Sean Merwin

So decide beforehand whether you're playing a game or telling a story, and then err to the side of whichever of those things that you are doing. If you're telling the story, then let the story that's playing out affect the game. If you're playing a game, then play the game and let the story flow naturally from the roles in that game. And move the lever as necessary.

So decide beforehand whether you're playing a game or telling a story, and then err to the side of whichever of those things that you are doing. If you're telling the story, then let the story that's playing out affect the game. If you're playing a game, then play the game and let the story flow naturally from the roles in that game. And move the lever as necessary.

Okay, let's get into our news and commentary now, starting with a bigger than expected Monster Manual, according to Christian Hoffer of EN World. Christian writes an article on EN World saying the next year's Monster Manual will include over 85 new monsters, an increase over what was previously believed.

Okay, let's get into our news and commentary now, starting with a bigger than expected Monster Manual, according to Christian Hoffer of EN World. Christian writes an article on EN World saying the next year's Monster Manual will include over 85 new monsters, an increase over what was previously believed.

A description of the Monster Manual also confirms that there will be over 300 new images for the book. These new stat blocks that are coming in will either mostly add higher CR monsters or lower CR variants of existing popular monsters.

A description of the Monster Manual also confirms that there will be over 300 new images for the book. These new stat blocks that are coming in will either mostly add higher CR monsters or lower CR variants of existing popular monsters.

So the example is there will be several low CR vampire variants to represent freshly turned vampires, along with a higher CR vampire called a Nightbringer, who can be a threat to those higher level PCs out there. And of course, the Monster Manual is coming on the 18th of February of 2025.

So the example is there will be several low CR vampire variants to represent freshly turned vampires, along with a higher CR vampire called a Nightbringer, who can be a threat to those higher level PCs out there. And of course, the Monster Manual is coming on the 18th of February of 2025.

Yeah. Well, they're also cramming more money into D&D, apparently, according to CNBC, which had an article about D&D's financial and social success. Do you want to take us through this one, Teos?

Yeah. Well, they're also cramming more money into D&D, apparently, according to CNBC, which had an article about D&D's financial and social success. Do you want to take us through this one, Teos?

All of this is amazing information, and that part about community really, really resonates. Because you and I have seen the power of community over the years, and it's not even always a community that Wizards of the Coast or Hasbro can create on their own. It's a community that they can help facilitate others in creating.

All of this is amazing information, and that part about community really, really resonates. Because you and I have seen the power of community over the years, and it's not even always a community that Wizards of the Coast or Hasbro can create on their own. It's a community that they can help facilitate others in creating.

And that is something that I think they hopefully will be focused on going forward. And we'll talk more about that in our main segment today. But we have more content here. We have the Full Moon Storytelling blog talking about using third places.

And that is something that I think they hopefully will be focused on going forward. And we'll talk more about that in our main segment today. But we have more content here. We have the Full Moon Storytelling blog talking about using third places.

It's a little bit of an older blog from 2023, but it was shared again on Mastodon, where a friend of the show, Dave Clark, discusses using, quote, third places, locations where cross-cultural, cross-class, or even cross-character class people can gather. Now, I didn't read this, but I assume third place is first place would be your home. Second place would be work or school.

It's a little bit of an older blog from 2023, but it was shared again on Mastodon, where a friend of the show, Dave Clark, discusses using, quote, third places, locations where cross-cultural, cross-class, or even cross-character class people can gather. Now, I didn't read this, but I assume third place is first place would be your home. Second place would be work or school.

And then third place is where you interact with people outside of those two.

And then third place is where you interact with people outside of those two.

Very interesting. Very interesting. OK. Yeah. And you can find that at Full Moon Storytelling dot com. And we also have something from the bell of lost souls about how to do a character voice. Teos notes they have far too many ads there, but they do have a very nice blog on the various techniques to do a character voice without needing to master an accent.

Very interesting. Very interesting. OK. Yeah. And you can find that at Full Moon Storytelling dot com. And we also have something from the bell of lost souls about how to do a character voice. Teos notes they have far too many ads there, but they do have a very nice blog on the various techniques to do a character voice without needing to master an accent.