Archives of Candlekeep: The Fraternal Twins: AD&D and the Basic Set…
This article was first broadcast in Episode Forty-Five on 13th October 2018. The fifth edition of Dungeons and Dragons is arguably one of the most popular iterations of the rules, but it’s taken some time to get to where we are today. In honor of the upcoming Art and Arcana book, releasing October 23rd that showcases all the artwork and tells the evolving story of D&D over the years, we decided to take a look back at this hobby of ours ourselves and see where it started, and how it’s evolved over time. By 1977, four years after the original release of D&D, the game had obviously grown. All of the expansions were printed and published, Dragon magazine was a thing, and a few other publications from D&D’s wargaming roots had 3rd party stuff that proved really popular. Everyone agreed that the rules needed to be pulled together and streamlined; at…
Archives of Candlekeep: In The Beginning…
This article was first broadcast in Episode Forty-Four on 10th October 2018. The fifth edition of Dungeons and Dragons is arguably one of the most popular iterations of the rules, but it’s taken some time to get to where we are today. In honor of the upcoming Art and Arcana book, releasing October 23rd that showcases all the artwork and tells the evolving story of D&D over the years, we decided to take a look back at this hobby of ours ourselves and see where it started, and how it’s evolved over time. Late in the year 1970, Gary Gygax and Jeff Perran completed their work on a new project — a set of tabletop wargaming rules for medieval miniatures that they named “Chainmail”. Then, as an afterthought, Gygax created a 14-page fantasy-focused supplement that dealt with “Heroes, Wizards, dragons, elves and various other fantastic creatures and people”, and it’s from…
A Short Rest: Adventurer’s Journal: Multiclassing
This article was first broadcast in Episode Forty-Three on 3rd October 2018. Mikey: I’m just saying it gives me more versatility Ostron: Have you ever heard “Jack of all trades, master of none”? Ryu: Ostron, you know what happens if you bother Mikey. Suddenly we all sound like chipmunks. Well…except RaeRae for some reason. Ostron: I’m not bothering him. We’re discussing the merits of his dual role as part time host and audio alchemist compared to you and I who are primarily just hosting. Ryu: Oh. The multiclassing debate. Ostron: I…okay that actually is a good point; I didn’t think of it that way. Multiclassing is a mechanic in D&D that can generate almost as much sidelong glances from players and cautious looks from DMs as declaring you’re playing an evil character, or a Kender. For those who stopped reading the Player’s Handbook after the Equipment chapter, multiclassing allows you to take a level in a…
Unearthed Mundana: Exotic Royalty
This article was first broadcast in Episode Forty-Two on 26th September 2018. Ryu: I’m so sick of kings and queens Lennon: No European vacation for you then? Ryu: No, I mean, I don’t mind them as people but every campaign you run into the land is ruled over by “king” this or “queen” that. Even when we were running through this jungle of sentient monkey-lizards they ended up being led by “Duke Longtail.” It was kind of disappointing. Ostron: Oh, well, a little bit of linguistic modification is in order then. Along with scenery and inhabitants, names have a huge impact on immersion and characters’ sense of displacement. Characters are more quickly put at ease if they wander into town and see an “Inn” sign hanging outside of a building; they automatically know where to go for food, lodging, and possibly local rumors. But if characters are well off the beaten path, it’s sometimes helpful…
Adventurer’s Journal: Merely Casting Rains
This article was first broadcast in Episode Forty-One on 19th September 2018. Ryu: Oh not again… Lennon: What? Ryu: Well you’ve got a fishing rod and lures so obviously something’s going on with wizards or sorcerers. Lennon: … I’m not seeing how you got that at all. Ryu: It doesn’t matter how I got there, but you do have a question about them, right? Lennon: Actually, yes. Ostron, you’re a wizard, right? Ostron: Nominally Lennon: So what’s the difference between you and a sorcerer. I mean, I get that sorcerers are 20% cooler, but, like, when you get down to it, what’s the difference? Ostron: Well, see, I’m the product of careful study and appreciation of the magical arts, while sorcerers are flashy hacks that claim they just “know things” and don’t need to bother with careful study. Ryu: I’m sensing some bitterness there? Do you want to talk to someone about it? I could get the hat! Lennon: Why don’t we…
Adventurer’s Journal: Bardic Frustration
This article was first broadcast in Episode Forty on 12th September 2018. Ryu: Hey guys? I was talking to KayDee a little bit ago- Lennon: Who? Did you hire someone? That has to go through HR you know. Ryu: The Killer DM. Kay, Dee? Get it? I thought it was cute. Lennon: I have several worrying questions about this… Ostron: Was there something specific she said? Anything about needing organs, for example? Ryu: Well not really but she really seems to hate Bards. Lennon: Yeah, I can see that Ryu: Well it confused me. Bards seem like a great class. Ostron: Oh, they are, but not if you’re a DM Despite not being one of the classes available in original editions of D&D, the Bard has since evolved to be one of the core classes in the game. Mentally a lot of people think of Bards as comical characters if not outright farces; terminal optimists who bring a mandolin to…
Adventurer’s Journal: Nobody Likes Warlocks
This article was first broadcast in Episode Thirty-Nine on 5th September 2018. Ryu: Look, we need to deal with this Lennon: No we don’t, because there’s no problem Ostron: Okay, you keep saying that nobody likes warlocks but it’s honestly just you. Lennon: Ryu is on my side! Ryu: The Killer DM is more on your side than I am and really she hates everyone so that’s not a good basis. Ostron: Do you even have any legitimate complaints? Lennon: Do I need them? Ostron: … Yes. Lennon: Alright. You might want to take a seat though, we’ll be here a while. Warlock is one of those classes that make people nervous. If the Monk is a confusing and complex class for physical combatants, the warlock is the equivalent on the spellcasting side. While they still cast spells, one look at their class table in the players’ handbook will clue you in that something very different is going on…
Adventurer’s Journal: Monking Around
This article was first broadcast in Episode Thirty-Eight on 29th August 2018. Ryu: I really don’t think they’re worth it. Lennon: Well I don’t think they exist just because someone was bored Ostron: What are you two arguing about Ryu: Monks. I don’t get them. Lennon: And…to be honest I don’t really know any Ostron: Oh monks are great Ryu: Of course you’d say that; as soon as you look at how to become one you have a bunch of weird calculations to do. Ostron: Well….okay, you’re not wrong. For most of the classes in D&D people have a vague idea of what their purpose is just based on popular fantasy tropes. Druids make plants and animals do weird things, wizards blow things up, warlocks hurt things and are creepy, fighters hit things, barbarians hit things but angrier, and so on. But when you get to monks, most people give a vague answer along the lines of “don’t they…
A Short Rest: Wisdom from the Masters: Background Races
This article was first broadcast in Episode Thirty-Seven on 22nd August 2018. [squeaky contraption going by] Ostron: Lennon, what are you doing… and what on earth are you wearing?! Lennon: Oh, yeah, I couldn’t get my indoor trainer down here so I rigged my road bike up to this thing I found in the Gnomish Workshop as a kinda static trainer so I could warm up. And I’m wearing lycras. Ostron: Do I want to know why? Lennon: Seriously? For aerodynamics — I’m not going to ride a road-bike in baggies… You said we were racing? Ostron: Okay first of all, I said we were discussing races, not racing, and I meant the OTHER races. You know, half-orc, goblin, elves? Lennon: Ooooooh! [dinosaur roar] Ryu: Wooooooah there! Lennon: WHAT IN THE NINE HELL — Ryu… Are you riding a dinosaur?! Ryu: Yep! I’ve been in Chult recently, and Ostron said we were off to the races, so I brought…
Adventurer’s Journal: Go Heal Yourself
This article was first broadcast in Episode Thirty-Six on 15th August 2018. Killer DM: Where’s the numbers guy? Lennon: Oh…hi Killer DM. What brings you here? Killer DM: Clerics. Lennon: Really? Here I thought you were created by a Warlock devoted to Asmodeus Killer DM: *ominous spells in the background* I’m not in the mood, Limey. Now where is he? I need numbers. Lennon: Who, Ostron? He’s not here, he’s been waylaid by kobolds Killer DM: Shame. Still, kobolds need kidneys, too. Mikey: I’m pretty good with numbers Lennon: You are so going to regret that… Killer DM: You are? Good. Grab your calculator and get over here. I need to tell people how wrong they are about clerics. Except you start. Tell me about clerics. Lennon: Okay, well… If you’re putting a standard adventuring party together, bringing along a cleric is such a good idea that it’s almost a requirement. The most obvious reason is healing. Clerics are the most reliable class…