Mastering Dungeons

Latest Episodes:

Matt Colville Blows Our Minds on MCDM and the TTRPG Industry! (MD 282) Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

Episode 282 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Matt Colville Blows Our Minds on MCDM and the TTRPG Industry!

Matt Colville is here to absolutely blow our minds on how MCDM operates, how it pays, how it has worked to reach an audience, and what the rest of the industry might learn from that!

News: D&D’s New Seasonal Roadmap, Is it Really 5.5, New D&D Website, What is Season of Champions, and more!

Contents
00:00 Go Broncos!
02:03 Making Someone's Idea Ours?
10:52 Our Favorite Projects?
15:56 D&D's 2026 Roadmap!
17:11 Season of Horror and Ravenloft
21:16 Season of Magic and Arcana Unleashed
26:19 Season of Champions
27:33 Other Roadmap Items
30:32 D&D 2024 is 5.5 Maybe?
38:45 New D&D Website
40:48 D&D Beyond Q2 Partner Schedule
41:28 Creating Villains & Lairs
43:08 Matt Colville on MCDM
44:21 Matt's Formative Moment
50:45 What Led to MCDM?
56:31 Lessons from MCDM's 5E Era
01:02:00 Launching Draw Steel
01:09:30 MCDM's Financial Approach
01:15:03 Unique in the Industry
01:22:24 Redefining Industry Rates
01:27:20 Our Struggling Industry and YouTube
01:39:03 Perils of Distribution
01:47:08 Charting MCDM's Future
01:52:11 The Codex and VTTs
01:59:22 Shout-Outs
02:02:52 What Are We Gonna Do?
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

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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.

D&D Beyond’s Staff Looks to the Future! (MD 281) Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

Episode 281 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: D&D Beyond’s Staff Looks to the Future!

Brian Perry (DDB Executive Producer) and Zac Cohn (MAPS Product Manager) join Teos and Shawn to share D&D Beyond’s bold future!

News: New D&D London Expo, MCDM Hires for the Future, Critical Role Hires from Hallmark, and more!

Contents
00:00 Weekend Wins
01:36 Why Don't NPCs Fix the World?
06:16 Campaign vs Adventure Design?
10:51 D&D Fan Expo London
14:08 MCDM's Future Includes Paul Hughes
16:25 IGDN Diversity Scholarships
17:25 Industry Sues for Tariff Refunds
19:42 Amber Glenn and Olympic Magic
21:12 Critical Role Hires from Hallmark
23:00 Renegade to Publish Exodus
24:48 BEASTS by Adrian Mejia
26:36 Dragon Rider's Primer
27:42 Fractus the Broken World
28:44 State and Future of D&D Beyond
29:16 Brian Perry and Zac Cohn
34:56 How Wizards and D&D are Organized
39:03 Deciding Priorities
44:03 Rebuilding D&D Beyond
47:23 Quickbuildear and New Players
52:07 DDB as a Honda Accord
55:19 More Features vs Simplicity
56:41 New Functionality
01:02:09 Fully Integrating 3rd Parties?
01:06:24 Use of AI?
01:08:59 Expand the API?
01:10:18 Building a Walled Garden?
01:11:26 Goal of Shifting Play to Digital?
01:13:50 Physical Versions of Digital Dice?
01:15:00 Find Brian and Zac
01:17:15 Shout-Outs
01:20:57 What Are We Gonna Do?
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.

Best of Princes of the Apocalypse! (MD 280) Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

Episode 280 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Best of Princes of the Apocalypse!

Teos and Shawn share the best of Princes of the Apocalypse, an adventure that brings back elemental evil and the elder elemental eye to D&D!

News: D&D Beyond’s Roadmap, AEG Parts with Dancey, More WotC Hiring, and more!

Contents
00:00 Intro
01:58 Important to Research Lore?
12:43 Help Players Understand Choice?
18:24 D&D Beyond Roadmap
23:23 WotC Hiring Continues
24:45 AEG Parts with Ryan Dancey
28:47 D&D Cartoon Comics
29:30 Record Pokémon Auction
31:06 Princes of the Apocalypse
31:39 A Positive Analysis
35:12 Product History
37:14 Premise and Approach
44:51 Red Larch is a Great Town
47:59 Low-Level Adventures
50:40 Elemental Cults and Themes
52:46 Adventure Rhythm and Adapting Story
01:03:14 Elemental Nodes
01:07:41 Shout-Outs
01:11:17 What Are We Gonna Do
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.

Why is Red Hand of Doom So Good? (MD 279) Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

Episode 279 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Why is Red Hand of Doom So Good?

Teos and Shawn share the best of Red Hand of Doom, a fan-favorite adventure from 3rd edition D&D!

News: Hasbro vs Wizards Q4 Results, How AI is Used at Hasbro, Dark Heart of the Wood, and more!

Contents
00:00 Bringing the Loopiness
02:27 Players Always Team Up?
10:48 What Was or Is D&D Encounters?
15:56 D&D Encounters Returning?
17:46 Hasbro Q4 and 2025 Earnings!
20:24 WotC Q4 and 2025 Results
25:06 Upcoming Partnerships
29:00 Chris Cock on AI at Hasbro
35:04 How Big is D&D?
37:50 MCDM Has a Dark Heart
39:02 D&D's Therapeutic Potential
41:59 Portland Promotes Games
42:48 Evil Hat on RPG Finances
45:17 Nine Worlds and Bad Blood
46:48 Monsters & More for Nimble RPG
47:26 Curse of Stoneshatter Tomb
48:09 Red Hand of Doom!
51:05 Red Hand's History
54:04 Designer Notes
56:53 Premise and Approach
01:01:15 Repeated Approach
01:05:01 Starting Attitudes and Tracking Time
01:09:41 Approach Matters
01:12:20 Part 1 Witchwood
01:15:22 Part 2 Ruins of Rhest
01:17:17 Part 3 Ghostlord's Tower
01:19:19 Part 4 Enemy at the Gates
01:23:31 Part 5 Fane of Tiamat
01:31:50 Shout-Outs
01:36:16 What Are We Gonna Do?
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.

What Made Tyranny of Dragons Great? (MD 278) Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

Episode 278 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: What Made Tyranny of Dragons Great?

Teos and Shawn look back at the first 5E hardback adventure, Tyranny of Dragons, discussing our favorite aspects of Hoard of the Dragon Queen and Rise of Tiamat!

News: Baldur’s Gate 3 HBO TV Show, Polygon on Vecna, Teos Completes Lifetime, and more!

Contents
00:00 Herald's Guild Awards
03:38 BMG and Greyhawk Reveals
04:58 Too Much In-Character Talking?
10:09 WotC Interactions Change Over Time?
15:14 HBO BG3 D&D TV Show
20:03 Beadle & Grimm Spoiler?
22:13 Polygon on Obelisks and Vecna
29:21 Horrified Adds Ravenloft
31:24 Best of Tyranny of Dragons
32:17 Interesting Product History
35:45 Adventure vs campaign
37:37 An Awesome Premise and Approach
40:59 Additional Encounters
42:58 Campaign Villains
45:41 Campaign-Focused Character Options
48:29 Greenest in Flames
52:08 Caravan Chapter
54:42 Memorable Locations and Council of Waterdeep
59:57 Dragon Masks
01:01:21 The Cult Strikes Back
01:02:43 Epic Conclusion
01:06:50 Shout-Outs
01:10:28 What Are We Gonna Do?
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.

Working in the RPG Industry! (MD 277) Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

Episode 277 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Working in the RPG Industry!

Shawn shares a panel he had with Jackson DiCarlo at the Running GAGG Gaming Conventions. They discuss working in the RPG industry, sharing the insights of Shawn’s long career and Jackson’s two-year experience as a designer!

News: Cosmere’s Apple TV Deal, 5th New WotC Hire, D&D + Fortnite + Hytale, and more!

Contents
00:00 Winter Fantasy Bound
02:42 Happy 37th Birthday to 2E
05:08 Two Organized Play Campaigns?
23:55 Taylor Ann Navarro Joins WotC
25:53 D&D, Fortnite, and Hytale?
28:51 Variety Covers GMs
29:27 D&D as Organized Social Fun
31:41 Asmodee Partners for Wellbeing
32:31 Cosmere's Apple TV Deal
34:24 D20play Spotlighted!
36:12 TTRPG SRD Card Creator
37:07 Working in the TTRPG Industry
38:11 Shawn and Jackson's Backrounds
40:28 Getting Started in the Industry
49:59 Seizing Opportunity
56:14 How to Get Started
58:19 Design and Conventions
01:05:46 Technical Vs Creative
01:15:39 The Skill of Writing
01:18:19 Questions and Answers
01:22:54 Shout-Outs
01:27:15 What Are We Gonna Do?
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.

Rethink Your Session Zero! (MD 276) Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

Episode 276 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Rethink Your Session Zero!

Shawn and Teos rethink all that a session zero is trying to do and how to approach each of the many goals to start your campaign!

News: D&D Beyond’s Partner Schedule, D&D Proves AI’s Shortcomings, AI RPG Scams, Shawn is a Warlock, and more!

Contents
00:00 Shawn is a Warlock!
05:59 How Should Death Saves Work?
27:10 Jean Rabe Passes
29:59 DDB Partnered Content Schedule
34:50 Hasbro's New Board Members
36:31 Demiplane Adds Campaigns
38:23 4th Player Theory of RPG Design
43:19 D&D Proves AI Shortcomings
46:10 RPG Maps Bundle AI Scam
48:45 How to Please Your Layout Designer
49:42 Rethinking the Session 0
52:03 FEYPOP's Video on What is a Session 0
55:57 Effective Safety Tools
01:01:54 Challenge Level and Behavioral Expectations
01:04:23 Theme, Tone, and Characters
01:10:01 Allowed Sources
01:12:32 Collaborative Campaign Planning
01:14:38 Character Creation
01:16:21 First Adventure?
01:19:12 As a Social Event
01:20:22 Shout-Outs
01:24:12 What Are We Gonna Do?
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.

Legends of Greyhawk and RealmsBound with Savannah Houston-McIntyre (MD 275) Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

Episode 275 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Legends of Greyhawk and RealmsBound with Savannah Houston-McIntyre

Savannah Houston-McIntyre is acclaimed for leading excellent projects. She walks us through the Legends of Greyhawk organized play campaign, RealmsBound with Ed Greenwood, and more!

News: Games Workshop Bans AI, Proof of Stranger Things Growth, Mystic UA, and more!

Contents
00:00 Oh Captain my Captain
03:24 Arcadia's 1-on-1 Rules?
10:50 Mental Load?
17:50 3-D Combat Options?
25:29 New Mystic Subclasses UA
30:13 Erin Roberts is a Wizard
32:13 Bob Worldbuilder on Stranger Things Growth
37:35 KC Chiefs Teach D&D
39:12 GW Bans AI for Staff
41:11 Get Dune Free from Modiphius
42:55 The Savage Arctic
43:58 Planet Money's Board Game
45:13 Savannah Houston-McIntyre
53:11 Getting Started with Design
57:12 Leading Design Projects
01:00:28 Legends of Greyhawk
01:04:53 Greyhawk's Regions
01:10:18 Virtual Weekends and Writing for LoG
01:13:23 RealmsBound with Ed Greenwood
01:25:12 Find Savannah!
01:26:41 Shout-Outs
01:30:53 What Are We Gonna Do?
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.

Start a New Campaign for the New Year (MD 274) Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

Episode 274 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Start a New Campaign for the New Year

It’s a new year, the perfect time to think on how to launch an awesome campaign, even if you have never DMed before!

News: Stranger Things Effect? Matt Mercer Simpsons Crossover, D&D Romantasy Novel, Ed Greenwood’s RealmsBound, and more!

Contents
00:00 Full of Fear
02:05 What is a Gameplay Loop?
11:10 Teaching Game Design?
14:38 Stranger Things Effect
19:27 Stranger Things' ET Ending
22:09 Leon Barillaro Hired at WotC
24:14 New D&D Romantasy Novel
26:06 Ed Greenwood's RealmsBound
31:22 Matt Mercer Simpsons Crossover
33:58 D&D and Moral Imagination
38:20 D&D Loungefly Backpacks
39:08 The Bridgewell Chronicles
40:21 Merryshire Detective Club
41:19 A New Campaign for the New Year
41:59 New Gamemaster Month
43:22 Where Can We Learn to DM?
51:52 Why Should You DM?
01:02:04 Not Knowing the Rules
01:11:13 Planning Your Campaign
01:22:59 Establishing a Theme
01:25:00 Shout-Outs
01:28:53 What Are We Gonna Do?
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 Future of RPGs in 2026? (MD 273) Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

Episode 273 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: The Future of RPGs in 2026?

Teos and Shawn look at 2025’s huge impacts on RPGs and what 2026 might hold for our hobby!

News: Daggerheart’s Executive Success, James Haek and Introcaso Changes, City 26, and more!

Contents
00:00 Intro
00:59 Mastering DnD the RPG?
07:55 How to Get Noticed?
17:08 Tim Kask Passes
19:38 Daggerheart's Executive Success
25:17 James Haek Joins WotC
25:55 Who Replaces James on Lorecast???
27:25 James Introcaso Focuses on Crows
29:11 D&D and Court Rooms
30:06 Seniors and Dragons
30:56 City '26 Challenge
32:38 Jeff Stevens on 2025 2026
33:30 Crack the Sun Success
35:32 Looking Back at D&D in 2025
40:02 WotC's Positive Moves
42:13 Crawford and Perkins Join Critical Role
45:14 Economic Uncertainty
49:12 AI Slop
50:03 Cosmere, Daggerheart, Draw Steel
55:28 What Might 2026 Offer for D&D?
01:06:30 Will the Hobby Grow?
01:09:21 More Big RPGs?
01:11:05 If We Had 1 Wish!
01:15:10 Shout-Outs
01:19:34 What Are We Gonna Do?
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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