Leroy from Let’s Roll Press joins Inver and Art to discuss Chapelwick, a cosmic horror campaign setting steeped in gothic dread, modular madness, and soulslike challenge. They explore parasite-bound paladins, tendril-ridden druids, and the Madness Deck that turns 5E horror into a full sensory experience. Plus, a look at future projects and the alchemy of music, art, and tabletop design behind this Kickstarter phenomenon. Support Chapelwick on Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/letsrollpress/chapelwick) and explore more at letsrollpress.com! And Don't Forget! We produce a ton of Patreon-exclusive episodes! Check us out on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers) for bonus Deep Dive videos along with early access to the video and audio of the podcast.  Telephone, Telegraph, Tell a Friend about the Goblins and Growlers Podcast. → Bonus episodes and early access on Patreon (http://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers)→ Subscribe to our monthly gaming newsletter (https://goblinsandgrowlers.beehiiv.com/subscribe) → Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord (http://bit.ly/goblindiscord) LISTEN, RATE, AND SUBSCRIBE! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or your podcatcher of choice. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers https://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlers https://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher) https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, the best narrative play)

Josh and Art take some time to highlight upcoming crowdfund indie titles. They start with talking about Absurdia, a modern take on paranormal TTRPGs. Hey! We produce a ton of Patreon-exclusive episodes! Check us out on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers) for bonus Deep Dive videos along with early access to the video and audio of the podcast.  Telephone, Telegraph, Tell a Friend about the Goblins and Growlers Podcast. → Bonus episodes and early access on Patreon (http://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers)→ Subscribe to our monthly gaming newsletter (https://goblinsandgrowlers.beehiiv.com/subscribe) → Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord (http://bit.ly/goblindiscord) LISTEN, RATE, AND SUBSCRIBE! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or your podcatcher of choice. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers https://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlers https://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher) https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, the best narrative play)

Josh and Art are joined by special guest, co-founder of Dice Dungeons Jarrett Butler to talk about their upcoming Kickstarter campaign for their cryptid-themed bestiary, P.T. Lamark’s Cryptid Codex. Jarrett shares insights into a few of the creatures we can expect blocks for, as well as an exploration into the design philosophies of the book, including a couple of illustrations by Zora. On Patreon: Check out this week's bonus podcast

Critical Role shocked fans by choosing 5E for Campaign 4. What does this mean for Daggerheart’s future? Critical Role stunned fans by announcing Campaign 4 will be played in Dungeons & Dragons 5E instead of their own system, Daggerheart. Inverlyst is joined by attorney and podcaster Noah Downs (@MyLawyerFriend) and TTRPG streamer Captain Robear (@CaptainRobear) to break down the decision. Was this a cautious business move, a matter of playability, or a sign of hesitation in their homegrown game? ----more---- Together, they explore community expectations, the risks of multi-table West Marches-style play, and what this pivot means for third-party creators, streaming platforms, and the future of TTRPG dominance. BEHOLD THE RELEVANT LINKS ✦ Patreon: Get extra goblin bants and rants - http://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers ✦ Discord: Join the goblins in the communal goo - http://bit.ly/goblindiscord ✦ Guest, Noah Downs: Noah Downs, boss friend to the stars, can be found as @MyLawyerFriend (Email me!) on socials and on his podcast, Forgotten Paths -https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/xfmyi-24a540/Forgotten-Paths-Podcast ✦ Guest, Captain RoBear: Cap't RoBear, streaming engagement demon and irl teddybear, can be found as @CaptainRoBear on socials and on his channels over on Twitch (https://twitch.tv/captainrobear) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@CaptainRoBear)

Critical Role isn't using Daggerheart for Campaign 4! There are a lot of good business reasons for that, but there's still an element of poor planning there that's hard to overlook. WotC's new Unearthed Arcana is an air raid siren telling us that they're planning a Dark Sun release, likely in 2026. This is a huge change from perceived sentiments a couple of years ago that the setting was "too problematic" to get a 5E conversion. Did Crawford, Perkins, and Lanzillo leaving Dungeons & Dragons have anything to do with this shift in opinion? Check us out on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers) for bonus Deep Dive videos along with early access to the podcast, and original gaming content. Telephone, Telegraph, Tell a Friend about the Goblins and Growlers Podcast. → Bonus episodes and early access on Patreon (http://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers)→ Subscribe to our monthly gaming newsletter (https://goblinsandgrowlers.beehiiv.com/subscribe) → Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord (http://bit.ly/goblindiscord) LISTEN, RATE, AND SUBSCRIBE! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or your podcatcher of choice. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers https://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlers https://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher) https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, the best narrative play)

In this week’s Goblins & Growlers Podcast, Inverlyst welcomes Alex of Alpha Comics & Games to pull back the curtain on writing romance into your tabletop games. Together, they tackle the messy realities of GMing smoochable NPCs, avoiding bleed, and why player-to-player romance can derail a campaign faster than a crit fail. From sexy smiths to sahuagin brothels, Alex shares her hard-earned lessons on slow burns, narrative flags, and why romance should challenge players instead of pandering to them. Whether you’re a GM curious about adding intimacy to your campaign or a player wondering why your bard’s “roll to seduce” isn’t working, this episode sets the groundwork. BEHOLD THE RELEVANT LINKS ✦ Discord: bit.ly/goblindiscord ✦ Guest: @LexieSunshine on socials ✦ Alpha Comics & Games: facebook.com/AlphaComicsAndGames

Critical Role's Daggerheart is shaking up the TTRPG licensing world and we've got legal insight you won't find in your average rules breakdown. Inverlyst is joined by returning guest Noah Downs (a.k.a. @MyLawyerFriend) to unpack the Community Gaming License (CGL), its potential legal pitfalls, and whether it's truly the heir (or foil) to the OGL. We dig into fan content protections, revocability risks, VTT carve-outs, and what creators should know before building under this framework. Oh, and there’s toothpick sponsorship. You’ve been warned.   BEHOLD THE RELEVANT LINKS ✦ Patreon: patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers ✦ Discord: bit.ly/goblindiscord ✦ Nerd Immersion Episode: youtube.com/watch?v=d4NidxlgMmk  

“What do you get when you mix a thousand-legged centipede, a skeleton butler, and an emotionally resilient owlbear cub? A Paul Hughes interview, of course.”   In this special episode of GGP, Inver and Josh are joined by Pets & Sidekicks co-creator Paul Hughes, longtime EN World writer and TTRPG monster crafter. Together, they delve into: ✦ The design philosophy behind scalable companions in Advanced 5E ✦ Balancing action economy with adorable, devastating pets ✦ The evolution of owlbears, undead stealth features, and companion mechanics ✦ Narrative tips for GMs and players using sentient sidekicks ✦ A few spicy skeleton jokes (because, obviously)   Whether you’re a game designer, monster-crafting aficionado, or just really into fantasy fur babies, there’s something here to chew on. For you CR crunchers out there, Paul promises a future Deep Dive on CR calculations, action economy balancing, and high-level companion builds. Get ready.   🎙️ Audio Note: The sound quality in this one had a bit of a rough roll, but we promise the content is still legendary. Blame neither Paul nor Scott. All honor to our audio wizard.   And now, for the RELEVANT LINKS:  ✦ Support Pets & Sidekicks on Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/enworld/companions-compendium ✦ Peek behind the curtain at Paul’s mad genius: blogofholding.com — And, you know, if you really love us... feel free to: ✧ Join our community Discord Server (http://bit.ly/goblinDiscord)! ✧ Listen to our sister show Quid Pro Roll (https://quidproroll.podbean.com/)! ✧ Find bonus episodes, early drops, and Deep Dives through our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers)!

Telephone, Telegraph, Tell a Friend about the Goblins and Growlers Podcast. → Bonus episodes and early access on Patreon (http://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers)→ Subscribe to our monthly gaming newsletter (https://goblinsandgrowlers.beehiiv.com/subscribe) → Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord (http://bit.ly/goblindiscord) Jess Lanzillo got a new opportunity with White Wolf and Todd Kenreck got the boot. Both are gone from D&D for very different reasons, but it raises the question of what's going on over there? Why's the old guard looking to get out (Lanzillo) and why are they eliminating one of the main faces of their 2024* relaunch (Kenreck)? Couple that with Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford heading to Darrington Press and it paints the picture of rebooted or more corporatized internals for D&D going forward, especially with their move toward a franchise model. Check us out on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers) for bonus Deep Dive videos along with early access to the video and audio of the podcast. LISTEN, RATE, AND SUBSCRIBE! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or your podcatcher of choice. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers https://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlers https://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher) https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, the best narrative play)

DrivethruRPG removed 9th Level Games' "Rebel Scum" game because it's loud about proud about not being a game that supports bigotry, fascism, anti-vax, and generally things that are good to dislike. It turned into kind of a weasel-wordy exchange over standards of the publishing platform and was, generally, frustrating to read about and talk about. Beware of ranting in this video. Check us out on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers) for bonus Deep Dive videos along with early access to the video and audio of the podcast. Telephone, Telegraph, Tell a Friend about the Goblins and Growlers Podcast. → Bonus episodes and early access on Patreon (http://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers)→ Subscribe to our monthly gaming newsletter (https://goblinsandgrowlers.beehiiv.com/subscribe) → Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord (http://bit.ly/goblindiscord) LISTEN, RATE, AND SUBSCRIBE! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or your podcatcher of choice. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers https://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlers https://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher) https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, the best narrative play)

It started with a story about Mage Hand Press' Gunslinger class being available basically ala carte on D&D Beyond. That turned into supercharged debate about whether guns fit or belong in the classic fantasy setting typically associated with D&D. Inver did her best to moderate. The debate starts somewhere around the 30-minute mark. Check us out on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers) for bonus Deep Dive videos along with early access to the video and audio of the podcast. For this episode, we've got deep dives on White Wolf becoming an independent studio again, and a dive into the magic system of Mage: The Ascension. Telephone, Telegraph, Tell a Friend about the Goblins and Growlers Podcast. → Bonus episodes and early access on Patreon (http://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers)→ Subscribe to our monthly gaming newsletter (https://goblinsandgrowlers.beehiiv.com/subscribe) → Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord (http://bit.ly/goblindiscord) LISTEN, RATE, AND SUBSCRIBE! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or your podcatcher of choice. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers https://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlers https://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher) https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, the best narrative play)

This one might be a little inside baseball. Brandon, Art, and Josh vended at Animazement over Memorial Day weekend and it was our first time at that con. Apparently, it's the largest anime convention in North Carolina. We're also pretty sure it was our first time just working a con as vendors -- no special guest privileges or anything. It was fun, and it gave us a little more insight on hobby economics in the current climate.  Animazement is our fourth North Carolina anime convention. We realized when driving down there that we go to more conventions in NC than in VA. Check us out on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers) for bonus Deep Dive videos along with early access to the video and audio of the podcast.  Telephone, Telegraph, Tell a Friend about the Goblins and Growlers Podcast. → Bonus episodes and early access on Patreon (http://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers)→ Subscribe to our monthly gaming newsletter (https://goblinsandgrowlers.beehiiv.com/subscribe) → Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord (http://bit.ly/goblindiscord) LISTEN, RATE, AND SUBSCRIBE! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or your podcatcher of choice. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers https://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlers https://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher) https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, the best narrative play)

Josh tapped out this week, so it's up to Brandon and Inver after what feels like forever since the last recording. Inver's fresh (and tired) from PAX East in Boston and Brandon just finished putting together some prototypes for a new game accessory idea we're trying out. Telephone, Telegraph, Tell a Friend about the Goblins and Growlers Podcast. → Bonus episodes and early access on Patreon (http://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers)→ Subscribe to our monthly gaming newsletter (https://goblinsandgrowlers.beehiiv.com/subscribe) → Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord (http://bit.ly/goblindiscord) Check us out on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers) for bonus Deep Dive videos along with early access to the video and audio of the podcast.  LISTEN, RATE, AND SUBSCRIBE! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or your podcatcher of choice. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers https://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlers https://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher) https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, the best narrative play)

Amazingly, Wizards of the Coast is putting the new 2024* rules into Creative Commons! We talk about the implications and issues there, along with a bizarre tangent about "Three's Company." Check us out on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers) for bonus Deep Dive videos along with early access to the video and audio of the podcast.  Telephone, Telegraph, Tell a Friend about the Goblins and Growlers Podcast. → Bonus episodes and early access on Patreon (http://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers)→ Subscribe to our monthly gaming newsletter (https://goblinsandgrowlers.beehiiv.com/subscribe) → Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord (http://bit.ly/goblindiscord) LISTEN, RATE, AND SUBSCRIBE! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or your podcatcher of choice. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers https://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlers https://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher) https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, the best narrative play)

Telephone, Telegraph, Tell a Friend about the Goblins and Growlers Podcast. → Bonus episodes and early access on Patreon (http://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers)→ Subscribe to our monthly gaming newsletter (https://goblinsandgrowlers.beehiiv.com/subscribe) → Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord (http://bit.ly/goblindiscord) Really not a political episode. Really.  Check us out on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers) for bonus Deep Dive videos along with early access to the video and audio of the podcast.  LISTEN, RATE, AND SUBSCRIBE! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or your podcatcher of choice. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers https://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlers https://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher) https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, the best narrative play)

Telephone, Telegraph, Tell a Friend about the Goblins and Growlers Podcast. → Bonus episodes and early access on Patreon (http://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers)→ Subscribe to our monthly gaming newsletter (https://goblinsandgrowlers.beehiiv.com/subscribe) → Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord (http://bit.ly/goblindiscord) This week, I had the chance to FINALLY connect with Lucas Zellers of Mage Hand Press about "Book of Extinction," which he's been working on for more than four years. It's an amazing bestiary that's really more like four books in one. I have so much to say about this book, but you can listen/watch the podcast to hear it all. We also have a couple of Deep Dives with Lucas on Patreon: We discuss the saddest extinction stories in the book and then, next week, we talk about his newest project, "Glatisant," which he wrote while shifting gears after the completion of "Book of Extinction." Lucas Zellers is an author and game designer at the intersection of natural history and game design. A marketing professional by day, educator by later in the day, and birdwatcher by whenever possible, Lucas helps mission-driven organizations of all sizes reach the right audiences through sustainable long-term growth strategies. He's also one half of Graftbound, an independent publisher of incisive, tactile games that explore life's richest relationships. He'll always play a warlock, roll a chunky d20, or add too much garlic. Check us out on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers) for bonus Deep Dive videos along with early access to the video and audio of the podcast.  LISTEN, RATE, AND SUBSCRIBE! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or your podcatcher of choice. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers https://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlers https://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher) https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, the best narrative play)

You know how some podcasts don't dedicate the whole episode to one topic and instead have a genuine discussion without knowing where it's going? We tried that today and went in a lot of directions, including Hasbro's (and thusly Wizards of the Coast's) Q4 and total year earnings, Final Fantasy games, and so much more! Check us out on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers) for bonus Deep Dive videos along with early access to the video and audio of the podcast.  LISTEN, RATE, AND SUBSCRIBE! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or your podcatcher of choice. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers https://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlers https://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher) https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, the best narrative play)

Quick heads up: Our guest Alex owns Alpha Comics & Games and is married to our co-host. #NotSponsored Guess what, listeners? I’ve seized control of the podcast again, which can only mean one thing. It is time for a proper rant. This week, I’m joined by dear, dear friends of the show (and professional GMs) Luke (@WunderBardic / @BraveB33) and Alex (@AlphaComicGames / @LexieSunshine) as we sink our teeth into Veilguard. We talk shop on character creation improvements, combat that actually feels fun, and the thrill of finally setting foot in places like Nevarra. And then, oh, and then, we get into Tevinter. Or rather, what little we were permitted to see from the docks of Fishtopia. We break down the lack of cultural identity, the romance arcs that somehow manage to be both present and absent at the same time, and the soul-crushing realization that all our hard-earned choices over the years might as well have been written in dry-erase marker. If you, too, have thoughts on Veilguard, pull up a chair. Misery loves company. Find us online: Website | https://goblinsandgrowlers.com/ Discord | http://bit.ly/goblindiscord Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/growlinggoblinsstudios YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@goblinsandgrowlers Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/goblinsandgrowlers Facebook | http://facebook.com/goblinsandgrowlers Twitter/X | https://x.com/goblinsgrowlers Support our friends at Alpha Comics & Games: Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/688356677915596 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/alphacomicsandgames Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/alphacomics Twitter/X | https://www.x.com/AlphaComicGames

Telephone, Telegraph, Tell a Friend about the Goblins and Growlers Podcast. → Bonus episodes and early access on Patreon (http://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers)→ Subscribe to our monthly gaming newsletter (https://goblinsandgrowlers.beehiiv.com/subscribe) → Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord (http://bit.ly/goblindiscord) 85 new monsters you say? Thanks to early access on D&D Beyond, we were able to dig into the 2024* Monstrous Manual -- the final release of the updated core rulebooks. We had some issues with the organization, at least on the digital version. Check us out on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers) for four bonus Deep Dive videos a month along with early access to the video and audio of the podcast. LISTEN, RATE, AND SUBSCRIBE! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or your podcatcher of choice. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers https://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlers https://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher) https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, the best narrative play)

Telephone, Telegraph, Tell a Friend about the Goblins and Growlers Podcast. → Bonus episodes and early access on Patreon (http://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers)→ Subscribe to our monthly gaming newsletter (https://goblinsandgrowlers.beehiiv.com/subscribe) → Join the Goblins and Growlers Discord (http://bit.ly/goblindiscord) What even is happening?! I'm gone for a little bit and I come back to this nonsense! I rejoin Inver and Ji(o)sh so they can listen to me get excited about Dragonbane's new tournament-style timed adventure, look ahead to some prerelease previews of the 2024(?!) Monstrous Manual, and talk about MAGFest, which is where they are right this second while I'm on my couch playing "Breath of Fire 2" FYI: They'll be recording a Deep Dive from/after MAG and it'll come out on 2/3. Check us out on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers) for bonus Deep Dive videos along with early access to the video and audio of the podcast.  LISTEN, RATE, AND SUBSCRIBE! If you like the show, please tell a friend about it. And if you want to tell more people, then please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or your podcatcher of choice. You can find and/or support us at all the places below: https://patreon.com/goblinsgrowlers https://facebook.com/GoblinsAndGrowlers https://goblinsandgrowlers.podbean.com (and basically any other podcatcher) https://quidproroll.podbean.com (our sister podcast, the best narrative play)