Grumpy Dungeon Masters

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Two guys who have run one too many games of Dungeons and Dragons. Here we gripe about foolish players, horrible mechanics, and bad dice rolls. Join us as we discuss the topics of tabletop and how to deal with the party splitting up for the third time this session.

Christopher Waples, Jay Johnson


    • Jun 3, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 14m AVG DURATION
    • 279 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Grumpy Dungeon Masters

    Episode 236 – The Caverns of Thracia By Goodman Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2025 72:56


    This week the guys dive into the Caverns of Thracia. A Re-release of the 1st Edition Dungeons & Dragons mega-dungeon. The guys also talk about Dragonlance novels, Gord the Rogue, and how much are character back stories necessary for RPG's.

    Episode 235 – Index Card RPG

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 67:58


    GDM Jay talks in depth about Index Card RPG and how it's a great tool for all game masters. GDM Kristian got a book where you can kill your players characters with real life extinct critters. Also D&D Adventures League Drama and a Rifts Video Game.

    Episode 234 – Dungeons & Dragons Unearthed Arcana Horror Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 84:05


    The second half of the Dungeons & Dragons Unearthed Arcana this week. A look at the Hexblade Warlock and the Shadow Sorceror will make some fans happy. Also Skyraiders of Abarax and a look at Against the Darkmaster by Open Ended Games.

    Episode 233 – Horror Unearthed Arcana 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 87:43


    This week is a look at Dungeons and Dragons latest Unearthed Arcana, which focuses on Horror Sub-classes. Also some Goodman Games and Judges Guild issues. Lastly who wins between 100 commoners and 1 Gorilla. Nobody wins. That's who.

    Episode 232 – Christopher’s Dungeons and Dragons Haul Number 2: Electric Boogaloo

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 81:32


    Grumpy Dungeon Master Christopher found another haul of goodies so the guys dig into whats good and what isn't. Kristian talks about a few OSR books he grabbed recently. Also the ecology of the Grootslang.

    Episode 231 – Dungeons & Dragons 5.5 Errata Released

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 87:28


    The guys look at the newest Dungeons & Dragons Errata. Dan talks some Pirate Borg and how to kill a rogue. Jay takes a look at the history of the spell Evard's Black Tentacles.

    Episode 230 – The Crocaroach Invades Dungeons & Dragons

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 83:13


    Dan creates a monstrosity that combines the best and worst parts of a Crocodile and a Cockroach. Behold the Crocaroach! Also a look through Christopher's recent horde acquisition, Kristian talks Numenera, and Jay drops another X-Crawl Classics Monster!

    Episode 229 – Jeremy Crawford Leaves Hasbro

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 80:46


    More people are leaving Hasbro. This time it's none other than Jeremy Crawford. The guys wonder what's to come. They also talk more Kingdoms of Keshanar. Then we talk Piercers, Ropers, Death Knights, and a monster that stores loot like you won't believe.

    Episode 228 – Christopher Meets Ed Greenwood

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 78:09


    GDM Christopher talks about his time at Gary Con and meeting Ed Greenwood. Also Chris Perkins leaves Wotc. There is also talk of Free5E, Pirate Borg, and the Grim Cat from XCrawl Classics.

    Episode 227 – Gary Con Vs Hasbro

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 76:38


    The guys are back from Gary Con and have tons of stories to tell about how the con went and their favorite things about it. Also GDM Christopher rants about WotC and the reason for killing Sigil.

    Grumpy Guest – Orthane Productions Dave Hadden

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 68:12


    The Grumpy Dungeon Masters got to sit down at Gary Con (sorry for the audio) and talk to Dave Hadden and Dr. Jill Waller of Orthane Productions. They are releasing the setting of Keshanar soon as a Kickstarter. If you've ever wanted to play Dungeons and Dragons in ancient Egypt this is for you!

    Episode 226 – Eve Of Vecna Wins Again

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 73:32


    GDM Christopher takes down another party at Adventures League. Jay & Kristian talk about the RPG game Mothership. Also some talk about a really old D&D video game and some incredibly wild monsters that will never become official.

    Episode 225 – Caverns Of Thracia By Goodman Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 58:22


    Caverns of Thracia by Goodman Games is looking like a fantastic module for anybody who wants to run a mega-dungeon. Also Sooty Beards by Furtive Goblin and John Gregory and a really rare module called The Jade Hare.

    Episode 224 – Dungeons & Dragons Sigil Releases To No Fanfare

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 74:45


    Dungeons & Dragons VTT Sigil released without any hype or notification. Is it any good? Also Eberron UA for the Artificer Sub-class the Cartographer, and is Eve of Ruin any good as an Adventures League setting?

    Episode 223 – Gary Con Pre-Prequal And Solasta 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 82:09


    The guys are prepping for Gary Con and got their schedules. It's going to be an incredible weekend of gaming. Also the Solasta 2 demo dropped and the guys give it a whirl.

    Episode 222 – Zines, Clockworkless Horror, And A Room Of Undead

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2025 58:59


    GDM Kristian dives into a bunch of Kickstarter Zines to help power your campaigns. Also more Adventurers League shenanigans with GDM Christopher and an ecology of the Clockwork Horror.

    Episode 220 – Unearthed Arcana 2025 Part 2 And The Superb Owlbear

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 93:45


    This week is the rest of the Unearthed Arcana for Dungeons & Dragons new edition. Bladesingers are still good. Also the Superb Owlbear. Guard your game day snacks.

    Episode 220 – Unearthed Arcana 2025 Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 70:00


    The guys dive into the Unearthed Arcana for Dungeons & Dragons. Winter Walker and Purple Dragon Knight are on the list and the guys have opinions. Also a look at Imagine Magazine.

    Episode 219 – A Peek At The 80’s Adventures Sub-Class And Magic Items

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 71:05


    A look at some play-test materials for 80's Adventures Sub-classes and Magic Items. Also new Monster Manual 5.5 Abberations and Fey along with an ecology of the Sussurus.

    Episode 218 – Exploring the Dark World of Monstrosities and Undead

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 74:04


    More from the upcoming Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual. Undead and Monstrosities are on the menu. Also the Dragon Dice. A great game with a storied history.

    Episode 217 – New Monsters: Same As The Old Monsters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 82:28


    This week it's a hot take on the Dungeons and Dragons 5.5 Monster Manual. Also a history of the dragonborn and a look at a weird monster called the Oblex.

    Episode 216 – Beholders Are Birds

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 68:27


    This week it's talk about a new Dungeons and Dragons pinball machine from Stern. Also the ecology of the Beholder, thus proving Volo knows nothing, and random 2nd Edition Dungeons and Dragons monsters.

    Episode 215 – End Of The Year Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 77:21


    Last week of the year so the guys look at things they came across in the RPG market that was awesome. Also a brief look at the Alpha version of Crooked Moon.

    Episode 214 – Return Of The Bandit

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024 70:30


    Christmas week and the guys have been busy. This week it's Ecology of the Osquip, the Badvent Calendar, and Bruce the Beer Bandit joins the guys for Dungeons and Dragons Jeopardy!

    Episode 213 – Maria Carey Christmas

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 64:21


    Busy week before Christmas. Mariah Carey makes an appearance before the holiday. The guys cover the Dungeons and Dragons episode of Secret Level. Also Marvelous Pigments and Solsata 2!

    Episode 212 – Flail Around And Find Out

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 72:48


    This week is grumping about lack of new novels and not enough risk and challenge in current modules. Also GDM Christopher finished his Waterdeep campaign and GDM Dan brings us the ecology of the Flail Snail.

    Episode 211 – Baldurs Gate 3 New Patch!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 73:38


    This week a big announcement by Larian Studios for Baldurs Gate 3. Also GDM Jay's Ravenloft game, Lycanthropy, and ecology of the Rakshasa.

    Episode 210 – The Turkeypocalypse Cometh

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 73:36


    It's Thanksgiving week so it's an episode full of Turkeys. Specifically ones with multiple heads Also more on the Catoblepas, Earth as a vacation location, and ecology of the Gorbel.

    Episode 209 – Dungeon Masters Guide 2024 Round Three

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 73:12


    This week is another look at the Dungeon Masters Guide 2024. Cosmology, items, and bastions are all on the table this week for the Grumpy Dungeon Masters.

    Episode 208 – Dungeon Masters Guide 2024 Round Two

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 80:22


    This week is the first few chapters of the Dungeon Masters Guide 2024 and is it useful. Oddly enough it appears so. Also the Ecology of the Bag of Devouring.

    Episode 207 – Dungeon Masters Guide 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 72:53


    This week is the first few chapters of the Dungeon Masters Guide 2024 and is it useful. Oddly enough it appears so. Also the Ecology of the Bag of Devouring.

    Episode 206 – Who Wants To Live Forever? Strahd Does. That’s Who.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 93:29


    Ecology of the Mephit, the History of Dave Trampier, and giant monsters require giant design changes. Listen in to learn your history and some neat ideas for your games!

    Episode 205 – A Day In The Life Of A Mephit

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024 70:49


    Ecology of the Mephit, the History of Dave Trampier, and giant monsters require giant design changes. Listen in to learn your history and some neat ideas for your games!

    Episode 204 – You Got Your Hex Grid In My Magic Items

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 85:19


    Creating Magic Items in Dungeons and Dragons 5R is on the list this week. Also, what's easier? Running Home Brew or running Modules? All this plus Hex Grid campaigns!

    Episode 203 – Joe Manganiello Stole My Bastion

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 70:51


    The guys talk about Joe Manganiello's man cave, Ed Greenwoods storytelling time, Bastions from the upcoming Dungeon Masters guide, and ecology of the Remorhaz.

    Episode 202 – A Bullywug Croaked At Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 94:04


    Some chatter about D&D 5R players handbook this week, a different book that generates random monsters anytime you need it, and the ecology of the Ixitxachitl.

    Episode 201 – Episode 201??

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 64:18


    Some chatter about D&D 5R players handbook this week, a different book that generates random monsters anytime you need it, and the ecology of the Ixitxachitl.

    Episode 200 – Episode 200!!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 76:43


    The 200th episode and the guys bring in their friend Kristian and Dan to help out. They look at gaming supplements that they use or take inspiration from, useful ways to use AI, and ecology of the Tarrasque.

    Episode 199 – Shadowdark!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024 67:00


    This week the guys dive into the new game Shadowdark. After it's great success during GenCon it's time to see what it's about. Also a really bad string of rolls for a player and more on the ecology of Ropers.

    Episode 198 – D&D 2024 Broken Already!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 63:47


    GDM Christopher is on vacation and when the cats away the mice will talk about insane modules, broken spells in D&D 5R, and roper ecology.

    Episode 197 – D&D 2024 Recap & Why Christopher Keeps Drowning Characters

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 69:38


    It's just GDM Christopher and GDM Jay this week taking a breather and recapping some of the info from the new edition. Also GDM Christopher tries to drown his players characters again.

    Episode 196 – Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Sorceror, Bard, & Warlock

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 74:13


    The guys are joined by Kristian and GDM Christopher's better half Shelley to take a look at the changes to the Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Sorceror, Bard, & Warlock classes this time around. This is the last of the updates for the class list so listen in and let us know why you disagree with us!

    Episode 195 – Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Cleric, Druids, & Species

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2024 83:02


    The guys, plus their buddy Kristian, take a look at the changes to the cleric and druid classes along with the species updates. These classes got a ton of love and there are a large number of things to discuss with them. Sit back and enjoy!

    Grumpy Guest – Myzzrym of Tactical Adventures

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2024 77:43


    The guys sit and chat with Myzzrym of Tactical Adventures. They are the creators of Solasta, which is an incredible D&D 5E video game the guys have been streaming. Enjoy!

    Grumpy Guest – Jarrett Butler 80’s Adventures

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 59:04


    This week the guys are joined by Jarrett Butler of Dice Dungeon and the upcoming Kickstarter 80's Adventures for 5E. If you've ever wanted to play an Orc who works on Wall Street, a teenage halfling who likes to spend all their time at the mall, or a Jazzercise instructor who swings a battle axe then this is the game for you.

    Episode 194 – Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Ranger and Monk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 85:19


    The guys are slowly working their way through the new information as detailed as possible. This week it's the Ranger and the Monk. These have been 2 of the classes everybody thought needed a rework for a long time. The guys dive into the mix to see if the changes make them a better more playable class or just ok.

    Episode 193 – Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Rogue, Wizard, and Spells

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2024 106:12


    Kristian is back with the GDM guys to cover more of the upcoming book. They take a deep dive into the rogue changes, wizard changes, and a small contingent of spells that have been shown.

    Episode 192 – Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Fighter, Paladin, and Barbarian

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 116:47


    This week the guys invite their friend Kristian back to help them talk about the changes for the new edition. Specifically the changes to the fighter, paladin, and barbarian classes.

    Grumpy Guest – Sly Flourish

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2024 86:50


    This week the guys have a new guest with them! They get to sit down with Sly Flourish. Author of The Lazy Dungeon Master, Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master, and also a Youtuber! Listen in and enjoy!

    Episode 191 – Dungeons & Dragons 2024 The Hype!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2024 109:17


    The GDM guys and their 2 guests have a long conversation about the upcoming players handbook for Dungeons and Dragons. While they don't dive to deeply into the classes as of yet there is still an incredible amount of information to cover.

    Episode 190 – Kobolds: Dogs Or Lizards?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 60:40


    The guys talk about the changes in kobolds in Dungeons and Dragons over the years. Also some 2nd Editon Shadownrun chatter, Ral Partha miniatures, and super hero shenanigans!

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