We Speak Common

This week we're delving into the lore of the mad mage himself! Who is Halaster Blackcloak? We'll talk about adding a story to the famous Undermountain and its 5e adventure: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, AND how you can port it to any setting you like. Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online at https://...

Celebrating 150 episodes I'm joined by the duo who were out first ever guests on the show, World Forge. We talk through creating compelling NPC's. Our different tactics to make great characters that are memorable, and how they change when we're thinking about long last NPC's and one time cameos. Check out World Forge on Twitter: @WorldForgePod and Spotify Want to get involved? Support the Podcast...

This week we're talking about evil PC's. How do you run them, should you run them? How do you play them?! It's a mix bag of advice out there for what you should and shouldn't do when it comes to evil player characters. We'll talk about our experiences running and playing these types of characters together to give you our best hints and tips to pull it off. Want to get involved? Support the Podcast...

This week we're talking about Dynamic Locations! What are they, how do you create them and how do you run them in your games? These are something I swear by which work great in Sandbox games and to add the feel of a living breathing world. Also a podcast update and the reinstating of the D&D Agony Aunt! Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Ema...

When you've been playing in the same world for years, you start to build up your own legends and fables of forgotten player characters. So how do you use those to your advantage? Those stories don't just stop and disappear from the world, they become myth and legend. Today I'm joined by RJd20 to talk about how to use PC cameos in the most effective way! RJd20: https://www.rjd20.com/  Want to...

Calendars, love em or hate em, they can help create the effect of a living world. But whats the best way to make a calendar and then how do you actually start using it effectively and not just as a piece of lore that doesn't matter? This week we'll look at a few calendars from 5e settings, then talk about why they work and why they don't. We'll talk about making our own and break down how to start...

Spice up your D&D Encounters with combat roles. We'll talk about the old 4e method, why you shouldn't use it, and what to do instead. We'll recap all the D&D announcements from this past week, and talk about that existential dread you get from killing a PC. Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us...

Just because initiative has been rolled, doesn't mean you can't deliver story beats! Today we'll talk about injecting flavour and storytelling into the mechanical side of Dungeons and Dragons Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online at https://wespeakcommon.com/   Check out our Partners: &nbsp...

This week we'll talk about the tiers of play and new interesting ways to implement them into your homebrew campaign. Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online at https://wespeakcommon.com/   Check out our Partners:   The Dice Dungeon - Get beautifully crafted metal sets of dice for your D&...

This week I grab my world building friend and delve into the ways we write our Creation Myths. Hear about our wolrds and their stories and how we started the process of creating them. Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online at https://wespeakcommon.com/   Check out our Partners:   The Di...

A brand new book is here, so lets talk about the content inside and how you can start using it in your current game without starting a new campaign! Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online at https://wespeakcommon.com/   Check out our Partners:   The Dice Dungeon - Get beautifully crafte...

This week I help a brand new DM take her idea and create it into a D&D adventure to show how any starting off point can become a session. We'll go through what to do as a first time DM. Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online at https://wespeakcommon.com/   Check out our Partners:  ...

This week, before the release of Van Richten's Guide To Ravenloft, we talk about one of the most iconic D&D villains and key figures in the Domains of Dread - Count Strahd Von Zarovich. Strap in, grab a blood pack, things are getting spooky. Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online at https://w...

This week we'll look at making poisons pack more of a punch, and deep dive into how lingering injuries can add great layers of character development and plot hooks into your games. Plus I prove why you should read the DMG. Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online at https://wespeakcommon.com/ &nbsp...

This week Joe returns for one more episode to talk about risk and consequence in your D&D games. We'll talk about the ways we raise the stakes beyond the threats of death in our D&D sessions. Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online at https://wespeakcommon.com/   Check out our Partner...

In this weeks episode of Legends & Lore, I welcome back and old friend to talk about the inspirations behind his Paladin. Thats right, Joe's back! We'll talk about creating deep and lasting connections with your world and your characters. Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online at https://wesp...

PC death is inevitable, but how do you make it memorable and a suitable closing for the character? I'm joined by the player I most recently killed to talk through the experience, what went well and what didn't and how to make the most of the situation from both sides of the table.  Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommo...

Today I'm joined by Brad and Chris to talk about how they made D&D accessible for the blind. We'll talk about the struggles and changes that have to be made and how D&D really can be fore everyone.  Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online at https://wespeakcommon.com/   Check out our Partners: The...

War, what is it good for? Interesting fight scenes and cinematic moments! This episode is all about running war in D&D 5e, I'll tell you how I would tackle it and why, and when its good idea to use a rule system and when not to. Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online at https://wespeakcommon....

This week is all about the BIG iconic D&D monsters, the ones you think about when someone says Dungeons And Dragons. We'll delve into the Owlbear, Minic, Mind Flayer and Beholder (with a brief touch on Dragons), we'll talk about their in game lore and stats and how to use them in iconic ways.  ps. the giveaway is NOT an April Fools Joke! Head to our instagram! Want to get involved? Support the Pod...

This week, DM from The Wandering Bards of Wildemount, Tariq joins me to talk about building great rivals. If your a DM looking to spice up you players time in game, or a player wanting to flesh out your backstory, we've got you covered. We'll go into BBEG rivals all the way down to childhood bully rivals! Enjoy.  Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakComm...

How the Turn Tables! This week I sit in the guest chair and tell Sam all about my own derailed sand box campaign. Welcome to Estoroth, Ben's homebrew continent full of adventures ready to be had.   Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online at https://wespeakcommon.com/         Check out our Partners...

This week James joins me to talk about Eberron! We were both very excited to get into what little we know about this interesting setting, we'll scratch the surface and give you ways to used it as a campaign setting and in your current games. Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online at https://wespe...

This week I'm revisiting cursed magic items. I sit down with my DM friend Ray to talk about creating compelling magic items that affect your story, the key aspects they need and how to build them. Then we build one!  Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online at https://wespeakcommon.com/   Check out...

This week Phoebe joins me in the one room in our house that's not her domain. We'll talk about what it was like getting her to try D&D, how to approach sharing your hobby with your partner, and things to think about with having your other half at the table.  Want to get involved? Support the Podcast on Patreon Find us on twitter: @WeSpeakCommon Email us at wespeakcommon@hotmail.com Visit us online...