Dragon Mind - Mindful TTRPGs

Wizard was the class with the fewest changes in 2024. Was there more you were looking for out of it? For more conversations on broader TTRPG and Game Design, check out the Untitled TTRPG Podcast with Wrel and I at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5d3vzUrw9W0UpczwhbJJwvFHx7mjjrOK&si=KrtvRFllg63A9nfm Also on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/show/7HIwLTBfuhnRwOdlA3Vd2d?si=d5f0e2513e464fee...

A lot of players don't like that Cleric subclasses are now gained at Level 3 instead of Level 1. How do you feel about the change? For more conversations on broader TTRPG and Game Design, check out the Untitled TTRPG Podcast with Wrel and I at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5d3vzUrw9W0UpczwhbJJwvFHx7mjjrOK&si=KrtvRFllg63A9nfm Also on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/show/7HIwLTBfuhnR...

For Rogues, Hiding is now easier than ever. What were some of your experiences using the 2014 Hiding mechanics? See Treantmonk's Fighter Damage Analysis for yourself at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IYWX33a7XA For more conversations on broader TTRPG and Game Design, check out the Untitled TTRPG Podcast with Wrel and I at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5d3vzUrw9W0UpczwhbJJwvFHx7mjjrOK&amp...

In the new Player's Handbook, Fighter is billed as a "low complexity" class. How easy do you think it is for new players to pick up? For more on broader TTRPG and Game Design, check out the Untitled TTRPG Podcast with Wrel and I at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5d3vzUrw9W0UpczwhbJJwvFHx7mjjrOK&si=KrtvRFllg63A9nfm Also on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/show/7HIwLTBfuhnRwOdlA3Vd2d?s...

Backgrounds have gotten a major shakeup in D&D 2024, but one major change has us still scratching our heads. For more on broader TTRPG and Game Design, check out the Untitled TTRPG Podcast with Wrel and I at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5d3vzUrw9W0UpczwhbJJwvFHx7mjjrOK&si=KrtvRFllg63A9nfm Also on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/show/7HIwLTBfuhnRwOdlA3Vd2d?si=d5f0e2513e464fee T...

One major goal of D&D 2024 was accessibility. Did the designers meet their goal? For more on broader TTRPG and Game Design, check out the Untitled TTRPG Podcast with Wrel and I at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5d3vzUrw9W0UpczwhbJJwvFHx7mjjrOK&si=KrtvRFllg63A9nfm Also on Spotify at: To join the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord, head to https://discord.gg/4CjhBQxX Or email me direct...

The 2024 Free Rules have been released on D&D Beyond, which you can find here at: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/free-rules/playing-the-game So what are the big changes between the 2024 and 2014 engines? For more on broader TTRPG and Game Design, check out the Untitled TTRPG Podcast with Wrel and I at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5d3vzUrw9W0UpczwhbJJwvFHx7mjjrOK&si=KrtvRFllg...

D&D 2024 has been cranking out preview after preview about the new system, and as a long time 5e player...I'm less excited than you may think. For my overview conversation with Wrel (or for more podcast conversations between us), head to https://youtu.be/NdfNc-nSsU0?si=eZqHQUmSIvRNArgE If you want to get in touch with me, send me an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dr...

Why is there such a huge gap between those of us who LOVE lore and those of us who roll our eyes at it? Let us know by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is now on YouTube! For our YouTube channel, head to: Youtube.com/@dragonmindttrpgs Dragon Mind is a TTRPG d...

What elements do you emphasize, downplay, or let go of in order to run a balanced TTRPG session? Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Want more Dragon Mind? Subscribe to our YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube...

What are the upsides and downsides of optimization? Can we broaden the definition of "optimization" to make it universally useful? Let us know by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is now on YouTube! For our YouTube channel, head to: Youtube.com/@drag...

How do you know when it's time to end the story of a character, arc, or campaign? When do you keep going and when do you say goodbye? Why are endings so hard? For a little bit on the psychology of story endings, check out Malcolm Gladwell's episode of Revisionist History , linked below: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0703VB1lFpJLaNgv7yiHG1?si=ysK0FQBZSR2RLGShSbW46w In this segment of the...

Today, I'm joined by Michael "Wrel" Henderson, a previous guest on Dragon Mind during our Playtest Panel Discussions and World Building Mini-Series to talk about his new grounded d20 TTRPG, Distal, which you can check out at playdisrpg.com We talk about some of the system's design goals, unique mechanics, and its extremely fun backstory generation tables. To follow Distal's d...

In a recently uploaded video, Jeremy Crawford broke the news that we won't be receiving anymore playtest packets for the 2024 Player's Handbook . So, now is as good a time as ever to reflect on how it went. References D&D Playtest Survey Results | Player's Handbook | Unearthed Arcana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmZvRkRsfvw D&D Exec. Opens Up about OGL & One D&D | My...

Notice how this title's in quotes? In today's episode, John and Stephanie discuss the notion that "No D&D is Better than Bad D&D" by investigating the root causes of "Bad D&D" and resolving the paradox of knowing that to become a skilled GM, you'll have to run games unskillfully first. In this segment of the Dragon Mind TTRPG Podcast, John and Stephanie...

One of the most under-recognized elements of Game Mastering is considering the real-world time spent playing and waiting in a game environment. Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Want more Dragon Mind? Subscribe...

In today's episode, John and Stephanie discuss their experiences playtesting and how to run a successful playtest that yields helpful information. Distal is a TTRPG in Alpha playtesting by Michael from the Playtest Panel Discussions. You can check out the system at https://linktr.ee/distalrpg In this segment of the Dragon Mind TTRPG Podcast, John and Stephanie borrow brilliance from our world&...

We finally get a version of the Monk that (seems) to be on par with its martial-peers. Everything looks good. The question remains: does it play good? To support this podcast, drop a 5-star review in your app of choice and let us know your favorite thing about Dragon Mind. To submit a question or topic, email us at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or let us know in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discor...

Hot on the heels of UA 7 is UA 8: Bastions and Cantrips, as well as a discussion about the survey feedback for UA 6. To support this podcast, drop a 5-star review in your app of choice and let us know your favorite thing about Dragon Mind. To submit a question or topic, email us at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or let us know in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt D...

Designing an encounter can serve multiple functions. Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Want more Dragon Mind? Subscribe to our YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@dragonmindttrpgs and follow us on TikT...

What type of Game Balance does your table enjoy? What have been your experiences with homebrew TTRPG content? Let us know by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our bes...

In today's episode, John and Stephanie discuss the "pro mindset" that you can bring to any table you're apart of, as well as both sides of the Professional GMing relationship. In this episode, we mention a few resources to check out. They're listed below: Why I Quit Pro DM'ing and Is It For You? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjU8CyoYw0k Treantmonk's Temple - https...

Sometimes what we think will happen and what actually happens are very different things. What have been your experiences with homebrew TTRPG content? Let us know by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infin...

Another entry into our favorite news topic, D&D Fifth Edition Second Edition, also known at PHB 2024. We get the subclass previews for Barbarian, Fighter, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard. Oh yeah, it's all coming together. To support this podcast, drop a 5-star review in your app of choice and let us know your favorite thing about Dragon Mind. To submit a question or topic, email us at drago...

GMing isn't about what you do. It's about who you are. Let us know by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't hav...