Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies

What if the greatest magic in the D&D world was actually technology? In this season 10 finale of FGGGbT we celebrate the gnomes: D&D’s most exuberant, most creative, and most explosion-prone technological pioneers. They dig into gnomish clockwork constructs, airships, and the philosophical question at the heart of every gnomish invention: is it poorly executed, or is it just missing...

What do a brain-eating squid creature, a giant praying mantis, and a snake person have in common? They’re all psionic — and that’s about where the similarities end. In this episode of FGGGbT, we tackle the most challenging taxonomy of the season: psionic creatures. Unlike the undead or the Fey, this group has almost nothing in common except one thing — the power of the mind. They kick...

What separates a pixie from a sprite, a brownie from a hag, and a nymph from a siren — and why does any of it matter? In this episode of FGGGbT, we tackle one of the most ambitious taxonomy projects of the season: building a complete classification system for the Fey. Unlike the undead, who are defined by their deadness, the Fey are defined by their otherness — their deep, fundamental connection t...

What separates a skeleton from a lich — and does immortality inevitably make you evil? In this episode of FGGGbT, the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Siepser — tackle one of the most ambitious projects of the season: building a complete taxonomic classification system for the undead. Using six core categories — physical presence, soul spectrum, voluntary vs. involuntary...

What if crystals could store your personality — and eventually become sentient? In this episode of FGGGbT, the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Sieper — dive into the fascinating world of psionic magical items, exploring the real science of crystals, information theory, and the question that haunts AI researchers and D&D players alike: when does something stop being a...

What happens when you put a Sphere of Annihilation inside a Bag of Holding? In this episode of FGGGbT, the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Sieper — go deep on magical item combos, the science of extradimensional space, the world's most powerful glue, potion mixology, and the surprisingly complex question of when a sword becomes a person. We kick things off with the Bag o...

What makes a magical item truly magical — and how many is too many? In this episode of FGGGbT, the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Sieper — dive deep into the science, physics, and storytelling behind D&D magical items, and things get wonderfully chaotic. We explore how magical items are created through the fantasy equivalent of metal alloying and materials science —...

What if the eight schools of D&D magic were actually eight fundamental forces of the universe? In this episode of FGGGbT, the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Sieper — break down all eight schools of magic through the lens of real science, from particle physics and chemistry to neuroscience and quantum mechanics. We explore how the eightfold way in particle physics ma...

How do spells actually work — and why do some only affect certain creatures? In this episode of FGGGbT, the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Sieper — break down the mechanics, physics, and philosophy behind spellcasting in D&D and beyond. We explore the power of true names and pronunciation (Cthulhu, anyone?), the science behind spell foci like wands — including a dee...

Could humans actually develop psychic powers? The science says… maybe. In this episode of FT GBT, the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Sieper — dive into the often-overlooked world of psionics , exploring the real neuroscience and physics behind mind powers in D&D, Stranger Things, X-Men, Star Wars, and Warhammer 40K. We break down why psychic energy works as a...

Show Notes Can science explain how divine magic actually works? In this episode the FGGGbT Brain Trust tackles the rules, biology, and ethics behind divine magic in Dungeons & Dragons. From the life-force mechanics powering clerics and druids to the darkest corners of necromancy — we break it all down. We explore how death functions as a control valve for life energy , why souls are the curren...

Show Notes Can neuroscience and physics explain how D&D spell slots actually work? In this episode of FGGGbT (Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos & Gear-Based Technologies), the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Sieper — crack open the skulls of arcane magic users to figure out what’s really going on inside. We break down Vancian magic and why wizards forget spells a...

Show Notes What is magic, really? In this episode, The Brain Trust dig into one of fantasy’s most fundamental questions — not just what magic does, but what it is . They explore why every great fantasy setting gives magic its own internal rules (and why breaking those rules breaks the world), how magic functions less like a supernatural miracle and more like a natural force nobody fully unde...

Vampires are the one monster that seems to have been around forever (I mean they are immortal), and they never seem to go away.  Their popularity may wax and wane, but these predators are always present, ready to suck away our life force in order to preserve theirs.  Even when it seems like we have discussed everything there is to say about these creatures of the night, the Brain Trust comes throu...

Everyone remembers the famous line in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” where Indy says “Why did it have to be snakes?”  Well our Daring Druid (and resident ophiophilist) Ben Siepser often wonders “Why isn’t it ALWAYS snakes”?  So this week we take a look at a few of our favorite snake-based humanoids including the naga, the ophidians, and the dreaded Yuan-Ti.  Just a bit of a warning, the reproductive cy...

Are you ready for MORE petrification!  This week we discuss the basilisk, a creature that can turn you to stone just by looking at you.  Well it has to meet your gaze, but we get into the specifics so you won’t get fooled.  It is also gigantic, which is something to consider.  Listen as we talk about how near-sightedness as an advantage, the deliciousness of magic shell, and how spitting on goggle...

There are certain creatures in myth and legend who have been said to have the ability to turn those they encounter into stone.  This week we profile one of those creatures, the cockatrice.  With the head of a rooster, the body of a lizard, and the wings of a bat, this tiny creature can petrify the largest of creatures with a single touch.  They are feared in the fantasy world, since their small si...

There is a reason every little girl wants a pony:  Because horses are really cool.  They are so great that the world of D&D is filled with horse-based creatures including the unicorn, pegasus, nightmare, and even the centaur.  Why this form?  What tactile advantages does it provide?  How can a horse fly but a pig can’t?  We will answer all these questions on this week’s episode. Facebook Twitt...

As human beings, we are lucky enough to be at the top of the food chain.  Being at the top means there is nothing above us.  No predators to watch out for, nothing evolving to eat is specifically.  We never have to check our rear view.  Or do we?  In this episode we discuss what makes a good human predator, and it turns out its plants!  That’s right, if we are going to be taken out, it will be by...

The forest is filled with all kinds of creatures great and small. It is also home to one of the most mischievous and dangerous creatures: The Dryad. The woodland spirits are tied to a singular oak tree. They are so tied in fact, that they cannot stray more than 1000 feet from their home. This can be a problem, so they have devised ways of tricking and charming beautiful men to come and stay with t...

Everyone knows that trees are alive…but today we are only concerned with the ones that run around.  We are talking treants from D&D, Ents from Lord of the Rings, and the Fighting Trees of Oz.  Are these creatures plants with animal traits, or secret animals that look like plants?  We discuss the possibilities.  The answer may be found in upside-down jelly fish & leafy sea slugs.  Plus we s...

When it comes to D&D, there is one apex predator:  The Dragon.  It is even in the name!  These winged creatures come in all sizes and colors, which is lucky for adventurers.  See, a dragon’s color tells you a lot about the creature, including their alignment, their powers, and their magic resistance.  When you are going after something so powerful, you will take any advantage you can.  W...

Once you sign up to be an adventurer, it is a given that you will raid every chest you come across.  Some will have locks, some will have traps, and some may even eat you.  That last option is the topic of today’s show as we discuss mimics in D&D.  These creatures can take the form of anything wooden, metal, or stone, which is usually a treasure chest.  Not only that, but we will unveil...

If you wear a belt buckle (as any good adventurer does), then battling a rust monster is the only situation where you can get caught with your pants down.  These creatures seem to feed on metals, which means that unless you are proficient with clubs and quarterstaves, you are in big trouble.   If you have good loot, avoid these creatures at all costs.  Luckily in this episode we will tell you how...

Our 10th season begins!  We decided to do something a little different this year.  We were inspired by last season’s episode on “Delicious in Dungeon”, so we are taking a look at Dungeons & Dragons monsters and explaining how they work.  It turns out, there is a lot of literature on these creatures, and none has been written about more than the classic Gelatinous Cube, offici...