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

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM today we continue talking about better Improv Tips for DMs Here’s what we cover: ​The Rule of Intent ​Yes AND ​Sparks or Prompt Lists ​Taking Pauses or Breathes Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff: ​Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmith ​Roll an...

The problem of the NPC companion... the poor shmuck that your party drags along with them that YOU suddenly have to play as if you were both a player and a DM. They are just trouble, right? NO! If you learn how to pick your battles when using them in combat, roleplay situations, and other situations, you'll see that they can add to important moments without being a drag in the meantime.

Welcome to How to Be a Better DM Today we talk about improving improvisation when your players do something out of the blue. Tip #1: The Rule of Intent - think about the intent of the player as you improvise and try to meet and fulfill that intent. Tip #2: Yes AND - in your yes anding the AND should be capitalized because that’s the most important part. Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you...

Oh, so you'd like to create EVERY story arc, enemy, NPC, and element of your D&D adventure out of thin air, without resorting to using characters who are blatant knockoffs of well-known actors or movie characters? And let me guess: you'd also like every adventure arc be an entirely new story that's never been seen (or at least is heavily disguised). Well, this is the wrong episode...

Thanks for listening. Today we talk about the secret inner work required to be a great dungeon master. Here are some notes: People Management of yourself as the DM Self Validation Jealousy Curiosity Self Regulation Six Pillars of Self Esteem Don’t take things personally The 4 Agreements Assertiveness Personal Clarity Journaling Self-Discipline Routines Relationship Builder The Like Switch Grattitu...

Do you ever wish that players would just STOP and take things seriously for one minute?! After all, you want the next moment to FEEL important... but how can you do that? How can you add weight to your words? Namely, the type of weight that gets players to quiet down, lean forward, and think. It's not easy, but it is absolutely possible!

Every DM wants to get better, but “improvement” can feel vague. In this episode, we break it down into four concrete tools you can use to actually level up your Dungeon Mastering—whether you’re running your first campaign or your fifth. The 4 Tools 1. The Dungeon Master Level Up Guide • A free newsletter from Session 0 Studios that delivers practical advice and DM growth tips straight to your inbo...

Here are my tips: Use scatter terrain Use distance Use elevation Capture the Flag VIP Zombies Tag Hide and Seek Snatch and Grab Ingredient Gathering King of the Hill The Ground is Lava Shock and Awe Library Book The Shell Game Add Water Elements Add the Weather Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stu...

Most DMs have had at least one period of time when their party suddenly starts meeting A LOT less often. Whether it's life changes or just a lack of interest, what do you do? Do you quit, stay the course, or make a change? That's the topic of today's podcast with Tanner. He gives DMs 3 steps to help them decide on next steps if their campaign is becoming a thing of the past. Let's...

Today we fix combat encounters, plus my kids have something to say. This is what we talk about: Use scatter terrain Use distance Use elevation Capture the Flag VIP Zombies Tag Hide and Seek Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff: Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmith Roll and Play Pres...

Do you feel like, unless you plan every single item, NPC interaction, and every encounter down to the letter, that you'll lose control as a DM? Well this episode is for you! Tanner discusses randomness, rolling for items, enemies, and more, and also shares ways your next D&D session can be RANDOM without being LESS. Also, for anyone curious about FanX, where we'll be on 6 different pan...

Today we talk about how to fix Combat Encounters 1. Use Scatter Terrain 2. Use Distance 3. Use Elevation Also, we are doing 6 panels at FanX coming up in Salt Lake City in September so if you are in the area, come see us! Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff: Worldsmith: http://session0studios.c...

Tanner talks about Points of Interest: what they are, why some DMs find them difficult to prepare, and how to make them worthwhile. Remember that it's about making the world exciting, not just full!

Welcome to How to Be a Better DM Today we talk about 7 mistakes I still make: ​Not taking in the moment and enjoying. ​Not surprising my party ​Trying to be a dungeon master that I’m not ​Comparing Myself to Other DM ​Not being me ​Forcing my expectations on other players ​Not Skipping the Boring Bits Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some...

Tanner shares a minor update about the podcast from his perspective, and talks about how to prioritize fun when starting a campaign. Hint: it's not with a lot of roleplaying like he did with his recent campaign...

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 Why your combat Slogs You haven’t set the epectations with your players Because you’re...

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 Today we are announcing that going forward, we are cutting back on everything except j...

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 While our guest, Kyle Shire, has many talents and credits to his name, major ones incl...

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 We share a brief announcement in this episode... also, to clarify, I realized on relis...

TL;DR: If your sessions start strong but crash halfway through, it’s not your story, your prep, or even your players—it’s your energy management. In this episode, Justin breaks down the hidden reason your games lose momentum mid-session and teaches you how to fix it permanently. Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worlds...

Welcome back to the 6th installment of our short series on writing a Homebrew one-shot. In this episode, we're joined by our friend Rob Van Auken and we continue work on The Chimefall Ceremony: For Whom the Bell TolIs . This miniseries is designed to help give you an idea of how to collaborate on a project like this and how to write and publish a one-shot. Also, a little bit of Rob's audio is lost...

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 Justin and Tanner are joined for this episode by an amazing DM, London Carlisle! While...

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 Feeling stuck or burned out as a Dungeon Master? You’re not alone—and you’re not out o...

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 Whether your new player is a wide-eyed first-timer or cautiously dipping a toe into th...

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 Your world deserves to feel alive. In this episode of How to Be a Better DM , Justin d...