Mastering Dungeons: Recent Episodes
Mastering Dungeons
RPG veterans and game designers Teos Abadía and Shawn Merwin look at the game and the hobby of D&D from a variety of viewpoints: reporting the news, understanding the business, reviewing the products, and illuminating the design. Whether you’re a fan, a player, a DM, or a designer, Shawn and Teos cover topics of interest to you!
Episode 222 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Looking Back on 2024, Forward to 2025!
Shawn and Teos revisit the year’s biggest stories, the show’s main topics and guests, and look forward to what will impact our hobby in 2025.
News: Bigger Monster Manual, CNBC on D&D’s Financial Success, Beyond Ranked Skills, and more!
Contents
00:00 Happy New Year!
02:37 Vancian Magic Limits Narratives?
12:03 Adjust DCs Based on PC?
23:41 Bigger Monster Manual
25:33 CNBC on D&D Financial Success
30:09 Using Third Places
32:32 How to Do a Character Voice
34:42 Weapons of Lore
36:13 Beyond Ranked Skills
40:00 Clank Acq Inc 2
41:00 Looking Back, Looking Forward
41:16 2024 Highlights
57:25 Our Guests in 2024
59:17 Our Main Topics
01:02:25 Our Fans
01:03:14 Our 2024 Favorites
01:07:58 Our Questions for 2025
01:26:14 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 221 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: The Psychology of D&D!
Dr. Jamie Madigan joins Teos and Shawn to explain that their dice aren’t cursed, the benefits of online vs in-person gaming, hot hand fallacy, and much more! Check out Jamie’s new book: https://www.psychologyofdnd.com/
News: Kobold Press Finances, Artificer on Unearthed Arcana, Goodbye Dark Alliance, and more!
Contents
00:00 We Got You a Jamie Gift
03:18 Build World With Players?
08:32 Death Saves Proposal?
23:43 Unearthed Arcana Artificer
35:19 D&D Secret Level Review
40:47 Cyberpunk VG Adds RPG
41:56 Kobold Press 2024 Finances
45:14 Draw Steel Core Rules to Patrons
45:54 Goodbye Dark Alliance
47:17 Vote for Most Anticipated RPG
49:45 Psychology of D&D
50:19 Dr. Jamie Madigan
52:06 Writing and Publishing Process
55:22 Book Approach
58:10 Psychology of Dice Randomness
01:00:28 Gambler's Fallacy
01:02:28 Hot Hand Fallacy
01:04:45 Psychology of Game Choices
01:08:37 Fewer Compensatory Options
01:10:02 Satisficers vs Maximizers
01:13:49 Benefits of Play
01:16:25 Online vs In-Person Benefits
01:24:59 Shout-Outs
01:27:34 Find Dr. Jamie Madigan
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 220 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Listener Question Mega-Show!
What do we do when we have tons of listener questions? Shawn and Teos dedicate the main segment to answering some truly awesome questions. Find out why this was the most fun we’ve had in months!
News: Moonbeam Launches Alpha, New Maps Features, D&D Immersive Quest, and more!
Contents
00:00 Bad Movie Season
02:14 Maps Adds Monster Stats
10:18 D&D Immersive Quest
14:11 D&D Adventurer Magazine
15:53 Licensing and WotC
18:05 Mearls on Death Saves
39:02 Jail-Compliant RPGs
40:54 One Foot in Fairy Land
42:47 Moonbeam Launches Alpha
44:34 Listener Questions
45:29 Improv Anxiety?
49:39 Player vs Character Skill?
01:02:12 Find Playtesters?
01:07:36 Easy RPG Entry Point?
01:18:46 Tricks for Creativity?
01:25:14 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 219 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Recent Game Design Lessons!
Shawn and Teos share what they learned from recent projects, from late 3E, 4E, and beyond.
News: New Greyhawk OP Campaign, AI Takes Down Itch.io, Talking Exploration, and more!
Contents
00:00:00 We're 93!
00:01:38 Redesign Gnomes?
00:10:08 Encourage in Character?
00:17:10 Adventure Opening?
00:22:14 Legends of Greyhawk and MagicCon
00:25:28 AI Takes Down Itch.io
00:26:57 12 Days of Beyond
00:29:06 Everyone's Talking Exploration
00:31:49 2024 Magic Item Changes
00:33:39 Kickstarter Project Finances
00:37:19 Recent Game Design Lessons
00:39:16 Form and Function
00:44:05 Know the Medium
00:46:08 The Audience
00:50:58 Xendrik Expeditions
00:55:09 Living Forgotten Realms
00:59:19 Ashes of Athas
01:03:01 Getting Noticed
01:04:34 Playtesting and New Editions
01:05:56 Understanding Companies
01:09:19 D&D Encounters
01:12:09 Full-Time Work
01:13:09 Balancing Freelance and Self
01:16:02 Other Paths
01:17:25 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 218 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Lessons Learned from Our Early Projects!
Shawn and Teos share what they learned from the days when they started as designers, back in the 2000s and the 3E era.
News: Exodus is Hasbro’s Newest RPG, Lord of the Rings and Illrigger on Beyond, PAX Unplugged, and more!
Contents
00:00 Snow Job
02:24 DM Types?
08:57 Exciting Sandbox Pace?
18:55 Exodus Video Game Gets RPG
30:45 Lord of the Rings on DDB
34:57 MCDM's Illrigger on DDB
38:19 D&D at PAX Unplugged
39:20 Combo Encounters
40:59 Mearls Teaching at UW
41:29 Monstrous Menagerie II
43:21 Lessons Learned from Early Projects
44:31 Build a Community?
49:47 Starting in 2000 and the LG Era
52:54 Organized Play Lessons
56:57 Learning is Investment
01:00:02 Changing Social Media
01:02:59 Clear and Concise Language
01:04:01 Understanding Industry Pay
01:05:27 Great Success is Rare
01:07:30 There is No Perfection
01:13:58 The Product that Isn't
01:16:31 Edition Change Challenges
01:18:31 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 217 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Qualities RPG Companies Look for in an RPG Designer!
Shawn and Teos review the qualities companies say they look for in an RPG designer.
News: Investors Sue Hasbro, Hasbro Abandons Movies, Juggling Teenagers, and more!
Contents
00:00 Hello World
02:11 Adopt Rules More Quickly?
13:22 Juggling Teenagers?
21:01 Hasbro Shifts from Movies
24:43 Investors Sue Hasbro
27:10 Social Media Changes
32:31 Post Office D&D Flyer
33:30 Winter Fantasy
34:13 Goodman Games Con
35:10 Roll20 Bastion Contest
35:58 DM David's D&D Wish List
39:39 Cupcake Dragon Card Game
40:56 Iskandar Explorer's Journal
41:50 What Publishers Look For
42:51 Standardized Job Descriptions?
45:25 Wide Skill Range
49:53 Reliability and Communication
58:32 Curiosity
01:01:23 Style Guides
01:04:06 Excitement
01:05:45 Mindfulness and Compassion
01:09:11 Big Bold Ideas
01:11:28 Courage
01:17:30 2 Designers
01:23:37 Praise
01:24:48 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 216 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Embracing Dark Fantasy!
Ben Bryne joins Shawn to discuss what makes dark fantasy such a compelling genre and how to create for dark games. Teos meanwhile hopes to recover from his technical horror as his desktop bites the dust.
News: AL Update, Kobolds Make Mistakes, and more!
Contents
00:00 Introduction
40:54 Dark Fantasy Campaigns
59:00 Find Ben Byrne
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 215 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic:
What Publishers Want in a D&D Designer!
Shawn and Teos review two D&D job postings and break down the skills and job functions a publisher looks for in a D&D Designer and Product Architect.
News: DMG Preorder Debacles, Weapon Masteries 101, PAGE Convention, and more!
Contents
00:00 Surviving
00:53 Writing Same Old Stuff?
08:02 Teaching Like Lazy DM?
14:41 D&D Beyond on Campaigns and Adventures
18:11 Critical Role Minis Canceled
20:23 DMG Preorder Debacles
23:13 Weapon Masteries 101
30:49 PAGE Convention Near Philly
33:05 State of the Mongoose
35:20 Lessons from Meetup
37:43 Jeff Stevens Steals Christmas
38:40 What Publishers Want in a D&D Designer
40:27 Growing Into a Position
42:13 D&D Designer - What You Do
56:08 Representing the Company
58:55 What You Bring
01:02:47 D&D Product Architect
01:11:22 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 214 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Memories of Gamehole Con!
Shawn and Teos look back on all of the events they attended and lessons from attending conventions. Hear why Gamehole is so special.
News: Claim Elemental Evil, Maps Adds Encounters, Audio-Only Drizzt, and more!
Contents
00:00 Stealing Credit Cards
03:08 Cleric Subclasses Setting Only?
09:21 Good Design Not Obvious?
13:57 Claim Scions of Elemental Evil
16:26 D&D Maps Adds Encounters
19:26 Audible-Only Drizzt Novel
20:32 Discord D&D Collection
21:41 Ars Magica Definitive Collection
23:25 Rodney Thompson List and Games
25:04 MT Black World War Weird
26:08 Thunder Road Vendetta RPG
27:36 Draconis Peaceful 5E
28:57 Gamehole Revisited
29:32 Whether to Attend Conventions
33:05 Wednesday Pre-Con Gatherings
38:15 Thursday's Events
47:32 Making the Most of Friday
59:27 Packed Saturday
01:04:28 Thankful Sunday Finish
01:06:39 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 213 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Want to Be a Professional Game Designer?
Shawn and Teos tackle a question they hear often. Do you truly want to be a game designer, and if so, the steps to take to make meaningful progress.
News: Hasbro Q3 and Layoffs, D&D 1-Shots, CR and Dimension 20 Arena Shows, and more!
Contents
00:00 Post-Gamehole Buzz
03:03 Skills are Exploration?
11:06 The Adventure is the Game?
16:46 Campaign Without Gods or Planes?
20:50 Layoffs and Q3 Hasbro Results
32:47 D&D is Down
34:17 How Big is D&D?
35:22 DMG Lore Glossary
36:41 DMG Encounter Design
40:13 DM Screen Preview
41:35 PH and DM High Demand
43:19 D&D One-Shot Store Events
44:51 Scions of Elemental Evil
46:41 Critical Role and Dim 20 Arena Shows
48:15 Be a Professional Game Designer?
49:22 Do You Actually Want It?
53:41 Mix Games with Occupation
57:13 What Skills to Hone?
01:05:12 Team Skills
01:07:22 Making Patient Progress
01:12:11 Know the Current Media
01:13:05 Possible Paths
01:15:17 Help People Solve Problems
01:17:36 Know Your Worth and do Work
01:19:26 Become a Great GM
01:21:06 The Role of Conventions
01:27:35 Having "It"
01:29:48 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 212 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Live from Gamehole: Create a Campaign With Us!
Amazing fans at Gamehole Con help us create a campaign, live!
News: Perkins’ New Job, DMG Review, What it Feels Like to Be Nr 2, and more!
Special thanks to Dante of Ghostfire Gaming for recording and processing the audio for this episode. You are the best, Dante!
Contents
00:00 Live from Gamehole Con
01:28 Number 2?
02:23 What Excited Us This Week?
05:14 Previous Edition Mechanic?
09:28 Systems we Want to Try?
11:32 Recent Influences?
15:27 Our DMG Preview
18:11 DMG and Greyhawk
19:43 Greyhawk on DMsGuild
21:55 Perkins' Last Book
24:04 Trail of Cthulhu 2E
26:19 Hundred Dungeons
27:19 Grim Hollow Transformed
27:48 Creating a Campaign Setting Live
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 211 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Horizons Magazine with Hannah Rose!
Hannah Rose shares how she and Clara Daly are creating Horizons Magazine and what we can expect from this issue and future quarterly issues.
News: London Gets DMGs, D&D Movie Netflix Success, DMG Toolbox Previews, and more!
Contents
00:00 Happy Rebranding Day
01:33 Character Consequences?
13:48 Pivot from Curse of Strahd?
20:54 First DMGs at London MCM
23:38 DMG Toolbox Previews
32:58 D&D Movie Big on Netflix
35:38 Greyhawk 101
36:52 Cultural Backgrounds 2024
38:33 Trapped on Cyre 1313
39:46 Dungeons Reforged
42:09 Grim Hollow Transformed
43:11 Hannah Rose
44:43 Hannah and Clara
55:12 Why a Magazine?
58:34 Lessons from Arcadia
01:01:53 Playtesting
01:04:59 Mix of D&D and Other RPGs
01:09:03 Desk of Many Thoughts
01:11:48 How to Get Horizons
01:13:07 Patreon vs Site?
01:14:24 Issue 1 Contents - Travel
01:18:23 Star Dragons
01:19:43 Cloud City
01:23:55 NPC Atraxis
01:28:57 Future Plans
01:34:05 Find Wildmage Press
01:35:12 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 210 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Wardens of the Eastern Marches!
Alex Kammer tells us all about Wardens of the Eastern Marches, the new organized play program from Gamehole Publishing.
News: 2024 DMG Previews, Commander Rules Committee, Bastion is for Players, and more!
Contents
00:00 No Vaccine for Ladders
02:19 Remove Mechanics for Setting?
15:08 D&D Made for Conflict?
31:28 DMG Previews!
41:26 Bastions Preview
42:04 Player Rules in the DMG?
44:04 New D&D Licensed Products
45:19 Commander Rules Committee Disbands
50:31 Gamehole's Organized Play
51:11 Real Castle Floor Plans
51:46 The Best LLM is Your Brain
52:58 Sorcerer's Return
54:00 Grim Hollow Transformed Update
55:56 Alex Kammer and Eastern Marches
58:19 Importance of Organized Play
01:01:35 AL at a Crossroads
01:04:51 The Eastern Marches
01:09:06 Setting and Alliances
01:12:42 Where to Play
01:13:15 3rd Party PC Options
01:19:58 Exploring the Unknown
01:21:08 Saying Yes to Creators
01:22:59 Magic Item Certs
01:26:22 Releasing Adventures
01:29:16 Gamehole and 50th
01:34:57 What Makes Gamehole Special
01:38:39 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 209 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: 5E Stat Block Changes and Building the Perfect Campaign Guide!
We look at how 2024 5E changes stat block format, while also modifying monsters themselves. We then turn to creating the perfect campaign setting guide.
News: 2024 5E Sales, Uni Finds Beyond, Grim Hollow Transformed, and more!
Contents
00:00 Go Broncos!
00:56 Divine-Powered Goals?
19:35 2024 5E Sales
33:01 D&D on Vinyl
34:06 Uni on Beyond
36:40 Baldur's Gate 3 Minis
38:10 Horizons Magazine
41:15 Frontiers of Eberron's Creation
43:08 Grim Hollow Transformed
48:26 2024 Monster Stat Blocks
50:03 Design Goal
58:22 2024 Layout Changes
01:03:03 Changes to the Ape
01:10:34 Changes to the Imp
01:14:32 Other Creature Changes
01:20:45 Building the Perfect Campaign Guide
01:21:37 Constraints and Assumptions
01:22:40 Length
01:23:55 What to Include: The Pitch
01:26:25 Player Knowledge
01:27:29 The World
01:33:23 New Rules to Support Play
01:35:56 What Might Be Included?
01:39:15 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 208 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: 2024 5E’s Gods and Multiverse! Final Greyhawk!
2024 5E PH banishes all the gods and reduces the multiverse to one page and one image! We look at how this changes 5E for new players. Our final look at Greyhawk reimagines the setting format and looks at how gods and powerful organizations create interesting play.
News: MtG Netflix Revivified, the D&D Bologna Scale, Knowing Vecna, and more!
Contents
00:00 Emptying Nests
02:53 Boss Battle Origins?
06:23 Codified vs Loose Rules?
15:40 Sage Advice Fixes?
19:37 Rest of World Healing?
29:18 MtG Netflix Show Revivified
31:32 What Do We Know About Vecna
35:24 D&D Bologna Scale Tested
39:17 Daggerheart Preorders
41:10 Enter the Labyrinth
43:07 2014 vs 2024 Gods and Multiverse
44:45 Design Goals
47:35 Planes and Gods in Older Editions
52:30 2014 and 2024's Gods and Planes
56:48 Is Less Information Good?
01:05:07 Wrapping Up Greyhawk
01:06:32 Encyclopedic Approach is Dated
01:08:03 Why Greyhawk is Different
01:14:32 Geography of the Flanaess
01:15:45 Greyhawk's Powerful Organizations
01:19:49 Greyhawk's Gods
01:21:03 The Living Greyhawk Campaign
01:22:26 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 207 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: 2024 5E Resting Rules and Greyhawk’s Regions!
Discover the subtle changes 2024 5E makes to short and long rests and how they compare to previous editions. We assess the potential campaigns behind the design of Greyhawk’s Rovers of the Barens, Scarlet Brotherhood, Sea Barons, Sea Princes, and Shield Lands!
News: 2024 5E and the AL, New Ravenloft Novel, When to Explain a Crime, and more!
Contents
00:00 LEGO Mini Mania
04:20 D&D Epic vs Open?
09:47 Empire of the What?
11:17 Explaining a Crime?
15:19 Why is Medicine Useless?
21:24 2024 and Adv League
31:38 New Ravenloft Novel
33:23 D&D Cartoon Theme Found
35:18 Un Millón de Monedas
40:22 Oleumancer for Draw Steel
41:29 How to Create in 2024
42:46 2024 vs 2014: Healing and Resting
43:08 Value of Conditions
44:45 Design Goal for Recovery
48:44 Recovery in AD&D
52:17 3.5 Rest and Recovery
54:05 4E Rest and Recovery
57:53 2024 Long Rest Changes
01:03:04 2024 Short Rest
01:09:39 Rovers of the Barrens
01:13:42 Scarlet Brotherhood
01:18:20 Sea Barons
01:20:43 Sea Princes
01:24:05 Shield Lands
01:28:01 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
Episode 206 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: 2024 5E Conditions and Greyhawk’s Regions!
We examine the design goals of conditions and how they have changed for 2024. We visit Greyhawk’s Paynims, Perrenland, Pomarj, Ratik, and Rel Astra to see how to make the most of kingdoms and rulers.
News: 2024 PH Errata, Draw Steel License, Shadowdark Hex Crawl, and more!
Contents
00:00 Tastes Like Introcaso
01:43 Alignment Problems?
16:21 Preferred Tools VTT or Table?
25:33 2024 PH Errata
30:15 Time Mag on D&D
33:37 BMG Organized Play Survey
34:49 Draw Steel Creator License
37:34 Shadowdark Hex Crawling Rules
41:17 Grim Hollow Valikan Clans
44:30 Jeff Stevens on PWYW
46:18 Frontiers of Eberron PreOrder
50:47 Conditions in 5E 2024 vs 2014
51:40 Design Goals
01:00:07 4E and Do We Need Conditions?
01:02:50 2014's Conditions
01:06:43 2024 vs 2014
01:30:24 Greyhawk's Plains of the Paynims
01:35:17 Perrenland
01:37:23 Pomarj
01:39:48 Ratik
01:41:27 Rel Astra and Solnor Compact
01:45:02 Shout-Outs
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Episode 205 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: PC Creation in 2024 5E and Greyhawk’s Regions!
2024 changes the order for character creation… for the better? We review Greyhawk’s North Kingdom, Nyrond, Onnwal and the Pale, looking at how to make settings interesting for players.
News: PH in Stores, PAX West Report, Greg Tito Leaves WotC, and more!
Contents
00:00 PAX West Report
04:08 Hate Balance?
06:32 Balance with Flavor?
09:26 Weapon Mastery Compensation?
14:17 D&D Direct
15:54 2024 DMG and MM
18:07 Translations Delayed and Changed
19:18 Jess Lanzillo
21:46 New Releases
27:46 Sigil VTT
33:39 Traveller Sold to Mongoose
35:16 NPR Covers D&D
36:54 Greg Tito Leaves WotC
42:08 2024 PH in Stores and Beyond
42:49 Free 2024 Rules
46:19 2024 Really Bigger?
48:00 Character Creation 2024 vs 2015
52:25 2024 Starts with Rules
57:27 Class
57:48 Origin After Class
01:03:31 Mechanical Order vs Narrative
01:05:13 Ability Scores
01:10:37 Alignment and Details
01:18:46 Greyhawk's North Kingdom
01:24:58 Nyrond
01:30:23 Onnwal
01:33:11 The Pale
01:36:59 Shout Outs
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Episode 204 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Weapon Mastery in 2024 5E and Greyhawk’s Regions!
2024 brings exciting Weapon Master options. We discuss the design, then turn to Greyhawk and review Ket, Lendore Isles, and Lordship of the Isles. Surf and turf!
News: D&D Clarifies Beyond, D&D’s Secret Level and Universal Plans, and more!
Contents
00:00 Time and Friendship
03:22 Conventions with Most AL?
11:37 Is Passive Perction Wrong?
19:32 D&D Direct
21:11 Beyond Clarifications
28:24 D&D Hiring Game Designer
31:39 D&D on Amazon Prime
32:27 Paizo Reverses Community Policy
34:33 Universal D&D FanFest
35:02 D&D at Rochester's Strong Museum
36:00 Goodman Launches Organized Play
37:03 Giantsbane Covers Planescape
37:43 Cosmere is Nr 1
38:36 2024 Weapon Mastery
39:11 Design Goals
43:20 Weapon Mastery Properties
54:56 DM vs Players
01:01:03 Overall Thoughts
01:07:59 Greyhawk and Triads
01:13:13 Ket
01:23:20 Lendore Isles
01:27:27 Lordship of the Isles
01:31:22 Shout-Outs
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Episode 203 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Search in 2024 5E and Greyhawk’s Regions!
D&D codifies the Search and Study actions in 2024. How does this impact gameplay? We then dive into how Greyhawk regions do or don’t create actionable history, looking into Highfolk, Ice Barbarians, Irongate, Empire of Iuz, and Keoland!
News: Uni Adventure at PAXW, Deborah Ann Woll Teaches, Motley Fool on 2024 D&D, and more!
Contents
00:00 ODnD Mini Review
02:55 What is Modularity?
10:26 First Multi-Table Event?
23:31 Deborah Ann Woll Teaches D&D
28:18 Alt Cover PH Delayed Outside US
29:21 2024 Tonal Shift?
38:42 Motley Fool on D&D 2024
43:40 Uni Adventure at PAX West
45:38 Norrøngard Tales of the Valiant
46:40 Horror at Devil's Run for Foundry
47:27 Search Action in 2024
49:22 Ludonarrative Dissonance?
55:29 Search in 2014
57:33 2024 Search and Study Actions
59:12 Feat and Spell Interactions
01:04:45 The Cost of Searching
01:06:59 DM Behavior
01:13:30 Living Greyhawk Gazetteer
01:13:59 Highfolk
01:18:58 Ice Barbarians
01:21:11 Irongate
01:24:44 Empire of Iuz
01:30:02 Keoland
01:39:37 Gamehole Con Events
01:40:21 Shout-Outs
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Episode 202 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: 2014 vs 2024 Exhaustion and Greyhawk’s Regions!
Does 2024’s change to Exhaustion improve gameplay? Our new 2024 mini-review series has begun! We then dive into how Greyhawk regions showcase politics and history, looking into the Frost Barbarians, Furyondy, Gran March, and Teos’ favorite, Geoff!
News: WotC New Influencer Policy, We Playtest Draw Steel, Satanic Panic Podcast, and more!
Contents
00:00 Draw Steel and Film
07:32 Best Way to Celebrate Anniversary?
17:23 Run a Complex Setting?
24:14 WotC New Influencer Policy
31:01 New D&D MtG
32:39 Jess Lanzillo Interview
39:57 Satanic Panic Podcast
43:33 Story Hooks
44:40 Encounter Difficulty Math
46:08 Amazing Encounters & Dungeons
46:53 2024 Mini-Review on Exhaustion
54:56 2024's Changes
01:02:36 Greyhawk's Regions!
01:03:23 Frost Barbarians
01:07:29 Furyondy
01:09:24 Good Hook Example
01:11:51 Duchy of Geoff
01:15:35 Combat and Politics
01:17:09 Gran March
01:19:42 Wheels Within Wheels
01:22:04 City of Greyhawk
01:28:50 Shout-Outs
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Episode 201 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Setting Design and Greyhawk’s Regions!
Does a standoffish elven nation make for great play? We ponder setting design and the 2024 DMG while summarizing Greyhawk’s regions of Bissel, Blackmoor, Bone March, Bright Lands, Celene, Dyvers, and Ekbir.
News: PH Debut and Gen Con News, Blurry Video Debacle, Cosmere Stormlight RPG, and more!
Contents
00:00 Gen Con Haul
04:21 Playing in Established Settings?
07:00 RAW vs Homebrew for Designers?
09:19 Questions for Organized Play?
19:21 Gen Con Sells Out
20:36 2024 PH Debuts and News
32:37 Video Blur Debacle
42:32 Diana Jones and ENnies
43:12 Dark Horse DnD Comics
43:54 LEGO Minifigs
44:42 City of Arches by Sly Flourish
45:34 Brandon Sanderson Cosmere RPG
46:39 Making the Most of Greyhawk Regions
48:04 What 2024 May Bring
49:42 Useful Design
52:20 Politics vs Adventure
59:02 Our Approach
01:00:38 Bissel
01:05:44 Blackmoor
01:09:33 The Bone March
01:11:14 The Bright Lands and Rary
01:14:13 Celene the Elven Kingdom
01:17:38 Dyvers
01:20:40 Calliphate of Ekbir
01:25:16 Shout-Outs
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Episode 200 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Greyhawk’s Regions!
The 2024 DMG will include the setting of Greyhawk. Shawn and Teos examine how the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer covers its nations and regions, using Ahlissa and the Bandit Kingdoms to ponder what makes a setting great.
News: What is D&D’s Tabletop Revenue, Hasbro Q2 Breakdown, Why RPGs Have Mistakes, and more!
Contents
00:00 200th Birthday
02:13 Reproduce Living Greyhawk?
18:40 Why Does WotC Make Mistakes?
27:18 Hasbro Q2 Results!
35:13 D&D and Digital
41:31 2024 and VTT?
44:38 DD Beyond Grows to 18M
46:16 Calculating D&D's Revenue
51:00 MCDM RPG is Draw Steal
51:48 Greyhawk Regions
53:57 What Do We Want in a Setting?
59:13 Gazetteer Approach
01:10:13 Kingdom of Ahlissa
01:13:00 Every DM's Setting the Same?
01:19:11 Resources, Coins
01:21:02 Peoples, Alignments, Religions
01:23:45 Allies, Enemies, Overview
01:26:59 History
01:30:38 Conflicts and Intrigues
01:37:22 The Bandit Kingdoms
01:41:22 BK and Casey Brown
01:47:40 Shout-Outs
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Episode 199 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Greyhawk’s Peoples and Story!
The 2024 DMG will include the setting of Greyhawk. Shawn and Teos examine how the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer describes species, culture, and history. And, hey, how detailed should a setting be?
News: New WotC VP John Hight, Hiring D&D Architect, Free Shadowdark Solo, and more!
Contents
00:00 Parental Warning
03:31 Edition Change at Cons?
22:52 John Hight New WotC President
30:17 D&D Hiring Product Architect
36:28 Early PH at Gen Con
38:30 Monopoly Go Version of Monopoly
41:38 Wulfgang Baur Interview
43:29 Shadowdark Solo for Free
44:30 Thousand Suns in Spanish
45:24 Nimble 5E on Backerkit
46:45 Greyhawk Gazetteer
47:37 Evaluating a Setting
49:24 The Chapters
51:25 Tropes and Other Issues
53:23 Ch2 Human Cultures
57:07 Is this Important?
01:02:51 Nonhumans in Greyhawk
01:06:39 Greyhawk's Level of Conflict
01:11:43 Ch3 Greyhawk's History
01:17:09 Greyhawk Wars
01:21:19 Peace Signing
01:25:26 In Praise of Legwork
01:30:48 Player Assumptions
01:40:47 Shout-Outs
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Episode 198 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: The Living Greyhawk Campaign!
The 2024 DMG will include the setting of Greyhawk. Shawn and Teos examine the start of the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer and reminisce on the impacts of the Living Greyhawk organized play campaign.
News: Dan Rawson’s Expanded Role, D&D Stamps and Conventions, Moonbeam, and more!
Contents
00:00 Copa of Tears
01:26 Warriors of Krynn
10:58 BG3 is New to Us
12:53 Last Caravan
13:58 20-Person Game?
21:40 Robin Hood Ranger?
25:05 Barbarian Make Sense?
31:17 Goodberry is Bad?
40:53 Dan Rawson Expanded Role
42:19 Infinite Staircase Releases
42:42 UK and US D&D Stamps
45:08 D&D at SD Comic-Con
46:20 Gen Con in 2 Weeks
47:08 GameHole Events
48:53 Daggerheart Final Beta
50:18 Free Mace of Tiamat
52:05 GAMA Horizon Fellowship
53:45 Moonbeam on Backerkit
57:07 Level Up 5E Platform
58:56 Living Greyhawk
01:00:15 Living Greyhawk's Impact
01:04:41 A Living Setting
01:06:22 Regions and Travel
01:10:25 Time Units
01:12:05 Greyhawk's Difficult Concepts
01:17:28 Have Settings Advanced?
01:22:03 Settings as Lies
01:24:02 Greyhawk Differentiators
01:25:20 Actionable Lore
01:30:09 Greyhawk's Lessons
01:31:02 Chapter 1
01:34:45 Continents and Weather
01:37:31 Geographic Divisions
01:38:24 Shout-Outs
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Episode 197 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: The Origins of Greyhawk!
The 2024 DMG will include the setting of Greyhawk. Shawn and Teos examine Greyhawk’s history and characteristics and why it makes a great choice for a core setting.
News: Kyle Brink Departs WotC, ENnies Nominations, Physical vs Digital, and more!
Contents
00:00 Ever Been to a German Prison?
02:05 Upcoming Shows
06:04 Physicality of Books?
15:39 Better in Digital?
23:24 Is the Pillar Problem the System?
36:45 Kyle Brink Departs WotC
41:32 Vecna Images Answer
43:06 Web Site Transfer Answer
45:06 How to DM Parenting
47:03 Ennies Nominations
51:38 Grimhollow Heritage Playtest
53:45 Pelicon 24
54:38 The Anywhere Door on Moonbeam
56:23 How to RPG
57:04 Jim Zub on Licensed Work
58:51 Greyhawk's Origin
59:28 Greyhawk in 2024
01:02:22 Gary and Dave
01:04:26 DMs Don't Need a Setting
01:09:53 Shaped by the Times
01:11:58 Major Peoples and Migrations
01:16:03 Product Evolution
01:22:13 Post-Gygax
01:28:17 3E and Greyhawk Rises
01:32:27 Shout Outs
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Episode 196 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Setting Expectations for your TTRPG Projects!
Wrel (Michael Henderson) joins Shawn Merwin to discuss how to set the right expectations for your TTRPG projects. Topics include setting goals, knowing who you are designing for, finding an audience, and assessing your capabilities.
News: New D&D VP, PH and DMG Previews, Reliable Core Rules, and more!
Contents
00:00 Michael Henderson aka Wrel
02:37 Unnecessary Rules?
07:21 Reliable Core Rules?
12:55 Counterspell Problems?
18:33 Ditch Resource Management?
26:12 New D&D VP Jess Lanzillo
34:32 2024 D&D Previews
38:04 Grim Hollow Player Pack on DDB
43:00 Grim Hollow 2E in October
45:38 How Not to Get Eaten by an Owlbear
46:45 TTRPG Project Expectations
47:28 What's the Goal?
54:20 Who Designing For?
01:07:44 Finding an Audience
01:13:26 What are you Capable of?
01:18:21 Practicing on DDB
01:19:22 Importance of Art
01:27:48 Find Wrel
01:28:25 Shout-Outs
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Episode 195 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Daggerheart’s Adversaries and Environments!
Our final episode covering Daggerheart. Adversaries are critical to an RPG, creating excitement and engagement. Let's learn from how Daggerheart works to streamline stat blocks and encourage open play!
News: Hasbro CEO Take 2, Vecna on DDB Doesn’t Match Book, Tabletop Scotland, and more!
Contents
00:00 Ghostfire University
01:37 Stay Inspired?
07:57 Build Player Investment?
12:16 Daggerheart's Blank Canvas?
24:30 2024 PHB Reveals
26:44 Hasbro CEO, Take 2!
36:12 DDB Vecna Doesn't Match Paper
39:36 AL Adds Tabletop Scotland PO
43:23 Origins Award Finalists
44:26 Final Daggerheart!
45:14 One Remaining Major Update
47:25 Playtest Ends in July
48:49 Importance of Adversaries
50:42 Adversaries in Daggerheart
54:59 Descriptions and Motives
57:49 Attack and Defense
01:01:23 Experiences
01:03:08 Special Features
01:09:18 Environments
01:13:13 Do Environments Work Well?
01:24:21 Promised Sections
01:24:56 Final Thoughts
01:33:18 Shout-Outs
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Episode 194 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Running a Daggerheart Campaign!
Daggerheart tells us each session should be built fresh, based on the previous session. And the world is a map populated by the players. Let’s see the benefits and challenges of this approach!
News: Roll20 Acquires Demiplane, D&D Movie’s Surprises, Hiring at Avantis MCDM FG, and more!
Contents
00:00 Inevimitable
01:08 Cost of Experience?
10:51 Narrative Game Defined?
17:16 D&D Movie's Strong 2024
21:02 2024 MM Covers Revealed
26:08 Hiring at Avantis MCDM FG
29:01 Roll20 Acquires Demiplane
35:45 4E Turns 16 and Eberron 20
36:41 Worldbuilding with Glimpses
40:10 Teos Controls Neverwinter MMO?
41:01 Diana Jones Finalists
42:06 The Light Fantastic
43:22 The Deck of Many Drinks
46:45 Daggerheart Campaigns
47:13 Review Context
49:19 Daggerhear's Clear Perspective
54:23 Build a Map
58:48 Filling Space, Leaving Blanks
01:02:43 Incorporate Backstories
01:09:01 Backstory vs Adventure First
01:17:23 Planning a Story Arc
01:22:42 A Living World
01:27:22 Shout-Outs
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Episode 193 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Running a Daggerheart Session!
Daggerheart provides advice on how to create a session based on the heroes. But is it actionable advice? Is Shawn raging while Teos remains positive? Find out the shocking truth!
News: WotC Hiring AI, Paramount Cancels D&D, Foundry Launches RPG, and more!
Contents
00:00 Somewhat Tainted by Madness
01:49 Hope and Fear in 5E?
13:06 Campaign vs One-Shot Kickstarter?
18:23 Post-Project Framework?
26:05 DMG 2024 Cover Previews
30:34 D&D TV Show Not Paramount
32:38 WotC Hiring AI
39:15 Barrier Peaks Revised
41:57 D&D Destiny
43:10 PAX West Badges
44:53 Foundry Launches Ember RPG
46:38 Your Charisma Score
49:36 Jennell Jaquays Honored
50:10 Blade Runner Rebellion
52:35 Running Daggerheart Sessions
53:31 Aspirational vs Actionable Advice
01:01:54 Running a Session
01:02:46 Thinking in Beats
01:10:00 Preparing Combat Encounters
01:15:30 Crafting Scenes
01:19:29 Shawn Loves Using Conflict
01:25:16 Countdown vs Skill Challenges
01:29:08 Using Downtime
01:30:59 Character Death
01:32:48 TPKs and New PCs
01:33:47 Leveling Up
01:38:53 Shout-Outs
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Episode 192 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Daggerheart GM Moves and Mechanics!
Daggerheart lets a GM act at any time, yet encourages moves that push the narrative and create fun for players. Let’s take a look!
News: Andy Collins Returns to WotC, Chaosium Hires, Gamehole News, and more!
Contents
00:00 Back in Black
01:47 Know Other RPGs to Design?
07:26 Prepared vs Extemporaneous?
17:34 Chaosium Adds Staff
20:39 Andy Collins Returns to WotC
24:48 GameHole Badge Reg
26:37 PoC Mentoring Dinner at GHC
28:10 RPGs Spur Climate Empathy
31:21 Diana Jones Emerging Designers
32:27 Blade Runner Replicant Rebellion
33:33 Daggerheart GM Mechanics
35:26 Core Roll Mechanics
36:59 GM Mechanics
41:39 Calling for Action Roles
43:13 Guaranteed Success
46:21 Experiences and Rolls
50:01 Making GM Moves
54:59 Example Moves
56:29 Adventure Considerations
01:00:43 Choosing Moves
01:07:22 Hard and Soft Moves
01:09:08 Fear
01:18:42 Countdowns
01:21:47 Shout-Outs
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Episode 191 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: 13th Age 2E Design with Rob Heinsoo!
The much admired 13th Age RPG has a second edition on kickstarter! Designer Rob Heinsoo discusses the game’s innovations and takes a look back at leading 4E design, the OGL as seen by WotC, and much more!
News: Greyhawk in the DMG, Homebrew vs Prewritten, D&D Worlds & Realms, and more!
Contents
00:00 New MD Search Engine!
01:59 Digital vs Paper Future?
06:23 Scene Transitions?
10:49 Greyhawk in the DMG
16:15 D&D Worlds & Realms
18:08 Talisman 5E
19:04 Prewritten vs Homebrew
21:30 Iskander Adventures - MT Black
22:42 Brazil Flood Charity Bundle
23:36 Jeff Stevens Saints and Sinners
24:56 Rob Heinsoo and 13th Age 2E
25:25 Rob's One Unique Thing
29:58 Three Dragon Ante
33:22 Shadowfist Design
37:09 Success on Design Team
41:30 Listening Power
42:52 Leading 4E D&D Design
45:56 4E's Goals
49:46 4E Digital Tool Impact
54:22 Why Rescind an OGL?
57:05 13th Age Innovations
58:25 The Icons
01:01:08 One Unique Thing design
01:04:08 Engaging Monster Design
01:09:07 2E Beyond Kickstarter?
01:14:04 Shout-Outs
13th Age 2E Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pelgranepress/13th-age-second-edition-storytelling-action-fantasy-game
Rio Grande Flood Charity Bundle: https://doar.acnur.org/page/ACNURBR/doe/enchentes-no-sul-do-brasil
New Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
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Episode 190 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Daggerheart Review – GM Advice!
We found the heart of Critical Role, and it’s in the GM advice section. Shawn and Teos dig into this advice, fantastic for any game but tailor-made for Daggerheart’s play.
News: Critical Role Launches Beacon, MCDM on D&D Beyond, 2024 PH Art Reveal, and more!
Contents
00:00 Mother's Day
02:04 RPG vs Video Game ROI?
07:19 Vancian vs Roll to Cast?
15:11 D&D SRD 5.2 in February!
18:56 2024 PH Art Sneak Peak
22:31 D&D Dead by Daylight
23:45 Critical Role Launches Beacon
25:42 D&D GenCon Events
31:40 MCDM Books on D&D Beyond
33:32 Is D&D Changing Course?
40:08 Secret Vecna Wallpaper
40:39 Vecna Prequel Will Be Sold
41:47 Black Flag Reference Document
43:29 Deck of Player Safety on Demiplane
44:59 13th Age 2E on Kickstarter
46:47 Rethinking Alignment
48:14 Distal d20
49:10 Kickstarter 2023 Review
50:29 Daggerheart GM Advice
51:00 1.4 Playtest Update
52:33 THIS is Critical Role!
57:26 GM Principles
01:03:09 Ask Questions
01:09:03 Imperfect Improvisation
01:12:06 GM Best Practices
01:13:40 Treat PCs as Competent
01:16:04 Create Meta Conversation
01:17:01 Ground the World in Motive
01:23:42 Pitfalls to Avoid
01:32:19 Shout-Outs
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Episode 189 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Daggerheart Review – Domains and Actions!
Cards in an RPG? Find out how Daggerheart keeps characters and gameplay interesting with Domains and the Action Tracker!
News: Hasbro $1M Investment, D&D Beyond Changes Marketplace, Monster Symmetry, and more!
Contents
00:00 Alien Sun
03:03 HP Increase Design?
08:17 Stay on 2014?
15:06 BG3 impacts?
19:13 Favorite Snack?
19:59 Arena Sizes?
21:03 D&D Beyond Changes Marketplace
24:38 Hasbro's 1M Investment
30:57 Tabletop Association
33:35 WotC AI FAQ
38:40 WondLa TV Series
39:52 DM David Monster Symmetry
43:17 Oracle Monster Generator
44:25 Daggerheart Percentages
45:45 Playtest Contents
49:48 Cards in RPGs
52:49 Domain Cards
54:40 Loadout and Vault
01:00:32 Card Examples
01:03:24 Keyword Learning Curve
01:06:23 Basic Attacks
01:08:13 Heritage Cards
01:12:07 Action Tracker and Init
01:20:17 Shout-Outs
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Episode 188 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Daggerheart Review – Character Creation!
A nine-step process provides a robust mix of crunch and narrative options. See what this blend tells us about this and other RPGs.
News: Hasbro’s Q1 Results, WotC Completing the PH, Roll20 Discord Integration, and more!
Contents
00:00 Far Out
02:26 Vecna Prequel Review
04:12 Monster Hunter
06:05 Backgrounds Approach?
11:23 Age and Time?
19:53 BG3 for Other Stories?
26:23 D&D Fireside Chat
35:13 Hasbro Q1
43:04 Roll20 Discord Integration
44:32 Star Trek 2E Quickstart
45:57 D&D Beyond Seeks Writers
48:57 Hypersleep Terminated
50:39 Daggerheart Classes!
54:09 9-Step Character Creation
55:07 Step 1. Choose Class
01:00:26 Character Sheet
01:02:51 Step 2. Heritage
01:05:23 Step 3. Traits
01:10:15 Step 4. Evasion, HPs, Stress and Hope
01:13:34 Step 5. Equipment
01:15:17 Step 6. Background Questions
01:18:26 Step 7. Experiences
01:30:40 Step 8. Domain Cards
01:36:35 Step 9. Create Connections
01:43:39 Shout-Outs
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Episode 187 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Daggerheart Review – Core Rules!
Hope, Fear, Stress, and so much more! We take a look at Daggerheart’s design and how it encourages narrative and tactical gameplay.
News: WotC President Departs, Colville on Adventure Length, DriveThru Sales Data, and more!
Contents
00:00 Deck of Campaign Derailments
02:45 Reworking Design?
07:51 Best Adventure Format?
15:52 Fix D&D Like MTG?
19:02 Cynthia Williams Departs
26:20 D&D Maps Tips
27:39 Colville on Adventure Length
34:54 DriveThru Sales Data
38:13 Daggerheart and Demiplane
40:05 Daggerheart Playtest
43:07 Our Playtests
49:20 Core System - Hope and Fear
52:00 d12s v d20
58:00 Hope as a Fuel
59:44 Defenses and Health
01:03:06 Stress
01:05:10 Resting and Choices
01:07:48 Narrative vs Tactical
01:12:23 Character Sheet
01:16:48 Shout-Outs
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Episode 186 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: How to Keep Your New Campaign Healthy and Strong!
If the average campaign lasts only 3-5 sessions, how do we avoid that fate and maintain a healthy long-term campaign?
News: Hasbro CEO Interview Reimagined, Vecna is Coming, Fallout TV Sells RPG, and more!
Contents
00:00 Kids are Alright
01:39 The Black Ballad
03:42 Is 5E Indirectly Modular?
12:45 Fallout TV Sells Books
15:49 Hasbro CEO Interview Reimagined
25:13 Vecna is Coming
27:28 Lich PCs
29:44 Nest of the Eldritch Eye
33:18 Organized Play from Gamehole
37:00 D&D Blackmilk Clothing
40:05 Monsters of Drakkenheim
41:55 Keep Campaign Healthy and Strong
43:58 1. The Right Players
47:51 2. Right Campaign for the Players
49:49 3. Right-Sized Session Zero
56:49 4. Regular Flexible Schedule
01:00:14 5. End Date
01:03:04 6. Strong Campaign Start
01:03:33 7. Engage Between Sessions
01:08:19 8. Room for Changes
01:08:48 9. Frequent Check-Ins
01:10:30 10. Climactic End
01:16:37 Shout-Outs
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Episode 185 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Designing Player-Facing Options for New Campaigns!
How do you create or leverage player-facing rules that will intrigue them and ground them in your new world and your new campaign? How do you give them meaningful, informed choices early in the campaign?
News: Prep vs Improv? Dimension 20 in the Garden, Schwalb on 5E, and more!
Contents
00:00 Path of Totality
01:16 Prep vs Improv?
08:57 Con for Crits?
20:22 D20 at the Garden
22:10 Schwalb on Taberna
26:54 Encounter Tables
32:47 Infestation at Devil's Glade
34:13 Fantasy AGE Quickstart
34:51 Oops all Hit Dice
37:40 Player-Facing Campaign Options
38:54 New Rules or Limitations
41:53 Communicate Changes
49:52 New Player-Facing Rules
54:52 Custom Backgrounds
59:24 Class Challenges
01:02:58 Subclasses
01:04:43 Feats
01:05:52 Subsystem
01:07:06 Involve Quickly
01:08:42 Dragonlance Example
01:11:32 Reinforce through Scenes
01:14:17 Subsystems Early
01:15:56 Shout-Outs
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Episode 184 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic:
Design an RPG Starting Encounter!
Continuing the discussion of designing a first adventure in our world, how do we design the first adventure? We look at creating an encounter that utilizes our setting, hooks, and plays off of the PCs!
News: Core Book Prices, Free Tsojcanth and LEGO Adventures, D&D Sales Drop!
Contents
00:00 Two Fools
01:28 Adventure Curriculum?
12:34 MCDM Daggerheart Initiative?
19:37 Flaws Mechanic?
30:27 D&D Beyond Kickstarter Reward
35:45 Core Book Prices
36:52 Most of Hobby is Down
40:52 Free Tsojcanth
44:24 Free LEGO Adventure
48:48 Design an RPG Starting Encounter
50:00 Use What You Set Down
51:53 Encounter Goals
53:10 Don't Overwhelm
54:46 Setting Considerations
58:32 Theme and Tone
01:01:55 Antagonists
01:04:34 Allies and NPCs
01:06:13 Duration and Pacing
01:09:32 Session 0 Promises
01:12:48 Play off PCs
01:15:38 Satisfying Conclusion
01:19:24 Cliffhangers?
01:21:39 Final Checklist
01:25:04 Shout-Outs
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Episode 183 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic:
Designing an RPG Starting Adventure!
Continuing the discussion of worldbuilding and village design, how do we start an adventure? We provide an approach to get the most out of your campaign and adventure starts!
News: GaryCon Review, Remembering Jim Ward, Daggerheart Review!
Contents
00:00 March Madness
01:42 GaryCon Review
05:52 Criticize Shadowdark?
14:45 Remembering Jim Ward
18:58 Stores Get D&D Early
21:07 Free Tsojcanth
22:38 MtG D&D Store Event
25:42 Infinite Staircase Reveals
28:28 Lego D&D Details
31:29 Tome of Beasts on Beyond
36:59 Surviving Strangehollow
37:46 Daggerheart Review
40:19 RPG Starting Adventure
41:52 Session 0
44:00 Character Connections
47:48 Fiasco Approach
52:10 Ashes of Athas Approach
54:03 Start with a Bang?
57:28 Find the Excitement
59:10 Intro Hook
01:01:46 Theory of Globs
01:07:32 Adventure Hooks
01:12:12 PC Impetus
01:15:33 Don't Give it All Away
01:19:39 Shout-Outs
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Episode 182 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Designing an RPG Starting Village!
Continuing the discussion of worldbuilding, a great place to start is a village. What must a starting village contain and what isn’t needed? How do we make it relevant and interesting? We dig into the design and examples that have and haven’t worked for us.
News: Critical Role launches Daggerheart, Hasbro CEO vs D&D on AI, Starforged Terrain!
Contents
00:00 Podcasting for Relatives
01:39 Exhaustion vs HPs?
10:39 30-Minute D&D?
21:46 D&D Asks Do You Like Me
29:45 Hasbro CEO Says AI D&D Says No
39:02 CR Launches Daggerheart
41:59 Dwarven Forge Starforged
43:46 Surviving Strangehollow
44:20 Zweihander Reforged
44:44 Designing an RPG Starting Village
45:50 Two Issues to Avoid
46:37 Classic D&D Villages
50:08 Bottom-Up Technique
59:15 Safe Space or Hub
01:01:44 Launch Adventures
01:05:28 Key Elements
01:08:16 Tie to PC Goals
01:10:53 NPCs
01:15:05 Theme
01:16:58 History
01:21:33 Shout-Outs
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Episode 181 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Shadowdark GM Tips, Monsters, and Treasure!
The finale of our Shadowdark series! We take a look the excellent advice, plus how the game provides monsters and treasure.
News: Reviewing The Fallbacks, Adv League to Beyond, NASA RPG and Challenge, and more!
Contents
00:00 Teos Has Seen Things
02:45 Emerald City Comic-Con
06:32 Adventure as User Guide?
15:16 Exhaustion Currency?
22:43 Modes of Play?
28:34 AL Moves to Beyond
31:33 Greasy Snitches
36:41 The Fallbacks review
41:08 NASA RPG
42:13 Steamforged and Kobold
43:33 SRD in Braille
45:00 Surviving Strangehollow
45:45 Shadowdark Finale
46:07 The Role of GM and Players
50:43 For Experienced GMs
54:29 Players not PCs
56:06 Core Ethos
01:00:09 Check DCs
01:05:15 Darkness and Modes of Play
01:08:30 Random Encounters
01:14:56 The Gauntlet
01:19:04 Awarding XP
01:22:35 Lots of Tables!
01:23:25 Monsters
01:25:06 Treasure
01:27:25 Final Thoughts
01:32:06 Shout-Outs
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Episode 180 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Building and Changing Rules to Fit Your RPG World!
Dan Dillon and Jason Ward join Shawn to discuss how to pick the best rules, or change them, when designing an RPG world.
News: Dan Dillon and Jason Ward, Daggerheart Playtesting, Discworld RPG, and more!
Contents
00:00 Dan and Jason!
02:11 Defining Success?
07:13 Worldbuilding Process?
12:35 Discworld RPG
18:54 Daggerheart
31:07 Beyond Dev Update
36:55 Surviving Strangehollow
39:08 Rules to Fit an RPG World
39:34 Existing Ruleset
40:48 The Real Thing
46:22 Build New Rules
52:44 Using 5E
57:08 Dark Sun
01:00:48 Settings 5E Does Well
01:03:25 Tearable RPG
01:18:06 Find Jason and Dan
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Episode 179 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Worldbuilding Tips and Tricks!
How do we create worlds that reflect the RPGs used to play them? How do we serve our readers, GMs, and players? Let’s talk worldbuilding!
News: Surviving Strangehollow,| No D&D in Portuguese, D&D Off-Broadway, and more!
Contents
00:00 Dark Weekend
01:01 Running Factions?
12:51 Mechanic Struggles?
21:51 Surviving Strangehollow
22:42 No D&D in Portuguese
26:01 Off-Broadway D&D
28:22 Star Trek 2E Announced
30:30 Emerging Designer Submissions
31:09 Weird Wizard Available
32:22 BX Inspired 5E
33:07 EN World Covers Evil Genius
35:36 Worldbuilding
35:48 Shawn's Worldbuilding
39:48 Build with Words
41:54 Show vs Tell
44:58 When to Get Detailed
47:10 Reality Matters
49:45 RPG-Based Fiction
55:55 Top-Down vs Bottom-Up
01:04:59 Microscope RPG
01:07:58 Surviving Strangehollow
01:15:32 Shout-Outs
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Episode 178 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Shadowdark RPG’s Combat, Travel, and Downtime!
Teos shares the exploits in a recent Shadowdark game, adding context as Shawn and Teos review Shadowdark’s rules for combat, travel, and downtime.
News: Hasbro’s D&D Finances and Strategy, 2024 Release Info, Humblewood on Beyond, and more!
Contents
00:00 More Dragons
01:26 Counterproductive Playtesting?
07:39 Designer Responsability?
15:17 D&D Release Schedule
15:44 2024 Conventions
17:31 Vecna Eve of Ruin
20:48 Making of OD&D
25:26 Infinite Staircase
26:34 Core Books
28:45 Converse Lego and Pop-Tarts
31:21 Roll20 Character Sheet
32:21 Humblewood on Beyond
34:30 Hasbro Q4
36:55 DnD Finances
40:58 Hasbro's D&D Strategy
43:10 Universes Beyond
45:27 Shadowdark Gameplay
45:56 Playing with Meaghan J
50:59 Hiding in Shadowdark
55:50 Surprise and Initiative
59:13 Actions
01:02:58 Rulings Not Rules
01:06:35 Damage
01:09:55 Morale
01:15:48 Death
01:20:01 Overland Travel
01:24:53 Downtime
01:29:33 Shout-Outs
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Episode 177 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Shadowdark RPG – Gameplay (MD 177)
From initiative and darkness to checks and luck tokens, Shawn and Teos examine the rules that distinguish the game.
News: D&D Thanks You, Manganiello Speaks, Pelgrane Blog Rocks, and more!
Contents
00:00:00 Winter Fantasy for One
00:01:35 Shadowdark Balance?
00:10:50 Shadowdark Readthrough Review?
00:17:40 D&D 50th Thank You
00:19:33 Joe Manganiello Speaks
00:26:28 Pelgrane Press Blog
00:27:33 Sorcerer's Fate
00:29:15 Shadowdark
00:29:58 Crawlers
00:35:58 Rolling Dice
00:39:39 Luck Tokens
00:43:24 Abilities and Checks
00:49:30 Time and Initiative
01:04:43 Resting and Surprise
01:06:05 Shout-Outs
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Episode 176 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: News with Graham!
With Shawn fighting off a cold, Graham joins us to take a look at the news. Back to Shadowdark next week!
News: Foundry Gets 2024 5E, Kickstarter Growth, Adventures that Teach, and more!
Contents
00:00:00 Graham Ward!
00:02:55 Player-DM Trust
00:10:20 D&D Stewardship
00:23:00 2024 Glimpses
00:25:22 Bigger Books?
00:27:16 Playtest Survey Results
00:30:49 D&D Novels and Journals
00:34:25 D&D Foundry Partnership
00:35:54 Kickstarter Up Down?
00:39:11 Associate D&D Event Manager
00:40:46 The Park Job
00:41:25 18 RPG Luminary Interviews
00:41:58 Release from OGL Vault
00:43:28 Adventures That Teach
00:45:27 5E Attack Variability
00:48:54 Graham on Shadowdark
00:53:15 Find Graham
00:56:07 Shout-Outs
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Episode 175 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Shadowdark RPG – Characters and Magic
With Shadowdark’s simplicity, how do ancestries, classes, and class features distinguish themselves? Shawn and Teos examine the classes, alignment, and magic systems to see how this game manages to be so good.
News: D&D Turned 40, D&D in VR, a Real Fortress Dungeon, and more!
Contents
00:00:00 Rub Your Face
00:01:19 Compelling Hooks?
00:11:43 RPGs for New GMs
00:19:02 D&D Turns 50
00:21:56 D&D VR Game
00:26:35 Beyond Stats
00:29:33 Real Dungeon
00:31:01 50th Minis
00:32:48 Mathemagician Rituals
00:34:38 Zweihander Reforged
00:35:22 Hacking Across Editions
00:39:03 Shadowdark Characters
00:40:48 Ancestries
00:46:14 Classes - Fighter
00:48:35 Talents
00:50:12 Stat Boosts
00:51:46 Wizard and Priest
00:53:30 Thief
01:00:29 Backgrounds
01:02:08 Alignment and Deities
01:05:16 Titles
01:07:24 Gear and Slots
01:10:36 Cohesive Game Elements
01:13:27 XP
01:17:41 Magic
01:32:05 Shout-Outs
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Episode 174 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Shadowdark RPG – Reviewing the Basics
Shawn and Teos delve into Shadowdark. While their torchlight holds, they examine the first chapters of this tome. Learn the basics of Shadowdark’s design and what sets it apart from other similar RPGs.
News: New D&D from Random House, How to Have Fun, Fighting AI, and more!
Contents
00:00:00 Powerless
00:02:16 Stale RPGs?
00:09:09 BladeThulu?
00:18:54 An RPG's Heart
00:25:32 New Random DnD
00:29:02 Fighting AI
00:32:54 Post-WotC Endeavors
00:35:57 L5R
00:38:47 Ingredients for Fun
00:42:14 Shadowdark
00:44:04 What is Shadowdark
00:54:32 Overview
01:02:54 Book Intro
01:06:50 Shadowdark's Assumptions
01:10:01 Character Design
01:14:38 Shout-Outs
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Episode 173 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Blade Runner Starter Set – Electric Dreams Adventure Review
Mike Shea joins Shawn while Teos hunkers down without power. In the main segment, Shawn and Teos take a look at the adventure included in the Blade Runner starter set by Free League. We review the amazing value and how it provides for open play and interesting choices.
News: Remembering Jennell Jaquays, D&D Meta Plots, Evil Hat Shares Finances, and more!
Contents
00:00 Mike Shea!
07:22 Fun Downstroke?
17:14 Party Boost?
22:10 5E Metaplot?
31:07 Remembering Jennell Jaquays
34:40 Evil Hat Q4
44:46 Andy Stuns
46:06 Roll20 Versions
47:58 Surviving Strangehollow
50:02 Electric Dreams Adventure
52:06 Intro and Plot
57:11 Options and Events
1:01:06 The Story
1:10:53 Final Confrontation
1:13:56 Shout-Outs
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Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Episode 172 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Blade Runner Starter Set – Rules Review
Shawn and Teos take a look at the packed contents of the Blade Runner starter set by Free League. We review the amazing value and provide an overview of the rules.
News: MCDM Raises $4.6M, Golden Ages, Winter Fantasy Signups, and more!
Contents
00:00 Renewed
01:10 Half on Miss?
10:24 Stun Condition?
21:49 Creative Actions?
33:45 RPG Sales Mixed
34:55 Winter Fantasy Signups
37:19 2023 Review
39:10 Golden Ages
50:11 The Forged Dragons
50:53 Weapons of Legend
51:58 Lore24
53:21 Lamordia The God Engine
54:19 MCDM RPG $4.6M
54:57 Blade Runner Starter Set
56:11 Setting Overview
58:51 Starter Set Contents
1:01:55 Rules Overview
1:04:25 Specialties
1:04:49 Health and Resolve
1:06:08 Downtime
1:08:24 Humanity Points
1:15:13 Game Loop
1:21:25 Shout-Outs
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Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Episode 171 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: 2023 Review and 2024 RPG Outlook
Shawn and Teos look back at the rollercoaster year of 2023 and what excites us about the coming year.
News: Drakkenheim on DDB, LotR Stars Play BG3, Valiant Adventures, and more!
Contents
00:00 Renown
01:12 Setting Customizations?
14:21 Affordable Expectations?
29:22 LotR Stars Play BG3
30:33 CORE20 RPG
32:34 Drakkenheim on DDB
34:07 Valiant Adventures
35:02 Hundred Dungeons
35:53 Folkvangr
36:46 Year End, Year Ahead
37:41 What Excited Us?
43:04 What We Covered
44:49 Shawn’s Year
46:04 2023 Rollercoaster
52:35 Fans and Platforms
59:59 Design Together
1:01:22 What We Miss from 1E
1:05:07 Our RPG Acronyms
1:12:06 Great Year for MD
1:14:48 Shout-Outs
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Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Episode 170 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Planescape’s Adventure: The Conclusion!
The final two chapters of Turn of Fortune’s Wheel! We look back on how DMs can make the most of the adventure.
News: Understanding WotC Layoffs, Netflix Talks BG3, Greatest RPG Adventures, and more!
Contents
00:00 Rollercoaster 2023
02:19 Resource Management?
10:33 Lazy Barbarian?
17:58 WotC Layoffs
37:15 BG3 on Netflix
38:32 Spelljammer Academy Returns!
39:53 Greatest RPG Adventures
43:50 13 Planescape DM Tips
46:27 Enchanting Emporiums
47:03 Kaz the Minotaur
47:41 Fortune’s Wheel Context
51:56 Setup for the End
59:11 Platinum Rooms
1:06:50 Dungeonland
1:08:46 Supertemporal Arena
1:12:25 Fiend’s Ante
1:14:07 Facing Shemeska
1:16:22 Incarnations Unite!
1:20:07 Gzemnid’s Spiral
1:30:52 Conclusion
1:36:42 Final Thoughts
1:44:30 Shout-Outs
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Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Episode 169 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Planescape’s Adventure: Outlands and Spire!
We expect big payoffs as the adventure reveals it's biggest secrets. Is the payoff worth it? Find out how the answer isn’t yes, as we review Chapters 12 and 13 Turn of Fortune’s Wheel.
News: MCDM Breaks Records, Roll20 Overhaul, GaryCon Epic, and more!
Contents
00:00 Malled and Mauled
01:30 Impossible DC?
14:36 Frustrated Player?
20:34 MCDM Breaks Records
26:03 Roll20 Overhaul
31:10 D&D VTT Praised
34:05 Midwest GameFest
35:20 2-Hr Adventure Template
37:39 $10 Creator Relief Coupon
39:24 GaryCon Epic Stream
42:35 Fortune’s Wheel Recap
44:34 Outlands Explorations
47:18 Planar Glitch Table
58:50 What are Encounters?
1:01:32 Angels in the Outlands
1:07:38 Mausoleum of Chronepsis
1:11:23 Semuanya’s Bog
1:15:42 Mimir Payoff?
1:19:34 Dendradis and Ascetelis
1:22:47 Finding RO4M in the Spire
1:31:10 Shout-Outs
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Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Episode 168 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Planescape’s Adventure: Gate Towns!
Seven gate towns must be visited! How well does the 4-page format work, and what would we change? Find out as we look at Chapters 5-11 of Turn of Fortune’s Wheel.
News: Ghostfire and Dungeon Dudes on DDB, D&D 50th Anniversary Products, D&D Stamps, and more!
Contents
00:00 Holiday and PAX Miracles
05:05 Progression Complexity?
14:56 Publishing Process?
24:02 Converting Adventures?
31:23 DDB Ghostfire Dudes
41:09 D&D 2024 Panel
43:17 Caverns of Tsojcanth
45:43 Vecna Eve of Ruin
46:58 Infinite Staircase
49:44 Making of OD&D
51:56 Core Rules Preview
55:53 D&D Stamps
57:22 Planescape’s 5E Adventure
59:22 Gate Town Goals
1:04:06 Automata
1:15:16 Design and Advice
1:21:15 Excelsior
1:25:16 Faunel
1:32:44 Closing Thoughts
1:39:22 Shout-Outs
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Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Episode 167 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Turn of Fortune’s Wheel: Casino and Outlands!
Casino games are more fun when player goals align. This and the villain present challenges for the DM, if not the players. We venture into the Outlands and experience a castle out of a Miyazaki film.
News: D&D Move Sequel, Peril Design, Gygax Shoes, PAX U Events, and more!
Contents
00:00 Holiday System Shock
02:32 Is Death the End?
16:50 Peril Design?
32:27 D&D PAXU Events
37:29 Heroes’ Feast Adventure
39:57 New Deck Date
40:39 Playtest Packet 8
42:53 D&D Movie Sequel?
44:49 Enchanting Emporiums
46:19 Gygax Shoes
47:01 Scale Tail & Claw
47:26 Stormlight RPG Team
49:08 Fortune’s Wheel
50:02 Our Story So Far
50:48 Chapter 3 Casino
53:29 Games vs Goals
59:30 Meeting Shemeska
1:03:21 Levels and Story
1:10:13 Into the Outlands
1:13:49 Walking Castle
1:18:13 Mosaic Mimir Quest
1:28:09 Closing Thoughts
1:29:55 Shout-Outs
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Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Episode 166 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Turn of Fortune’s Wheel!
A tale of two chapters! A spoiler-filled discussion reviews the key twists to the adventure and finds a great disparity between the play experience in the first two chapters!
News: Free D&D for Teachers, Maps Adds Features, Running Towns, and more!
Contents
00:00 No Grandparents Harmed
02:26 Black Friday Deals?
05:24 Monstrous PC?
15:20 Multiple DMs?
20:18 D&D Maps Adds Features
22:43 Free Adventure for Teachers
29:17 Harmless Denizens
31:05 Running Towns
33:38 Fernbloom's Guide
34:46 Amazing Encounters & Locations
35:46 Turn of Fortune’s Wheel
42:43 Glitch PCs
44:42 Introducing Incarnations
54:26 Our Glitch Ideas
1:00:29 Mortuary Start
1:11:50 Explore Sigil’s Railroad
1:18:34 Suggestions
1:20:05 Farrow and Undercity
1:24:54 Shout-Outs
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Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Episode 165 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Monsters in Morte’s Planar Parade!
We take a look at Planescape’s monster book. We get traits to add to monsters, faction agents, and creatures from across the planes. Hear what we like and what we would change.
News: Free Inspiration Deck, VTT at PAXU, GameHole Panels, and more!
Contents
00:00 Explore the Space
01:34 Unsafe Gate Towns?
08:34 Best Planar Adventures?
14:13 Free Inspiration Deck Handout
18:28 D&D VTT at PAXU
20:57 2 GameHole Panels
23:29 Simple Reputation System
26:31 Seeker’s Guide to Enchanting Emporiums
28:00 Free Sigil 2E Locations
29:01 AL Planescape
31:08 Morte’s Planar Parade
32:01 Introduction
37:00 Included CRs
39:12 Petitioners
47:54 Planar Influences
50:07 Monster Traits
58:27 Encounter Tables
1:04:49 Notable Monsters
1:08:25 Faction Agents
1:12:13 Final Verdict
1:15:49 Shout-Outs
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Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Episode 164 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: The Outlands!
Outside of Sigil are the Outlands, marked by fantastic and intense gate towns reflecting the plane beyond. Find out why we would change these up and how!
News: D&D TV Launches, Chains of Asmoeus, Biggest Crowdfunders, and more!
Contents
00:00 Scary Candy
01:58 Span the Ages?
07:23 Reduce HPs?
14:01 Session Length?
21:13 Buck Stops Here?
29:08 FAST D&D Adventures
31:43 Autism and Many Things
34:16 B&G Encounter Cards
35:42 Chains of Asmodeus
40:38 Planar Adventures Blogs
41:52 Top Crowdfunders
46:39 Forge of Foes Available
48:44 Planescape – The Outlands
52:45 Cosmic Realignment
1:00:49 Outland Characteristics
1:06:17 Gate Towns and Automata
1:07:54 Bedlam
1:08:30 Is It Too Much
1:16:38 Faunel Post-Realignment
1:18:05 Fortitude and other Gate Towns
1:23:00 Other Realms
1:25:44 This Book Overall
1:28:07 Shout-Outs
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Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Episode 163 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: Planescape: Sigil’s Factions and Wards!
The City of Sigil’s factions can be hard to grasp, but they play a critical role and shape the city itself, turning the city’s neighborhoods into reflections of their philosophies.
News: WotC Recalls Many Things, Rough Hasbro Q3, D&D Anthology, and more!
Contents
00:00 Back from GameHole!
03:28 Social System?
11:42 Skill List Creativity?
20:14 Slipcase Format?
26:24 WotC Recalls Many Things
29:43 Rough Hasbro Q3
36:00 D&D Anthology Glimpses
43:46 AL Update
45:08 Sigil’s Factions and Wards
47:00 Role Factions Play
1:01:56 Ascendant Factions
1:12:09 Minor Factions
1:14:22 City Wards
1:19:06 Adventures in Sigil
1:24:19 Shout-Outs
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Episode 162 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: Live at Gamehole 2023 – Setting Products!
We discuss settings with our live audience! What do you want from a setting? Paper or digital? And is it Sigil or Sijil?
Contents
00:00 Live at GameHole!
00:47 Sigil or Sijil?
05:09 What Do We Want from Settings?
06:23 Adventure Atlas: the Mortuary
10:20 Another Mortuary?
13:11 Audience Interest
14:24 Purchase Planescape?
15:02 Planebreaker Compatibility
16:38 Shifting RPGs
18:27 Books vs Small Supplements
20:11 Tools We Use
21:12 Rereleasing Settings
23:32 Digital Format
31:25 Ideal Setting Product
33:42 Included Adventure?
34:36 Ratio of Player Content
37:58 Player Guides
44:15 Production Challenges
49:57 Setting Breadth?
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Episode 161 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: Planescape: City of Sigil!
The City of Sigil is a sci-fi conundrum. Let’s learn what makes the city so intriguing and how a DM can make the most of it.
News: WotC hiring, Baldman at PAXU, Unforgettable Villains, and more!
Contents
00:00 D&D Tutor
03:16 Class Sales?
08:33 Bigger Books?
10:28 Reskinning?
15:50 Dungeon Tropes?
19:54 Baldman at PAXU
22:52 WotC Hiring
24:23 Unforgettable Villains
25:31 James Haeck Channel
26:52 HeroQuest Release
29:10 Tony DiTerlizzi Book
30:10 Hellwatch
31:32 Nimble Streamlining 5E
32:43 Sigil, the City of Doors
33:20 What is Sigil?
40:52 City Weather
43:04 Magic Changes
47:29 Summoning
50:57 Portraying Life in Sigil
1:00:21 Rats and Razorvines
1:01:39 Portals
1:04:12 Lady of Pain
1:14:14 Shout-Outs
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Episode 160 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse!
5E finally has Planescape! We take a look at Sigill and the Outlands, the first book introducing the setting and offering character options.
News: The End of Everything, D&D Adds Bastions, WotC Drops Penguin, and more!
Contents
00:00 Alex Kammer!
01:15 What is Gamehole Con?
09:30 Our Gamehole Plans
12:36 Introduce New RPG?
23:10 Bastions and Cantrips
35:12 End of Everything
44:41 WotC Drops Penguin
49:32 Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse
51:09 Planescape History
52:10 2024 Multiverse Focus
53:50 Sigil and the Outlands
55:12 Definitions and Truths
1:08:04 Character Backgrounds
1:12:52 Feats
1:16:02 Spells
1:20:15 Magic Items
1:24:11 Closing
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Episode 159 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: Modiphius 2D20 RPGs!
We take a look at the Modiphius 2D20 RPG system, including a close look at Star Trek Adventures and Dune: Adventures in the Imperium.
News: Evil Genius Sues Netflix, Planescape Previews and Downloads, Free Lightning Keep, and more!
Contents
00:00 Boosted
01:42 Modules?
11:21 New or Modify?
17:09 Planescape Previews
28:55 Minecraft and free Lightning Keep
31:14 Evil Genius Sues Netflix
34:33 FR Wiki Turns 18
34:59 Building a French Castle
36:25 Vecna’s Book of Vile Darkness
37:21 Modiphius 2D20 RPGs
39:16 Free SRD and Previews
40:03 Basics of 2D20
45:28 Skill Mechanics
55:19 Dune – Adventuring in the Imperium
1:01:32 Star Trek Adventures
1:10:23 Closing Thoughts
1:15:43 Shout-Outs
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Episode 158 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: DMG Conclusion: Creating Monsters, Spells, Magic Items. Appendices!
The 2014 DMG ends with teaching DMs how to create rules and tries to inspire DMs. We then look back on the whole of the DMG and what 2024 might bring.
News: What the D&D Community Update Forgot, New Eldraine Monsters, Maps VTT, and more!
Contents
00:00 Lakeside
01:14 Playtesting Complexity?
10:47 Disarm is Simple?
17:10 D&D Community Update Forgets
26:40 New Eldraine Monsters
31:19 Maps VTT
37:02 Acq Inc Season 2
37:56 The Eye of Everywhere
38:31 DMG Chapter 9 – the end
38:57 Creating a Monster
46:37 Creating a Spell
49:59 Creating a Magic Item
51:35 New Character Options
59:13 Appendix A Random Dungeons
1:01:55 Appendix B Monster Lists
1:03:16 Appendix C Maps
1:03:57 Appendix D Inspiration
1:06:46 Comparison to 4E’s DMG
1:12:17 2024 Potential Changes
1:14:20 Shout-Outs
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Episode 157 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: DMG Chapter 9 part 2: Firearms, Plot Points, Initiative and Action Variants!
The 2014 DMG provides many optional rules. Which ones would we use, and what should the 2024 DMG bring forward or change?
News: Latest Playtest Backtracks, Prison Wish Lists, D&D Upcoming Release News, and more!
Contents
00:00 Chainsaw Runner
02:59 What’s Up with Mounts?
11:11 WotC Non-D&D?
15:55 Slog Tactics?
23:14 Daisy Goes Missing
28:57 Perkins Secrets of DMing
30:36 Roll20 Adding Dungeon Scrawl
33:09 DM David Ranks Controversies
37:28 Acq Inc Murders Babies
38:54 Thunder Road at Gamehole
40:43 Festival of Tombs
41:50 Bone Stone and Obsidian
42:57 DMG Chapter 9 part 2
44:08 Firearms, Explosives and Alien Tech
49:58 Plot Points
56:00 Initiative Variants
1:03:56 Action Options
1:14:44 Injuries
1:15:59 Morale
1:18:50 Shout-Outs
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Episode 156 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: DMG Chapter 9: Dungeon Master’s Workshop!
The 2014 DMG provides many optional rules. Which ones would we use, and what should the 2024 DMG bring forward or change?
News: Latest Playtest Backtracks, Prison Wish Lists, D&D Upcoming Release News, and more!
Contents 00:00 Dark 03:51 Poisoner? 12:52 2024 Adventure? 19:45 UA 7 Released 31:46 Upcoming Releases 35:58 Prison RPG Wishlist 37:43 Aberration Board Game 39:41 Crowdfunding 40:17 Getting Started Writing 40:46 DMG Chapter 9 46:11 Skill and Check Options 59:06 Hero Points 1:03:23 New Ability Scores 1:07:35 Fear and Horror 1:09:33 Healing Options 1:18:30 Rest Variants 1:21:24 Shout-Outs
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Episode 155 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: DMG Running the Game part 3!
How well does the DMG help us track initiative, improvise damage, run chases, fire siege weapons, and give out XP? Shawn and Teos have some good laughs as they investigate the 2018 DMG.
News: Demiplane 5E Surprise, Phandelver Previews, Hiring and Pay, and more!
Contents 00:00 PAX 03:36 Too Many Products? 09:19 Everything Else? 17:01 Phandelver Previews 18:23 Demiplane 5E Nexus Surprises 21:06 EN World Freelance Pay Survey 25:28 Pelgrane Hiring Project Editor 32:23 Choices, Information, and Meaning 34:38 Weapons of Legend 35:19 The Folk from Harrowthorpe 36:26 DMG Chapter 8 Part 3 37:16 Tracking Initiative 40:29 HP and Conditions 45:56 Crits and Improvising Damage 48:44 AoE and Mobs 54:11 Chases 57:11 Siege Equipment 1:01:20 Disease, Poison, Madness 1:04:24 XP 1:07:40 Shout-Outs
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Episode 154 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 8 – Running the Game, part 2!
Shawn and Teos continue examining Chapter 8 of the 2014 DMG. From optional ways to handle close die rolls, to social interactions, to exploration, we look at fascinating topics.
News: D&D Movie Really Losing Money? Free Gazetteer, BG3 Reviews, Phandelver Sneak Peeks, and more!
Contents
00:00 Working for the Weekend
02:36 Setting Products?
24:23 Phandelver and Below
26:59 Baldur’s Gate 3 Reviews
28:58 Free Gazetteer
29:52 Movie Losing Money?
33:14 Greenwood’s Vampires
35:52 DMG Ch8 Running the Game
36:21 Advantage and Disad
40:02 Resolutions and Consequences
47:34 Do the Rob
54:52 Exploration
59:04 Social Interaction
1:08:06 Objects
1:13:38 Shout-Outs
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Episode 153 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: Shadow of the Weird Wizard with Rob Schwalb!
Rob Schwalb talks about his fantastic Kickstarter for Weird Wizard, his days at Wizards and insights into 5E’s creation, and what makes for a fantastic RPG.
News: Tal’Dorei Reborn is the first 3rd party product on D&D Beyond, WotC Playtest Experiments, New D&D Beyond Survey, and more!
Contents
00:00 Mr. Funny
01:39 Weird Design?
07:15 Design for Streams?
10:23 Short Design?
13:12 Prescription vs Teaching?
23:14 Tal’Dorei on Beyond
28:06 Crawford on Playtest Experiments
38:24 Beyond Survey
40:45 Eldritch 100
41:23 Seize the Means
43:39 Weird Wizard!
45:06 Glorious Rob
48:50 Exorcising Demons
50:06 5E’s Compromises
54:27 Preparation
1:00:01 Session Length
1:03:24 Why Weird Wizard
1:08:25 Project Rewards
1:14:51 Weird Setting
1:19:34 Find Rob and Weird Wizard
1:21:10 Kim Mohan’s Impact
1:24:26 Shout-Outs
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Episode 152 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 8 – Running the Game!
Seven chapters later, the DM finally is told how to run the game! Was the wait worth it? Shawn and Teos review which parts hit the mark and which fall short.
News: Hasbro’s Rough Q2, Gen Con Breaks Records, Crawford on Settings, 2024 More Like 2014, and more!
Contents 00:00 Gooooooool 02:02 Lite DnD? 07:25 Level vs Custom? 12:08 Redo Lost Mines? 16:16 Free Art? 19:23 Downtime Minigame? 23:47 Hasbro Q2 Report 35:23 WotC Updates AI Policy 37:10 Gen Con Attendance Record 38:41 Baldman at PAX 39:55 BG3 Play Data 41:33 2024 Playtest Survey Results 46:11 Crawford on Settings 53:02 Shadow of the Weird Wizard 53:43 Aberration board game 55:49 DMG Running the Game 57:23 Table Rules 1:02:23 Prescriptions vs Teaching 1:04:11 Table Talk 1:06:41 Die Rolling 1:11:28 Metagaming 1:14:33 Missing Players 1:15:50 Role of the Dice 1:19:03 Ability Scores 1:31:09 DC and Proficiency 1:37:01 Shout-Outs
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Episode 151 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 6 – Treasure!
Shawn and Teos ponder treasure. How much to give out, and how often? What is the role of treasure and its implications? From attunement to sentient items, we dig into the 2014 5E DMG and what we might want to see in 2024.
News: A giant problem for D&D, Free League rocks ENnies, Cthulhu Saved, and more!
Contents 00:00 Gen Con Glow 04:19 Subclass Variance? 10:45 Higher Level Complexity? 17:06 Valiant Playtesting? 20:56 Know Rules to Break Them? 28:54 Psychological Horror? 30:42 Giant Freebies 32:04 Giant AI Debacle 45:07 Free League Rocks ENnies 48:27 Storytelling Collective 49:45 Where Evil Lives 50:29 Cthulhu Saved 52:18 DMG Ch7 Treasure 55:17 Role and Impact of Treasure 59:09 Across Editions 1:02:21 How Much Treasure? 1:08:11 Swingy Results 1:10:05 Xanthar’s 1:11:06 No Magic? 1:14:52 Attunement 1:22:33 Resilience 1:24:25 Special Features 1:30:40 Artifacts and Sentient Magic 1:35:26 Other Rewards 1:37:05 Shout-Outs
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Episode 150 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 6 – Downtime!
Shawn and Teos are huge fans of Downtime, introduced in the 2014 5E DMG. However, the material in Chapter 6 has been changed greatly by Xanathar’s and Acquisitions Incorporated. What would Shawn and Teos want from the 2024 DMG?
News: Translated SRD, Sales Figures for D&D, D&D Movie Sequel, Top Crowdfunders, and more!
Contents 00:00 Head Check 02:33 DMG Strategy? 09:55 DM Focus? 17:57 Tech Writing? 20:56 Agents of X? 22:15 Horror Appeal? 32:12 Translated SRD! 35:06 Movie Sequel 38:46 Gen Con D&D Update 41:05 Guild AI Policy 43:22 Top Crowdfunders 47:41 D&D Big Box Store Sales 55:51 DMG Ch6 Downtime 58:21 Downtime’s Introduction 1:01:32 Downtime’s Potential 1:11:39 Story Aspects 1:16:40 DMG Activities 1:30:59 Running Downtime 1:36:04 On the Clock 1:39:24 Shout-Outs
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Episode 149 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 5 – Urban and Unusual Environments!
Shawn and Teos revisit the 2014 5E DMG by following Chapter 5. The rest of the chapter covers Urban and Unusual Environments, plus Traps. What would Shawn and Teos add to the 2024 DMG?
News: WotC closes eOne in the UK, Paizo closes office, D&D Gen Con events sort of, and more!
Contents 00:00 Swiftness 02:10 Wrong Hook? 07:55 Replay Characters? 12:40 Low High Level Play? 16:41 Editions Inevitable? 24:55 Dungeon Generator! 26:46 Gen Con Events 33:55 Hasbro Closes UK eOne 37:16 Paizo Closes Redmond Office 39:29 KP Hiring Media Manager 40:28 Shadow of the Weird Wizard 41:30 Jungles of Kuauhtla 42:10 Where Evil Lives 42:41 DMG Ch6 Between Adventures 45:56 5E vs Older Approaches 50:03 Overarching Story 57:36 Adventure Seeds and Foreshadowing 1:03:34 Campaign Tracking 1:13:07 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 148 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 5 – Urban and Unusual Environments!
Shawn and Teos revisit the 2014 5E DMG by following Chapter 5. The rest of the chapter covers Urban and Unusual Environments, plus Traps. What would Shawn and Teos add to the 2024 DMG?
News: Critical Role heads to London, Free HeroQuest, D&D at SDCC, and more!
Contents 00:00 Italian PHB 02:57 Effective Clues? 10:42 Not Enough Coverage? 17:32 Session Highlight? 19:55 Campaign Planning? 24:51 D&D at SDCC 26:26 Critical Role in London! 28:59 Blog Comeback 31:11 Aquatic Campaigns 31:40 Wandering Monsters 32:37 One-Shot Worldbuilding 33:24 Free HeroQuest 35:22 Gloomhaven RPG 40:42 Urban Environments 47:28 Law and Order 53:42 Underwater 1:00:21 The Sea 1:06:05 The Sky 1:08:46 Traps 1:23:23 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 147 of Mastering Dungeons
This week's main topic: James Introcaso of MCDM joins Shawn to discuss the difference between writing a custom RPG vs creating for 5E!
News: Owlbear Love, ENnies, Gen Con Online, and more!
Contents 00:00 James Introcaso! 01:57 Creating for WotC 06:22 Success Failure Spectrum? 13:29 Character Arcs? 22:26 True Owlbears? 24:41 New Systems? 29:41 Ennies 35:16 Gen Con 37:40 Bear Love in BG3 42:18 Dragonlance Shadow 44:06 Aetherial last call! 44:34 Flee Mortals Comes 48:48 5E Content vs Custom RPGs 51:47 Business Considerations 56:13 Does 5E Fit Bear Romance? 58:04 Audience 1:01:59 Setting and Genre 1:06:28 Conflict Resolution 1:12:11 Character Creation 1:17:07 Story Flow 1:23:41 Game Loop 1:34:10 Pillars 1:38:48 Jim’s Question 1:41:15 Shout-Outs 1:42:49 Find James
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 146 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: Mike Shea joins Shawn to compare the benefits of Organized Play vs Home Games!
News: D&D Playtest 6, Baldur’s Gate Date, Final ORC License, and more!
Contents 00:00 Swimming 01:07 5E Splinter? 10:24 Adventure Design? 27:45 Playtest Packet 6 30:26 Final Orcs 39:06 Beadle & Grimm’s 44:16 Baldur’s Gate Date 45:39 Savage Worlds 46:39 Aetherial Expanse 47:30 Forge of Foes! 48:30 Home vs Org Play 49:18 Mike’s Experience 51:01 Comparing the Two 59:21 Skill Differences 1:02:55 Variance 1:05:32 Teachers 1:07:21 Fan of Players 1:09:10 Learn from Home 1:14:50 Writing 1:22:39 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 145 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 5 – Wilderness and Settlements! Shawn and Teos revisit the 2014 5E DMG by following Chapter 5. Do they get lost in creating and traversing a wilderness? Do they find the worst settlement table ever?
News: America is Neutral Good, Blood in Baldur’s Gate, Origins Awards, Diana Jones Finalists, and more!
Contents 00:00 Origins 05:13 Slowing the Game? 22:00 Blood in Baldur’s Gate 25:27 Origins Awards 26:35 Diana Jones Finalists 31:48 NG Americans 34:24 Art Costs 39:29 Congrats Kobolds 40:28 Aetherial Expanse 41:29 DMG Wilderness 43:12 Montage vs Hourly 44:58 Hemingway vs. Faulkner 49:22 Key Questions 56:55 Mapping Wilderness 1:00:55 Wilderness Features 1:04:55 Wilderness Survival 1:07:21 Settlements 1:11:33 Buildings 1:13:52 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 144 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 5 – Adventure Environments! Shawn and Teos revisit the 2014 5E DMG by following Chapter 5 and rolling up a random dungeon. Is the result satisfying or does it fall apart?
News: Reddit Woes, Renegade Oversteps, Freelancer Pay Survey, Gamehole Events, and more!
Contents 00:00 Whole Enchilada 02:11 Memorable Campaign? 08:42 Swingy d20? 15:43 Dice Design? 20:40 Shine as a Player? 24:35 Favorite RPGs? 25:54 Raiding Mechanics? 27:27 Gamehole Events 29:08 Reddit Woes 24:38 Renegade Oversteps 38:56 Freelancer Pay Surveys 41:38 Aetherial Expanse 42:48 DMG Adventure Environments 44:52 Dungeons 49:07 Let’s Roll 55:55 Inhabitants 58:33 Ecology 1:02:15 Mapping a Dungeon 1:06:55 Left Out 1:12:35 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 143 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: Celeste Conowitch on Designing Tales of the Valiant!
What does it take to design a new variant of D&D? Hear the valiant tales of Celeste Conowitch, Senior Game Designer at Kobold Press!
News: Upper Deck Sues Ravensburger, 2024 Update, Final Rivals Stream, Creator Spotlight, and more!
Contents 00:00 Shawn Issues 00:55 DM Fiat? 04:59 2024 Concern? 11:10 Go-To Adventure? 14:15 Community Update and Video 18:54 AL Stream 20:34 Upper Deck Lawsuit 22:27 Final Rivals Stream 24:02 Creator Spotlight 24:38 Core20 RPG 25:52 Last Caravan 27:07 Curse of Vecna 28:25 Celeste Conowitch! 35:12 Valiant Kickstarter 37:00 Project Inception 43:38 Playtest Lessons 49:00 Teamwork 51:25 Goals and Targets 55:54 Kickstarter Success 59:01 What Comes Next? 1:05:42 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 142 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 3 – Creating Nonplayer Characters!
Shawn and Teos revisit the 2014 5E DMG. From ideals and bonds tables, to hirelings, to villain motives, does this tell a would-be-author how to craft a great NPC?
News: Candela Obscura, Valiant Kickstarter, Sharkadia, D&D Pride Gear, and more!
Contents 00:00 Across the Masterverse 03:42 Other Genres? 10:00 Martial vs Spell? 19:02 DriveThru to Roll20 23:50 D&D Pride Gear 24:19 Sharkadia 25:54 Astral Ethereal 27:35 Valiant Surges 32:20 Girl by Moonlight 33:55 Illrigger 34:25 Candela Obscura 39:44 DMG Chapter 4 NPCs 41:09 NPCs as DM Tools 42:17 History of NPCs 46:52 Characterization 49:28 Designing NPCs 01:08:18 Hirelings and Patrons 01:18:54 Villains 01:27:02 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 141 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 3 – Creating Adventures, part 2!
Shawn and Teos revisit the 2014 5E DMG. From event-based adventures to the encounter building rules, does this tell a would-be-author how to craft a great adventure?
News: D&D Marketing Summit, 2023 Product Reveals, Price Increases, Planescape Hopes, and more!
Contents 00:00 Geeky Guardians 01:42 Limit or Oversight? 11:23 Homebrew vs Published? 17:42 D&D Marketing Summit 23:50 Demographics 27:32 5E is 2E 30:23 Staggering for Printers 32:04 Price Increases 37:35 Bigygnome Presents 39:07 Guide to Dragons 40:36 Phandelver 41:49 Planescape 49:52 Deck of Many Things 50:46 DMG Chapter 3 51:22 Event-Based Adventures 59:09 Mysteries 01:05:00 Intrigue 01:08:05 Complications 01:09:51 Creating Encounters 01:21:23 Random Encounters 01:30:20 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 140 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 3 – Creating Adventures!
Shawn and Teos revisit the 2014 5E DMG. We look at Creating Adventures. Does this tell a would-be-author how to craft a great adventure?
News: UA Survey, D&D Producer Job, Russ Nicholson Remembered, Flummox, Dungeon Secrets, and more!
Contents
00:00 Speaking of Geeks
02:19 Automating Complexity?
07:33 Weapon Persona?
14:26 Weapon Templates?
26:04 UA Survey and Videos
37:47 D&D Producer Job
39:34 Russ Nicholson RIP
40:47 Secrets to Dungeon Fun
41:35 Jeff Stevens Flummox Heist
43:26 Crowdfunding Round-Up
45:18 DMG Chapter 3
46:10 Creating Adventures Intro
51:03 Great Elements
54:53 Published Adventures
56:48 Adventure Structure
58:47 What is a Story?
01:03:54 Location-Based
01:14:58 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 139 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 2 – The Multiverse!
Shawn and Teos revisit the 2014 5E DMG. We look at Creating a Multiverse and whether it even belongs in Chapter 2. If it does, what should it look like in the 2024 DMG?
News: Unearthed Barbarians, New Hasbro eOne Streaming Channel, Critical Role Launches New Stream and RPG, and more!
Contents
00:00 Hydration
00:57 Rejoin at Level 1?
06:22 Golf Bag?
17:03 2024 Barbarian
29:56 Community Update
39:04 D&D Streaming Channel
45:17 CR New RPG and Stream
47:57 Crowdfunding Round-Up
48:57 DMG Chapter 2 across Editions
51:09 Creating a Useful Multiverse
01:02:23 Planar Travel
01:04:25 Astral and Ethereal
01:06:56 Feywild and Shadowfell
01:09:30 Inner Planes
01:10:47 Outer Planes
01:12:26 Other Planes
01:13:58 Closing Thoughts
01:16:20 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 138 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: Looking Back at the 2014 DMG – Chapter 1!
Shawn and Teos revisit the 2014 5E DMG. How well does it help DMs and what would we change for 2024?
News: Weapon Mastery analysis, Keith Baker closes KB Presents, Diana Jones awards, Crowdfunding Spotlight, and more!
Contents
00:00 Kids Am I Right?
01:52 Valiant Resistance?
06:07 Polymorph Woes?
13:20 Weapon Mastery
46:01 D&D Movie in Digital
46:34 Diana Jones Emerging Designers
47:20 Keith Baker Closes KBP
49:17 Crowdfunding Round-Up
52:29 2014 DMG Chapter 1
55:07 Worldbuilding
57:04 Core Assumptions
58:04 Utility?
01:03:53 World vs Encounter
01:10:36 Session Focus
01:15:15 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 137 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: Roll20 on VTT Updates
Morgan Buck and Andrew Searles visit Shawn and Teos to discuss the history of Roll20, upcoming improvements, the company’s role in the industry, international growth, and much more!
News: New UA, Class as Content, Acquisitions Inc in Libraries, Strong Hasbro Q1, and more!
Contents
00:00 Smile Like You Mean It
01:09 Advanced Rules?
10:39 New UA
18:01 Class as Content
27:16 Library Acquisitions
28:28 Hasbro Q1
30:45 Roll20 Morgan and Andrew!
34:58 Roll20 Origins
38:02 Strategic Changes
41:33 OBS Acquisition
46:43 Upgrading vs New
52:19 Industry Role
59:04 Upcoming Changes
01:06:03 Creators
01:12:06 international Growth
01:16:09 Partnerships and D&D
01:24:13 Find Roll20
01:26:58 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 136 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: Looking Back at the 2014 DMG - Intro!
Shawn and Teos revisit the 2014 5E DMG. How well does it help DMs and what would we change for 2024?
News: Critical Role RPGs, World Record D&D, Into the Motherland Green Ronin, Gloomhaven RPG, Ghostfire on Beyond, and more!
Contents
00:00 High School Redux
03:24 Half-Mechanics?
10:57 Home vs Published?
20:47 CR RPGs
24:59 Ronin Motherland
26:42 Gloomhaven RPG
29:05 World Record
34:45 Ghostfire Beyond
36:03 Back to the DMG!
38:26 Revised Chapters
41:48 Additions
49:23 Show Don’t Tell
56:06 Design Time
01:01:43 Monster Manual
01:02:50 DMG’s Intro
01:09:41 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 135 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: Dungeon World and Powered by the Apocalypse!
Shawn and Teos move to examine Dungeon World and the Powered by the Apocalypse games. We compare the design to D&D and share what we love most about these innovative story-focused RPGs.
News: Big Bad Con Online, Diana Jones, Ampersand Boxers, Design Dash, and more!
Contents
00:00 Boys Are Back
00:59 Reinforcing Tone?
08:27 New Class?
14:29 WotC CC?
17:26 Mystery Guidance?
27:23 Design Dash
29:05 Big Bad Online
29:52 Diana Jones
30:48 Trials of Tempus
32:38 D&D Boxers
34:17 Weird Wizard
36:12 Lorecast Crossover
37:44 Dungeon World Overview
43:14 GM Advice
45:10 Powered by Apocalypse
47:00 Character Playbooks
52:42 Moves
59:19 Monsters
01:04:27 Fronts
01:08:22 Find PbtA and DW
01:09:05 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 134 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: Kevin Kulp and the many GUMSHOE RPGs!
Designer Kevin Kulp joins us as we discuss how TimeWatch, Night’s Black Agents, Swords of the Serpentine, and many other amazing games all build on the excellent GUMSHOE system. We compare the design to D&D and share what we love most about these innovative RPGs.
News: D&D Summit, PH in the Top 100, Stranger Things animated show, Tales of the Valiant, and more!
Contents
00:00 D&D Summit!
04:19 VTT Hands-On
10:10 D&D Beyond
13:33 QA and 2024 Rules
23:02 PH Top 100
24:07 Stranger Things Animated
24:50 Tales of the Valiant
26:06 ORC License
29:05 Kevin Kulp!
31:49 GUMSHOE Overview
40:51 TimeWatch
42:20 Campaign Gameplay
57:19 Investigative Characters
1:11:26 Find GUMSHOE
1:14:54 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 133 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: Themes and Genres in RPGs!
What is meant by an RPG’s theme? What impact does it have, and why are some games better for a particular theme than others? Shawn Merwin and Ben Byrne discuss themes and genres and present examples in RPGs.
News: D&D Direct, Movie Success, VTT Preview, Hobby Grows, and more!
Contents
00:00 Ben Byrne!
02:11 Playtest Strategy?
05:58 WotC Taking CC?
10:20 Casters the Same?
14:04 Rogue Speed?
17:51 D&D Direct
28:09 VTT Preview
33:18 New Products
38:52 Movie Success
45:28 RPGs Grow
47:42 Alamo
49:55 Genre/Themes in RPGs
51:56 Why it Matters
54:42 Theme Types
1:29:06 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 132 of Mastering Dungeons!
Support the Forge of Foes: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/slyflourish/the-lazy-dms-forge-of-foes-for-5e?ref=e2zf6e
This week's main topic: Rich Lescouflair and the Esper Genesis RPG!
Rich Lescouflair joins Shawn to discuss the latest D&D news and Esper Genesis - his amazing sci-fi version of 5E D&D.
News: D&D Community Update, Choose-a-path Before the Storm, Donjon & Dragons, and more!
Contents
00:00 Rich Lescouflair
01:04 Fate Examples?
02:48 Narrative D&D?
09:28 Treasure in DMG?
13:23 Mundane Treasure?
18:28 D&D Community Update
25:55 Before the Storm
29:58 Donjon and Dragons
32:14 Kickstarters
34:02 Esper Genesis
35:39 Differences from 5E
37:33 Origin
42:08 Barrier Peaks
43:03 Design Decisions
48:24 Building Worlds
49:41 Game Loop
54:26 Dragon vs Spaceship
57:40 Advice on SciFi in DnD
59:30 Sourcebooks and Adventures
1:02:57 Find EG
1:06:56 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 131 of Mastering Dungeons!
Support the Forge of Foes: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/slyflourish/the-lazy-dms-forge-of-foes-for-5e?ref=e2zf6e
This week's main topic: The 13th Age RPG!
We take a look at 13th Age, an RPG inspired by the 3rd and 4th editions of D&D. Rob Heinsoo and Jonathan Tweet encourage greater storytelling and even a bit of chaos. Learn about these innovations and bring them into your game.
News: D&D Surveys and Playtests, Old Spice commercials, Action Figures, Movie Previews, and more!
Contents
00:00 Entertained
02:03 Playtest Quality?
06:59 How to DM?
10:52 Influencer Standards?
14:52 Key Anachronisms?
20:14 Surveys and Playtests
31:52 Old Spice
33:33 Sneak Previews
34:57 Weird Wizard
35:58 Action Figures
37:07 Kickstarters
38:09 13th Age
39:59 About the Game
42:02 Designers
43:52 Icons
51:13 One Unique Thing
58:37 Escalation Die
1:04:40 Monsters
1:07:57 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 129 of Mastering Dungeons!
We both have Kickstarters:Grim Hollow - Vallikan Clans: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/977277590/grim-hollow-valikan-clans
Forge of Foes: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/slyflourish/the-lazy-dms-forge-of-foes-for-5e?ref=e2zf6e
This week's main topic: Fate campaigns with Mike Olson!Mike has worked on many Fate projects, so he helps us look into Fate’s collaborative character and campaign creation rules, as well as comparisons to D&D and why Fate is such a great game.
News: D&D Community Update, Creator Summit, Movie Reviews, Nebula Awards, and more!
Contents00:00 Ebullient01:26 Edition Names?08:32 Swapping Lineage?12:41 D&D Community Update18:32 D&D Movie Reviews21:50 Movie NPCs23:55 Nebula Awards24:36 Creator Summit39:06 Kickstarters41:12 Mike Olson and Fate48:26 Words Instead of Numbers55:48 Dice and Success59:59 Conceding1:02:01 Character Creation1:04:39 Collaborative Campaign Creation1:11:11 Storytelling Aspects1:27:54 Fate into D&D1:29:37 Find Mike and Fate1:31:41 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 129 of Mastering Dungeons!
We both have Kickstarters:Grim Hollow - Vallikan Clans: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/977277590/grim-hollow-valikan-clans
Forge of Foes: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/slyflourish/the-lazy-dms-forge-of-foes-for-5e?ref=e2zf6e
This week's main topic: The Fate RPG!We take a look at Fate's RPG and how different it is from D&D.
News: D&D movie directors speak, Acq Inc launching Series 2, A national research institute RPG, Books on Class, Kobold Press revises Tome, and more!
News: One D&D Approach Update, Paladin and Druid, Avatar RPG in Stores, Branded Meats, and more! Contents00:00 Basketball Big Boss01:08 Class Caster Balance?10:27 Movie Directors15:50 Acq Inc Approaches18:05 Research Agency RPG19:18 Books on Class20:39 KP Dungeon 2321:16 Tome of Beasts Update25:12 Kickstarters27:29 Fate28:34 Creators and Creation32:04 Do Anything35:57 Mechanics38:50 Aspects44:50 Skills and Rolls 51:11 Actions and Game Loop59:40 Stress and Consequences1:05:14 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 128 of Mastering Dungeons!
Teos celebrates the launch of the Forge of Foes Kickstarter, which you can back and preview here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/slyflourish/the-lazy-dms-forge-of-foes-for-5e?ref=e2zf6e
This week's main topic: To Be or Not to Be a Villain, with James Introcaso and Rudy Baso!
We take a look at other RPGs and compare them to D&D, this time an adventure based on Hamlet with unique mechanics and created for both the Zweihander RPG and D&D 5E.
News: One D&D Approach Update, Paladin and Druid, Avatar RPG in Stores, Branded Meats, and more! Contents00:00 The Happy Way01:59 One D&D Updates11:30 Druid and Paladin27:35 Avatar in Stores29:32 WizKids Mimic30:41 Monster Trailer32:23 Branded Meat34:01 Cool Name RPG41:20 To Be or Not To Be42:23 Rudy and James43:22 Concept49:07 Play Experience52:11 Story Tokens 56:22 Plot and Backstabbing 1:01:16 DnD and Zweihander1:09:08 Design Approach1:10:40 Steal This1:18:40 Find James and Rudy
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 127 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: Shadow of the Demon Lord!
We take a look at other RPGs and compare them to D&D, starting with Shadow of the Demon Lord. An incredibly well-designed game, Rob Schwalb delivers a death-metal RPG with excellent innovations.
News: Speak with Dead D&D Trailer, Hasbro Q4 and Monetization, Mangianello TV show, Latin America WotC firings, SRD in CSV, and more! Contents00:00 All the things00:56 Character Differentiation?04:05 Super Bowl Spending?08:11 Speak with Dead10:47 Hasbro Q416:12 Monetization20:23 Mangianello Show21:36 LatAm Firings24:10 SRD in CSV25:02 Valikan Clans25:47 Other RPGs27:28 SotDL Intro29:24 Rob Schwalb34:46 Ancestry and Attributes42:35 Boons and Banes46:10 Fast and Slow Turns49:29 Skills and Corruption51:51 Professions and Equipment54:23 Varied Advancement59:37 Campaign and Setting 1:07:10 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 126 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main Topic: We interview Greg Marks, one of the administrators for the D&D organized play program, Adventurers League. We discuss his amazing introduction to gaming, organized play, conventions, and much more. News: Kyle Brink OGL Interviews, D&D Super Bowl Ad, Free Keys to the Vault Preview, Baldman Games Awards, Andrews McMeel shuts down RPGs, and more! Contents00:00 Winter Fantasy!02:42 DM Second-Guessing?07:31 Open Class Progression?12:46 Producer vs Author?21:06 Kyle Brink Redux27:19 D&D Super Bowl28:54 Keys Preview30:16 Baldman Awards32:24 McMeel Shutdown33:38 Ed Greenwood Patreon34:53 Cities Untold36:10 Forge of Foes37:31 Valikan Clans40:54 Greg Marks and AL1:23:48 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 125 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main Topic: Teos speaks with Kyle Brink, the Executive Producer for D&D. We discuss the OGL, how the D&D Studio works, what WotC has learned, and much more! No news this week due to the interview length. Interview Topics
00:00 How Kyle Started in D&D04:21 Kyle and the D&D Studio19:18 OGL23:59 Royalties26:58 Content Standards31:12 Share-Alike33:18 OGL Process46:56 SRD Updates48:59 VTTs and Media53:29 One D&D59:36 Final Thoughts1:06:57 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 124 of Mastering Dungeons!
The show now will release on Wednesdays! Same content, shorter timeframe, thanks to our Patreon support! This week we are heading to Winter Fantasy, so our "Main" segment comes first with a meaty section of Listener Questions and then our news is in the usual News segment. Main: Listener Questions! News: OGL Resolution, D&D Movie Trailer, Critical Role Empire, 13th and Fantasy Age, Pesto Playtesting, and more! News Segment and Listener Questions
00:00 News Episode!02:34 DM Class Features?12:50 Music Parallels?19:18 Fracturing Market?23:46 Project Lessons?34:27 Number 2! 36:36 OGL Resolution55:46 D&D Movie Trailer 58:21 Hasbro Q41:01:16 Tyranny Reprint1:02:00 Critical Role Empire1:03:28 13th Age and Fantasy Age1:05:13 Smithsonian Images1:05:45 Creator Lessons1:08:34 Pesto Playtesting1:09:23 ENnies Submissions1:10:59 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 123 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main Topic: We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What do the Appendices tell us about 5E’s design, and how does it differ from previous editions? News: Listener Perspectives, OGL 1.2 Review, What Makes D&D, Bent Goblin, and we ask you what Mastering Dungeons should cover next! News Segment and Listener Questions
00:00 Mere Mortals01:22 Perspective?05:34 Bent Goblin07:23 What Makes DnD?16:05 Cover Non-DnD?17:26 OGL 1.2 Response19:24 Rumor-Journalism23:05 1.2 Review26:02 WotC Goals30:09 License Issues
Main Segment:
5E Revisited - Chapter 11: Spells!
42:30 Appendices, Conditions50:22 Gods of the Multiverse 58:09 Planes of Existence1:07:39 Creature Statistics1:08:23 Inspirational Reading1:09:21 PHB Conclusions1:11:45 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 122 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main Topic: We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. How have spells changed across the editions, and what would we change about 5E’s design? News: Listener OGL Listener Questions, OGL Updates, D&D TV Show, Zelda and D&D, and the Best Sellers on Roll20! News Segment and Listener Questions
00:00 Electric Triangle01:04 Weak Heals?08:04 OGL Discourse?18:46 DnD Guilt?22:37 Freeform Spells?27:33 OGL Update39:09 DnD TV Show41:21 Zelda & D&D42:33 Best Roll20
Main Segment:
5E Revisited - Chapter 11: Spells!
43:58 Spells in 5E46:19 Spell Lists50:17 Spell Design52:54 Narrative1:02:30 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 121 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main Topic: We look back at the Spellcasting chapter of the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold? News: The OGL Leaks, WotC Cancels Video Games, LEGO, Winter Fantasy, and an MMO Flumph! News Segment and Listener Questions
00:00 Newly Minted01:19 Unconscious Design?17:26 OGL Leaks21:04 WotC Cancels Video Games25:16 LEGO Winner26:20 Winter Fantasy27:29 Neverwinter Flumph
Main Segment:
5E Revisited - Chapter 10: Spellcasting!
28:41 Chapter 10 Spellcasting30:57 Defining a Spell33:29 New Players36:31 Utility and Resources41:17 Cantrip Goals44:05 Spell Slots47:24 Casting in Armor49:27 Rituals and Wands52:30 Casting Details57:35 Components Outdated?1:03:18 Concentration1:06:27 Grid vs ToTM1:11:00 Saving Throw Woes1:17:11 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 120 of Mastering Dungeons!
We look back at the Combat chapter of the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold?In our News segment we discuss Dungeon23, the OGL for One D&D, AL updates, Core20 RPG, Winter Fantasy, and how you can vote to rate Mastering Dungeons the best podcast in 2022! News Segment and Listener Questions
00:00 Fireworks01:11 5E GM Improvements?11:45 Dungeon23?18:06 OGL Elephant29:23 Playtest Survey30:12 AL and Winter Fantasy32:30 Vote for Us!33:09 ENWorld Columnist34:13 Core20 Preview35:32 GMs Magazine36:59 NDAs and Social Media
Main Segment:
5E Revisited - Chapter 9: Combat, Part 2!
38:20 Attacks!42:22 Unseen Attackers44:50 Ranged and Melee48:25 Simplicity vs Complexity50:30 Cover54:28 Healing and Damage1:06:57 Resistance and Vulnerability1:09:11 Healing1:21:26 Mounts and Underwater1:26:25 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 119 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: 5E Revisited - Chapter 9 Combat! We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold? In our News segment we remember Kim Mohan and review news about the DMs Guild and Roll20 integration in February, a comic of the D&D cartoon, Arcadia in Print, and the Swinginess of the D20! Listeners ask us about Spell Balance.
News Segment and Listener Questions
00:00 Flumph Heroics01:31 Spell Balance?12:25 Kim Mohan16:10 DMs Guild Roll2017:49 DnD Cartoon Comic19:32 Arcadia in Print20:10 Swingy D20
Main Segment:
5E Revisited - Chapter 9: Combat!
26:54 Chapter 9 Combat27:29 Surprise32:12 Initiative35:37 Your Turn45:30 Movement47:06 Actions in Combat52:42 Hide55:32 Ready58:43 Search1:07:17 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 118 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: We finish our look at the Cleric playtest. We take a look at epic feats and changes to the rule glossary!
In our News segment we look at WotC hiring a Creative Lead, Hasbro fireside chat, Baldur's Gate 3, and more.
News Segment and Listener Questions
00:00 Werewolf Soccer01:31 Designers Play?11:33 Spell Schools?16:28 WotC Creative Lead22:50 Hasbro Fireside Chat42:54 Baldur’s Gate 3 Date45:00 Manual of Gainful Exercise46:51 Tasselhoff’s Pouches of Everything48:32 Epic Boons and Feats54:42 Glossary and Actions59:14 DCs and Aid1:03:48 Amor and Attacks1:06:57 Banishment, Barkskin1:09:11 Dazed, Difficult Terrain1:11:14 Grappling, Guidance1:13:59 Final Glossary Thoughts1:19:29 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 117 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: A shiny new playtest packet features a revised cleric class, three species, and a rule glossary!
In our News segment we look at free Dragonlance monsters, new D&D Movie Trailer, Race retired as a term, the end of Acq Inc, and more.
News Segment and Listener Questions
00:00 Snow Time01:24 Community Split?12:15 AL Storylines?22:07 Spell Schools?22:47 Free DL Monsters 24:26 Movie Update26:30 Race Retired28:27 First Survey Recap37:29 Acq Inc Ends40:53 Stormwreck AL Adaptation41:54 Citadel of the Unseen Sun
Main Segment: Clerics and Species - One D&D Playtest
45:09 Clerics and Turning47:59 Domain Critique52:42 Feature Analysis59:17 Holy Order1:04:25 Blessed Strikes1:06:57 Life Domain1:09:11 Ardling1:15:45 Dragonborn1:17:00 Goliath1:21:23 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 116 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: 5E Revisited - Chapter 8 Adventuring! We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold? In our News segment we look at WotC's OGL Response, LEGO and Trivial Pursuit, Mongoose Innovation, and more! Listeners ask us about Compatibility and Settings, the Challenge of Designing for Compatibility, and Adventure-Specific Backgrounds.
News Segment and Listener Questions
00:00 5E Number 1702:32 Compatible Setting?08:45 Compatibility Design Challenge?12:45 Adventure Backgrounds?17:07 WotC OGL25:29 LEGO D&D27:00 Trivial Pursuit28:33 Radical Mongoose31:51 Dicebreaker Finalists33:06 Winter Fantasy34:22 Esper Genesis35:06 Free Elven Tower
Main Segment:
5E Revisited - Chapter 8: Adventuring!
35:37 Chapter 8 Adventuring37:30 What Should Be Here?47:39 Time48:55 Overland Travel1:00:37 Travel Activities1:05:10 Falling and Suffocating1:11:40 Vision and Light1:14:16 Social Interaction1:16:05 Short + Long Rests1:20:43 Lifestyle + Downtime1:26:58 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
RPG veterans and game designers Teos Abadía and Shawn Merwin look at the game and the hobby of D&D from a variety of viewpoints: reporting the news, understanding the business, reviewing the products, and illuminating the design.
Each show typically has three segments:- Listener Questions- Industry News- Main Segment (review, interview, or focused topic)
Each episode is one podcast on your podcast listening app. On YouTube, we provide each episode as two videos, so you can enjoy the Questions/News and Main segment separately if desired.
Find our show notes and support our podcast and YouTube efforts:https://www.patreon.com/MasteringDnD
Listen to us on your favorite podcast device:https://MasteringDungeons.podbean.com
Chat with us on Twitter or Mastodon:https://twitter.com/MasteringDnD https://dice.camp/@MasteringDnD
Find Shawn:https://twitter.com/shawnmerwin https://ghostfiregaming.com/
Find Teos:https://alphastream.org/ https://youtube.com/@AlphastreamRPGhttps://dice.camp/@Alphastream https://twitter.com/Alphastream
Mastering Dungeons is a weekly podcast, made with care for your enjoyment.
Episode 115 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: 5E Revisited - Chapter 7 Using Ability Scores! We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold? In our News segment we look at Dragon+ removal, Hasbro selling eOne, 6E OGL rumors, landing a job with Paizo/WotC, and more! Listeners ask us about crafting rules, useful backgrounds, and playtesting.
News Segment and Listener Questions 00:00 Happy Tofurkey01:35 Crafting Rules?09:52 Useful Backgrounds?14:04 Playtesting?23:55 Dragon+ Removed31:51 Hasbro Selling eOne35:12 6E OGL Rumor43:21 Landing Paizo/WotC Jobs48:16 WizKids Movie Minis
Main Segment:
5E Revisited - Chapter 7: Using Ability Scores!
50:31 Ability Scores54:33 Dump Stats1:03:13 Advantage/Disadvantage1:09:26 Proficiency Bonus1:14:19 Passive Checks1:18:10 Checks and Saving Throws1:20:00 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 114 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: 5E Revisited - Chapter 6 Customization Options! We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold? In our News segment we look at WotC's new Inclusion Review, Neverwinter's Drow, Kobold Press Hiring, Hasbro Overproducing, and more! Listeners ask us about Art and Subversion, Concise Adventures, and 6E's Audience.
News Segment and Listener Questions 00:00 Grace and Dignity 01:03 Paranoia Gear? 02:58 Concise Adventures? 10:34 Art and Cooperation? 20:31 6E’s Audience? 26:03 WotC inclusion Review 33:16 Dragonlance on Guild 34:16 Neverwinter Drow 36:24 Monty Python RPG 38:47 Game Master’s Books 41:29 Innsmouth Garden Society 42:28 Kobold Press Hiring 43:06 Hasbro Overproducing? 46:17 Collville on Equipment
Main Segment:
5E Revisited - Chapter 6: Customization Options! We look back at the 2014 5E's Feats and Multiclassing.
50:11 Is Customization Optional? 53:59 Multiclassing’s Past 56:03 6E Goals? 58:00 5E Multiclassing 1:02:54 Proficiency Bonus 1:04:23 Spellcasting 1:08:22 Feats in 5E 1:12:54 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 113 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: 5E Revisited - Equipment! We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold? In our News segment we look at the D&D Movie rescheduling, the first FR map, NFL player on the DMs Guild, and more! Listeners ask us about non-D&D RPGs and fulfilling campaigns.
News Segment and Listener Questions 00:00 Thank you 02:00 Other RPGs? 09:00 Alex Kammer on Campaigns 12:23 Movie Rescheduled 13:40 Original FR Map 16:18 Roll20 Looks Back 19:20 Johnny Stanton 22:52 Sandy Pug School 24:21 Eternal Night
Main Segment:
5E Revisited - Chapter 5: Equipment! We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold?
27:57 Why Equipment? 38:25 Starting Equipment 43:09 6E Options 47:38 Living Accounting 49:40 Wealth 53:41 Armor and Weapons 01:06:10 Adventuring Gear 01:10:50 Lifestyle 01:12:41 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Episode 112 of Mastering Dungeons!
This week's main topic: 5E Revisited - Inspiration and Backgrounds! We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold? In our News segment we look at new D&D movie toys, D&D digital bundles, Flumph shirts, Dragonlance sneak peak, and more! Listeners ask us about Inspiration and One D&D's design audience.
News Segment and Listener Questions 00:00 MD Goes Indy! 03:53 Inspiration Problem? 07:18 Design for Players? 14:06 Expert Survey Live 17:25 New Digital Bundles 22:50 Flumph Shirt! 24:22 Dragonlance Preview 25:50 Movie Toys 28:37 Tabletop in Iran 29:47 Dicebreaker Awards
Main Segment:
5E Revisited - Inspiration and Backgrounds! We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold?
31:52 Intro 33:09 Inspiration 57:10 Backgrounds 1:10:40 Where to Find Us
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Shawn and Teos’ live Mastering Dungeons seminar from GameHoleCon! News! Questions! Clapping! Smells! This one has it all! Breaking News Links Wes Schneider Reveals Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen […]
Moving through the Unearthed Arcana that is OneD&D, Shawn and Teos talk about the future of Feats, while it occurs to the editor that he has twice made the joke […]
Taking a look at the Expert Classes from the upcoming One D&D, Shawn and Teos break down the new options for these classes. Are they better? Are they worse? Are […]
With more and more information around OneD&D coming out by the week, Shawn and Teos take a look at the concept of Expert Classes and determine what, if anything, it […]
With a very special guest to open the show, Teos and Shawn follow up with breaking down the Backgrounds and Personality aspects of Fifth Edition; all the stuff under Character […]
Once again breaking down the classes of D&D 5e, Shawn and Teos talk Class Satisfaction and balance as they continue the deep dive into the world’s most popular role-playing game. […]
As Dungeons & Dragons continues to take over the world, Teos speaks with two amazing contributors to the hobby who are at the forefront of the Latine RPG space, Mike […]
Never has nor should it ever be said that the Masters of Dungeons, Shawn and Teos, are without class. In this episode, they prove this by breaking down the Classes […]
Feats, don’t fail us now… unless they did. Introduced in 3rd Edition and a mainstay for games that have diverged from that system, what is the role of Feats in […]
What is One D&D and how will the concept of Races change as we look at Backgrounds. Shawn and Teos have tackled the present, tussled with the past, and now […]
As the exploration of 10 years of Fifth Edition Dungeons & Dragons continues, Shawn and Teos explore character creation: how has it changed, what’s better, and what’s not as good? […]
10 years after the release of the Basic Set of Fifth Edition Dungeons & Dragons, one of the biggest conversations fans are having revolves around character Race/Ancestry. This is part […]
Continuing the conversation about the Fifth Edition of Dungeons & Dragons by talking about where it’s been and where it might be going! Breaking News Links New UA Release – […]
Dave Christ joins Shawn to talk Organized Play; both in-person and virtual! The origin of Baldman Games, the challengers of adjusting to a changing paradigm, and what is to come; […]
Released on July 19th from MacMillan Publishing, The Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons, is about the real story of the world’s most popular tabletop role-playing game and Ben Riggs […]
With a decade of having the rules of the Fifth Edition of Dungeons & Dragons in front of us, Shawn and Teos reflect on the past ten years of the […]
I mean… what mare need be said! Also: Shawn and Teos are also on, but still: James Intracaso!!! He’s great! You know this already! He talks about Arcadia which you […]
Teos has returned from his European adventure! What sort of crazy antics did he get up to? Almost none! Which is why he and Shawn talk about technology, marketing, sales, […]
While Teos is off on another adventure, Scott Fitzgerald Gray joins Shawn to talk about ways to make combats interesting and thrilling for everyone at your D&D table. With Shawn […]
This week we return to the Great Wheel as the Modrons continue their way around the Outlands! What more does this massive adventure have in store and how, of course, […]
So, the Modrons have begun their march, but something is wrong and… Waitaminnit! There’s no Modrons in this episode! Here there be Giants! Shawn and Teos break down the big […]
Once, the Planes of the Multiverse opened up to all the Prime realms of Dungeons & Dragons. Through the many gateways in the City of Doors, Sigil, adventurers walked the […]
Wildspace gets wilder! Shawn and Teos tackle the classic Spelljammer adventure Wildspace and talk about the good, the bad, and oh so much weird. Breaking News Links Get Acquisitions Inc […]
Space, the Final Frontier… Again. Once more unto the breach, Shawn and Teos break down the classic Spelljammer Adventure, Wildspace, the first adventure published for the original Spelljammer boxed set! […]
Big news has come out of Wizards of the Coast, this past weekend, so what does it all mean? Shawn and Teos work through it and break it down as […]
While Shawn is, once again, kidnapped by some ne’er-do-well Astral monsters, Teos sits down with none other than Ajit George, writer on Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft and project lead […]
Sly Flourish himself stops by to talk the big news about Wizards and D&D Beyond and whatever D&D Direct is! Get the breakdown from the best! Big News Links The […]
Shawn and Teos chat about updating Dungeons & Dragons Fourth Edition adventures, comparing them to the classic adventures they’ve already looked at. This fascinating look into D&D’s most controversial edition […]
Concluding the series on updating adventures from prior editions of D&D, Shawn and Teos go over some of the things they’ve learned over the last eight episodes and develop some […]
One of the greatest D&D adventures of all time; and the first to be published under the D&D “Expert” rules; the Isle of Dread! Sure it’s been updated and supplemented, […]
Continuing this series, Shawn and Teos tackle the classic 1984 adventure Dragons of Despair; the first of an epic series of Dragonlance adventures! Links Dragonlance? Unearthed Arcana – Heroes of […]
Shawn and Teos tackle the classic adventure N1. Enjoy! (Oh, sorry. Back in the day, we all knew the adventures in the same way you might attack your sibling playing […]
The Dungeoneering Duo finishes their breakdown of the classic adventure Pharaoh! They take a look at what is classic and fun and what might need some updating to modern gaming […]
Question: Does Teos have a favorite adventure? Answer: Yes! Question: Is it an old adventure from a prior edition of D&D? Answer: Again, yes! Specifically, from 1st Edition AD&D! Question: […]
Shawn and Teos continue their discussion on converting adventures from the Original Dungeons & Dragons, 1st and 2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and 3rd and 4th Edition Dungeons and […]
There are tons (kind of literally) of adventure content supported by the Fifth Edition of Dungeons & Dragons; especially given the breadth and depth of the DMs Guild and other […]
After a brief hiatus, the dragons are back and the Dynastic Dungeoneers are ready to finish them off! Shawn and Teos break down the last of the bestiary, finishing their […]
Blogger and author Keith Ammann (The Monsters Know What They’re Doing, Live to Tell the Tale, and MOAR! The Monsters Know What They’re Doing) joins Shawn and Teos to discuss […]
Teos welcomes game designer and the brand new Adventurers League Admin, Toni Winslow-Brill on to talk about the amazing arc of her career and what to expect from her role […]
New year, new dragons! Enter the bestiary of Fizban’s as Teos and Shawn take a look at the creatures related to dragons, as well as a slew of new kinds […]
Draconomicon. There’s really nothing more that needs be be said about this chapter than that. Draconomicon. There, I said it again… Draconomicon! Links Richard Whitters, Art Director at WotC, Leaves […]
So, where do dragons live and what do they sleep on? No, the Masters of Dungeons aren’t launching bespoke ad campaigns for Zillow and Helix Sleep, respectively. Instead, we’re talking […]
As 2021 comes to a close, we present a very special Mastering Dungeons with a letter to Shawn and Teos from a future game designer and a break down of […]
Some dragons might try to go it alone, but for the ones that don’t, Shawn and Teos talk different kinds of dragon relationships and new options for running dragon minions. […]
Sure, you know what your dragon thinks of the PCs and you have every single piece of that dragon’s massive treasure hoard accounted for and your PCs are ready with […]
Tis the season of giving and, in that very spirit, the Masters of Dungeons discuss the various gifts the Dragons of the worlds of D&D can offer player characters according […]
Want draconic character options? Shawn and Teos give us a crash course on the options presented in Fizban’s! This Episode’s Links D&D TV Shows are a big focus for WotC/Hasbro […]
What would a book about dragons be without subclasses? The Masters of Dungeons break down the Fizban’s all-new options for Monks, Rangers, and more! This Episode’s Links WotC is Hiring […]
The Masters of Dungeons, together once more, have decided to take on the other half of the title of the game in which they’ve become such experts: Dragons! Explore the […]
There’s been a lot going on! So much that Shawn was eaten and we failed to notice in time to help him! While he fights his way out of that […]
Shawn and Teos host a panel with Greg Marks, Content Manager for Adventurers League, talking about inserting horror into your games. They break down what you need to get a […]
With all the news coming out of everywhere, the Masters of Dungeons decided to discuss it in front of the audience at Gamehole Con! This Episode’s Links Wired Magazine on […]
After a couple weeks apart, Shawn and Teos. the Mad Wizard and AlphaStream, are back together to strongly finish their discussion on starting strong when running your campaigns! So how […]
With Teos adventuring through Europe, Shawn sits down with Mike Shea to talk about the massive amount of news over the last several weeks. Among these, of course, is his […]
The fantastic creative team responsible for creating the terrifying Witchlight Carnival (and bringing the characters from the 1980s action figure line into Fifth Edition!), Stacey and Will sit down with […]
Having broken down the opening tales of various world-saving, monster-stopping, nearby-community-protecting, heroic adventures for use by brand new Dungeon Masters, Shawn and Teos decide to tackle somewhat more… profitable fare. […]
Shawn is back and he and Teos continue to break down the opening sequences of the hard cover D&D Fifth Edition adventures! Which ones hold up as adventures for new […]
With Shawn off wrestling another monster project, the amazing Scott Fitzgerald Gray steps in to join Teos in chatting about how to Master the Dungeons! This Episode’s Links Wild Beyond […]
Shawn and Teos continue their deep dive into what’s good—and what could maybe use some other fixing—in the opening adventures and/or adventure setups of the hardcover adventures from Wizards of […]
How does a new Dungeon Master make sure they’re coming out of the gate running? The Masters of Dungeons take a look at the opening adventures (or adventure setups) of […]
Now that they’ve talked about what you need to do before you even consider running a game, Shawn and Teos break down, in detail, what they would like to see […]
So after listening to the first part, you’ve studiously taken everything into account and prepared as best you can for running your game… now what? Specifically, what, exactly, are you […]
Shawn and Teos go back basics as they tackle the topic of getting started and where to do it: the beginning? before that? Once again, the Masters of Dungeons offer […]
Shawn and Teos welcome James Haeck to discuss Critical Role’s Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting (link) – what’s new, what’s updated, and what’s Matt Mercer like to work with? Spoiler: He’s cool! […]
Who knows what evils lurk in the mists, shadows, and echoing halls of Ravenloft? Shawn and Teos know! Let’s take a look at the Monsters that Make the Domain of […]
With the Mad Wizard once more on a quest, Teos summons the new AL Community Director and his fellow streamer; from the Broadswords!; the amazing Bee Zelda to talk about […]
What is the nature of the Mists of Ravenloft? Where do the Domains come from? Why is magic different in the Realm of Mists? Shawn and Teos take on questions […]
There are more to the Domains of Dread than can be held in a singular tome. So what does it take to build a Dread Domain from scratch? Shawn and […]
What sort of hero would dare brave the mists of Ravenloft? What kind of adventurer would be willing to fight for hope against the unending waves of terror held by […]
WebDM co-host Jim Davis stops by as Shawn gets some much needed rest… or he’s battling his way out of a hive of neogi or the like. There was oddly-colored […]
We go through the adventure in Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, the House of Lament! Spoilers abound as the Dungeoneers break down the experience of running this complex adventure. The […]
Having defined horror in D&D games, we now look at the tools a DM might use to bring those themes to their campaign. From specific tools to Ravenloft such as […]
What does horror mean in Dungeons and Dragons? The Masters of the Dungeons, Shawn and Teos, discuss this as they jump forward to chapter 4 of Van Richten’s Guide to […]
We take a quick tour of Candlekeep and the selection of anthology adventures written by some of the best designers working today! Shawn and Teos break down how best to […]
With the 10th episode talking Tasha’s, what left for Shawn and Teos to discuss? Feats and Spells and Magic Items! Oh, my! We say goodbye to Tasha’s Cauldron by spotlighting […]
The Masters finish up their coverage of Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything… or do they! They break down the section on group patrons: What kind of options could there be to […]
So what does Tasha’s offer for those who are looking for something different with their Wizard? Spells! Arcane Traditions! And Cantrip Formulas? Yep! That’s a thing! This Episode’s Links WotC […]
After a massive pile of news, Shawn and Teos dive back into Tasha’s epic tome, sifting through the enigma wrapped in a mystery shoved in a conundrum schucked into a […]
Shawn and Teos are joined by economist, journalist, and podcaster Tim Harford to talk about the future of Dungeons & Dragons (and the role-playing hobby, in general) from an economic […]
Get ready to make a deal as Shawn and Teos walk us through the Warlock options in Tasha’s. Including new spells, new class options, new eldritch channelling choices, and two […]
Shawn and Teos work more of their magic on the player side of Tasha’s with a breakdown of the Sorcerer options and subclasses. Then they navigate the tricky surroundings of […]
Shhh! The Masters of the Dungeons are breaking down the options for Rogues from Tasha’s including the long-awaited Soulknife! Whoops. Got excited there, I forgot we had to stay quiet […]
The amazing Celeste Conowitch comes by to chat with Shawn and Teos about making rules as she breaks down her latest project, The Venture Maidens Campaign Guide, an adaptation of […]
Shawn and Teos talk the folk of the Feywild from the latest Unearthed Arcana, discuss the latest from Adventurers League, and review other D&D news. Then it’s off to track […]
Shawn and Teos home in on the Ranger options from Tasha’s, breaking down the variety of options for one of the most discussed classes. Then we start at Session Zero […]
What was the purpose of the ghostly visions from last week? Found out here as Shawn and Teos head back into Tasha’s Guide to break down the options for those […]
Shawn and Teos come in from the cold and are joined by another pair of Masters of Dungeons, GM Tim and Marcello De Velazquez to break down what they’ve gone […]
Coming in a little late and in from the cold, we wrap up the last few chapters of the Icewind Dale. Also: more alternate Monk action with fewer Monk puns! […]
After the news, the Men of Mastery KICK this one off by GRAPPLING with the options for the Monk, from Tasha’s. Does the Monk get the PUNCH it needs or […]
I’m writing this before I even look at the notes in an attempt to predict what will be in this episode and I foresee… even more news, including a celebration […]
The news in the D&D world continue to come fast and furious and the Dungeoneers sort it out before tackling Tasha’s twisted turn at the Fighter and the haunted chapter […]
With a pile of news heading up this episode, Shawn and Teos break down the many events of the week before heading back into Tasha’s tome and continuing their frozen […]
The Masters of Dungeons continue to crash their way through the Dale; pushing through Chapter 5, where those hanging threads can get tied up; as well as exploring the options […]
Welcome to the second episode of our rebranded show! Teos and Shawn boldly bear on through Cleric Domains in Tasha’s Guide and the encounters of Chapter 4 of Icewind Dale […]
Shawn and Teos continue their path through… wait a minute! This is a different podcast! Ahem WELCOME to Mastering Dungeons! Continuing on from the former Down with D&D podcast, “The […]
This week, Shawn and Teos continue reviewing bard options from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything and then return to the cold to wrap up Chapter 2 of Icewind Dale. This Episode’s […]
This week, the Dungeon Master Duo keeps Tasha’s discussion to a minimum, breaking down the options for the Bard, and head back out into the cold, discussing some more of […]
Shawn and Teos brace for the glacial chill of the rime-covered skies of the… wait, no… they kind of get into with with Tasha’s, this time. Hey, everyone! An episode […]
With their snowshoes tied on tight and cold steel in their hands, Shawn and Teos continue to trudge through the unrelenting chill of the Icewind Dale. This time around, they […]
The Dungeoneering Duo continues their trek into the inhospitable frigidity of the Dale. This time around, they offer some advice on the various quests in Chapter 3 and how to […]
The adventures begin… somewhat! Shawn and Teos discuss the finer points of the sandbox that is presented in Chapter Two, which includes going through the advice for character advancement and […]
Shawn and Teos close the book on Chapter 1 of Icewind Dale, addressing how to run your players through the extensive contents of this chapter! This Episode’s Links Wizards of […]
Shawn and Teos continue their long trek into the cold wilderness of the Icewind Dale, scraping the secrets of the Ten Towns from the unforgiving ice. This Episode’s Links Critical […]
Shawn and Teos continue their look at the Ten Towns and the quests they have to offer. This Episode’s Links Table Top Babble More information about D&D Virtual Play Weekends […]
Shawn and Teos start taking a look at the Ten Towns and the quests they have to offer. The Three Musketeers on Kickstarter through October 30th Nazi Dracula Must Die […]
We’ve learned what we can of the harsh environment and been introduced to the basics of the Ten Towns, it’s time to delve in, addressing the various mysteries and threats […]
What are the Ten Towns and how do characters in the Icewind Dale interact with them? Shawn and Teos break down this chapter and all the resources, therein. Sage Advice […]
The exploration of the frozen lands continues with a discussion on the many ways the environment can kill! As a bonus: tips on fishing the knucklehead trout! Baldur’s Gate III […]
The Gents continue their long trek across the frozen wastes of the Icewind Dale, this time, addressing some advice for new GMs! D&D Celebration was a success! Free adventure! Digital […]
Shawn and a safe-and-sound Teos kick off a series on the cold, unforgiving landscape of Icewind Dale! Avalon Hill is now directly part of Hasbro Watch the “Best Thing about […]
The final journey into the mythical realms of Theros as Shawn and Teos talk about how your players can deal with the gods! Wizards Announces Magic the Gathering set – […]
The breakdown of the Theros content continues as Shawn and Teos talk about the kinds of stories that could be told with the supplement. Pick up Mythic Odysseys of Theros […]
Shawn and Teos break down using the Magic: The Gathering world of Theros in everyone’s campaigns! Pick up Mythic Odysseys of Theros D&D Celebration! VP of D&D Posting UA Survey […]
Successfully navigating their way to the last of the series focusing on exploration in Dungeons & Dragons, the gentlemen of DwDD talk about hexes… not the kind a Warlock uses, […]
Walking the twisting, winding path of all the facets of exploration, once more, Shawn and Teos pull out their verbal machetes* and cut through the brush of why exploration is […]
One of the pillars of Dungeons & Dragons that doesn’t always get the spotlight, what does exploration mean in D&D? Teos and Shawn really get into the meat of this […]
So how do you teach Dungeons & Dragons to a new player? Well, Teos and Shawn break down the challenges and pitfalls of teaching a new player while offering tips, […]
Welcome to Teos, the new on-going co-host to Down with D&D! Shawn and Teos break down traps! What are they used for, how can they be used by a DM, […]
Feats, don’t fail them now! Shawn brings in Adventurers League Content Manager, Game Designer, and Writer, Greg Marks to break down some of the concepts found with Feats in Dungeons […]
Shawn is joined, once again, by Teos Abadia to discuss the recent D&D Live event and the future of live gaming! Teos has a website you can check out! Teos […]
Lysa joins Shawn, once more, to discuss the process of building a world to run games in and how to make the people in them come to life while DMing […]
Shawn is joined by James Introcaso, Mike “Sly Flourish” Shea, and Scott Fitzgerald Gray to talk about the trio’s new project Fantastic Lairs: Boss Battles & Final Encounters for 5e […]
[Editor’s Note: Thanks for being patient with this episode. There will be two eps of Down with D&D, this week. Enjoy!] Meagan Maricle and Wolfgang Baur from Kobold Press join […]
Content manager for the Adventurer’s League and super-DM, Greg Marks joins Shawn to dig into what is needed to be a DM for Fifth Edition D&D. Follow Greg on Twitter […]
Shawn is joined by the creator of Esper Genesis, Rich Lescouflair, and they have a chat about using the rules of 5e to adapt to other settings, games, and concepts! […]
LaTia Bryant joins Shawn to talk about the amazing D&D Community and how it’s expanding and evolving! Follow LaTia on Twitter Follow LaTia on Instagram Keep up with LaTia on […]
Joining the Mad Wizard is the ENie-Award Winning Ashley Warren to talk about what it takes to really get into writing great stories for RPGs! These two powerhouse writers really […]
Chris joins Shawn to talk about the effects of the Pandemic on gaming currently, and how it may affect the future. This is a powerful and hopeful conversation that we […]
It’s finally happened! Doc Palindrome, himself, joins Shawn in chatting about comedy in gaming! Doc on Twitter
D&D Beyond head writer James Haeck joins the Mad Wizard chatting about the experience of adding new players to the group! Given what is happening in the world, this comes […]
The prolific Jeff Stevens joins Shawn to talk about possibly the most important topic in the gaming (or any) industry: expanding the audience. Jeff is on Twitter Jeff’s website Jeff […]
Podcaster, game designer, and Venture Maiden, Celeste Conowitch, chats with Shawn about something we can all learn more about, Gaming Online. Tips and tricks and boundless fun to be had […]
Note from Doc – Hi folks! I had a little issue with the audio with this one and, thus, Shawn sounds a bit like he’s using a megaphone while Will’s […]
Shawn sits down with the highly-prolific Scott Fitzgerald Gray to talk about the experience of editing games and adventures! Scott’s Website Scott on Facebook Scott on Twitter Scott on the […]
Sly Flourish, himself, chats with the Mad Wizard about all things Dungeons & Dragons! Plus: Great details about how to play D&D 1-on-1! Ruins of the Grendleroot Sly Flourish on […]
James Introcaso stops by to talk about working with Matt Mercer on the Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount about the world of Critical Role! James Introcaso on the DMs Guild D&D […]
The Mad Wizard hit Winter Fantasy and came back with some great interviews from some top names in Dungeons & Dragons! Check them out! Alan Patrick of the D&D Adventurers […]
Shawn and Teos talk about the history and current state of D&D Organized Play. Links Teos Abadia on the DMs Guild Calimshan Adventurer’s Guide by MT Black Blood Hunter Class […]
Shawn and Chris continue their discussion about Descent into Avernus. This time they travel to the Wandering Emporium. Links The Lucky Die AP DnD 5e podcast Laeral Silverhand’s Explorer’s Kit […]
Shawn and Chris continue their discussion about Descent into Avernus. This time they finish the Path of Demons of start the Path of Devils. Links The Lucky Die AP DnD […]
Shawn and Chris continue their discussion about Descent into Avernus. This time they chat about the Path of Demons. Links Two new members of the Adventurers League AL Team: LaTia […]
Shawn and Chris talk about gaming resolutions and low level D&D. Check out the Sneak Attack patreon bonus show for a chat about epics and other non-traditional game play.
Shawn and Chris continue their discussion about Descent into Avernus. This time they chat about the warlords of Avernus and Haruman’s Hill. Links Wizards of the Coast and Tuque Games […]
Shawn and Chris continue their discussion about Descent into Avernus. This time they chat about Fort Knucklebones and it’s dark comedy along with how the rules for infernal war machines […]
Shawn and Chris continue their discussion about Descent into Avernus as they start trekking across Avernus towards Fort Knucklebones. Links Unearthed Arcana: Fighter, Rogue, Wizard D&D movie to focus on […]
Shawn and Chris continue their discussion about Descent into Avernus as they finish up making their way through Elturel and make a leap of hellish faith into Avernus proper. It’s […]
Shawn and Chris continue their discussion about Descent into Avernus as they delve into the depths of Avernus…well, Elturel in Avernus at least. Either way they’re making their way through […]
Shawn and Chris continue their discussion about Descent into Avernus, covering more of A Tale of Two Cities, now it’s time take a walk to Candlekeep and then catch the […]
Shawn and Chris continue their discussion about Descent into Avernus, covering more of A Tale of Two Cities, now it’s time to talk about boats and rich evil dukes homes, […]
Shawn and Chris continue their discussion about Descent into Avernus, covering a lot of A Tale of Two Cities, especially the Dungeon of the Dead Three. They also touch on […]
Shawn and Chris dissect the UA on the Cleric, Druid, and Wizard. Links Unearthed Arcana: Twilight, Name, Fire
Shawn and Chris start their discussion about Descent into Avernus and cover a few news items. Links Let’s Design an Adventure Encounters in Avernus
Shawn and Chris finish their discussion about Acquisitions incorporated and also talk about the Bard and the Paladin from Unearthed Arcana. Links Bard & Paladin: Eloquent Heroics
Shawn and Chris get into the Unearthed Arcana about the Aberrant mind Sorcerer and the Lurker in the Deep Warlock. Enjoy and thank you for listening. Links Unearthed Arcana – […]
Shawn and Chris keep going on AI, they’re talking about growing the rest of the Players Options in this edition of Down with D&D. Links Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus […]
Shawn and Chris keep going on AI, they’re talking about growing the franchise today. Links Eberron: Rising from the Last War announced Core 3-3 Tom Lommel The Spirited Investigation
Take a listen to a panel from PAX West about creating in another’s world from PAX West that Shawn was on with Teos Abadia (Alphastream), Liz Spain (Lone Shark Games), Kat […]
Shawn and Chris keep going on AI, breaking down the company positions and franchise tasks! Also, support the Commandroids Kickstarter! Not D & D, but super cool!
Money, Money, Money, Moooooooney…MOOOONEY!!! We’re gonna take some time to talk about the Acquisitions Inc book that our own Mad Wizard helped put together. We also get magical and mystical […]
Do you want a challenge? I’ll give you a challenge and then for dealing with the challenge we will resolve the situation with some type of consequence. No, it’s not […]
Do you want a challenge? I’ll give you a challenge and then for dealing with the challenge we will resolve the situation with some type of consequence. No, it’s not […]
It’s time to talk about all the things you get for doing stuff in your D&D game. No, not the TPK death stuff but all the shiny, magical, treasure and […]
Shawn interviews the incomparable Elyssa Grant, producer with Penny Arcade and project manager for Acquisitions Inc! @Hobbitzez
Sly Flourish is getting down with us to talk about the Grendleroot and his newest book, kickstarter, and methodology for adventures Links Fantastic Adventures: Ruins of the Grendleroot
Doc attempts to distract the listeners from the fact that everyone is too tired from Origins to get the usual quality of content. Results may vary. New episode next week!
Flow: the action or fact of moving along in a steady, continuous stream. We’re talking about the concept of creating flow in your adventures today. Enjoy and we’ll catch you […]
Descend into a hell of infernal machines from a city that chews up and spits out adventurers. We delve into the newest storyline from Dungeons and Dragons along with DnD […]
We’re talking about Box Text. That’s right. Box Text. Think we can’t do a whole episode about Box Text. Well, you’d be wrong. We can and we do. Enjoy and […]
The Mad Wizard chats with Alex Kammer, Director of Gamehole Con, on his new Kickstarter for D&D, the Sea King’s Malice! Links Alex Kammer’s Twitter The Sea King’s Malice Kickstarter
Shawn and Chris’ conversation about adventure design moves into hooks and openings but before they get to that Shawn interviews AL Administrator Amy Lynn Dzura. Enjoy and we’ll catch you next week. […]
Shawn and Chris talk continue to talk about frameworks and how they can help you design adventures. This is the second of two parts where we talk about Frameworks during […]
Shawn and Chris talk about frameworks and how they can help you design adventures. This is the first of two parts where we talk about Frameworks during our adventure designing […]
Shawn sits and chats with Ruty Rutenberg chat about a variety of topics including Morgrave Miscellany, Maze Arcana, and a variety of other media enterprises and publications.
Shawn and Chris chat about the scope and length considerations when designing adventures. Part 2 of our encounter and adventure design series. Enjoy. Links Video of the history of Dragonlance […]
Shawn and Chris chat about an overview of designing adventures which is a continuation of the encounter design series. Enjoy. Links Tactical Maps: Adventure Atlas Mirt’s Undermountain Survival Guide CCC-BMG-MOON2-1 […]
Shawn and James Introcaso get together to talk about teamwork and the trials, tribulations, triumphs, and tricks of creating with a group of people. Links Tabletop Babble Morgrave Miscellany Wayfinder’s […]
Shawn and Chris start building constructs, mixing potions, and summoning…turrets…huh? We also talk the Critical Role Kickstarter. Links Dan Dillon is new WotC D&D Game Designer Dwarven Forge – Dungeon […]
Shawn and Chris continue to get into the nitty gritty of the pillars of play and cover exploration and how to mix those pillars. Enjoy Links Ghosts of Saltmarsh New […]
Shawn and Chris get into the nitty gritty of the pillars of play and cover combat and social. Enjoy Links A Warlord Class for 5e from Schwalb Entertainment/Max Press Tactical […]
Shawn and Chris talk about some of their foundational ideas and concepts when designing encounters. Enjoy Links Stranger Things’ Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set Plays Mike Wheeler’s Adventure Love’s Labour’s […]
Shawn gets down with Mike Shea at Winter Fantasy. Enjoy the interview. Links Mad Wizard’s Menagerie Patreon
Chris and Shawn get down with the planes of existence. It’s gates, and shadowfey fellwild realms, and fire & ice, and all the wackiness of the Elemental Chaos, Limbo, and […]
Chris and Shawn get down with the premier spot on the internet for all things D&D. They wax poetical about D&D Beyond. They both love the sight and then give […]
Chris is taking the week off and Shawn is conversing with Teos Abadia about a variety of things related to DnD. Links DM David on Monster Ecology: Three Reasons the […]
It’s our final look at Waterdeep Dragon Heist. Enjoy as we delve into some of the lairs of the villains and how they affect the campaign. Links The Streets of […]
Welcome to the Streets of Avalon by the Wednesday Evening Podcast All-Stars. This special re-release is in conjunction with the Streets of Avalon Kickstarter to be produced by Encoded Designs […]
We’re talking Listener Q and A this week as we take a number of questions from the audience and dive into them. Enjoy and let us know what you’d like […]
Welcome to the Streets of Avalon by the Wednesday Evening Podcast All-Stars. This special re-release is in conjunction with the Streets of Avalon Kickstarter to be produced by Encoded Designs […]
Welcome to the Streets of Avalon by the Wednesday Evening Podcast All-Stars. This special re-release is in conjunction with the Streets of Avalon Kickstarter to be produced by Encoded Designs […]
Welcome to the Streets of Avalon by the Wednesday Evening Podcast All-Stars. This special re-release is in conjunction with the Streets of Avalon Kickstarter to be produced by Encoded Designs […]
Welcome to the Streets of Avalon by the Wednesday Evening Podcast All-Stars. This special re-release is in conjunction with the Streets of Avalon Kickstarter to be produced by Encoded Designs […]
Welcome to the Streets of Avalon by the Wednesday Evening Podcast All-Stars. This special re-release is in conjunction with the Streets of Avalon Kickstarter to be produced by Encoded Designs […]
It’s all about having a little help from your friends in this weeks episode of Down with D&D. Shawn and Chris take some time with the UA article on Sidekicks […]
Welcome to the Streets of Avalon by the Wednesday Evening Podcast All-Stars. This special re-release is in conjunction with the Streets of Avalon Kickstarter to be produced by Encoded Designs […]
Welcome to the Streets of Avalon by the Wednesday Evening Podcast All-Stars. This special re-release is in conjunction with the Streets of Avalon Kickstarter to be produced by Encoded Designs […]
Welcome to the Streets of Avalon by the Wednesday Evening Podcast All-Stars. This special re-release is in conjunction with the Streets of Avalon Kickstarter to be produced by Encoded Designs […]
This week we’re getting into a discussion about player contributions based on an article by DM David. It’s an excellent article with some wonderful ideas and our discussion gets into […]
Welcome to the Streets of Avalon by the Wednesday Evening Podcast All-Stars. This special re-release is in conjunction with the Streets of Avalon Kickstarter to be produced by Encoded Designs […]
Welcome to the Streets of Avalon by the Wednesday Evening Podcast All-Stars. This special re-release is in anticipation of the Streets of Avalon Kickstarter to be produced by Encoded Designs […]
We’re taking a break from Dragon Heist to talk about Urban Adventures. We give the 101 overview of how we see Urban adventures working and use Eberron, Waterdeep, and Avalon […]
Welcome to the Streets of Avalon by the Wednesday Evening Podcast All-Stars. This special re-release is in anticipation of the Streets of Avalon Kickstarter to be produced by Encoded Designs […]
Welcome to the Streets of Avalon by the Wednesday Evening Podcast All-Stars. This special re-release is in anticipation of the Streets of Avalon Kickstarter to be produced by Encoded Designs […]
It’s time for Dragon Heist Chapter 4, Part 3. It’s the end of chapter 4 and where the end of the adventure is. The vault where all the coins are. […]
Welcome to the Streets of Avalon by the Wednesday Evening Podcast All-Stars. This special re-release is in anticipation of the Streets of Avalon Kickstarter to be produced by Encoded Designs […]
It’s time for Dragon Heist Chapter 4, Part 2. We’ve come to a very interesting chapter in the book. The villain decides a lot of what happens here and there […]
Welcome to the Streets of Avalon by the Wednesday Evening Podcast All-Stars. This special re-release is in anticipation of the Streets of Avalon Kickstarter to be produced by Encoded Designs […]
It’s time for Dragon Heist Chapter 4, Part 1. We’ve come to a very interesting chapter in the book. The villain decides a lot of what happens here and there […]
It’s time for moar Dragon Heist. What happens when you have your own tavern in Waterdeep. We talk a little about that and a bunch of adventure seeds you can […]
It’s time for moar Dragon Heist. What happens when you have your own tavern in Waterdeep. We talk a little about that and a bunch of adventure seeds you can […]
It’s time for moar Dragon Heist. Time to talk about adventuring at level one and how you might manage to not kill your PCs right away. Get down. Links Mad […]
The darkest man in gaming lands on Down with DnD to cast a shadow over us with his Lordly presence. It’s Rob Schwalb coming to talk Shadow of the Demon […]
We’re going back to get down with mythic Ireland in D&D. It’s the Moonshae Islands part duet. Get down and get boggy. Links New Issue of Dragon+ Issue 22 Wolfgang […]
We’re going back to get down with mythic Ireland in D&D. It’s the Moonshae Islands part duet. Get down and get boggy. Links Great D&D Beyond Article: Creating Hero-Villain Bonds […]
The Mad Wizard is in the house talking about his Menagerie and we’re also gonna get down on some monster design. Links The Mad Wizard Patreon Preparing for Nuke-Con 2018 […]
We’re talking about Mythic Ireland and Vikings and Fey OH MY!!! Get down with some D&D.
It’s time to talk about DMs and how you can get started. We hit all the basic places for information and give some intro tips of our own. Enjoy and […]
We’re heading back to Eberron to talk Dragon Marks. We’ll get into the nitty gritty of what they are, how they fit into Eberron, and their design. So get down […]
Challenge levels!?! We’re talking about challenge levels?!? Do they even matter and what is this edition of D&D trying to do with them. All that and more as we get […]
It’s OP. IT’S OP. No, not over powered. It’s organized play. So get O, get O, and get P because the mad wizard Merwin and Chris do on this episode […]
We’re going to the admins on this one. It’s Lysa Chen and Alan Patrick to talk about all the new changes coming to the Adventurer’s League starting at the end […]
New settings. Alert. We have new settings. Chris and the Mad Wizard Merwin get down with Eberron and Ravnica, the two newest upcoming releases for D&D 5e. Get magically down […]
Punch up a game for one night only. Chris and the Mad Wizard Merwin get down on One Shots this week. How to structure them, write them up, and the […]
Is it elegant and does it matter. Chris and the Mad Wizard Merwin get down on the level of depth in D&D, where it is, where it isn’t, and why […]
It’s time to get down with the Gamehole, the Borderlands, and the convention the Gamehole is named for. It’s Alex Kammer and he’s here to dish about everything him up […]
Let’s get down with talking. Actually we talk a lot about challenges that aren’t about fighting and ways to approach them. Enjoy and we’ll talk to you next week. Links […]
Let’s get down with Origins 2018. We had a good time. You probably heard the audio from our panel. This week, since Chris did zero D&D at Origins Cindy is […]
Lets get down with the buisness of Dungeons and Dragons. Shawn and Chris talk about making money and how it works from the outside as freelancers and small publishing company […]
Lets get down with the city of splendor. It’s Waterdeep and the Stream of Many Eyes. There’s gonna be a Dragon Heist followed by delving into the most famous of […]
Let’s get down. It’s time to get monstrous up in here. Shawn and Chris fang up for a discussion on the Unearthed Arcana article on Centaurs and Minatours. Enjoy and […]
Let’s get down with RP. It’s talking about bringing the storytelling out in play because we need to emote sometime. Just emote ok? We can emote together. Just tell me […]
Let’s get down with taking things apart. It’s all about breaking down adventures on this episode of Down with D&D. Get Down.
Let’s get down with expanding into the Realms. It’s all about AL news and what it means for the Adventurer’s League going forward. Get down and get out there. Links […]
Get down with some new blood. That’s right. It’s about bringing in warm bodies and showing them the ropes. Chris and Shawn talk about teaching new players the game.
Let’s get down with extras, supporting, flat, and round characters. It’s all about NPCs this week as we break down what you need to do to make them happen at […]
Let’s get down with more alternate rules for Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition. We’re talking about combat rules enhancements for your DnD game and getting all Viking up in here […]
Let’s get down with compromise, playing in the same sandbox, and gaming in the same universe. Shawn and Chris are talking about sharing worlds from three different points of view […]
Let’s get down with Tier 1 and Tier 2 today. It’s all about rocking out local and regional adventures this week. Links Watch Mordenkainen’s Mayhem on Mondays DM David Talks […]
Let’s get down with Tier 3 and Tier 4. It’s high level adventures this week on Down with DnD. Link Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes preview: Duergar D&D Beyond Content off […]
Let’s get down with the sickness. Well, if that sickness is a demonplague then you should be all about it, right? I know James Introcaso is and he joins us […]
Let’s get down with Haeck and making stuff for the people. It’s a conversation about one man’s journey into this crazy world of being a writer in the gameosphere and […]
Let’s get down with the Con. Not Constitution but Conventions. Preparing and running to be the most proficient DM in the room be it AL or Homebrew. Shawn and Chris […]
Let’s get down with Logo’s and the DM’s Guild. People be up in arms and we’re gonna talk about the logo controversy today. Get down and get Logo with it.
Let’s get down with starting up. This time it’s Jason Hobbs from Hobbs & Friends of the OSR talking with us about if D&D is accomplishing what it set out to […]