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Artwork for Critical Lit
Curse Of Strahd
Barovia
Vallaki
Dungeons & Dragons
Strahd
Vistani
Castle Ravenloft
Gnosticism
Strahd Von Zarovich
Ravenloft
Madame Eva
Barovians
Tomb Of Horrors
Dream Pastries
Lady Wachter
Blazing Sun Festival
Hags
Role-Playing Games
Aarakocra
Dark Powers

Critical Lit is a podcast where we revisit and retool (and lambast and lampoon) classic tabletop RPG adventures. Part book review, part heckling commentary, all in good fun. Hosted by industry veterans Dan Dillon (Legends of Avantris, formerly WotC), I-Hsien Sherwood (Total Party Thrill), Amelia Som (Unprepared Casters), and Sal Tamarkin (Cloud Curio).

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes26Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsLeisureGamesBooks

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Artwork for Critical Lit

Latest Episodes

It's back to Barovia for Chapter 13, and the Amber Temple is sending mixed messages. Does it want us to freeze to death? Burn to a crisp? Get possessed by loot? Maybe this adorably bespectacled jackal-faced creature can help us. Nope, just more fireb... more

Our final look at the Caves of Chaos takes 17 man-turns to unpack. The cult fit is very Queen of Hearts and matches the canonically evil furnishings. But the real villain is in accounting. Who else could set up such an enormous slush fund for magic a... more

Many yawning orifices await as the spelunking finally begins in earnest! The myriad tribes of the Caves of Chaos have complex social hierarchies, tight-knit family units, commerce, treaties, and their own vintners, but their deaths carry absolutely n... more

Dammit granite! If these walls could talk, they'd blush and tell you "murder hole" is not the preferred nomenclature. Gygax continues to wow us with his commitment to verisimilitude (of a sort), but where do all these armored men keep the bathrooms? ... more

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Hosts

Dan Dillon
Host of Critical Lit with deep industry experience in publishing and practical RPG critique.
Amelia Som
Host of Critical Lit, contributing voice with a background in commentary and RPG discussion.
I-Hsien Sherwood
Co-host and contributor with deep knowledge of RPG lore and show culture.
Sal Tamarkin
Host of Critical Lit with a focus on practical table-ready insights and crowd-pleasing banter.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#237
United States/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#100
Netherlands/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#136
South Korea/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#191
New Zealand/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#211
Ireland/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#214
Mexico/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Critical Lit: Curse of Strahd 08 - Innocents and Insensibility
Q: Who do you want to hang out with the most?
I want to hang out with Escher, he's fun to party with, and in a vampire hunting scenario, that might be crucial for survival.
Critical Lit: Curse of Strahd 04 - Gnostic Nosferatu
Q: From the encounters discussed, which would you like to run as a DM?
Dan and Sal both expressed their desire to run the Hanged One encounter for its atmosphere, while Amelia would choose the Turr Pool encampment for the chance to interact with Madame Eva.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Critical Lit

What is Critical Lit about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show offers a mix of critical analysis and playful banter around classic tabletop RPG adventures, with a strong emphasis on running, revising, and retooling iconic campaigns. Episodes routinely dissect design decisions, lore, and encounter balance in modules like Curse of Strahd, while staying accessible through humor, anecdote, and practical GM tips. The format pairs in-depth, nerdy breakdowns with community-driven riffs, making it valuable for listeners who want both credible critique and table-ready ideas. A standout trait is the collaborative hosting style: seasoned industry veterans bring experience from publishing, design, and streaming, creating a resource that's as helpful for DMs planning sessions as it is entertaining for fans... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Critical Lit?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Critical Lit:

1. The Tome Show
2. Mastering Dungeons
3. Not Another D&D Podcast
4. The Eldritch Lorecast
5. The Lazy RPG Podcast - D&D and RPG News and GM Prep from Sly Flourish

How many episodes of Critical Lit are there?

Critical Lit launched a year ago and published 26 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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