Episodes

  • Order of Aesthetics News – January 16th, 2026

    Order of Aesthetics News – January 16th, 2026
    Jan 17 2026

    Welcome to the Order of Aesthetics News, LIVE! We are broadcasting directly from the Great Library of the Ages in Palanthas Alt Cataclius, and today we are discussing one-shot games, Tales from Woodcreek, Alien: The Roleplaying Game, and Call of Cthulhu.

    https://youtube.com/live/wDh31F3KX-g Show Notes Intro

    Welcome to another DragonLance Saga, Order of Aesthetics News episode! It is Bakukal, Newkolt the 16th. My name is Adam and today I was sifting through the Iconochronos and ran across this exciting bit of news.

    I would like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga YouTube members, and Patreon patrons and invite you to consider becoming a member or patron. You can even grab Dragonlance media and get $10 by signing up to StartPlaying.Games using my affiliate links in the description below.

    Discussion
    • DLSaga Anthology – Now through March 1, 2026
      • https://dlsaga.com/contributors/
      • 8k words or less
    • Members and patron benefits:
      • Weekly readings and monthly downloads
      • Discord sections for subscribers and members only
      • Discounts on merchandise
      • Patrons – 2 free game sessions per month!
    • Why one-shot tabletop RPGs should start full throttle
      • https://www.polygon.com/ttrpg-advice-game-design-cold-open-best-indie-games/
    • ‘Tales from Woodcreek’ Is the Most Watchable ‘D&D’ Show That Not Enough People Are Watching
      • https://www.cracked.com/article_49599_tales-from-woodcreek-is-the-most-watchable-dd-show-that-not-enough-people-are-watching.html
    • The “Evolved Edition” of ‘Alien: The Roleplaying Game’ Adds Even More to an Already Great TTRPG
      • https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3924630/the-evolved-edition-of-alien-the-roleplaying-game-adds-even-more-to-an-already-great-ttrpg-review/
    • D&D rival Call of Cthulhu offers 94% off essential sourcebooks worth $426 in this epic bundle deal
      • https://www.wargamer.com/call-of-cthulhu-rpg/humble-bundle-dnd
    Outro

    And that’s it for this OA News episode! Do you enjoy one-shot games? Do you enjoy watching actual plays? And finally, have you ever tried Alien or Call of Cthulhu ttrpgs? Feel free to email me at info@dlsaga.com or comment below.

    I would like to take a moment and remind you to subscribe to this YouTube channel, ring the bell to get notified about upcoming videos and click the like button. This all goes to help other Dragonlance fans learn about this channel and its content. Thank you Creator Patron Aaron Hardy, Producer Patron Azrael and Developer Patrons Chris Androu & Sam Ruiz!

    This channel is all about celebrating the wonderful world of the Dragonlance Saga, and I hope you will join me in the celebration. Thank you for watching, this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga and until next time Slàinte mhath (slan-ge-var).
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    53 mins
  • 2026 Dragons of Autumn Twilight Watch Party

    2026 Dragons of Autumn Twilight Watch Party
    Jan 16 2026

    Join the 2026 Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight Annual Watch Party celebrating the direct to video film release. Originally released by Paramount Pictures on January 15, 2008. The film was scored by Karl Preusser. We will be commenting on its production and story with you, the audience. You can learn more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonlance:_Dragons_of_Autumn_Twilight

    https://youtube.com/live/zb8KSREFL5k About Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight

    After 300 hundred years of peace, the world of Krynn has descended into darkness as the evil goddess Takhisis and her army of dragons threaten to dominate the lands. Can a small band of heroes, including the wizard Raistlin (Kiefer Sutherland), the priestess Goldmoon (Lucy Lawless), and the half-elven warrior Tanis (Michael Rosenbaum), save the world before all is lost? Based on the New York Times best-selling novel, Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight is an epic tale of might, magic, and monsters!
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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • Gaming AD&D: Dungeon Masters Guide Reading 16

    Gaming AD&D: Dungeon Masters Guide Reading 16
    Jan 14 2026

    Welcome to part sixteen of my Gaming AD&D: Dungeon Masters Guide Reading series where I rediscover Advanced Dungeons & Dragons with a live audience by reading the core rules. In this episode I will continue reading aloud the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide by Gary Gygax, released in August 1979. Buy the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide now: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/product/17004/dungeon-master-s-guide-1e?affiliate_id=50797

    https://youtube.com/live/2blD3M4BNM0 Time Stamps:
    • 0:00 Intro
    • 1:12 Treasure: Miscellaneous Magic Continued
    • 59:41 Outro
    About the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide

    The 1st Edition Dungeon Master’s Guide is Back! Dungeon Masters everywhere, rejoice! Too long have you had to suffer along with crucial charts and tables spread through many works. Too long have you had to use makeshift references trying to solve the problem. You now have a complete compilation of the most valuable material for your refereeing, the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Herein you will find:

    • Combat Matrices
    • Encounter Tables
    • Monster Attacks Alphabetically Listed
    • Treasure and Magic Tables and Descriptions
    • Gem Values by Type
    • Random Wilderness Terrain Generation
    • Random Dungeon Generation
    • Suggestions on Game Mastering
    • And a Whole Lot More!

    This excellent tome is a must for every Dungeon Master!
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • Are Wizards of High Sorcery Clerics?

    Are Wizards of High Sorcery Clerics?
    Jan 13 2026
    In Dragonlance, The Orders of High Sorcery are governed by the three gods of Magic, Solinari, Lunitary, and Nuitari. Does that make the Wizards of High Sorcery Clerics? Buy Holy Orders of the Stars: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/product/3239/holy-orders-of-the-stars-3-5e?affiliate_id=50797 https://youtu.be/ubZWAe9_1Ks Transcript Cold Open Wizards of High Sorcery serve the gods, obey strict laws, and can lose their power if they stray. So… are they clerics? Intro Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam, and today I’m going to answer a question that comes up surprisingly often: are Wizards of High Sorcery clerics? I’d like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga members and Patreon patrons, and invite you to consider becoming a member or patron–you can even pick up Dragonlance media or get $10 by signing up to StartPlaying.Games using my affiliate links. I’m referencing DLA Dragonlance Adventures, and the Chronicles and Legends for this information, if I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below. Discussion At a glance, Wizards of High Sorcery look very much like clerics. They draw power from divine beings. Their magic waxes and wanes according to heavenly bodies’ cycles. They are bound by oaths, laws, and a rigid hierarchy. They can be punished, stripped of power, or even executed for violating doctrine. And like priests, their lives are defined by service to something greater than themselves. So the confusion is understandable. But in Dragonlance, Wizards of High Sorcery are not clerics, and the distinction matters greatly—both thematically and cosmologically. To understand why, we have to start with what the gods of magic actually are. Solinari, Lunitari, and Nuitari are gods, yes—but they are fundamentally different from the rest of the pantheon. When the other gods aligned themselves for the coming All-Saints War, the gods of magic refused to take sides. Instead of ruling from the heavens, they bound themselves to Krynn itself, revolving around the world as moons, anchoring magic directly into creation. They do not demand worship. They do not ask for prayer. They do not require devotion, sacrifice, or moral obedience. They grant access, not favor. A Wizard of High Sorcery does not serve a god in the way a cleric serves Mishakal, Paladine, or Takhisis. A wizard pledges loyalty to magic itself. This is explicitly stated in the doctrine of the Orders: a wizard’s only loyalty is to magic. That single principle is the reason magic survives in Krynn at all. This is the first and most important difference. Clerics are instruments of divine will. Wizards are custodians of a cosmic force. Since the Second Dragon War, the gods of magic have not intervened to guide behavior. They do not issue commandments. They do not speak through visions demanding obedience. Instead, they allow the Orders to regulate themselves through law, tradition, and brutal accountability. The Conclave, not the gods, governs wizardry. The Test of High Sorcery, not divine judgment, determines worthiness. And the Test makes this distinction crystal clear. The Test of High Sorcery is not about faith. It is not about morality. It is not even about good or evil. Wizards are not judged on why they want power, but on whether they will use it responsibly. Failure does not mean excommunication. It means death. When a wizard takes the Test, they are not dedicating their soul to a god. They are pledging their entire life to magic. That pledge is enforced not by divine punishment, but by the Orders themselves. A wizard who breaks faith with their order does not lose magic because a god is displeased—they lose it because they have broken alignment with the cosmic structure that allows them to channel it. Even the moons reinforce this difference. A cleric’s power flows continuously so long as they remain in good standing with their deity. A wizard’s power fluctuates mechanically, predictably, impersonally. Solinari waxing does not reward a White Robe. Nuitari waning does not punish a Black Robe. The moons do not care. They simply are. When a wizard strays too far from the principles of their order, the moon ceases to affect them—not as judgment, but as consequence. And this brings us to the crucial dividing line. Clerics exist to serve divine purposes. Wizards exist to preserve balance. A White Robe wizard must pursue good, yes—but only because unrestrained magic is destructive. A Black Robe wizard pursues self-interest, but within boundaries. A Red Robe wizard stands between extremes, maintaining equilibrium. These are not moral callings. They are functional necessities. That is why White and Black Robes can slaughter each other on the battlefield, then calmly debate spell theory in a Tower of High Sorcery. Their loyalty is not to ideology, nation, or god—it is to magic’s survival. And it is why renegade wizards are treated more harshly than apostate clerics. A fallen cleric has...
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    8 mins
  • DM101: The Five Pillars of Running the Table

    DM101: The Five Pillars of Running the Table
    Jan 13 2026
    Welcome to Dungeon Mastering 101, my Dungeon Mastering course based on over 30 years of experience. In this series I will share my failures and successes and the lessons learned along the way. In this episode, I will cover Core Foundations: The Five Pillars of Running the Table. https://youtube.com/live/5Pq90qF-nYw Show Notes Intro Welcome to another DragonLance Saga, Dungeon Mastering 101 episode! It is Palast, Newkolt the 12th, my name is Adam, and today I am continuing my Dragonlance Gaming series all about Dungeon Mastering. Most new Dungeon Masters think a good session comes down to one thing: combat. But if every session is only a fight, players burn out. If there’s no tension, the world feels flat. And if characters don’t grow, the story doesn’t stick. Running a great game isn’t about doing one thing well — it’s about balancing multiple forms of engagement. Today we’re breaking down the Five Pillars of Running the Table, and how understanding them can transform the way you run your game. Welcome to Dungeon Mastering 101. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to this channel, ring the bell, and you can support this channel by becoming a Patron on Patreon, a Member of this YouTube channel, and you can pick up Dragonlance media and get $10 by signing up to StartPlaying.Games, using my affiliate links. All links are in the description below. Discussion Segment 1 — The Table Is a System, Not a Scene Before we talk about the pillars themselves, we need to reset expectations. A D&D session is not a sequence of encounters. It is a dynamic system made up of: player motivationsemotional energypacingchoice and consequence The Five Pillars are not rigid categories — they are lenses. They help you diagnose what a session needs right now. A balanced table feels alive because it shifts focus naturally. Segment 2 — Pillar One: Combat (Tension & Stakes) Combat is not just about tactics and damage. At its best, combat provides: urgencyriskvisible consequencescinematic payoff For new DMs: Combat should answer the question: What happens if the players fail?Short, meaningful fights are better than long, repetitive ones.Every combat should matter narratively or emotionally. Combat is the pressure cooker of the game — use it intentionally. Segment 3 — Pillar Two: Exploration (Curiosity & Discovery) Exploration is about giving players the freedom to investigate the world. This includes: physical traveldungeonswildernessmysteriesenvironmental storytelling Exploration works when: choices lead to different outcomesinformation is earnedthe world reacts to curiosity For new DMs: You don’t need maps for everything.Give players meaningful options, not exhaustive detail. Exploration feeds player agency. Segment 4 — Pillar Three: Social Interaction (Connection & Influence) Social interaction is where players test who their characters are. This pillar includes: roleplaynegotiationdeceptionpersuasionalliances and rivalries Key points for new DMs: NPCs should have goals, not scripts.Let conversations change the world.Reward engagement, not just high rolls. Social scenes turn the world from a backdrop into a relationship. Segment 5 — Pillar Four: Downtime (Reflection & Growth) Downtime is often overlooked — and that’s a mistake. Downtime allows: characters to reflectplayers to breatheconsequences to settlethe world to move For new DMs: Downtime doesn’t need weeks of in-game time.A single evening, festival, or travel montage can count.Use downtime to highlight character priorities. Without downtime, the game becomes exhausting. Segment 6 — Pillar Five: Character Arcs (Meaning & Investment) Character arcs are the emotional backbone of the campaign. They answer: Why does this character care?What do they want?What challenges them personally? For new DMs: You don’t need full backstory novels.Look for unresolved questions.Tie character choices to world consequences. When characters grow, players stay invested. Segment 7 — Balancing the Five Pillars You do not need all five pillars in every session. Instead: Rotate focus over multiple sessions.Watch player energy and shift accordingly.Use one pillar to support another. Examples: Exploration leads to combat.Social interaction creates future conflict.Downtime sets up character arcs. Balance is about awareness, not math. Segment 8 — The DM101 Mindset Behind the Pillars Here’s the mindset shift that ties everything together: You are not delivering content —you are curating experiences. The Five Pillars exist to serve: player agencyemotional pacingshared storytelling Your role is to notice what the table needs and provide the right pillar at the right time. Closing Takeaway Combat excites. Exploration invites. Social interaction connects. Downtime sustains. Character arcs endure. A great Dungeon Master doesn’t master one pillar — they learn to balance all five. Once you understand these pillars, you stop asking, “What should happen ...
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    40 mins
  • D&D 2024 – Tyranny of Dragons Actual Play, Session 19

    D&D 2024 – Tyranny of Dragons Actual Play, Session 19
    Jan 11 2026
    Join us as we continue our @Dungeons & Dragons actual play of a heavily customized Tyranny of Dragons with this session nineteen! You can buy Tyranny of Dragons here: https://amzn.to/3XJvuND https://youtube.com/live/oDLH2mA2Q6A Time Stamps: 0:00 Intro 2:44 Chapter 5: Construction Ahead – Carnath Roadhouse Continued 20:52 Chapter 6: Castle Naerytar – Traveling to the Castle 1:53:56 Break 2:10:22 Chapter 6: Castle Naerytar – Traveling to the Castle Continued 3:53:18 Outro Cast of Characters Elemier of the Thornwood | Kagonesti Elf, 5th Level Paladin of Kiri-Jolith, Oath of Vengeance | RyanLucan Silvershaper | Solamnic Human, 5th Level Cleric of Mishakal, Life Domain | AustinK’thriss | Aurak Draconian, 5th Level Fighter, Psi Warrior | Robert/@emtman25Gunnar Thorvald | Nordmaar Human, 5th Level Barbarian, Path of the Wild Heart | ChrisGarrick Bloodmoor | Icewall Human, 5th Level Rogue/Fighter/Ranger | GregorySeto Hoshiko | Ran-Eli Human, 5th Level Warlock, Great Old One Patron | Gabriel/@PensiveDream Game Setup Last time on Tyranny of Dragons: The heroes return to the caravan en route to Gander and Elowyn is near being strung up. At this point it seems the cult is ready to blame anyone for the death of their member even if it means manufacturing a reason. The heroes negotiate a solution to have her brought to Gander and turned over to the authorities. They make their way on this last leg of the trip and aside from regular road hazards and inclement weather, make it to Gander, finally. They let Elowyn go and she decides to head for the Temple of Paladine in Palanthas. The heroes meet up with Jamna and are all introduced to Seto. They decide to work together as they all are trying to discover more about the Cult and what they are planning with the stolen loot. The Cult’s wagons are going to be headed East, and the heroes learn of Lord Winterholm starting a building campaign to rebuild the road from Winterholm to Gander. Construction is already underway and the heroes join up with the High Road Charter Company. They are ambushed on the way to Carnath House, the drop off point for tradesmen and supplies for the construction, and overcome the Bullywug’s. Once at the roadhouse they realize some of the crates, specifically the cults’ loot crates are being stored in a secured area. The heroes deal with one furious cultist who calls out Gunner and as tensions are high, Bog Luck, the half-ogre who runs the construction effort, suggested Gunner retire to his room rather than have the cultists kill him. As Soto and Garrick discover a secret portal in the secure room, Bakali erupts from within. The heroes all come to help fight off the Bakali, but with the sounds of battle evident and the already high tension with the cultists, what will the heroes do? About Tyranny of Dragons The Return of Tiamat An epic draconic adventure for levels 1-15 The forces of Tiamat, Queen of Evil Dragons, bring war to the Forgotten Realms. Led by the sinister Cult of the Dragon, an army of dragons and foul villains wage a merciless campaign to unleash their draconic god upon the world. Opposing them is a desperate alliance including the heroic Harpers and treacherous Zhentarim. This fragile coalition needs heroes to unite them and find ways to resist the draconic threat. Do you have the courage to stand against the Cult of the Dragon and the threat of Tiamat’s immortal tyranny? Jump Into Play with D&D Beyond Purchasing a digital copy of this book unlocks it for use in the D&D BEYOND compendium and toolset. D&D BEYOND is the official digital toolset for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS. Create characters in minutes, play directly on your character sheets with digital dice, and prep less and play more with Dungeon Master tools like the Encounter Builder and Combat Tracker. Unlock Maps, D&D BEYOND’s virtual tabletop, with a Master Tier subscription. Host game sessions on dozens of official maps, or make your own and use our player and monster tokens to take your gaming to the next level! New features: Adds 31 tyrannical monsters to use in the Encounter Builder to create & run organized battles for your partyWield 13 new magical items against the forces of Tiamat with a click of your character sheetA good beginner adventure for Dungeon Masters including rollable tables, detailed maps, and unique NPCs
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    3 hrs and 55 mins
  • OA News – January 9th, 2026

    OA News – January 9th, 2026
    Jan 10 2026

    Welcome to the Order of Aesthetics News, LIVE! We are broadcasting directly from the Great Library of the Ages in Palanthas Alt Cataclius, and today we are discussing Starting an adventure, down time in game, RealmsBound project, and Dungeon Crawl Classics.

    https://youtube.com/live/ZY7AiDCzjQE Show Notes Intro

    Welcome to another DragonLance Saga, Order of Aesthetics News episode! It is Bakukal, Newkolt the 9th. My name is Adam and today I was sifting through the Iconochronos and ran across this exciting bit of news.

    I would like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga YouTube members, and Patreon patrons and invite you to consider becoming a member or patron. You can even grab Dragonlance media using my affiliate links and get $10 by signing up to StartPlaying.Games in the description below.

    Discussion
    • DLSaga Anthology – Now through March 1, 2026
      • https://dlsaga.com/contributors/
      • 8k words or less
    • Members and patron benefits:
      • Weekly readings and monthly downloads
      • Discord sections for subscribers and members only
      • Discounts on merchandise
    • D&D: Five Classic Ways To Open An Adventure
      • https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2026/01/dd-five-classic-ways-to-open-an-adventure.html
    • The worst part of Critical Role is one of the best parts of Dungeons and Dragons
      • https://www.wargamer.com/dnd/critical-role-downtime
    • Ed Greenwood’s RealmsBound Project Brings New Depth to Dungeons & Dragons’ Forgotten Realms
      • https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/ed-greenwoods-realmsbound-project-brings-new-depth-to-dungeons-dragons-forgotten
    • After 8 years of playing D&D nonstop, I’ve finally tried its biggest alternative
      • https://www.polygon.com/dnd-alternative-dungeon-crawl-classics/
    Outro

    And that’s it for this OA News episode! How do you like to open your adventures? Do you mind long periods of player discussion above table in your games? And finally, have you ever tried dungeon crawl classics? Feel free to email me at info@dlsaga.com or comment below.

    I would like to take a moment and remind you to subscribe to this YouTube channel, ring the bell to get notified about upcoming videos and click the like button. This all goes to help other Dragonlance fans learn about this channel and its content. Thank you Creator Patron Aaron Hardy, Producer Patron Azrael and Developer Patrons Chris Androu & Sam Ruiz!

    This channel is all about celebrating the wonderful world of the Dragonlance Saga, and I hope you will join me in the celebration. Thank you for watching, this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga and until next time Slàinte mhath (slan-ge-var).
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    44 mins
  • Gaming AD&D: Dungeon Masters Guide Reading 15

    Gaming AD&D: Dungeon Masters Guide Reading 15
    Jan 9 2026

    Welcome to part fifteen of my Gaming AD&D: Dungeon Masters Guide Reading series where I rediscover Advanced Dungeons & Dragons with a live audience by reading the core rules. In this episode I will continue reading aloud the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide by Gary Gygax, released in August 1979. Buy the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide now: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/product/17004/dungeon-master-s-guide-1e?affiliate_id=50797

    https://youtube.com/live/tA9owQw7hCU

    Time Stamps:

    • 0:00 Intro
    • 0:57 Treasure: Miscellaneous Magic Continued
    • 58:54 Outro
    About the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide

    The 1st Edition Dungeon Master’s Guide is Back! Dungeon Masters everywhere, rejoice! Too long have you had to suffer along with crucial charts and tables spread through many works. Too long have you had to use makeshift references trying to solve the problem. You now have a complete compilation of the most valuable material for your refereeing, the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Herein you will find:

    • Combat Matrices
    • Encounter Tables
    • Monster Attacks Alphabetically Listed
    • Treasure and Magic Tables and Descriptions
    • Gem Values by Type
    • Random Wilderness Terrain Generation
    • Random Dungeon Generation
    • Suggestions on Game Mastering
    • And a Whole Lot More!

    This excellent tome is a must for every Dungeon Master!
    Show more Show less
    1 hr