Dungeon Master of None

Latest Episodes:

Ep 68: The DMs Guild Grind with Alex Clippinger Apr 09, 2019

Show notes

Special guest Dungeon Master Alex Clippinger is here with wise words and sage advice for all aspiring DMs.

Ever thought about publishing that adventure, monster, or magic item on the Dungeon Masters Guild? This is the episode for you!

Check out Alex's cool RPG stuff over at the DMsGuild!

And follow Alex on Twitter!

Music:

Roll the Dice - Pac Div

9 to 5 - Dolly Parton

Grinding All My Life - Nipsey Hussle

BONUS: We Made a Thing Mar 29, 2019

Show notes

DMs Rob and Matt have completed their first (self-) published Dungeons and Dragons book: The Advanced Artificer. Your DMs of None discuss the process of designing and publishing the thing for the Dungeon Masters Guild in the hopes that our conversation will inspire you to publish that thing you've always been meaning to finish.

Meanwhile, why don't you buy our book? It is only two bucks, has a story by Rob, and even has a cute magical robot dog! Leave us a review, comment, and some stars too! Here's the link:

The Advanced Artificer on the Dungeon Masters Guild

Music: Pac Div - Roll the Dice Visigoth - Dungeon Master

Ep 67: Vancian Podcasting Mar 27, 2019

Show notes

The Mailbag of Holding (Type III) returns! DMs Rob and Matt answer your questions on Dungeon Mastering and more.

Music:

Pac Div - Roll the Dice

Jurassic 5 - Freedom

Cake - Wheels

Ep 66: Earthsea is the G.O.A.T. Mar 20, 2019

Show notes

Howdy y'all, it's the Kickstarter roundup! Yeehaw! Then, your DMs of None talk about the D&D "canon" and whether it has any value. What should be in the new canon and what are the books that have influenced your Dungeon Mastering? What is in your Appendix N? Let us know!

Kickstarter Roundup:

Critical Role: The Animated Series

Lasers and Liches: Tales of the Retroverse

Comrades RPG

Arcana of the Ancients

Rosenstrasse

Seas of Vodari

Welcome to Tikor: The Swordsfall RPG Setting

Witch+Craft: A 5e Supplemental

The Great American Novel: A Roleplaying Game

The Veil Inheritance Humblewood

Music:

Pac Div - Roll the Dice

Ice Cube - The Predator

Ep 65: Medieval Times w/ Special Guest Paul Sturtevant Mar 13, 2019

Show notes

DMs Matt and Rob are joined by the Smithsonian Institute's Paul Sturtevant. Not only is Paul the founder and editor-in-chief of The Public Medievalist, but he has a new book, The Middle Ages in Popular Imagination: Memory, Film and Medievalism, that listeners of this show will really love.

We talk about castles in DC, what the public knows about medieval history, and how to deal with race in role-playing games. Paul tells us about the roots of Dungeons and Dragons races in 19th-century scientific racism, the camp of knightly tournaments, the weird aesthetics of Warhammer Fantasy, and why your shouldn't treat the Middle Ages (and your worlds in quasi-medieval settings) as the "trash pit of history."

Links:

The Public Medievalist Magazine

Paul's new book: The Middle Ages in Popular Imagination: Memory, Film and Medievalism

Music:

Pac Div - Roll the Dice

GZA, RZA, Ghostface Killah, Killah Priest - 4th Chamber

Ep 64: Artificer? I hardly know 'er! Mar 06, 2019

Show notes

DMs Matt and Rob review the new version of the Artificer. An effusion of infusions for everyone, huzzah! Happy Artificer Day to one and all.

But first, the Lasers & Liches kickstarter is back! Be sure to check it out and have a listen to our full review back in Episode 23.

Listener questions:

David asks, "Can I improvise my way through world-building?"

Ryan asks, "How should I prepare for a kickstarter?"

Music:

Pac Div - Roll the Dice

Sir Mix-A-Lot - Iron Man

If I Had a Hammer - Peter, Paul and Mary

Ep 63: Homebrewing Classes Feb 27, 2019

Show notes

The DMs of None chat about home-brewing classes in sub-classes in 5e DnD. We take a look at some of our favorite homebrew and third-party classes and speculate about what to create on the show in the future!

Classes and sub-classes reviewed:

The Blood Hunter by Matt Mercer

The Scholar by Charrmeleon

The Pugilist by Benjamin Huffman

Broath of the Brotherhood by Ryan Bennett

Oath of the Common Man by the_singular_anyone

Tome of the Pact by Alex Clippinger

Music:

Pac Div - Roll the Dice

Jean-Joseph Mouret - First Suite in D

Seu Jorge - Space Oddity by David Bowie

Ep 62: Dungeons Deep and Caverns Bold! Feb 20, 2019

Show notes

Let's talk about and create dungeons! Matt and Rob discuss the essentials of dungeon building: story, theme, ecology, and variation. Your DMs then build a one-page dungeon "live!"

No abusers in our RPG community.

Links:

Rough draft of the one-page dungeon

Final draft of the one-page dungeon

Link to Dyson Logos' table of random dungeon entrances

Music:

Pac Div - Roll the Dice

Merle Travis - Dark as a Dungeon

Pete Seeger - Which Side are You On?

Ep 61: Worldbuilding 203 - Factions and Politics Feb 14, 2019

Show notes

DMs Matt and Rob talk about how to design factions, powers, and political groups that will hook your players. Let's build some better worlds! Letters:

"What are some strategies to employ between encounters?"

"How do I create emotional and cinematic moments for my players?"

Music:

Pac Div - Roll the Dice

The Unicorns - I Was Born (A Unicorn)

Ghost Mice - Critical Hit, recorded by DMofNone listener "Cinderblock" Sally

Ep 60: DM Tips 202 Feb 06, 2019

Show notes

DM tips! Learn how to start games good! Practice shutting the hell up! And more! Plus, DMs Matt and Rob answer your letters and get some deserved criticism and critiques!

Tips: playing on the cheap...setting the tone...seeing, hearing, smelling for your players' characters...using your posture...preparing social situations...listening to your players...how to make mistakes...

Letters: steampunk and hopepunk responses and critiques! What's the best way to build dungeons? How do I get started reading fantasy to help me DM? Should I twist the plot?

Recommendations:

Elizabeth Bear

The Magic Goes Away

Music:

Pac Div - Roll the Dice

Tommy James & The Shondells - I'm Alive

Loretta Lynn & Jack White - Portland, Oregon

The Staves - Tired As Fuck

Scenario - A Tribe Called Quest