#203. Is D&D ACTUALLY Better Off After 3 years?

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/DarkenforgeEmail your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro07:34 - D&D's new Starter Set17:45 - Dark fantasy construction kit21:32 - Witcher Watch23:26 - 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 [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro03:53 - Aetherial Expanse ENDING soon!07:54 - Critical Role play with puppies08:44 - WotC plans for the future23:29 - Is AI actually the future?33:37 - Adventures with TOO MANY choices43:25 - 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_933Email your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckErin: @nireleEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro00:58 - The Faithless Wench of TTRPG's04:55 - Dreams of the Drowned God21:00 - ANOTHER another D&D video game26:51 - 5e returns to Brazil27:45 - 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_204Email your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelShawn: @shawnmerwinJames: @jamesjhaeckEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:16 - A Lorecast actual play?05:16 - Critical Role choose D&D!18:20 - Critical Role and West Marches32:06 - 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_933Email your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinMike:  ⁨@SlyFlourish⁩  Editor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - The Aftermath of the OGL17:51 - 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_933Email your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelShawn: @shawnmerwinTodd:  ⁨@ToddKenreck⁩  Editor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:34 - The future for Todd Kenreck17:53 - D&D advisory panel24:22 - Gen Con record attendance29:15 - Cozy bastions46:05 - 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 [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelShawn: @shawnmerwinHannah: @AmazingSpidrHanEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:59 - Gen Con 202510:35 - Draw Steel goes live13:43 - Brennan to DM Critical Role19:47 - Paizo now on D&D Beyond!24:42 - D&D's new direction33:45 - Faerun sneak peaks47:09 - Tariffs impacting overseas games50:32 - 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_933Email your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro02:52 - Forgotten Realms book reveals10:40 - D&D Beyond DLC18:01 - Stranger Things starter set24:25 - Aetherial Expanse adventure27:04 - New Critical Role animated seasons32:31 - 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=3hjfbfEmail your questions to [email protected]: @TheBenByrneDael: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro01:12 - TTRPG from video games06:41 - Starfinder video game10:28 - Critical Role's video game17:08 - Grim Hollow: The Player’s Guide releases19:35 - D&D's BIGGEST ever starter set27:42 - New Stranger Things D&D box set33:54 - Eberron book delayed35:54 - Green Ronin vs Diamond40:05 - Draughts worker strike41:16 - 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 [email protected]: @DailyDaelJames: @jamesjhaeckShawn: @shawnmerwinLogan:  ⁨@Runesmith⁩  Editor:  @ZsDante  Topics:00:00 - Intro07:01 - D&D becoming a "franchise"21:19 - Darrington Press levels up!27:31 - Gen Con update32:32 - D&D Classes core fantasy52:37 - Obsolete design ideas