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Reading D&D Aloud

Ben Riggs
Dungeons & Dragons
Tabletop Role-Playing Games
Wizards Of the Coast
Role-Playing Games
Shadowdark
Game Design
4th Edition
Gary Gygax
Wish Spell
TSR
Ravenloft
Kickstarter
Tabletop Rpgs
Vampire the Masquerade
13th Age
Curse Of Strahd
Old School Renaissance
3rd Edition
Orcs
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons

It's like Bible study for D&D fanatics! Slaying the Dragon author and historian Ben Riggs & TRPG scholar Dr. Scott M. Bruner read and analyze the most sacred texts of Dungeons & Dragons (from original edition rules to modern adventures)! They are often joined by special guests, including current and former Wizards employees, contemporary academics, and modern designers, to meditate on the inspirat... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes114Founded2 years ago
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GamesLeisure

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Latest Episodes

From Deadlands and Pinnacle in the 90s to the Marvel Multiverse RPG today, Matt Forbeck makes the adjective prolific look insufficient. He writes so much that there is a unit of writing named after him, the Forbeck, and exactly how many words long is... more

This adventure won a silver ENNIE a few weeks ago at Gen Con. Imagine Renaissance Venice with all the art and politics and war we already know about, but now with flippin' MAGIC! Tyler Denison and Sarp Duyar both worked on this magnificent adventure,... more

Pawel Kicman's WHISPERS OF THE WOODS is oily with atmosphere and new takes on old monsters. (You won't believe what he did to the basilisk.) And it's so fantastic it won the Gold ENnie for Short Form Adventure this year! We discuss herein. See more o... more

Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan and Josh McCrowell are both ridiculously talented designers and ridiculously frequent guests on this show. But they ain't never been on together! Hear their wisdom here and now! Back Gareth's current Merryshire crowdfunding camp... more

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Recent Guests

Matt Forbeck
Designer known for Deadlands/Pinnacle; Marvel Multiverse game
Pinnacle Entertainment Group / Marvel Comics related projects
Episode: Secrets of Superhero RPGs! A conversation with Matt Forbeck & Steve Kenson Ep- 113
Steve Kenson
Designer of Mutants & Masterminds
Greater Than Games (historical) / Marvel/DC work mentioned
Episode: Secrets of Superhero RPGs! A conversation with Matt Forbeck & Steve Kenson Ep- 113
Tyler Denison
Co-creator of Historica Arcanum
Historica Arcanum / Metis Media
Episode: D&D in Renaissance Venice! A conversation with Sarp Duyar & Tyler Denison- Ep 112
Sarp Duyar
Co-creator of Historica Arcanum
Historica Arcanum / Metis Media
Episode: D&D in Renaissance Venice! A conversation with Sarp Duyar & Tyler Denison- Ep 112
Pawel Kicman
Guest designer from Krakow, Poland; creator of Whispers Of The Woods
Designer, Whispers Of The Woods
Episode: This Game About Spooky Woods Won a Gold ENnie! A Discussion with Pawel Kicman- Ep 111
Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan
A prolific designer and writer featured repeatedly on the show
Independent game designer
Episode: How Dangerous is Middle-earth? A conversation with Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan & Josh McCrowell Ep 110
George Philbrick
George Philbrick of The First Pancake
First Pancake Studios
Episode: STEAL BOOKS! CAST UNHOLY MAGIC! ESCAPE! A conversation with George Philbrick Ep. 109
Justin Sirois
Designer, writer, and artist of Sickest Witch
Severed Books
Episode: Who is the Sickest Witch? A Conversation with Justin Sirois Ep. 108
Dennis Detwiller
Co-creator of Delta Green, Arc Dream
Arc Dream
Episode: Is Delta Green Happening in the Real World? A conversation with Dennis Detwiller & Ross Payton. Ep. 107

Host

Ben Riggs
Host of the show; introduces guests and leads discussion

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 40 ratings
  • Some great insights on the hobby from many of its brightest designers.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    spezbaby
    5 months ago
  • Classic Tactic

    Like a street corner pharmacist , they get you hooked with the free taste of Reading the DMG then moved it to Patreon. The other content is pretty ok, but it’s not quite the same as that first hit of the DMG.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VaTechNut
    United Statesa year ago
  • Pros and cons

    If you are looking for amazing luminaries in the field talking about what it was like to create the systems and work at TSR, you will find it approximately every 4 episodes. If you are looking for discussions of the minutia of the 1st edition DMG, take what is already there, because it disappeared behind a paywall. Be prepared for regular laughter at and personal attacks on “Uncle” Gary Gygax, even when those luminaries attempt to stop or defend him. There are amazing discussions that happen, bu... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Wisearse1
    United States2 years ago
  • THE BIBLE STUDY FOR D&D FANATICS

    If you like Slaying the Dragon, Playing at the World, or Dangerous Games you’ll love this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JohnIsCoolAndHasFriends
    United States2 years ago
  • Is this parody?

    I had to listen just to find out if this show was like the onion or Babylon Bee. These people manage to find racism behind every door and use weasel words like “problematic” to paint a much loved fantasy game into some silly, white supremacy simulation.

    The game is none of those things. You can’t draw comparisons between fantasy races and real world ethnicities without being racist yourself. You intellectual midgets are drawing comparisons between goblins and African Americans with a straight ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bukakke Brian
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show is a revealing look at RPG history with accessible storytelling and strong guests.
Listeners praise thoughtful analysis and humor in discussions about RPG history and culture.
Guest lineup is strong; conversations sharpen understanding of licensing and design decisions.
Insightful, history-forward discussions that blend archival research with practical game design details.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#196
United States/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#231
Italy/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#25
Denmark/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#112
Denmark/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#238
Japan/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#244
New Zealand/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Secrets of Superhero RPGs! A conversation with Matt Forbeck & Steve Kenson Ep- 113
Q: Steve, could you tell us about what Mutants & Masterminds is, and then Matt, could you tell us what the Marvel Multiverse game is?
Mutants & Masterminds is a D20-based superhero game that adapts the core D20 mechanics into a system focused on heroic storytelling and flexible power creation; Marvel Multiverse is Matt's adaptation for Marvel properties designed to weave superhero narrative within a game framework, balancing appeal for both hardcore RPG players and Marvel fans.
This Game About Spooky Woods Won a Gold ENnie! A Discussion with Pawel Kicman- Ep 111
Q: What is the Polish publishing scene like for TRPGs, and how do you distribute your work internationally?
The scene is active with many small publishers; I publish in English and seek Polish publishers for local audiences, using distributors like Studio 2 for the US and relying on international platforms like itch.io for digital access.
This Game About Spooky Woods Won a Gold ENnie! A Discussion with Pawel Kicman- Ep 111
Q: What inspired you to create a fairy tale-adjacent RPG, and how did folk storytelling influence it?
The main inspiration came from family folklore and fairy tales, with an aim to capture a storytelling energy rooted in local traditions and to reinterpret classic motifs like the Basilisk through a humane, guilt-driven lens.
This Game About Spooky Woods Won a Gold ENnie! A Discussion with Pawel Kicman- Ep 111
Q: What is Whispers Of The Woods about and what makes it different from typical RPGs?
It's a minimalist, GM-less, and solitaire-friendly game where players collectively roll dice and collaboratively shape the narrative, focusing on folk-based stories, mysteries, and human-scale conflicts rather than combat.
Who is the Sickest Witch? A Conversation with Justin Sirois Ep. 108
Q: Name one role-playing game or product you love that you think others should know about.
Weird Heroes of Public Access by Joey Royale is a standout example of easy-to-pick-up, vibe-forward play that delivers a unique, humorous tabletop experience and demonstrates how indie design can create a memorable and accessible game moment.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Reading D&D Aloud

What is Reading D&D Aloud about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on deep dives into tabletop RPG history and design, often pairing a historian with a scholar to read and analyze foundational D&D texts and influential adventures. Guests span renowned designers, researchers, and industry veterans, yielding conversations that blend archival context, licensing realities, and design philosophy with practical storytelling and world-building insights. Listeners likely include long-time fans of D&D, RPG historians, and designers seeking nuanced perspectives on the evolution of the hobby, licensing, and the creative process behind iconic products. A notable strength is the mix of rigorous analysis with accessible storytelling, making complex topics approachable for both enthusiasts and practitio... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Reading D&D Aloud?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Reading D&D Aloud:

1. Between Two Cairns
2. Ship of the Dead Podcast
3. Mastering Dungeons
4. Bastionland Podcast - Tabletop Roleplaying Game Design
5. The Lazy RPG Podcast - D&D and RPG News and GM Prep from Sly Flourish

How many episodes of Reading D&D Aloud are there?

Reading D&D Aloud launched 2 years ago and published 114 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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What guests have appeared on Reading D&D Aloud?

Recent guests on Reading D&D Aloud include:

1. Matt Forbeck
2. Steve Kenson
3. Tyler Denison
4. Sarp Duyar
5. Pawel Kicman
6. Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan
7. George Philbrick
8. Justin Sirois

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