Mastering Dungeons

Latest Episodes:

The 2025 D&D Psion! (MD244) Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

Episode 244 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: The 2025 D&D Psion!!
We look at the Psion from OD&D and across the editions, to the 2025 playtest Psion for how well it throws mind bullets. Does it have the power to move us?

News: Draw Steel Covers, D&D International Day of Play, New D&D Video Game, and more!

Contents
00:00 Intro
02:20 Building Large Cities?
09:04 Daggerheart Didn't Crowdfund?
14:03 2025 D&D Conversion Document
17:42 New D&D Video Game
18:57 Draw Steel Covers and Schedules
20:19 D&D International Day of Play
23:20 Free RPG Day June 21
25:13 SlyFlourish Leaves Blanks
29:38 KP on Small Press Printing
32:49 Avatar Legends Licensed Adventures
34:12 TileForge
35:17 2025 Psion Playtest
36:34 Psionics in OD&D and AD&D
42:17 Psionics in 2E
47:53 Psionics in 3E and 4E
52:24 Design Challenges
59:36 5E 2014 Mystic
01:02:13 The 2025 UA Psion
01:02:47 Why a Psion Class vs Subclass?
01:05:16 Core Psion Traits
01:07:15 Spellcasting
01:10:30 Psionic Energy Dice and Features
01:23:10 Psionic Disciplines and Higher Levels
01:26:36 Assessing at Level 5
01:33:30 Shout-Outs
01:37:50 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.

Making Good Tactical Maps! (MD 243) May 28, 2025

Show notes

Episode 243 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Making Good Tactical Maps!

Shawn and Teos discuss how to make great maps for home play or publications. From envisioning movement to avoiding symmetry, we share our tips and tricks.

News: Daggerheart Released, Lee Gold’s A&E Legacy, Minecraft RPG, Digital Deck of Player Safety, and more!

Contents
00:00 Reliving Introcaso
01:33 Detect Phantasmal Force?
15:24 Spoonfeeding Backstory?
29:34 Daggerheart Released
31:48 Daggerheart Card Maker
32:47 Daggerheart Community License
34:25 Lee Gold's A&E Legacy
39:11 DMs Wanted for Gencon and BMG
41:36 Digital Deck of Player Safety
44:08 Minecraft RPG
45:17 WizKids Apologize for BG3 Minis
48:19 Sand Marches for Dark Sun
48:48 5-Room Dungeon Jam
49:38 Making Good Tactical Maps
55:57 Envision Your Location
01:00:09 Fit the Overall Setting
01:02:19 Fit the Creatures
01:07:12 Think of Movement and Abilities
01:15:30 Details that Matter
01:17:52 Avoid Symmetry
01:20:47 Add Surprises
01:24:10 Shout-Outs
01:27:58 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.

Draw Steel and Introducing New RPGs! (MD242) May 21, 2025

Show notes

Episode 242 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Draw Steel and Introducing New RPGs!

James Introcaso joins Teos to discuss the challenges any new RPG has in attracting an audience, explaining what makes it fun, creating starter sets, and much more! We draw heavily on Draw Steel, the MCDM RPG coming out later this summer!

News: Daggerheart Media Blitz, Diana Jones Emerging Designers, Storytelling Through Violence, and more!

Contents
00:00 It's James Introcaso!
02:07 Nautical for AL vs Home?
08:10 Underwater Armor House Rules?
17:06 Diana Jones Emerging Designers
19:50 Daggerheart Media Blitz
25:13 Brotherwise Hiring RPG Director
26:44 Storytelling Through Violence
34:47 Draw Steel and Introducing New RPGs
35:14 Summer of Draw Steel
36:37 A Challenge for All RPGs
38:37 Barriers to Entry
42:05 Getting Group Buy-In
45:20 Finding an Audience
50:41 Communicating What the Game Is
55:40 Role of Stores and Distributors
01:00:21 A Great Starter Set
01:02:56 Supporting Conventions
01:06:01 Great Pregens
01:13:00 MCDM's Next Products
01:16:26 What Are We Gonna Do Now?
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.

Creating Nautical Encounters! (MD 241) May 14, 2025

Show notes

Episode 241 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Creating Nautical Encounters!
We build encounters based on our nautical campaign arc, including storm survival, submerged shipwrecks, battles on the high seas, and more!

News: Horror UA Subclasses, Eberron Preorder Info, Gen Con Events, and more!

Contents
00:00 Teos vs the Lorecast
02:09 Teaching Tactics?
10:50 Purpose of GM Currencies?
20:31 Eberron Preorder Info
24:40 Unearthed Arcana Horror Subclasses
28:14 Symbaroum and CZPEKU on DDB
30:26 Sigil VTT Update
31:07 PAX East Eberron Surprise
32:53 Gen Con Events Released
36:37 Playing at the World v2
37:48 Tariff News
39:40 Neon City Outlaws
41:56 Creating Nautical Encounters
43:05 Our Campaign So Far
45:16 Character Roles on the Ship
48:52 Storm Survival?
54:25 Types of Encounters
58:39 Multiple Dimensions
01:03:42 Encounters to Start the Campaign
01:07:24 Building on Campaign Hook
01:10:24 After 4th Level
01:11:21 Hiring Crew
01:12:45 Sunken Shipwreck
01:15:40 Underwater Allies
01:16:45 Island Exploration Encounter
01:18:18 Campaign-Concluding Encounters
01:20:27 Shout-Outs
01:24:13 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.

Creating a Nautical Campaign! (MD240) May 07, 2025

Show notes

Episode 240 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Creating a Nautical Campaign!
Shawn and Teos dive into creating a cool nautical campaign, from themes to arcs and beyond!

News: We Review Sage Advice, Polygon Sold, Diamond and Alliance Bombshells, and more!

Contents
00:00 Still the Captain
01:08 Multiple Modes of Play?
13:02 2024 Creator Pitfalls?
19:59 Diamond and Alliance Bombshells
26:23 Sage Advice is Live
29:06 Interesting Sage Advice
39:00 SRD 5.2.1 Released
41:09 Polygon Sold Off
44:56 DM David on 5E Speed of Play
49:45 EN5ider Relaunched
50:56 Distal RPG
51:54 Creating a Nautical Campaign
54:17 Session Zero
01:00:20 Swimming and Underwater Rules
01:04:07 Starting at Level 1
01:09:25 Using Themes and Plot Arcs
01:13:59 Top Down vs Bottom Up
01:15:58 Leveling
01:18:27 Evolving Themes?
01:21:25 Sources of Inspiration
01:23:51 Shout Outs
01:27:28 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.

Embarking on A Nautical Campaign (MD 239) Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

Episode 239 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Embarking on A Nautical Campaign !

Nautical campaigns offer exciting options different from other campaign types. Join us as we voyage into the strengths and challenges of these campaigns!

News: WotC’s Strong Q1, SRD 5.2 Review, Alliance Rejects Diamond, Best Campaign Setting, and more!

Contents
00:00 Play Every Day
03:03 Digital Response to Tariffs?
10:11 Changes for Exhausted Players?
19:12 Hasbro Q1 2025
23:04 How Big is D&D?
26:23 Hasbro and Tariffs
30:36 SRD 5.2 Released
35:36 SRD Localizations
38:50 Best Campaign Setting
40:39 Alliance Drops Diamond
42:45 Tariff Update
44:53 Andrew B on Writing Process
49:00 Fury of the Forsaken
49:51 Newbie DM's Iomandra
51:05 Embarking on a Nautical Campaign
53:38 Strengths of a Nautical Campaign
01:00:31 Campaign Differences
01:09:39 Challenges
01:15:29 Themes
01:18:05 Ship Combat
01:20:35 Shout-Outs
01:24:37 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.

Using the Environment in Encounters (with Dragons)! (MD 238) Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

Episode 238 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Using the Environment in Encounters (with Dragons)!

Make the most of elevation, difficult terrain, cover, lighting, and more. And to tie into Monster Week: Dragons, we apply them to dragon encounters!

News: New SRD 5.2, Errata Returns, Holy Grail Turns 50, and more!

Contents
00:00 Postal Service
02:06 Shawn Peaks
02:36 Easiest Official Adventure to DM?
28:57 Peril in Pinebrook challenge?
31:54 Nobody Left the D&D Team?
32:23 New SRD 5.2 April 22
37:40 New Basic Rules
41:21 New Errata and Sage Advice
45:53 Tariff Impacts
47:24 Neverwinter Brings D&D Movie Stories
49:01 50 Years of Holy Grail
49:47 Monster Week: Dragons
50:25 Using Environment in Encounters
50:44 One Cool Thing
54:09 Watch for Time Impact
59:29 Overly Punitive Environments
01:06:20 Environment and Terrain: Cover
01:09:13 Difficult Terrain
01:15:03 Elevation
01:21:24 Moving Parts
01:25:42 Lighting
01:29:43 Beneficial and Harmful Terrain
01:32:53 Entrances and Exits
01:37:44 Shout-Outs
01:40:57 What Are We Gonna Do Now?
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.

Teaching a New Generation! (MD 237) Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

Episode 237 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Teaching a New Generation!

We ponder how learning RPGs has changed over the years and the best way to teach new players and DMs today.

News: Jeremy Crawford Leaves WotC, Dragon Delves 1-on-1 Play, Atlas Games Recycling, and more!

Contents
00:00 Get Outside
02:22 Make Equipment Matter?
12:48 Which Upcoming Release Excites Us?
16:38 Jeremy Crawford Departs WotC
25:02 James Wyatt on Dragon Delves Solo Play
32:47 Tariffs - Who Knows?
36:49 Atlas Games' Recycling Plastics
38:42 Exploring Creative Play
41:20 Hits the Fan
43:10 Teaching a New Generation
45:39 How We Learned to Play and DM
56:22 How Teaching Has Changed
01:07:53 Tips for Teaching New Players
01:19:27 Tips for Teaching New DMs
01:30:16 Shout-Outs
01:33:38 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.

Rules-Light D&D Characters! (MD 236) Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Episode 236 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Rules-Light D&D Characters!

We consider how D&D can be simplified and the goals and tradeoffs involved in creating a rules-light version.

News: Chris Perkins Retires, Greg Bilsland Returns, Tariffs and Tabletop, and more!

Contents
00:00 Reflecting on Sorrow
02:41 2 Campaigns in Same Setting?
13:03 Convert 4E Monsters to 5E?
16:08 Chris Perkins Retires
23:57 Greg Bilsland Returns to D&D
27:08 Tabletop and Tariffs
35:37 GAMA is Broken
37:47 Monte Cook Narrative vs Math
45:03 Rules-Light D&D Characters
47:34 Motivation for Lighter Rules
52:48 Mathematical Side
01:02:14 Ease for New Players and DMs
01:04:25 What to Keep
01:06:48 Arora Trait System
01:09:56 Iterative Approach
01:11:49 Choice Menus
01:15:55 Spellcaster Complexity
01:17:47 Healing and Resting
01:20:49 Shout-Outs
01:24:35 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.

Forever DMs and Dynamics of an RPG Group! (MD 235) Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

Episode 235 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Forever DMs and Dynamics of an RPG Group!

Teos and Shawn discuss Matt Colville’s take on Forever DMs, and look at how the dynamics of an RPG group can shape awesome play.

News: Shadowdark Sales, Anjali Bhimani Adventure, Foolish Listener Ideas, and more!

Contents
00:00 Return of Shawn
01:00 Foolish Listener Ideas
10:42 Environmental Effect CR Impact?
24:09 Anjali Bhimani Adventure
26:10 New Sigil VTT Minis?
29:09 Robin Laws is Pelgrane Creative Director
31:52 D&D for Environmental Education
32:57 28 Convention RPG Tips
46:45 GaryCon Report on Shadowdark Sales
49:51 Dungeon Drop-Ins
50:33 Free5E: Open Source D&D
51:35 Free Popup Paper Building Roof
52:25 Dynamics of an RPG Group
54:05 The Forever DM
54:48 Gaming Dynamics in the 80s
58:06 Our Recent Dynamics
01:01:47 Selflessness and Empathy
01:08:20 Convention Play
01:10:55 How to Be a Great Player
01:14:37 Create PCs that Play Well with Others
01:17:27 How to Get Players to DM
01:23:32 Great to Have DMs as Players?
01:33:23 Shout-Outs
01:37:14 What Are We Gonna Do Now?
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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