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Latest Episodes:

Reflecting Diverse Cultures in Your World & Creating a World Your Players are Invested In | GMJ 285 Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

In this worldbuilding episode, Lex explores how to created a world your players are invested in and how to increase player interest in the setting. Lex discusses how to use player ideas and PC backstories in adventures. Finally, Lex talks about how to reflect different and diverse cultures in your world, and he provides a list of anthropological resources to give you some ideas.

Worldbuilding for Small-Scale Stories & Using Cliches | GMJ 284 Nov 04, 2020

Show notes

Lex returns to Game Master's Journey to discuss worldbuilding. In the first of a two episode series, Lex talks about how to use cliches in your game. He then talks about how to approach worldbuilding for small-scale stories and conflicts.

All Good Things... | DMJ 283 Jul 29, 2020

Show notes

In the season 14 finale episode, Lex revisits his discussion of degrees of failure, success at a cost and player agency. He also talks about some of his favorite aspects from some 5e settings (and a non-D&D setting) that you might want to use in your own homebrewed D&D setting.

PC Races & Subraces, Reskinning Classes, Mining from Previous Editions, Beyond Pass/Fail & Player Agency | DMJ 282 Jul 22, 2020

Show notes

Lex discusses reskinning or redesigning a class that doesn’t fit your campaign instead of removing it. Just as the classes available to play in a campaign set the tone & flavor for the campaign, so too can you achieve a specific goal through the PC races & subraces you allow (or don’t allow). Lex also talks about using material from previous editions in 5th edition and moving beyond simple binary pass/fail in your D&D game. Finally Lex talks about player agency and why player perception is far more important than the amount of agency they do or don’t have.

Removing Classes from the PHB - Feedback | DMJ 281 Jun 30, 2020

Show notes

Maybe You DON'T Want to Use Everything in the Player's Handbook | DMJ 280 Jun 26, 2020

Show notes

For many DMs the default assumption is that all the player character options in the Player’s Handbook should be allowed in their game. However, one of the best things you can do to improve the flavor & focus of your D&D campaign just might be to cut some of the PHB options out. Lex explores how removing some of the classes & subclasses from your D&D campaign might be just the thing to keep it from feeling like a “kitchen sink buffet” of disparate cultures, time periods and sub-genres of fantasy. If you’re looking to make your game, setting and campaign feel less generic and more like it has an identity of its own, this might be just the thing!

Campaign Recap: For Whom the Bel Trolls & Where's Wahl, Though? | DMJ 279 Apr 27, 2020

Show notes

Lex is joined by Brett & Phoebe, to recap a session of their D&D campaign, Blood of the Avatars. This week the PCs make a deal with a devil. This is a homebrewed campaign set in Lex’s D&D world, Primordia, that is currently using elements of the published campaign, Descent into Avernus.

Creating a Monster | DMG Chapter 9 | DMJ 278 Apr 20, 2020

Show notes

Lex returns to his in-depth discussion of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. This week he discusses how to create a full monster stat black. You can use this process to complete a new monster that’s as complete as any monster in the Monster Manual. This builds on the framework established in episode 276.

Campaign Recap: Arkhan? No, Ar-CAN'T! & Pit Stop | DMJ 277 Apr 15, 2020

Show notes

Lex is joined by two players from his D&D group, Phoebe & Craig, to recap two sessions of their campaign, Blood of the Avatars. This is a homebrewed campaign set in Lex’s D&D world, Primordia, that is currently using elements of the published campaign, Descent into Avernus.

Modifying a Monster & Creating Quick Monster Stats | DMG Chapter 9 | DMJ 276 Apr 09, 2020

Show notes

Lex returns to his in-depth discussion of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. This week he discusses how to modify a monster and how to create quick monster stats. If you want to make a custom monster for your game, you might be able to make some minor modifications to an existing monster. Lex also shows how you can quickly create a monster of a given CR on-the-fly during play. Finally, this episode lays the groundwork for creating a completely new and unique monster from scratch. Anyone can do this, and Lex walks you through the process. The next episode in this series will go into creating a unique monster from scratch.

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