Episode 163 – New Content, Drops, Map Features, and Red Flags

Ryan and Ben talk about some changes in Wizards of the Coast leadership, new search functionality, and how to telegraph potential TPKs. Community Pages: Vertical Slice article on Chris Cocks’ remarks on unionization; Sign to support D&D and Magic to Unionize; United Wizards of the Coast Bluesky post; Dan Ayoub named president of WotC; New and Improved Site Level Search; Mass Effect 5th edition; Lost Atlas. Socials: Discord; Bluesky; Ryan’s Bluesky; Ben’s Bluesky

Join Ryan and Ben as they celebrate unionization, look at the news, and discuss campaign length! Community Pages: Sign to support D&D and Magic to Unionize; Dungeons & Dragons, Dual Masters, and Magic: the Gathering Teams Unionize at Hasbro; United Wizards of the Coast Bluesky post; Maps update; Project_Lamordia; Star Wars first look; Are your D&D campaigns too long by Ginny Di; Ginny Di’s Trouble on the Fey Train. Socials: Discord; Bluesky; Ryan’s Bluesky; Ben’s Bluesky

Ryan and Ben dig a little more into the D&D World of Warcraft crossover, look at the sneak peak of the new Lamordia, and then discuss how to roleplay a character that doesn’t fit the setting. Community Pages: Dungeons and Dragons: World of Warcraft; D&D WoW Play along pack; WoW Ultimate Edition sold out; D&D WoW List of monsters; D&D WoW Five Dragonflights; Wowpedia Warcraft RPG; Project Lamordia teaser; D&D Beyond’s October Drops; D&D Beyond Tarokka: Life Path; Viva La Dirt League When a player doesn’t take D&D seriously; Monte Cook Games Blue Sky character builder post; Cypher Character Builder. Socials: Discord; Bluesky; Ryan’s Bluesky; Ben’s Bluesky

Ryan and Ben take a look at Dan Ayoub’s interview with Wargamer, go over the Underdark Options 2 Unearthed Arcana, get excited about the new WoW Dungeon Masters series, and dig into Arcana Unleashed! Community Pages: Wargamer’s interview with Dany Ayoub; Designer Insights from Unearthed Arcana: Underdark Options 2; Unearthed Arcana: Underdark Options 2; Dungeon Masters World of Warcraft trailer; Arcana Unleashed; Wild Hearth Kickstarter. Socials: Discord; Bluesky; Ryan’s Bluesky; Ben’s Bluesky

Ryan and Ben take a peek at the Q4 third party content, look at some new Maps features, the newest wave of D&D Beyond Drops, and then go over some gaming Red Flags. Community Pages: Q4 Partnered Content Release Schedule; Maps newest features; September Drops; D&D Beyond Arcana Unleashed; D&D Beyond Arcana Unleashed: Deadfall; Human-Made TTRPG Resources. Socials: Discord; Bluesky; Ryan’s Bluesky; Ben’s Bluesky

Ryan and Ben walk through the D&D Beyond Roadmap, dig into the newest AMA, and take a look at the newest Underdark Unearthed Arcana. Community Pages: D&D Beyond’s August Drops; D&D Beyond Roadmap video; D&D Beyond Mid-Year Roadmap article; D&D Beyond Roadmap; August Reddit AMA; Unearthed Arcana Underdark Options video; Unearther Arcana Underdark Options; Developer Insights for Unearthed Arcana Underdark Options; Tower’s Heart digital dice set; Warlock gameplay reveal; Tales from Woodcreek Season 2 Kickstarter. Socials: Discord; Bluesky; Ryan’s Bluesky; Ben’s Bluesky

Ryan and Ben go through all of the announcements from Gen Con 2026 then discuss the different DM Styles from one of Ginny Di’s latest videos! Community Pages: Gen Con’s D&D Keynote 2027; D&D Keynote recap; Everything you need to know about D&D: World of Warcraft; D&D World of Warcraft Collector’s Edition Ultimate Bundle preorder; Ginny Di’s 6 types of Dungeon Master Style; D&D Beyond Dungeon Master Style post. Socials: Discord; Bluesky; Ryan’s Bluesky; Ben’s Bluesky

Ryan and Ben are back after a small break to cover all the news they missed, then respond to a listener question about the Win to Failure ratio. Community Pages: D&D Beyond July drops; Condition Tracking comes to Maps; Everything you need to know about Arcana Unleashed; 8 Arcana Unleashed subclasses; Wargamer article on Arcane Unleashed: Deadfall; D&D Gen Con 2026; D&D World of Warcraft leak; Dungeon Masters: Living Spells Play Along Pack; Jimothy Stat Block. Socials: Discord; Bluesky; Ryan’s Bluesky; Ben’s Bluesky

Ryan and Ben discuss the Q3 partnered content release schedule, the updates for the Villainous Unearthed Arcana subclasses, and then go over reasons to ban or not ban spells, species, and feats. Community Pages: Q3 2026 Partnered Content Release Schedule; Vampire: The Masquerade – Bound by Blood Preorder; Designer Insights from Unearthed Arcana Villainous Options Update; Villainous Options Update PDF; Maps Token Resizing and Journal Edit Mode; Dungeon Masters Campaign 2: Arcana Unleashed. Socials: Discord; Bluesky; Ryan’s Bluesky; Ben’s Bluesky

Ryan and Ben talk about the newest Maps feature, the forming of the Community Advisory Group, an update to Drops, and then dive into the Dread Domains of Ravonloft. Community Pages: Journals announcement: The D&D Community Advisory Group; June Drops; Drops Program Updates; Drops Master Tier Sharing; Everything You Need to Know about Ravenloft: The Horrors Within; Celebrate International Day of Play; Claim Borderlands Quest: Dagger Danger!; Preorder Neon Odyssey. Socials: Discord; Bluesky; Ryan’s Bluesky; Ben’s Bluesky