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
3 days ago
3 days ago
Episode 247 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Our Daggerheart Characters!
What it is like to create Daggerheart Characters, with real examples of our Rogue and Warrior.
News: WotC Layoffs, Dragon Delve Previews, Daggerheart Staff Changes, and more!
Contents
00:00 Dual-Wield Chainsaws
02:02 Dungeon Crawls Gone?
12:39 Universal and Unique Lore?
16:38 Dragon Delves Previews
18:50 Wizards of the Coast Layoffs
20:07 Ivan Van Norman Departs Darrington
23:04 Diana Jones Finalists
25:30 Evil Hat Cancels Tomb Raider RPG
27:14 DarkHorse Brings Fallbacks
28:44 Treasures from the Dark
31:04 Our Daggerheart Characters
33:30 Getting Started Section
37:42 Class and Subclass
49:00 Subclass
52:14 Heritage - Ancestry and Community
59:11 Character Traits
01:03:17 Additional Info
01:05:57 Starting Equipment
01:15:44 Background
01:16:52 Experiences
01:19:47 Domain Cards
01:25:12 Connections
01:29:07 Shout-Outs
01:32:18 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 Jun 18, 2025
Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Episode 246 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Daggerheart Initiative!
What happens when a player of GM can take any number of turns in a row? We take a look at Daggerheart’s initiative and consider games that have similar approaches.
News: Critical Role Hire Perkins and Crawford, Jess Lanzillo Departs WotC, Daggerheart Translations, and more!
Contents
00:00 We Are Stunned
00:49 Will Daggerheart Stand the Test of Time?
01:21 Crawford and Perkins' New Jobs
15:55 Jess Lanzillo Departs WotC
24:54 Daggerheart Being Translated
25:55 Mearls on Character Maps and Psion
28:27 Kickstarter Pre-Launch vs Funding
32:02 Standing the Test of Time?
40:35 Daggerheart Initiative
41:16 Our Experiences
45:26 Game Flow
47:08 The Spotlight
51:20 Adapt Over Time?
52:06 On Your Turn
53:50 Duality Dice
56:26 GM Moves and Adversary Actions
58:52 How Rules Play
01:08:30 Optional 3-Token System
01:14:36 Shout-Outs
01:17:31 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 11, 2025
Wednesday Jun 11, 2025
Episode 245 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: 2025 D&D Psion Subclasses!
The new psion can blow minds with new Disciplines, spells, and Subclasses.
News: Perkins and Crawford’s Jobs, We Play Daggerheart, Get Free Goblin Trouble, and more!
Contents
00:00 Daggerborg Below
02:37 Mythic Fantasy Tips?
10:33 Transition to Another RPG?
19:14 Good RPGs for Drama and Participation?
23:49 Crawford and Perkins Jobs Open
28:47 Free Goblin Trouble Adventure
32:37 Shawn and Teos Play Daggerheart
43:30 Daggerheart Card Editor is Live
44:20 Staff Changes at Chaosium
45:32 Book Distributor Feedback
50:06 The Devoured Labyrinth
51:39 Save on Steve Conley's Irregulars
52:45 Bundle of Pride Games
53:34 Psionic Subclasses and Disciplines
55:17 Psionic Disciplines
58:12 Design Patterns
01:14:13 New and Revised Spells
01:19:14 Psion Subclasses
01:34:12 Shout-Outs
01:38:09 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 04, 2025
Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Episode 244 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: The 2025 D&D Psion!!
We look at the Psion from OD&D and across the editions, to the 2025 playtest Psion for how well it throws mind bullets. Does it have the power to move us?
News: Draw Steel Covers, D&D International Day of Play, New D&D Video Game, and more!
Contents
00:00 Intro
02:20 Building Large Cities?
09:04 Daggerheart Didn't Crowdfund?
14:03 2025 D&D Conversion Document
17:42 New D&D Video Game
18:57 Draw Steel Covers and Schedules
20:19 D&D International Day of Play
23:20 Free RPG Day June 21
25:13 SlyFlourish Leaves Blanks
29:38 KP on Small Press Printing
32:49 Avatar Legends Licensed Adventures
34:12 TileForge
35:17 2025 Psion Playtest
36:34 Psionics in OD&D and AD&D
42:17 Psionics in 2E
47:53 Psionics in 3E and 4E
52:24 Design Challenges
59:36 5E 2014 Mystic
01:02:13 The 2025 UA Psion
01:02:47 Why a Psion Class vs Subclass?
01:05:16 Core Psion Traits
01:07:15 Spellcasting
01:10:30 Psionic Energy Dice and Features
01:23:10 Psionic Disciplines and Higher Levels
01:26:36 Assessing at Level 5
01:33:30 Shout-Outs
01:37:50 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 28, 2025
Wednesday May 28, 2025
Episode 243 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Making Good Tactical Maps!
Shawn and Teos discuss how to make great maps for home play or publications. From envisioning movement to avoiding symmetry, we share our tips and tricks.
News: Daggerheart Released, Lee Gold’s A&E Legacy, Minecraft RPG, Digital Deck of Player Safety, and more!
Contents
00:00 Reliving Introcaso
01:33 Detect Phantasmal Force?
15:24 Spoonfeeding Backstory?
29:34 Daggerheart Released
31:48 Daggerheart Card Maker
32:47 Daggerheart Community License
34:25 Lee Gold's A&E Legacy
39:11 DMs Wanted for Gencon and BMG
41:36 Digital Deck of Player Safety
44:08 Minecraft RPG
45:17 WizKids Apologize for BG3 Minis
48:19 Sand Marches for Dark Sun
48:48 5-Room Dungeon Jam
49:38 Making Good Tactical Maps
55:57 Envision Your Location
01:00:09 Fit the Overall Setting
01:02:19 Fit the Creatures
01:07:12 Think of Movement and Abilities
01:15:30 Details that Matter
01:17:52 Avoid Symmetry
01:20:47 Add Surprises
01:24:10 Shout-Outs
01:27:58 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 21, 2025
Wednesday May 21, 2025
Episode 242 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Draw Steel and Introducing New RPGs!
James Introcaso joins Teos to discuss the challenges any new RPG has in attracting an audience, explaining what makes it fun, creating starter sets, and much more! We draw heavily on Draw Steel, the MCDM RPG coming out later this summer!
News: Daggerheart Media Blitz, Diana Jones Emerging Designers, Storytelling Through Violence, and more!
Contents
00:00 It's James Introcaso!
02:07 Nautical for AL vs Home?
08:10 Underwater Armor House Rules?
17:06 Diana Jones Emerging Designers
19:50 Daggerheart Media Blitz
25:13 Brotherwise Hiring RPG Director
26:44 Storytelling Through Violence
34:47 Draw Steel and Introducing New RPGs
35:14 Summer of Draw Steel
36:37 A Challenge for All RPGs
38:37 Barriers to Entry
42:05 Getting Group Buy-In
45:20 Finding an Audience
50:41 Communicating What the Game Is
55:40 Role of Stores and Distributors
01:00:21 A Great Starter Set
01:02:56 Supporting Conventions
01:06:01 Great Pregens
01:13:00 MCDM's Next Products
01:16:26 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.
Wednesday May 14, 2025
Wednesday May 14, 2025
Episode 241 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Creating Nautical Encounters!
We build encounters based on our nautical campaign arc, including storm survival, submerged shipwrecks, battles on the high seas, and more!
News: Horror UA Subclasses, Eberron Preorder Info, Gen Con Events, and more!
Contents
00:00 Teos vs the Lorecast
02:09 Teaching Tactics?
10:50 Purpose of GM Currencies?
20:31 Eberron Preorder Info
24:40 Unearthed Arcana Horror Subclasses
28:14 Symbaroum and CZPEKU on DDB
30:26 Sigil VTT Update
31:07 PAX East Eberron Surprise
32:53 Gen Con Events Released
36:37 Playing at the World v2
37:48 Tariff News
39:40 Neon City Outlaws
41:56 Creating Nautical Encounters
43:05 Our Campaign So Far
45:16 Character Roles on the Ship
48:52 Storm Survival?
54:25 Types of Encounters
58:39 Multiple Dimensions
01:03:42 Encounters to Start the Campaign
01:07:24 Building on Campaign Hook
01:10:24 After 4th Level
01:11:21 Hiring Crew
01:12:45 Sunken Shipwreck
01:15:40 Underwater Allies
01:16:45 Island Exploration Encounter
01:18:18 Campaign-Concluding Encounters
01:20:27 Shout-Outs
01:24:13 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 07, 2025
Wednesday May 07, 2025
Episode 240 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Creating a Nautical Campaign!
Shawn and Teos dive into creating a cool nautical campaign, from themes to arcs and beyond!
News: We Review Sage Advice, Polygon Sold, Diamond and Alliance Bombshells, and more!
Contents
00:00 Still the Captain
01:08 Multiple Modes of Play?
13:02 2024 Creator Pitfalls?
19:59 Diamond and Alliance Bombshells
26:23 Sage Advice is Live
29:06 Interesting Sage Advice
39:00 SRD 5.2.1 Released
41:09 Polygon Sold Off
44:56 DM David on 5E Speed of Play
49:45 EN5ider Relaunched
50:56 Distal RPG
51:54 Creating a Nautical Campaign
54:17 Session Zero
01:00:20 Swimming and Underwater Rules
01:04:07 Starting at Level 1
01:09:25 Using Themes and Plot Arcs
01:13:59 Top Down vs Bottom Up
01:15:58 Leveling
01:18:27 Evolving Themes?
01:21:25 Sources of Inspiration
01:23:51 Shout Outs
01:27:28 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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