If you've ever played a wizard who through deed or just plain good luck finds a spellbook, well, life is good! It's like Christmas morning before the presents are unwrapped.
Excitement just pulses through you!
So you can imagine having the opportunity in real-life to play through the very same scenario - uncovering previously unknown spells. Yes please!
Which is why we at Heroes B&B asked Mark Hart, a developer and one of the authors of a series of Lost Spell volumes, to join us on our Thursday night D&D chat. 
The volumes (pictured) provide both new spells and those brought back to life from previous editions. Each volume provides 20 new spells for us magic-addicted RPers to consume. (You can check out these volumes - all six! - at www.totalpartykill.games.)
Mark, a longtime D&D player and author from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, shared some fascinating insights about his work on recovering “lost spells” during our D&D Chat, including:
* Not all spells can be brought back to life due to the differences between editions. Mark sees the current 5th Edition as more specific at times for players and less arbritrary for the DM, which can make bringing back spells from early editions rather tricky;
* Earlier editions focused more intensely on specific magic schools, like necromancy, vs. the current 5th Edition. (So you magic-users fond of the undead should love these “new” lost spells!);
* The “why” behind this project. In other words, why, as a player or DM, should you even consider using “lost spells” vs. only those found in the official player’s handbook? The answer from Mark’s perspective – and we couldn’t agree more! – is intrigue! Consider from a player’s perspective that moment when you fail a save and thus start to feel the effects of that evil wizard’s spell. How much more compelling (actually frightening!) is it when you don’t know the spell and thus don’t know what’s it about to do to you? Talk about a knuckle-cracking moment!
Finally, during our D&D Chat, Mark also provided us a look at some of the specific “lost spells” in the series, including Repeat Strike – how crazy would it be to duplicate that very recent critical hit through the use of magic!? – and Stolen Breath, a Warlock spell that can lead to a drowning-like situation and makes Concentration spells incredibly dicey for magic users.
SPECIAL NOTE TO HEROES B&B FOLLOWERS: The publisher of the Lost Spells volumes, Total Party Kill Games, has provided Heroes B&B followers a special gift. You can get a free copy of “The Libram of Lost Spells, Volume 1” by going here: http://www.totalpartykill.games/shop-1. You’ll be able to find the volume in the D&D 5e section and after you add it to your cart, just use the “HeroesBB” code to get this volume for free. Special thanks to Total Party Kill Games for this boon!

Heroes B&B's free weekly online discussion "D&D Chat" featured special guest Ben McFarland, a fantasy writer and world-builder. Ben discussed his work on Kobold Press' Southlands campaign setting as well as tips on researching how to build your own D&D world. Fantasy fans can find out more info on Southlands - recommended by those of us at Heroes B&B - at Kobold Press' site, https://koboldpress.com/.

Heroes B&B started its D&D Chat with Twin Cities art Danny Williams of Miniatures Mutated. Danny provides tips for beginner painters as well as shows off some of his current (incredible!) mini projects. You can contact Danny through the Miniatures Mutated Facebook page at ​https://www.facebook.com/miniatures.mutated/