We’re calling a conclave for this episode! Join DMs Glen, Brian, Fulongamer and our very special guest, Erik Tenkar as they bring you another helping of 2nd Edition goodness! After a spirited round of emails, they turn to matters at hand. First they explore the world of the barbarian shaman, then they examine the workings of the firbolg, then take that a step further by brainstorming a firbolg village.

Email from Mike B. – 2nd Edition staying power, sound quality

Email from DM RoboRob – DM/player argument destroying a friendship

Email from DM OldHeadAlan – Intro, compliments, requests for FR Rashamen, Aglarond and Thay reviews

You can find us on Facebook (Thaco’s Hammer Podcast, 2e AD&D Podcast), Instagram (THACOs_Hammer), Tumblr, and Threads (@thacoshammer). We are now part of our own podcasting network, GamerNation Productions, and our episodes will be on Spotify and Youtube under the name Thacos Hammer. We will be uploading our old episodes a little bit at a time, so please be patient. We have an RSS feed for the new location, and that address is: https://anchor.fm/s/f67dd77c/podcast/rss. We still have our old episodes on archive.org, and the address is: https://archive.org/details/episode_archive. It has been reorganized, so you can find episodes much easier now. If you are looking for our Actual Play (AP) podcasts, you can go to https://archive.org/details/HammersOfTheDuchySession0. You can also email the show at thacoshammer@gmail.com, and you can leave a voicemail for the show at 734-623-0832. Please indicate in the voicemail if you’re calling for Thaco’s Hammer, because the number is shared with another podcast.

It’s here! It’s live! Join our Discord server and interact with the staff as well as your fellow gamers!! https://discord.gg/PYVktbur

Also, we now have T-shirts thanks to Zazzle.com, and they are designed by DM Glen and DM Cory!! Get yours today! Here are the links:

Design by DM Glen: https://www.zazzle.com/thacos_hammer_t_shirt-235437242428047038

Design by DM Cory: https://www.zazzle.com/thacos_hammer_shirt_1-235721719516592459

People Skills – Shaman (Complete Barbarian’s Handbook)

Snipe Hunt – Giant, Firbolg

DM Brainstorm – The Firbolg Village

Its our golden anniversary, and we commemorate it in grand style! Join DMs Glen, Cory, Fulongamer and Brian as they (finally) take a trip into the Forgotten Realms! Wasting no time, they get right into it and talk about the Forgotten Realms Boxed sets (along with a little bit of history), then from there they segue into the Forgotten Realms Adventures hardcover book. Next up they talk about one of the rare ivory/white splatbooks, the Player's Guide to the Forgotten Realms, then they have a discussion about what era to run a Forgotten Realms campaign. And to wrap up, they opine about one of the best supplement series for the Realms, Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast.

Gettin' Out of Dodge - Forgotten Realms Boxed Set

99% Perspiration - Forgotten Realms Adventures Hardcover

Its In the Book - The Player's Guide to the Forgotten Realms

DM's Rag - Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast

In this episode, join DMs Glen, Brian and Cory as they clean out the email inbox. After discussing what they have been doing in terms of gaming, they get right down to brass tacks. The first email is from Dennis Payne about saurials and how they handle the communication aspect of such, then a voice mail from long-time contributor DM Cojo who asks about energy drain and how the hosts handle it. From there, we have an email from Nathan Bouvier with questions and statements about dungeon design, spellbooks, turning an adventure idea on its ear and how the players and DM deal with it, and suggestions (kinda) on things he wants to hear us cover. Before we get to another one DM Fulongamer joins the fun, and they handle another voicemail from DM Cojo who asked about using dragons in combat.

Join us for a special show, as DMs Glen, Brian, Cory, and GoodMike from our sister show at the time, Save or Die as we delve into one of the historical green splatbooks!

First, they handle a couple of emails, then they wrap up their discussion about PC alignment and what happens next when there is an alignment change in the game (either voluntarily or involuntarily). From there they sharpen up their blades to talk about the various axes in the game. Then, they tackle the main topic, the Vikings Historical Reference, only to be joined by DM Fulongamer as he also weighs in on the supplement. Finally, they wrap up with a rather spirited discussion about Linnorm Dragons.

Emails: Labyrinth of Madness and determining magical items for a high level party/Exotic monsters as pets/Faith-based casting

Rule Zero: PC Alignment, Part III: Changing Alignment; What happens next?

Loaded For Bear: Axes (hand/battle/two-handed/bardiche)

Option Package: HR1, Vikings

Snipe Hunt: Linnorm Dragons

Its yet another grab bag of topics! Join DMs Glen, Brian, and Fulongamer as they attack this buffet of randomly selected topics! After tackling a few emails concerning game balance, The Sword of the Dales adventure trilogy and doling out experience points, they get to the main courses. First up they present part 2 of the PC Alignment discussion, but this time they talk about it from the DM's perspective. Following that, they opine about the ways they balance role-playing and action in the games they run, then from there they discuss the main two Polymorph spells, and then they cross the finish line with a review of the Deck of Encounters.

Rule Zero: PC Alignment, Part II: How do you run it? (DMs)

It's in the Book: Balancing action and Role-playing: Is it a juggling act?

Magic Fingers: Polymorph Spells (Self, Other)

DM's Rag: Deck of Encounters, Sets 1 and 2

The streak of a full compliment of hosts continues in this episode! Join DMs Glen, Fulongamer, Cory and Brian as they fulfill a couple of listeners' requests.

After answering and discussing the emails they talk about the Dwarven Battlerager, then they give their opinions about alignment from the player's perspective. Next, they finally wrap up the Whole Cloth multi-part topic of character creation, then from there they discuss the 1st level spell Identify. Then from there they share opinions about the formidable Yuan-ti, and then finally, by listener request, they give a review of the rather deadly adventure from Dungeon Magazine #37, The Mud Sorcerer's Tomb.

People Skills - Dwarven Battlerager

Rule Zero - PC Alignment, Part I: How do you play it as a player?

Magic Fingers - Identify

Snipe Hunt - Yuan-Ti

DM's Rag - Dungeon #37 - The Mud Sorcerer's Tomb

We’ve got the hammer and tongs ready for this episode! Join DMs Brian, Fulongamer and Glen as they explore the intricacies of the forge, and the rise of a new legend! After taking care of some emails, we put on the heavy apron and fire it up. First, they discuss the blacksmithing NWP and the differences between the Armorer and Weaponsmithing NWPs, then they continue their God Talk series by getting into the working of the Artificer, Gond. Then finally, they Brainstorm about a legendary blacksmith, and the myriad problems that he has.

Email from DM Derek – Using social media to enhance and move a campaign forward

Email from DM Chris – FR Dragons power upgrade, using anime as D&D sources, favorite supplement by TSR aside from the “obvious” ones, biggest “fun” mistake made as a DM

You can find us on Facebook (Thaco’s Hammer Podcast, 2e AD&D Podcast), Instagram (THACOs_Hammer), Tumblr, and Threads (@thacoshammer). We are now part of our own podcasting network, GamerNation Productions, and our episodes will be on Spotify under the name Thacos Hammer. We will be uploading our old episodes a little bit at a time, so please be patient. We have an RSS feed for the new location, and that address is: https://anchor.fm/s/f67dd77c/podcast/rss. We still have our old episodes on archive.org, and the address is: https://archive.org/details/episode_archive. It has been reorganized, so you can find episodes much easier now. If you are looking for our Actual Play (AP) podcasts, you can go to https://archive.org/details/HammersOfTheDuchySession0. You can also email the show at thacoshammer@gmail.com, and you can leave a voicemail for the show at 734-623-0832. Please indicate in the voicemail if you’re calling for Thaco’s Hammer, because the number is shared with another podcast.

It’s here! It’s live! Join our Discord server and interact with the staff as well as your fellow gamers!! https://discord.gg/nxj98Ms6

Also, we now have T-shirts thanks to Zazzle.com, and they are designed by DM Glen and DM Cory!! Get yours today! Here are the links:

Design by DM Glen: https://www.zazzle.com/thacos_hammer_t_shirt-235437242428047038

Design by DM Cory: https://www.zazzle.com/thacos_hammer_shirt_1-235721719516592459

It’s In The Book – Blacksmithing NWP

Rule Zero – God Talk: Gond

DM Brainstorm – The Blacksmith In Town AKA The Legend of Chuck

It’s a full house in the episode! Join DMs Glen, Cory, Brian and Fulongamer as they take on the issues of the day. After taking some time to catch up and tackling several emails, they start off with the controversial Bladesinger Kit from the Complete Book of Elves, then talk about when and how to check morale in combat.

From there they (finally) wrap up the first Whole Cloth topic, as they put the finishing touches on the characters they have created. Next, they talk about gear specific to the Bard, and then bring it home with a final discussion on the Night Below boxed set of both the third book in the set, and an overarching review.

People Skills - Elven Bladesinger

It's In the Book - Morale Checks (DMG, pg 98)

Rule Zero - Whole Cloth: Creating Characters part V: The Finishing Touches

Loaded for Bear - Spec Gear: Bard

DM's Rag - Night Below, Book 3: The Sunless Sea