Mastering Dungeons

Using the Environment in Encounters (with Dragons)! (MD 238)

Episode 238 of Mastering Dungeons! 

Main topic: Using the Environment in Encounters (with Dragons)!

Make the most of elevation, difficult terrain, cover, lighting, and more. And to tie into Monster Week: Dragons, we apply them to dragon encounters!

News: New SRD 5.2, Errata Returns, Holy Grail Turns 50, and more!

Contents
00:00 Postal Service
02:06 Shawn Peaks
02:36 Easiest Official Adventure to DM?
28:57 Peril in Pinebrook challenge?
31:54 Nobody Left the D&D Team?
32:23 New SRD 5.2 April 22
37:40 New Basic Rules
41:21 New Errata and Sage Advice
45:53 Tariff Impacts
47:24 Neverwinter Brings D&D Movie Stories
49:01 50 Years of Holy Grail
49:47 Monster Week: Dragons
50:25 Using Environment in Encounters
50:44 One Cool Thing
54:09 Watch for Time Impact
59:29 Overly Punitive Environments
01:06:20 Environment and Terrain: Cover
01:09:13 Difficult Terrain
01:15:03 Elevation
01:21:24 Moving Parts
01:25:42 Lighting
01:29:43 Beneficial and Harmful Terrain
01:32:53 Entrances and Exits
01:37:44 Shout-Outs
01:40:57 What Are We Gonna Do Now?

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.

Teaching a New Generation! (MD 237)

Episode 237 of Mastering Dungeons! 

Main topic: Teaching a New Generation!

We ponder how learning RPGs has changed over the years and the best way to teach new players and DMs today.

News: Jeremy Crawford Leaves WotC, Dragon Delves 1-on-1 Play, Atlas Games Recycling, and more!

Contents
00:00 Get Outside
02:22 Make Equipment Matter?
12:48 Which Upcoming Release Excites Us?
16:38 Jeremy Crawford Departs WotC
25:02 James Wyatt on Dragon Delves Solo Play
32:47 Tariffs - Who Knows?
36:49 Atlas Games' Recycling Plastics
38:42 Exploring Creative Play
41:20 Hits the Fan
43:10 Teaching a New Generation
45:39 How We Learned to Play and DM
56:22 How Teaching Has Changed
01:07:53 Tips for Teaching New Players
01:19:27 Tips for Teaching New DMs
01:30:16 Shout-Outs
01:33:38 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.

Rules-Light D&D Characters! (MD 236)

Episode 236 of Mastering Dungeons! 

Main topic: Rules-Light D&D Characters!

We consider how D&D can be simplified and the goals and tradeoffs involved in creating a rules-light version.

News: Chris Perkins Retires, Greg Bilsland Returns, Tariffs and Tabletop, and more!

Contents
00:00 Reflecting on Sorrow
02:41 2 Campaigns in Same Setting?
13:03 Convert 4E Monsters to 5E?
16:08 Chris Perkins Retires
23:57 Greg Bilsland Returns to D&D
27:08 Tabletop and Tariffs
35:37 GAMA is Broken
37:47 Monte Cook Narrative vs Math
45:03 Rules-Light D&D Characters
47:34 Motivation for Lighter Rules
52:48 Mathematical Side
01:02:14 Ease for New Players and DMs
01:04:25 What to Keep
01:06:48 Arora Trait System
01:09:56 Iterative Approach
01:11:49 Choice Menus
01:15:55 Spellcaster Complexity
01:17:47 Healing and Resting
01:20:49 Shout-Outs
01:24:35 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.

Forever DMs and Dynamics of an RPG Group! (MD 235)

Episode 235 of Mastering Dungeons! 

Main topic: Forever DMs and Dynamics of an RPG Group!

Teos and Shawn discuss Matt Colville’s take on Forever DMs, and look at how the dynamics of an RPG group can shape awesome play.

News: Shadowdark Sales, Anjali Bhimani Adventure, Foolish Listener Ideas, and more!

Contents
00:00 Return of Shawn
01:00 Foolish Listener Ideas
10:42 Environmental Effect CR Impact?
24:09 Anjali Bhimani Adventure
26:10 New Sigil VTT Minis?
29:09 Robin Laws is Pelgrane Creative Director
31:52 D&D for Environmental Education
32:57 28 Convention RPG Tips
46:45 GaryCon Report on Shadowdark Sales
49:51 Dungeon Drop-Ins
50:33 Free5E: Open Source D&D
51:35 Free Popup Paper Building Roof
52:25 Dynamics of an RPG Group
54:05 The Forever DM
54:48 Gaming Dynamics in the 80s
58:06 Our Recent Dynamics
01:01:47 Selflessness and Empathy
01:08:20 Convention Play
01:10:55 How to Be a Great Player
01:14:37 Create PCs that Play Well with Others
01:17:27 How to Get Players to DM
01:23:32 Great to Have DMs as Players?
01:33:23 Shout-Outs
01:37:14 What Are We Gonna Do Now?

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.

Hundred Dungeons and the OSR! (MD 234)

Episode 234 of Mastering Dungeons! 

Main topic: Hundred Dungeons and the OSR!

Graham Ward joins Teos to discuss his RPG, Hundred Dungeons, and how it blends OSR and other games to create awesome play!

News: WotC Sigil Team Laid Off, Convention Air Quality, Node-Based Design, and more!

Contents
00:00 Graham Ward!
01:50 Bring Back Class Roles?
05:55 Encourage Not to Rest?
12:07 Org Play Tied to Current Releases?
18:24 90% Sigil VTT Team Laid Off
27:52 Forge of Foes on Audible
29:01 Monster Vulnerability is Bad
36:45 Convention Air Quality
39:42 D&D and Housing Justice
41:25 Node-Based Design
46:18 Creator's Guide to Shipping
47:48 Hundred Dungeons
48:44 Why Hundred Dungeons?
52:45 An Interest Shift?
58:18 Actionable OSR Design
01:00:27 Hundred Dungeons Basics
01:06:29 When Math Strikes
01:13:11 Modes of Play
01:18:22 Centering the Home
01:22:34 Recuperation
01:28:03 Advice for Creators
01:30:10 Graham's Creations
01:33:00 Find Graham
01:33:58 What Are We Gonna Do Now?

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.

Let’s Build Encounters! (MD 233)

Episode 233 of Mastering Dungeons! 

Main topic: Let’s Build Encounters!

We build encounters based on goblin and pirate monster groups as found in the revised Monster Manual. See our process for creating fun and engaging encounters!

News: Electric State on Netflix, SVP Leaves WotC, Origins Award Finalists, and more!

Contents
00:00:00 Duke Ranks Higher Than Our Show
00:01:17 D&D at ECCC
00:05:52 D&D vs PBtA Story Loop
00:14:55 Removing D&D Subclasses?
00:17:40 Favorite Settings or Genres?
00:22:00 Digital and Licensing SVP Departs WotC
00:24:38 Electric State on Netflix
00:26:14 LoG Battle of Emridy Meadows
00:29:25 Origins Award Finalists
00:31:03 Running D&D for Kids
00:32:33 Florida Judge Cites D&D Not Making Him Satanic
00:33:57 Shadowdark Western Reaches
00:37:52 Jeff Stevens Villains & Lairs
00:38:30 LATAM RPG Jam
00:39:32 Let's Build Encounters
00:40:30 What's Our Process?
00:42:47 When Do We Care About Math?
00:46:07 Adventure Rhythm
00:48:15 What Makes an Encounter Fun?
00:55:19 What Is Our Story?
00:58:13 Let's Build a Goblin Encounter!
01:12:13 Let's Build a Pirate Encounter!
01:21:28 Rewards
01:23:52 Shout-Outs
01:27:07 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.

Making Your D&D or RPG World Dangerous (MD 232)

Episode 232 of Mastering Dungeons! 

Main topic: Making Your D&D or RPG World Dangerous!

Shawn Merwin is joined by Ben Byrne to create the true number one show in all the realms… where that show covers the news and then discusses how to make D&D feel dangerous to players!

News: Starter Set News, Chris Cocks on More Than AI, DriveThru Print Prices, and more!

Contents
00:00 Who is Ben Byrne and What Did He Do with Teos?
02:28 So Little Onboarding for Players?
06:57 Best Ways to Make New Players Comfortable?
12:00 Specific Resources for New Players?
14:07 Practical ways to introduce newbies?
16:08 New Starter Set Updates
24:42 DriveThru Print Prices Increase
28:12 Chris Cocks on More than AI
32:45 Making D&D and RPG World Dangerous

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.

Monster Groups and Encounters! (MD 231)

Episode 231 of Mastering Dungeons! 

Main topic: Monster Groups and Encounters!

The 2025 Monster Manual provides a variety of monster groupings, such as several goblins or bandits. How well do those monster groupings work to establish a theme, provide a DM with options, and provide for useful encounters?

News: Sigil VTT is Live, Starter Set Preview, MtG Movie and TV Show, D&D Game Canceled, and more!

Contents
00:00 ECCC Cometh
01:49 Video Game-Like Rules?
11:26 Intrigue for Convention Play?
17:42 Sigil VTT is Live!
22:37 Starter Set Previewed
26:52 MtG Movie and TV Shows
28:29 Revised Artificer UA
37:44 Smuggler's Secrets on Beyond
41:03 WotC Cancels Video Game
42:42 Ernie Gygax Passes
43:08 Mr Potato Head Beholder
45:47 Monster Groups and Encounters
45:58 The Conundrum of CR and Encounters
51:50 Monster Grouping Goals
52:51 2024 Monster Errata
01:00:52 Goblin Groupings
01:02:19 Monster Synergies?
01:03:11 Goblin Encounter Examples
01:10:53 Naming Monsters
01:12:09 Pirate CRs
01:15:27 Pirate Encounter Examples
01:19:52 CRs and Story
01:31:37 Shout-Outs
01:35:18 What Are We Gonna Do Now?

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.