Mastering Dungeons

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 Cl...

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...

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...

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...

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 D...

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 2...

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&amp...

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...

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 Introcas...

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?...

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...

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...

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...

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 Ge...

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 200t...

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 Edi...

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 Warrior...

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 Physical...

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!...

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 Ghos...

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...

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 Fea...

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 Chaosi...

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 M...

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?...