The Eldritch Lorecast

Chaosium just pulled more than 40 community titles over AI-generated content, so what does that mean for TTRPG creators? We also share our best tricks for prepping D&D sessions in less time, then get into Misplaced Monsters Vol. 2, Games Workshop scrapping its Necromunda RPG, Atlas Games halting shipping to the EU, and D&D themed....toilet paper?

The Seeker's Guide to Dreaded Demigods is LIVE on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/the-seekers-guide-to-dreaded-demigodsEmail your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydaelTodd: @ToddKenreck Shawn: @shawnmerwinEditor: @jberrt

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

00:42 - Low Prep D&D

12:04 - Chaosium Removes AI Creator Content

27:10 - Misplaced Monsters Vol.2

29:25 - Seekers Guide to Dreaded Demigods

31:06 - GW Scraps Necromunda RPG Plans

36:08 - Atlas Games No Longer Shipping to the EU

38:47 - D&D Toilet Paper?

44:57 - D&D Wallpaper

46:15 - Long Voyage Encounters

​ @Runesmith joins us to talk through the final book in the Seeker's series! We also get into how to actually use a campaign setting instead of letting it gather dust, building fights around deception, and whether having unique NPC minis and tokens is worth the hassle. The Seeker's Guide to Dreaded Demigods is LIVE on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/the-seekers-guide-to-dreaded-demigodsEmail your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrne Dael: @dailydaelTodd: @ToddKenreck Editor: @jberrt Topics:00:00 - Intro00:35 - The Seeker’s Guide to Dreaded Demigods17:31 - WOTC Response to Unionisation19:42 - Using Campaign Settings28:36 - Increasing Player Enthusiasm35:40 - Deception Themed Fights48:58 - Unique NPC Minis/Tokens

Some of the best rules at a D&D table don't come from D&D at all. This week we dig into other games like Daggerheart and Shadowdark to find what's worth smuggling into your 5.5e game.

Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Matt: @heyitsMattyP

Adam: @RetroArchetype

Editor: @jberrt

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

00:42 - TTRPG's that make D&D better!

25:30 - Kobold Press x Shadowdark

28:18 - White Wolf & Renegade Games part ways

34:52 - D&D workers union

37:38 - D&D Star Wars

39:51 - Hacks for learning new games

Jay Jani from D&D Beyond joins us to talk digital tools at the table, what goes into a monthly Drop, and the Sorrow Knight! The first full subclass to arrive through the program. We also get into Ravenloft: Project Lamordia, what Ghostfire is bringing to PAX Australia, and how to make a horror adventure scare and delight your players.

Want to join Ghostfire Gaming at PAX Australia? See the Game Schedule here and book now: https://events.humanitix.com/gfg-pax-aus?ml_recipient=200315957349975649&ml_link=200315818930603626

Find out more information about our Panel at PAX Australia here: https://conventions.leapevent.tech/schedules/view/943573

Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comShawn: @shawnmerwinDael: @dailydaelTodd: @ToddKenreckJay: @GPyromaniaEditor: @jberrtTopics:00:00 - Intro00:39 - Using Digital Tools in Your D&D Games07:58 - D&D Drops: October Release22:51 - Ravenloft: Project Lamordia25:11 - Ghostfire at PAX Australia26:42 - Restarting a Campaign34:10 - Running Horror Adventures49:08 - Importing 3rd Party Content on D&D Beyond

The D&D: World of Warcraft previews keep rolling in, and the new monster abilities have everyone asking whether casters are finally getting reined in. We also cover Dragonlance joining the D&D Icons line, D&D novels getting reprinted in the UK, and whether bolting rules from other games together is a 5th Edition habit or something D&D faithfuls have always done.Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comShawn: @shawnmerwinDael: @dailydaelTodd: @ToddKenreckAdam: @retroarchetypeEditor: @jberrtTopics:00:00 - Intro07:37 - D&D World of Warcraft: Updates24:34 - Wizards of the Coast Staff Changes28:59 - D&D Icons: Dragonlance33:08 - D&D Novel Reprints in the UK38:37 - Is combining multiple systems unique to 5th Edition D&D?44:45 - Best DMing moments?

Preorders are open for D&D: World of Warcraft, the first book in the new Universes Beyond line. But, what does a crossover this big mean for the future of D&D? We also dig into the Seeker's Guide to Dreaded Demigods,hunt for systems that make non-combat gameplay sing, and work out why hexcrawls keep pulling us back in.

Follow The Seeker's Guide to Dreaded Demigods on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/the-seekers-guide-to-dreaded-demigods

Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Dael: @dailydael

Todd: @ToddKenreck

Logan: @Runesmith

Editor: @jberrt

Topics:

Intro - 00:00

05:22 - D&D: World of Warcraft Preorders

11:29 - Impact of Universes Beyond on D&D?

20:04 - The Seeker’s Guide to Dreaded Demigods

29:49 - Martial vs Caster Support

37:15 - Systems for Non Combat Gameplay?

45:44 - Hexcrawls

Unearthed Arcana returns to the Underdark for round two, with new Cleric and Sorcerer subclasses, an updated Circle of Spores Druid, and FIVE playable species. Meanwhile, we tackle character death in D&D, figure out how to run a HUGE dungeon without losing your mind, and ponder whether Frankensteining game systems together makes a masterpiece or a monster?

Back Aberration NOW it's the LAST 24 HOURS : https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHAB2_2026_8_935

Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

Jess: @jbertart

Dael: @dailydael

Jordy: @Arlentric

Editor: @jberrt

Topics:

00:00 - Intro/ DnD Character Deaths

07:22 - Starlight Event Recap

14:22 - Unearthed Arcana: Underdark Pt.2

18:16 - CONTENT WARNING: ARACHNOPHOBIA!!

23:31 - Aberration: Oblivion’s Embrace - FINAL 24 HOURS!

25:30 - Home TTRPG Games

30:37 - Running Large Dungeons

38:51 - Frankensteining Systems?

Netflix announces a Ravenloft TV series, but who should play D&D's most notorious villain, Strahd von Zarovich? We fondly remember the D&D movie, recap every announced (and cancelled) D&D TV show, and ponder whether 5.5e should have bounded Hit Points?

Back Aberration NOW: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHAB2_2026_8_935

Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Todd: @ToddKenreck

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor: @jberrt

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:17 - Ravenloft coming to Netflix

13:57 - Every announced D&D TV show

17:13 - Remembering Honor Among Thieves

23:29 - Castle Ravenloft board game 2e

25:15 - Paizo still in trouble?

29:30 - Encouraging player feedback

44:30 - Bounded hit points?

Gameplay footage from Warlock gets a HUGE reaction, and D&D drops ANOTHER surprise video game trailer! Meanwhile, we ponder whether a 5.5e adventure could ever feel like The Odyssey?

Back Aberration NOW: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHAB2_2026_8_935

Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Todd: ⁨@ToddKenreck⁩

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor: @jberrt

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

04:19 - Warlock video game

14:35 - Long Rest Tavern game

19:11 - Exodus (& octobot!)

25:13 - Aberration

26:40 - The Odyssey as a D&D adventure?

41:57 - High Level Adventures

The latest D&D Unearthed Arcana lets your 5.5e character "transform" into a Mind Flayer! But shouldn't turning into a monster be a bad thing?

Back Aberration NOW: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHAB2_2026_8_935

Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor: @jberrt

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:28 - UA: Mind Flayer Transformation

26:18 - Aberration board game

30:53 - UA: Underdark subclasses

54:33 - Ravenloft D20 Popcorn Bucket

Digital platforms like D&D Beyond continue to infiltrate the TTRPG industry with the release of Free League Unbound! Could Paizo recover from their money troubles? And what's the secret to ensuring your D&D Players are always having fun? Learn how to use their curiosity against them!

Noclip⁩ documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAv0LYLQi5c&tEmail your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Todd: @ToddKenreck

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor: @jberrt

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:12 - Best TTRPG video games

08:57 - Free League Unbound

17:51 - Paizo's got money troubles

23:10 - Rowan, Rook & Decard unionize

24:08 - D&D Beyond disgusting Drops

26:16 - Using curiosity to craft campaigns

39:14 - Noticing interactive objects

48:59 - Sparking player curiosity

An UNPRECEDENTED amount of D&D news fell out of Gen Con, including Icons, Dark Sun, and even Universes Beyond setting up a massive number of new D&D products!

Follow Aberration here: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHAB2_2026_8_935

Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Todd: @ToddKenreck

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor: @jberrt

Topics:

00:00 - Gen Con Recap

08:57 - Gen Con breaks records!

10:11 - D&D keynote recap

13:37 - World of Warcraft

16:37 - Is D&D flooding the market?

28:20 - D&D Beyond updates

32:01 - Aberration

34:18 - Ghostfire Gaming x Ravenloft

37:23 - Daggerheart & V:TM V6

42:35 - ANOTHER new OGL

SO MUCH D&D news exploded at Gen Con, including Icons, Dark Sun, Greyhawk, and the Universes Beyond projects: World of Warcraft and Star Wars... we barely had time to cover it all while sheltering from a tornado!

GeeknSon gaming tables: https://geeknson.com/pages/game-room-gaming-table

Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Joey: @JamesJHaeck

Justice: @justiceraminarman

Foster: @TheatreOfTheUnaligned

Editor: @jberrt

Topics:

00:00 - Gen Con 2026

13:50 - D&D Icons

22:14 - Uh oh, A Tornado

22:46 - GeeknSon

24:01 - Dark Sun

28:08 - Star Wars

30:41 - World of Warcraft

What's more dangerous in D&D than a monster? The party! So give your players a taste of their own medicine with the "Anti-Party" method. Also, should roleplaying be MANDATORY for a Warlock player?

Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Todd: @ToddKenreck

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor: @jberrt

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

03:42 - The "Anti-Party"

16:41 - Gen Con events

19:28 - Warlock players MUST roleplay

37:14 - Is 5.5e crafting broken?

46:58 - Is a monster book a setting guide?

Are D&D Encounters replacing the Adventurer's League? Meanwhile, Paizo revokes its Pathfinder and Starfinder license from Archives of Nethys and we decide the best social encounter rules.

Book your seat for the Starlight D&D Epic: https://events.humanitix.com/starlight-dnd

Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Todd: @ToddKenreck

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor: @jberrt

Topics:

00:00 - Using a DM Screen?

07:45 - D&D Encounters S2

16:53 - Finding a TTRPG group

21:19 - Starlight D&D Epic

23:35 - Ghostfire at Gen Con

25:09 - Paizo revoke license

41:06 - Best social mechanics

WotC announces a STAGGERING number of D&D events for Gen Con, which could change the future of 5.5e forever! Daggerheart releases new playtests for the Summoner and Blood Hunter, while Chaosium

Vote Grim Hollow for Best Setting at the ENNIES: https://vote.ennie-awards.com/vote/2026/

Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Todd: @ToddKenreck

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor: @jberrt

Topics:

00:00 - Hiding Ability Check DC's

14:16 - The D&D TOWER!!

29:35 - Ennie Awards voting

30:47 - D&D Season of Magic

39:15 - Daggerheart playtests

45:50 - Chaosium vs AI

49:19 - Invasion of the Doppelgängers?

Is it ever safe to let your D&D party argue among themselves? Should just ANY character be allowed to use Thieves Tools to pick a lock? What makes a great TTRPG open game license? We answer the tough questions on this week's episode!

Learn about Aberration: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_GHAB_2026_7_249

Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

Ben: @TheBenByrne

Dael: @dailydael

Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor: @jberrt

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

01:00 - Project Hail Mary [SPOILERS!]

06.23 - Letting Sorcerers pick locks?

18:41 - Ennie Awards nominations

22:45 - A Grim Hollow board game!

25:09 - D&D Fan Expo postponed

27:58 - Zweihänder game license

31:16 - Creating party conflict

48:51 - Stop being bored in combat!

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 podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

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 podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

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 podcast@ghostfiregaming.com

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