How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM

  Warmup: Tanner to Justin Intro Dungeons and Dragons is evolving. Wizards of the Coast has come out with some major announcements in the last few weeks and today, we’re going to talk about them. Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM. I’m your host, Tanner Weyland, here with my cohort Justin Lewis. Together, we are going to learn how to craft better stories for you and your players as you DM...

“This is it?” Ulv asked in a hushed whisper. “You wanted rebels. These are the only ones I know of. They’ve come here to talk to you, now say something.” Herlia responds tersely. You sigh and step forward. You look around the basement of the tavern. Only a few candles hang around giving the room a gloomy cast. You meet the eyes of each of the 5 people sitting on barrels in this dank cellar. “Thank...

Reach out to This Dungeon is Occupied at https://linktr.ee/thisdungeonisoccupiedpod Warmup: Justin to This Dungeon is Occupied Prompt: Think of the last group you DM’d for. Now describe  the character that you would like to have played in that group if you could add a new character for yourself. Intro: Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM. I’m Justin Lewis, and together with my cohost Tanner...

This is How To Be A Better DM. Check out our website for contact info: https://session0studios.com/better-dm-show/ Thanks for listening to today’s show! My name is Tanner Weyland, and I am excited to talk about how we can all prepare to be the best DMs we possible. We really appreciate all the support you guys give us. If you’d like to hang out with us once a month, you can. All you gotta do is si...

Warmup from Tanner to Justin: If you could make a character for an uninterested player, what would it be? Intro: Welcome back, adventurer! We’re excited for another episode of How to Be a Better DM! Together, you and I will learn how to craft better stories for yourself and your players as you DM sessions of Dungeons and Dragons 5e, no matter your level of experience. Today I’m your host Tanner We...

You crest a hill and finally see it. Moedinar, your 2nd childhood home. A flood of mixed memories enters your mind. You stop and your companions follow suit. You look over the large city. You see tall but sturdy stone buildings. You see precise streets and roads laid out in a grid pattern. You see a very large wall all the way around the city. What catches your attention most of all though is the...

Warmup: Justin I want you to pick the bond, flaw, personality trait, and ideal for a Tiefling artificer named Troaxiaus. Intro: Main Topic: Character Creation Explained Simply + Useful Tools In explaining the character creation we aren’t just reiterating the process as defined in the player’s handbook, though we are doing that to some degree. In doing this, we are attempting to help you think of s...

This is "How To Be A Better DM." Thanks for listening to today’s show! This is Tanner, and I am excited to talk about how we can all prepare to be the best DMs we possible. Today, I am discussing how to plan D&D campaigns. We really appreciate all the support you guys give us. If you’d like to hang out with us once a month, you can. All you gotta do is sign up for our quarterly one-shot D&...

Warmup: Tanner: What would be the simple premise of a one-hour session you would plan for friends who hadn’t played D&D? Intro: Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM. I’m your host Tanner Weyland, here with my counterpart Justin Lewis. Together we are going to learn how to weave better stories for you and your players while you dungeon master sections of D&D 5e. We will walk you through th...

You slash down the last of orcs that had ambushed you. This group had appeared out of nowhere apparently. You look around the shadowy thicket where you’d been attacked. Suddenly, Amris, falls down, a silvery dagger embedded in her chest. You’d only just met her in the town but she’d been more than helpful to you and your companions. You all rush over to help her. Blood slowly leaks from her mouth....

Common annoying d&d players and how to deal with them Warmup Intro Upcoming One-shot on the 25th Meat Justin  The Player DM: This is me when I play. Deal with this player by sitting them down and saying that they are a really great DM. Stress that you are the DM and that you’d like to challenge them to be an even better player which means good give and take with the other players. The Dis...

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM. We have a great episode with Robert from Dungeons, Dragons & Psychology . Get Robert's Book Session 0 ! Here are some of the questions we asked Robert: Is it necessary to make your NPC’s lifelike What makes a good NPC? What makes a good villain? What makes a good ally? How do you keep track of your NPC’s? Mentioned in this episode: Why Listen to Ads? Ugh,...

Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon This is "How To Be A Better DM." Thanks for listening to today’s show! This is Tanner,...

Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon Warmup Describe the coolest water fight you can think of. Intro Welcome back to How to...

Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon You sit down at the fire. You’ve traveled a long distance to reach these particular no...

Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon Welcome back to the Tavern Adventurer. Today, we talk about how to make a story and ca...

Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon This is How To Be A Better DM. Today we will discussing the Why and What of campaign f...

Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon Warmup: From Justin Intro Welcome Thanks for the One-Shot with Dan, Jordan and Anna. W...

You walk into the tavern. Your sword and shield clinking together as you walk makes everyone in the tavern turn and look at you. Being somewhat new to this you try and act tough and scowl at everyone. It doesn’t come off well and you look sort of foolish. You walk over to the bar and wait patiently for the bartender to come talk to you and ask you what you want to drink. He doesn’t. Instead he ser...

Welcome back to another episode of How to Be a Better DM. Today Tanner and Justin talk about their favorite enemies! Today's music was provided by https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roABNwbjZf4 Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Session 0 Studios Visit session0studios.com for more information. Why Listen to Ads? Ugh, another ad break. Let’s be real—ads are the worst. If you’re anything like...

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM. I’m one of your hosts, Tanner Weyland, and together you and I will learn how to tell better stories as we DM sessions of Dungeons and Dragons 5e. Today I share my thoughts on how to communicate with "that one player." Difficult interpersonal issues are often solved with open and constructive communication. If you like the podcast today, or if you have suggest...

It's another duo-show with Justin and Tanner. Listen afterward for a note from our sponsor. Mentioned in this episode: Give Us a Rating and Review You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to mak...

You fall to one knee. The large orc in front of you grips his battle ax firmly in his hands and lets out a mocking grunt. Blood drips down the blade and onto the ground. Your blood. You look around at your companions. They are all lying on the ground bloody and unconscious. Julian might be dead. Things could not look worse.  “Puny wizard. Drinking your blood will be a great pleasure.” The orc...

We had some technical difficulties today so if you'd like to help us have less technical difficulties become a patron. Patreon Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Session 0 Studios Visit session0studios.com for more information. Give Us a Rating and Review You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ev...

What is a Session 0 Suddenly, you hear a muffled grunt. You risk a glance away from your dark elf opponent and see Geriman go down. Enraged you yell, “Nooooooo!” and you rush the dark elf in front of you, he feints left but you don’t fall for it, choosing to rush him and lift him up, smashing him to the ground. You take advantage of the brief moment he lies stunned on the ground by sending a quick...