Hello, Adventurers!

In this episode of 'Hello Adventurers,' hosts Jason Portizo, Joe McCall, and Jim Crocker dive into some of the most memorable RPG horror stories, highlighting common challenges faced by players and Dungeon Masters. They explore tales from Reddit, including a disruptive player who stole from their party, a player who introduced an overpowered homebrew cantrip, and a real-life breakup caused by in-g...

In this episode of 'Hello, Adventurers,' hosts Jason Portizo, Joe McCall, and Jim Crocker dive into the intriguing concept of running a Dungeons & Dragons campaign where all players choose the same class—specifically, Rangers. They discuss the challenges and unique opportunities this approach offers, including handling spellcasting, favored enemies, and terrain. The team emphasizes creating a...

In this episode of 'Hello Adventurers,' Dungeon Masters Jason Portizo, Joe McCall, and Jim Crocker share a mix of humorous and cautionary RPG horror stories. Drawing from player interactions on Reddit's r/RPGhorrorstories, they discuss issues like problematic player behavior, misunderstandings between DMs and players, and the complexities of role-playing disabilities. The episode also covers comba...

In this episode of 'Hello Adventurers,' The Dungeon Masters share their insights on managing player absences in tabletop RPG sessions. They discuss how to handle both planned and unexpected absences, emphasizing the importance of establishing protocols during session zero. The hosts explore practical solutions such as running prequels, side quests, or alternative activities like one-shots or board...

In this episode of 'Hello Adventurers,' Dungeon Masters Jason Portizo, Joe McCall, and Jim Crocker dive into Jim's recent experience at '20 Sided Tavern,' a unique and interactive Dungeons & Dragons-themed Broadway show. Jim provides an in-depth look at the show's setup, its blend of improv and D&D elements, audience engagement, and the overall theatrical experience. They discuss how this...

In this episode, Dungeon Master Jason Portizo hosts a solo session with special guest DM Tony from the D&D 404 podcast. They discuss various aspects of running a successful D&D podcast, emphasizing the importance of consistent quality and the significant amount of work involved. Tony shares insights into his DMing style, particularly how he designs engaging boss fights with multiple phases...

In this episode, Dungeon Master Jason Portizo and former co-hosts Josey Diaz and Greg Genovas recount the epic story of 'The Ballad of Edgardo.' Originally aired on 'Curmudgeons and Dragons,' this tale follows the tumultuous journey of Edgardo, a brawler navigating a hostile role-playing game environment. Facing constant opposition from overpowered players and biased moderators, Edgardo forms an a...

This episode features a replay from their previous show 'Curmudgeons and Dragons,' specifically episode 103 titled 'Jim's Top Five Tips for Preparing Your Session.' Jason and Jim Crocker discuss essential steps for DMs to effectively prep for their game sessions, covering reviewing notes from previous sessions, setting up play spaces, and understanding monster tactics. They emphasize the importanc...

In this episode, the trio tackles fan queries from Reddit's r/DMAcademy. Topics include strategies for dealing with players who kill the main villain too early, the ethics of using loaded dice on players, and the endlessly amusing dangers of cursed items. With lively debates and practical advice, they cover how to navigate unexpected player behaviors and create fun, engaging game experiences. Whet...

In this podcast episode, Dungeon Masters Jason Portizo, Joe McCall, and Jim Crocker examine the intriguing world of Owlbears, iconic monsters from Dungeons & Dragons. They discuss the origins, characteristics, and ecology of Owlbears, including their role in campaigns and their place in popular culture. The episode delves into Owlbear behavior, combat tactics, and notable encounters, while als...

In this episode of 'Hello Adventurers,' the hosts discuss a unique challenge faced by a dungeon master (DM) when players wanted to follow the 'Curse of Strahd' module strictly, without any deviations or creative input from the DM. This situation highlights the importance of having a session zero to ensure the DM and players are on the same page regarding game expectations. The inexperienced DM, ta...

In this episode of 'Hello, Adventurers,' hosts Jason Portizo, Joe McCall, and Jim Crocker present a comprehensive guide for RPG players and Dungeon Masters on strategically building their game library. They cover essential starting points for newcomers, recommended buys for progression, and explore specialized resources that enhance gameplay and creativity. The discussion is structured into phases...

The DMs discuss the importance and practicality of third-party resources for game masters looking to enrich their role-playing experiences. They spotlight 'How to Write Adventure Modules That Don’t Suck' by Goodman Games, a collection of essays from 25 authors offering actionable advice on crafting compelling D&D adventures. While examining its applicability across different RPG systems, the h...

In this episode, the discussion centers around the Total Party Kill (TPK) scenario in role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, providing DMs with strategies to maintain the game narrative following the party's defeat. The conversation progresses from acknowledging character death as a significant aspect of gameplay to methods for avoiding a premature end to the campaign after a TPK occurs. Ke...

In this episode of 'Hello Adventurers,' the DMs discuss a Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) horror story shared by REDDIT user bronze_soul24, titled 'DM invited me then didn't include me.' The story recounts the user's negative experience of being excluded from gameplay for most of a five-hour online D&D session due to poor DM management and player engagement. The hosts explore the challenges of...

In this podcast episode, the hosts delve into the world of miniature painting for Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts. They recount their personal journeys, from initial attempts as amateurs to honing their skills and discovering the joy of painting miniatures. The episode provides a comprehensive guide for beginners, covering essential supplies like paints, brushes, lighting setups, and miniature...

In this episode of 'Hello Adventurers', the DMs engage in discussions about Dungeon Master Player Characters (DMPCs), various role-playing techniques, and the intricacies of balancing the roles of DM and player within a campaign. They draw distinctions between DMPCs, NPCs with heightened agency, and cohorts, highlighting the critical nature of player agency and the potential challenges that DMPCs...

In this lively podcast episode, the DMs plunge into the Dungeons & Dragons universe, honing in on one of its most iconic and unpredictable creatures: the Mimic. The conversation kicks off with a fun chat about each host's beloved monster before delving deeply into the intricacies of Mimics.  The hosts share valuable insights into the Mimic's abilities, including its shape-shifting prowess, sti...

In this episode of 'Hello, Adventurers', the DMs tackle a Redditor's intriguing query about a novel approach to running a role-playing game campaign, where every action and decision hinges on dice rolls. This concept sparks a lively discussion on player agency, the delicate balance between randomness and control in gaming, and how such a radical idea could potentially revolutionize or impede the t...

In this episode of Hello Adventurers, hosts Jason Portizo, Joe McCall, and Jim Crocker discuss strategies for running mystery campaigns in Dungeons and Dragons. They tackle the challenges posed by D&D's pass-fail system for whodunits and explore three main approaches for game masters to construct engaging mysteries: 'The Pool of Clues' method, involving a fixed set of suspects and clues withou...

In this episode of Hello Adventurers, the dungeon masters dive into the world of third-party resources for Dungeons and Dragons and tabletop RPGs, with a special focus on 'Sly Flourish's Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master' by Mike Shea. The discussion takes a book club-style approach, shedding light on the significant role of third-party content creators and crowdfunded projects within the RPG comm...

In this episode of 'Hello Adventurers', the DMs come together to share a treasure trove of practical tips aimed at accelerating gameplay in Dungeons & Dragons. These tips range from rolling attack and damage dice simultaneously to pairing new players with seasoned veterans, utilizing spell cards for quick reference, favoring average monster damage, consolidating monsters for streamlined manage...

In this episode of 'Hello, the podcast,' the DMs delve into a gripping RPG horror tale shared by user mobile-day-6192 on the DnD subreddit. The story revolves around a DM who takes the concept of turn-based combat a bit too literally, extending it beyond game mechanics in a way that nonsensically restricts player actions. During a critical moment involving a golem encounter, the DM's decision to a...

In this exciting episode of 'Hello, Adventurers', the hosts delve into the realm of Dungeons 'n Drafts, a unique initiative that brings together Dungeons and Dragons enthusiasts in the cozy atmosphere of local breweries. Joining the conversation is Thomas Solar, the visionary behind Dungeons 'n Drafts, who shares his journey as the founder (or rather co-founder alongside his wife, Dezarea) of this...

In this latest episode of 'Hello Adventurers', the DMs once again dip into the listener mailbag, offering up sage advice on how to elevate the Dungeons & Dragons experience for both players and GMs. From navigating the intricacies of Nat 20s in initiative and skill checks to pondering the ideal endgame scenarios for D&D campaigns, the hosts leave no stone unturned in their quest for gaming...