Charmed Adventures: Everything You Need to Know About Charm Person 5e

If you're ready to use charm person 5e in a way that you’ve never utilized it before, this guide is for you. Honestly, charm person 5e works absolute wonders in the game.


You've certainly heard of the term "charmer" before. In stories, it's that character who always uses charisma to get their way out of any tricky situation, or who fools others with their allure. Personally, I've always admired charmers and the incredible things they can accomplish. In D&D 5e, we get to be charmers, too!

Charm Person 5e

What Is Charm Person 5e?

Charm Person 5e is a 1st level charm spell from the School of Enchantment. When cast, this spell makes enemies friendly toward you and your party members. It's perfect when you need help or want to charm out of a sticky situation. You can see exactly what the Player's Handbook has to say about Charm Person, on Page 221. To save you some time though, here’s a summary of the important parts:


Charm person 5e causes the target to regard you as a friendly acquaintance. If you attempt to use charm person in the middle of a battle, the target has Advantage with their Wisdom saving throw. The charm effect ends either after 1-hour, or when you or your allies try to harm the charmed person. Once the charm effect ends, the target is made aware that you used charm person upon them (which can sometimes be a very important detail to remember, when using this spell).


At higher levels, you can also use a higher-level spell slot to target multiple enemies with charm person 5e at a time.

The stats are as follows:

  • Casting Time: 1 action
  • Range: 30 feet
  • Components: V, S
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • School: 1st-level enchantment


Modifying Levels of Success when Using Charm Person

The charm effect works in different ways depending on the creature's current level of hostility. For instance, if a creature is hostile, charm person can make the creature view you as an ally. On the other hand, if a creature isn't hostile, charm person makes them even more amiable to your requests. The charm effect also works differently for different creatures, depending on their level of intelligence, general view of the world, etc.


Which Classes Can Cast Charm Person 5e?

Charm person 5e is a 1st-level enchantment spell from the School of Enchantment. Only spellcasters with access to the School of Enchantment can cast the charm person spell:

  • Bard
  • Druid
  • Sorcerer
  • Warlock
  • Wizard


The Cleric subclass – Trickery Domain – gets the spell for free.

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Who Can You Target with Charm Person?

Of course, charm person has a few limits, as there are already spells for charming animals, monsters, and the like. The actual charm person spell can only target humanoids, such as:

  • Aarakocra
  • All player races
  • Bugbears
  • Githyanki
  • Githzerai
  • Gnolls
  • Grimlock
  • Goblins
  • Hobgoblins
  • Jackalwere
  • Kobolds
  • Kuo-Toa
  • Lizardfolk
  • Lycanthropes
  • Orcs


If you come across a type of enemy who is not considered a humanoid, you’ll have to take a look at other charm and charm-like spells, such as Animal Friendship or Charm Monster.


When Should You Use Charm Person?

The first time I learned about charm person I was so excited that I could hardly wait before casting it in battle. Don't get me wrong, charm has its place in combat and can be a great tool when used properly. However, the charm also has its best place outside of battle.


After some experimentation, I now personally believe that the following situations are ideal for charm:


Bargaining

Let's say you're in a situation where you need to make a deal with someone who's not particularly friendly. In these scenarios, “negotiate” using charm and see the results!


Gain Pre-combat Advantage

If you charm an enemy, they won't be able to attack you, and it gives you some time to prepare for battle. Since enemies gain Advantage against your charm person spell during combat, you increase your chances of charm by roughly 50% if used just beforehand.


Of course, save your charmed enemy for last, as the spell effect will break once you attack them. If you utilize this tactic, then it works similarly to Cause Fear 5e, where you can break up large groups of enemies, and prevent a TPK.


Skip Encounters

Charm is also great when you want to avoid combat altogether. Charming targets can be a great way to skip through encounters and access the next stages in an adventure, without resistance.


Acquire Information

Charm person can be a great way to get information from people who don't want to talk. Just charm them, and ask your questions! Note that this use of charm person doesn’t always work (as I’ll discuss more below), but if you’re having trouble pumping someone for info anyways, it sometimes hurt to try charming them before resorting to more drastic measures.

 

Just remember, however, that after you use charm person on a target, once the effect fades, they are made aware that you charmed them. If you can’t acquire the information you’re after using charm person, the charmed target may resent you for your attempt after the fact, and any further attempts at gaining their willing cooperation may be soured.

Charm 5e

Charm Person 5e Rules

Before you cast charm person, there are a few very important things you should keep in mind. Utilize this checklist to maximize your charm spell’s results:

  • Again, charm person only works on humanoids.
  • Harming the charmed target breaks the charm.
  • Charmed humanoids can't attack the caster. However, in some extreme cases, they may still attack your allies.
  • Casters can still utilize ability checks when interacting with the charmed target.
  • Charmed humanoids don't have to say anything. Just because you’ve charmed them doesn’t mean you can compel them to action.
  • Charmed creatures know that you charmed them after the charm ends. In many cases, this will cause the target to like you much less once the spell’s effect ends.
  • Targets must be within 30 feet, and must be within line of sight.
  • It's possible for multiple people in your party to cast multiple charm person on the same target, at the same time.
  • Dispel magic can end the charm person spell early.


Disadvantages to Charm Person

As you probably noticed with the list above – and like with any other spell – charm person 5e also has its disadvantages. These disadvantages are no big deal just so long as you remember to use your charm effects in the scenarios where they’re most advantageous.


That being said, here are charm person’s biggest drawbacks:


Charmed Humanoids Don't Have to Say Anything

You're a charmer, not a mind controller. So don't expect charm to make people spill secrets. Charmed creatures will be friendly and probably won’t tell you lies, but they don’t have to say anything at all if they really don’t want to.


Charmed Creatures Know You’ve Charmed Them

Imagine charm as a temporary friendship. Once the charm wears off, the charmed creature will know what you've done. If you charmed a friend, they’re less likely to still view you as a friend, afterwards. If you charmed a hostile enemy, leave their sight when the charm ends unless you intend to finish them off!


Charm Person Won't Stop Hostility Against Your Party

Charming an enemy doesn’t necessarily stop your target from attacking your friends. Instead, it all depends on your dungeon master, and their interpretation of the situation. Additionally, charm doesn’t automatically stop the other hostile creatures in your target’s group from attacking you or your party. In fact, if a group of enemies sees you charm one among them, they may instead target you first.


Dispel Magic Can End the Charm Person Spell Early

Charm person is, after all, a magical effect. Like any other magical effect, dispel magic can end it early. Of course, if an enemy uses their turn to cast dispel magic, you’ve at least prevented them from taking some other dangerous action. However, since charm person requires overcoming your target’s Wisdom save to begin with, any dispel effect can be a major bummer.

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Similar Spells to Charm Person 5e

As I mentioned before, D&D 5e has other spells that you can use to cause the charmed condition on others, for your party's advantage. Here are some spells you may take a look at that either charm, or cause charm-like effects:

  • Suggestion: the target must follow the caster's direction, but must also pass a Wisdom saving throw.
  • Disguise Self: casters can change their appearance to look like other creatures.
  • Guidance: the caster can give a creature an advantage on their next ability check.
  • Dominate Person: the caster can control the creature's actions, but must pass a Wisdom saving throw.


Is the Charmed Condition Good?

There's no ultimate answer to this question as it really depends on the caster and situation. Generally, I see charm person as a great spell because it has so many applications. Unless you’re having a difficult time overcoming your targets’ Wisdom saving throw(s) – such as when in combat – charm person really only becomes "not good" when it’s misused.


When it comes to combat, I’d probably avoid using charm person, and instead opt for a spell like Silence 5e (against spell casters) or Cause Fear 5e (against almost anyone else). The reason is that both silence and cause fear don’t give the target advantage against your spell’s effect, and both effectively incapacitate them for the duration of the battle.


In summary, think of charm person as more of a way to make temporary friends and allies, and less of a way to incapacitate dangerous foes. You don't have to use charm spells with every humanoid you come across; just charm when it can be an effective way to help your party.

Charmed 5e

Charmed 5e vs. Eternity TTRPG

In D&D 5e, Charm Person magically improves the target’s opinions of the caster to the point where they’re considered a close friend. With “friendship” status invoked, all kinds of benefits can be gained such as through negotiations, gathering information, and even preventing the target from engaging in combat. Finally, there are many types of Charmed 5e effects, such as Animal Friendship or Charm Monster, which allow for various uses of the Charmed condition.

 

In the Eternity TTRPG Game System, charm effects are quite a bit simpler, yet far more powerful: charm in Eternity is synonymous with “mind control.” Basically, a charmed target loses all will of their own, submitting completely to the desires of the person charming them. It represents the single most powerful effect in Eternity TTRPG, as even a single turn of the Charmed condition can completely alter a difficult negotiation, combat encounter, or any situation where another player’s character or NPC is involved.

 

What Classes in Eternity TTRPG can Cast Charm Effects?

Archon (Classes Expansion) and Revenant/ Witch (Classes Expansion) are the only classes that receive a charm effect as a core class spell. Each class has a unique way of casting the spell, which result in a very different play-style:

 

Archon – Core Class Spell

Omega (Magic): 4Range, -4Faith vs. Will, deals 1damage. Even if this spell misses, -11Faith vs. Resilience, take control of the target’s Action for 1turn (the control effect from “Omega” cannot Double-Hit or give a Block).

When you take control, you may not have the target use a critical, use a spell or ability with a 1Day Recharge, or dispel

any of their own maintained effects. However, you may have them take any other action (including attacking themselves), and you may know the target’s HP, Wisdom, and all other stats and maintained effects for the duration of the control.

(Double-Hit): deals 2damage.

  • (Zenith) After you cast this spell, it creates an “Omega Void” on the target’s space, that remains for Battle Duration. Enemies automatically have -4Initiative while within 2Range of the “Omega Void.”
  • (Spells of True Weaving) 8Range. You also have 8Range when casting this spell, for Battle Duration. 
  • (Chrono Mage) Even if this spell misses, -3Faith vs. Resilience, take control of the target’s Actions for 1turn. This critical effect cannot Double-Hit or give a Block.

 

Revenant/ Witch – Core Class Spell

Spellbound (Magic): weapon Range, -3Strike Bonus vs. Resilience or 4Range, -3Faith vs. Resilience, if this spell hits, on every one of the target’s turns, roll d20. On the first turn, if you roll 20, take control of the target’s Action for 1turn.

           When you take control, you may not have the target use a critical, use a spell or ability with a 1Day Recharge, or dispel any of their own maintained effects. However, you may have them take any other action (including attacking themselves), and you may know the target’s HP, Wisdom, and all other stats and maintained effects for the duration of the control.

On each successive turn, roll 1 number lower to hit (can stack to 14-20 by the 7th turn). This spell can be interrupted. You can instead choose to continually maintain this spell as an aura for 3Intelligence, per target you want to cast at, making it an Instant Action at the start of every battle.

           (Double-Hit): roll 3 numbers lower to hit.

  • (Grimly Fated) Roll 17-20 on the target’s first turn, and 1 number lower to hit each round after. You can instead choose to continually maintain this critical as an aura for 6Intelligence (and 0Wisdom), per target you want to cast at, making it an Instant Action at the start of every battle.
  • (Of the Dread Vale) Up to 3 enemies in 4Range. *Double-Hit with this critical only allows one of the attacks to have lowered numbers to roll.
  • (Witch’s Coven) This spell cannot be interrupted and cannot be removed in any way except the revenant/ witch reaching 0HP. You can instead choose to continually maintain this critical as an aura for 4Intelligence (and 0Wisdom), per target you want to cast at, making it an Instant Action at the start of every battle.
Charm Spells Eternity TTRPG

Strategies for using Charm Effects in Eternity TTRPG

In Eternity TTRPG, charm effects allow you to capitalize on severe mismatches in an enemy group, during combat, or simply turn weak-willed NPCs into puppets during any roleplay encounter. Any spell that functions specific ways in Eternity TTRPG can be used as roleplay effects in similar ways, meaning that you can be flexible with your roleplay uses of combat-based effects.

 

Similar to Charm Person in D&D 5e, however, charmed targets know that they were charmed, once the spell ends. So, you’d better be sure to make your charm effect count, as there could be significant fallout from the spell once its effect fades.

 

Gather Information

Though neither Omega nor Spellbound are perfectly suited to this situation (as the former involves causing damage to the target, and the latter takes time to take effect), you could use the spells to gather information from an important NPC.

 

If you can get the NPC away from any other guards on onlookers, and you have a little time to use your charm spell effects, you should be able to mind control them. Once charmed, you may cause the target to willingly provide you with all of the information that they know on any topic.

 

Provide False Orders

This is another situation where Omega and Spellbound may have some difficulties, as giving orders requires a sort of complete control over a target for some time. However, if you can use Spellbound to successfully charm a target for multiple turns in a row, you could force them to write orders to their subordinates.

 

These orders could then be duplicated and dispersed, while the original target of your charm effects could be subdued in some location unknown to their subordinates – at least until the false orders you created are undertaken.

 

Though especially devious, this method of mind control can lead to some truly catastrophic (for the good or bad) changes in any RPG campaign.

 

Convince a Guard to Look the Other Way

Of all the examples so far, this one may be the easiest to accomplish. If your party is using stealth to enter into an area controlled by opposing forces, it’s no problem if a guard notices you. This is a situation where Omega would certainly be better than Spellbound, but both could potentially work out.

 

Simply cast your charm effect right away and then cause the guard to stay silent as you sneak past. Though you can’t alter memories with Omega or Spellbound, you can at least buy your party enough time to get through heavily-guarded spaces without causing an immediate ruckus.

 

Finish Off a Powerful Enemy

One of the most challenging parts of any TTRPG (or video game RPG, for that matter) is finishing off a powerful enemy, especially when they have healers or support characters on their side. The reality is that dealing damage to an enemy actually doesn’t matter in strategy games until the character finally hits 0HP, as the enemy often has just as powerful attacks of their own when they’re at 1HP left as when they’re at full HP.

 

In any case, one of the absolute best ways to use charm effects is when the strongest enemy in a group is just about to die. In order to prevent that enemy from getting a last-second save, charm the enemy healer so they’re not able to save their powerful enemy from the brink of death. A decision like that can often save your party a great deal of anguish.

 

Turn a Dangerous Foe to Your Side

Alternatively, you can sometimes get a lucky roll, and charm the most powerful enemy in a group that you’re facing. Imagine fighting a group of knights and their lord commander, only for that commander to suddenly turn on his own troops.

 

If you can charm an enemy with a great deal of attack power, you can use that attack power like an explosion, causing your foe to mow down their own allies in a flash.

 

Force a Key NPC or Monster to Simply Do Nothing

Oftentimes, the best way to use a charm effect is simply to cause your target to become inactive. In many cases, very powerful enemies are highly resistant to charm effects, and groups of enemies may be able to remove charm effects from their allies.

 

However, no matter what, it’s almost always valuable to turn even one enemy into a worthless husk for a turn or two. Or, you can force a key NPC who isn’t directly part of a battle or roleplay encounter to become inactive, making them useless for whoever would normally direct them towards tasks or actions that may hinder you.

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Limitations to Charm Effects in Eternity TTRPG

It’s worth noting that in Eternity TTRPG, charm effects have the following limitations. Though these limitations are not drastic or overly restricting for any charm purposes you may have in mind, they are worth noting:

  • You may not cause the target to use a critical effect.
  • You may not cause the target to intentionally dispel any of their maintained effects.
  • You may not cause the target to use a spell or ability with a 1-day recharge.
  • You may not alter the target’s memories in any way.
  • Finally, watch out for Silence effects as both charm conditions in Eternity TTRPG are spells, so are subject to magical interrupts.

 

Curious about the Eternity TTRPG Game System?

From my many years of tabletop gaming, I’ve found that most people who play D&D do so because they aren’t familiar with other TTRPGs out there, and it may seem like it isn’t worth the effort to learn a new game. Let me tell you though – as great as D&D is, it obviously has some flaws.

 

I created the Eternity TTRPG Game System to solve some of the issues that D&D has. Eternity is fast-paced, easy-to-learn, and allows multiple players to contribute to both the game world and story.

 

Curious to learn more? Pick up an inexpensive PDF copy at the Eternity TTRPG shop. Eternity is a growing site, so your support is greatly appreciated! If you end up trying it out, let me know what you think of the game.

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Jacob Tegtman Eternity TTRPG Creator

Author - Jacob Tegtman

Dear reader, I hope you enjoyed this article. Tabletop gaming has been a passion of mine since I was 6 years old. I've played just about every game from Dungeons and Dragons to video games like Final Fantasy. These games have inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry, and brought me endless hours of enjoyment.


I started Eternity TTRPG - and the indie tabletop game that goes along with it (Eternity Shop) - to share my love of gaming with others. I believe that in our technology-driven age, tabletop games help bring a sense of magic and community back into our world.


If you love the site, please share it with others! I have lots of gaming-related material for you to peruse and use in your own gaming sessions. If you have any questions about the site or want to contribute, just send me a message using the "Contact" page, which you can find in the site's footer.

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Final Fantasy TRPG: Legend Edition — Classes & Jobs Explained

By Jacob Tegtman • January 20, 2026
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPQfDB2cKSI Transcription Every Final Fantasy hero starts with a choice. Sword or spell. Raw power, or skill. But in Final Fantasy TRPG: Legend Edition, that choice doesn’t stop at your Class — it’s defined by the Jobs you choose from your class, the Circles you unlock, and the Limit Breaks that change the tide of battle. Today, we’re breaking down how Classes and Jobs actually work in Final Fantasy TRPG: Legend Edition — and how they shape your character from level one… to the final boss. Hey everyone, welcome back to Eternity TTRPG channel! If you caught one of my recent videos from before the holidays, we went deep into the Final Fantasy TRPG: Legend Edition core rulebook — and today we’re diving into one of the most iconic elements of any Final Fantasy system: Classes and Jobs ! Whether you’re planning your first character or optimizing a seasoned hero for this recently-released game, this guide has you covered. One of the longest-standing traditions in Final Fantasy is its Job system , and Legend Edition embraces this fully. Classes in this game are the framework or chassis of your character — they determine your character’s HP, MP, trained Skills, associated Jobs, and your Class Limit Break . Jobs are where the cool stuff really happens. Each Job is a set of abilities on a progression track, granting new Features at specific levels — these are called Circles . And you don’t just pick one — your character ends up with three Jobs (or four with optional full buy-in), each advancing at a different speed to give you abilities every level. There are four broad Classes you’ll choose from. Each class has what you could consider as subclasses – in Legend Edition, these are the “Jobs.” So, for example, some of the Warrior Jobs are berserker, dervish, dragoon, fighter, monk, samurai, and so on. So, let’s dive into the four classes: Number 1 - Warrior Masters of physical combat, Warriors excel in strength, endurance, and frontline fighting. Their Limit Break — Action Surge — lets them make extra attacks during an encounter, perfect for dealing burst damage. 2. Expert Battlefield manipulators and support roles go here. Experts rely on their wits and skill versatility, and their Limit Break — Savant — adds bonus dice to Skill rolls based on their level. 3. Mage If magic is your playstyle, Mages are your go-to. They lean into Spellcasting and area of effect mechanics. Their Turbo MP Limit Break doubles the effectiveness of MP spent on magical abilities during an encounter. And number four is Adept The hybrid class — versatile, adaptable, and capable of mixing physical and magical roles. Adepts don’t have a unique Limit Break; instead, they choose one from the other three classes, based on their job build. Now here’s where Legend Edition gets fun. Across the system are 50+ Jobs drawing inspiration from classic Final Fantasy favorites — think Black Mage , Dragoon , Thief , and more — giving you a huge palette of archetypes to mix and match. Each Job grants seven Features – called Circles – over its progression, spaced across levels based on whether the Job is on a Fast, Medium, or Slow advancement track — meaning strategic choices shape how your character evolves through the campaign. So, for example, you may choose the Warrior class because you like its HP, MP, and Skill point advancement numbers, you like its limit break, and you enjoy playing that overall archetype for your character. Then, you pick three Jobs to fill out your character. Say that you want a full warrior build, so you choose your three jobs to be: Dragoon, Knight, and Monk. From here, you’d decide which of those three jobs would be on your Fast advancement track, which should go on your Medium track, and which will be on your slow advancement. Important note here though: only one of your Jobs needs to be associated with your Class. That means the rest can actually be totally outside that box — so yes, you can be a Mage-warrior hybrid if it fits your concept! You could be a warrior class, with the Dragoon, Black Mage, and Chemist jobs. So, here’s the quick breakdown of Job progression: Fast Progression: Abilities at levels 1, 3, and every 3 levels thereafter Medium Progression: Abilities at levels 1, 4, and every 3 levels thereafter Slow Progression: Abilities at 2, 5, and every 3 levels thereafter This staggering system means every level feels like a growth moment. You get new Abilities (“Circles”) from all three of your jobs at the same cadence. But at the same time, you get Circles from the Jobs that are most important to you, at earlier levels. The rule book mentions this too, but if you do want to try out this awesome system, I’d recommend that you don’t stress too much about your first Job choices. There’s a ton of options here, which is great for replayability, and experimenting with side campaigns. But, there’s also too many Jobs to really nail down what you want to ideally play, the first time you try out this game. Probably instead, just pick classes that sound fun, and give it a whirl. To wrap up this video, I’m going to cover my personal favorite Job from each of the first three Classes. Since there’s over 50-jobs, there’s too many for me to dive into – at least today. But hopefully these quick snapshots give you a picture of how Jobs work, what kind of Abilities each provides, and some inspiration for your upcoming game: If I was to play a Warrior Job, I’d start with Dragoon: As you probably know, Dragoons are also often known as Dragon Knights . Dragoons are aerial combat specialists who use momentum for power. Originally trained to pierce the hides of massive foes like dragons, their style revolves around leaping high above the battlefield and crashing down with overwhelming force. Depending on the setting, Dragoons may hunt dragons, fight alongside them, or carry on their legacy after their extinction — but they’re almost always portrayed as guardians who stand against towering threats . In play, Dragoons are defined by the Jump and Blood of the Dragon Circles . Jump removes them from the battlefield for a round before returning with an automatic, high-impact strike. Meanwhile, critical hits generate Blood of the Dragon to fuel powerful Dragon Arts , which are the Dragoon’s situational combat techniques that modify your attacks, defenses, or Jump actions, for additional benefits. Next up, for the expert class, I’d probably start with Squire – I just have so many good memories from playing Final Fantasy Tactics: Instead of perfecting a single discipline, Squires develop adaptability through experience and improvisation. That flexibility makes Squires exceptional team players , able to step into gaps and support allies in many situation. Mechanically, the Squire revolves around Fundaments — where they grant short-term bonuses to allies based on that ally’s Class. Warriors hit harder, Experts perform better at skills, Mages cast more effectively, and Adepts can receive whichever boost fits the moment. As the Squire advances through their Circles, they can grant Fundaments to multiple allies at once, add secondary effects like increased damage or longer debuffs. I’m not always a team buffer kind of guy, but I do like the way Squires here make everyone else better , turning party coordination into a great strength. For my third Job, I’ll choose from the Mage class. This one’s really hard for me as I could see myself actually going like 3/3 mage, or maybe 2/3, at least. But, if I had to pick just one for my remaining Job slot, I’d go with Necromancer: Necromancers are reclusive magic-users whose art is inseparably tied to death and the Shadow. Often misunderstood or feared, they’re immediately recognizable by their Bone Commander — an undead construct that serves as both assistant and bodyguard. While some Necromancers lean into darker reputations, others act as shamans or intermediaries, communing with spirits to resolve unfinished business or bring peace to the dead. Their morality isn’t defined by their magic, but by how they choose to wield it. In play, Necromancers are spellcasters with access to the Necromancy spell list and a powerful Companion system . Their Bone Commander acts on their shared action economy, providing combat presence without needing its own stats or hit points. Their Limit Break, Friends on the Other Side , allows damage from the party to count as Shadow damage, supercharging Necromancer features and reinforcing their role as battlefield controllers who blur the line between ally and undead asset. So! There you have it. From adaptable Squires and sky-shattering Dragoons to shadow-touched Necromancers and beyond, Legend Edition’s Classes and Jobs are all about expression through choice . Your Class sets the foundation, but your Jobs — and how you progress them — define how your character actually plays at the table. Legend Edition feels... unmistakably Final Fantasy. What I really want to know is... from the 50+ jobs available in Legend Edition, what three Jobs would best define your Character? List your Jobs in the comments. Otherwise, thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this breakdown of Classes and Jobs in Final Fantasy TRPG: Legend Edition, hit that like button, subscribe for more content, and ring the bell so you don’t miss our next video.

Three Quick Strange Things that Stranger Things Got Wrong About D&D

By Jacob Tegtman • January 15, 2026
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQLN8bvlo-Q Transcription If you’re like me, you just watched Stranger Things Season 5, and it was amazing. Personally, I felt like it really hit similarly to the first season – they did a great job. But you're watching Stranger Things, getting hyped about seeing D&D represented in mainstream media, when suddenly Mike declares he's casting a spell, as a paladin... at first level. And you're sitting there thinking, "Wait, that's not how that works." Well, you're not alone. Today we're diving deep into three quick, but glaring D&D mistakes – or, perhaps intentional and fun D&D alternations – that Stranger Things has made throughout its run. I love Stranger Things, so this is by no means a criticism of the show. If anything, some of these mistakes just makes me like it more. Because, let’s get real – most D&D games fudge something in the rules anyways. It’s part of the fun. And no one really wants to be a rules lawyer all the time. What's up, dice rollers! Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG where we explore everything that makes tabletop RPGs amazing. I'm your host, and today we're taking a critical but loving look at how Stranger Things – arguably the biggest mainstream representation of D&D we've ever had – got some pretty fundamental (and sometimes funny) things wrong about our favorite hobby. Now, before we dive in, let me be clear: I absolutely love that Stranger Things brought D&D into the spotlight. The show has introduced countless people to our hobby, and that's incredible. As D&D enthusiasts, we can appreciate the show while also having some fun pointing out where the Duffer Brothers maybe should have consulted their Player's Handbook a bit more carefully. So grab your dice, settle in, and let's explore three quick strange things that Stranger Things got wrong about D&D. Mistake #1: The Demogorgon Campaign Confusion I’m gonna call this “Mistake #1,” by the way, and you’ll find out why in just a minute. But let's start with this big one from Season 1. In the very first episode, we see the boys playing D&D, and Will's character encounters the Demogorgon. Now, the show treats this like it's some kind of final boss encounter, but here's the problem: a Demogorgon in D&D is a CR 26 creature. Basically, a Lv.26 monster. That's endgame content for level 20 characters. These kids are clearly playing low-level characters – probably somewhere between levels 1-5 based on their abilities and the campaign Mike’s describing. A real Demogorgon would obliterate their entire party in a single round without breaking a sweat. It would be like sending a group of mall security guards to fight Godzilla. What the show probably meant to use was a lesser demon or maybe just called it a "demogorgon" as a generic monster name. But for D&D players, it's like watching someone try to drive a car with a boat steering wheel – technically it's transportation equipment, but it's completely wrong for the situation. Is this really a mistake though? I’d say yes, technically. But also, we all know how kids get when playing games. Mike was probably like, “hey, you know what would be cool for my party of Lv.5 adventurers? Give them something that inspires them. Like this CR26 literal god.” It’s the type of move that every DM has done at some point – just go way, wayyy overboard. And again, that’s part of the fun with games like D&D. Mistake #2: The Paladin Spell Situation This one is really funny to me because it happens multiple times throughout the series. Mike's primarily the dungeon master for his group. But when he plays, his character is consistently referred to as a paladin, and we see him attempting to cast spells at what appears to be first level. Here's the issue: in every edition of D&D that would have been available when Stranger Things is set – we're talking late 70s to early 80s – paladins don't get spells until much higher levels. In AD&D (Advanced dungeons and dragons), paladins don't get their first spell until 9th level. Even in modern 5th Edition, paladins don't get spells until 2nd level. But the show has Mike casting spells right from the start. It's a small detail, but it shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how the class works. It would be like showing a wizard swinging a two-handed sword as their primary weapon – technically possible in some circumstances, but it misses the point of the class – for that level, at least – entirely. It’s another “mistake” though that many groups would make, probably especially kids. You want to play a character who can do cool things, at any level. So maybe this was another intentional move on the Duffer brothers’ part, showing not just the rules for D&D, but how people actually play. Mistake #3: The Dice Rolling Drama This one’s more about dramatic license. Throughout the series, we see characters making single dice rolls for incredibly complex situations, and the entire outcome hinges on that one roll. Real D&D involves a lot more dice rolling and a lot more back-and-forth between players and the DM. Combat isn't usually resolved with a single dramatic roll – it's a series of attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws, and tactical decisions. The show makes it look like D&D is just "roll a d20 and see what happens," when the reality, as we all know, is much more nuanced. The most egregious example is in Season 1 when Will's fate seems to hinge entirely on a single d20 roll. While dramatic moments like this can happen in D&D, they're usually the culmination of a longer sequence of events, not the entire encounter. Of course, filming four kids rolling dozens of dice over and over doesn’t make for great visual episodes, I assume. This one is really more to point out that anyone who isn’t familiar with D&D may be a bit surprised walking into a real gaming session at how many dice really do get rolled. On platforms like Reddit, the D&D community's reaction to these inaccuracies has been... interesting. Players have been discussing these since the show premiered. One user pointed out in a popular thread: "I love that Stranger Things brought D&D to the mainstream, but I wish they'd gotten a consultant who actually understood the game mechanics. It's like they researched D&D by reading about it rather than playing it." Another user noted: "The show gets the emotional core of D&D right – the friendship, the collaborative storytelling, the escapism. But the mechanical details are so wrong that it's distracting for anyone who actually plays." Now, do these mistakes matter? I would argue they don't – Stranger Things is a TV show, not a D&D tutorial. People may come into the hobby with incorrect assumptions on how things work. But, if more people are getting into the hobby, then that's positive. And D&D – or let’s at least say tabletop roleplay games – have experienced unprecedented growth partly thanks to Stranger Things, and that's amazing for our community. So here's what I want to know from you: is there anything else fun or silly that I missed from Stranger Thing’s D&D inaccuracies? I’m sure there has to be more than just these three, so please hit me up in the comments and let me know what you’ve found! And that wraps up our dive into Stranger Things, for today. Remember, this comes from a place of love – both for the show and for D&D. If you enjoyed this quick video, make sure to hit that like button and subscribe for more D&D content. Whether you're fighting demogorgons in the Upside Down or just trying to survive your first dungeon crawl, keep those dice rolling!
Dragonlance

DragonLance Legends coming to Amazon in February

By Jacob Tegtman • December 17, 2025
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=257fKzW8yzA Transcription Before there was Game of Thrones, Baldur’s Gate, and Critical Role.… there was Dragonlance .  A fantasy saga that defined an entire generation of D&D players — epic wars, tragic heroes, and dragons that actually felt like dragons. But if you aren’t familiar, what is Dragonlance — and why are we still talking about it in 2026? Well to answer that last question, the new “Legends Edition” which is the second Trilogy of Dragonlance is coming to Amazon in February. This is a big deal because getting new copies of the original Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy, and now this second “Legends” Trilogy was becoming very difficult. I’m hoping these new prints rekindle the spark of one of the greatest D&D settings and novel series of all time, and introduce even more people to its magic. Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG, your home for D&D history, lore deep-dives, and the stories that shaped the game we play today. If you love tabletop RPGs, classic settings, and learning why D&D looks and plays the way it does today, you’re in the right place. So, let’s talk about one of my favorite fantasy settings – and fantasy book series of all times – Dragonlance . Dragonlance started as a bold idea from Tracy Hickman and Laura Hickman , later developed with Margaret Weis at TSR. To answer the burning question you may be having, right off the bat – yes, the Dragonlance adventures came before the book series. At the time, most D&D adventures were simple and modular. You’d kick in a dungeon door, fight some monsters, grab treasure, and move on. Dragonlance asked a very different question. What if Dungeons & Dragons could tell one long, epic story? Instead of disconnected adventures, the Dragonlance team wanted a campaign with a clear beginning, middle, and end. A single, continent-spanning war. A story that unfolded over time, not just session to session. To make that work, players wouldn’t create random characters. They’d play pre-generated heroes, each designed to fit directly into the narrative, with personal arcs baked into the plot. That idea became the original Dragonlance AD&D module series — eventually twelve linked adventures telling the story of the War of the Lance. On paper, it was revolutionary. At the table… it was complicated. The problem is simple. And honestly, you can probably pause the video here and tell me the problem, yourself, based on your own D&D games. It’s basically this: D&D games, and it’s players – are unpredictable. Dungeons & Dragons thrives on player choice, improvisation, and chaos. Dragonlance, on the other hand, needed players to be in very specific places, doing very specific things, at specific times. If the party ignored a hook, skipped a location, or made an unexpected choice, the entire story could fall apart. So the modules relied heavily on railroading — nudging, and sometimes outright forcing, players back onto the intended path. That tension made Dragonlance awkward to run as a campaign. The story was strong, but the format worked against the strengths of tabletop roleplaying. And that’s when Dragonlance found the form it was truly built for. To promote the modules, TSR (that is, the company founded by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye, to publish D&D) decided to release a trilogy of tie-in novels. That decision came late, the original author didn’t work out, and Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman ended up writing the first book themselves — in roughly three months. The result was Dragons of Autumn Twilight, released in 1984. Which, even talking about almost brings a tear to my eye – the book was just that impactful to me in my teenage years. TSR expected modest sales. But instead, the book was a massive hit. For many readers, this wasn’t just their first Dragonlance novel — it was their first D&D novel. It introduced the idea that a D&D party could be the heart of a fantasy epic, with flawed characters, emotional arcs, and long-term consequences. This is basically why Dragonlance matters to D&D history. And not just a little bit. It matters – a LOT. Dragonlance proved that Dungeons & Dragons wasn’t just a game system — it was actually its own entire storytelling engine. If you haven’t read the novel series, I have some amazing news for you, shortly. But at its core, Dragonlance is about one idea: hope in darkness. The world of Krynn is broken. The gods are distant. War is everywhere. People are scared, tired, and cynical. But, the world of Dragonlance isn’t saved by a single chosen hero. Instead, this novel series tells you that the world can be saved when ordinary people choose to do the right thing, even when it’s hard, and even when it feels pointless. That philosophy shaped the tone of the setting. Dragonlance was darker than most TSR-era worlds, but it was never hopeless. Friendship mattered. Faith mattered. Sacrifice mattered. Umm, a lot. Those themes became incredibly influential, especially for party-focused storytelling in D&D campaigns. Dragonlance also changed how dragons were treated in D&D. Before this, dragons were often just very powerful monsters. Dangerous, sure — but still just another encounter. Dragonlance made dragons rare, mythical, and world-shaping. What becomes the mystical return of dragons isn’t just a side quest in this setting. It’s THE central event that changes the balance of power across the entire world. That idea — that dragons should feel legendary, and not just routine — stuck, and it still shapes how dragons are presented in modern D&D. After the success of the original trilogy, Weis and Hickman followed it with Dragonlance Legends, which is what I’ll be getting to more about in just a few minutes. Instead of escalating to an even bigger war, Legends zoomed in. It focused on the twins from the first trilogy: Raistlin and Caramon Majere, and on the topics of ambition, responsibility, and the cost of power. It introduced time travel – which to be honest, I don’t love – personal tragedy, and consequences that felt intimate. This trilogy, too, was a massive success, even hitting the New York Times bestseller list — a first for TSR. For a brief moment, Dragonlance wasn’t just a D&D setting. It actually became the face of D&D storytelling. But Dragonlance’s greatest strength eventually became its weakness. The setting was tightly bound to one story and one cast of characters. Once the War of the Lance was resolved, the world of Krynn felt… finished. New stories struggled to find the same weight. Bigger threats felt repetitive. New heroes had a hard time stepping out of the shadow of the originals. Unlike the Forgotten Realms, Krynn never felt like a neutral playground. It felt like a world where the most important story had already happened. And slowly, Dragonlance faded from the spotlight. Dragonlance went quiet after 2010. But in February 2026, we’re getting a new hardcover release of Dragonlance Legends — collecting the full trilogy with new behind-the-scenes material from Weis and Hickman. It’s not a full revival of the setting. It’s a reminder of an important moment in D&D history, when the game experimented with storytelling in a way that permanently changed how we think about campaigns. This trilogy about the twins: Raistlin and Caramon – is coming after the Chronicles trilogy was rereleased (I believe) just this last year – I got my copy from Margaret Weis at GenCon. These books haven’t been in print for some time. So, if you like what you’ve been hearing about Dragonlance, or you – like me – are a longtime fan, you may want to pick these up. You can get the original Chronicles Trilogy on Amazon now, and the second Trilogy – Legends – is coming out this February. Dragonlance asked a question that D&D is still trying to answer: Is this game about total freedom… or about telling powerful stories? Most tables today try to balance both. And whether you loved Dragonlance or bounced hard off its railroads, its influence is still baked into how D&D is played, written, and remembered. So I want to know — have you read Dragonlance, or played in a campaign set in Krynn? Would you run a Dragonlance campaign today, or does it feel too tied to its story? Let me know in the comments, like the video if you enjoyed it,subscribe for more D&D deep dives, and I’ll see you next time.
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