So You Wanna Be a Dungeon Master

This week we’re going to be taking a look at some Dungeon Master mistakes that were shared on a subreddit called, DM Academy. These mistakes are, for the most part, pretty common. But we’re going to be discussing the situation, giving our opinions, all while discussing mistakes that we’ve made as Dungeon Masters also. It doesn’t matter how much experience you have, mistakes are inevitable. But lik...

This week we’re walking a slackline 15-feet above the ground without a net, because today is all about Balance! Taylor and I are going to create a bunch of encounters for various levels and along the way we’ll be giving the tips and tricks any Dungeon Master could use! Remember, balance can mean more than just combat or numbers, but this episode may lean that direction. And remember to give us 5 S...

This week we’re going to cover the brand new subclasses from the 2024 PHB! Many of the subclasses from the 2014 Player’s Handbook made their way over to the new version, with some minor changes. Like the College of Lore Bard, the Berserker Barbarian, and the Circle of the Moon Druid. Some didn’t quite make it yet like the College of Eloquence Bard, the Astral Self Monk, or the Swarmkeeper Ranger....

This week we’re going over Collaborative storytelling! TTRPGs, including D&D, are essentially games that help facilitate a group of people telling a story together. This episode is going to focus on the word, “collaborative”. How do we as Dungeon Masters involve our players in the storytelling, the worldbuilding, the creation of the story itself? What are some tips and tricks to make your play...

This week we’re taking on a walk on the dark side, because we’re going over the pinnacle of villains that is the BBEG! The vast majority of tabletop roleplaying games include a conflict that the main characters have to overcome. And in most of those games, that conflict includes some sort of antagonist. These are your monsters, your ne’er’dowells, your villains, and of course your Big Beaver Energ...

This week we’re taking a journey to the center of the world.. Which is a silly way to say we’re getting deep on worldbuilding! Back in episode 9 we covered the basics of worldbuilding focusing on a surface level look at setting and the NPCs that fill it. But let’s take a deeper look, let’s get into the nitty gritty, and let’s cover some advanced tips and tricks to build your world! And remember to...

This week we’re covering combat! Episode 4 was about the basics, but now we’re going to get into the weeds! So gas up that riding mower, Mimo, we’re going for a ride! We’re going to talk about terrains, monsters, balancing, and strategies! If you want to DM for a game of D&D, whether it’s 5th edition or the 2024 version, then eventually combat is going to come up! And remember to give us 5 Sta...

This week we’re headed over to that special corner of the internet where everything is normal and good: Reddit! (pause) What? Is that wrong? Idk… Anyway! We’re going to be reviewing some crazy stories posted on r/dndhorrorstories. Things are going to get insane in these stories. Now hopefully, these are the exceptions and not the rule. If you want to submit to us directly your D&D horror (or h...

In the Season Finale, the trio of high schoolers venture underneath the mall on their way to a ritual. If they don't put a stop to it, then a mind-shattering monster is going to end the world. And despite being old and selfish, Donald and Margaret have some tricks up their sleeve. It's up to Nick, CJ, and Misty to save the mall, the Jersey Shore, and the world!  The Cast: - Daniel as CJ Milton: ht...

This week we celebrate a full year of the So You Wanna Be a Dungeon Master podcast! It’s episode 52! It was around this time last year that our very first episode came out! We’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come! We added social media, Patreon, and Actual Plays across Twitch and YouTube! We cannot wait to keep this ride going and continue to grow and learn and put out amazing content! And re...

In Episode 4, the gang finishes their quest to get the second key! They may have lost a valuable part of their team, but they also gain several new things. A budding relationship, an intense quiz, and an impressive yet mysterious power-up! This episode has everything! Mall Madness 99 is a D&D Actual Play that takes place in a mall in New Jersey in 1999 on Black Friday! We follow 4 high schoole...

This week we are going over the 2024 Player’s Handbook! This episode is going to attempt to just give a broad stroke, bird’s eye view at some of the big changes between 2014 and 2024. In future episodes, we’ll discuss Class and Subclass changes, but this episode… this episode right here… this episode you’re listening to right now… this one’s just an overview! What do YOU want to know about the new...

In Episode 3, the gang almost immediately splits the party and things get weird! They have one key and to get the second they need to free whoever or whatever is being held in the arcade! But it's not all fun and games and things end in a BIG way! Mall Madness 99 is a D&D Actual Play that takes place in a mall in New Jersey in 1999 on Black Friday! We follow 4 high schoolers who get trapped at...

This week we’re talking all about the Wizard Subclasses NOT in the 2014 Player’s Handbook! We only have 5 subclasses to go over this time! But these magic nerds get all kinds of powerful feats with these new subclasses! And some of these have been known to truly buff the wizard to dizzying heights. So whatever weird and wacky Wizard warriors you wanna wield, we welcome it! What's YOUR favorite Wiz...

In Episode 2, our high schoolers gather the clues, head to Hot Topic, and end in KB Toys to find the first of two keys! But this toy store isn't what they're used to; it's not all fun and games this time! But it does result in some unforgettable moments! Mall Madness 99 is a D&D Actual Play that takes place in a mall in New Jersey in 1999 on Black Friday! We follow 4 high schoolers who get tra...

This week we’re covering the subclasses for the Warlock NOT covered in the 2014 Player’s Handbook. With these, we can add more Patrons to the Pantheon of potential people of passionate power. From xanathar to tasha all the way to ole ravenloft… there’s 6 Warlock subclasses to cover and each one packs a punch of personality to the pact that infuses the Warlock with their very source of magic! Think...

Mall Madness 99 is a D&D Actual Play that takes place in a mall in New Jersey in 1999 on Black Friday! We follow 4 high schoolers who get trapped at the mall when unexplained things start happening. Luckily, they're not all alone. They receive incredible abilities and are tasked with not only saving the mall, but possibly even the world! The Cast: - Daniel as CJ Milton: https://linktr.ee/danie...

This week we’re discussing the subclasses of the Sorcerer NOT covered in the 2014 Player’s Handbook! There’s six sorcerous origins to celebrate, some savoring the shadows, some seeking satisfaction sans sacrifice. From Xanathar’s to Tasha’s to the fantastical world of Krynn and Dragonlance, will these Sorcerer subclasses sing sweetly or simply scare our sensibilities! What's YOUR favorite Sorcerer...

Part Two of What Lies in the Darkness continues the story of our 3 main characters who have woken up in a strange facility filled with undead monsters all while suffering from amnesia! Check out this spooky comedy mini-series D&D Actual play! The Cast: Daniel as John (Bob): https://linktr.ee/danielkhargrove Dale as Terry: https://www.twitch.tv/deathbreth101 Justin as Allison: https://linktr.ee...

This week we’re covering the Subclasses of the Savant of Sneak, the chaser of traps, the lampooner of locks: Today we’re covering the Rogue! These subclasses are from Xanathar’s and Tasha’s. Each one attempts to reflavor the archetype, but do they succeed?! Have they added enough mechanically to fulfill their flavor fiat or flagrantly failed?! There’s 6 subclasses for the Rogue to cover so let’s g...

Part One of What Lies in the Darkness introduces us to 3 individuals strapped down to surgical tables in a room together. They don't know who they are, how they got there, or the fourth person in the room dripping with blood. This horror-comedy two-episode series asks the questions of how memory affects behavior under the most intense circumstances. The Cast: Daniel as Experiment 0342: https://lin...

This week we’re reviewing the renowned, the revered, the resplendent Ranger subclasses that are NOT listed in the 2014 Player’s Handbook! Remember, the Ranger got a bunch of optional rules added in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything that a player could pick and choose if they’re unhappy about the 2014 base class! But regardless of the requests of the Ranger, return here to refer to the retinue of Rang...

This week we’re going over the subclasses NOT in the 2014 Player’s Handbook for the Paladin class! These Oaths span as many tenets as questions I had after watching Tenet directed by Christopher Nolan. We’re going to talk about all the different Auras, Oath Spells, and Capstone abilities that these Pally’s get! So make sure your Divine Sense is active because there’s a bunch to go over!  What's YO...

In Episode 6, the finale, our literary legends begin their final chapters facing off against a 30-foot tall undead Paul Bunyan! But he's got some tricks inside! And that's not all, because Kim Moriarty seeks to complete her own personal mission as well. But there's more to this story that just defeating villains. The actions of our literary legends will change the Public Domains forever! The Publi...

This week we’re going to be going over the Monk subclasses NOT found in the Player’s Handbook! If Monks are meant to be masters of the martial arts, then we know there’s an entire world history’s worth of source material, and that doesn’t even factor in a world full of magic and the supernatural! So we’ve got 7 subclasses for the Monk to cover, so put up your dukes and get ready to rumble! What's...