Dungeon Master of None

Latest Episodes:

Episode 20: Fixing the Mystic and Artificer Mar 30, 2018

Show notes

Let's homebrew some classes! Wizards has set their sights on two iconic classes: the Mystic (aka the Psion) and the Artificer. These classes are essential for running games in Dark Sun or Eberron. However, the playtest classes for the Mystic and the Artificer are not quite there yet. We dig into why these proposed classes fall short and how we would fix them. Our "crunchiest" episode yet!

Links:

Rob's Artificer homebrew.

Matt's Psimple Psion (Mystic) homebrew.

Episode 19: History Doesn't Work Like That — Authenticity and Gaming Mar 27, 2018

Show notes

Matt and Rob put on their dueling gloves and throw down with a couple of games that claim to be historically accurate — but are in fact, nothing of the sort (also, uh, "historically accurate" isn't really a thing, but we'll get to that). Your fearless DMs get to the root of what people are REALLY talking about when they talk about authenticity and historical accuracy, and as you might imagine, it's not what they say it's about. Come for a frank discussion of Kingdom Come: Deliverance and its RPG counterpart, stay for the part where we both get unreasonably worked up about the misuse of history.

Episode 18: Couatls Conquer Europe Mar 23, 2018

Show notes

In "Couatls Conquer Europe" Matt and Rob discuss the re-launch of the Dragons Conquer America Kickstarter. Your DMs plunge headfirst into the jungle of, uh, problems that arose during the kickstarter's initial failed run. After tackling the basics of "How to Train Your Dragon to Conquer America," the DMs get into successes, challenges, and opportunities of setting a fantasy game during the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs. Come for a summary of the game's glaring historical omissions, stay for Matt and Rob's bewilderment at Burning Games' inability to make meaningful changes in response to some very reasonable suggestions from critics. Matt and Rob then grapple with the complexities of writing an anti-colonial or post-colonial RPG.

Bonus! If you are are game designer, this kickstarter is a masterclass in how NOT to respond to criticism. Link to Dia Lacina's article on Vice: https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/a37a34/it-takes-more-than-a-tolerance-mechanic-to-make-an-anti-colonial-rpg

Episode 17: The Forgettable Realms vs. Eberron Mar 19, 2018

Show notes

Matt talks about how to handle intra-party disputes by ending your sessions at the right time (00:30) and Rob shares tips on how to run games for a large number of players (05:00).

Then, the duo discusses campaign settings. Specifically, why D&D's "default" setting in 5th edition, the Forgotten Realms, a.k.a. Faerun, is so frustrating and boring (14:00). Matt and Rob break down the bad (and good) of Elminster's favorite reality. Then, stick around to hear why the Eberron campaign setting, another official WotC world, is great place to run and play D&D (33:00). Fact: All good campaign settings ask an interesting question about the world and have a strong theme. Fight us!

Finally, we close out with some thoughts about what we don't like about Eberron and how to start porting it over to 5th edition. (54:15)

Episode 16: DMs of the Round Table Mar 16, 2018

Show notes

Matt and Rob talk about the most recent D&D roundtable (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFbCxuvknWM), featuring Mike Mearls, Matt Mercer, Matt Collville, and Adam Koebel. We discuss character death, performing for an audience, game design, and the future of Wizards of the Coast releases. Come for the keen analysis of D&D, stay for the incessant fanboying.

Episode 15: Pathfinder 2e Announced! Mar 09, 2018

Show notes

Breaking news: Paizo has announced a 2nd edition of Pathfinder! Matt and Rob have a special headline news edition of Dungeon Master of None, full of hot takes, hopes, dreams, and predictions.

Episode 14: Unwanted Advice 3 Mar 05, 2018

Show notes

We're starting a side-project, "Now This is Podcasting!" to complain about Luke Skywalker's new Jedi powers (this is totally not a joke). Rob and Matt review the recent RPG kickstarter news (4:40). Big daddy Matt Colville's new book "Strongholds and Followers" has more than 1 million dollars pledged. Check it out! There are only 5 days left! Then, we make ourselves sad by remembering the "epic bacon fail" of Pathfinder's sad, sad MMO kickstarter. Matt and Rob have a quick chat about "Into the Wild," the new Unearthed Arcana from WotC. (15:00)

On to the main event: Unwanted Advice! We save your game from yourself in D&D's only podcast advice column.

"I've got dyscalculia (difficulty doing arithmetic) is it reasonable to ask for an accommodation at the table?" (21:25)
"I suspect my Dungeon Master of cheating. Can I ask my DM to make all their rolls in the open?" (25:30)
"I love running in-person games, but I hate running online. How can I make running online less exhausting and more fun?" (40:20)
And finally, our first "wanted" question from David! "I played a lot of D&D back in the late 80s. I'm getting back into D&D to teach my nephews, who are 6 and 8. Any tips on helping kids to learn and grow (as gamers and as people) via D&D?" (49:20)

Episode 13: A Quick and Dirty Guide to the Campaign Bible Mar 01, 2018

Show notes

If you want to sell your adventure, campaign, or home-brew world to your potential players, you need a "Campaign Bible." When TV writers and directors create a new series, they often have a "show bible" -- this document not only helps keep everyone on the same page, but serves as a sort of mission statement, establishing tone, theme, and the direction of the show, often serving as a selling point to producers and investors. This is also a good way to think about your game. You can introduce your players to your campaign by writing a "campaign bible" and we're here to help you do it well!

Master DM and WotC designer Chris Perkins shared one of his campaign bibles for a setting that never got off the ground, "Valoreign." We've decided to use his excellent campaign bible as an example and guide for how to create your own guide. Link to Chris Perkins' campaign bible for "Valoreign." A must-listen episode for DMs who want to start a new campaign!

Matt and Rob's "Guide to Making a Campaign Bible," a guide and checklist for creating a document to introduce your players to a new setting or adventure!

Rob's campaign bible for "Thunder on the Steppe," an epic setting on horseback inspired by the history of the Mongol Empire.

Matt's campaign bible for "Shattered Stars," a swashbuckling age-of-sail setting inspired by Spelljammer!

Episode 12: Worldbuilding Jam Session Feb 26, 2018

Show notes

The Dynamic DM Duo chat about the new Matt Colville Kickstarter, "Strongholds and Followers" (2:23). Then, on the main meat of the convo, how to start thinking about worldbuilding for an RPG (5:25). Worldbuilding is hella important, even if you run a pre-written module or use a published campaign setting!

If you don't want to go into the deep end of homebrewery, your options (at least in 5e D&D) are limited to Forgotten Realms (10:00). Matt and Rob talk about why you might want to get beyond this campaign world and some of the other less obvious options that are available to you as a DM or player!

Then, Matt and Rob talk about how to get started on your own homebrew campaign setting for your players (16:10). Your DMs of None are in the same place as you are! Listen to Matt and Rob begin to flesh out their new worlds and worldbuild right alongside you.

Episode 11: Edition Wars and Ending Gatekeeping Feb 22, 2018

Show notes

Matt and Rob discuss the edition wars (bad) and gatekeeping (also bad). Learn why nerds were mad on the internet for nearly five straight years and how to avoid being a weird jerk to people when they come to play D&D for the first time. More people playing D&D is good people! It's good! Edition Wars (00:00:30) Gatekeeping in D&D (00:24:15) Link to Matt and Rob's data visualization of D&D player data: https://imgur.com/gallery/L1kNu

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