So You Wanna Be a Dungeon Master

This week we’re setting out to help Dungeon Masters who are trying to bring their players into the promised land known as Roleplay. For some, it may be the epitome of cringe. But that’s because they’re imagining a forced roleplay encounter during a corporate sales meeting. We, of course, refer to the art of portraying another person, of mastering empathy through acting, of collaborating with confi...

OOPS All Healers is a limited series Actual Play that combines the fantasy of D&D and the genre of Medical Dramas. Our story takes place at the St. Iyengar Research Hospital on the Upper West Side of Sphinx City. And spoilers: the BBEG is the Insurance Company. In Episode 1, we meet 3 of our main characters: Raph Sweetman, Dr. Louie Grimshaw, and Dr. Erica Thomas. As they navigate their own li...

This week in honor of our upcoming actual play, OOPS All Healers, we’re going to talk about how to make your D&D game into a Medical Drama. What’s that genre even about? And how does D&D factor in when the system isn’t made for this at all? We’ve got some tips and tricks so you can give it a try for yourself! So let’s not waste any time… Doctor! This listener’s dying! They need 100cc of th...

This week… you’ve seen em, you know em, you’re familiar with em, we’re talking about Tropes! These familiar themes can be found throughout storytelling. Hero’s Journey? Ever heard of it!? Listen gang, at the end of the day TTRPGs are about telling stories. Recognizing and discussing tropes can help Dungeon Masters in as many ways as there are tropes! Music by Epidemic Sound Use our Link to check o...

This week, we’re joined by author of such classics as The Practical Guide to the Supernatural: Hanging with Vampires, co-creator of Slobber Knocker Supernova, curator of character-specific playlists, star in our next actual play, OOPS All Healers as Dr. Louie Grimshaw, friend of the pod, Insha Fitzpatrick! Today we’re going to ask Insha a bunch of questions about themselves and about getting into...

This week, Taylor and I are joined by a very special guest, mole shark killer, friend of the pod, Rogue main, homebrew extraordinaire, co host and creative behind Cloaks & Capes, and starring in our next Actual Play, Oops All Healers, a D&D Medical Drama in late June! We’re going to ask Robbie some questions about himself, his experience with TTRPGs, and we’re going to see just how outrage...

This week, we’re talking to the gang of people who are just starting their Dungeon Master journey. Maybe you just heard about D&D or you watched Critical Role or Dimension 20 and you thought, I want to try that! And somebody’s gotta run the game, right? Well our entire podcast is about making it easier to run these games, but today it’s all about where to start, so let’s do just that and get s...

Get in b*tch, we’re going SHOPPING! Episode 66 was Shopping 101 where we went over the basics of how to make shopping better in your games. Now, we’re going deeper than ever before. Move aside, mole men because we’re even deeper than where mole men live. How do you elevate Shopping in TTRPGs to the next level? Let’s get into it! Music by Epidemic Sound Use our Link to check out Epidemic Sound for...

This week we’re going extraplanar, gang! The dungeon masters guide has a section all about the cosmology of the universe, aka all the planes of existence one could use in their campaigns. Some planes have a lot more info than others but there’s an entire universe to discover, so let’s jump into it.  Music by Epidemic Sound Use our Link to check out Epidemic Sound for all your music and sound effec...

This week, we are taking a look at Kobold Press’s Tome of Beasts. I’ve mentioned it a ton on the podcast and have used its stat blocks in many of our actual plays. If you’re looking for 3rd party monsters for D&D, this is one of the best, in my opinion. So we’re going over some of our favorite ones! Music by Epidemic Sound Use our Link to check out Epidemic Sound for all your music and sound e...

This week, we’ve got a bunch of new spells that have been introduced to D&D 5.5! We’re going to break them down, talk about the mechanics, and we’re going to rank them! We are seeing the majority of these spells right here and now for the FIRST TIME! So these reactions will be authentic! They come from one of D&D’s newest modules: Forgotten Realms - Heroes of Faerun! Music by Epidemic Soun...

This week, we’re breaking out the tools, we’re making a cup of tea, and putting on some lofi tunes… because we’re crafting, gang! We’re going to go over how to craft in Dungeons & Dragons 5.5. What checks are used, what materials are needed, and how long is this gonna take? We’re going over it all and spoilers, we’re probably going to have to fix some stuff :p Music by Epidemic Sound Use our L...

This week we’re cracking open the long list of monsters to discuss how the typing of monsters can help Dungeon Masters. This classification system, although at times arbitrary, can lend itself to a variety of advantages. From worldbuilding to encounter creation, from lore dropping to character backstories… we’re going to cover it all! Music by Epidemic Sound Use our Link to check out Epidemic Soun...

In the Kids on Jetskis Finale, the gang finishes preparing for their upcoming battle against the mobster ghost, Vincenzo Gumbino. All the while, they must evade Mr. Bonetti, work through their own emotions, and work together to survive!  The Cast: - Adrian, ACLawrence (Leo): https://linktr.ee/dndegreespod - Alex Teatime (Dessa): https://linktr.ee/alexteatime - Dan Kok (Tina): https://linktr.ee/sir...

This week we’re taking it easy and breezy down at the beach! Sometimes you need to take a break from the dragon slaying and dungeon crawling, and just relax. But you also don’t want to overdo it. I’m sure we’ve all had vacations that were stressful and when you got home, you needed another vacation. So how do we find that sweet spot? We’re covering everything you need to know about Beach Episodes!...

In Episode 4, we begin with a visit from a mysterious and violent cryptid called The Many Man. Then the gang begins preparing for a final battle against Vincenzo Gumbino and the Stretchmen. But along the way, we experience heartbreak, humor, and Ghost Law! The Cast: - Adrian, ACLawrence (Leo): https://linktr.ee/dndegreespod - Alex Teatime (Dessa): https://linktr.ee/alexteatime - Dan Kok (Tina): ht...

This week we’re getting back into the 2024 D&D Classes and finishing up the main ones with the Wizard! Between 5e and 5.5 what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and does any of it make a meaningful difference for players. Well, we’re going to break down the base class, the 4 subclasses that came out with the PHB, and see if it’s any good! Remember, these are just our opinions Music by Epidemi...

In Episode 3 of Kids on Jetskis, Caleb, Leo, and Corbin are inside Snake's houseboat as Tina and Dessa are on lookout. As the answers and smoke flow, things go sideways. Fire, gunshot, and terror... before finally we reconvene to discuss what was learned. But the threats are around every corner of Mount Lakeston.  The Cast: - Adrian, ACLawrence (Leo): https://linktr.ee/dndegreespod - Alex Teatime...

This week we’re sitting down with friend of the channel, professional game master on Start Playing Games, volunteer at the local library, TTRPG designer, Master homebrewer, Paladin Main, and star in our next Actual Play, Kids on Jetskis, as Tina Plotnik, it’s Dan Kok! Not only are we getting to learn about Dan, but we’re also going to take a look at the D&D phenomenon that is… homebrew Dan Kok...

In Episode 2 of Kids on Jetskis, Caleb, Corbin, and Dessa head to the Town Hall / Library to check out what books Xavier was interested in. Tina and Leo stayed behind at Camp Canofcoke to see if anyone had heard anything about the missing alumni. And when the party splits a second time, things get complicated and they don't ease up. The Cast: - Adrian, ACLawrence (Leo): https://linktr.ee/dndegrees...

This week we’re talking about Hard Mode DMing and we’re joined by professional dungeon master on StartPlaying games, occasional hive mind of artistic bugs, lover of centaurworld and over the garden wall, a true Lesehest, friend of the channel, and starring as Corbin Vick-Sørense in our upcoming actual play, Kids on Jetskis, it’s Millie Odegard! So let’s sit down and chat and then we can crank it u...

Kids on Jetskis is a mystery-filled, comedy-packed, bite-sized Actual Play where 5 teenagers stumble their way into a murder mystery they are NOT prepared for. Summer Vacation is off to an unbelievable start! We meet these main characters as they're being interrogated by the sheriff. So be ready to fall in love with this incredible cast as they bring us along for a mystery at Mt. Lakeston!! The Ca...

This week we’re sitting down with dungeon master, friend of the channel, humble Scarlet Witch, one of the most earnest roleplayers I’ve played with, and starring in our next Actual Play, Kids on Jetskis as Caleb Stitch, it’s Tommy Watkins Hoskins! We’re gonna discuss Tommy and then we’re gonna dive deep into the inner workings of Teamwork! What does it mean to be a part of a collaborative story in...

This week we’re sitting down with professional game master, singer, performer, friend of the channel, ethereal fey-like being who promises not to steal your name, and cast member in our next Actual Play, Kids on Jetskis, it’s Alex Teatime AKA Mizuki AKA Iradessa Bonetti AKA our guest for this episode of the pod! And not only are we going to learn about Alex, but we’re also going to be talking abou...

This week we’re going to be covering the 2024 Warlock, gang! What’s changed, what’s stayed the same, is all it at the end of the day meaningless in a sort of nihilistic point of view? Well, we’re going to be over the whole class and 4 subclasses in this episode. So sign your name on the dotted line, invoke those eldritch horrors, and use those spell slots wisely, it’s Warlock 2024 Music by Epidemi...