What the Spell!? A D&D Spell and Game Design Discussion Show

What the Spell!? A D&D Spell and Game Design Discussion Show

A Dwimmer Discussion of Dungeons and Dragons! Joe and Kim go through the history and creative employ of spells in Dungeons and Dragons.

Episodes

September 15, 2022 46 mins

How do you pronounce this? Joe and Kim are compelled to go over the spell Geas (and Quest as it happens) as it has appeared across all of D&D editions from ODND up to 5th (and not 4th at all). What a fun hallway we go down. Some terms include Jesh, Geese, Goss, Gas, Josh, and Hootie. Enjoy!

You can look at the other cool stuff we do on: https://www.mom-hat.com

Reaching us is as easy as using an email: whathespellemail@gmail.com

 

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We have been exploring the realities of D&D's magic for quite a while, but a big gap in every episode has been spells in fourth edition, the Windows Vista of D&D editions. We have discovered why in this episode. 

You can look at the other cool stuff we do on: https://www.mom-hat.com

Reaching us is as easy as using an email: whathespellemail@gmail.com

 

Listen
Mark as Played

Kim has historically had a way to commit a terrible crime that, in her mind, is a perfect and untraceable way of getting away with it. Coincidentally, there was a D&D spell that actually fits into the thing that Kim wants. A frozen, ice knife, but not really. This spell has a baffling history. We hope you enjoy hearing about it!

You can look at the other cool stuff we do on: https://www.mom-hat.com

Reaching us is as easy as using a...

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Mark as Played

There's a bunch of spells throughout the history of D&D that involve hands. This episode is going to cover anywhere between 1 and 20 of them. It's time to get our hands dirty with the Bigby's hand family of spells. Will Joe-Joe and Kim be able to keep track  of all the different versions? No. No they won't.

You can look at the other cool stuff we do on: https://www.mom-hat.com

Reaching us is as easy as using an email: whathespellem...

Listen
Mark as Played

After getting through all the big spells, Joe suggests taking a look at one of the most silly spells you can possibly use, Grease, which Kim correctly guesses makes things very, very greasy. It's a bad time. Talking points from this episode include if grease is flammable, slipping around, and how horrible grease is. Bon appétit?

You can look at the other cool stuff we do on: https://www.mom-hat.com

Reaching us is as easy as using a...

Listen
Mark as Played

The greatest spell any wizard can cast is Wish, and it's been in D&D pretty much the entire time. Sadly, it is one of the most boring spells that Joe and Kim have ever encountered. Today we dig into the logic of genie rules, learn what "literally" means, and go over the finer points of asking a for trouble. We wish you well, and wish you enjoy this episode.

We write about this and other spells over on our blog thingy at medium: htt...

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Mark as Played

True Strike is one of the least regarded spells in D&D, 5th edition or arguably otherwise, but we here at What the Spell!? headquarters/wizard's tower believe otherwise, and on this episode, Kim and Joe will play nerd's advocate, and engineer the exact scenario where True Strike is perfect. Spoiler alert: we both succeed, don't change the spell's description in any way. I know. I'm shocked also.

We write about this and other spells...

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Mark as Played

Presto, hand magic! Joe and Kim go through the history of the spell Prestidigitation, a spell that is the functional equivalent of Batman's utility belt that has been in D&D since the 80s and still today in 5E. Topics include: metric superiority, nacho cheese rocks, pocket mice, popcorn burning in the breakroom, and rugs.

We write about this and other spells over on our blog thingy at medium: https://medium.com/@whatthespellemail

Y...

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Mark as Played

In the very first episode of What the Spell!?, Joe and Kim look at the spell Polymorph and True Polymorph, and discuss its wide and varied uses. Discussions in this episode include Cynthia Bigelow, the weight of a camel, life flashing before your eyes, and how steak isn't an object.

We write about this and other spells over on our blog thingy at medium: https://medium.com/@whatthespellemail

You can look at the other cool stuff we d...

Listen
Mark as Played

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