
RPG veterans and game designers Teos Abadía and Shawn Merwin look at the game and the hobby of D&D from a variety of viewpoints: reporting the news, understanding the business, reviewing the products, and illuminating the design. Whether you’re a fan, a player, a DM, or a designer, Shawn and Teos cover topics of interest to you!
RPG veterans and game designers Teos Abadía and Shawn Merwin look at the game and the hobby of D&D from a variety of viewpoints: reporting the news, understanding the business, reviewing the products, and illuminating the design. Whether you’re a fan, a player, a DM, or a designer, Shawn and Teos cover topics of interest to you!
Episodes

4 days ago
Mystic Arts and Creator Publishing
4 days ago
4 days ago
Episode 297 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Mystic Arts and Creator Publishing!
Daði Einars joins Teos to discuss RPG design, gameplay, and his work with Mystic Arts to create for Patreon, YouTube, and your table!
News: Vampire the Masquerade for D&D, New D&D Card Decks, WotC Staff Explain UAs, and more!
Contents
00:00 Welcome Daði Einars!
01:59 Corruption in Kryptgarden
08:00 Shield Lands Writing Team Correction
08:57 Big Battle Advice?
13:06 West Marches Draw Steel?
15:38 DDB Partner Q3 Schedule
17:02 Vampire Comes to D&D
23:42 Updated Villainous Options
27:19 Diana Jones Finalists
28:34 2024 Spell, Monster, Magic Decks
32:04 Free RPG Day June 27
33:05 China Gets Weird
36:39 The Last Round Table
37:28 RPG Trader
38:49 Mystic Arts and Creator Publishing
40:06 Who is Daði Einars?
44:37 Iceland's Baldur's Gate
47:36 Patreon and YouTube
57:15 Dungeon Jam
01:00:25 Crown of the Fungal Queen
01:10:12 What Does the Future Hold?
01:12:33 RPGs and System Hacking
01:16:10 Unused Plot Leads
01:19:54 Evaluating Game Systems vs D&D
01:26:56 Find Daði
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Wednesday Jun 17, 2026
Best of Rime of the Frostmaiden!
Wednesday Jun 17, 2026
Wednesday Jun 17, 2026
Episode 296 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Best of Rime of the Frostmaiden!
We review this mega sourcebook and adventure in a single episode! See which parts of the cold will warm your heart.
News: Paizo’s Difficult Future, Renegade Drops Essence20 for 5E, City of Greyhawk on DDB, 3/4 of D&D Players in Last Decade, and more!
Contents
00:00 Knicks and Cups
01:17 Actual Shield Lands Authors
03:35 The Angel's in the Details
07:49 Running Megadungeons?
14:40 Paizo's Difficult Future
19:06 Drops Sharing Changed
20:32 Free City of Greyhawk on DDB
21:07 Renegade Drops Essence20 for 5E
23:34 Wizards on Japanese Localization
25:27 Dungeons & Dragons Questers
28:30 Biggest Crowdfunders Take 2
31:47 Rime of the Frostmaiden
34:01 Product History
41:17 Adventure Premise
47:39 Backgrounds and Setup
52:57 The Ten Towns
57:01 Wilderness and Places of Interest
01:00:57 Sunblight and Chardalyn Dragon
01:10:38 Auril's Abode
01:12:15 Caves of Hunger and Netherese City
01:13:24 Epilogue Decisions
01:18:20 Trinkets, Secrets, and Monsters
01:20:46 Shout-Outs
01:25:16 What Are We Gonna Do?
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Wednesday Jun 10, 2026
D&D Encounters Unboxing!
Wednesday Jun 10, 2026
Wednesday Jun 10, 2026
Episode 295 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: D&D Encounters Unboxing!
We unbox the D&D Encounters Ravenloft season contents and share the design of the Shadows of Sithicus adventure!
News: WotC Changes Drops Policy, Neon Odyssey Breaks Records, Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2 Remakes, Ravenloft Finishes AP, and more!
Contents
00:00 Our Favorite Show
02:04 Same Kobold Lair?
04:52 What Inspires Us for Designing?
11:06 Ravenloft's Final AP and Play Pack
13:29 New Monthly Drops
18:04 Shawn on New Drops Monsters
19:49 Changes to the Drops Program
23:08 Neon Odyssey Breaks Records
25:17 Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2 Remakes
28:34 AL and LoG Organized Play Update
29:59 New Greyhawk Supplements
30:52 Rise of the Lazy Gamemaster
31:55 Encounters Unboxed!
33:07 Quick Overview of D&D Encounters
37:36 Different from AL and LoG
42:15 Stores and Kits
45:30 What's In the Box?
48:33 Poster Maps!
50:38 DM and Player Rewards!
55:38 Dice Packs
58:13 What's in the Adventure?
01:03:11 Interactive Celebration Event
01:07:19 After the Celebration
01:10:44 Making Stores Happy
01:12:00 Encounters Dates
01:16:57 Shout-Outs
01:20:41 What Are We Gonna Do?
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Wednesday Jun 03, 2026
Best of Baldur’s Gate: Descent Into Avernus!
Wednesday Jun 03, 2026
Wednesday Jun 03, 2026
Episode 294 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Best of Baldur’s Gate: Descent Into Avernus!
This adventure changed drastically to become a prequel to the highly successful Baldur’s Gate 3. We take a look at the best the adventure offers!
News: Ravenloft Horrors Within Early Access, Kickstarter Backs Down, 2nd Legends of Greyhawk Pack, Latest Drops and DMAP, and more!
Contents
00:00 Teos Plays Crows and Chickens
05:17 Starting a Serious Campaign?
14:59 Ravenloft Horrors Within Early Access
18:55 Free International Day of Play Adventure
20:20 Licensing Expo and D&D
25:09 D&D Advisory Group
29:10 New Legends of Greyhawk Pack
30:24 D&D Website Update
31:11 Latest DMAP and Drops
37:58 EMEA Region Release Dates
39:27 Save with Steve Conley
40:03 Kickstarter Backtracks on Mature Content
42:02 BG: Descent Into Avernus
44:43 Product History
53:21 Prequel to Baldur's Gate 3
55:37 Premise and Approach
58:46 Overview and Background
01:03:58 Cult Investigations in Baldur's Gate
01:08:40 The Evil Behind the Cults
01:12:44 Candlekeep
01:16:40 Elturel Has Fallen
01:22:46 Exploring Avernus
01:25:57 The Sword of Zariel
01:31:55 Appendices and Final Thoughts
01:35:36 Shout-Outs
01:39:53 What Are We Gonna Do?
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Wednesday May 27, 2026
Best of Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage!
Wednesday May 27, 2026
Wednesday May 27, 2026
Episode 293 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Best of Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage!
Undermountain comes to 5E! We delve into Halaster’s secrets and the best of the 23 wild dungeon levels!
News: Hasbro’s Strong Q1, Crows RPG Playtest, Daggerheart Birthday News, D&D Video Game Canceled, and more!
Contents
00:00 Crows RPG Playtest
03:00 Attacks of Opportunity Good?
13:51 Ravenloft and Encounters Coming
17:41 June 11 International Game of Play
18:59 Gen Con D&D Event News
23:04 Hasbro's Strong Q1
26:20 Cybersecurity Incident Costs
29:43 How Big is D&D?
31:16 Hasbro Cancels D&D Video Game
32:10 Daggerheart Birthday News
33:57 Dungeon of the Mad Mage
35:47 Product History and AL Admins
42:09 Roll 20 Update and Sale
42:51 Premise and Approach
47:42 Undermountain's Story
53:20 Adventure Hooks and Secrets
56:51 Best of Mad Mage: Level 1
01:03:12 Best of Arcane Chambers
01:04:54 Best of Skullport and Trobriand's
01:06:24 Flumphs and The Matrix
01:08:38 Vanrakdoom and Spelljammers
01:11:20 Terminus and Fazrian
01:12:50 Mad Halaster's Lair
01:18:58 Shout-Outs
01:23:20 What Are We Gonna Do?
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Wednesday May 20, 2026
Best of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist! (MD 292)
Wednesday May 20, 2026
Wednesday May 20, 2026
Episode 292 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Best of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist!
Urban adventures come to 5E. Decide which faction we belong to as we find the best travel spots in all of Waterdeep!
News: Daggerheart’s Birthday, Mordenkainen vs Bahamut, Crowdfunding Whale Trends, and more!
Contents
00:00 Draw Steel on Our Patreon!
03:30 Our Proudest Design Work?
10:28 Key Role for Antagonists?
20:20 Chris Cocks Promises D&D Crossovers
24:06 Daggerheart's Birthday
25:17 Night Market at Gen Con
26:40 Mordenkainen vs Bahamut
27:15 Dullahan DMAP Play Pack
28:42 EN World Visits Mongoose Publishing
31:26 Scipio on Crowdfunding Whales
36:27 Dwarven Forge Caverns Reforged
37:25 Keith Ammann on Shadomain.Com
38:27 Waterdeep Dragon Heist
40:39 Product History
47:01 Credits
50:40 Premise and Approach
52:01 Story Premise
55:14 When it Takes Place?
57:00 More Factions
58:03 Introduction
01:05:59 Volo in Need
01:12:13 Trollskull Alley and Your Home
01:15:09 Fireball and Multiple Paths
01:21:05 Dragon Season
01:27:26 Seasons and Villains
01:34:27 Shout-Outs
01:38:21 What Are We Gonna Do?
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Wednesday May 13, 2026
The Famous and Infamous Tomb of Horrors! (MD 291)
Wednesday May 13, 2026
Wednesday May 13, 2026
Episode 291 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: The Famous and Infamous Tomb of Horrors!
We look back at one of the most feared adventures across RPGs! We discuss how to have fun with this adventure and revisit the most interesting challenges it presents.
News: D&D Beyond Drops, Hasbro’s CEO on D&D’s Digital Future, Enormous Crowdfunders, and more!
Contents
00:00 Sheep and Hikes
04:20 Patent Clarification
05:20 Converting AL to Home Play?
10:50 5E Release Freelancer Impact?
18:57 D&D Beyond Announces Drops
35:03 Chris Cocks on D&D's Digital Future
41:32 WotC Union Not Recognized
42:38 DMAP Waxworks Play-Along Pack
45:05 Tim Harford on Lee Gold
46:02 Weapons of Lore for Draw Steel
46:48 Enormous Crowdfunders
50:49 Tomb of Horrors
52:48 Product History
01:02:38 Premise and Approach
01:08:01 How to Have Fun With This
01:13:12 Introduction
01:19:23 Rooms 3-13 and Illustration Book
01:28:28 Best of Rooms 14-21
01:32:09 Best of Rooms 22-30
01:39:01 The Final Crypt
01:47:43 Shout-Outs
01:52:15 What Are We Gonna Do?
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Wednesday May 06, 2026
Best of Tomb of Annihilation! (MD 290)
Wednesday May 06, 2026
Wednesday May 06, 2026
Episode 290 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Best of Tomb of Annihilation!
Welcome to the jungle as we explore the hottest parts of Tomb of Annihilation!
News: D&D on Ted TV Show, D&D Beyond Class Packs, Small Kickstarter Math, UBI and Creative Hobbies, and more!
Contents
00:00 Weekend of Annihilation
02:11 Publish Updated Adventures?
06:58 What Do You Mean by a Good Story?
18:12 D&D on Ted TV Show
22:51 Diamond Bankruptcy Update
25:21 DDB Class Packs
27:41 Mist Horrors DMAP Play Pack
29:47 D&D Rules According to Past Players
31:55 AI Popularity Drop in Music
34:13 UBI and Creative Hobbies
37:18 Draw Steel Magazine
38:32 Math of Small Kickstarters
41:15 Tomb of Annihilation
44:28 Product History
49:55 Premise and Approach
54:37 Intro and Adventure Structure
57:18 Port Nyanzaru
01:03:56 AL, Adept, and Other Add-Ons
01:05:19 The Land of Chult
01:13:25 Dwellers of the Forbidden City
01:17:36 Fane of the Night Serpent
01:20:19 Tomb of the Nine Gods
01:23:36 Cradle of the Death God
01:27:04 New Rules and Monsters and Handouts
01:28:39 Shout-Outs
01:33:03 What Are We Gonna Do?
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

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