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Master Manual — Games & Hobbies
Master Manual

Harmontown’s “Dungeon Master to the Stars” Spencer Crittenden and game designer Cohen Edenfield discuss the finer points of leading a role-playing session in this surprisingly accessible advice show.

Latest Episodes:

Rerelease: O'Houlihan The Living Pub Sep 12, 2019

The boys break format to dig in deep to some questions and discover the wonders of O'Houlihan the Living Pub.

Sponsored by O'Houlihan's Cast Ointment

Questions Answered:

Can you compare the aligment system of character creation to bonds, traits, and backgrounds?

I'm playing in a game with 7 people. How can I make it work?

Any tips for running a game over the internet? Skype, Discord, or Roll20?

Monster: O'Houlihan the Living Pub

Fury Road Minisode Part 2! Apr 02, 2019

The boys are back on the road in this rolling ramble, classic and almost entirely full sized minisode.

Sponsored by O’Houlihan’s Bag of Sand

Question answered:

How do I showcase a villain’s power?

Were-Eel

Relavant links:

Daylight

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/daylio-journal-diary-moods/id1194023242?mt=8

Show And Tell! Mar 19, 2019

Spencer struggles to keep the lights on for this Show And Tell Episode!

Sponsored by Emerald Knights Emerald Body Armor. Sponsored by Dragon Balm Z. Sponsored by Dragon Milk. Sponsored by Gut Rock Parasites. Sponsored by Pexus the Muscle Mage's Book Brand Books. Now with Pages!

The Lazy DM (CHECK IT OUT BUY THE STUFF)

http://www.slyflourish.com/start_here.html

Fury Road Minisode: Campaign Report Mar 12, 2019

Cohen talks about his dnd game following the issues discussed in our season finale.

Sponsored by Hercule’s Magic Bat.

Special Edition Interview with Dungeon Master Ross Mar 05, 2019

Spencer Sneaks off Once more for a Secret Session with a Starburns Story Teller, Ross Clark! They talk about Campaign Prep, hot takes, and Alternate some Doppelgangers in this Special Episode!

Monster: Dreamgonborn (Doppelganger)

Season 2 Finale Part 2! The Sly Flourish Feb 26, 2019

The Masters Manual defeat Kezzereck, meet up with Pexus, summon a Modron, talk Yeth Hounds, and recline in O'Houlihan the Living Pub as they chat about the weird and uncomfortable parts about being a DM in this very special burnout and work-life balance focused episode.

Sponsored by Pexus the Muscle Mage's Book Brand Books. Now with Pages!

Sly Flourish's The Lazy Dungeon Master

http://www.slyflourish.com/lazydm/index.html

Season 2 Finale Part 1! Double Lycanthropy Feb 19, 2019

It's the Season 2 Finale! Part ONE! Meaning the Boys are back in town with some Q's and some A's for your D's and your D's. Strap in, folks.

Sponsored by Kezzereck's iErase Markers

Questions Answered:

What stat generation do you prefer for 5E? Do you point buy or roll or what?

How do you guys deal with lycanthropy mechanics? More specifically, is it possible for a character to be afflicted with multiple types of lycanthropy? Any ideas on how to make that work?

How do you handle it when players have too many magic items?

How do I make an NPC likable before I kill them?

Should I let my player punch a spaghetti boss monster off a cliff?

A Fantastic Vorage Feb 12, 2019

The Masters Manual Kick it into Automatic as they head out once more onto Fury Road! Can Printing Presses Manufacture Spell Scrolls? How can villains be more scary? How can we make a T Rex into an AMLimal? And how is Kingdom Hearts 3? Find out Now, on Master, Man-Well.

Sponsored by Sand Worm Spray

Questions Answered:

I was wondering how you would handle a printing press in any of your DnD campaigns - they could be an interesting modifier for mass-produced spell books.

Do you have any advice on making your villains scary?

Monster: T-Rex (Tyrannosaurus Hex)

Relevant Links:

Yusong's Twitch Channel

https://www.twitch.tv/yu_song

That's a Dicy Meatball Feb 05, 2019

The boys are back for another rainy day Saturday Catch Up, discussing when to roll for what, how to balance made up monsters, and turn rain into an amlimal! You're gonna like the way you look. I guarantee it.

Sponsored by The Doobie Brothers' Dusty Brush

Questions Answered:

I'm making my own boss monster stats by combining both Goro and Motaro from the Mortal Kombat series and I want to make sure that I don't overpower my final battle. When using homebrew creations like this, how can I know I'm scaling the monster to an appropriate Challenge Rating? Of course, I don't want a final boss to be too easy (maybe one player character death.....or two) but I don't want the fight to be impossible.

How do you feel about players actively requesting (or just assuming they can do) certain passive rolls such as insight checks, perception checks, or knowledge checks like history/arcana? I've noticed that sometimes players will do this thing where they just go on a roll fiesta; Have you ever thought about the role of these rolls? Do you let your players request them?

Loot Table:

F*@# You Got Mine

Ice Rink

Monster: Aboleth (Cumuleth)

Blastin' Asses For the Masses (Master Manual: Fury Road) Jan 29, 2019

The Masters Manual hit the road on a crazy and dangerous traveling road show of an episode! What is Emerald Knight? What's a Flaming Skull? What's going on? All will be revealed inside. Plus, stay tuned for a super secret bonus track after the end theme. It's Spencer singing poorly.

Sponsored by Emerald Knight Body Armor

Questions Answered:

Regarding Thieve's Cant: Should a rogue be able to roll to find these secret symbols? How should it be included in the game?

What do y'all put in your session 0, and what are the most important expectations for everybody at the table to share?

What is something interesting and unique that I can use in my dungeons to change things up?

Monster: Centaurnivores

Relevant Links:

Thieve's Cant

http://www.thievesguild.cc/thieves-cant

Hoard of the Dragon Queen Maps

https://jaredblando.com/horde-of-the-dragon-queen/hoard-of-the-dragon-queen-complete-set-map-bundle

Canned Punch Jan 22, 2019

The Masters Manual talk about Star Trek some more, and brainstorm how a swarm of rats could be something different than that. What to do when retiring an old PC to DM a campaign? Find out now, on Master Manu-L!

Sponsored by Tivo*

just to be clear these are all jokes*
**Sponsored by Canned Punch

Questions Answered:

I'm gonna stop playing in my campaign to DM but what should I do with my character?!

Can I learn to play and learn to DM while adapting DND5E for a star trek setting?

Have you tried any of the D&D-lite systems, like Dungeon World or Beyond The Wall? If not, what is it about the rules of D&D that keeps you loyal?

Loot Table:

Fairy Does

Mood Ring

Monster: Swarm of Rats (Rat Kings)

Bureaucrabcy Jan 15, 2019

The Masters Manual are back on a cheerful Chuesday evening to talk playing DnD with kids, getting high in character, as well as Keyforge, a new card game! How will they alternate Displacer Beasts? What's a Dreamfruit Tree? All will be revealed! At the very least, some.

Sponsored by The Brand Wizard

Note: Vacuum Sounds may be audible

Questions Answered:

How do I do smart things even if I'm playing a not-smart character? Do I just not do anything?

My 5 year old seems into DnD. Should I try to get him involved?

How do you feel about characters getting high on drugs in a campaign?

Brute Fable:

Bureaucrabcy

Dreamfruit Tree

Monster: Displacer Beasts

Relevant Links:

https://www.splcenter.org/

Portal Potty Jan 08, 2019

The boys are running late and record a weekendisode covering Mimics, Mage Movements, Metal Slug and more! Find out how to run modules that your players have done before and how to avoid spectacle creep!

Sponsored by Portal Potty, the Toilet of Tomorrow

Questions Answered:

How do I run classic modules if I'm worried my players have played them already?

How do I avoid spectacle creep as a DM?

Loot Table:

Hammer of Crucibles

Back Pocket Universe

Gamestorming: Gauntlet

Monster: Mimics Incorporated

Relevant Links:

Cthulhu Mythos for 5e

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/petersengames/sandy-petersens-cthulhu-mythos-for-5e

The Hobbit of Holiday Cheer Jan 01, 2019

The boys seem to think it's Christmas as they talk Cthulhu, Red Dead Redemption, and Desert Eternals in this very special New Years Episode. What's a Wood Woad, and who are the Enlightenmen? Find out!

Sponsored by Billson's Beetle Bottles

Questions Answered:

I’m curious how to make a campaign truly terrifying. I am currently running a lovecraftian based game, but many lovecraftian horrors are unnameable, indescribable, and unknownable...

I've been running a game for 5 players for a while now, and the players are around level 12. How can I keep combat challenging without making it boring or taking away all their stuff?

Brute Fable:

Enlightenmen

Foulcan

Monster: Desert Wood Woad

Relevant Links:

Heroes Of Horror

https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Fantasy-Roleplaying-Supplement/dp/0786936991

Volo's Guide to Monsters (has a section on Krakens, also the Curse of Strahd book has one page about being scary as a DM)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786966017/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_nHxkCbXCNQ3DY

Article about the intersection of Lovecraftian Stories and the Kraken Section of Volo's Guide; discusses how to build a lovecraftian adventure

https://geekandsundry.com/the-lovecraftian-mystery-in-volos-guide-to-monsters/

Zeno's Parasocks Dec 25, 2018

The Masters Manual are sick and sloppy but struggle through all the same as they discuss splitting the party, one-trick ponies, and Super Smash Bros, in this, a very Mastery Christmas.

Sponsored by Blood Batteries

Spencer’s note: If it sounded like I was being sarcastic about the cleaning guy interrupting us that wasn’t my intent I was earnestly trying to express my dismay at potentially preventing him from cleaning the office because when we record we are trying not to disrupt the normal office functions LOL

Questions Answered:

Recently a player quit, saying the game was "too on rails," but I don't think it was! Should I worry about this, or try to find out what went wrong, or what?

How do you handle splitting the party?

How do you handle characters building around a single mechanic? At what point does that become a distraction?

Loot Table:

Zeno's Parasocks

Worrywarts

Gamestorming: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Monster: iStone XS Max

Relevant Links:

Rich Malena

https://twitter.com/rmalena

Kithkin

https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Kithkin

Faerie Fire

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1586134783/faerie-fire-a-5e-supplemental

Hell Dwarves Dec 18, 2018

What do champagne elementals, hell dwarves, and Vector Man all have in common? They're all discussed in this episode. Yeah, I don't blame you for being disappointed, it's kinda a cop-out answer. They're also all motile, and capable of death. That do anything for you?

Sponsored by Tomina’s Iron-on Explosive Glyphs and Runes

Questions Answered:

My party has 3 mages and the fighter is always at risk of getting one-shotted. What do I do?

how do you handle experience and leveling?

How do I get my PCs to roleplay interactions with each other more?

Loot Table:

Tunnel Visor

Sham Pain

Gamestorming: Vector Man

Monster: Hell Dwarves

Stancho Polaris Dec 11, 2018

Cohen and Spencer discuss their recent happenings and blast into more Season 2 goodness as they try to turn Mario Kart into a dungeon and riff more fantasy stuff.

Sponsored by Grapes of Wrath (From the Makers of Goodberry)

Questions Answered:

How can i mix in more RP elements without losing the attention of my hack and slash players?

Do you have any suggestions for coming up with DC’s on the fly?

Any advice on how to nudge them into downtime research without shoving it in their faces?

Brute Fable:

Hard Cluck

Somnolites

Gamestorming: Mario Kart 64

Monster: Enforcement Paws

Agapomancy Dec 04, 2018

The Masters Manual are back in the Studio for another Bone-Flickin' Season of Fantasy Make-em-ups. Check out a fresh new take on Goblins involving potatoes and electricity.

Sponsored by SpellBrain's Summoning Strings

How do you deal with the urge to coddle your players?

How can someone who has never GMed keep a group of new players with a short attention span interested?

How do I handle a player, new to tabletop, that will inject some metagame/literary criticism of the narrative during play?

Loot Table:

AdderAllchemy

Agapomancy

Gamestorming: Zelda

Monster: Goblin Shock Troops

Links:

https://www.dmsguild.com/product/170937/The-Wild-Sheep-Chase--A-SingleSession-Adventure

THE LOST EPISODE -1 - 1: Frostio Glass Nov 27, 2018

It's a long lost episode, excavated and dug up just for you. Season 2 should kick off next week!

Alternate Title: Cohen’s Campaign of Lies

Sponsored by Letters From Dead People

Loot Table:

Dream Weaver

Gloomprints

Monster: World Turtle

Special Edition Interview with Dungeon Master Bodie Nov 20, 2018

Spencer forgot Cohen and just did an interview with Bodie, a cool artist and Dungeon Master living the dream and arting around abroad.

Monster: Wolf-In-Sheep's-Clothing

Season 1 Finale Part 2: Scry Bother Nov 13, 2018

It's the end of Season 1 and the Mans are kicking it off with a 2 part Season Finale! In Part 2 they do all the fun bits and test out a couple new ones too! Check out Part 1 for all the question answering fun and more!

Loot Table:

Scry Bother

The Missing Punch

Monster: Shadow Dragon

Season 1 Finale Part 1: Load-Bearing Gods Nov 13, 2018

It's the end of Season 1 and the boys are kicking it off with a 2 part Season Finale! In Part 1 they catch up on answering questions and play Helga Cruciform! Check out Part 2 for all the segments and more!

Sponsored by Goblin Flakes Cereal

Questions Answered:

How do you avoid railroading your players while still guiding them through a story?

What is your favorite party level to DM? What level enemies and organizations do you prefer? How much magic do you like in your campaigns?

How do I DM for my parents and their 4 friends?

How do you decide when and how often to bend the rules to keep things moving forward without letting your players take advantage of it?

How do you go about making a rules-light system for more casual players?

How do you recommend players do unidentified item discovery/identification? How do you track lighting effects in a dungeon?

No Dice Nov 06, 2018

It turns out there aren't any dice but the boys shake, ramble and roll as they discuss Alternate Gelatinous Cubes and the controversial DM-PC.

Sponsored by Dr. Craig's Lobotomy Kit

Questions Answered:

Do you have any suggestions for balancing encounters and challenges for a 2 player party?

What do you do when you've massively messed up as a DM?

Brute Fable:

The Mun

Conventional Leprechauns

Monster: Gelatinous Rube

Cheadley Wheaps Oct 30, 2018

The Manual Masters talk Octopath Traveler some more, argue about Naruto and come up with ways to make NPCs "stick" in this Gruffin Tumble adventure.

Sponsored by Mr. Technimatter's Brain Splatter

Questions Answered:

Do you have any suggestions for how to build a character that really makes a lasting impression on the players?

I was just wondering if you had any tips or tricks for a Naruto based campaign or adapting a campaign to a different universe.

Loot Table:

The Never Known

To-Do Wrist

Monster: Gruffin

Relevant Links:

Mutants and Masterminds

https://mutantsandmasterminds.com/

O'Houlihan The Living Pub Oct 23, 2018

The boys break format to dig in deep to some questions and discover the wonders of O'Houlihan the Living Pub.

Sponsored by O'Houlihan's Cast Ointment

Questions Answered:

Can you compare the aligment system of character creation to bonds, traits, and backgrounds?

I'm playing in a game with 7 people. How can I make it work?

Any tips for running a game over the internet? Skype, Discord, or Roll20?

Monster: O'Houlihan the Living Pub

The Wurm That Has Always Been Oct 16, 2018

This one is fine? Spencer tries to help Cohen come up with an idea for his campaign. Loot is Tabled and Brutes are Fabled, and Purple Worms are Altered, One of DnD's biggest (literally) monsters, made even bigger? Find out how!

Sponsored by Rent-a-Cult.

Questions Answered:

What do you do when your players are indecisive?

Do you use real world concepts in the game world? Would you allow a Catholic Cleric?

Brute Fable:

Ribsy

Amulet of Assuredness

Monster: Wurmgaar The Tenth Plane

Relevant Links:

Cohen's Hellhound Sheet

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44027533_1179424358862828_2157451103157878784_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&oh=457592f40181c6673ec708b7e651bfd4&oe=5C5E6228

Dungeon World (System)

http://www.dungeon-world.com/

The Scrubble Oct 09, 2018

Octopath Traveler fever is sweeping the podcast! Cohen takes on the listeners in Helga Cruciform Vs. The Mob. Learn about the Scrubble, the Kill Seeker, and an Alternate Dragon Birth that isn't Dragon Eggs.

Sponsored by Wiz They or Won't They Extreme Exquisite Personal Training

Questions Answered:

How do you make the party meet in an interesting way?

How do you create a narrative arc building up to the BBEG?

Brute Fable:

The Scrubble

Killseekers

Monster: Dragonsmith Kobolds

Relevant Links:

Fate Core Character Creation

https://fate-srd.com/fate-core/phase-trio

Tucker’s Kobolds

https://media.wizards.com/2014/downloads/dnd/TuckersKobolds.pdf

Rich's Game Worksheet

https://www.facebook.com/mastermanualpod/photos/a.1114539188684679/1176140772524520/?type=3

Grieva The Relentless Oct 02, 2018

Mastery has never been this manual! We're talking nonsense, pitting Helga Cruciform against The Machine, helping out and riffing down. Learn all about Space Squids!

Sponsored by Adventurer's Ale.

Questions Answered:

How do I add narrative richness to combat so it isn't just everyone using their best attacks?

How do you give players awesome and expensive magic items and still keep them invested in the adventuring lifestyle?*

*Editor's note: We did this question in episode 3 but did not realize this during the record.

Do you have any creative ways to improve NPC Interrogations?

Loot Table:

Fog Of Swords

Grieva The Relentless

Monster: Space Squid

Relevant Links:

Mission Complete Screen

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnRWZkiFBB5/?utm_source=ig_web_options_share_sheet

Baraggan

http://bleach.wikia.com/wiki/Baraggan_Louisenbairn

Courage the Cowardly Dog Space Squids

http://courage.wikia.com/wiki/Starmakers

Pexus the Muscle Mage Sep 25, 2018

Cohen and Spencer are high on audience reaction! Magic chat, competitive name riffing, some magical gear and a crazy new take on man's original foe: Trees.

Sponsored by Gut Rock Parasites.

Questions Answered:

I don't want to spend a lot on figurines; Do you guys have any tips on something better than dice that I can use to represent my players?

Do you deal with overlapping skills or character classes? Is it fair to ask players to change their characters, like if 4 people want to be the same class?

How do you deal with very serious players who actively derail the game?

Loot Table:

Sweater Luck Next Time

The Gambler's Brewin'

Monster: Rootless

Editor's note: If using Pan in your campaign, imagine him as being played by Andrew W.K.. Not bad, eh?

Fail Mail Sep 18, 2018

Name riffs, Loot Table with some Fail Mail, sordid tales, and more! What the heck is a Knuckle Lord and what does it have to do with phylacteries? Find out now on Master Manual!

Sponsored by PollyFerrous's Dice Clamps

Editor's note: Spencer has not been meditating.

Questions Answered:

How do you get better at voice acting / not make it sound cheesy?

What if players are having trouble getting into the RP aspect of the game?

Loot Table:

Swordid Tale

Fail Mail

Monster: The Knuckle Lord

Editor's note: The thing that was on the tip of Spencer's tongue was "Lord of Carpals"

Relevant Links:

Tessaiga and Tenseiga (fantasy swords)

http://inuyasha.wikia.com/wiki/Tessaiga

The Runelords (book series)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Runelords

Take That, Convention! Sep 11, 2018

Possibly the most self-hating episode in our run! Endure it! We talk about character creation for beginners, introduce a brand new segment called Loot Table Or Brute Fable, and attempt to Alternate Lore up some Merfolk as this epic adventure continues!

Sponsored by Dragon Milk.

Questions Answered:

What’s the best way to introduce character creation to a brand new player?

How do you organize things? How in-depth do you go into world building? How do you know what to write out and what to keep in your head?

Loot Table:

The Ring of Undowover

The Die of Fortune

Monster: Airfolk

Relevant Links:

Rodney Thompson's DM Prep

http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/behind-screens

Hero Lab:

http://www.wolflair.com/index.php?context=hero_lab

XDM Book:

https://www.amazon.com/X-Treme-Dungeon-Mastery-Tracy-Hickman/dp/0977907465

Helga Cruciform Sep 04, 2018

Back in the saddle! Mixing up the format, starting with the Nameless Naming Segment and doing it right by giving her a name! Talking rules lawyers, individual limits, fresh starts as well as Bear Owls! We're in it now!

Questions Answered:

How do you deal with Rules Lawyer types?

As a DM how do you make all of your players feel special but content?

How do you start out a campaign in a more interesting way than “You meet in a tavern.”

Monster: BearOwls

Relevant Links:

Spell Cards

https://www.coolstuffinc.com/page/3990

Vampire: The Masquerade and Individual Limits

https://www.polygon.com/2018/7/25/17607080/vampire-the-masquerade-v5-white-wolf

Mummy Mystery Aug 28, 2018

Spencer and Cohen are at it again! Tackling the tough questions, riffing some wild names, and brainstorming Alternate Mummy Lore! We seem to be getting better at this!

Questions Answered:

I find I have to constantly check my players. I know they’re flubbing rolls. What do I do?

How do you feel about players using contested rolls against each other, especially for social rolls like diplomacy?

How do you deal with a character being possessed / replaced when it needs to be a secret?

Monster: Mystery Mummies

Relevant Links:

Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica

http://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/rpg-products/guildmasters-guide-ravnica-0

Dark Sun Campaign Setting

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Sun

Boardwalk Vampire Aug 21, 2018

The Inaugural episode of Master Manual. Spencer and Cohen answer questions and riff up a fresh new take on Vampires. Sorry about any audio weirdness this ep. We get better at this, I promise.

Sponsored by Dragon Balm Z.

Questions Answered:

How do I convince my friends to try playing dnd? I think they would enjoy it.

What percentage combat versus social / exploring encounters do you aim for? I find many campaigns gloss over non-combat elements?

What’s the best way to improve as a DM? I find my pacing to be slow and I always feel like a clunky DM.

Monster: Beach Vampires

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