becomingDM

Rule zero gets quoted a lot for role playing games: where the rules aren't in charge, the DM is.  But is that really the case?  In this episode of becomingDM, John and Danielle discuss homebrewing rules:  when you shouldn't homebrew, when you should consider it, as well as other things to consider when changing up the rules for your game.  Whether you've never changed a rule before or you've chang...

From a listener suggestion we are hosting an episode on running games for neurodiverse players.  Guest co-host Adam Kabatoff joins us to discuss the topic and we give tips and suggestions to consider.  But be aware, there is no one size fits all advice for any player at your table, this episode is designed as a starting point to stimulate thought for your game. What do you think?  Let us know how...

In the part 2 of our getting paid series, John and Danielle continue the discussion around things to consider when becoming a paid DM.  This time we continue the discussion around choosing your pricing model and venture into topics like setting expectations with customers on what you will and won't tolerate in a paid game.  Join us as we wrap up this two-part series diving into the details on runn...

They always say if you love your job then you'll never work a day in your life.  So if your job is being a DM, what does that mean?  In this episode of becomingDM, John and Danielle talk about the details of getting paid as a DM.  Whether it's understanding what it means to be a paid DM, determining how you price your offering or what things you may want to consider including as part of an paid DM...

We're continuing our deep dive into travel!  If you're players have been considering going to another plane or dimension, or maybe you have plans for time travel, then this is the episode for you.  John and Danielle talk about how players can participate in dimensional travel as well as get into a brief discussion about the different types of planes.  Then we wrap up with a discussion on time trav...

In this episode of becomingDM, we're talking more about Travel.  You may recall that in episode 19 we talked about how to make travel more interesting.  In this episode, the first of a two part episode, we talk about the nuts and bolts of travel and how it can work in your game.  Whether you're looking for discussions around overland chases, using mounts or a sea voyage we're covering it in our ep...

In our latest episode of our occasional series, "Dealing With", we're digging into what makes Clerics tick!  If you're looking for better ways to challenge your cleric players, or simply want to make them more tightly integrated with your story, then join us!  John and Danielle discuss it all as well as their individual experience in games with Cleric player characters. We want to know what you th...

If you're wanting to understand what a new group of players hopes to get out of the game.  Or maybe you've never played with someone before and need to know if there are topics that they won't play in a game with.  Possibly you just want to set the scene before you start playing so that everyone understands what they are getting into.  Whatever the reason, running a session zero can help ensure a...

Finding yourself not to do when a creature provides an effect of petrified?  Or maybe you're just looking for a way to put a different twist on combat by introducing blindness.  Whatever the reason, conditions can be a good way to challenge your players, whether in combat or out.  In this episode, John and Danielle talk about the different types of conditions that can be added to players and how a...

It's time for another episode of My Favorite Monster!  In the fourth episode of this series, we are talking about Dinosaurs and Cockatrices.  Join us and John and Danielle talk about some of the specifics of these monsters and how you might use them in your game. We always want to hear feedback!  If you have comments or suggestions for us, please use one of the following contact methods below:   W...

Whether it is a character feature that grants players the ability to have a familiar or an animal companion or you have players that just want to befriend every potential pet they encounter, the game you run can change significantly with these additions.  In this episode of becomingDM, John and Danielle talk about how to integrate these creatures into your game, as well as the differences between...

In the second part of our two part series, John and Danielle continue their discussion on running games with little or no prep.  In this part, they cover how to get out of trouble you may have created (overpowered magic items, unintended plot lines) as well as some additional improv tips.  Join use for more! Let us know if we have missed anything.  If you have suggestions for additional content fo...

Sometimes you don't have time to put together a plan for your next session.  Life gets in the way, or maybe you even got writers block.  Whatever the reason, if you're a DM, at some point you will find yourself needing to run a session with little or no prep.  In this episode, John and Danielle talk about their suggestions for successfully running games this way.  Whether it's John's experience gr...

Let's face it, your adventurers can't go from quest to quest indefinitely.  Eventually they are going to find a town where they need to take a little break, recover, maybe even do some research or build their own business.  Adding downtime to your games is an important piece of making your world feel like a living environment instead of a place that the characters just travel through to get to the...

One shot adventures can be a great way to break up a campaign if you need some time off from the main story line.  They can also be a good way to introduce players that haven't played together before or just try out a new type of adventure with your group.  But how do you keep a one shot to actually only take up one session?  How do you structure the story so it can be completed in that time?  In...

Whether it's the dark spooky forest just outside of town or the raucous bar that the characters find themselves in, having the right description so that players understand what's going on around them is extremely important.  That's why, in this episode of becomingDM John and Danielle are talking about tips and trips to guide you in improving your descriptions. They talk about things to consider fo...

Do your players yearn to lose some money at a casino?  Or maybe they are just looking for an illicit back room card game.  Do they want a game of chance or would they prefer to use their skills at a gambling to win some money?  In this episode, John and Danielle talk  about implementing games of chance and gambling into your world.  We will cover locations where gambling might happen, types of gam...

When you have players that stop paying attention when it's not their turn, that's a problem.  But if they aren't following the storyline at all and have been checking out, that's a huge problem!  Join Danielle and John in this episode of becomingDM where they talk about strategies for keeping your players engaged and excited about your game and sessions.  With incorporating player back stories, se...

Eventually your players are going to get to the point where they are interested in leveling up their characters.  But maybe you have questions on how they get to that point or even what happens when the character is ready for the next level.  Join Danielle and John as we discuss options for leveling up.  Whether you go old school and use gold as a way to get experience, more modern with milestone...

Holidays and calendars?  No, we're not talking about creating homemade gifts, it a new episode of becomingDM!  This time John and Danielle talk about using holidays to create unique experiences within towns and also to represent the passage of time.  They also talk about calendars and determining whether or not creating a calendar makes sense for your game.  So whether you're looking to create a h...

Are you feeling unmotivated when it comes to planning out your games?  Do you get more frustrated with your players than usual?  Have you stopped caring about the outcomes of your game sessions?  If so, you may be experiencing DM Burnout.  Join us in this episode of becomingDM as John and Danielle talk about identifying the symptoms and causes.  Additionally, they will talk about how to avoid burn...

Maybe you've been stuck and all of the shops in your world look the same.  Or maybe you skip over the shopping experience altogether.  Whatever the reason, John and Danielle are ready to help you create more interesting shopping experiences for your world.  Join us as we talk about everything from creating the shop itself, to the patrons of the shop, the shopkeep, and even the merchandise that the...

We've said our farewells to Felicia, now let's get acquainted with Danielle and the show!  becomingDM is a podcast devoted to tabletop role-playing games and helping DMs and GMs have a better experience in their game.  In the trailer we'll talk about the qualifications of our two hosts, John and Danielle and have a little fun while we do it.  We hope you'll stick around for our every-other-week sh...

If your players stay in an area long enough, chances are they will become known for something.  That something could be for their good deeds or for doing bad deeds as well.  The consequences of gaining notoriety is sometimes something that DMs don't include when building out their world.  In this episode of becomingDM, John and Felicia talk about notoriety and how to leverage notoriety in your gam...

Whether they are using their kung fu skills or mastering the mystic forces of Ki, a good number of DMs have not had the experience of running games for Monks.  So if a Monk joins their game, they may be at a loss for how to better integrate them into and challenge them with their campaign.  In this episode, we are continuing our Dealing With series to talk about Monks and how to make them a better...