Master Manual - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

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:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Related Podcasts