Unearthed Mundana: What’s In A Name?
This article was first broadcast in Episode Two Hundred and Fifty-one on 15th November, 2023. 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. It’s no secret that D&D draws heavily on the histories of medieval Europe. Whether for it’s creatures pulled straight from Polish mythology, or its quazi-feudal system of monarchies and peerages based on the French and British systems, the stench of Henry the Eighth and all of his mates can be found everywhere. Look on any good map (or indeed on any bad one) and you’ll find a plethora of places with names like “Waterdeep” — named for its deep water in the harbor; or “Neverwinter” because the snow never settles there and so it’s never winter… We’ll give you two guesses why “Old Stonekeep” is named that.…
Unearthed Mundana: The Satanic Panic
This article was first broadcast in Episode Two Hundred and Twenty on 3rd August 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. A much as people whine about psionics or think that 4th edition was a tragic error on many levels, one of the largest impacts on D&D’s publication and future actually had very little to do with the mechanics of the game. Most people who either grew up in the 80s, played D&D, or watched some of the various media that touched on it, such as Season 4 of Stranger Things, are aware of a general event called the Satanic Panic. It was a moral movement and media phenomenon spanning the 80s and it had an irrevocable effect on the game and people’s perceptions of it. However if…
Unearthed Mundana: Giant Lore (Part 1)
This article was first broadcast in Episode Two Hundred Thirteen on 8th 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. Giants have been around in D&D since the very beginning. A major reason for that has to do with the origins of the game. It’s oversimplifying a bit, but Gary Gygax’s original intent wasn’t to create a whole new system with sweeping lore and intricate settings; he just wanted to be able to have his tabletop armies fight Orcs and trolls instead of just other human armies, and he didn’t want to wait five years for Warhammer to come out. Starting with that premise, Gygax didn’t start inventing a whole bunch of unique fantasy creatures to throw up against his and his friend’s armies. They just took the…
Unearthed Mundana: New Books
This article was first broadcast in Episode One Hundred Eighty Five on 13th October 2021. Wizards of the Coast released their 3rd edition of Dungeons and Dragons in the year 2000. Many people believe the release was an effort by Wizards to put their stamp on the brand after they acquired TSR in 1997. As such, 3rd edition was a rather extreme overhaul of D&D at a mechanics level. Many people are familiar with the fact that 3rd edition introduced the so-called d20 system, which Wizards then distributed through the Open Gaming License. In short, the d20 system meant nearly every decision or action made as part of the game was decided based on the roll of a 20-sided die. Previously in 2nd edition, while d20s were still used in some rolls, you had percentile dice and others involved in decisions just as often. Switching over from a multi-die…
Unearthed Mundana: Ahoy the House
This article was first broadcast in Episode One Hundred Eighty Four on 6th October 2021. Ryu (with maternal authority): Lennon! Lennon: …yes? Ryu: I know you’re not trying to pickpocket from me, are you? Lennon (sighing): I… I thought I was getting better at this. Ryu: As you keep reminding everyone, your Charisma score went up when you became a Warlock. I think your Dexterity is still what? Twelve? Lennon: …ten. Ryu: Okay, yeah, so why did you think you were going to steal my coin purse? It’s next to the hat, by the way, so good luck if you happen to grab that by mistake. Lennon: Why do you have the- okay one thing at a time. Firstly, that coin purse was mine in the first place; secondly in the Feywild they like to steal things. Well, some of the beings there do, the rest of them have…different greetings. Ostron: Wait, they steal things as a greeting? Lennon: Yeah, I don’t…
Unearthed Mundana: How Is Crime Organized?
This article was first broadcast in Episode One Hundred Seventy Three on 14 July 2021. Ostron: Ryu? Ryu (panicked): I didn’t take it. The hat’s in the vault. Lennon gave me the money for socks. Ostron: Do you even wear socks? I thought you had those footwrap shoe-like things for climbing? Ryu: Let’s change the subject. Did you need something? Ostron: Yeah, I need some materials to repair one of the artifacts and they’re…not the sort of thing you can pick up in the marketplace, if you know what I mean. Ryu: Right. You want the Jinjja Haengbokhan Jeulgeoun Sarinjoe Keurreob. Lennon: Hey! I told you people to stop summoning stuff! Ryu: I wasn’t. That’s the group name: Jinjja Haengbokhan Jeulgeoun Sarinjoe Keurreob. Lennon: Group of what? Demons? Ryu: No! They’re…creatively independent business people. Lennon: Ah, so the thieves’ guild. Ryu: They would consider that kind of insulting. Also they aren’t organized like a guild. Ostron: Does that matter? Ryu: Oh boy. Here, sit down and…
Unearthed Mundana: What’s In A Stat?
This article was first broadcast in Episode One Hundred Fifty Seven on 17 March 2021. Ryu: Oh dear. Did someone fall off their mount in the market again? Lennon: What? No, I was giving a speech down in the village. It…wasn’t well received. Ryu: Well, I mean, your Charisma score is only what now, 15? You aren’t going to be able to work miracles with that. Ostron: Actually, with a crowd of bystanders that should have been more than fine. Ryu: How? A 15 is middle of the road; it’s what you have in a stat that you might use later and you want to just be okay with now. Ostron: That’s for adventurers. If you’re comparing them with common folk, he is way beyond them. Ryu: Okay, I’m confused. Lennon: Well, I’ll use my new charisma score to explain it to you. Most players and even DMs who play D&D tend to consider ability scores in the context…
Archives of Candlekeep: Mephistopheles — A Psychological Study
This article was first broadcast in Episode One Hundred Fifty One on 3 February 2021. ROSTRO: Please state the nature of the mathematical inquiry. Killer DM (fondly): I was wondering if you were going to start humming and bring a smile to my face. How are you? ROSTRO: Operational efficiency is at 120%. It appears that Ostron was interrupted in recent exploratory efforts. Killer DM: Yes, well, he was fiddling with the hat and I just got suspicious so I figured knocking him out was a good first step and then I rounded up the usual suspect to figure out what’s going on. Now, be a good limey and tell me what’s going on here. Lennon (muffled response): Mmmph mrrfle mnng. ROSTRO: There appears to be a foreign object interfering with the operation of his maxillofacial musculature. Killer DM: Hm? Oh the gag, right, that would probably make this easier. There we go. Okay, now, how are you?…
Unearthed Mundana: Cheese for the Poor?
This article was first broadcast in Episode One Hundred Fifty on 27 January 2021. (loud rock drilling) Ryu (shouting): LENNON! (drilling stops) Lennon: What? Ryu: Oh thank goodness. You realize nobody can hear anything? Also you’re getting rock dust all over the place. Lennon: I’m investing in our future, Ryu, you need to get on board here. Ryu: You’re carving a gigantic…triangle?…out of a rock. How is this investing in our future? Are you going to sell it as a sculpture? Lennon: Look, I heard from one of the research beholders that the Shaleshatter clan stumbled on a huge gold vein in one of their mines. There is so much gold there it’s going to crash the market, and gold coins are going to be worthless. These, now, these babies are where it’s at. Pretty soon everyone will be hauling these to their grocers when they need bread. Ryu: Ostron! Ostron: What…oh. Ryu: I think Lennon’s been hit with a confusion spell or…
Wisdom of the Masters: Emotional Exercise
This article was first broadcast in Episode One Hundred Forty-three on 25th November 2020. Ryu: Okay, so what about when you’re annoyed. Libby (annoyed): Book! Ryu: Right, okay, I think I’m getting the hang of this. Hmm. Drunk. What are you like drunk? Do you get drunk? Hang on. Ostron! Ostron: Speaking. Ryu: Can you get me a fireball? Libby (worried and angry): Book! Ryu: No, not an actual fireball, the whiskey. Lennon: Did someone say whiskey. Ostron: Either that or Ryu wants me to set the annex on fire. Ryu: No, no, I’m trying to get Libby drunk. Lennon: Hm. See usually when someone says something that makes me think of questions I need, but definitely don’t want answers to, it’s Ostron, but here goes. What in Bog’s name are you trying to get Libby drunk for? Ryu: I’m trying to get to know it better. See I found this thing called “emotional exercise” and it’s supposed to help you get to know someone better.…