22:48 - Most expensive D&D edition?
33:04 - TTRPG in the EU retail market
39:57 - Thoughts on homebrew?
What are the best adventures for introducing new players to D&D 5e? Does the new Starter Set, Heroes of the Borderlands, truly have it all?
UNLOCK the Dark Fantasy Construction Kit from Arkenforge: https://bit.ly/Darkenforge
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
07:34 - D&D's new Starter Set
17:45 - Dark fantasy construction kit
21:32 - Witcher Watch
23:26 - Do evil gods matter?
40:58 - Should GMs help players?
48:28 - Breaking in as a freelancer
Wizards of the Coast chart their future D&D plans as a franchise, we explore whether a TTRPG should be balanced or fun, and there's IMPORTANT late-breaking Critical Role news!
LAST CHANCE to Set Sail on the Aetherial Expanse: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_AEDG_2025_7_933Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
03:53 - Aetherial Expanse ENDING soon!
07:54 - Critical Role play with puppies
08:44 - WotC plans for the future
23:29 - Is AI actually the future?
33:37 - Adventures with TOO MANY choices
43:25 - Does game balance matter?
Do players EVER actually have choices in prewritten adventures? Is the sandbox purely an illusion? How do TTRPG game designers ensure characters have agency choosing their path forward?
An Aetherial Expanse adventure is coming to Kickstarter: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_AEDG_2025_7_933
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Erin: @nirele
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
00:58 - The Faithless Wench of TTRPG's
04:55 - Dreams of the Drowned God
21:00 - ANOTHER another D&D video game
26:51 - 5e returns to Brazil
27:45 - Are ALL adventures linear?
Why NOBODY predicted Critical Role would choose D&D over Daggerheart! And what does a West Marches style campaign mean for Campaign 4? We also invoke the dreaded name of Dark Sun!
Get the Grim Hollow Player's Guide on D&D Beyond! https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHPG_2025_2_204
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
James: @jamesjhaeck
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:16 - A Lorecast actual play?
05:16 - Critical Role choose D&D!
18:20 - Critical Role and West Marches
32:06 - Grim Hollow launches on D&D Beyond!
35:52 - Unearthed Arcana hints at Dark Sun
In the OGL aftermath and the full release of D&D 2024, is the game better or worse than it's ever been? Is 5e 2024 actually better than 5e 2014?
An Aetherial Expanse adventure is coming to Kickstarter: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_AEDG_2025_7_933
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Mike: @SlyFlourish
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - The Aftermath of the OGL
17:51 - Is D&D 2024 better than 2014?
36:15 - Baldur's Gate 4?
40:07 - New 5e Adventure module!
45:03 - How to plan campaign narratives
Todd Kenreck helps us to ponder which community members should WotC choose for the D&D Advisory Panel? Gen Con hits record attendance! Then we settle in to build cozy homes and grimdark worlds for your TTRPG adventures.
An Aetherial Expanse adventure is coming to Kickstarter: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_AEDG_2025_7_933
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Todd: @ToddKenreck
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:34 - The future for Todd Kenreck
17:53 - D&D advisory panel
24:22 - Gen Con record attendance
29:15 - Cozy bastions
46:05 - Dark fantasy adventure building
Brennan Lee Mulligan takes over Critical Role, Ghostfire Gaming launches an Organized Play campaign, MCDM releases Draw Steel, and Paizo puts a 5e adventure on D&D Beyond! It's been a long Gen Con...
Learn more about the Grim Hunt: https://ghostfiregaming.com/resources/
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Hannah: @AmazingSpidrHan
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:00:00 - Intro
01:59 - Gen Con 2025
10:35 - Draw Steel goes live
13:43 - Brennan to DM Critical Role
19:47 - Paizo now on D&D Beyond!
24:42 - D&D's new direction
33:45 - Faerun sneak peaks
47:09 - Tariffs impacting overseas games
50:32 - Listener appreciation
D&D Beyond teases digital DLC for the Forgotten Realms setting books, while Nott the Brave teases town guards in the new Critical Role animated series. We also celebrate 200 episodes of this here podcast!
A new Aetherial Expans adventure is coming to Kickstarter:https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_AEDG_2025_7_933
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
02:52 - Forgotten Realms book reveals
10:40 - D&D Beyond DLC
18:01 - Stranger Things starter set
24:25 - Aetherial Expanse adventure
27:04 - New Critical Role animated seasons
32:31 - 200th Episode quiz
Critical Role announces their first video game, WotC boasts the BIGGEST D&D starter set ever, Eberron is delayed, and is "D&D in a Castle" offering a new career path?
Unlock the Grim Hollow Player's Guide, today! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/grim-hollow?ref=3hjfbf
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:12 - TTRPG from video games
06:41 - Starfinder video game
10:28 - Critical Role's video game
17:08 - Grim Hollow: The Player’s Guide releases
19:35 - D&D's BIGGEST ever starter set
27:42 - New Stranger Things D&D box set
33:54 - Eberron book delayed
35:54 - Green Ronin vs Diamond
40:05 - Draughts worker strike
41:16 - D&D DM University
Big changes for D&D as Wizards of the Coast step towards a franchise model, while Darrington Press take their next big steps as a TTRPG publisher! Also, what exactly IS a Warlock or a Rogue?
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Logan: @Runesmith
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
07:01 - D&D becoming a "franchise"
21:19 - Darrington Press levels up!
27:31 - Gen Con update
32:32 - D&D Classes core fantasy
52:37 - Obsolete design ideas
How impactful SHOULD character death be in a TTRPG like Daggerheart or D&D? We ponder this while Paizo experiences book delays, the ENNIE awards are announced, and we decide what monster manuals to make!
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
00:46 - Shopping at FLGS
07:26 - Diamond bankruptcy
13:43 - Board game cafe strike
19:31 - ENNIE nominations
21:42 - Handling character death
34:42 - GM social leaders
48:36 - Monster themed books
Daggerheart releases two new classes into playtesting, triggering a heated rules debate over moons! Meanwhile, another Unearthed Arcana brings the Necromancer Wizard and Hexblade Warlock back to D&D 2024.
Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com
Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @DailyDael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin
Editor: @ZsDante
Topics:
00:00 - Intro
01:14 - What is an Undead?
06:04 - Unearthed Arcana subclasses
23:11 - The missing Todd in the room
24:50 - New Daggerheart playtest
46:09 - Tabletop Workers United
47:23 - Taking GM notes