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    Games

    Mastering Dungeons

    RPG veterans and game designers Teos Abadía and Shawn Merwin look at the game and the hobby of D&D from a variety of viewpoints: reporting the news, understanding the business, reviewing the products, and illuminating the design. Whether you’re a fan, a player, a DM, or a designer, Shawn and Teos cover topics of interest to you!

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    Copyright: © 2022

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    Latest Episodes:
    Draw Steel – Resting and Downtime! (MD 264) Oct 29, 2025
    Show notes

    Episode 264 of Mastering Dungeons!

    Main topic: Draw Steel – Resting and Downtime! (MD 264)

    The Draw Steel RPG has a unique and deliberate approach to what it takes to rest and what you can do during your rest. Respites become a key element, bridging combat recovery with larger campaign and personal goals.

    News: Hasbro KPop Demon Roleplay, Hasbro Q3 Results, Dragonlance TV Show? Sigil has 1 year, and more!

    Contents
    00:00 Thankful for community
    03:44 Draw Steel allows roleplay?
    06:38 Get players to make stuff up?
    19:32 Netflix and Hasbro KPop Demon Hunting
    20:48 Hasbro Q3 report
    22:54 WotC Q3 results
    24:07 Videogame costs
    26:49 Hasbro's 45-50 shows and movies
    29:34 WotC explains D&D well, actually
    35:34 How big is D&D?
    42:13 Are we getting a Dragonlance show?
    45:15 Sigil will be no more
    52:06 Daggerheart on class design
    54:41 PAX Unplugged BIPOC demo days
    55:37 Drakkenheart
    57:07 Draw Steel recoveries and respites
    57:52 Ending combat
    01:03:02 Balancing adventuring days
    01:06:23 Recoveries
    01:08:12 Resting and victories
    01:11:23 Respites and downtime
    01:21:52 Project roll
    01:23:34 Project events
    01:28:13 Rewards and downtime
    01:32:52 Shout-outs
    01:37:19 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/

    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/).

    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.

    Live from Gamehole Con - Complexity in RPGs! (MD 263) Oct 22, 2025
    Show notes

    Episode 263 of Mastering Dungeons!

    Main topic: Live from Gamehole Con - Complexity in RPGs!

    We discuss complexity with our live audience!

    News: Asmodee Controls Lord of the Rings, Circle Magic, Biggest Industry Surprise, New Kobold Hires, and more!

    Contents
    00:00 Live with pants
    01:13 Gamehole games so far
    03:53 Modularity of RPG for GM?
    06:16 Odds of Dark Sun 5E?
    09:06 What do I do this week?
    10:05 Biggest surprise in the industry?
    12:28 Survivability of games with financial changes?
    16:22 Financial shift to premium products?
    17:08 Asmodee controls Lord of the Rings
    19:00 Circle Magic and New Spells
    26:31 New Kobold Press hires
    27:23 Your Creator Corner
    29:05 Complexity in RPGs
    29:46 Character complexity
    40:29 RPG rule complexity
    50:21 Thank you!
    Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

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

    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/).

    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.

    Draw Steel Combat Encounters! (MD 262) Oct 15, 2025
    Show notes

    Episode 262 of Mastering Dungeons!

    Main topic: Draw Steel Combat Encounters!

    Teos and Shawn examine how the Draw Steel RPG handles player turns, including forced movement, damage, and dying!

    News: D&D Hellfire at Target, Free Daggerheart Roll20 Quickstart, Drakkenheim for Daggeheart, Our Approach to Learn New RPGs, and more!

    Contents
    00:00 Gamehole Peak Prep
    02:11 Remembering Rob Weiland
    04:29 Our Daggerheart and Draw Steel Games
    09:12 Our Process to Learn an RPG?
    16:30 Hellfire Club Released
    20:03 Daggerheart Quickstart on Roll20 and Demiplane
    22:07 Hellfire in Target
    23:09 Hasbro's SORRY Mobile Game
    24:05 Licensing D&D and MtG
    25:21 Drakkenheim for Daggerheart
    29:43 How Much Magazine Stuff
    31:05 Designers & Dragons Origins Preview
    34:29 Keith Ammann on Writing About Dragons
    35:22 Allies & Enemies for Shadowdark
    36:18 Jerry Garcia's Cosmic Journey
    36:56 Fred Armisen's 100 Sound Effects
    38:46 Draw Steel Combat Encounters
    39:42 Three Action Types
    45:47 Tactical Details
    48:09 Forced Movement
    53:10 Critical Hits
    59:49 Damage and Stamina
    01:04:54 Daggerheart Damage Comparison
    01:10:17 Shout-Outs
    01:15:39 See you at Gamehole Con!
    Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.

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

    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/).

    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.

    Draw Steel Combat Basics! (MD 261) Oct 08, 2025
    Show notes

    Episode 261 of Mastering Dungeons!

    Main topic: Draw Steel Combat Basics!

    Teos and Shawn examine how Draw Steel creates tactical, cinematic, and heroic play with its combat system!

    News: New D&D Video Game Studio, Demogorgon Crunch, Kickstarter’s Union, and more!

    Contents
    00:00 Miles of Games
    03:08 Designing for Someone's IP?
    15:05 D&D New Video Game Studio
    19:38 D&D Hiring a Game Designer
    22:27 Revised Psion UA
    25:23 Designing to Guarantee Effects
    30:31 Kim Mohan in Hall of Fame
    32:33 Acq Inc Pirate Borg!
    34:20 Demogorgon Crunch
    35:30 Kickstarter's Union Wants Protections
    36:29 How Much Setting Stuff Is There?
    41:55 Designers & Dragons Origins
    43:51 Draw Steel Combat Basics
    44:36 Beastheart Playtest News
    45:25 Power Rolls in Draw Steel
    46:44 Tiered Outcomes
    49:03 Power Rolls and Gameplay
    54:32 Potency
    56:29 Gating Outcomes
    59:02 Draw Steel and Daggerheart Similarities
    01:02:00 Example Actions
    01:04:12 Edges and Banes
    01:08:52 Hero Tokens
    01:11:39 The Map
    01:20:11 Initiative, sort of
    01:32:29 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/

    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/).

    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.

    Draw Steel - Kits and Complications! (MD 260) Oct 01, 2025
    Show notes

    Episode 260 of Mastering Dungeons!

    Main topic: Draw Steel Kits and Complications! (MD 260)

    Teos and Shawn finish creating their characters, reviewing the cool rules for Kits, how Complications wildly spice up a game, and Perks!

    News: Salvatore May Retire Drizzt, Lorwyn Digital-Only D&D Setting, Cosmere New Releases, and more!

    Contents
    00:00:00 War torn
    00:02:36 Do elaborate mechanics create narrative?
    00:21:44 Lorwyn is a Digital-Only D&D Setting
    00:25:15 DDB adds Maps and Party Inventory
    00:26:02 Heroes of the Borderlands tutorials
    00:26:30 Stranger Things product info
    00:27:44 WizKids smaller dragon Trophy
    00:30:29 MtG enters Federation Space!
    00:32:32 Salvatore may retire Drizzt
    00:35:34 Cosmere New Releases
    00:37:18 The Last Caravan - Westward Bound
    00:38:11 What's My Foundation?
    00:39:08 Our Draw Steal Character Creation
    00:40:19 Step 6 - Kits
    00:54:56 Perks
    00:56:55 Step 7 - Add Free Strikes
    00:59:49 Step 8 - Complications
    01:12:11 Step 9 - Details
    01:13:05 Step 10 - Connections
    01:17:10 Thoughts on Advancement Speed
    01:24:49 Shout-Outs
    01:30:24 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/

    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/).

    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.

    Draw Steel Character Classes, Careers, and Cultures! (MD 259) Sep 24, 2025
    Show notes

    Episode 259 of Mastering Dungeons!

    Main topic: Draw Steel Character Classes, Careers, and Cultures!

    Teos and Shawn create two characters, reviewing how Draw Steel creates engagement through complex classes, careers, and create-your-own cultures!

    News: Daggerheart Void Update, Diamond Selling Disputed Stock, Baldur’s Gate Jam, and more!

    Contents
    00:00 Pirates and Cowpokes
    02:57 Should Serving Your Deity Matter?
    16:51 What Would We Create?
    23:40 DM Retcons Okay?
    29:39 Unearthed Arcana - Arcane Subclasses
    31:15 Update on Diamond Selling Disputed Stock
    36:32 New D&D Educator Resources Location
    38:39 DMsGuild Baldur's Gate Jam
    40:19 Demiplane is Hiring
    41:29 Daggerheart Playtests Adversaries and Environments
    41:53 How Much D&D Stuff Is There?
    47:04 Cypher Revised Final Days!
    48:07 Draw Steel Character Creation
    50:37 Creating Our Cultures
    55:32 Career Background
    01:01:20 Draw Steel Classes
    01:05:17 Tactician and Troubadour Classes
    01:06:49 Class Basics
    01:10:04 1st Level Class Features
    01:16:45 Kits and Other Class Features
    01:32:49 We Really Liked This!
    01:34:34 Shout-Outs
    01:38:41 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/

    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/).

    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.

    Inside Heroes of the Borderlands: Justice Arman on creating D&D’s new starter set! (MD 258) Sep 17, 2025
    Show notes

    Episode 258 of Mastering Dungeons!

    No News Segment this week!

    Main topic: Inside Heroes of the Borderlands: Justice Arman on creating D&D’s new starter set!

    Justice led the project to create a new Starter Set updating the famed module B2, The Keep on the Borderlands! Justice joins Teos and Shawn to share what it was like creating the set.

    Contents
    00:00 Justice Arman!
    01:35 Settings with Limited Options?
    10:04 Justice's Path as a Creator
    14:28 Teos Likes this Set
    15:56 Creating a New Starter Set
    19:28 Starter Set Goals
    22:08 Design Challenges
    29:40 Keep on the Borderlands Revisions
    35:14 Fun Innovations
    42:23 Future Class Boards?
    44:17 Advice on Running the Adventures
    47:23 How it was Playtested
    51:44 Board Game Entryway
    01:02:17 Wisdom from Justice
    01:04:04 Providing Feedback
    01:04:57 Find Justice!
    01:05:47 Shout-Outs
    01:09:10 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/

    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/).

    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.

    Draw Steel Character Generation! (MD 257) Sep 10, 2025
    Show notes

    Episode 257 of Mastering Dungeons!

    Main topic: Draw Steel Character Generation!

    Shawn and Teos discuss character generation approaches, then plunge into Draw Steel’s first character generation steps!

    News: Wizards CEO on Franchises, AI, and Video Games. Starter Set Previews, Kobold Press on Multiple RPGs, and more!

    Contents
    00:00 One of Us is Rested
    02:32 Daggerheart Simplicity Redux
    10:19 Rules-Lite Spellcasting?
    19:19 John Hight on Franchises and Video Games
    26:19 Hight on AI
    30:38 Hight on MMOs
    34:16 Starter Set Previews
    39:08 Dark Sun on Tabletop Journeys
    39:44 Apocalypse World Burned Over
    40:45 Kobold Press Unprecedented Times?
    48:04 Aetherial Expanse Drowned God
    48:39 Surviving Strangehollow on GameFound
    50:53 Draw Steel Character Creation
    51:15 CharGen in General
    01:05:31 Draw Steel General Guidance
    01:09:43 Step 1, Think
    01:16:15 Step 2, Ancestry
    01:22:27 Shout-Outs
    01:27:02 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/

    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/).

    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.

    Treantmonk and Mike Balles! (MD 256) Sep 03, 2025
    Show notes

    Episode 256 of Mastering Dungeons!

    Main topic: Mike Balles and Spanish Language RPGs!

    Mike Balles and Teos examine the state of Spanish-language play and support across companies, conventions, and creator spaces. Mike shares the programs he is involved in and how you can support those efforts!

    News: Treantmonk on UAs! Acq Inc Switches to Daggerheart, Stranger Things at Target, and more!

    Contents
    00:00 Chris Honkala aka Treantmonk!
    01:16 Premiere Organizers
    02:05 Pick One RPG?
    03:47 Daggerheart Too Simple?
    07:23 Acq Inc Rewrites Reality to Daggerheart
    09:51 Stranger Things Target Exclusive
    13:20 Chris' Origin Story
    16:11 Chris on WotC UAs
    31:09 Should WotC Respond to Fans?
    38:55 5E Subclass Design
    42:52 Analyzing the Apocalyptic UA
    56:42 Survey is Live
    58:26 Find Chris!
    59:00 What Are We Gonna Do?
    59:38 Mike Balles!
    01:00:59 PAX Unplugged
    01:02:21 Mike's Origin Story
    01:08:48 Streaming and Wizards of the Coast
    01:13:29 Improving Gen Con and PAX
    01:21:57 San Diego Comic Con
    01:24:33 Connecting Creators
    01:27:18 Gamehole Con PoC Program
    01:35:38 Localizations and Translations
    01:50:37 Translated 5E Character Sheets
    01:54:51 Exploring Regional Opportunities
    01:59:33 Spanish Language Creators and Games
    02:10:57 Support Latine Lounge
    02:17:09 Find Mike and Claudia
    02:19:29 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/

    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/).

    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.

    Draw Steel Negotiations and Montages! (MD 255) Aug 27, 2025
    Show notes

    Episode 255 of Mastering Dungeons!

    Main topic: Draw Steel Negotiations and Montages!

    Shawn and Teos discuss how the new Draw Steel RPG’s systems for montages and negotiations felt during their recent game, reviewing the lofty goals and interesting design.

    News: Is Dark Sun Coming? Critical Role Chooses D&D West Marches, Shadowdark Org Play, Why Crawford and Perkins Joined CR, and more!

    Contents
    00:00 Teos at PAX West
    02:28 Dan Ayoub Confidence in 2024?
    12:03 Insight Check as Lie Detector?
    22:36 Unearthed Arcana - Dark Sun?
    25:59 CR Chooses 5E West Marches
    33:00 Crawford and Perkins' Motives
    39:41 Shadowdark Org Play
    41:01 Draw Steel Summoner Playtest
    42:01 Free Draw Steel Minis
    42:22 Pirate Borg Localizations
    44:10 Exodus RPG Encyclopedia
    45:17 ARPIA Award Finalists
    46:21 Grim Hollow Transformed on D&D Beyond
    48:30 Negotiations and Montages
    51:19 Montage Rules
    54:05 Negotiation Rules
    56:43 Larger Gameplay Concepts
    01:07:23 Our Play Experience
    01:18:39 Montage Outcomes
    01:26:17 Negotiations in Our Game
    01:34:59 Considering Alternate Systems
    01:40:57 Shout-Outs
    01:44:54 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/

    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/).

    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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