The party's fight at the gate led to an unsettling encounter and an unsatisfying conclusion. Clearly outmatched, the bruised and battered friends have spurred their horses onward toward their next destination. Pursuers behind and the mountains of central Moriga looming ahead; what lies in store for Tira, Womberbash, and Peter? Find out now in this week's episode! ----- Thanks for sharing our story; we really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy what our talented players have created togeth...
Sep 10, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 30
We hope you've enjoyed our earlier special episodes that give a sneak peek behind the DM's screen. This episode is our first true Creation Corner, and we're talking about Rindis, a cold country known for its dramatic geography and well-crafted but fearsome raiding ships. As will be the case with all Creation Corner episodes, expect disjointed thoughts, stream of consciousness thinking, and good and bad ideas all mixed in together as Thane and Rhett discuss possible points about this country. We ...
Sep 05, 2018•51 min•Season 1Ep. 29
A fitful night of sleep leads to a rough start in the morning. The party members are beginning to find a sense of direction in their quest, but they must first figure out the path they will follow. Mysterious visitors, insouciant stablehands, and much, much worse await Tira, Womberbash, and Peter as they seek a way out of Flenmoor. Find out now what happens in this week's episode! ----- Thanks for sharing our story; we really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy what our talented players h...
Sep 03, 2018•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Much has happened in a short amount of time. The face of things is changing in Vardalon, but our heroes are rising to the occasion as their understanding of what lies ahead slowly begins to become more clear. Join us as the adventurers bed down for the night. Their sleep will be delayed, however, as they face certain revelations. Follow the leveling process as we talk through what benefits Tira, Womberbash, and Peter gain for hitting this milestone. As a reminder, the Unearthed Arcana article pe...
Aug 29, 2018•21 min•Season 1Ep. 27
The party pushes on from Flenmoor's library and now must figure out what to do next. They need to find a place where they can discuss things in a meaningful way, but first they have an errand to take care of. It's a day for catching up with friends past and present as they wander into the poorer part of the city. Where will they head next? What happens to Tira's fabulous shirt? Find out now in this week's episode! ----- Thanks for sharing our story; we really appreciate your support and hope you...
Aug 27, 2018•1 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 26
A chance meeting in the city of Flenmoor has given our heroes a leg up (and a new look). Now they push on to the city's library to discover the meaning of the Jewels of Edelenn. The city still has its share of surprises, though. What lies in store in the library? What are these jewels of Edelenn? Will the party ever get rid of Rebec's luggage? Find out now in this week's episode! ----- Thanks for sharing our story; we really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy what we've put together. We'...
Aug 20, 2018•1 hr 26 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Arriving at last at the gates of Flenmoor, the party has to find its way to the next step of the Stag's quest. But the city is larger than most of them are used to, and getting around on crowded streets can be a perilous thing, especially in a city like Flenmoor. Where is the library? Who's that skulking in the alley? Is Peter really that cold-hearted? Find out now in this week's episode! ----- Thanks for sharing our story; we really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy what we've put toge...
Aug 13, 2018•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 24
It's almost inevitable--one day, the DM's well of inspiration will run dry. Or perhaps you're a new DM, and feel daunted by the task that lies ahead? Either way, in this special episode we offer some places from which you can draw inspiration in coming up with ideas. We had originally intended to release this episode later on in our run, but after a week of questions and interactions with some brilliant friends on Twitter, we thought it might be better to release it now. Join us as we talk about...
Aug 08, 2018•22 min•Season 1Ep. 23
The journey continues for Tira, Womberbash, and Peter as they make their way to Flenmoor. But a detour to a mysterious place along the way leads to an unsettling experience. Will they be able to carry out the first part of the Stag's quest? Is there safety to be had in the discomfort of travel? What is that glow on the horizon? Listen in now to find out! Thanks for sharing our story; we really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy what we've put together. We're having fun sharing our advent...
Aug 06, 2018•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Part of the reason behind this podcast is to share what we're learning both about D&D and podcasting as we go. To celebrate our first mini-milestone of hitting the 10th episode, we talk about some of the things we're figuring out about our characters as well as the podcasting scene in general. If this discussion prompts any game-related questions in your mind, share them with us on Twitter (@stackodice) or by email ( stack.o.dice@gmail.com ). We'd love to hear from you, and will try to answe...
Aug 01, 2018•27 min•Season 1Ep. 21
The party's hopes for a restful night's sleep have been dashed by a disturbing dream unlike any they've ever had. The question of what it all means is on our heroes' minds as they set forth at last to Flenmoor, the large city to the north. They hope to find answers there. But a long road lies ahead, and the country is still quite wild. Join us as we continue our exciting story together! Thanks for sharing our story; we really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy what we've put together. We...
Jul 30, 2018•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 20
It's party time for Tira, Womberbash, and Peter. The Heroes of Arden make their way to the village green and engage in several different important conversations with those close to them. This evening of recognition is an important step in the lives of these young adventurers, but something much deeper awaits them at the Great Stag Inn. Thanks for sharing our story; we really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy what we've put together. We're having fun sharing our adventure with you each w...
Jul 23, 2018•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 19
After the fight with the bandits in the previous episode, the heroes now have to deal with some very real consequences of the things they experienced during their first big battle. Questions arise, clothes are changed, and horse water is discovered. See what happens now by tuning in! Thanks for sharing our story; we really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy what we've put together. We're having fun sharing our adventure with you each week, and we'll only get better with time! If you like...
Jul 16, 2018•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Trouble is brewing in the tiny, remote town of Arden as bandits threaten the villagers' way of life. The heroes ready their weapons as the mayor rallies the desperate townspeople in the only defensive structure they have--the palisade on the Rock. What fearsome foes will our heroes face? Who will survive the day? Find out in this brand new episode! Thanks for sharing our story; we really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy what we've put together. We're having fun sharing our adventure wi...
Jul 09, 2018•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 17
As a refreshing mountain breeze atop the Three Sisters plays through our heroes' hair, they find themselves faced with a difficult decision. A great prize and an important task lie on the other side of this choice, heralding a difficult time ahead. What is this all about? Whatever will our heroes do? And was that really a pickup line Wamberbash threw out there? Listen in now and see for yourself! Thanks for sharing our story; we really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy what we've put to...
Jul 02, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Do one-dimensional NPCs in your games have you feeling. . . blue? In this special episode, Rhett wants to share a really neat NPC creation technique. The original idea comes from an interview between Satine Phoenix and Taliesin Jaffe in an episode of Satine's excellent GM Tips series. GM Tips video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQZR4smjUEc This video inspired Rhett to create a spreadsheet version of the technique Taliesin introduced, but with a slight twist: https://1drv.ms/x/s!Ai_DSO_CT_ACg4...
Jun 30, 2018•13 min•Season 1Ep. 15
It's a party, and you're invited! Adventuring is hard. That's why it's important to celebrate achievements! We'll record a special leveling episode each time the party levels. This is the first in what (we hope) will be plenty of level-up celebrations. Follow the leveling process as we talk through what benefits Tira, Womberbash, and Peter gain for hitting this milestone. From squat thrusts to HP envy, this episode has it all! As a reminder, the Unearthed Arcana article pertinent to Wizards' in-...
Jun 27, 2018•18 min•Season 1Ep. 14
After talking with a mysterious being with ties to Tira's ancestor, the party moves on to face a daunting challenge high in the mountains overlooking Arden. A series of puzzles awaits them in a place that's been undisturbed for centuries. What will they find there? What lies at the challenge's end? What perils could possibly await our friends? Listen in to this episode to find out! Thanks for sharing our story; we really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy what we've put together. We're h...
Jun 25, 2018•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 13
In the previous episode we followed our heroes through a terrible fight in the forest. When the dust settles, they need to figure out what happens next, now that it seems their task is done. What will they do with their mysterious prisoner? Why is the forest acting so strangely? Will Wamberbash ever find another notebook? Let's find out together in this episode! Thanks for sharing our story; we really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy what we've put together. We're having fun sharing ou...
Jun 18, 2018•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In our last episode, Wamberbash led his new friends to his woodland home, only to find that his beloved spoon was nowhere in sight. After a fruitless search and a nighttime journey fraught with bad dice rolls, they spotted a fire in a clearing up ahead. What lies in the clearing? Will Wamberbash ever find his spoon? Did you remember to pack your puer cha? Let's find out together in this episode! Thanks for sharing our story; we really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy what we've put tog...
Jun 11, 2018•57 min•Season 1Ep. 11
At the end of our last actual play episode, you may have heard a segment that is new in your experience of tabletop games: the Norse Battle. This special episode shares exactly what this segment is for, where it comes from, and why we like to use it as a way to wrap up each game. Once you've listened to it, please share what you think about it, and if you use something similar, we'd love to know how you use it. As always, we want to thank you for sharing your listening time with us; we appreciat...
Jun 05, 2018•8 min•Season 1Ep. 10
After meeting under less-than-auspicious circumstances last time, Wamberbash, Tira, and Peter decide to take a trip. Not everyone is happy about it, but when they arrive, a mystery awaits. What lies ahead? What is that thing glinting along the roadside? And what in Vardalon is a grul? Give us a listen to find out! Thanks for sharing our story; we really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy what we're doing. We're having fun sharing our adventure with you each week, and we'll only get bette...
Jun 04, 2018•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 9
In this first episode, we meet our friends Wamberbash, Tira, and Peter in the world of Vardalon. Things are looking pretty bad in the town of Arden: someone (or something) is attacking people in the nearby forest, the dwarves of Ironstag Delve are trying to reestablish themselves after the collapse of their ancestral home, and wounded strangers are appearing in town. What could it all mean? And what lies in store for both the town and our heroes? Come find out in this, our first actual play epis...
May 28, 2018•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 8
We have one last episode to share this week before we shift to actual play episodes next week. We have some finishing touches to apply before we start, so we'll get those done and be ready to share the fun on Monday! In this episode, we run Meredith's character, Tira, through a mini gauntlet to help her understand how combat works in D&D 5e. We also see how the militia in Arden really digs into its fairy tale books to wrangle up some monstrous opponents. Certainly no one alive in Vardalon ha...
May 25, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 7
In this final special "Getting to Know You" episode, we meet Rhett the Dungeon Master, the guy behind the screen. After being introduced to Dungeons and Dragons at a young age, Rhett has loved the game ever since. As much as he likes to play, he most often ends up as the DM, which is just fine since it's a fun challenge to take on. In this role he gets to combine his love for history, storytelling, quick thinking, and just spending time with friends in a world created together. And don't worry--...
May 24, 2018•20 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Okay, okay—we were trying to stick to the "Getting to Know You" series this week, but felt it was important to sneak this one in prior to dropping our first actual play session. We hope you find it, uh, rewarding. One of the things you may notice when we start releasing actual play episodes is that our experience point awards may seem rather paltry compared to what you're used to seeing in the Player's Handbook or during your games. That's because we're testing out a new XP system Wizards of the...
May 24, 2018•10 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In this special episode we round out the party by getting to know Meredith, and we go over the highlights as we create her barbarian, Tira Ironstag. As the axe-wielding muscle in the party, Tira adds a no-nonsense, action-oriented, and (dare we say it?) headstrong element. You'll know in no time that she lives by her motto: "No problem is too big for my axe!" If you haven't already, please take a moment to check out our Twitter feed (@stackodice) to keep up with the latest on what's shaking in t...
May 23, 2018•27 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Today we continue our special content series as we get to know our next player, Thane, and we go over the highlights as we create his cleric character, Peter Greyhawk. Magic-using classes in the world of Vardalon are a little interesting at the outset, since magic is a thing of legend and the stuff of tales. If it ever existed, it was eons ago, so picking a cleric is a fun way for Thane to start. If you haven't already, please take a moment to check out our Twitter feed (@stackodice) to keep up ...
May 22, 2018•22 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this first special content episode, we take some time to get to know a little about our first player, Michael, and we go over the highlights as we create his mystic character, Wamberbash Bensonmum. The mystic is a new-ish class in 5e; it was introduced last year in Wizards of the Coast's officially unofficial Unearthed Arcana, and we thought it'd be fun to give it a try. Psionic (or mental) magic has featured to varying degrees in previous editions of D&D, so we want to give it a shot in ...
May 21, 2018•12 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Follow a band of intrepid friends as they seek to understand the world changing around them, and work together to face a growing evil. Enter a world of adventure and mystery-- in Vardalon! This first episode of our new podcast series lays out what we want to do in this series. There are a couple major things we want to share with you. First, we're excited to share our actual play episodes. We have a great story cooking, some fun characters, entertaining players, and an all-new world to explore. ...
May 20, 2018•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1
