Gnomish Workshop: Analysing the Attack
This article was first broadcast in Episode Two Hundred and Seventeen on 13th July 2022. Note: This article was adapted from an episode script, and so there may be parts that don’t flow well when read, because they were initially designed for broadcast. At face value, an attack in D&D would seem to be very simple; there is a creature and another creature they either don’t get along with or would very much like to eat. Sometimes it’s both, like with gnolls. Fortunately, and somewhat unusually, the rules for D&D 5e are also fairly simple, at least to start. When describing combat in the Player’s Handbook, it states: ” if you’re making an attack roll, you’re making an attack.” That means that any spell requiring a roll to hit, rather than the target making a save, counts as an attack. Well things get messy pretty quickly. …
Archives of Candlekeep: Giant Lore, Part 2
This article was first broadcast in Episode Two Hundred and Sixteen on 29th June 2022. Note: This article was adapted from an episode script, and so there may be parts that don’t flow well when read, because they were initially designed for broadcast. As we’ve mentioned before, giants have been around in D&D since the very beginning. The original premise of D&D was to do tabletop wargaming but add basic fantasy elements. Since no one was coming up with beholders and mindflayers yet, Gary Gygax and others had to work with what was available in mainstream myth and fantasy. Anyone alive at the time or who’s looked into the publications of the sixties and seventies can tell you that fantasy had a few basic things without fail. On one side you had wizards, guys with swords, and very, *very* problematically depicted women. On the other side you had dragons, small…
Heroes Rise, two hundred and sixteenth entry: We Built This City on Rock and Dead Things
Welcome, brave adventurers, to Heroes Rise. This is the 216th entry into our chronicle, recorded on Saturday, June 25th, and released Wednesday, June 29th over at heroesrisepodcast.com. In this week’s Adventurer’s Pack, Ostron gets mappy Next we check out some D&D News as we take a look at the latest free release from D&D Beyond: the first chapter from Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel After that we take a Short Rest and enter the Archives of Candlekeep for part 2 on our deep dive into Giant lore; before finally heading into the Scrying Pool to see what you [all] have to say. Note: We’re taking next week off as it’s the July 4th weekend. Our next live show will be June 9th. Community Questions What are your impressions of the introduction of the Radiant Citadel? Did it meet your expectations? Were any of your reservations or fears realized? The introductory…
Archives of Candlekeep: The Original BBEG
This article was first broadcast in Episode Two Hundred and Fourteen on 15th June 2022. Note: This article was adapted from an episode script, and so there may be parts that don’t flow well when read, because they were initially designed for broadcast. Vecna is one of the big names in D&D, along with Mordenkainen, Ellminster, and Strahd von Zarovich. However, the actual history of the legend is not what most people would think if they only have a passing knowledge of D&D. How long Vecna has been part of D&D lore is a matter of perspective. The history and definition of Vecna as an individual was actually very sparse until 2nd edition. That said, the very prominent Hand and Eye of Vecna artifacts have been present since original D&D. The artifacts first appeared in the third supplement for original D&D, entitled “Eldritch Wizardry”. However, the only lore around them…
Heroes Rise, two hundred and fourteenth entry: Vec Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
Welcome, brave adventurers, to Heroes Rise. This is the 214th entry into our chronicle, recorded on Saturday, June 11th, and released Wednesday, June 15th over at heroesrisepodcast.com. In this week’s Adventurer’s Pack, Lennon is covering something we’ve already covered… don’t make me make you role 4 initiative… Next we check out some D&D News as we take a look at the latest free releases from D&D Beyond: The Vecna Dossier; and the Level 20 adventure “Don’t Say Vecna”. Plus we take a sneak peak at the latest mini from WizKids — you’ll never guess who it is! After that we have even more Vecna goodness for you as we take a Short Rest and enter the Archives of Candlekeep to learn all about the original big-bad-evil-guy; before finally heading into the Scrying Pool to see what you [all] have to say. Community Questions So what’s your experience with Vecna? Has…
Heroes Rise, two hundred and thirteenth entry: Huge… Barbarians
Welcome, brave adventurers, to Heroes Rise. This is the 213th entry into our chronicle, recorded on Saturday, June 4th, and released Wednesday, June 8th over at heroesrisepodcast.com. Unfortunately Lennon was taking a trip this week and decided trying to ride the shambling mound would be faster than walking. That was a…slight…miscalculation. RaeRae’s stepping in to help while we figure out what piece of landscape Lennon’s a part of now. This week we’re going to wander into the Market of Minauros to see what mysterious and magical items have filtered up for sale. Arora: Age of Desolation Monsters, Maps & Magic Items: Royal Edition Undead Dice Next we check out some D&D News as we take a look at the latest Unearthed Arcana: Giant Options Speaking of giants, after that we take a Short Rest and dig up some Unearthed Mundana all about their history; before finally heading into the…
Heroes Rise, two hundred and twelfth entry: Blood War I
Welcome, brave adventurers, to Heroes Rise. This is the 212th entry into our chronicle, recorded on Saturday, May 21st, and released Wednesday, May 25th over at heroesrisepodcast.com. In this week’s Adventurer’s Pack, Ostron doesn’t appreciate how good he has it and decides infidelity is a better option. Next we check out some D&D News as we take a look at the latest release from Wizards of the Coast, Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse After that we take a Short Rest and head into the Gnomish Workshop so that we can take a dip in the Astral Sea; before finally heading into the Scrying Pool to see what you [all] have to say. Community Questions What do you think of the changes to the playable race mechanics? Have the races been rebalanced appropriately? Are they losing their individuality enough that it’s a problem? Do you like the new monster stat…
Heroes Rise, two hundred and eleventh entry: Volo’s Guide to Nothing
Welcome, brave adventurers, to Heroes Rise. This is the 211th entry into our chronicle, recorded on Saturday, May 14th, and released Wednesday, May 18th over at heroesrisepodcast.com. In this week’s Adventurer’s Pack, Lennon shows us… Ok, I think that’s actually the name of a Pokemon… Anyway Next we gather around the campfire and engage in some Dissonant Whispers on content ownership After that we take a Short Rest and head into the Archives of Candlekeep and learn all about the Tieflings; before finally heading into the Scrying Pool to see what you [all] have to say. Community Questions As we mentioned in the Dissonant Whispers, we want your thoughts on the subject of content ownership. Is removing digital content valid? Should digital resources always be available regardless? Is physical paper the king of media formats? Have you roleplayed a tiefling in a D&D game? Did you stick to the established…
Heroes Rise, two hundred and tenth entry: Only Thing to Sphere is Sphere Itself
Welcome, brave adventurers, to Heroes Rise. This is the 210th entry into our chronicle, recorded on Saturday, May 7th, and released Wednesday, May 11th over at heroesrisepodcast.com. In this week’s Adventurer’s Pack, Ryu shows she can also bring items for the 1% to the table Next we check out some D&D News as we bring you details of the new starter set, D&D’s after school club, and a couple more things about everyone’s favourite space setting (including the appearance of some creatures from a planet with a darker sun) Next we take a Short Rest and head into the Gnomish Workshop and learn all about the tinker, tailor, soldier and support class, the Artificer; before finally heading into the Scrying Pool to see what you [all] have to say. Community Questions So how do you think Dragons of Stormwreck Isle is going to handle the DM info? Are they going…
Gnomish Workshop: Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Support – The Artificer
This article was first broadcast in Episode Two Hundred and Ten on 11th May 2022. Note: This article was adapted from an episode script, and so there may be parts that don’t flow well when read, because they were initially designed for broadcast. The Artificer is so far the only official new class that has been released for 5th edition, and that’s something that’s unique in a number of ways. 5th edition released with 12 classes, all of which were present in the initial player’s handbook, and those were the only options for years, despite multiple groups of fans clamoring for old favorites to make a return. And while every other past edition had seen at least one release with a new class or classes in it within a year or two of the initial offering, 5th Edition fans had to wait 5 years before the Artificer made its official…