#220. Does Paying Your DM Ruin the D&D Hobby?

What was the BEST game released in 2025? What stories reshaped the TTRPG industry? The Eldritch Lorecast celebrates another year of D&D and tabletop gaming with the Elly Awards!Email your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @dailydael James: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  ⁨@jberrt⁩  Topics:00:00 - Intro02:23 - Biggest news of 202512:01- Best TTRPG release16:56 - Best TTRPG related release22:59 - Best Con of 202527:46 - Guests of the year30:01 - A sad farewell35:04 - New Years resolutions45:29 - Best Lorecast moments 2025

Paying your DM can change the dynamic at your D&D table, but do paid dungeon masters ruin the TTRPG hobby for everyone? Meanwhile, WotC makes a pact for the next D&D video game: Warlock!LAST CHANCE to Late Pledge to Grim Hollow: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ghostfiregaming/grim-hollow?ref=5z40qvEmail your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @jberrt  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:05 - Divinity trailer04:24 - Warlock D&D game19:43 - Jason Carl departs White Wolf24:30 - New head of D&D!26:59 - Holiday stream schedule28:55 - Finding regular players40:54 - Paid GMing

The Cosmere RPG set the record for TTRPG crowdfunding and then vanished? So where did it go? Meanwhile D&D Beyond plans for the future and why is Jubensha the best roleplaying game you've never heard of?Enter the Enchanting Emporiums with 30% off (use EE30): https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_ELEE_2025_12_219 People Make Games⁩ Jubensha documentary: https://youtu.be/6_dlxbGUNNQ?siEmail your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelShawn: @shawnmerwinBrooks: @brooksthoEditor: Jess Berthelsen-MurrayTopics:00:00 - Intro02:50 - Is Cosmere over already?14:46 - Jubensha (scripted murder)28:43 - An Italian 5e adventure31:40 - Future for D&D Beyond39:38 - Enchanting Emporiums43:09 - Evil Hat Production pitches45:05 - Make 5e combat challenging

D&D sales figures expose the REAL popularity of 5e 2024, we're give our gift giving guide for the TTRPG fan in your life, and discuss how to bring adventure campaigns to that satisfying conclusion!Transform your wardrobe at the Ghostfire merch store: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_Store_2025_11_204Email your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:13 - TTRPG gift guide05:09 - D&D sales lies!19:02 - Restarting a Campaign after hiatus30:28 - Satisfying campaign endings

Has Daggerheart conquered Pathfinder as the #2 most popular TTRPG? Is D&D 5e next on the chopping block? Or is the success of Darrington Press all smoke & mirrors?FINAL WEEK of Dungeons of Drakkenheim: Daggerheart - https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_DKDH_2025_10_210Email your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelShawn: @shawnmerwinAdam: @RetroArchetypeEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:45 - 2nd most popular TTRPG?09:03 - Is Daggerheart new #2?18:09 - Daggerheart: Hope & Fear22:21 - Daggerheart adventure module25:21 - Ed Greenwood rewrites Forgotten Realms28:44 - TTRPG player skill types42:24 - Skill challenges (that actually work!)

The Mighty Nein animated show gets pulled from YouTube ahead of it's Amazon release! The D&D Netflix series could be in trouble, and is there a difference between game crunch and 'control', and which camp do 5e, Daggerheart or Draw Steel fall into?Transform your wardrobe at the Ghostfire merch store: https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_Store_2025_11_204Email your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:08 - Too many stat blocks?08:17 - Mighty Nein animated series12:11 - D&D Netflix22:01 - Forgotten Realms books delay23:10 - D&D Nexus rebrand29:30 - Kickstarter strike ends31:08 - Ghostfire Gaming merch33:30 - rules crunch & control49:18 - System agnostic adventures

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_204Delve into the Dungeons of Drakkenheim: Daggerheart - https://ghostfiregaming.com/GGYT_DKDH_2025_10_210Email your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro00:23 - Evil player-characters08:40 - Dark Sun?11:03 - Moonbeam wanes19:43 - Hero Forge controversy!37:48 - Fantasy Grounds goes FTP42:36 - 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_210Email your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:08 - Min/Maxing combos06:32 - Daggerheart's first adventure16:43 - Blood Hunter in Daggerheart21:38 - Unearth Arcana: Subclasses38:17 - D&D's new T&C's45:32 - 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_210Email your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro02:20 - Games of paranoia05:27 - Critical Role goes mainstreamer09:03 - Daylight savings09:47 - Sigil laid to rest15:09 - Dungeons of Drakkenheim: Daggerheart17:32 - Dragonlance returns?26:34 - 5e 2024 is D&D's fastest seller30:56 - 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 [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro03:17 - D&D's new circle casting14:10 - Critical Role pushes the industry23:48 - Passing of Rob Wieland24:33 - Tariff warning25:49 - Shared storytelling vs Interactive narrative