Shownotes for Episode 51 (S3E51)

Theme  Enchiridion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8NkG3bhIxU

Welcome  148 Barovian Castle https://tabletopaudio.com/

LTO          Scott Buckley Legionnaire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwW0vFUCz

Some  FX https://www.zapsplat.com

Inspirations for Mirror Lake

 It was in June of 2025 that I went to Calgary to attend AardCon. While there, I took a side trip to Banff to visit the iconic Lake Louise. One look and I knew it had to go into the show, but couldn't call it 'Lake Louise'.... so I used the name of a second, smaller lake I hiked to: Mirror Lake. The place in the story is basically an amalgamation of the two spots.

Shownotes for Episode 50 (S3E50)

Theme  Enchiridion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8NkG3bhIxU

Welcome  148 Barovian Castle https://tabletopaudio.com/

LTO          Scott Buckley Legionnaire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwW0vFUCz

Some  FX https://www.zapsplat.com

Introducing: Corporate Saboteur

 There's a new solo game in town.  Brought to you by Crit Dreggae, Corporate Saboteur is a solo journaling RPG about workplace revenge, moral limits, and controlled chaos. Through prompts and dice rolls, players chronicle small acts of rebellion inside a fictional corporate machine, exploring the blurry line between survival, sabotage, and conscience.

I can honestly say I have never seen anything like it before - and it gives me Office Space vibes in the best way. If you'd like to check it out, you can get a copy right here.

Shownotes for 'The Wretched' & Episode 49 (S3E49)

Bonus Episode 'The Wretched'

Theme         Enchiridion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8NkG3bhIxU

49

Theme         Enchiridion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8NkG3bhIxU

Welcome     148 Barovian Castle https://tabletopaudio.com/

LTO             Scott Buckley Legionnaire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwW0vFUCz

Some FX     https://www.zapsplat.com

I'm off-grid for the next 4 weeks

 Well, not really off-grid, but I will not be checking email or socials regularly as I travel in South America for the next month or so.  Episodes are automated to release on my altered schedule: Feb 15th & March 1rst.  When I get back I will resume the usual 3/month schedule.

Hasta luego,

Jon

Discussing Dispel Magic

 A little while back, Achillea acquired the 3rd level Magic User spell, Dispel Magic during a level up segment.  She got it through a random roll, but the implications of this turn of fate were immediately significant.  Could she just... dispel the magic on Aldvay and reverse his petrifaction?  If so, the story would be more or less over.  I'm sure I choked on my coffee a bit when this occurred to me, but after a moment's consideration, I understood that no, this is not something this spell could do. Story saved.

But let's talk a bit about why this is so, without getting into 'angels on the head of a pin' territory.  The Expert rules say the spell removes 'spell effects' cast by a magic user.  So, a definition of 'effects' is in order.  If a Disintegrate spell kills a villager, the effect might be that the villager is dead - clearly Dispel Magic will not bring Farmer Joe back to life.

I think the crux of any argument has to be: is the magic still there? And here's where it gets tricky. A Wall of Fire? Can be dispelled.  An active Levitation spell? Can be dispelled. Petrifaction? Well, we have to know if the newly created stone is magical or not. I would argue it is not. A quick look online shows that the community is split on this and I learned that in 5e, there's a window of opportunity in which a Dispel Magic will work, but after a minute or so, the effect is considered permanent.

So for me, Achillea's choice not to risk ending her quest to go home and risk failure is justified (she would have failed). It's a bonus that it didn't ruin the plot, but I do think the ruling is sound. 

Do you have thoughts? Share in the comments below :)