Beyond The Material: Recent Episodes
Beyond The Material
BEYOND THE MATERIAL is a discussion podcast covering Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) 5th Edition. Co-hosts Zach, Stephen and Drej cover the philosophy of D&D, game mechanics, game design, and more. Level up your tabletop experience with ideas to optimize every aspect of the game with in-depth analysis. DMs, gather your players and rulebooks, and prepare to venture forth in between the lines and beyond the material. If you want to send us topics you’d like to hear tackled on the show or critiques of the episodes, hit us with some rules lawyering, or just to chat please send us a message at contact@beyondthematerialpodcast.com. New episodes are released on the 1st and 15th of each month.
This week on Beyond the Material, Zach and Drej start creating their own homebrew world to play in. Using the Design of the Week tool, they work through the opening steps of working out a world that is shaped for the players. They cover how to start small and work your way out. They also tackle one of the hardest part of world design: Naming your World! Listen to the first part of many of Fresh Hombrew, and experience the birth of a brand new DnD world.
Points of Interest:
0:23 Welcome
1:16 Surprise Round: Naming Your World
1:50 DM tool for world creation
5:46 All about giants
6:21 Picking your aesthetic
9:03 Starting point
10:39 World vs Campaign
12:45 Naming the world
15:31 People and society
18:01 Design of the Week: World Building Guide
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
- Design of the Week
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
So you want to run a campaign - but where will it take place? Wizards is releasing new campaign settings at a hectic pace, and a dizzying array of un-official options exist as well. And then consider that you could… MAKE IT UP YOURSELF? Drej, Zach & Stephen way the advantages and disadvantages of different choices you could make when choosing the world for your campaign, discuss strategies to use elements of your world to make your campaign more interesting, and share their own experiences and favorites from the past. PLUS an abjuration spell straight out of Magic the Gathering, this week’s Design is the Capture Sphere.
Episode Points of Interest:
0:22 welcome
1:02 Surprise Round! What setting would you like to see adapted for D&D?
3:30 Published Campaigns - the safety net
4:55 Using published lore; a double-edged sword
6:00 Home-brew - forcing creative collaboration
9:03 Favorite setting?
14:34 Multi-arc Homebrews and Building History
15:45 World-building tips from Drej
18:00 Where to start? Pick your aesthetic
18:35 Design of the Week - Capture Sphere!
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
- Design of the Week: Capture Sphere
No one becomes a seasoned DM or D&D player without playing for the first time! In this week’s episode, Zach Drej and Stephen discuss issues around bringing new players into the hobby, starting with how to find people to join your games, and adjustments to make that will help newbies find the spark of magic that keeps us all coming back for more. You’ll get plenty of tips for streamlining the experience at the table, and a teaser for a very special Design of the Week: a PACKAGE of ten item conversions from Baldur’s Gate 2, ready for use in 5th Edition D&D! To get the full bundle, you just have to subscribe to our email list on beyondthematerialpodcast.com.
Episode Points of Interest:
0:23 Welcome
0:52 Surprise Round! How would you describe D&D in one sentence?
2:50 D&D Stigma and Preconceptions
5:20 The Matt Mercer Effect
10:24 Grapevine Power
13:55 Online, Game Shops
15:30 Start small!
17:20 You don’t have to know all the rules!
20:00 Dealing with combat
24:14 TEASER: The Job Interview for New Players
28:19 Design of the Week. BG2 Nostalgia Pack!
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
- Combat Action Guide for New Players
- Critical Role Videos for New Players
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
This week, the BtM gang breaks down OneD&D, the supposed future of Dungeons & Dragons announced in August by Wizards of the Coast. Some big changes are on the way - current playtesting hints at major shifts in the way characters are created, and major shifts in combat including critical hits, grappling and much more! Zach, Stephen and Drej break down the biggest changes for your listening pleasure, and explore what they mean for the direction of the game, and where the strategic tradeoffs might be. PLUS a Design of the Week creature that makes petrification look like a plus - the Stone Salamander!
Episode Points of Interest:
0:23 Welcome
0:59 Surprise Round! What Class would you Eliminate?
3:23 No more Editions??
8:04 Changes to Character Creation
10:30 Any half/half race you want!
13:30 d20 Tests
19:45 Inspiring 20’s
23:04 New Critical Hits
28:20 New Grapples!
30:38 New Spell Lists too!
33:50 The Future - 3D VTT from Wizards?
38:15 Design of the Week: Stone Salamander!
- Download the Stone Salamander
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
- Unearthed Arcana 2022: Character Origins
- Episode: Consensual Spellcasting
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
HUGE NEWS and an action-packed mega episode! Beyond the Material is launching a brand new website with more content and features, and to celebrate, we’re giving away copies of some classic D&D video game adaptations! Find the details at the end of the Notes Below!
In this episode, Zach, Stephen and Drej dissect the backbone of all D&D games: the encounter! What is it? How do you define the goals of an encounter? What makes them sometimes incredibly fun, and other times absolutely terrible? The BtM crew breaks it all down for you, and offer tons of creative ideas to make your encounters more interesting and engaging for everyone at the table. PLUS a new feature, the Surprise Round! Find out which D&D class the guys would be if such things were possible in everyday life, and as always a brand new Design of the Week - this time it’s a two-for-one, two different summoning items with potential to make great narrative or deadly traps: the Fire Snake Candle and Salamander Candle.
GIVEAWAY!! Beyond the Material is giving away THREE COPIES of Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition and one copy of Solasta: Crown of the Magister. The first three people to write a review for the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser and contact us with a screenshot of their review will receive a copy of Baldur’s Gate (distributed through DRM-free Serial key via Good Old Games). EVERYONE that submits a review and contacts us (even our lucky BG winners) will be entered in a drawing for the copy of Solasta. We have to receive your review by 11:59pm EST, September 14 2022 to be eligible for the drawing. You can submit your review screenshot through the contact section on www.beyondthematerialpodcast.com or via email to contact@beyondthematerialpodcast.com. GO FOR THE EYES, BOO!
Episode Points of Interest:
0:22 Welcome
1:37 Website Launch! Giveaways!
4:06 Surprise Round!
6:10 What is an Encounter?
10:36 Defining the point
13:07 Balancing Encounters
18:25 Should all encounters be winnable?
21:33 Encounter Turning Points
24:10 Encounters and Expectations
28:44 What Makes Encounters bad?
31:05 Ways to Make Encounters Better
35:40 Adjusting Difficulty mid-encounter
38:49 Design of the Week: Salamander Candle
- Download the Fire Snake & Salamander Candles
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
- The Monsters Know What They're Doing
- Episode: Consensual Spellcasting
- Episode: Game Inception
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
This week, with Zach still lost and totally unaccounted for, Stephen and Drej take a tour of one of the most significant expansions of the TTRPG world - video game adaptations! They cover everything from the nostalgic classic released by Bioware in the nineties to massive contemporary releases. Get their thoughts on which games offer the truest adaptation of TTRPG rulesets, best gameplay, balance between story and tactical combat, and which will really scratch that RPG itch if your players can’t make it to the table. PLUS a design idea of the week specially crafted for players dealing with an overdose of phasing or plane-shifting adversaries: the Plane Lock Spell!
Episode Points of Interest:0:22 Welcome
1:25 Baldur’s Gate 3
5:56 Solasta
9:32 Bioware/Black Isle Games
16:10 Pillars of Eternity
18:45 Pathfinder games
22:37 Divinity
26:40 Design Idea of the Week: Plane Lock Spell
- Download the Plane Lock Spell
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
The gang bring in a new friend to discuss one of the toughest parts of the tabletop game experience - getting started as a new DM. Tyler joins Stephen and Drej to talk about his own experience running a campaign for these two madmen, how he attempted to prepare, the advantages and struggles of using pre-written adventures, dealing with the rules and the unexpected nonsense of the players, and ultimately discuss some strategies to make things easier for new DMs and to keep campaigns from fizzling out. Plus, a design idea of the week featuring a conversion from the Rise of the Runelords a Pathfinder adventure - the Mutated Goblin!
Episode Points of Interest:
0:23 Welcome
1:24 Pathfinder…why??
4:00 Preparing as a new DM
8:08 Pros and Cons of Pre-written Campaigns
12:50 Dealing with the Rules
16:50 Rules Flexing
18:20 Player Curveballs
22:16 Unbalanced Encounters
28:17 DM Stress
31:30 First TTRPG Systems
34:23 Design Idea of the Week: Mutated Goblin
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
- Download the Mutated Goblin
- Fexlabs 5E Jump Calculator
You can find us on the web at, www.beyondthematerialpodcast.com. If you wanna send us topics, you'd like to hear tackled on the show critiques of the episodes, you wanna hit us up with some rules lawyering, or if you just wanna chat, please feel free to send us a message at contact@beyondthematerialpodcast.com
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
One of the best experiences to be had at the D&D table is feeling that your character has a real history and connection to the world and the story - but it’s not always easy to do! This week at Beyond the Material, the crew is joined by guest host Brooke as they discuss tips and tricks for making your campaigns more personal - building on characters’ back-stories, validating the creativity put into the game, and driving the players to work together in more exciting and meaningful ways. And a TWO-FOR-ONE design idea of the week from Drej: The ledh, AND the frostfell wolf!
Episode Points of Interest:
0:23 Welcome
2:00 Why bother personalizing?
3:08 Encouraging Character Development
8:30 NPCs from the characters’ past
11:20 Dreams and Visions
14:40 Character-specific Quests
18:32 Let it Happen Naturally
20:00 How much is too much?
22:07 Favorite Anecdotes
26:30 You can do it!
27:30 Design Idea of the Week: Frostfell Wolf & Ledh
- Download the Frostfell Wolf & Ledh
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
You can find us on the web at, www.beyondthematerialpodcast.com. If you wanna send us topics, you'd like to hear tackled on the show critiques of the episodes, you wanna hit us up with some rules lawyering, or if you just wanna chat, please feel free to send us a message at contact@beyondthematerialpodcast.com
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
What is the heart of a good D&D campaign? Is it tight structure and mechanics? Is it rich story and player choice? Is necessary to choose between the two? This week on Beyond the Material, the gang tackles two seemingly conflicting approaches to planning a campaign - the railroad vs. the sandbox. Both offer opportunities and frustrations for DMs and players alike, but with the right approach, there’s room for both in most campaigns. Listen to Zach, Drej and Stephen weigh the options for integrating and balancing these styles and get some ideas to streamline the planning for your table. PLUS a new design idea of the week, the terrifying Jade Spider!
Episode Points of Interest:
0:24 Welcome
2:46 Defining “Sandbox” and “Railroad”
5:40 The Illusion of Choice
9:51 How Many Railroads does it take to make a Sandbox?
12:41 Different Flavors of Sandbox
13:30 Sandboxing is harder than Railroading
15:20 Pros and Cons for the DM
22:20 Pros and Cons for Players
26:46 Design Idea of the Week: Jade Spider
- Download the Jade Spider
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
You can find us on the web at, www.beyondthematerialpodcast.com. If you wanna send us topics, you'd like to hear tackled on the show critiques of the episodes, you wanna hit us up with some rules lawyering, or if you just wanna chat, please feel free to send us a message at contact@beyondthematerialpodcast.com
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
What does the future hold for Dungeons and Dragons? This week, the guys at Beyond the Material take a look at the latest release from Wizards: Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse, and unpack the contents of the release, as well as what they suggest for future rules changes and updates. See what’s new and what’s coming next, PLUS a Design Idea of the Week good enough to build your whole campaign around: the Astral Armaments.
Episode Points of Interest:
0:22 Welcome
1:30 What’s in the book?
3:40 A new approach to enemy spell casting
5:00 Standardizing Damage and Movement
7:25 No more racial stat bonuses
9:27 No more subraces
12:45 Proficiency Scaling
16:15 Monster Lore Changes
19:30 The Multiverse Model
23:00 Hopes for the Future
28:00 Design Idea of the Week: The Astral Armaments
- Download the Astral Armaments
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
- Investors want to spin off Wizards of the Coast from Hasbro
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
The Beyond the Material crew revisits frustration points around the table and takes a closer look at Player Conflicts: where do they come from, how can they be resolved, and should they always be resolved? From clashing playstyles to triggering behavior to out-of-game issues that spill onto the table, there’s a whole gamut of problems that can turn your favorite pass time into something you dread. Drej, Zach, and special guest host Stu share their experiences, how to resolve player conflicts, and how to make the call when maybe you just shouldn’t be playing at the same table as certain people. PLUS, a Design Idea of the Week inspired from a classic D&D video game: the Flail of the Drow.
Episode Points of Interest:
0:23 Welcome
3:40 Let’s hear from Stu!
5:00 Is the DM responsible for player conflicts?
9:00 Some people shouldn’t play together
11:15 Don’t just take what you can get
14:18 Out of Game Conflicts Spill onto the Table
17:00 “Main Character Syndrome”
20:10 Triggering at the Table
22:50 Design Idea of the Week: Flail of the Drow
- Download the Flail of the Drow
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
Prepare to let the hate flow through you… this week, Zach Drej and Stephen talk about the things that irritate them at the table. Power gamers, backseat DMs, unprepared players - no one gets a pass this week on Beyond the Material. Tune in to listen to the rage fest, and perhaps to reflect what you could do to make the experience at your D&D table a little bit more fun for everyone. The design idea of the week is a spell from taken from Advanced Dungeons and Dragons and now converted into Fifth Edition: Clock of Bravery/Fear.
Episode Points of Interest:
0:22 Welcome
1:00 Player Preparation!
3:45 Combat is Tricky
4:48 DMs short-circuiting player choice
7:14 Exploration/Completion Mode
9:46 Check-stacking!
12:30 The Over-Advocator
15:00 Unpronounceable Names
16:45 Backseat DMs
18:30 Accidental Power Gamers
21:00 The Despair of Responsibility
22:30 Design Idea of the Week: Cloak of Bravery/Fear
24:30 What does it mean to concentrate?
- Download the Cloak of Bravery/Cloak Fear
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
The BtM crew butt heads this week on one of the toughest questions in the 5th Edition rules - how do you manage invisibility? The hosts break down all of the relevant rules including conditions, sight, hiding, obscuring, and perception checks, and talk you through the house rules they use in their own games to make things a little simpler and more fun. You’ll be seeing more clearly after getting this guided tour on the ins and outs of invisibility; plus, a design idea that gives you a powerful new creature that takes advantage of invisibility to pounce on unsuspecting party members, the Astral Stalker!
Episode Points of Interest:
0:22 Welcome
1:29 Invisibility is a Condition
5:45 What does an invisible creature look like?
8:45 Seeing
10:12 Being Hidden
12:28 Heavily Obscured
14:51 Invisibility and the Environment
16:45 Perception and Invisibility
21:00 Drej’s Invisibility House Rules
29:04 An Invisible Creature Hiding in a Snowy Field
36:00 Invisibility is about Sight (duh)
40:15 Design Idea of the Week: Astral Stalker
- Download the Astral Stalker PDF
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
- Jeremy Crawford on Invisibility
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
This week on Beyond the Material, get a unique peek into the madness of adventure design! The team follows up on a promise from the previous episode, and designs a one-shot adventure live on the recording. It’s got combat, puzzles, traps, special mechanics, and just to spice things up even more, Zach, Drej and Stephen all choose special conditions that MUST be satisfied by the design of the one-shot adventure. Listen to the structure of the adventure unfold on the podcast, then download and play it at your own table!
Episode Points of Interest:0:23 Welcome
1:20 Design Constraints
3:25 A Three-part Story Arc
5:28 Race to the Center!
9:32 What’s the Goal?
12:43 An Adventure on Two Planes
17:58 Starting at the End
24:30 Entrance to the Ruined Temple
26:50 The Trapped Hallway
28:00 The Talking Spider
31:38 The Branching Tunnels
33:00 The Stalker’s Lair
- Download the Tome of the Planes One-Shot Adventure
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
- Donjon
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
D&D Fifth Edition isn’t JUST for epic campaigns! It’s a great system for building smaller, more manageable adventures, and this week the Beyond the Material team will walk you through the key elements to designing a good one-shot experience. They also talk about some of the best reasons to mix one-shots into your game rotation, and share their best one-shot experiences. PLUS a scandalous revelation from Stephen’s past, AND a new design idea of the week: The Beast Whisperer feat, for the character who wants a pet but doesn’t mess around with arcane magic.
Episode Points of Interest:0:23 Welcome
1:37 Stephen’s a DM!
3:12 What is a One-Shot?
5:41 Why One-Shots?
8:52 How to get to the point
12:10 Best One-shot experiences
16:50 The right amount of content
19:26 Character Level in One-Shots
20:40 Design Idea of the Week: Beast Whisperer
- Download the Beast Whisperer Feat
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
Riddles, Puzzles, and Mini-Games, oh my! Are these essential parts of a Dungeons and Dragons Campaign? Are they a huge timesuck? What does it take to implement them well? This week on Beyond the Material, the guys discuss everything from designing and balancing riddles and puzzles, incorporating them meaningfully into the session experience, and using them to make moments that feel special and memorable. PLUS a new design idea of the week: the anti-magic grenade, for the party that doesn’t have a wizard, and DOESN’T WANT ONE.
Episode Points of Interest:
0:22 Welcome
2:37 Arguments for and Against
5:00 Flow & Pacing
7:43 Immersion and the Fourth Wall
11:33 Story-focused Puzzles
13:50 Puzzles without Solutions
16:40 Door Number Two
18:32 Make it Touchable!
24:06 Design Idea of the Week: Anti-Magic Grenade
- Download the Anti-Magic Grenade
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
D&D Campaigns center around making decisions - but what is the meaning of choice without the possibility of consequence? This week, the Beyond the Material team break down a moment from their own campaign which nearly became a TPK (total party kill), the range of consequences the party might experience for their actions, the impact of PC death on a campaign, and the balance between realistic consequences and fun, collaborative story-telling. The design item of the week is the Rod of the Stalker.
Episode Points of Interest:0:22 Welcome
3:45 Punishing Players
8:05 Proportional Consequences
10:30 When is a TPK OK?
16:00 Is Character Death a Good Thing?
17:40 Alternative Consequences
20:30 D&D as Collective Storytelling
24:30 The Joy of Creating New Characters
26:30 The Rule of Proportionality
29:09 Design Idea of the Week: Rod of the Stalker
- Download the Rod of the Stalker
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
We all know the REAL reason people play D&D is to get that sweet, sweet imaginary gold and treasure. For DMs, it can be one of the most frustrating and confusing aspects of the game to manage. How do you manage the economy of a campaign? How important are magic items to an adventuring group? How do you make rewards meaningful? This week, Zach, Stephen and Drej dive into the costs, benefits and headaches of dealing with loot in your D&D home game.
Episode Points of Interest:
1:30 D&D Economy doesn’t make sense
6:00 Random vs. Planned loot
13:00 Scaling wealth at higher levels
14:30 Magic items costs
18:45 Identifying items
21:45 Hoarding items
26:00 Items and action economy
30:00 Design Idea of the Week: Imp Dagger
- Download the Imp Dagger
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- Magic Item Price Spreadsheet
- Item Prices by Kassoon
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
You can find us on the web at, beyondthematerialpodcast.com. If you wanna send us topics, you'd like to hear tackled on the show critiques of the episodes. You wanna hit us up with some rules lawyering, or if you just wanna chat, please feel free to send us a message at contact@beyondthematerialpodcast.com
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
This week, the BtM crew tackles questions around magic use: balance and effectiveness of the magical schools, components and their role in spellcasting, and the norms of social perceptions attached to spellcasting that might exist in a high magic setting. DO you know when you make a wisdom saving throw? What makes sense from a game balance and a narrative perspective? Zach, Drej and Stephen debate these questions and more. PLUS a new design idea of the week: The Brawler Feat, for your favorite hyper-aggressive street fighting character.
Episode Points of Interest:
0:22 Welcome
1:00 Schools of Magic
1:50 Are the schools balanced?
2:40 Awareness, Perception and Saving Throws
11:10 Components and Spellcasting
15:30 Norms in a magical world
18:30 Design Idea of the Week: Brawler Feat
- Download the Brawler Feat
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
You can find us on the web at, beyondthematerialpodcast.com. If you wanna send us topics, you'd like to hear tackled on the show critiques of the episodes. You wanna hit us up with some rules lawyering, or if you just wanna chat, please feel free to send us a message at contact@beyondthematerialpodcast.com
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
In the inaugural episode of Beyond the Material, Zach, Drej and Stephen dive into one of the central questions of running a D&D Game in 5th Edition: is it ok for the DM to change the rules?? The gang introduces the concept (lovingly referred to as “DMFU Magic”), considers the differences in expectations that exist for players and dungeon masters, the implications for metagaming, and the use of improvised changes to manage (and augment) the players’ experience of the game. Beyond the Material also debuts its first Design Idea to integrate into your own home game, a fast and furious tavern betting game called Three Eyed Beholder!
Episode Points of Interest:
0:22 Welcome
1:28 What is DMFU magic?
5:45 Player Guidelines vs. Dungeon Master’s Guide
8:30 Punishing Players for understanding the Rules?
12:08 “DM Love You” Magic
14:57 Is it ok to change the rules?
18:00 Letting the players have their moments
27:40 Design Idea of the Week: Three-Eyed Beholder
- Download Three-Eyed Beholder
- Beyond the Material Homepage
- DMZM.net, Zach's homepage
You can find us on the web at, www.beyondthematerialpodcast.com. If you wanna send us topics, you'd like to hear tackled on the show critiques of the episodes. You wanna hit us up with some rules lawyering, or if you just wanna chat, please feel free to send us a message at contact@beyondthematerialpodcast.com
Beyond the Material is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.