Archives of Candlekeep: Psionics: The knowledge you never knew you forgot
This article was first broadcast in Episode Ninety Three on 23rd October 2019. Ostron: Really? You guys really want to do this? Ryu: Look, everyone keeps going on and on about psionics- Ostron: I don’t. I try to avoid it, actually Lennon: Yes, but that’s the point; people don’t quite know why. What’s wrong with psionics, why is it such a touchy subject? Ostron: All right, fine, follow me. Libby: Book Ostron: Thanks. Here. Ryu: …why do you have all of this information summarized for us already? Ostron: Do you want to ask questions or do you want information? Lennon: Um…okay. Like 4th edition, spelljammer, and warlocks- Ryu: Oh will you give it up about warlocks already? Psionics is a topic that causes a lot of controversy in D&D. Interestingly enough, this literally goes all the way back to the beginning, as the original staff of TSR (the inventors of D&D) were divided about it. As far as our research beholders have verified,…
Archives of Candlekeep: Eberron Mechanics and Gameplay
This article was first broadcast in Episode Ninety One on 2nd October 2019. Mikey: Oooooh, this is what Ryu meant by “that big, magic-mechanical monstrosity starts using big words at us”! ROSTRO: While her intent with the labeling was no doubt pejorative, the choice of vocabulary was interestingly accurate. Mikey: … I see what she means. ROSTRO: I would also bring to your attention that given the topic being discussed, my participation could be considered verisimilitudinous. Lennon: Actually, that is a point. Huge machine run by magic is very Eberron. As we discussed previously, Eberron as a setting represents a significant departure from playing in the Forgotten Realms version of the game. However, lest you think everything was a lore shift that just allowed for dinosaur-riding halflings and people trudging up mountain pathways to seek wisdom from an orc, Eberron actually introduces some alternate rule mechanics to the game as well. We’ll start with the historical impact when…
Archives of Candlekeep: The Blood War
This article was first broadcast in Episode Ninety on 25th September 2019. Ryu: All right, so lets cover this again. The Blood War is not… Lennon: A thumb war where both people have pricked their thumbs. Ryu: And it’s also not Lennon: A water balloon fight where the balloons are filled with red-colored water. Ostron: Someone misinterpret the topic again? Lennon: Well are you going to tell us what the Blood War *is* then? Ostron: Gladly As we mentioned in our primer on the Nine Hells, Avernus is the front line in the eternal conflict between Devils and Demons known as the Blood War. For the most part, the aggressors are the demons, who are constantly trying to push out of the Abyss and assault the Nine Hells, and the Devils are reacting to these offensives and pushing them back, occasionally counterattacking and taking the fight to the Abyss. The war is mostly a cosmic stalemate. The demons are a…
Archives of Candlekeep: Eberron: Origin and Lore
This article was first broadcast in Episode Eighty Nine on 18th September 2019. Ostron: Oh bright Pelor what are all those colors? *sound of knife throwing* Lennon: Aww Ryu! You cut the fuse! Though that was a good shot with the knife! Ryu: Thanks. And you’re not setting off fireworks in here. We said you could do a couple of short rests focused on Eberron, not throw a party! Lennon: You guys always ruin my fun! Ryu: Really? You want me to get the hat? Lennon: Even that couldn’t bring me down, I’m having a great time, this is wonderful! Let me just go get the notes. Ostron: Keep in mind, if those notes required an actual book binding, I’m setting them on fire before we even look at them. Lennon: Um…give me a minute…*sound of shuffling papers*…all right, these are my notes on the summary of the primer to the Eberron information. Ryu: This is…still a lot Ostron: To be fair,…
Archives of Candlekeep: Ambulatory Corpses
This article was first broadcast in Episode Eighty Eight on 11th September 2019. ROSTRO: Please state the nature of the mathematical inquiry Ryu: First, you called us, second, what does this topic have to do with math? ROSTRO: The exercise involved more comparative analysis and referencing information from extraplanar sources than engaging in mathematical activities but my resources remained invaluable. It is also likely the handwritten note provided by Lennon was misinterpreted by Ostron. Ryu: Let me…oh by Eldath’s garden is this even written in Common? “Work…with…Gath…ahhh. Yeah, that “G” looks like an “M”. I don’t know how you managed that, but you did. Lennon: I am not blaming this on me ROSTRO: Might I propose we proceed with the analytical report. Lennon: Once more into the breach… Undead are an inexorable part of the D&D universe. The fact that one of the most well-known adventures across all editions of the game focuses on a vampire should be proof…
Archives of Candlekeep: The Nine Hells Primer
This article was first broadcast in Episode Eighty Seven on 4th September 2019. Lennon: Ostron said he was in the Candlekeep annex? Ryu: Yeah, he wanted-…um Libby: Book Ryu: Yes, we can see you have a book Libby: Book Ostron: Just take the book, it’s easier. Lennon: Right, thank you…what was that about? Ostron: That’s Libby. Ryu: I didn’t know the research beholders started sharing their names? Ostron: That’s what Gath and I call it. A couple of weeks ago we noticed it was always in the annex. If you aren’t holding a book or a scroll when you’re in here it gets agitated and brings you one. Also if you keep one for more than an hour it brings you a different one and takes that one away. Libby: Book Ryu: Right, yes…oh hey this one’s on dragons! Ostron: Yeah, that’s why we haven’t done anything; it’s really good at finding relevant resources. I mean, it never puts the books back on the shelves,…
Archives of Candlekeep: Revisiting Realism
This article was first broadcast in Episode Eighty One on 24th July 2019. Ryu: I want it noted for the record that I’m really trying to solve this without the hat. Gath: Solve what? Did we have a fight on-air I wasn’t aware of? Ryu: No, no, this is with my players. I’ve got a couple that are whining about wanting more realism and they really don’t know what they’re asking for. Ostron: The Killer DM already covered some of the variant rules the DMG says make things more realistic. Ryu: Yeah, these players are still whining. Ostron: Ugh, yeah, they don’t know what they’re asking for. Gath: What’s the problem? As we’ve discussed previously, and as many marketing materials and reviews have pointed out, a major goal of 5th edition D&D is to keep things simple. It’s still a tabletop RPG with a number of classes, races, and mechanics, so it can only get so simple before it…
Archives of Candlekeep: Spelljammer Part 2: An Overview
This article was first broadcast in Episode Seventy One on 1st May 2019. Ryu: Okay so now I’m morbidly curious. If Spelljammer’s lore was so crazy, how did that work with gameplay? Lennon: Awesomely, I’m sure. Ostron: Did Spelljammer pay off your mortgage or something? Lennon: So far it’s D&D in space, there are 7ft hippos with muskets and I get to throw Kender out of airlocks. I’m sold. Ostron: Well there weren’t actually airlocks, you know. Spelljammer is presented as a separate campaign setting that uses spaceships, space, and planets to substitute for horses, open plains, and cities. The original sourcebook explains the separation as willful apathy: people in the Forgotten Realms or Dragonlance setting know that there are people cruising around in space, but they don’t really care. Similarly, the people in space really don’t worry about what’s going on in Waterdeep on a regular basis; everyone has their own problems…
Archives of Candlekeep: Spelljammer Part 1: the Lore
This article was first broadcast in Episode Seventy on 24th April 2019. Lennon: I don’t understand why you’re against it. Ostron: I’m not against it, I just don’t understand why you’re so in favor of it. I mean, what do you actually know about spelljammer? Lennon: It’s D&D…IN SPAAACE Ostron: Other than that. Lennon: Um…it’s got spaceships. Like many modern settings and elements of D&D, Spelljammer’s roots are in 2nd edition, and they owe their existence to a man named Jeff Grubb. As Keith Baker is to Eberron, Jeff Grubb is to Spelljammer, although he doesn’t have the laser focus on his setting Mr.Baker does. Grubb is the author of the first Manual of the Planes and created the forgotten Al-Qadim setting, and is credited as being part of the team that originated the Forgotten Realms itself. Later on, he was also contracted by Wizards to work on d20 Modern,…
Wisdom of the Masters: The KDM’s Christmas Gifts
This article was first broadcast in Episode Fifty-Four on 26th December 2018. Killer DM: Oh there you are Lennon. So nice to see you again. I can’t help noticing it’s Christmas Lennon: Yes Kay- Killer DM: Go ahead. Try using that name Lennon: -Killer DM. I just can’t begin to tell you how good it is to see you. It’s your first anniversary isn’t it? Killer DM: It is, but you know what it’s not? Lennon: What? Killer DM: Thanksgiving. Do you remember anything about Thanksgiving? Lennon: Um..no? Because I’m British? Ostron: Still can’t get the power cells to recharge right, I wonder…oh. Hi Killer DM. I guess I should have anticipated this. Killer DM: Yes. You should have. You should have also invited me around for Thanksgiving LIKE. I. ASKED! Lennon: Well I was at a family barbecue… Ostron: Yeah, and I… had… a … generic excuse… Killer DM: No, No, don’t worry. I’m letting bygones be bygones for now. I’ve come…