Mastering Dungeons

Mastering Dungeons - Fate

Episode 129 of Mastering Dungeons! 
We both have Kickstarters:Grim Hollow - Vallikan Clans: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/977277590/grim-hollow-valikan-clans 
Forge of Foes: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/slyflourish/the-lazy-dms-forge-of-foes-for-5e?ref=e2zf6e 
This week's main topic: The Fate RPG!We take a look at Fate's RPG and how different it is from D&D.
News: D&D movie directors speak, Acq Inc launching Series 2, A national research institute RPG, Books on Class, Kobold Press revises Tome, and more!
 
News: One D&D Approach Update, Paladin and Druid, Avatar RPG in Stores, Branded Meats, and more!
 
Contents00:00 Basketball Big Boss01:08 Class Caster Balance?10:27 Movie Directors15:50 Acq Inc Approaches18:05 Research Agency RPG19:18 Books on Class20:39 KP Dungeon 2321:16 Tome of Beasts Update25:12 Kickstarters27:29 Fate28:34 Creators and Creation32:04 Do Anything35:57 Mechanics38:50 Aspects44:50 Skills and Rolls 51:11 Actions and Game Loop59:40 Stress and Consequences1:05:14 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - To Be or Not to Be a Villain

Episode 128 of Mastering Dungeons! 
Teos celebrates the launch of the Forge of Foes Kickstarter, which you can back and preview here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/slyflourish/the-lazy-dms-forge-of-foes-for-5e?ref=e2zf6e
This week's main topic: To Be or Not to Be a Villain, with James Introcaso and Rudy Baso!
We take a look at other RPGs and compare them to D&D, this time an adventure based on Hamlet with unique mechanics and created for both the Zweihander RPG and D&D 5E.
 
News: One D&D Approach Update, Paladin and Druid, Avatar RPG in Stores, Branded Meats, and more!
 
Contents00:00 The Happy Way01:59 One D&D Updates11:30 Druid and Paladin27:35 Avatar in Stores29:32 WizKids Mimic30:41 Monster Trailer32:23 Branded Meat34:01 Cool Name RPG41:20 To Be or Not To Be42:23 Rudy and James43:22 Concept49:07 Play Experience52:11 Story Tokens 56:22 Plot and Backstabbing 1:01:16 DnD and Zweihander1:09:08 Design Approach1:10:40 Steal This1:18:40 Find James and Rudy
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - Shadow of the Demon Lord

Episode 127 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: Shadow of the Demon Lord!
We take a look at other RPGs and compare them to D&D, starting with Shadow of the Demon Lord. An incredibly well-designed game, Rob Schwalb delivers a death-metal RPG with excellent innovations.
 
News: Speak with Dead D&D Trailer, Hasbro Q4 and Monetization, Mangianello TV show, Latin America WotC firings, SRD in CSV, and more!
 
Contents00:00 All the things00:56 Character Differentiation?04:05 Super Bowl Spending?08:11 Speak with Dead10:47 Hasbro Q416:12 Monetization20:23 Mangianello Show21:36 LatAm Firings24:10 SRD in CSV25:02 Valikan Clans25:47 Other RPGs27:28 SotDL Intro29:24 Rob Schwalb34:46 Ancestry and Attributes42:35 Boons and Banes46:10 Fast and Slow Turns49:29 Skills and Corruption51:51 Professions and Equipment54:23 Varied Advancement59:37 Campaign and Setting 1:07:10 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - Greg Marks and the AL

Episode 126 of Mastering Dungeons! 
Main Topic: We interview Greg Marks, one of the administrators for the D&D organized play program, Adventurers League. We discuss his amazing introduction to gaming, organized play, conventions, and much more.
 
News: Kyle Brink OGL Interviews, D&D Super Bowl Ad, Free Keys to the Vault Preview, Baldman Games Awards, Andrews McMeel shuts down RPGs, and more!
 
Contents00:00 Winter Fantasy!02:42 DM Second-Guessing?07:31 Open Class Progression?12:46 Producer vs Author?21:06 Kyle Brink Redux27:19 D&D Super Bowl28:54 Keys Preview30:16 Baldman Awards32:24 McMeel Shutdown33:38 Ed Greenwood Patreon34:53 Cities Untold36:10 Forge of Foes37:31 Valikan Clans40:54 Greg Marks and AL1:23:48 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - Kyle Brink on the OGL and D&D Studio

Episode 125 of Mastering Dungeons! 
Main Topic: Teos speaks with Kyle Brink, the Executive Producer for D&D. We discuss the OGL, how the D&D Studio works, what WotC has learned, and much more!
 
No news this week due to the interview length.
 
Interview Topics 
00:00 How Kyle Started in D&D04:21 Kyle and the D&D Studio19:18 OGL23:59 Royalties26:58 Content Standards31:12 Share-Alike33:18 OGL Process46:56 SRD Updates48:59 VTTs and Media53:29 One D&D59:36 Final Thoughts1:06:57 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - Listener Questions and News!

Episode 124 of Mastering Dungeons! 
The show now will release on Wednesdays! Same content, shorter timeframe, thanks to our Patreon support!  This week we are heading to Winter Fantasy, so our "Main" segment comes first with a meaty section of Listener Questions and then our news is in the usual News segment. 
 
Main: Listener Questions!
 
News: OGL Resolution, D&D Movie Trailer, Critical Role Empire, 13th and Fantasy Age, Pesto Playtesting, and more!
 
News Segment and Listener Questions 
00:00 News Episode!02:34 DM Class Features?12:50 Music Parallels?19:18 Fracturing Market?23:46 Project Lessons?34:27 Number 2! 36:36 OGL Resolution55:46 D&D Movie Trailer 58:21 Hasbro Q41:01:16 Tyranny Reprint1:02:00 Critical Role Empire1:03:28 13th Age and Fantasy Age1:05:13 Smithsonian Images1:05:45 Creator Lessons1:08:34 Pesto Playtesting1:09:23 ENnies Submissions1:10:59 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - 5E Revisited - Appendices!

Episode 123 of Mastering Dungeons! 
Main Topic: We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What do the Appendices tell us about 5E’s design, and how does it differ from previous editions?
 
News: Listener Perspectives, OGL 1.2 Review, What Makes D&D, Bent Goblin, and we ask you what Mastering Dungeons should cover next!
 
News Segment and Listener Questions 
00:00 Mere Mortals01:22 Perspective?05:34 Bent Goblin07:23 What Makes DnD?16:05 Cover Non-DnD?17:26 OGL 1.2 Response19:24 Rumor-Journalism23:05 1.2 Review26:02 WotC Goals30:09 License Issues
Main Segment: 
5E Revisited - Chapter 11: Spells!
42:30 Appendices, Conditions50:22 Gods of the Multiverse 58:09 Planes of Existence1:07:39 Creature Statistics1:08:23 Inspirational Reading1:09:21 PHB Conclusions1:11:45 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - 5E Revisited - Spells!

Episode 122 of Mastering Dungeons! 
Main Topic: We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. How have spells changed across the editions, and what would we change about 5E’s design?
 
News: Listener OGL Listener Questions, OGL Updates, D&D TV Show, Zelda and D&D, and the Best Sellers on Roll20!
 
News Segment and Listener Questions 
00:00 Electric Triangle01:04 Weak Heals?08:04 OGL Discourse?18:46 DnD Guilt?22:37 Freeform Spells?27:33 OGL Update39:09 DnD TV Show41:21 Zelda & D&D42:33 Best Roll20
Main Segment: 
5E Revisited - Chapter 11: Spells!
43:58 Spells in 5E46:19 Spell Lists50:17 Spell Design52:54 Narrative1:02:30 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - 5E Revisited - Spellcasting

Episode 121 of Mastering Dungeons! 
Main Topic: We look back at the Spellcasting chapter of the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold?
 
News: The OGL Leaks, WotC Cancels Video Games, LEGO, Winter Fantasy, and an MMO Flumph!
 
News Segment and Listener Questions 
00:00 Newly Minted01:19 Unconscious Design?17:26 OGL Leaks21:04 WotC Cancels Video Games25:16 LEGO Winner26:20 Winter Fantasy27:29 Neverwinter Flumph
Main Segment: 
5E Revisited - Chapter 10: Spellcasting!
28:41 Chapter 10 Spellcasting30:57 Defining a Spell33:29 New Players36:31 Utility and Resources41:17 Cantrip Goals44:05 Spell Slots47:24 Casting in Armor49:27 Rituals and Wands52:30 Casting Details57:35 Components Outdated?1:03:18 Concentration1:06:27 Grid vs ToTM1:11:00 Saving Throw Woes1:17:11 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - 5E Revisited - Combat Pt2

Episode 120 of Mastering Dungeons! 
We look back at the Combat chapter of the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold?
In our News segment we discuss Dungeon23, the OGL for One D&D, AL updates, Core20 RPG, Winter Fantasy, and how you can vote to rate Mastering Dungeons the best podcast in 2022! 
 
News Segment and Listener Questions 
00:00 Fireworks01:11 5E GM Improvements?11:45 Dungeon23?18:06 OGL Elephant29:23 Playtest Survey30:12 AL and Winter Fantasy32:30 Vote for Us!33:09 ENWorld Columnist34:13 Core20 Preview35:32 GMs Magazine36:59 NDAs and Social Media
Main Segment: 
5E Revisited - Chapter 9: Combat, Part 2!
38:20 Attacks!42:22 Unseen Attackers44:50 Ranged and Melee48:25 Simplicity vs Complexity50:30 Cover54:28 Healing and Damage1:06:57 Resistance and Vulnerability1:09:11 Healing1:21:26 Mounts and Underwater1:26:25 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - 5E Revisited - Combat

Episode 119 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: 5E Revisited - Chapter 9 Combat! We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold? In our News segment we remember Kim Mohan and review news about the DMs Guild and Roll20 integration in February, a comic of the D&D cartoon, Arcadia in Print, and the Swinginess of the D20! Listeners ask us about Spell Balance.
News Segment and Listener Questions 
00:00 Flumph Heroics01:31 Spell Balance?12:25 Kim Mohan16:10 DMs Guild Roll2017:49 DnD Cartoon Comic19:32 Arcadia in Print20:10 Swingy D20
Main Segment: 
5E Revisited - Chapter 9: Combat!
26:54 Chapter 9 Combat27:29 Surprise32:12 Initiative35:37 Your Turn45:30 Movement47:06 Actions in Combat52:42 Hide55:32 Ready58:43 Search1:07:17 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - Clerics One D&D Playtest Conclusion

Episode 118 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: We finish our look at the Cleric playtest. We take a look at epic feats and changes to the rule glossary!
In our News segment we look at WotC hiring a Creative Lead, Hasbro fireside chat, Baldur's Gate 3, and more.
News Segment and Listener Questions 
00:00 Werewolf Soccer01:31 Designers Play?11:33 Spell Schools?16:28 WotC Creative Lead22:50 Hasbro Fireside Chat42:54 Baldur’s Gate 3 Date45:00 Manual of Gainful Exercise46:51 Tasselhoff’s Pouches of Everything48:32 Epic Boons and Feats54:42 Glossary and Actions59:14 DCs and Aid1:03:48 Amor and Attacks1:06:57 Banishment, Barkskin1:09:11 Dazed, Difficult Terrain1:11:14 Grappling, Guidance1:13:59 Final Glossary Thoughts1:19:29 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - Clerics and Species - One D&D Playtest

Episode 117 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: A shiny new playtest packet features a revised cleric class, three species, and a rule glossary!
In our News segment we look at free Dragonlance monsters, new D&D Movie Trailer, Race retired as a term, the end of Acq Inc, and more.
News Segment and Listener Questions 
00:00 Snow Time01:24 Community Split?12:15 AL Storylines?22:07 Spell Schools?22:47 Free DL Monsters 24:26 Movie Update26:30 Race Retired28:27 First Survey Recap37:29 Acq Inc Ends40:53 Stormwreck AL Adaptation41:54 Citadel of the Unseen Sun
Main Segment: Clerics and Species - One D&D Playtest
45:09 Clerics and Turning47:59 Domain Critique52:42 Feature Analysis59:17 Holy Order1:04:25 Blessed Strikes1:06:57 Life Domain1:09:11 Ardling1:15:45 Dragonborn1:17:00 Goliath1:21:23 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - 5E Revisited - Adventuring

Episode 116 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: 5E Revisited - Chapter 8 Adventuring! We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold? In our News segment we look at WotC's OGL Response, LEGO and Trivial Pursuit, Mongoose Innovation, and more! Listeners ask us about Compatibility and Settings, the Challenge of Designing for Compatibility, and Adventure-Specific Backgrounds.
News Segment and Listener Questions 
00:00 5E Number 1702:32 Compatible Setting?08:45 Compatibility Design Challenge?12:45 Adventure Backgrounds?17:07 WotC OGL25:29 LEGO D&D27:00 Trivial Pursuit28:33 Radical Mongoose31:51 Dicebreaker Finalists33:06 Winter Fantasy34:22 Esper Genesis35:06 Free Elven Tower
Main Segment: 
5E Revisited - Chapter 8: Adventuring!
35:37 Chapter 8 Adventuring37:30 What Should Be Here?47:39 Time48:55 Overland Travel1:00:37 Travel Activities1:05:10 Falling and Suffocating1:11:40 Vision and Light1:14:16 Social Interaction1:16:05 Short + Long Rests1:20:43 Lifestyle + Downtime1:26:58 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

What Is Mastering Dungeons?

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. 
Each show typically has three segments:- Listener Questions- Industry News- Main Segment (review, interview, or focused topic)
Each episode is one podcast on your podcast listening app. On YouTube, we provide each episode as two videos, so you can enjoy the Questions/News and Main segment separately if desired.
Find our show notes and support our podcast and YouTube efforts:https://www.patreon.com/MasteringDnD 
Listen to us on your favorite podcast device:https://MasteringDungeons.podbean.com  
Chat with us on Twitter or Mastodon:https://twitter.com/MasteringDnD https://dice.camp/@MasteringDnD
Find Shawn:https://twitter.com/shawnmerwin https://ghostfiregaming.com/  
Find Teos:https://alphastream.org/  https://youtube.com/@AlphastreamRPGhttps://dice.camp/@Alphastream https://twitter.com/Alphastream    
Mastering Dungeons is a weekly podcast, made with care for your enjoyment.

Mastering Dungeons - 5E Revisited - Using Ability Scores

Episode 115 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: 5E Revisited - Chapter 7 Using Ability Scores! We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold? In our News segment we look at Dragon+ removal, Hasbro selling eOne, 6E OGL rumors, landing a job with Paizo/WotC, and more! Listeners ask us about crafting rules, useful backgrounds, and playtesting.
News Segment and Listener Questions 00:00 Happy Tofurkey01:35 Crafting Rules?09:52 Useful Backgrounds?14:04 Playtesting?23:55 Dragon+ Removed31:51 Hasbro Selling eOne35:12 6E OGL Rumor43:21 Landing Paizo/WotC Jobs48:16 WizKids Movie Minis
 
Main Segment: 
5E Revisited - Chapter 7: Using Ability Scores!
50:31 Ability Scores54:33 Dump Stats1:03:13 Advantage/Disadvantage1:09:26 Proficiency Bonus1:14:19 Passive Checks1:18:10 Checks and Saving Throws1:20:00 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - 5E Revisited - Feats and Multiclassing

Episode 114 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: 5E Revisited - Chapter 6 Customization Options! We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold? In our News segment we look at WotC's new Inclusion Review, Neverwinter's Drow, Kobold Press Hiring, Hasbro Overproducing, and more! Listeners ask us about Art and Subversion, Concise Adventures, and 6E's Audience.
News Segment and Listener Questions 00:00 Grace and Dignity01:03 Paranoia Gear?02:58 Concise Adventures?10:34 Art and Cooperation?20:31 6E’s Audience?26:03 WotC inclusion Review33:16 Dragonlance on Guild34:16 Neverwinter Drow36:24 Monty Python RPG38:47 Game Master’s Books41:29 Innsmouth Garden Society42:28 Kobold Press Hiring43:06 Hasbro Overproducing?46:17 Collville on Equipment
Main Segment: 
5E Revisited - Chapter 6: Customization Options!We look back at the 2014 5E's Feats and Multiclassing. 
50:11 Is Customization Optional?53:59 Multiclassing’s Past56:03 6E Goals?58:00 5E Multiclassing1:02:54 Proficiency Bonus1:04:23 Spellcasting1:08:22 Feats in 5E1:12:54 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - 5E Revisited - Equipment

Episode 113 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: 5E Revisited - Equipment! We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold? In our News segment we look at the D&D Movie rescheduling, the first FR map, NFL player on the DMs Guild, and more! Listeners ask us about non-D&D RPGs and fulfilling campaigns.
News Segment and Listener Questions 00:00 Thank you02:00 Other RPGs? 09:00 Alex Kammer on Campaigns12:23 Movie Rescheduled13:40 Original FR Map16:18 Roll20 Looks Back19:20 Johnny Stanton22:52 Sandy Pug School24:21 Eternal Night
Main Segment: 
5E Revisited - Chapter 5: Equipment!We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold?
27:57 Why Equipment?38:25 Starting Equipment43:09 6E Options47:38 Living Accounting49:40 Wealth53:41 Armor and Weapons01:06:10 Adventuring Gear01:10:50 Lifestyle01:12:41 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons - 5E Revisited - Inspiration and Backgrounds

Episode 112 of Mastering Dungeons! 
This week's main topic: 5E Revisited - Inspiration and Backgrounds! We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold? In our News segment we look at new D&D movie toys, D&D digital bundles, Flumph shirts, Dragonlance sneak peak, and more! Listeners ask us about Inspiration and One D&D's design audience.
News Segment and Listener Questions 00:00 MD Goes Indy!03:53 Inspiration Problem?07:18 Design for Players?14:06 Expert Survey Live17:25 New Digital Bundles22:50 Flumph Shirt!24:22 Dragonlance Preview25:50 Movie Toys28:37 Tabletop in Iran29:47 Dicebreaker Awards 
Main Segment: 
5E Revisited - Inspiration and Backgrounds!We look back at the 2014 5E Player's Handbook. What have we learned, what would we change, and what might the next edition of D&D hold?
31:52 Intro33:09 Inspiration57:10 Backgrounds1:10:40 Where to Find Us
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Mastering Dungeons – GameHoleCon

Shawn and Teos’ live Mastering Dungeons seminar from GameHoleCon! News! Questions! Clapping! Smells! This one has it all! Breaking News Links Wes Schneider Reveals Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen […]