RPGBOT.Podcast

Episode Description
In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we break down the changes to the Monk class in the 2024 rules of Dungeons and Dragons.
Summary
In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we break down the changes to the Monk class in the 2024 rules of Dungeons and Dragons. We highlight the problems with the previous version of the Monk class, including resource limitations and lack of damage output. We then go on to discuss the improvements in the 2024 rules, such as the increase in the martial arts die, the ability to use Dexterity for save DCs, and the removal of the requirement to take the attack action for bonus action attacks. We also cover the new features like Monk's Focus, Deflect Attacks, and the changes to Stunning Strike.
We're excited about the improvements made to the Monk class. We cover the changes to the Stunning Strike ability, the addition of force damage to the Empowered Strikes feature, and the improvements to the Way of Mercy and Way of Shadow subclasses. There are improvements to the Monk's saving throws but a lack of a level 20 feature.
We warp up with the changes to the Monk class in the 2024 rules. We talk about the new wording of the Shadow Arts feature and how it affects the Darkness spell. We discuss the changes to the Way of the Four Elements subclass, which has been greatly improved and is now considered one of the most fun subclasses to play. They share their thoughts on the Open Hand Monk subclass and its underwhelming features. The episode ends with a discussion on how to balance powerful monster effects like Stun or Paralyzed versus player enjoyment.
Links
Player's Handbook (affiliate link)
Content from RPGBOT.net
2024 DnD 5e Transition Guide
2024 DnD 5e Monk Class Guide
2024 DnD 5e Monk Subclasses Guide
Previous RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes
MONKS Levels 1 – 4 – Ascend to Greatness or Stumble in the Shadows – RPGBOT.Podcast S4E53
MONKS Levels 5 - 20 - Beyond the Flurry of Blows
Takeaways
The previous version of the Monk class had resource limitations and lacked damage output.
The 2024 rules of Dungeons and Dragons have made significant improvements to the Monk class.
The martial arts die has been increased, allowing for more damage.
Dexterity can now be used for save DCs, making the Monk more versatile.
Bonus action attacks no longer require the attack action, providing more flexibility in combat.
New features like Monk's Focus and Deflect Attacks enhance the Monk's abilities.
Stunning Strike has been modified, offering advantage on the next attack against the target.
Overall, the hosts are excited about the improvements made to the Monk class in the 2024 rules. The Stunning Strike ability has been modified in the 2024 rules, with changes to the duration of the stun and the requirement for a melee weapon attack.
The Empowered Strikes feature now allows Monks to deal force damage with their attacks, which bypasses common damage resistances.
The Way of Mercy subclass remains largely unchanged, but the Way of Shadow subclass has undergone significant revisions, including the ability to see in magical darkness.
Monks now have proficiency in all saving throws and can reroll any failed save with the Disciplined Survivor feature.
The lack of a level 20 feature for Monks in the 2024 rules is seen as a disappointment. The wording of the Shadow Arts feature in the 2024 rules has caused confusion regarding the Darkness spell and its interaction with the Monk's abilities.
The Way of the Four Elements subclass has been greatly improved in the 2024 rules and is now considered one of the most fun subclasses to play.
The Open Hand Monk subclass is seen as the most underwhelming subclass in the 2024 rules.
Balancing powerful monster effects like Stun or Paralyzed with player enjoyment can be achieved by making combat turns faster and allowing players to still do something on their turn.
If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners.
If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings.
Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ
How to Find Us:
In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net
Tyler Kamstra
Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET
Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet
Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social
Ash Ely
Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
Twitter: @GravenAshes
YouTube@ashravenmedia
Randall James
@JackAmateur
Amateurjack.com
Producer Dan
@Lzr_illuminati

James Wyatt explains twenty years of game design while Tyler tries to squeeze eight pages of questions into thirty minutes, Randall wonders whether he could have finished a PhD instead of playing WoW, and Ash demands more totems. Grab your warglaives, prepare your spell slots, and try not to anger the Wizard Supremacy Committee. We're going behind the scenes of World of Warcraft in D&D, and somebody's going to have to explain all of this.
James Wyatt

Carrd.co with links to all of James's other stuff

Publications List

Wikipedia

Twitter

Forgotten Realms Wiki

D&D Lore Wiki

World of Warcraft DnD (affiliate link)

Show Notes
James Wyatt joins Tyler, Randall, and Ash to discuss the World of Warcraft D&D crossover, bringing decades of Wizards of the Coast experience and a surprising amount of personal history with Azeroth. From adapting iconic WoW classes to explaining why mana didn't replace spell slots, James shares the design decisions behind bringing World of Warcraft to D&D 5e without turning the tabletop game into an MMO.
The conversation digs into Shaman Barbarians, Demon Hunters, Beastmaster Rangers, scaling Druid forms, powerful feats, and the return of the Swashbuckler. James also talks about using World of Warcraft to motivate himself to finish his first Eberron novel, how the crossover came together, and why players should feel free to bring Azeroth's character options into other D&D campaign settings.
After James departs, the RPGBOT crew tackles community questions, evaluates the strongest and weakest subclasses, debates crafting mechanics, and explains why the World of Warcraft setting book offers plenty for both players and Dungeon Masters. Naturally, Tyler wants more mechanical details, Randall appreciates a coherent design philosophy, and Ash still wants totems.
Key Takeaways
D&D first, Warcraft second. The goal was to bring Azeroth into Dungeons & Dragons, not recreate World of Warcraft's video game mechanics.
Shaman Barbarians make sense. Inspired by Thrall, the Path of the Elements and Path of the Spirit Guardian turn Rage into supernatural power.
No mana system. Spell slots remain because D&D's resource management and resting mechanics are fundamental to the game.
Azeroth isn't a prison. WoW subclasses, feats, spells, and character options can work in other D&D settings, including Ravenloft and the Forgotten Realms.
Class feats are powerful. Several new feats offer major optimization opportunities, although the crew questions whether some are too strong.
Some subclasses shine brighter than others. Swashbuckler, Discipline Cleric, Mystic Brew Monk, and Demon Hunter Ranger stand out, while Shadow Priest and several Death Knight options disappoint.
New design ideas may return. Beast companions with Weapon Mastery and level-scaling Druid forms could influence future D&D character options.
Crafting gets attention. The World of Warcraft crafting system offers more structure than existing official D&D 5e options, but still leaves magic item recipes largely to the DM.
The book serves players and DMs. Character options, setting lore, dungeons, and adventure outlines make it useful beyond a dedicated Warcraft campaign.
The crossover has history. James has been experimenting with tabletop adventures in Azeroth for roughly twenty years, making this project a particularly personal one.
Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you.
Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players.
Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings.
Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community.
Meet the Hosts
Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix.
Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme.
Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy.
Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos.
How to Find Us:
In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net
Tyler Kamstra
BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET
Ash Ely
Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
BlueSky: @GravenAshes
YouTube: @ashravenmedia
https://ashelydm.com/
https://ashelydm.com/
Randall James
BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG
Amateurjack.com
Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link)
Producer Dan
@Lzr_illuminati

Welcome back to Shadowdark, where character creation is quick, the dice hate you, and your carefully crafted adventurer might get murdered by a household rat. This week, Tyler walks Randall and Ash through building characters using randomly rolled stats, questionable class choices, and whatever equipment they can afford. Randall builds a fighter who probably should have been a wizard, Ash creates a two-hit-point thief, and everyone prepares for the inevitable meat grinder. The good news? Making characters is easy. The bad news? You're going to get really good at it.
The Arcane Library - All official Shadowdark content available in physical/digital here

ShadowDarklings Character Generator

RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes

ShadowDark RPG Adventure Designer Kelsey Dionne

Show Notes
In Part 2 of our Shadowdark RPG How to Play series, Tyler, Randall, and Ash tackle character creation in Kelsey Dionne's old-school dungeon crawler. From rolling 3d6 ability scores and choosing ancestries to picking classes, backgrounds, talents, and equipment, we walk through building a Shadowdark character from scratch.
Randall rolls his way into an unlikely elven fighter, while Ash embraces the chaos with a halfling thief sporting two hit points and a dangerous amount of confidence. Along the way, we explore Shadowdark's four core classes, randomized character advancement, inventory management, and why bringing enough torches matters more than your tragic backstory.
Then it's time to prepare for the Shadowdark level-zero gauntlet. Armed with questionable stats, random equipment, and absolutely no survival instincts, our disposable adventurers are ready to discover whether character creation is actually just the first step toward character disposal.
Key Takeaways
Shadowdark character creation is fast, simple, and built around old-school D&D randomness.
Ability scores use 3d6 rolled in order, with limited opportunities to reroll particularly bad results.
The six core ancestries provide straightforward traits, while fighter, priest, thief, and wizard offer distinct approaches to surviving the dungeon.
Class talents are randomly determined, making character advancement unpredictable and optimization less important.Backgrounds provide situational advantage on relevant checks without complicated skill lists.
Alignment, deities, and character titles add personality and flavor without slowing down character creation. - Starting gold, gear slots, weapons, armor, and torches force players to make meaningful equipment choices before entering the dungeon.
Level-zero characters begin with random abilities, ancestry, and limited equipment, often without a weapon.
The Shadowdark gauntlet encourages players to bring multiple disposable characters, with survivors earning a chance to advance to level one.
Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you.
Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players.
Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings.
Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community.
Meet the Hosts
Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix.
Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme.
Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy.
Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos.
How to Find Us:
In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net
Tyler Kamstra
BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET
Ash Ely
Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
BlueSky: @GravenAshes
YouTube: @ashravenmedia
https://ashelydm.com/
https://ashelydm.com/
Randall James
BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG
Amateurjack.com
Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link)
Producer Dan
@Lzr_illuminati

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we break down the changes to the Ranger class in the 2024 rules of Dungeons and Dragons. We go through each class feature and highlight the differences from previous versions.
Summary
We discuss the improvements to spellcasting, the changes to Favored Enemy and Favored Foe, the addition of more expertise, and the new subclass features. We were disappointed with the capstone feature, Foe Slayer. Overall, we acknowledge that while the Ranger class has seen some improvements, it still has its flaws and is considered by some to be the worst class in the 2024 rules.
We dig into the subclasses of the Ranger class in D&D 5e. We talk about the Beastmaster, Feywanderer, Gloomstalker, and Hunter subclasses. We highlight the changes and improvements made to the subclasses in the 2024 rules, but also point out some issues and frustrations. We discuss the balance between using Hunter's Mark and other class features, and the impact of concentration on the Ranger's gameplay. We were unenthusiastic with the changes made to the Gloomstalker subclass and the nerfs to the Hunter subclass. Overall, we feel that the Ranger class still has some design flaws and missed opportunities.
Our conversation concludes with a discussion on the changes made to some signature ranger spells, including the removal of concentration requirements. We were concerned about the heavy dependence on Hunter's Mark and the lack of flavor in the ranger class. We suggest that the ranger subclasses could be better suited as fighter subclasses, allowing for more diverse and flavorful gameplay. Despite the criticisms, they acknowledge that the 2024 ranger is an improvement over the 2014 version.
Links
Player's Handbook (affiliate link)
Content from RPGBOT.net
2024 DnD 5e Transition Guide
2024 DnD 5e Ranger Guide
2024 DnD 5e Ranger Subclasses Guide
Previous RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes
Rangers 1-4
Rangers 5-20
Takeaways
The Ranger class in the 2024 rules has seen some improvements compared to previous versions.
The changes to spellcasting, such as the ability to change prepared spells and the reduction of reliance on concentration, are considered positive.
The Favored Enemy and Favored Foe features have been updated to provide more versatility and options for the Ranger.
The addition of more expertise and the removal of the bonus action requirement for two-weapon fighting are welcomed changes.
However, the capstone feature, Foe Slayer, is considered underwhelming and disappointing.
While the Ranger class has seen improvements, it is still considered by some to be the worst class in the 2024 rules. The 2024 rules made improvements to the Ranger subclasses, but there are still some frustrations and missed opportunities.
The Beastmaster subclass can be effective without relying on Hunter's Mark, but it can feel limited and overshadowed by other options.
The Feywanderer subclass received no changes and remains a strong option for Rangers.
The Gloomstalker subclass was nerfed and lost its extra attack feature, which disappointed the hosts.
The Hunter subclass also received changes, but the removal of options and the reliance on Hunter's Mark led to some dissatisfaction.
The hosts discuss the issue of concentration and the impact it has on the Ranger's gameplay.
Overall, the hosts feel that the Ranger class still has design flaws and could benefit from further improvements. The removal of concentration requirements for certain ranger spells is seen as a positive change, allowing rangers to use a wider range of spells in combat.
The heavy dependence on Hunter's Mark as a damage boost is a concern, as it limits the variety of spells rangers can use.
The hosts suggest that the ranger subclasses could be better suited as fighter subclasses, as they offer more diverse and flavorful gameplay options.
Despite the criticisms, the hosts acknowledge that the 2024 ranger is an improvement over the 2014 version.
If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners.
If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings.
Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ
How to Find Us:
In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net
Tyler Kamstra
Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET
Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet
Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social
Ash Ely
Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
Twitter: @GravenAshes
YouTube@ashravenmedia
Randall James
@JackAmateur
Amateurjack.com
Producer Dan
@Lzr_illuminati

World of Warcraft has finally come to Dungeons & Dragons, which means decades of raids, questionable class balance, faction arguments, and deeply buried MMO trauma can now happen around your kitchen table. Ash is our designated Azeroth lore master. Randall once escaped World of Warcraft before it could destroy his college career. Tyler has somehow avoided MMORPGs almost entirely, making him the ideal person to ask why the undead paladin has a ghost horse and why the wizard can apparently commit crimes against game balance. This time, we're digging into the new Dungeons & Dragons World of Warcraft collaboration, starting with the classes, specializations, Warcraft mechanics, and the important philosophical question: if you beat an enemy like a piñata, will soul fragments fall out?
Welcome to Azeroth. Please check your Hunter's Mark at the door.

World of Warcraft DnD (affiliate link)
World of Warcraft DnD: Icecrown Citadel Map Pack (affiliate link)
World of Warcraft DnD Dice (affiliate link)
Show Notes
World of Warcraft and Dungeons & Dragons have been borrowing ideas from each other for decades, so an official D&D World of Warcraft crossover feels both extremely strange and somehow inevitable. Ash takes the lead as our resident Warcraft lore expert while Randall and Tyler attempt to determine how much Azeroth you can stuff into D&D 5e before the rules begin making distressed noises.
The book adapts World of Warcraft classes, specializations, spells, mechanics, and character concepts into Dungeons & Dragons 5e. It also makes one thing very clear: these options are primarily designed to exist together inside a World of Warcraft campaign. Mixing them freely with normal D&D character options may require a serious conversation with your DM, particularly once Tyler starts discovering combinations that probably should not be allowed anywhere near an unsuspecting campaign.
We begin with the Death Knight, essentially Warcraft's undead champion translated through the Paladin. Blood, Frost, and Unholy specializations return, along with Runic Smite, Death Coil, rune forging, undead steeds, Death Grip, and enough necrotic damage to make your local cleric uncomfortable. Unholy looks particularly strong, while Frost continues the proud World of Warcraft tradition of giving people something to complain about.
Next comes the Demon Hunter, built from the Ranger chassis and fueled by soul fragments, spectral sight, war glaives, demonic magic, and the time-honored Illidari tradition of solving demon problems by becoming alarmingly demon-adjacent yourself. The conversion captures much of the mobility and aggressive playstyle of the World of Warcraft Demon Hunter, although some abilities work very differently once translated into tabletop mechanics.
Evokers bring Warcraft's draconic spellcasting into D&D through the Sorcerer, including a large collection of new spells, breath weapons, healing magic, and abilities inspired by the Dracthyr. It is one of the clearer examples of the Dungeons and Dragons World of Warcraft collaboration trying to reproduce not just the name of a class, but the way that class feels in the MMO.
Hunters are Rangers, which is probably the least surprising sentence in this entire episode. Beast Mastery focuses on improving your animal companion, Marksmanship emphasizes ranged combat, and Survival exists for people who looked at a perfectly good bow and decided they would rather run directly toward the monster. The pet mechanics include some genuinely useful abilities, including companions that can maintain powerful buffs and support their Ranger in combat.
And then we reach Mage. Warcraft Mage specializations map fairly cleanly onto Wizard concepts: Arcane, Fire, and Frost. The problem is that some of the new Mage feats are much more exciting than the subclass recommendations. Fingers of Frost, Frost Nova, Hot Streak, and similar abilities begin producing combinations that range from powerful to the sort of thing that makes a DM slowly close the book and stare at the player across the table.
The result is an adaptation that frequently captures World of Warcraft flavor extremely well, even when the mechanical translation gets strange. Longtime WoW players will recognize abilities, class identities, terminology, and even old strategies buried inside the mechanics. D&D players unfamiliar with Warcraft get the added entertainment of listening to Ash explain decades of MMO lore while Randall and Tyler repeatedly ask variations of, "Wait, people actually did this?"
This is only the beginning of the RPGBOT.Podcast Dungeons & Dragons World of Warcraft review. The book includes numerous classes, fifteen playable species, professions, factions, setting material, and adventures, giving us far too much Azeroth for a single episode.
Key Takeaways
The Dungeons & Dragons World of Warcraft collaboration adapts WoW classes, specializations, spells, and MMO mechanics into D&D 5e rather than simply reskinning standard fantasy options.
The book appears designed primarily for dedicated World of Warcraft D&D campaigns. Bringing individual options into a normal D&D game could create unexpected balance problems.
Death Knight uses the Paladin as its foundation, with Blood, Frost, and Unholy specializations, rune mechanics, necrotic abilities, undead flavor, and classic Warcraft spells such as Death Grip.
Demon Hunter is based on the Ranger and introduces soul fragments, spectral sight, war glaives, demonic abilities, and mechanics inspired by the highly mobile World of Warcraft class.
Evoker translates the Dracthyr spellcaster into D&D through the Sorcerer, including breath abilities, healing options, and numerous new World of Warcraft spells.
Hunter is essentially a Warcraft-flavored Ranger, with Beast Mastery, Marksmanship, and Survival specializations plus expanded animal companion mechanics.
Mage looks straightforward at first, but its feats create some of the most potentially explosive mechanical combinations discussed in the episode.
Warcraft veterans will recognize a surprising amount of MMO design philosophy in the tabletop mechanics, including tanks, DPS roles, specialization choices, iconic abilities, and occasionally iconic cheese strategies.
Some conversions favor World of Warcraft flavor over strict D&D mechanical balance, which is probably exactly why groups should treat the book as its own ecosystem instead of an unrestricted toolbox.
This episode only scratches the surface. Future discussion still has additional classes, fifteen species, professions, factions, Azeroth setting material, and adventures to cover.
Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you.
Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players.
Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings.
Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community.
Meet the Hosts
Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix.
Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme.
Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy.
Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos.
How to Find Us:
In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net
Tyler Kamstra
BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET
Ash Ely
Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
BlueSky: @GravenAshes
YouTube: @ashravenmedia
https://ashelydm.com/
https://ashelydm.com/
Randall James
BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG
Amateurjack.com
Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link)
Producer Dan
@Lzr_illuminati