Dungeon Theory

Murder Hobos and Rules Lawyers and Metagamers oh my! Spend enough time around the table, and patterns begin to emerge. Different kinds of people play for different reasons, and Chris and Travis bring their signature brilliance to not only cataloguing the different sorts of players one meets, but wrestling with how to make a functional and fun game from such a strange assemblage of miscreants. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Being an adventurer is a dangerous job. Success is far from guaranteed, and failure often means a new character sheet and some time rolling ability scores. Game masters Chris and Travis go beyond the obvious (DON'T SPLIT THE PARTY) and attack the issue at the meta-level - maybe don't make your GM wish you were dead? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Different systems allow you to specialize your player character via different means. GMs Chris and Travis are joined by guest star Justin to discuss some of the methods and implications of various ways of further defining and refining one's character through archetypes and specialization. Join the conversation - reach out to dungeontheoryfeedback@gmail.com Become a Patron! Follow us on Facebook --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

One of the joys of having a player character survive for any length of time is the prospect of advancement and improvement for that character via whichever system your rule set utilizes. GMs Chris and Travis weigh in on various theories as to when and how such advancement should be awarded, and how the decisions you make in this area shape how your game is experienced, played, and ultimately enjoyed. ~ UPDATE ~ Thanks to all those who reached out and let us know about the wonky audio in the first half of the episode. Our executive assistant Trevor has been flogged. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

A lot needs to get done for an adventuring party to succeed in its endeavors. GMs do what they can, but what can players do to make their team function like... well... a team? On this episode, Chris and Travis dive into the concept of party cartographers, note-takers, quartermasters, and more. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Guest expert Mike rejoins the Dungeon Theory team to discuss the planning and development of story-line arcs for your character. Listen in as the crew covers what makes for a compelling backstory, how to fit your backstory to the campaign, how to gauge game master engagement with player backstories, and more. Join the conversation - reach out to dungeontheoryfeedback@gmail.com Become a Patron! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

What do you want out of your character over the course of a given campaign? What do you want to be able to do? One of the central features of most TTRPGs is the progression in experience and power of your character as play continues, but do you have a goal in mind? Chris and Travis are joined by Josh as they look at planning character progression through the lenses of SMART goals and backwards planning, to see how they can be used to up your game. Join the conversation - reach out to dungeontheoryfeedback@gmail.com Become a Patron! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Chris and Travis are joined at Dungeon Theory Studios by guest co-star Mike, to explore the development of character backstories, how to avoid common pitfalls, and how to get the most value in your game from them. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Chris and Travis are joined at Dungeon Theory Studios by guest co-star Mike, to explore the development of character backstories, how to avoid common pitfalls, and how to get the most value in your game from them. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Statistically speaking, most likely you and your players are humans. But what about your characters? Does your character race matter in the game beyond a few modifiers or abilities? Chris and Travis present a case for an assumed default of humanity, and how this can ultimately lead to better games no matter what character race you select. Join the conversation - reach out to dungeontheoryfeedback@gmail.com Become a Patron! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

If the game you play is class based, sure, you'll pick a class, but what can that mean for your game? Chris and Travis cut into this most-assumed aspect of character creation in order to explore those questions and considerations that can take the decision of your character's class to a place where you can do more with it. Join the conversation - reach out to dungeontheoryfeedback@gmail.com Become a Patron! Mentioned in Episode - creator Puffin Forest explores the limits of multiclassing: https://youtu.be/4ZCIh_3b5K8 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Before play ever begins, a tense negotiation ensues between players. Who will make what kind of character? What happens when everyone wants to do essentially the same thing? Why does no one want to be a Cleric? Chris and Travis wade into the fray, trying to outline a case for an intentional and constructive dialogue between players before the start of play to coordinate their character roles. Join the conversation - reach out to dungeontheoryfeedback@gmail.com Become a Patron! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Chris and Travis bring the conversation down into the fundamentals, discussing the decision to participate in this hobby. Join in as they address common concerns, questions, and challenges, while also sharing their understanding of the benefits and positive impact making this decision can have in your life. Join the conversation - reach out to dungeontheoryfeedback@gmail.com Become a Patron! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Season one of Dungeon Theory comes to a climactic close, as Chris as Travis turn their focus to the topic of difficult and potentially traumatic subjects that may arise in the course of table-top play, examining the tension between the dramatic and artistic potential of such scenarios against the challenge of integrating them in an ethical manner. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

What is going on with the Paladin? Join in as Chris rants and Travis attempts to keep order when Dungeon Theory explores the origins and changing presentation of the iconic D&D class, ultimately centered in a discussion on how the class list in your campaign is also an inescapable part of your world-building. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

The topic of feedback rears its ugly head once again within the hallowed halls of the Dungeon Theory recording studio. This time however, the shoe is on the other foot as GMs Chris and Travis explore the process of receiving feedback from one's players, and avoiding the pitfalls of this potentially beneficial practice. Join the conversation - reach out to dungeontheoryfeedback@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

When do the crunchy bits of your tabletop ruleset - stats for enemies and monsters, game mechanics, rules, and so on - really matter? Join in as Chris and Travis explore the issue of stats and mechanics in tabletop play, and their own experiences addressing the various issues that arise in this field. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Using monsters to tell stories that matter is the focus this episode, as Chris and Travis discuss what makes a monster, and how an intentional approach to capitalizing on their monstrous nature can elevate your tabletop sessions. Join the conversation - reach out to dungeontheoryfeedback@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Josh joins the DT cast once again to help weigh in on the process of providing feedback to players - going into when, how, and why. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

To the victor go the spoils, that much is certain. And yet, what shall the spoils be? Join Chris and Travis as they examine player rewards in TTRPGs, and discuss how you can reinvigorate the most common types of reward while striving to go beyond the classics. Join the conversation - reach out to dungeontheoryfeedback@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Between those moments of actual play, GM's labor in preparation. Chris and Travis examine the process of preparing for a game, and discuss various strategies to prepare for success. Join the conversation - reach out to dungeontheoryfeedback@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Should your players be able to buy and sell magical items? Why hasn't your world undergone a magical-industrial revolution? Join Travis and Chris as they discuss the issues and challenges that arise for whatever level of magic you end up selecting for your world. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Joined by special guest and student-of-leadership Josh, Travis and Chris examine what it means to be a leader in general, and how that comes into play at the table. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Travis and Chris wrestle with the concept of striving for ever-growing mastery in GM-ing. By drawing a distinction between just running a game and seeking to be the master of it, they break the subject down into broad categories for deeper analysis. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support

Travis and Chris discuss the much argued, much maligned Alignment system of Dungeons and Dragons, and address the question of how Game Mastering style might be reflected in those nine alignments. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hearthside-productions/support