Mastering Dungeons

Latest Episodes:

5E Weapon Mastery and Greyhawk’s Regions! (MD 204) Aug 28, 2024

Show notes

Episode 204 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Weapon Mastery in 2024 5E and Greyhawk’s Regions!

2024 brings exciting Weapon Master options. We discuss the design, then turn to Greyhawk and review Ket, Lendore Isles, and Lordship of the Isles. Surf and turf!

News: D&D Clarifies Beyond, D&D’s Secret Level and Universal Plans, and more!

Contents
00:00 Time and Friendship
03:22 Conventions with Most AL?
11:37 Is Passive Perction Wrong?
19:32 D&D Direct
21:11 Beyond Clarifications
28:24 D&D Hiring Game Designer
31:39 D&D on Amazon Prime
32:27 Paizo Reverses Community Policy
34:33 Universal D&D FanFest
35:02 D&D at Rochester's Strong Museum
36:00 Goodman Launches Organized Play
37:03 Giantsbane Covers Planescape
37:43 Cosmere is Nr 1
38:36 2024 Weapon Mastery
39:11 Design Goals
43:20 Weapon Mastery Properties
54:56 DM vs Players
01:01:03 Overall Thoughts
01:07:59 Greyhawk and Triads
01:13:13 Ket
01:23:20 Lendore Isles
01:27:27 Lordship of the Isles
01:31:22 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/

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Search in 2024 5E and Greyhawk’s Regions! (MD 203) Aug 21, 2024

Show notes

Episode 203 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Search in 2024 5E and Greyhawk’s Regions!

D&D codifies the Search and Study actions in 2024. How does this impact gameplay? We then dive into how Greyhawk regions do or don’t create actionable history, looking into Highfolk, Ice Barbarians, Irongate, Empire of Iuz, and Keoland!

News: Uni Adventure at PAXW, Deborah Ann Woll Teaches, Motley Fool on 2024 D&D, and more!

Contents
00:00 ODnD Mini Review
02:55 What is Modularity?
10:26 First Multi-Table Event?
23:31 Deborah Ann Woll Teaches D&D
28:18 Alt Cover PH Delayed Outside US
29:21 2024 Tonal Shift?
38:42 Motley Fool on D&D 2024
43:40 Uni Adventure at PAX West
45:38 Norrøngard Tales of the Valiant
46:40 Horror at Devil's Run for Foundry
47:27 Search Action in 2024
49:22 Ludonarrative Dissonance?
55:29 Search in 2014
57:33 2024 Search and Study Actions
59:12 Feat and Spell Interactions
01:04:45 The Cost of Searching
01:06:59 DM Behavior
01:13:30 Living Greyhawk Gazetteer
01:13:59 Highfolk
01:18:58 Ice Barbarians
01:21:11 Irongate
01:24:44 Empire of Iuz
01:30:02 Keoland
01:39:37 Gamehole Con Events
01:40:21 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/

MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

2014 vs 2024 Exhaustion and Greyhawk’s Regions! (MD 202) Aug 14, 2024

Show notes

Episode 202 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: 2014 vs 2024 Exhaustion and Greyhawk’s Regions!

Does 2024’s change to Exhaustion improve gameplay? Our new 2024 mini-review series has begun! We then dive into how Greyhawk regions showcase politics and history, looking into the Frost Barbarians, Furyondy, Gran March, and Teos’ favorite, Geoff!

News: WotC New Influencer Policy, We Playtest Draw Steel, Satanic Panic Podcast, and more!

Contents
00:00 Draw Steel and Film
07:32 Best Way to Celebrate Anniversary?
17:23 Run a Complex Setting?
24:14 WotC New Influencer Policy
31:01 New D&D MtG
32:39 Jess Lanzillo Interview
39:57 Satanic Panic Podcast
43:33 Story Hooks
44:40 Encounter Difficulty Math
46:08 Amazing Encounters & Dungeons
46:53 2024 Mini-Review on Exhaustion
54:56 2024's Changes
01:02:36 Greyhawk's Regions!
01:03:23 Frost Barbarians
01:07:29 Furyondy
01:09:24 Good Hook Example
01:11:51 Duchy of Geoff
01:15:35 Combat and Politics
01:17:09 Gran March
01:19:42 Wheels Within Wheels
01:22:04 City of Greyhawk
01:28:50 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/

MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Setting Design and Greyhawk’s Regions! (MD 201) Aug 07, 2024

Show notes

Episode 201 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Setting Design and Greyhawk’s Regions!

Does a standoffish elven nation make for great play? We ponder setting design and the 2024 DMG while summarizing Greyhawk’s regions of Bissel, Blackmoor, Bone March, Bright Lands, Celene, Dyvers, and Ekbir.

News: PH Debut and Gen Con News, Blurry Video Debacle, Cosmere Stormlight RPG, and more!

Contents
00:00 Gen Con Haul
04:21 Playing in Established Settings?
07:00 RAW vs Homebrew for Designers?
09:19 Questions for Organized Play?
19:21 Gen Con Sells Out
20:36 2024 PH Debuts and News
32:37 Video Blur Debacle
42:32 Diana Jones and ENnies
43:12 Dark Horse DnD Comics
43:54 LEGO Minifigs
44:42 City of Arches by Sly Flourish
45:34 Brandon Sanderson Cosmere RPG
46:39 Making the Most of Greyhawk Regions
48:04 What 2024 May Bring
49:42 Useful Design
52:20 Politics vs Adventure
59:02 Our Approach
01:00:38 Bissel
01:05:44 Blackmoor
01:09:33 The Bone March
01:11:14 The Bright Lands and Rary
01:14:13 Celene the Elven Kingdom
01:17:38 Dyvers
01:20:40 Calliphate of Ekbir
01:25:16 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/

MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Greyhawk’s Regions: Ahlissa and BK! (MD 200) Jul 31, 2024

Show notes

Episode 200 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Greyhawk’s Regions!

The 2024 DMG will include the setting of Greyhawk. Shawn and Teos examine how the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer covers its nations and regions, using Ahlissa and the Bandit Kingdoms to ponder what makes a setting great.

News: What is D&D’s Tabletop Revenue, Hasbro Q2 Breakdown, Why RPGs Have Mistakes, and more!

Contents
00:00 200th Birthday
02:13 Reproduce Living Greyhawk?
18:40 Why Does WotC Make Mistakes?
27:18 Hasbro Q2 Results!
35:13 D&D and Digital
41:31 2024 and VTT?
44:38 DD Beyond Grows to 18M
46:16 Calculating D&D's Revenue
51:00 MCDM RPG is Draw Steal
51:48 Greyhawk Regions
53:57 What Do We Want in a Setting?
59:13 Gazetteer Approach
01:10:13 Kingdom of Ahlissa
01:13:00 Every DM's Setting the Same?
01:19:11 Resources, Coins
01:21:02 Peoples, Alignments, Religions
01:23:45 Allies, Enemies, Overview
01:26:59 History
01:30:38 Conflicts and Intrigues
01:37:22 The Bandit Kingdoms
01:41:22 BK and Casey Brown
01:47:40 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/

MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Greyhawk’s Peoples and Story! (MD 199) Jul 24, 2024

Show notes

Episode 199 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Greyhawk’s Peoples and Story!

The 2024 DMG will include the setting of Greyhawk. Shawn and Teos examine how the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer describes species, culture, and history. And, hey, how detailed should a setting be?

News: New WotC VP John Hight, Hiring D&D Architect, Free Shadowdark Solo, and more!

Contents
00:00 Parental Warning
03:31 Edition Change at Cons?
22:52 John Hight New WotC President
30:17 D&D Hiring Product Architect
36:28 Early PH at Gen Con
38:30 Monopoly Go Version of Monopoly
41:38 Wulfgang Baur Interview
43:29 Shadowdark Solo for Free
44:30 Thousand Suns in Spanish
45:24 Nimble 5E on Backerkit
46:45 Greyhawk Gazetteer
47:37 Evaluating a Setting
49:24 The Chapters
51:25 Tropes and Other Issues
53:23 Ch2 Human Cultures
57:07 Is this Important?
01:02:51 Nonhumans in Greyhawk
01:06:39 Greyhawk's Level of Conflict
01:11:43 Ch3 Greyhawk's History
01:17:09 Greyhawk Wars
01:21:19 Peace Signing
01:25:26 In Praise of Legwork
01:30:48 Player Assumptions
01:40:47 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/

MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

The Living Greyhawk Campaign! (MD 198) Jul 17, 2024

Show notes

Episode 198 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: The Living Greyhawk Campaign!

The 2024 DMG will include the setting of Greyhawk. Shawn and Teos examine the start of the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer and reminisce on the impacts of the Living Greyhawk organized play campaign.

News: Dan Rawson’s Expanded Role, D&D Stamps and Conventions, Moonbeam, and more!

Contents
00:00 Copa of Tears
01:26 Warriors of Krynn
10:58 BG3 is New to Us
12:53 Last Caravan
13:58 20-Person Game?
21:40 Robin Hood Ranger?
25:05 Barbarian Make Sense?
31:17 Goodberry is Bad?
40:53 Dan Rawson Expanded Role
42:19 Infinite Staircase Releases
42:42 UK and US D&D Stamps
45:08 D&D at SD Comic-Con
46:20 Gen Con in 2 Weeks
47:08 GameHole Events
48:53 Daggerheart Final Beta
50:18 Free Mace of Tiamat
52:05 GAMA Horizon Fellowship
53:45 Moonbeam on Backerkit
57:07 Level Up 5E Platform
58:56 Living Greyhawk
01:00:15 Living Greyhawk's Impact
01:04:41 A Living Setting
01:06:22 Regions and Travel
01:10:25 Time Units
01:12:05 Greyhawk's Difficult Concepts
01:17:28 Have Settings Advanced?
01:22:03 Settings as Lies
01:24:02 Greyhawk Differentiators
01:25:20 Actionable Lore
01:30:09 Greyhawk's Lessons
01:31:02 Chapter 1
01:34:45 Continents and Weather
01:37:31 Geographic Divisions
01:38:24 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/

MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Greyhawk’s Origins! (MD 197) Jul 10, 2024

Show notes

Episode 197 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: The Origins of Greyhawk!

The 2024 DMG will include the setting of Greyhawk. Shawn and Teos examine Greyhawk’s history and characteristics and why it makes a great choice for a core setting.

News: Kyle Brink Departs WotC, ENnies Nominations, Physical vs Digital, and more!

Contents
00:00 Ever Been to a German Prison?
02:05 Upcoming Shows
06:04 Physicality of Books?
15:39 Better in Digital?
23:24 Is the Pillar Problem the System?
36:45 Kyle Brink Departs WotC
41:32 Vecna Images Answer
43:06 Web Site Transfer Answer
45:06 How to DM Parenting
47:03 Ennies Nominations
51:38 Grimhollow Heritage Playtest
53:45 Pelicon 24
54:38 The Anywhere Door on Moonbeam
56:23 How to RPG
57:04 Jim Zub on Licensed Work
58:51 Greyhawk's Origin
59:28 Greyhawk in 2024
01:02:22 Gary and Dave
01:04:26 DMs Don't Need a Setting
01:09:53 Shaped by the Times
01:11:58 Major Peoples and Migrations
01:16:03 Product Evolution
01:22:13 Post-Gygax
01:28:17 3E and Greyhawk Rises
01:32:27 Shout Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/

MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Setting Expectations for your TTRPG Projects! (MD 196) Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

Episode 196 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Setting Expectations for your TTRPG Projects!

Wrel (Michael Henderson) joins Shawn Merwin to discuss how to set the right expectations for your TTRPG projects. Topics include setting goals, knowing who you are designing for, finding an audience, and assessing your capabilities.

News: New D&D VP, PH and DMG Previews, Reliable Core Rules, and more!

Contents
00:00 Michael Henderson aka Wrel
02:37 Unnecessary Rules?
07:21 Reliable Core Rules?
12:55 Counterspell Problems?
18:33 Ditch Resource Management?
26:12 New D&D VP Jess Lanzillo
34:32 2024 D&D Previews
38:04 Grim Hollow Player Pack on DDB
43:00 Grim Hollow 2E in October
45:38 How Not to Get Eaten by an Owlbear
46:45 TTRPG Project Expectations
47:28 What's the Goal?
54:20 Who Designing For?
01:07:44 Finding an Audience
01:13:26 What are you Capable of?
01:18:21 Practicing on DDB
01:19:22 Importance of Art
01:27:48 Find Wrel
01:28:25 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/

MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Daggerheart’s Adversaries and Environments! (MD 195) Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

Episode 195 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Daggerheart’s Adversaries and Environments!

Our final episode covering Daggerheart. Adversaries are critical to an RPG, creating excitement and engagement. Let's learn from how Daggerheart works to streamline stat blocks and encourage open play!

News: Hasbro CEO Take 2, Vecna on DDB Doesn’t Match Book, Tabletop Scotland, and more!

Contents
00:00 Ghostfire University
01:37 Stay Inspired?
07:57 Build Player Investment?
12:16 Daggerheart's Blank Canvas?
24:30 2024 PHB Reveals
26:44 Hasbro CEO, Take 2!
36:12 DDB Vecna Doesn't Match Paper
39:36 AL Adds Tabletop Scotland PO
43:23 Origins Award Finalists
44:26 Final Daggerheart!
45:14 One Remaining Major Update
47:25 Playtest Ends in July
48:49 Importance of Adversaries
50:42 Adversaries in Daggerheart
54:59 Descriptions and Motives
57:49 Attack and Defense
01:01:23 Experiences
01:03:08 Special Features
01:09:18 Environments
01:13:13 Do Environments Work Well?
01:24:21 Promised Sections
01:24:56 Final Thoughts
01:33:18 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/

MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

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