Mastering Dungeons

Planescape’s 5E Adventure – Turn of Fortune’s Wheel (Mastering Dungeons 166)

Episode 166 of Mastering Dungeons! 
Main topic: Turn of Fortune’s Wheel!
A tale of two chapters! A spoiler-filled discussion reviews the key twists to the adventure and finds a great disparity between the play experience in the first two chapters!
News: Free D&D for Teachers, Maps Adds Features, Running Towns, and more!
Contents00:00 No Grandparents Harmed02:26 Black Friday Deals?05:24 Monstrous PC?15:20 Multiple DMs?20:18 D&D Maps Adds Features22:43 Free Adventure for Teachers29:17 Harmless Denizens31:05 Running Towns33:38 Fernbloom's Guide34:46 Amazing Encounters & Locations35:46 Turn of Fortune’s Wheel42:43 Glitch PCs44:42 Introducing Incarnations54:26 Our Glitch Ideas1:00:29 Mortuary Start1:11:50 Explore Sigil’s Railroad1:18:34 Suggestions 1:20:05 Farrow and Undercity1:24:54 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
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/).

Planescape’s Monsters – Morte’s Planar Parade (Mastering Dungeons 165)

Episode 165 of Mastering Dungeons! 
Main topic: Monsters in Morte’s Planar Parade!
We take a look at Planescape’s monster book. We get traits to add to monsters, faction agents, and creatures from across the planes. Hear what we like and what we would change.
News: Free Inspiration Deck, VTT at PAXU, GameHole Panels, and more!
Contents00:00 Explore the Space01:34 Unsafe Gate Towns?08:34 Best Planar Adventures?14:13 Free Inspiration Deck Handout18:28 D&D VTT at PAXU20:57 2 GameHole Panels23:29 Simple Reputation System26:31 Seeker’s Guide to Enchanting Emporiums28:00 Free Sigil 2E Locations29:01 AL Planescape 31:08 Morte’s Planar Parade32:01 Introduction37:00 Included CRs39:12 Petitioners47:54 Planar Influences50:07 Monster Traits58:27 Encounter Tables1:04:49 Notable Monsters1:08:25 Faction Agents1:12:13 Final Verdict1:15:49 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
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/).

Planescape 5E – The Outlands of Sigil! (Mastering Dungeons 164)

Episode 164 of Mastering Dungeons! 
Main topic: The Outlands!
Outside of Sigil are the Outlands, marked by fantastic and intense gate towns reflecting the plane beyond. Find out why we would change these up and how!
News: D&D TV Launches, Chains of Asmoeus, Biggest Crowdfunders, and more!
Contents00:00 Scary Candy01:58 Span the Ages?07:23 Reduce HPs?14:01 Session Length?21:13 Buck Stops Here?29:08 FAST D&D Adventures31:43 Autism and Many Things34:16 B&G Encounter Cards35:42 Chains of Asmodeus40:38 Planar Adventures Blogs41:52 Top Crowdfunders46:39 Forge of Foes Available48:44 Planescape – The Outlands52:45 Cosmic Realignment1:00:49 Outland Characteristics1:06:17 Gate Towns and Automata1:07:54 Bedlam1:08:30 Is It Too Much1:16:38 Faunel Post-Realignment1:18:05 Fortitude and other Gate Towns1:23:00 Other Realms1:25:44 This Book Overall1:28:07 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
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/).

Planescape 5E – Sigil’s Factions and Wards! (Mastering Dungeons 163)

Episode 163 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: Planescape: Sigil’s Factions and Wards!
The City of Sigil’s factions can be hard to grasp, but they play a critical role and shape the city itself, turning the city’s neighborhoods into reflections of their philosophies.
News: WotC Recalls Many Things, Rough Hasbro Q3, D&D Anthology, and more!
Contents00:00 Back from GameHole!03:28 Social System?11:42 Skill List Creativity?20:14 Slipcase Format?26:24 WotC Recalls Many Things29:43 Rough Hasbro Q3 36:00 D&D Anthology Glimpses43:46 AL Update45:08 Sigil’s Factions and Wards47:00 Role Factions Play1:01:56 Ascendant Factions1:12:09 Minor Factions1:14:22 City Wards1:19:06 Adventures in Sigil1:24:19 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Live at Gamehole 2023! Pronouncing Sigil, Setting Products, D&D Digital Releases

Episode 162 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: Live at Gamehole 2023 – Setting Products!
We discuss settings with our live audience! What do you want from a setting? Paper or digital? And is it Sigil or Sijil?
Contents00:00 Live at GameHole!00:47 Sigil or Sijil?05:09 What Do We Want from Settings?06:23 Adventure Atlas: the Mortuary10:20 Another Mortuary?13:11 Audience Interest14:24 Purchase Planescape?15:02 Planebreaker Compatibility16:38 Shifting RPGs18:27 Books vs Small Supplements20:11 Tools We Use21:12 Rereleasing Settings23:32 Digital Format31:25 Ideal Setting Product33:42 Included Adventure?34:36 Ratio of Player Content37:58 Player Guides44:15 Production Challenges49:57 Setting Breadth?Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Planescape 5E – City of Sigil! (Mastering Dungeons 161)

Episode 161 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: Planescape: City of Sigil!
The City of Sigil is a sci-fi conundrum. Let’s learn what makes the city so intriguing and how a DM can make the most of it.
News: WotC hiring, Baldman at PAXU, Unforgettable Villains, and more!
Contents00:00 D&D Tutor03:16 Class Sales?08:33 Bigger Books?10:28 Reskinning?15:50 Dungeon Tropes?19:54 Baldman at PAXU22:52 WotC Hiring24:23 Unforgettable Villains25:31 James Haeck Channel26:52 HeroQuest Release29:10 Tony DiTerlizzi Book30:10 Hellwatch31:32 Nimble Streamlining 5E32:43 Sigil, the City of Doors33:20 What is Sigil?40:52 City Weather43:04 Magic Changes47:29 Summoning50:57 Portraying Life in Sigil1:00:21 Rats and Razorvines1:01:39 Portals1:04:12 Lady of Pain1:14:14 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons 160: Planescape 5E – Character Options!

Episode 160 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse!
5E finally has Planescape! We take a look at Sigill and the Outlands, the first book introducing the setting and offering character options.
News: The End of Everything, D&D Adds Bastions, WotC Drops Penguin, and more!
Contents00:00 Alex Kammer!01:15 What is Gamehole Con?09:30 Our Gamehole Plans12:36 Introduce New RPG?23:10 Bastions and Cantrips35:12 End of Everything44:41 WotC Drops Penguin49:32 Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse51:09 Planescape History52:10 2024 Multiverse Focus53:50 Sigil and the Outlands55:12 Definitions and Truths1:08:04 Character Backgrounds1:12:52 Feats1:16:02 Spells1:20:15 Magic Items1:24:11 ClosingThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons 159: Modiphius 2D20 RPGs – Dune, Star Trek, and more!

Episode 159 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: Modiphius 2D20 RPGs!
We take a look at the Modiphius 2D20 RPG system, including a close look at Star Trek Adventures and Dune: Adventures in the Imperium.
News: Evil Genius Sues Netflix, Planescape Previews and Downloads, Free Lightning Keep, and more!
Contents00:00 Boosted01:42 Modules?11:21 New or Modify?17:09 Planescape Previews28:55 Minecraft and free Lightning Keep31:14 Evil Genius Sues Netflix34:33 FR Wiki Turns 1834:59 Building a French Castle36:25 Vecna’s Book of Vile Darkness37:21 Modiphius 2D20 RPGs39:16 Free SRD and Previews40:03 Basics of 2D2045:28 Skill Mechanics55:19 Dune – Adventuring in the Imperium1:01:32 Star Trek Adventures1:10:23 Closing Thoughts1:15:43 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons 158: DM’s Workshop – Creating Monsters, Spells, Magic Items. Appendices!

Episode 158 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: DMG Conclusion: Creating Monsters, Spells, Magic Items. Appendices!
The 2014 DMG ends with teaching DMs how to create rules and tries to inspire DMs. We then look back on the whole of the DMG and what 2024 might bring.
News: What the D&D Community Update Forgot, New Eldraine Monsters, Maps VTT, and more!
Contents00:00 Lakeside01:14 Playtesting Complexity?10:47 Disarm is Simple?17:10 D&D Community Update Forgets26:40 New Eldraine Monsters31:19 Maps VTT37:02 Acq Inc Season 237:56 The Eye of Everywhere38:31 DMG Chapter 9 – the end38:57 Creating a Monster46:37 Creating a Spell49:59 Creating a Magic Item51:35 New Character Options59:13 Appendix A Random Dungeons1:01:55 Appendix B Monster Lists1:03:16 Appendix C Maps1:03:57 Appendix D Inspiration1:06:46 Comparison to 4E’s DMG1:12:17 2024 Potential Changes1:14:20 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons 157: DM’s Workshop – Firearms, Plot Points, Initiative and Action Variants!

Episode 157 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: DMG Chapter 9 part 2: Firearms, Plot Points, Initiative and Action Variants!
The 2014 DMG provides many optional rules. Which ones would we use, and what should the 2024 DMG bring forward or change?
News: Latest Playtest Backtracks, Prison Wish Lists, D&D Upcoming Release News, and more!
Contents00:00 Chainsaw Runner02:59 What’s Up with Mounts?11:11 WotC Non-D&D?15:55 Slog Tactics?23:14 Daisy Goes Missing28:57 Perkins Secrets of DMing30:36 Roll20 Adding Dungeon Scrawl33:09 DM David Ranks Controversies 37:28 Acq Inc Murders Babies38:54 Thunder Road at Gamehole40:43 Festival of Tombs41:50 Bone Stone and Obsidian42:57 DMG Chapter 9 part 244:08 Firearms, Explosives and Alien Tech49:58 Plot Points56:00 Initiative Variants1:03:56 Action Options1:14:44 Injuries1:15:59 Morale1:18:50 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons 156: DM’s Workshop - Optional Rules!

Episode 156 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: DMG Chapter 9: Dungeon Master’s Workshop!
The 2014 DMG provides many optional rules. Which ones would we use, and what should the 2024 DMG bring forward or change?
News: Latest Playtest Backtracks, Prison Wish Lists, D&D Upcoming Release News, and more!
Contents00:00 Dark03:51 Poisoner?12:52 2024 Adventure?19:45 UA 7 Released31:46 Upcoming Releases35:58 Prison RPG Wishlist37:43 Aberration Board Game39:41 Crowdfunding 40:17 Getting Started Writing40:46 DMG Chapter 946:11 Skill and Check Options59:06 Hero Points1:03:23 New Ability Scores1:07:35 Fear and Horror1:09:33 Healing Options1:18:30 Rest Variants1:21:24 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons 155: Running the Game – Initiative, Chases, Siege Weapons, XP!

Episode 155 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: DMG Running the Game part 3!
How well does the DMG help us track initiative, improvise damage, run chases, fire siege weapons, and give out XP? Shawn and Teos have some good laughs as they investigate the 2018 DMG.
News: Demiplane 5E Surprise, Phandelver Previews, Hiring and Pay, and more!
Contents00:00 PAX03:36 Too Many Products?09:19 Everything Else?17:01 Phandelver Previews18:23 Demiplane 5E Nexus Surprises 21:06 EN World Freelance Pay Survey25:28 Pelgrane Hiring Project Editor32:23 Choices, Information, and Meaning 34:38 Weapons of Legend35:19 The Folk from Harrowthorpe36:26 DMG Chapter 8 Part 337:16 Tracking Initiative40:29 HP and Conditions45:56 Crits and Improvising Damage48:44 AoE and Mobs54:11 Chases57:11 Siege Equipment1:01:20 Disease, Poison, Madness1:04:24 XP1:07:40 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons 154: Running the Game – Adjudicating Rolls, Social, Exploration!

Episode 154 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 8 – Running the Game, part 2!
Shawn and Teos continue examining Chapter 8 of the 2014 DMG. From optional ways to handle close die rolls, to social interactions, to exploration, we look at fascinating topics.
News: D&D Movie Really Losing Money? Free Gazetteer, BG3 Reviews, Phandelver Sneak Peeks, and more!
Contents00:00 Working for the Weekend02:36 Setting Products?24:23 Phandelver and Below26:59 Baldur’s Gate 3 Reviews28:58 Free Gazetteer 29:52 Movie Losing Money? 33:14 Greenwood’s Vampires35:52 DMG Ch8 Running the Game 36:21 Advantage and Disad 40:02 Resolutions and Consequences 47:34 Do the Rob54:52 Exploration59:04 Social Interaction1:08:06 Objects1:13:38 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - Shadow of the Weird Wizard with Rob Schwalb!

Episode 153 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: Shadow of the Weird Wizard with Rob Schwalb!
Rob Schwalb talks about his fantastic Kickstarter for Weird Wizard, his days at Wizards and insights into 5E’s creation, and what makes for a fantastic RPG.
News: Tal’Dorei Reborn is the first 3rd party product on D&D Beyond, WotC Playtest Experiments, New D&D Beyond Survey, and more!
Contents00:00 Mr. Funny01:39 Weird Design?07:15 Design for Streams?10:23 Short Design?13:12 Prescription vs Teaching?23:14 Tal’Dorei on Beyond28:06 Crawford on Playtest Experiments38:24 Beyond Survey40:45 Eldritch 10041:23 Seize the Means43:39 Weird Wizard!45:06 Glorious Rob48:50 Exorcising Demons50:06 5E’s Compromises54:27 Preparation1:00:01 Session Length1:03:24 Why Weird Wizard 1:08:25 Project Rewards 1:14:51 Weird Setting1:19:34 Find Rob and Weird Wizard 1:21:10 Kim Mohan’s Impact1:24:26 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - 2014 DMG Chapter 8 – Running the Game!

Episode 152 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 8 – Running the Game!
Seven chapters later, the DM finally is told how to run the game! Was the wait worth it? Shawn and Teos review which parts hit the mark and which fall short.
News: Hasbro’s Rough Q2, Gen Con Breaks Records, Crawford on Settings, 2024 More Like 2014, and more!
Contents00:00 Gooooooool02:02 Lite DnD?07:25 Level vs Custom?12:08 Redo Lost Mines?16:16 Free Art?19:23 Downtime Minigame?23:47 Hasbro Q2 Report35:23 WotC Updates AI Policy37:10 Gen Con Attendance Record38:41 Baldman at PAX39:55 BG3 Play Data41:33 2024 Playtest Survey Results46:11 Crawford on Settings53:02 Shadow of the Weird Wizard53:43 Aberration board game55:49 DMG Running the Game57:23 Table Rules1:02:23 Prescriptions vs Teaching1:04:11 Table Talk1:06:41 Die Rolling 1:11:28 Metagaming1:14:33 Missing Players1:15:50 Role of the Dice1:19:03 Ability Scores1:31:09 DC and Proficiency1:37:01 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - Treasure in the DMG!

Episode 151 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 6 – Treasure!
Shawn and Teos ponder treasure. How much to give out, and how often? What is the role of treasure and its implications? From attunement to sentient items, we dig into the 2014 5E DMG and what we might want to see in 2024.
News: A giant problem for D&D, Free League rocks ENnies, Cthulhu Saved, and more!
Contents00:00 Gen Con Glow04:19 Subclass Variance?10:45 Higher Level Complexity?17:06 Valiant Playtesting?20:56 Know Rules to Break Them?28:54 Psychological Horror?30:42 Giant Freebies32:04 Giant AI Debacle45:07 Free League Rocks ENnies48:27 Storytelling Collective49:45 Where Evil Lives50:29 Cthulhu Saved 52:18 DMG Ch7 Treasure55:17 Role and Impact of Treasure59:09 Across Editions1:02:21 How Much Treasure?1:08:11 Swingy Results 1:10:05 Xanthar’s1:11:06 No Magic?1:14:52 Attunement1:22:33 Resilience1:24:25 Special Features1:30:40 Artifacts and Sentient Magic1:35:26 Other Rewards1:37:05 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - Downtime!

Episode 150 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 6 – Downtime!
Shawn and Teos are huge fans of Downtime, introduced in the 2014 5E DMG. However, the material in Chapter 6 has been changed greatly by Xanathar’s and Acquisitions Incorporated. What would Shawn and Teos want from the 2024 DMG?
News: Translated SRD, Sales Figures for D&D, D&D Movie Sequel, Top Crowdfunders, and more!
Contents00:00 Head Check 02:33 DMG Strategy?09:55 DM Focus?17:57 Tech Writing?20:56 Agents of X?22:15 Horror Appeal?32:12 Translated SRD!35:06 Movie Sequel38:46 Gen Con D&D Update41:05 Guild AI Policy43:22 Top Crowdfunders47:41 D&D Big Box Store Sales55:51 DMG Ch6 Downtime58:21 Downtime’s Introduction1:01:32 Downtime’s Potential1:11:39 Story Aspects1:16:40 DMG Activities1:30:59 Running Downtime1:36:04 On the Clock1:39:24 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - Between Adventures!

Episode 149 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 5 – Urban and Unusual Environments!
Shawn and Teos revisit the 2014 5E DMG by following Chapter 5. The rest of the chapter covers Urban and Unusual Environments, plus Traps. What would Shawn and Teos add to the 2024 DMG?
News: WotC closes eOne in the UK, Paizo closes office, D&D Gen Con events sort of, and more!
Contents00:00 Swiftness02:10 Wrong Hook?07:55 Replay Characters?12:40 Low High Level Play?16:41 Editions Inevitable?24:55 Dungeon Generator!26:46 Gen Con Events33:55 Hasbro Closes UK eOne37:16 Paizo Closes Redmond Office39:29 KP Hiring Media Manager40:28 Shadow of the Weird Wizard 41:30 Jungles of Kuauhtla42:10 Where Evil Lives42:41 DMG Ch6 Between Adventures45:56 5E vs Older Approaches50:03 Overarching Story57:36 Adventure Seeds and Foreshadowing1:03:34 Campaign Tracking1:13:07 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - Urban, Water, Sky, Traps!

Episode 148 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: The 2014 DMG Chapter 5 – Urban and Unusual Environments!
Shawn and Teos revisit the 2014 5E DMG by following Chapter 5. The rest of the chapter covers Urban and Unusual Environments, plus Traps. What would Shawn and Teos add to the 2024 DMG?
News: Critical Role heads to London, Free HeroQuest, D&D at SDCC, and more!
Contents00:00 Italian PHB02:57 Effective Clues?10:42 Not Enough Coverage?17:32 Session Highlight?19:55 Campaign Planning?24:51 D&D at SDCC26:26 Critical Role in London!28:59 Blog Comeback31:11 Aquatic Campaigns31:40 Wandering Monsters32:37 One-Shot Worldbuilding33:24 Free HeroQuest 35:22 Gloomhaven RPG40:42 Urban Environments47:28 Law and Order53:42 Underwater1:00:21 The Sea1:06:05 The Sky1:08:46 Traps1:23:23 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - James Introcaso on Custom RPGs vs 5E Content!

Episode 147 of Mastering Dungeons
This week's main topic: James Introcaso of MCDM joins Shawn to discuss the difference between writing a custom RPG vs creating for 5E!
News: Owlbear Love, ENnies, Gen Con Online, and more!
Contents00:00 James Introcaso!01:57 Creating for WotC06:22 Success Failure Spectrum?13:29 Character Arcs?22:26 True Owlbears?24:41 New Systems?29:41 Ennies35:16 Gen Con37:40 Bear Love in BG342:18 Dragonlance Shadow44:06 Aetherial last call!44:34 Flee Mortals Comes48:48 5E Content vs Custom RPGs51:47 Business Considerations56:13 Does 5E Fit Bear Romance?58:04 Audience1:01:59 Setting and Genre1:06:28 Conflict Resolution1:12:11 Character Creation1:17:07 Story Flow1:23:41 Game Loop1:34:10 Pillars1:38:48 Jim’s Question1:41:15 Shout-Outs1:42:49 Find JamesThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.