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

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've all been there: the endless turns, actions, and HP ticking down as you slog thro...

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 AI is here—and it’s not going anywhere. But what does it mean for Dungeon Masters? In...

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 Is it important for you NPCs to "feel" a certain way when players interact with them?...

Most villains fail not because they're weak—but because your players aren’t emotionally invested . In this episode, we kick off a powerful new storytelling series with a focus on “Show, Don’t Tell”—starting with the most misunderstood piece of storytelling in D&D: the villain . You’ll learn: Why simply saying “he’s the bad guy” never works How to build villains that evoke real fear, anger, or...

What does it really mean to be a strong Dungeon Master? Is it about rules mastery, epic voices, or maybe... sonic attacks and diamond scales? In this episode of How to Be a Better DM , returning guest Jay Foster from Swole Initiative joins Justin Lewis for a monster of a conversation—literally. First, Jay becomes the first victim of our brand-new segment, “What’s Your Monster?” powered by our frie...

In this special episode of How to Be a Better DM , Justin Lewis shares key takeaways from the GMing 101 panel at Dragon Steel Nexus 2024. Learn how to manage player expectations, improve group communication, and create more engaging game sessions. Whether you're a new DM or a seasoned pro, these tips will help you level up your game! Special thanks to : Benj Weyland for our Graphic Design TJ Max,...

DMs, today we are talking about fitting in—specifically helping players fit into your D&D group and party. Whether it's a player who doesn't know how to cross that metaphorical gap, or the party doesn't know how to welcome someone new fully, today Tanner is giving some tips to help you pull them in and welcome them! Mentioned in this episode: Why Listen to Ads? Ugh, another ad break. Let’s be...

Your party has already split 30 minutes into session one—again. The rogue sneaks off, the barbarian wrestles in the local church, and the bard… well, who even knows? If you’re tired of struggling to keep your party together, this episode is for you. Discover the Coalescence Event , a powerful DM tool that ensures your players stay united through meaningful storytelling, emotional stakes, and share...

Alignment—one of the most debated mechanics in Dungeons & Dragons. Is it a vital storytelling tool or an unnecessary restriction? In this episode, Tanner and Justin dive deep into the purpose of alignment, its impact on roleplay, and whether it should still have a place in modern campaigns. Plus, hear real stories of alignment gone hilariously wrong and discover ways to make it more meaningful...

Ever lost something truly great? Well, our first recording with Ashley May King disappeared into the void, but lucky for you, she’s back for an incredible conversation about writing horror and Mystery! Join us as we dive into storytelling, Dungeon Mastering techniques, and how to create unforgettable tabletop adventures. Don’t miss this episode of How to Be a Better DM ! Check out more of Ashley a...

Do you think that there is the perfect length for a campaign? Well, rather than spending forever finding that out, let's instead consider the advantages of both extremes of campaigns: a short, 5-15 session campaign, or a long 20, 30, 40+ campaign carried throughout the years. Our sponsor, Worldsmith: session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Mentioned in this episode: Give Us a Rating and Review You...

There’s one mistake I’ve made over and over as a DM, and every time, it has sucked the life out of my campaigns. The worst part? I didn’t even realize I was doing it. But fixing it? That took just one simple change. Today, I’m sharing that tip with you—along with 12 others—to make sure your early campaign isn’t just fun but keeps your players hooked all the way to the endgame. Intro Welcome back t...

Welcome back to the 5th 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. Mentioned in this episode: Give Us a Rati...

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM. Today, Tanner and Justin are joined by Ryan and Allison from The Kids Table DND ( https://www.youtube.com/@thekidstablednd ). Playing D&D with kids is a very intimidating concept for some DMs, and in today's show, we dive into how to do it right and the benefits it can lend to the kids and to the adults playing alongside them. Today's show is not just for...

Have you ever been... frustrated with D&D? Or with your game? Or even your player interactions? Great news: you can always solve the frustrations that come as a DM--the problem is that a lot of DMs try to push down and ignore the signs of their own frustration, leaving their game and their feelings towards it to get worse and worse. Today, Tanner discusses some easy ways to resolve frustration...

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM. On today's show, we are joined by Rob Van Auken to continue our work on our homebrew one-shot, For Whom the Bell Tolls: The Chimefall Ceremony . This episode should help you learn how to do a collaborative project with friends as well as how to write and publish a one-shot. Here are the links to the previous episodes in case you need them: Part 1: https://ses...

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM. Today is a coaching episode with Samantha Fortune. We talked about using a timeline to prep sessions and to use real-life weather to inspire the weather in games. Samantha also highlights the power of in-game favors and using those to motivate characters to do things or to intimidate them to do things. Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Session 0 St...

Welcome back! Today, I'll talk about my goals as a DM for 2025. May these inspire you to make your own goals. Develop my Sizzle Create the Ultimate Session Planning Framework Finish and Publish 3 One-shot Adventures Improve combat / Make it Less Boring Perfect the CASE Method Work on my Skills Work on Interpersonal Communication and Relationships Work on the Game part of Roleplaying games Improve...

In any publicly traded company, shareholders who own a portion of the company can expect a year-end review and a prospectus of what the new year will bring. This is to give some accountability of those running the company to those who’ve invested their time and money into it. Well, seeing as how you’ve decided to invest at least your time into this podcast, I think it only fair that we give you so...

Welcome back to today's show. Here's a simple session 0 checklist to help you set your games up for success Get the First Session Scheduled Set Expectations 2a. Your Expectations 2b. The party’s Expectations and Wants Table Rules The Premise of the Story Playtesting Party Connections Tools Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Session 0 Studios Visit session0studios.com for more information...

It's hard knowing what to throw at your players during an encounter. Luckily, D&D has a nifty challenge rating system set up to help you out. Easy!.... right? Actually, no. So many DMs don't know how to approach Challenge Ratings for their encounters because of the dense tables and calculations. However, it isn't something worth stressing about at all, as you'll learn in today's episode. Menti...

All things must end. But endings always bring new beginnings. As the year 2024 comes to a close, many of us become thoughtful and introspective. In my case, the introspection has allowed to think on the many changes I’ve personally made throughout this year and the dungeon master I’m morphing into. So today, I’d like to share some of the most important lessons I’ve learned over this last year and...

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM Today Cayden and Justin sit down with the creators of worldsmith.io to talk about worldbuilding and how to do it more effectively with less time and hassle. Give Worldsmith a try with a free week trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Session 0 Studios Visit session0studios.com for more information. A...

Want to take your campaign from good to unforgettable? In this episode, we’re diving into the art of  foreshadowing ! Learn how to plant subtle clues, create epic payoffs, and keep your players hooked with those jaw-dropping "aha!" moments. Whether it’s a prophecy, a recurring symbol, or a suspicious NPC, foreshadowing is your secret weapon for immersive storytelling. What You’ll Learn in Thi...

Do you think deeply about every piece of loot that you give? Or does your party get a kick out of getting the most random, most funny, more chaotic gear and equipment that D&D has to offer? Depending on your answer, you might want to focus on either personalizing or randomizing how you give out loot. But which is better? Listen to our episode and find out! Mentioned in this episode: Get The Sw...