Mastering Dungeons

Latest Episodes:

Shadowdark RPG - Reviewing the Basics (MD 174) Jan 24, 2024

Show notes

Episode 174 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Shadowdark RPG – Reviewing the Basics

Shawn and Teos delve into Shadowdark. While their torchlight holds, they examine the first chapters of this tome. Learn the basics of Shadowdark’s design and what sets it apart from other similar RPGs.

News: New D&D from Random House, How to Have Fun, Fighting AI, and more!

Contents
00:00:00 Powerless
00:02:16 Stale RPGs?
00:09:09 BladeThulu?
00:18:54 An RPG's Heart
00:25:32 New Random DnD
00:29:02 Fighting AI
00:32:54 Post-WotC Endeavors
00:35:57 L5R
00:38:47 Ingredients for Fun
00:42:14 Shadowdark
00:44:04 What is Shadowdark
00:54:32 Overview
01:02:54 Book Intro
01:06:50 Shadowdark's Assumptions
01:10:01 Character Design
01:14:38 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Blade Runner Starter Set – Electric Dreams Adventure Review (MD 173) Jan 17, 2024

Show notes

Episode 173 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Blade Runner Starter Set – Electric Dreams Adventure Review

Mike Shea joins Shawn while Teos hunkers down without power. In the main segment, Shawn and Teos take a look at the adventure included in the Blade Runner starter set by Free League. We review the amazing value and how it provides for open play and interesting choices.

News: Remembering Jennell Jaquays, D&D Meta Plots, Evil Hat Shares Finances, and more!

Contents
00:00 Mike Shea!
07:22 Fun Downstroke?
17:14 Party Boost?
22:10 5E Metaplot?
31:07 Remembering Jennell Jaquays
34:40 Evil Hat Q4
44:46 Andy Stuns
46:06 Roll20 Versions
47:58 Surviving Strangehollow
50:02 Electric Dreams Adventure
52:06 Intro and Plot
57:11 Options and Events
1:01:06 The Story
1:10:53 Final Confrontation
1:13:56 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Blade Runner Starter Set – Rules Review (MD 172) Jan 10, 2024

Show notes

Episode 172 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Blade Runner Starter Set – Rules Review

Shawn and Teos take a look at the packed contents of the Blade Runner starter set by Free League. We review the amazing value and provide an overview of the rules.

News: MCDM Raises $4.6M, Golden Ages, Winter Fantasy Signups, and more!

Contents
00:00 Renewed
01:10 Half on Miss?
10:24 Stun Condition?
21:49 Creative Actions?
33:45 RPG Sales Mixed
34:55 Winter Fantasy Signups
37:19 2023 Review
39:10 Golden Ages
50:11 The Forged Dragons
50:53 Weapons of Legend
51:58 Lore24
53:21 Lamordia The God Engine
54:19 MCDM RPG $4.6M
54:57 Blade Runner Starter Set
56:11 Setting Overview
58:51 Starter Set Contents
1:01:55 Rules Overview
1:04:25 Specialties
1:04:49 Health and Resolve
1:06:08 Downtime
1:08:24 Humanity Points
1:15:13 Game Loop
1:21:25 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

2023 Review and 2024 RPG Outlook (MD 171) Dec 27, 2023

Show notes

Episode 171 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: 2023 Review and 2024 RPG Outlook

Shawn and Teos look back at the rollercoaster year of 2023 and what excites us about the coming year.

News: Drakkenheim on DDB, LotR Stars Play BG3, Valiant Adventures, and more!

Contents
00:00 Renown
01:12 Setting Customizations?
14:21 Affordable Expectations?
29:22 LotR Stars Play BG3
30:33 CORE20 RPG
32:34 Drakkenheim on DDB
34:07 Valiant Adventures
35:02 Hundred Dungeons
35:53 Folkvangr
36:46 Year End, Year Ahead
37:41 What Excited Us?
43:04 What We Covered
44:49 Shawn’s Year
46:04 2023 Rollercoaster
52:35 Fans and Platforms
59:59 Design Together
1:01:22 What We Miss from 1E
1:05:07 Our RPG Acronyms
1:12:06 Great Year for MD
1:14:48 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Planescape’s 5E Adventure – Conclusion! (MD 170) Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

Episode 170 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Planescape’s Adventure: The Conclusion!

The final two chapters of Turn of Fortune’s Wheel! We look back on how DMs can make the most of the adventure.

News: Understanding WotC Layoffs, Netflix Talks BG3, Greatest RPG Adventures, and more!

Contents
00:00 Rollercoaster 2023
02:19 Resource Management?
10:33 Lazy Barbarian?
17:58 WotC Layoffs
37:15 BG3 on Netflix
38:32 Spelljammer Academy Returns!
39:53 Greatest RPG Adventures
43:50 13 Planescape DM Tips
46:27 Enchanting Emporiums
47:03 Kaz the Minotaur
47:41 Fortune’s Wheel Context
51:56 Setup for the End
59:11 Platinum Rooms
1:06:50 Dungeonland
1:08:46 Supertemporal Arena
1:12:25 Fiend’s Ante
1:14:07 Facing Shemeska
1:16:22 Incarnations Unite!
1:20:07 Gzemnid’s Spiral
1:30:52 Conclusion
1:36:42 Final Thoughts
1:44:30 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Planescape’s 5E Adventure – Outlands and Spire! (MD 169) Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

Episode 169 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Planescape’s Adventure: Outlands and Spire!

We expect big payoffs as the adventure reveals it's biggest secrets. Is the payoff worth it? Find out how the answer isn’t yes, as we review Chapters 12 and 13 Turn of Fortune’s Wheel.

News: MCDM Breaks Records, Roll20 Overhaul, GaryCon Epic, and more!

Contents
00:00 Malled and Mauled
01:30 Impossible DC?
14:36 Frustrated Player?
20:34 MCDM Breaks Records
26:03 Roll20 Overhaul
31:10 D&D VTT Praised
34:05 Midwest GameFest
35:20 2-Hr Adventure Template
37:39 $10 Creator Relief Coupon
39:24 GaryCon Epic Stream
42:35 Fortune’s Wheel Recap
44:34 Outlands Explorations
47:18 Planar Glitch Table
58:50 What are Encounters?
1:01:32 Angels in the Outlands
1:07:38 Mausoleum of Chronepsis
1:11:23 Semuanya’s Bog
1:15:42 Mimir Payoff?
1:19:34 Dendradis and Ascetelis
1:22:47 Finding RO4M in the Spire
1:31:10 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Planescape’s 5E Adventure – Gate Towns! (MD 168) Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

Episode 168 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Planescape’s Adventure: Gate Towns!

Seven gate towns must be visited! How well does the 4-page format work, and what would we change? Find out as we look at Chapters 5-11 of Turn of Fortune’s Wheel.

News: Ghostfire and Dungeon Dudes on DDB, D&D 50th Anniversary Products, D&D Stamps, and more!

Contents
00:00 Holiday and PAX Miracles
05:05 Progression Complexity?
14:56 Publishing Process?
24:02 Converting Adventures?
31:23 DDB Ghostfire Dudes
41:09 D&D 2024 Panel
43:17 Caverns of Tsojcanth
45:43 Vecna Eve of Ruin
46:58 Infinite Staircase
49:44 Making of OD&D
51:56 Core Rules Preview
55:53 D&D Stamps
57:22 Planescape’s 5E Adventure
59:22 Gate Town Goals
1:04:06 Automata
1:15:16 Design and Advice
1:21:15 Excelsior
1:25:16 Faunel
1:32:44 Closing Thoughts
1:39:22 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Planescape’s 5E Adventure – Casino and Outlands (MD 167) Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

Episode 167 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Turn of Fortune’s Wheel: Casino and Outlands!

Casino games are more fun when player goals align. This and the villain present challenges for the DM, if not the players. We venture into the Outlands and experience a castle out of a Miyazaki film.

News: D&D Move Sequel, Peril Design, Gygax Shoes, PAX U Events, and more!

Contents
00:00 Holiday System Shock
02:32 Is Death the End?
16:50 Peril Design?
32:27 D&D PAXU Events
37:29 Heroes’ Feast Adventure
39:57 New Deck Date
40:39 Playtest Packet 8
42:53 D&D Movie Sequel?
44:49 Enchanting Emporiums
46:19 Gygax Shoes
47:01 Scale Tail & Claw
47:26 Stormlight RPG Team
49:08 Fortune’s Wheel
50:02 Our Story So Far
50:48 Chapter 3 Casino
53:29 Games vs Goals
59:30 Meeting Shemeska
1:03:21 Levels and Story
1:10:13 Into the Outlands
1:13:49 Walking Castle
1:18:13 Mosaic Mimir Quest
1:28:09 Closing Thoughts
1:29:55 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Planescape’s 5E Adventure – Turn of Fortune’s Wheel (Mastering Dungeons 166) Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

Episode 166 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Turn of Fortune’s Wheel!

A tale of two chapters! A spoiler-filled discussion reviews the key twists to the adventure and finds a great disparity between the play experience in the first two chapters!

News: Free D&D for Teachers, Maps Adds Features, Running Towns, and more!

Contents
00:00 No Grandparents Harmed
02:26 Black Friday Deals?
05:24 Monstrous PC?
15:20 Multiple DMs?
20:18 D&D Maps Adds Features
22:43 Free Adventure for Teachers
29:17 Harmless Denizens
31:05 Running Towns
33:38 Fernbloom's Guide
34:46 Amazing Encounters & Locations
35:46 Turn of Fortune’s Wheel
42:43 Glitch PCs
44:42 Introducing Incarnations
54:26 Our Glitch Ideas
1:00:29 Mortuary Start
1:11:50 Explore Sigil’s Railroad
1:18:34 Suggestions
1:20:05 Farrow and Undercity
1:24:54 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

Planescape’s Monsters – Morte’s Planar Parade (Mastering Dungeons 165) Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

Episode 165 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Monsters in Morte’s Planar Parade!

We take a look at Planescape’s monster book. We get traits to add to monsters, faction agents, and creatures from across the planes. Hear what we like and what we would change.

News: Free Inspiration Deck, VTT at PAXU, GameHole Panels, and more!

Contents
00:00 Explore the Space
01:34 Unsafe Gate Towns?
08:34 Best Planar Adventures?
14:13 Free Inspiration Deck Handout
18:28 D&D VTT at PAXU
20:57 2 GameHole Panels
23:29 Simple Reputation System
26:31 Seeker’s Guide to Enchanting Emporiums
28:00 Free Sigil 2E Locations
29:01 AL Planescape
31:08 Morte’s Planar Parade
32:01 Introduction
37:00 Included CRs
39:12 Petitioners
47:54 Planar Influences
50:07 Monster Traits
58:27 Encounter Tables
1:04:49 Notable Monsters
1:08:25 Faction Agents
1:12:13 Final Verdict
1:15:49 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

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