So You Wanna Be a Dungeon Master

This week we’re going to be talking all about TRAPS. They’ve been intertwined with D&D and the hero fantasy stories for a very long time. The entire rogue class was pretty much designed out of the need to have someone in the party who could detect and disarm traps. From dungeon crawls to exploring tombs, from Indiana Jones to The Mummy, traps can be some of the most memorable and exciting part...

This week we’re sitting down with one half of the TTRPG Podcast, Dungeons & Degrees, friend of the channel, performer, creator, owner of fuzzy sweaters, a guy full of emotions, and starring in our next Actual Play, Kids on Jetskis, it’s Adrian AKA ACLawrence! And not only are we going to get to learn about Adrian, but we’re also going to be discussing a theme found in most, if not all TTRPGs.....

Jinkies, gang! That’s right… this week we’re talking CLUES! The things we find along the mysterious path, inching ever closer to the answer. But how does Hansel and Gretyl know how many breadcrumbs to leave in the path? What if they run out and never find their way home again? Scary stuff, gang. So grab your magnifying glass, light up that pipe, dust off your trusty notebook, get ready to talk abo...

In this finale, the gang has already taken out one of the human burglars, Larry. But Frank is made of different stuff. Apparently, he's come prepared and the sight of little folk attacking him doesn't seem to phase him too much. So what happens when 4 tiny beings take on a human burglar hellbent on either killing them or catching them? Find Out! The Cast: - Slone as Phil: https://www.tiktok.com/@s...

This week we’re talking about the D in D&D! Not that D, that D, gang! Dragons! What the heck is a dragon, how do they work? And considering all the dragons we’ve seen throughout history, media, and the fantasy genre, How can we use the mechanics of Dragons with the lore of Dragons to create an experience for our table that give these legendary creatures the story they deserve? Well gang… let’s...

In this episode, the gang finish their long rests filled with dreams and nightmares. Then they head out to finish their preparation of utilizing the pets to aid their takedown of these gargantuan intruders. But will it prove it to be too BIG of a task? Find out!! The Cast: - Slone as Phil: https://www.tiktok.com/@slonerunning - Blackwell as Brabrex: https://linktr.ee/EveryMan95 - Spencer as Ekxand...

Hey Gang! For this week, we are posting our most recent Bonus Action episode instead of a new episode. These come out bi-weekly over on our Patreon and help us to continue creating D&D and TTRPG Content! Check it out!  Also... in light of recent events in the United States. Let us say, Fuck ICE, Abolish ICE, and Prosecute ICE. These gestapo-esque paramilitary bootlickers of trump are not makin...

In Episode 3, the gang has to deal with the HUGE danger they and the entire household faces now! And even with Billy the Bug gone, the stink bug device still needs to be dealt with! Assuming they don't get themselves killed doing that, our heroes have to figure out how to take down two god-sized behemoths! What aid will they seek? And will it be enough? The Cast: - Slone as Phil: https://www.tikto...

This week we’re going to cover the 2024 Sorcerer, the spellcaster with innate magical abilities! As always, we’ll discuss what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and if any of it feels necessary at all! And remember gang, these are just our opinions. So mark off a Sorcery point, pick your metamagic options, cast some spells, and let’s talk about the Sorcerer!  Music by Epidemic Sound Use our Link...

In Episode 2, our tiny protectors of the Garcia house have a LOT of stuff to handle. There's the massive puggle, Jojo. There's the mysterious condiments inside the refrigerator. And there's Billy the Bug's plot to take over the house. Add in a ticking clock and you got yourself an Action movie, gang! The Cast: - Slone as Phil: https://www.tiktok.com/@slonerunning - Blackwell as Brabrex: https://li...

This week we’re going to be talking all about the D in D&D. From the Tomb of Horrors to the Tomb of the Nine Gods, Dungeons have been a huge part of D&D’s history. Back in the day, a dungeon crawl could be an entire campaign lasting years. These days, it feels like Dungeons don’t get the love they deserve. So today we’re going to talk about what a dungeon is, how to create one, and how to...

In Episode 1 of It's A Small World, we meet our miniscule main characters, Phil the Rodent Cleric, Brabrex the Toy Barbarian, Carl the Bug Fighter, and Ekxander the Lil'un Warlock! These champions of the Garcia household find themselves in the thick of a plot devised by the dastardly Billy the Bug! Will they be able to stop him? Only one way to find out! The Cast: - Slone as Phil: https://www.tikt...

This week we’re going to be covering the popular TTRPG that has inspired so many spin-offs, Mörk Borg! This deadly setting and game are coming out of Ockult Ortmastare Games and Stockholm Kartell. I’ve heard this game described as a Death Metal TTRPG. The graphic design certainly evokes that vibe. But what exactly is Mörk Borg, how do you play, and most importantly what kind of stories can it help...

This week we’re going to be battening the hatches, bolstering the defenses, and barricading the doors, because it’s Bastions, baby! In episode 103 we did Part One, and here’s Part Two! We’re going over Level 9 Special Facilities and the possibilities are starting to look pretty swanky, gang! Music by Epidemic Sound Use our Link to check out Epidemic Sound for all your music and sound effect needs....

This week we’re going to be talking about Encounters without combat! D&D is a TTRPG system that pretty much focuses on combat. During our Class breakdown episodes, we’ve criticized certain classes for having so few out-of-combat abilities or feats. You can see the designers tried to fix some of this with certain 2024 changes, lookin’ at you Barbarians! So today, let’s talk about encounters tha...

This week we’re going to be covering the Rogue 2024/ As usual, we’re going to see what’s different, what’s stayed the same, and is it any of it good? And remember, these are just our opinions. If you and your table are having fun… that’s all that matters! Well, before the rogue mains can sneak up on us… let’s jump into it! Music by Epidemic Sound Use our Link to check out Epidemic Sound for all yo...

This week we’re going to be covering one of the most talked about tropes in all of Dungeons & Dragons: Splitting the party! Some people love it, most either hate it or have a fear of it. And in this case, everyone’s kind of right. Splitting the party is the culprit of many a TPK, whether it’s an in-game party wipe or out-of-game friction at the table. Today, Taylor and I are going to address a...

This week, kick your feet up, take off your coat, and hang up your hat because we’re staying at home! Bastions were one of the more exciting things added to the 2024 edition of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Whether you’re the Justice League or the Legion of Doom, you’ve got a home base. And in Episode 76 we go over Bastions at a surface level discussing the broad points. This week, we’re getting dow...

This week we’re going to be leading a workshop for Dungeon Masters on creating settings, making locations, filling the map with fun and interesting places to visit. This is the Build-A-World Workshop! We’ve done this on the Bonus Action already, but now we’re here on the main pod to keep the good times rolling! This will be a LIVE experience. We may have an outline, but we will be randomly generat...

This week we’re going to be taking a look at homebrewing your own monsters! As a Dungeon Master, there eventually come a time when the Monster Manual or even a 3rd Party book doesn’t meet the type of baddie you’re trying to evoke. Now, there’s altering an existing Monster or creating a brand new one. And where will we pull inspiration from? So put on your goggles and gloves, whip out that notebook...

This week we’re going to be taking a look back at So You Wanna Be a DM. Episode 1 of the podcast was posted on December 18, 2023 and we introduced ourselves to the world. Since then, we have posted every single Wednesday nonstop. We’ve started a Twitch, produced several Actual Plays, fostered communities on social media and discord, and we’re just getting started! But today, let’s take a look at h...

This week we’re going to be covering the 2024 Ranger. The class that easily got the most shit out of 2014 despite it often being the DM or Player’s fault… has gotten a glow up? Is it a glow up? We’re going to investigate. As always, these are our opinions but we’re going to take a look at what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and if any of it is good or necessary. I’ve heard a lot of it has to d...

This week we’re going over Magical Curses and Diseases! Throughout D&D and the fantasy genre, there have been magical afflictions. In Game of Thrones, Jorah Mormont catches Greyscale, but luckily is one of the very few survivors. In Lord of the Rings, Frodo is poisoned by Shelob’s fangs and it’s why Sam thought he was dead. So get out your stethoscopes, open that copy of Grey’s Anatomy, and le...

This week we’re locking in, focusing up, and getting all these water fowl in a row! That’s right, gang, this week we’re talking Optimization! What is it? How does it work? Is it an essential part of Dungeons & Dragons, just a possible way to play the game, or does it actively harm the good times and story of the table? Well, let’s talk about it! And remember to give us 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️...

This week we’re going to be revisiting the topic of Character Creation. We’ve discussed Species in ep 88, we’ve been discussing the character classes little by little, and we talked about Feats in ep 92. Along the way, we mentioned how the DM can help their players use these tools to create the characters they want to embody and play as. But how can they help Dungeon Masters? Whether it’s worldbui...