Ben Riggs
@benriggs.bsky.social
Friend to mortal, beast, and undead alike, Ben Riggs is a writer, teacher, and podcaster. Author of Slaying the Dragon: A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons and co-mastermind of the Plot Points podcast.
Shamelessly, 30 minutes into this interview with Cam Banks & Fred Hicks, I share leaked D&D sales data. youtu.be/BJsGXTwujA4
October 27, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Shamelessly, 30 minutes into this interview with Cam Banks & Fred Hicks, I share leaked D&D sales data. youtu.be/BJsGXTwujA4
Let's talk about Uncle Gary: A conversation with Gygax's biographer, Michael Witwer.
youtu.be/--xDib5iDY4
youtu.be/--xDib5iDY4
Let’s talk about Uncle Gary: A conversation with Gygax’s biographer, Michael Witwer Ep. 72
YouTube video by Reading D&D Aloud
youtu.be
September 29, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Let's talk about Uncle Gary: A conversation with Gygax's biographer, Michael Witwer.
youtu.be/--xDib5iDY4
youtu.be/--xDib5iDY4
This week, brilliant Bastionland creator Chris McDowall & Comedy Central veteran Jeremy Bent talk improvisation & art on D&D Outloud!
youtu.be/pyxt_y9oV5I
youtu.be/pyxt_y9oV5I
The Ring Knight Honors the Weeping Seer-with Jeremy Bent & Chris McDowall Ep. 71
YouTube video by Reading D&D Aloud
youtu.be
September 22, 2025 at 1:01 AM
This week, brilliant Bastionland creator Chris McDowall & Comedy Central veteran Jeremy Bent talk improvisation & art on D&D Outloud!
youtu.be/pyxt_y9oV5I
youtu.be/pyxt_y9oV5I
Does 4E D&D have the best combat? The question leads us to a conversation with two of the game's three lead designers.
youtu.be/CZhJBoki3qk
youtu.be/CZhJBoki3qk
"D&D is Not in the Innovation Biz" A Conversation with Two 4th Ed Designers- Ep 70
YouTube video by Reading D&D Aloud
youtu.be
September 15, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Does 4E D&D have the best combat? The question leads us to a conversation with two of the game's three lead designers.
youtu.be/CZhJBoki3qk
youtu.be/CZhJBoki3qk
My podcast has evolved into a conversation between TTRPG luminaries, and it's awesome. But it needs a new name. Current possibilities:
Dungeons & Discussions
Tabletop Team-Up
The Riggscast/The Ben Riggs Show/Something else with my name in it.
OR:
Something else.
Thoughts?
Dungeons & Discussions
Tabletop Team-Up
The Riggscast/The Ben Riggs Show/Something else with my name in it.
OR:
Something else.
Thoughts?
September 9, 2025 at 1:18 AM
My podcast has evolved into a conversation between TTRPG luminaries, and it's awesome. But it needs a new name. Current possibilities:
Dungeons & Discussions
Tabletop Team-Up
The Riggscast/The Ben Riggs Show/Something else with my name in it.
OR:
Something else.
Thoughts?
Dungeons & Discussions
Tabletop Team-Up
The Riggscast/The Ben Riggs Show/Something else with my name in it.
OR:
Something else.
Thoughts?
Wanna know what the hell is going on at WotC? Let’s ask people who used to work there.
youtu.be/lRRBZi6VtVY
youtu.be/lRRBZi6VtVY
"All of the $ should be coming to Wizards-" an interview with the former WotC Book Team Ep. 69
YouTube video by Reading D&D Aloud
youtu.be
September 8, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Wanna know what the hell is going on at WotC? Let’s ask people who used to work there.
youtu.be/lRRBZi6VtVY
youtu.be/lRRBZi6VtVY
Jesus Christ!
I have 71 pages written and revised on the development of D&D 3.0 that have never seen the light of day?
What the hell am I doing here?
I have 71 pages written and revised on the development of D&D 3.0 that have never seen the light of day?
What the hell am I doing here?
September 4, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Jesus Christ!
I have 71 pages written and revised on the development of D&D 3.0 that have never seen the light of day?
What the hell am I doing here?
I have 71 pages written and revised on the development of D&D 3.0 that have never seen the light of day?
What the hell am I doing here?
This one’s a banger: D&D designer Steve Winter meets Ben Milton of Questing Beast! Ben Milton is a game designer, YouTube sage, and sorceror-king of the OSR!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRyV...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRyV...
D&D Designer Meets the Questing Beast! Ep. 61
YouTube video by Reading D&D Aloud
www.youtube.com
July 18, 2025 at 3:45 PM
This one’s a banger: D&D designer Steve Winter meets Ben Milton of Questing Beast! Ben Milton is a game designer, YouTube sage, and sorceror-king of the OSR!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRyV...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRyV...
The American Constitution died in the past six months, so we are going to need a new one.
You may say that’s an exaggeration. I would ask then that you look at our constitutional system of checks and balances, ‘cause right now the checks don’t balance.
You may say that’s an exaggeration. I would ask then that you look at our constitutional system of checks and balances, ‘cause right now the checks don’t balance.
July 16, 2025 at 1:58 PM
The American Constitution died in the past six months, so we are going to need a new one.
You may say that’s an exaggeration. I would ask then that you look at our constitutional system of checks and balances, ‘cause right now the checks don’t balance.
You may say that’s an exaggeration. I would ask then that you look at our constitutional system of checks and balances, ‘cause right now the checks don’t balance.
I can't believe I got these two on the show together!
First, Kevin Crawford is a TTRPG design legend.
My favorites from his work are Stars Without Number,
youtu.be/HLe3saMZYk4?...
First, Kevin Crawford is a TTRPG design legend.
My favorites from his work are Stars Without Number,
youtu.be/HLe3saMZYk4?...
Legendary RPG Designer Breaks Media Silence- Ep. 59
YouTube video by Reading D&D Aloud
youtu.be
July 1, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I can't believe I got these two on the show together!
First, Kevin Crawford is a TTRPG design legend.
My favorites from his work are Stars Without Number,
youtu.be/HLe3saMZYk4?...
First, Kevin Crawford is a TTRPG design legend.
My favorites from his work are Stars Without Number,
youtu.be/HLe3saMZYk4?...
Who saved Dungeons & Dragons?
How many people could say that they saved Dungeons & Dragons? Off the top of my head, I would say that the list of people who could say they saved D&D at some point over the course of its 51-year history is less than 20.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OpW...
How many people could say that they saved Dungeons & Dragons? Off the top of my head, I would say that the list of people who could say they saved D&D at some point over the course of its 51-year history is less than 20.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OpW...
Did this guy save Dungeons & Dragons? Ep 58
YouTube video by Reading D&D Aloud
www.youtube.com
June 26, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Who saved Dungeons & Dragons?
How many people could say that they saved Dungeons & Dragons? Off the top of my head, I would say that the list of people who could say they saved D&D at some point over the course of its 51-year history is less than 20.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OpW...
How many people could say that they saved Dungeons & Dragons? Off the top of my head, I would say that the list of people who could say they saved D&D at some point over the course of its 51-year history is less than 20.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OpW...
The voice of male Commander Shephard, Mark Meer, conversates with Ravenloft co-creator Bruce Nesmith and Ravenloft author James Lowder. Click here! youtu.be/sEGxpb4iMbA
June 16, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The voice of male Commander Shephard, Mark Meer, conversates with Ravenloft co-creator Bruce Nesmith and Ravenloft author James Lowder. Click here! youtu.be/sEGxpb4iMbA
Are hexcrawls the adventure's final form?
We discuss that very question with two of the premier purveyors of the hexcrawl format in the 21st century: Jacob Hurst & WF Smith, aka Prismatic Wasteland.
We discuss that very question with two of the premier purveyors of the hexcrawl format in the 21st century: Jacob Hurst & WF Smith, aka Prismatic Wasteland.
June 9, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Are hexcrawls the adventure's final form?
We discuss that very question with two of the premier purveyors of the hexcrawl format in the 21st century: Jacob Hurst & WF Smith, aka Prismatic Wasteland.
We discuss that very question with two of the premier purveyors of the hexcrawl format in the 21st century: Jacob Hurst & WF Smith, aka Prismatic Wasteland.
I have interviewed bestselling authors, Ivy League professors, and comic creators whose work has gone on to generate billions at the box office.
But as a class, TTRPG professionals seem to be the smartest people I regularly talk to.
But as a class, TTRPG professionals seem to be the smartest people I regularly talk to.
June 4, 2025 at 8:01 PM
I have interviewed bestselling authors, Ivy League professors, and comic creators whose work has gone on to generate billions at the box office.
But as a class, TTRPG professionals seem to be the smartest people I regularly talk to.
But as a class, TTRPG professionals seem to be the smartest people I regularly talk to.
Kevin Kulp & Jeff Grubb have, between them, created entire cosmologies and entire timelines. Kulp is the award-winning creator of Timewatch and the investigative fantasy game, Swords of the Serpentine.
May 27, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Kevin Kulp & Jeff Grubb have, between them, created entire cosmologies and entire timelines. Kulp is the award-winning creator of Timewatch and the investigative fantasy game, Swords of the Serpentine.
hannon Appelcline is a TTRPG historian par excellence. His Designers & Dragons set a high bar for the field and I cannot recommend it too highly. HIs recent Traveller history, This is Free Trader Beowulf, is similarly excellent.
May 21, 2025 at 7:36 PM
hannon Appelcline is a TTRPG historian par excellence. His Designers & Dragons set a high bar for the field and I cannot recommend it too highly. HIs recent Traveller history, This is Free Trader Beowulf, is similarly excellent.
Ask a round of nerds what the first RPG was, and you'll likely get D&D as your answer. Some might shout out Blackmoor. A few may say Braunstein. But what if the answer was... something else? A long talk with the Thucydides of RPG history, Jon Peterson! Link below:
May 19, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Ask a round of nerds what the first RPG was, and you'll likely get D&D as your answer. Some might shout out Blackmoor. A few may say Braunstein. But what if the answer was... something else? A long talk with the Thucydides of RPG history, Jon Peterson! Link below:
You will not regret spending an hour listening to this conversation between 5th edition designer Mike Mearls and Shadowdark designer Kelsey Dionne.
youtu.be/ZRPJ_61QnWs
youtu.be/ZRPJ_61QnWs
Mike Mearls + Kelsey Dionne = An Hour of Happy Ep. 50
YouTube video by Reading D&D Aloud
youtu.be
April 28, 2025 at 1:37 AM
You will not regret spending an hour listening to this conversation between 5th edition designer Mike Mearls and Shadowdark designer Kelsey Dionne.
youtu.be/ZRPJ_61QnWs
youtu.be/ZRPJ_61QnWs
Pirate Borg designer Luke Stratton is a true polymath. Not only did he make the setting and the rules for his brutal, fast, and fun pirate RPG, but he also did the art! Additionally, he is a famous lighting designer who traveled the world lighting grunge gods, the Smashing Pumpkins!
Link below!
Link below!
February 24, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Pirate Borg designer Luke Stratton is a true polymath. Not only did he make the setting and the rules for his brutal, fast, and fun pirate RPG, but he also did the art! Additionally, he is a famous lighting designer who traveled the world lighting grunge gods, the Smashing Pumpkins!
Link below!
Link below!
Ed Greenwood may be the most successful Canadian fantasist of all time. His work has been translated into novels, comic books, games, movies, and (hopefully) a Netflix TV series. Come and learn the secrets of world-building from the creator of the Forgotten Realms!
Link below!
youtu.be/jKywei6KqKE
Link below!
youtu.be/jKywei6KqKE
How to Design a World with Ed Greenwood- Ep 41
YouTube video by Reading D&D Aloud
youtu.be
February 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Ed Greenwood may be the most successful Canadian fantasist of all time. His work has been translated into novels, comic books, games, movies, and (hopefully) a Netflix TV series. Come and learn the secrets of world-building from the creator of the Forgotten Realms!
Link below!
youtu.be/jKywei6KqKE
Link below!
youtu.be/jKywei6KqKE
Let’s imagine the next American Constitution!
I would still start with the classics, although somewhat updated:
“We, the People of the United States of America, hold these truths to be self-evident, that everyone is created equal, that we are endowed with certain unalienable rights...
I would still start with the classics, although somewhat updated:
“We, the People of the United States of America, hold these truths to be self-evident, that everyone is created equal, that we are endowed with certain unalienable rights...
February 10, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Let’s imagine the next American Constitution!
I would still start with the classics, although somewhat updated:
“We, the People of the United States of America, hold these truths to be self-evident, that everyone is created equal, that we are endowed with certain unalienable rights...
I would still start with the classics, although somewhat updated:
“We, the People of the United States of America, hold these truths to be self-evident, that everyone is created equal, that we are endowed with certain unalienable rights...
The American Republic of 1787 is dead/dying.
"...it is vital that they see the important truth that there is no going back to the old status quo. President Trump and Elon Musk really have altered the structure of things.
"...it is vital that they see the important truth that there is no going back to the old status quo. President Trump and Elon Musk really have altered the structure of things.
February 5, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The American Republic of 1787 is dead/dying.
"...it is vital that they see the important truth that there is no going back to the old status quo. President Trump and Elon Musk really have altered the structure of things.
"...it is vital that they see the important truth that there is no going back to the old status quo. President Trump and Elon Musk really have altered the structure of things.
Reposted by Ben Riggs
New eBay up!
www.ebay.com/itm/20526506...
www.ebay.com/itm/20526506...
Original Art by Larry Elmore! Dragonlance, TSR, Dungeons and Dragons! | eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Original Art by Larry Elmore! Dragonlance, TSR, Dungeons and Dragons! at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com
February 4, 2025 at 2:08 AM
New eBay up!
www.ebay.com/itm/20526506...
www.ebay.com/itm/20526506...
Reposted by Ben Riggs
We remain in the year of 1979 in our tour of each and every D&D/TSR release from the shelves of The Gamehole. Up today is another rare, the module, Lost Tomoachan. It was released at Origins with only 300 numbered copies in 1979. Here are my 4 copies.
February 3, 2025 at 5:31 PM
We remain in the year of 1979 in our tour of each and every D&D/TSR release from the shelves of The Gamehole. Up today is another rare, the module, Lost Tomoachan. It was released at Origins with only 300 numbered copies in 1979. Here are my 4 copies.