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…
Archives of Candlekeep: The Duality of Demogorgon
This article was first broadcast in Episode Two Hundred and Nineteen on 27th 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. Where the Nine Hells have the archdukes of The Hells, if you sail down the River Styx you’ll find a similar but different situation at the other end. That’s assuming you make it, of course; the River Styx is terrible and there are murderous demons on every side and sometimes floating by on other boats. Have we mentioned going to the underworld is a bad idea? Anyway, when you get to the Abyss you will find a much looser hierarchy, but there are several beings that fill much the same role as the archdukes. Those are the demon lords. Now practically speaking there is no demon lord…
Heroes Rise two hundred and nineteenth entry: Hiffopotamous
Welcome, brave adventurers, to Heroes Rise. This is the 219th entry into our chronicle, recorded on Saturday July 22nd, and released Wednesday July 27th over at heroesrisepodcast.com. Unfortunately Ostron couldn’t be with us this week on account of the fact we’re covering Spelljammer stuff, so you have the honour of Tony’s company for this evening. In this week’s Adventurer’s Pack, Lennon shows us a new role he’s playing Next we check out some D&D News as we take a look at the recently released Spelljammer Academy from D&D Beyond, and take a look at the first trailer for the upcoming D&D movie Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves After that we take a Short Rest and head into the Archives of Candlekeep to discuss the duality of the Demogorgon; before finally heading into the Scrying Pool to see what you [all] have to say. Community Questions Demogorgon is a classic…
Heroes Rise, two hundred and eighteenth entry: A Tribe Called Quest
Welcome, brave adventurers, to Heroes Rise. This is the 218th entry into our chronicle, recorded on Tuesday July 19th, and released Thursday July 21st over at heroesrisepodcast.com. In this week’s Adventurer’s Pack, Lennon gets fed up with gnomes and tells us all about a warlock’s workshop… Next we check out some D&D News as we bring you our first look at the latest hardcover adventure-slash-setting-book from Wizards of the Coast, Journeys Through The Radiant Citadel; and we take a peek at the latest Unearthed Arcana: Wonders of the Multiverse And because there’s so much to cover we’re going to be skipping the Short Rest and heading into the Scrying Pool to see what you have to say. Community Questions So there’s a new racial option from the UA. Do you think the glitching is overpowered? Should it be a Modron instead? The cleric is finally getting some love. Do you…
Heroes Rise, two hundred and seventeenth entry: Space Dragons in Texas
Welcome, brave adventurers, to Heroes Rise. This is the 217th entry into our chronicle, recorded on Saturday, July 9th, and released Wednesday, July 13th over at heroesrisepodcast.com. In this week’s Adventurer’s Pack, Ryu shows us her Plaid Hat… wait, is that a mouse in there? Next we check out some D&D News as we’re joined by Indigo Specter to discuss all things Adventurer’s League, from the very basics of “What even is the Adventurer’s League” through to the latest changes — and we answer your hot Adventurer’s League questions After that we take a Short Rest and head into the Gnomish Workshop to Analyze the Attack; before finally heading into the Scrying Pool to see what you [all] have to say. Community Questions If you were introduced to D&D in your younger years, what was your on ramp? Did you play a linked board game, a modified TTRPG system, or…
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…