We Speak Common

This week we're talking about improvements and goals. We set our selves goals in areas for D&D that we think are critical (pardon the pun) to getting more out of the hobby we love. We hope it helps you find areas you can improve in and inspires you in your next adventure! Welcome to We Speak Common. Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing...

This week we discuss how to takle when a Player character is bitten by a vampire, cursed to be a werewolf or decides to reach for lichdom. We talk about the rules as written and the changes we've made in the past, but most importantly the Monstrous Opportunities that come with cursed characters. Welcome to We Speak Common. Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Mu...

This week we take an in depth look athe revised Artificer Class published in Unearthed Arcana! We'll go through what we think it offers to the game in mechanics and role play. Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing" by Timecrawler 82 From the Free Music Archive CC by NC 

This week we drop into an old Unearthed Arcarna that presents a new way to do Initiative. We talk about our experiences using the new rule set and how it can add tension and depth to your combat encounters. Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing" by Timecrawler 82 From the Free Music Archive CC by NC 

 Wizards of the Coast have announced a new Starter Set in partnership with Netflix. This week we talk about what we think about the set, what we hope it'll include and what this deal means for the future of D&D... Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing" by Timecrawler 82 From the Free Music Archive CC by NC 

 This week Ben talks about a new DMing style he's working. Working along side another DM within the same game sounds like it could be a nightmare, but Ben talks Joe through the exciting possibilities It can open up. Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing" by Timecrawler 82 From the Free Music Archive CC by NC 

Have you ever though, "A SANDBOX! That's what I'll do, give my players ultimate choice and freedom!" Yes it sounds good on paper, but is it right for you and your players? Today we talk about how to pull of the Sandbox game. Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing" by Timecrawler 82 From the Free Music Archive CC by NC 

This week Joe delivers his fantastic new one shot idea and we begin to flesh it out, even giving the opportunity to create a returning game. For those of you looking for a way to use Guild Masters Guide to Ravnica, Ben gives a brief outline to your next campaign in the setting.   Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing" by Timecrawler 82...

This week we talk about Alignment in 5th edition D&D. How to make it useful and embrace it in your games. Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing" by Timecrawler 82 From the Free Music Archive CC by NC 

 Today we delve into the Religion in D&D. the different types, the systems they are based on and how we run gods in our games. Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing" by Timecrawler 82 From the Free Music Archive CC by NC 

This week we'll discuss the solo, or one-on-one, adventure. The pros and cons, the differences and why you should definitely be considering giving it ago, as a play or a DM! Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing" by Timecrawler 82 From the Free Music Archive CC by NC 

This week we welcome our first guest to the show! Dan, a long time player but brand new DM sits down with us and discuses game from his fresh point of view. We give any helpful advise we can and generally get lost in our love for the game. Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing" by Timecrawler 82 From the Free Music Archive CC by NC 

 This week we start delving into MCDM's Strongholds and Followers . We've been excited about these new rule sets for a while now, and spend the next hour looking into what they offer to bring to your table.  In part 2 we'll look at the class differences for your strongholds, the different followers you'll attract and how to use them in your game. Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email...

This week we start delving into MCDM's Strongholds and Followers. We've been excited about these new rule sets for a while now, and spend the next hour looking into what they offer to bring to your table.  In part 1 we'll look at the five types of Strongholds in the book, and what they do for your characters Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Stre...

This week we're talking about how a player can help their DM. What are the little things you can do to make their job and life a little bit easier? We talk about the rule: for every 1 hour you spend in the world, the DM spends 3. Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing" by Timecrawler 82 From the Free Music Archive CC by NC

This week we're talking about recovering a campaign when it goes off the rails. We thought this would be a good topic seeing as Ben's campaign is ALWAYS off the rails. We talk about our games and the lessons we learnt from the sessions in the week. Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing" by Timecrawler 82 From the Free Music Archive CC by NC

Arguably one of the most important parts of the game, interesting and deep NPC's. Today we talk about how we build NPC's and how we make them feel grounded in the worlds we create. We also revisit the Level cap options for classes and talk about the Ranger. Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing" by Timecrawler 82 From the Free Music Archive...

This week we continue on the DM creation theme from last week and build our set piece encounter for our new D&D game. We talk about the different ways we approach encounter building and what to do if your worried about killing off all your PC's! Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing" by Timecrawler 82 From the Free Music Archive CC by NC

Today we tackle our first listener topic, Lore. How do you create a story, build out the details and scatter the lore through out game sessions? We build an example starting point with you through out this episode and try to show you the way we build as we go. Thank you to Ayrton for the questions and topic. If you have anything you want us to talk about get in touch with us! Find us on twitter: @...

This week Ben and Joe fall down the rabbit hole of talking about their characters, how they play them, how they build and develop them, and where they think they are going. We also return to the Level 20 cap options looking closely at the Cleric and divine intervention. Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Music: "Street Dancing" by Timecrawler 82 From the Free...

The age old debate, do we get together around a table this week or just play over the internet? Which is better, what works the most and how do I run a game in person if I don'y have a tone of mini's? Today we talk about our experience with both formats of play and the weird hybrid we created to deal with scheduling difficulties. Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail...

This week we give a post launch podcast update and tell you how to get in touch with us! We discuss 20th Level and how to make it more appealing, whether you get there through hours of a long campaign or on a crazy one shot! We give a post Launch podcast update and tell you how to get in touch with us! In the weekly segment we pick our favorite magic items to bring in to the game, the ones your ch...

This week a head of the launch of the newest D&D adventure we talk Waterdeep: Dragon Heist and our hopes for the book. Knowing us we wont play it for a long long... long time. But we can still get excited about it! In our weekly segment we talk extra things you can bring to the table to enhance your experience. you don't need them, but they are nice and fun to have! Music: "Street Dancing" by Time...

Prepping for a game of D&D is like marmite, some Dm's (like Joe) Love it and have a full and well detailed world bible that they can read and add to and never get unhappy with. Some Dm's (Like Ben) Spend days pouring into their notes and then don't prep for a really really long time because they burnt them selfs out in the original planing session. Ben needs to prep, so to get in the zone this wee...

So you've heard of D&D, you've seen it on the tele and you know its pretty nerdy... but how do you play, where do you find more people to form a group and what's the best product to start with? Well buckle up kids, those are the topics we're covering today, Welcome... to We Speak Common. In this weeks segment we discuss our favourite Classes and Sub classes. Ben talks all things magical with the w...