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
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
Episode 270 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Dying and Campaign Building with Prequel and Ethan Yen
Ethan Yen joins Shawn and Teos to discuss Prequel, the amazing game where you know you will die to the big bad… but get to create a campaign defined by the secrets these heroes discover!
News: D&D Beyond’s New Goals, Crack the Sun’s Big Start, Big Staff Changes, and more!
Contents
00:00 Conventional Wisdom
03:34 Teaching with RPGs?
13:00 Easy to Convert?
18:26 D&D Beyond's New Goals
24:52 Warlock Video Game Announced
27:57 Justice Arman Promoted
29:05 Jason Carl Departs World of Darkness
32:25 Perkins and Crawford on Acq Inc
35:47 Crack the Sun's Huge Start
39:59 Ikea D&D Book
42:47 Draw Steel Quick Reference
43:17 Quests from the Keep on the Borderlands
44:06 Ethan Yen and Prequel
45:34 Ethan's RPG Path
49:45 Creative Influences
58:45 All About Prequel
01:06:10 Phases of Play
01:12:39 The Big Fight
01:20:53 Campaign Building Conclusion
01:23:53 Zine Format Tips
01:30:46 Gamehole PoC Programs
01:37:58 Find Ethan
01:38:55 Shout-Outs
01:43:18 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 Dec 10, 2025
Wednesday Dec 10, 2025
Gamehole Con 2025 and Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: The Beautiful Mess of 5E! (Gamehole Con 2025)
While Shawn and Teos are away, we share with you a recording of a panel at Gamehole con where Mike Mearls, Mike Shea, Shawn, and Teos discuss the many forms of 5E available both officially and through third party companies. We look at how D&D 5E was designed in a open way and how this impacts our hobby.
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 Oct 29, 2025
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
Episode 264 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Draw Steel – Resting and Downtime! (MD 264)
The Draw Steel RPG has a unique and deliberate approach to what it takes to rest and what you can do during your rest. Respites become a key element, bridging combat recovery with larger campaign and personal goals.
News: Hasbro KPop Demon Roleplay, Hasbro Q3 Results, Dragonlance TV Show? Sigil has 1 year, and more!
Contents
00:00 Thankful for community
03:44 Draw Steel allows roleplay?
06:38 Get players to make stuff up?
19:32 Netflix and Hasbro KPop Demon Hunting
20:48 Hasbro Q3 report
22:54 WotC Q3 results
24:07 Videogame costs
26:49 Hasbro's 45-50 shows and movies
29:34 WotC explains D&D well, actually
35:34 How big is D&D?
42:13 Are we getting a Dragonlance show?
45:15 Sigil will be no more
52:06 Daggerheart on class design
54:41 PAX Unplugged BIPOC demo days
55:37 Drakkenheart
57:07 Draw Steel recoveries and respites
57:52 Ending combat
01:03:02 Balancing adventuring days
01:06:23 Recoveries
01:08:12 Resting and victories
01:11:23 Respites and downtime
01:21:52 Project roll
01:23:34 Project events
01:28:13 Rewards and downtime
01:32:52 Shout-outs
01:37:19 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 Oct 22, 2025
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
Episode 263 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Live from Gamehole Con - Complexity in RPGs!
We discuss complexity with our live audience!
News: Asmodee Controls Lord of the Rings, Circle Magic, Biggest Industry Surprise, New Kobold Hires, and more!
Contents
00:00 Live with pants
01:13 Gamehole games so far
03:53 Modularity of RPG for GM?
06:16 Odds of Dark Sun 5E?
09:06 What do I do this week?
10:05 Biggest surprise in the industry?
12:28 Survivability of games with financial changes?
16:22 Financial shift to premium products?
17:08 Asmodee controls Lord of the Rings
19:00 Circle Magic and New Spells
26:31 New Kobold Press hires
27:23 Your Creator Corner
29:05 Complexity in RPGs
29:46 Character complexity
40:29 RPG rule complexity
50:21 Thank you!
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 Oct 15, 2025
Wednesday Oct 15, 2025
Episode 262 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Draw Steel Combat Encounters!
Teos and Shawn examine how the Draw Steel RPG handles player turns, including forced movement, damage, and dying!
News: D&D Hellfire at Target, Free Daggerheart Roll20 Quickstart, Drakkenheim for Daggeheart, Our Approach to Learn New RPGs, and more!
Contents
00:00 Gamehole Peak Prep
02:11 Remembering Rob Weiland
04:29 Our Daggerheart and Draw Steel Games
09:12 Our Process to Learn an RPG?
16:30 Hellfire Club Released
20:03 Daggerheart Quickstart on Roll20 and Demiplane
22:07 Hellfire in Target
23:09 Hasbro's SORRY Mobile Game
24:05 Licensing D&D and MtG
25:21 Drakkenheim for Daggerheart
29:43 How Much Magazine Stuff
31:05 Designers & Dragons Origins Preview
34:29 Keith Ammann on Writing About Dragons
35:22 Allies & Enemies for Shadowdark
36:18 Jerry Garcia's Cosmic Journey
36:56 Fred Armisen's 100 Sound Effects
38:46 Draw Steel Combat Encounters
39:42 Three Action Types
45:47 Tactical Details
48:09 Forced Movement
53:10 Critical Hits
59:49 Damage and Stamina
01:04:54 Daggerheart Damage Comparison
01:10:17 Shout-Outs
01:15:39 See you at Gamehole Con!
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 Sep 03, 2025
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Episode 256 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Mike Balles and Spanish Language RPGs!
Mike Balles and Teos examine the state of Spanish-language play and support across companies, conventions, and creator spaces. Mike shares the programs he is involved in and how you can support those efforts!
News: Treantmonk on UAs! Acq Inc Switches to Daggerheart, Stranger Things at Target, and more!
Contents
00:00 Chris Honkala aka Treantmonk!
01:16 Premiere Organizers
02:05 Pick One RPG?
03:47 Daggerheart Too Simple?
07:23 Acq Inc Rewrites Reality to Daggerheart
09:51 Stranger Things Target Exclusive
13:20 Chris' Origin Story
16:11 Chris on WotC UAs
31:09 Should WotC Respond to Fans?
38:55 5E Subclass Design
42:52 Analyzing the Apocalyptic UA
56:42 Survey is Live
58:26 Find Chris!
59:00 What Are We Gonna Do?
59:38 Mike Balles!
01:00:59 PAX Unplugged
01:02:21 Mike's Origin Story
01:08:48 Streaming and Wizards of the Coast
01:13:29 Improving Gen Con and PAX
01:21:57 San Diego Comic Con
01:24:33 Connecting Creators
01:27:18 Gamehole Con PoC Program
01:35:38 Localizations and Translations
01:50:37 Translated 5E Character Sheets
01:54:51 Exploring Regional Opportunities
01:59:33 Spanish Language Creators and Games
02:10:57 Support Latine Lounge
02:17:09 Find Mike and Claudia
02:19:29 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 Nov 06, 2024
Wednesday Nov 06, 2024
Episode 214 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Memories of Gamehole Con!
Shawn and Teos look back on all of the events they attended and lessons from attending conventions. Hear why Gamehole is so special.
News: Claim Elemental Evil, Maps Adds Encounters, Audio-Only Drizzt, and more!
Contents
00:00 Stealing Credit Cards
03:08 Cleric Subclasses Setting Only?
09:21 Good Design Not Obvious?
13:57 Claim Scions of Elemental Evil
16:26 D&D Maps Adds Encounters
19:26 Audible-Only Drizzt Novel
20:32 Discord D&D Collection
21:41 Ars Magica Definitive Collection
23:25 Rodney Thompson List and Games
25:04 MT Black World War Weird
26:08 Thunder Road Vendetta RPG
27:36 Draconis Peaceful 5E
28:57 Gamehole Revisited
29:32 Whether to Attend Conventions
33:05 Wednesday Pre-Con Gatherings
38:15 Thursday's Events
47:32 Making the Most of Friday
59:27 Packed Saturday
01:04:28 Thankful Sunday Finish
01:06:39 Shout-Outs
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 Oct 30, 2024
Wednesday Oct 30, 2024
Episode 213 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Want to Be a Professional Game Designer?
Shawn and Teos tackle a question they hear often. Do you truly want to be a game designer, and if so, the steps to take to make meaningful progress.
News: Hasbro Q3 and Layoffs, D&D 1-Shots, CR and Dimension 20 Arena Shows, and more!
Contents
00:00 Post-Gamehole Buzz
03:03 Skills are Exploration?
11:06 The Adventure is the Game?
16:46 Campaign Without Gods or Planes?
20:50 Layoffs and Q3 Hasbro Results
32:47 D&D is Down
34:17 How Big is D&D?
35:22 DMG Lore Glossary
36:41 DMG Encounter Design
40:13 DM Screen Preview
41:35 PH and DM High Demand
43:19 D&D One-Shot Store Events
44:51 Scions of Elemental Evil
46:41 Critical Role and Dim 20 Arena Shows
48:15 Be a Professional Game Designer?
49:22 Do You Actually Want It?
53:41 Mix Games with Occupation
57:13 What Skills to Hone?
01:05:12 Team Skills
01:07:22 Making Patient Progress
01:12:11 Know the Current Media
01:13:05 Possible Paths
01:15:17 Help People Solve Problems
01:17:36 Know Your Worth and do Work
01:19:26 Become a Great GM
01:21:06 The Role of Conventions
01:27:35 Having "It"
01:29:48 Shout-Outs
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.