Pirates in D&D | Sailing the Savage Seas | Wandering DMs S07 E30
Dan & Paul chat about the role of Pirates, freebooters, privateers, sailing ships, and naval action that have been in D&D since the earliest days. What's the best way to use pirates as a foil for your PCs? Can PCs sail their own privateer vessel as a good mid-level command opportunity? What's the best way to design a seedy pirate town for your campaign? Arrgh, it's just in time for Talk Like a Pirate Day 2025!
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LitRPG | From Appendix N and Back Again | Wandering DMs S07 E29
Paul and Dan explore the rise of LitRPG, the literary genre where role-playing mechanics drive the narrative. Where did the term come from, and what early works fit the mold before it even had a name? We’ll follow the ouroboros from the pulp fantasy that inspired D&D to novels that track stats, levels, and hit points — and ask how game mechanics have become part of our shared cultural language.
Wandering DMs broadcasts live every Sunday at 1 PM Eastern. Join the live chat and bring your questions!
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Undead in D&D | Mindless Mobs to Masterminds | Wandering DMs S07 E28
Paul and Dan discuss the many faces of undead in Dungeons & Dragons. From shambling zombies to cunning liches, they embody both mindless horror and villainous intellect. How do different editions treat them? What’s the deal with cleric turning, level drain, and the evolving rules around undeath?
We'll dig into the design and the drama of undead in D&D, and share how we like to use them in our own games. Join us live for thoughtful discussion and your questions in chat — because when it comes to undead, nothing stays buried for long!
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Multi-Classing in D&D | Level Caps and Class Hacks| Wandering DMs S07 E27
Paul and Dan untangle the strange history of multi-classing in D&D. Was the elf in OD&D really allowed to swap between fighter and wizard whenever they liked? Why did B/X boil it all down to "race as class"? How did AD&D try to square the circle with dual-class humans and hard racial limits? We’ll trace how each edition wrestled with the problem, and compare it to the house rules we use today in our own games.
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Original D&D Blackmoor Supplement | Wandering DMs S07 E26
Paul & Dan take a close look at Blackmoor, Dave Arneson's rules supplement for D&D 50 years on. What was exciting and new in this set of optional rules? What stood the test of time, and what was forgotten along the way?
South Africa