Critical Lit

About Critical Lit

Critical Lit is a podcast where we revisit and retool (and lambast and lampoon) classic tabletop RPG adventures. Part book review, part heckling commentary, all in good fun. Hosted by industry veterans Dan Dillon (Legends of Avantris, formerly WotC), I-Hsien Sherwood (Total Party Thrill), Amelia Som (Unprepared Casters), and Sal Tamarkin (Cloud Curio).

Publisher

Amelia Som, Dan Dillon, Sal Tamarkin, I-Hsien Sherwood

Category

arts · leisure · leisure

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

13 Jul 2025

Latest episode

26 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

33 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Sept 2026

   Curse of Strahd Deep Dive 26: Question Everything

   You had questions about Curse of Strahd, both thought-provoking and simply provocative. Some mechanical, some hypothetical, some satirical, even some heretical. And we have...opinions. Hot takes! Suggestions! Recommendations! In this episode: The Curse of Strahd audience Q&A.

2. 

   10 Sept 2026

   Curse of Strahd Deep Dive 25: Mod Squad

   Is this sandbox too spooky? Parties looking for a less grim take on Barovia have a host of more heroic (and more linear) options. They can be used to spice up an individual encounter, build out a whole plot hook, or even run an entirely different campaign altogether. Plus plenty of official Ravenloft content has dropped in recent years. In this episode: Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, Ravenloft: The Horrors Within, Curse of Strahd: Reloaded, MandyMod's Fleshing Out series.

3. 

   27 Aug 2026

   Curse of Strahd Deep Dive 24: Slaughter Rinse Repeat

   Strahd gets knocked down, but he gets up again. And again. The "final" battle is a tricky needle to thread, but victory earns a literal Pandora's box of endings. In this episode: Final fight with Strahd, Epilogue, Strahd Prevails, Strahd Dies, Rahadin's Revenge, Sergei and Ireena, Escape from Barovia, Aftermath, Appendix A: Character Options, Haunted One, Gothic Trinkets, Appendix C: Treasures, Tome of Strahd, Holy Symbol of Ravenkind, Sunsword.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

15 ratings

Contact Critical Lit

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  Not Another D&D Podcast

• 

  Mastering Dungeons

• 

  Side Story

• 

  The Eldritch Lorecast

• 

  Morrus’ Unofficial Tabletop RPG Talk

• 

  Friends at the Table