The Eldritch Lorecast

Is the D&D Shrinkflation getting more noticeable with Eberron: Forge of the Artificer? Are bigger or smaller TTRPG books better? Does Critical Role or Stranger Things sell more D&D? All that, and more!

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @dailydael
Todd:  @ToddKenreck 
Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  ⁨@jberrt⁩ 

Topics:
00:00 - D&D book shrinkflation
08:34 - Ed Greenwood on RPG book quality
18:58 - Non-WotC Forgotten Realms book?
25:45 - WotC staff shuffle
32:42 - The Stranger Things effect
40:31 - Unearthed Arcana: Mystic Subclass
47:49 - Games Workshop says "No AI"
53:11 - Are miniatures needed?

Why ARE D&D, Daggerheart, and Draw Steel the ONLY roleplaying games folks talk about? What is Crows and when can you playtest it? How do you tackle GM mental overload?

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @dailydael
Todd:  @ToddKenreck 
Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor: ⁨@DannyCalamari⁩ 

Topics:
00:00 - Intro
00:29 - Non-D&D games we play
03:55 - Why we DON'T talk non-D&D games
17:05 - What is Crows?
25:47 - Handling GM mental overload
39:11 - Hex grid vs square grid
48:38 - Alternate combat win conditions

The biggest D&D news podcast welcomes their newest Co-Host! Critical Role plans for their future while WotC is yet to reveal any D&D books for 2026.

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @dailydael
Todd:  ⁨@ToddKenreck⁩ 
Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  ⁨@jberrt⁩ 

Topics:
00:00 - Intro
03:34 - Todd Kenreck's new job!
05:45 - D&D's plans in 2026
13:03 - Stranger Things S5 (spoilers)
17:46 - Future of Critical Role
32:45 - Adhoc and Crit Role video game
36:00 - Industry passings
37:09 - Stat Block integrity

The Eldritch Lorecast says another sad farewell! We try deciphering our own Spotify wrapped while pondering whether systems of magic inherently make it impossible to balance a TTRPG, and is that a bad thing?

Email your questions to [email protected]

Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @dailydael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  ⁨Danny Camilleri

Topics:
00:00 - Intro
04:23 - Lorecast's terrible analytics
20:51- Another sad farewell
24:03 - Systems of magic
34:25 - Balancing spellcasters
46:06 - Is balancing the party important?
56:16 - Favorite poems

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]

Ben: @TheBenByrne
Dael: @dailydael
James: @jamesjhaeck
Shawn: @shawnmerwin

Editor:  ⁨@jberrt⁩ 

Topics:
00:00 - Intro
02:23 - Biggest news of 2025
12:01- Best TTRPG release
16:56 - Best TTRPG related release
22:59 - Best Con of 2025
27:46 - Guests of the year
30:01 - A sad farewell
35:04 - New Years resolutions
45:29 - Best Lorecast moments 2025