How to Be a Better DM

Here are today's sponsors:Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcastRoll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplayStudio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsOur Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreonWe share a brief announcement in this episode... also, to clarify, I realized on relistening that I made it sound like Justin was the one having the baby, when we all know that his wife was the one doing all the work, haha. After that, we jump into a discussion of restarting D&D campaigns, which often feels even harder than starting a whole new campaign! How do you get the gang back together, and how would you pick up the pieces of the old campaign? Listen in to get some tips.Special thanks to:Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderatorsFoxy Beard, Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.Mentioned in this episode:Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Join Our DiscordSo a little bit of a spoiler alert. We're building an army. That's right, we're building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today. DiscordBrought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.I Made a CR 100 MonsterI made a Monster with a Challenge Rating of 100 Why? Because I could—and it only took me 5 minutes using Worldsmith. And the best part? You can do this and much more. Get a free 7-day trial at session0studios.com/worldsmith and unlock their full suite of TTRPG generators from monsters to mythic magic items and everything in between. Yep, that's a full 7-day trial—completely free. That's a whole week of monsters, magic items, and more—whatever you need, zero burnout. Try it now at session0studios.com/worldsmith. Save time and make unlimited creations with Worldsmith.

TL;DR:If your sessions start strong but crash halfway through, it's not your story, your prep, or even your players—it's your energy management. In this episode, Justin breaks down the hidden reason your games lose momentum mid-session and teaches you how to fix it permanently. Here are today's sponsors:Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcastRoll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplayStudio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsOur Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreonWhat You'll Learn in This Episode:-The Real DM Killer: It's not scheduling, it's session fatigue—and most DMs don't even realize it's happening.-Mental vs. Physical Energy: Why you're probably managing the wrong one (and what to do about it).-The “Secret Breaks” Technique: How doing less mid-session can actually supercharge your impact.-Hydration Science for DMs: Why sipping water wrong is draining your stamina (and how to fix it).- Find Your Energy Style: Why trying to copy Mercer or Mulligan might be sabotaging your flow—and how to unlock your personal DM tempo. The Big Promise:After this episode, you'll know how to control your energy like a resource, just like mana or spell slots. No more sluggish sessions. No more zoning out. Just peak performance when it counts. You'll walk away with:Tools to maintain high engagement from start to finishConfidence in your pacing, presence, and deliveryA repeatable framework for showing up energized at the table every time Ready to stop running out of gas halfway through your game?Hit play and let's supercharge your DM style.Want this kind of energy in your own campaign? Book a pro DM session at Session0Studios.comSpecial thanks to:Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderatorsFoxy Beard, Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.Mentioned in this episode:Join Our DiscordSo a little bit of a spoiler alert. We're building an army. That's right, we're building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today. DiscordGive Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.I Made a CR 100 MonsterI made a...

Welcome back to the 6th installment of our short series on writing a Homebrew one-shot. In this episode, we're joined by our friend Rob Van Auken and we continue work on The Chimefall Ceremony: For Whom the Bell TolIs.This miniseries is designed to help give you an idea of how to collaborate on a project like this and how to write and publish a one-shot.Also, a little bit of Rob's audio is lost at the end due to a poor connection... sorry!Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.

Here are today's sponsors:Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcastRoll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplayStudio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsOur Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreonJustin and Tanner are joined for this episode by an amazing DM, London Carlisle! While he's known for being an impressive DM at events such as "D&D In A Castle", his acting experience becomes especially useful for our discussion on NPCs. We discuss where to pull inspiration from for creating characters and voices, how to create depth in NPCs without overriding your players, and many more ideas to drill further into NPC creation!Follow London on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londoncarlisleAnd learn more about his role at "D&D In A Castle" here: https://www.dndinacastle.com/dungeon-masters/london-carlisleSpecial thanks to:Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderatorsFoxy Beard, Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.Mentioned in this episode:Do You Want to Earn some Money?

Here are today's sponsors:Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcastRoll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplayStudio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsOur Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreonFeeling stuck or burned out as a Dungeon Master? You're not alone—and you're not out of options. In this episode, Justin and Tanner break down the Four Core Skills that every great DM needs to master:1️⃣ People Management2️⃣ Showmanship & Performance3️⃣ Game Design4️⃣ StorytellingAnd yes... there's a secret fifth pillar

Here are today's sponsors:Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcastRoll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplayStudio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsOur Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreonWhether your new player is a wide-eyed first-timer or cautiously dipping a toe into the hobby, Tanner shares key strategies for making their early sessions fun, engaging, and not overwhelming. From simplifying character creation and gently easing players into combat, to modeling role-playing behavior and encouraging character development, this episode is full of practical advice for DMs who want to be thoughtful guides on a new player's journey.Check out our sponsor, Monument Studios! Their music always brings our games to the next level, and they can do it for you, too. Use cod BETTERDM10 for a discount and to support our show: https://rollandplaypress.comAlso, learn more about our Pro DM services here to have a great DM run your game: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/Special thanks to:Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderatorsFoxy Beard, Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Add the Magic of Sound to Your GameplayWhen you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That's why we've teamed up with Monument Studios. Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout. Monument StudiosDo You Want to Earn some Money?

Here are today's sponsors:Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcastRoll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplayYour world deserves to feel alive. In this episode of How to Be a Better DM, Justin dives deep into the art of “show, don't tell” — not for your villains this time, but for your cities and settlements. Discover how to make your game world feel like a living, breathing place through cultural cues, architecture, layout, and behavior. You'll learn actionable techniques to bring immersive environments to life and create settlements that feel like characters in your campaign. Plus, a secret about “show, don't tell” that no one talks about!Special thanks to:Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderatorsFoxy Beard, Kyle Wilson, and Nick Ammann for being our patrons.Mentioned in this episode:Add the Magic of Sound to Your GameplayWhen you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That's why we've teamed up with Monument Studios. Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout. Monument StudiosBrought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Start Leveling Up As a DMWouldn't it be nice to gamify your dungeon master abilities? In D&D, characters can reach level 20, so why can't dungeon masters? We're happy to tell you that now, you can. We created the Dungeon Master Level-Up Guide. It's a simple tool to gamify your progression to higher and higher levels of dungeon mastering. It includes Dungeon Master Levels 1 to 20 with associated XP requirements as well as a long list of Dungeon Master activities that will give you XP. Each activity has a Challenge Rating and an XP amount. In order to level up, all you need to do is find out how much XP you have, find out how much you need and pick activities to try. You can get the Dungeon Master Level-Up guide for free by going to session0studios.com/newsletter/, sign up for our newsletter and we'll email you the Level-Up Guide. Finally, leveling up as a DM can be as fun as leveling up a character. Level Up GuideGive Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.

Here are today's sponsors:Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcastRoll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplayWe've all been there: the endless turns, actions, and HP ticking down as you slog through another combat that you don't know how to end fast enough. Why did your combat become like this? And how can you make it enjoyable and fun again?! Let's talk about it.Also, want ad-free podcasts with additional content while also supporting us? Check out our Patreon: patreon.com/betterdungeonmasterSpecial thanks to:Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderatorsFoxy Beard, Kyle Wilson, and Nick Ammann for being our patrons.Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Start Leveling Up As a DMWouldn't it be nice to gamify your dungeon master abilities? In D&D, characters can reach level 20, so why can't dungeon masters? We're happy to tell you that now, you can. We created the Dungeon Master Level-Up Guide. It's a simple tool to gamify your progression to higher and higher levels of dungeon mastering. It includes Dungeon Master Levels 1 to 20 with associated XP requirements as well as a long list of Dungeon Master activities that will give you XP. Each activity has a Challenge Rating and an XP amount. In order to level up, all you need to do is find out how much XP you have, find out how much you need and pick activities to try. You can get the Dungeon Master Level-Up guide for free by going to session0studios.com/newsletter/, sign up for our newsletter and we'll email you the Level-Up Guide. Finally, leveling up as a DM can be as fun as leveling up a character. Level Up GuideGive Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Add the Magic of Sound to Your GameplayWhen you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That's why we've teamed up with Monument Studios. Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout. Monument Studios

Here are today's sponsors:Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcastRoll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplayAI is here—and it's not going anywhere. But what does it mean for Dungeon Masters?In this episode, Justin and Tanner dive deep into how artificial intelligence is already impacting the tabletop RPG space—from ethical dilemmas to practical time-saving hacks. Is it a crutch or a creativity booster? Are you giving away core skills without realizing it? And how can you use it intentionally to become a better DM?We'll also share:The right way to use AI for session prepWhy AI won't replace storytelling, but might reshape itReal-world examples of how we've used AI in our own gamesA brand new sponsor-powered segment featuring a ridiculous, pizza-based spell

Is it important for you NPCs to "feel" a certain way when players interact with them? And more importantly, does making a fleshed out, goal-driven NPC add to the story or just add to your stress levels when prepping for your next session? Tanner discusses with DM Shea and DM Kyle from the Dungeon Master Talk podcast!Also, check out their podcast at https://dungeonmastertalk.buzzsprout.com/ for some more sage advice from these awesome DMs!Mentioned in this episode:Sign Up For Dungeon Master CoachingWouldn't it be nice to have someone in your corner as a DM? Maybe having someone who can help you find solutions to your DMing problems and help you improve every aspect of your game. Well, here at How to Be a Better DM we are trying an experiment. We are offering 5 free coaching sessions to listeners of the show. During these coaching sessions, we'll work with you through your strengths and weaknesses as a DM and help you generate a game plan to make both better. You can either send in a recording of one of your games, or we'll attend it live if able. If all else fails, we can still chat about your struggle and talk through any prep you've done for your upcoming games. Just go to session0studios.com/coaching and sign up.Dungeon Master CoachingGive Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Why Listen to Ads?Ugh, another ad break. Let's be real—ads are the worst. If you're anything like my wife, you'd rather quit a show entirely than sit through another ad. So why suffer? Just skip them. Join our Patreon at patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and enjoy ad-free episodes with exclusive patron-only content—all for just $5 a month. Look at you, all fancy with your uninterrupted listening experience. So stop wasting time on ads (like this one). Go to patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and upgrade your listening today!Patreon

Most villains fail not because they're weak—but because your players aren't emotionally invested. In this episode, we kick off a powerful new storytelling series with a focus on “Show, Don't Tell”—starting with the most misunderstood piece of storytelling in D&D: the villain.You'll learn:Why simply saying “he's the bad guy” never worksHow to build villains that evoke real fear, anger, or aweA concrete method for triggering emotional investmentReal-world villain examples (and mistakes to avoid)Ready to turn your villains from forgettable into unforgettable? Let's roll.

What does it really mean to be a strong Dungeon Master? Is it about rules mastery, epic voices, or maybe... sonic attacks and diamond scales?In this episode of How to Be a Better DM, returning guest Jay Foster from Swole Initiative joins Justin Lewis for a monster of a conversation—literally. First, Jay becomes the first victim of our brand-new segment, “What's Your Monster?” powered by our friends at WorldSmith. (Spoiler: It's epic.)Then we dig deep into the power of theme in D&D campaigns—what it is, how to discover it, and how to use it to elevate your game. Jay breaks down how theme connects your villains and player characters and why letting go of rigid story control actually leads to better storytelling.If you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to wrangle plotlines, player choices, and big ideas, this episode is your antidote.

In this special episode of How to Be a Better DM, Justin Lewis shares key takeaways from the GMing 101 panel at Dragon Steel Nexus 2024. Learn how to manage player expectations, improve group communication, and create more engaging game sessions. Whether you're a new DM or a seasoned pro, these tips will help you level up your game!Special thanks to :Benj Weyland for our Graphic DesignTJ Max, TechSenpai and Juka for being our Discord Moderators Foxy Beard for being a Patron.Mentioned in this episode:Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Join Our DiscordSo a little bit of a spoiler alert. We're building an army. That's right, we're building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today. DiscordBrought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Why Listen to Ads?Ugh, another ad break. Let's be real—ads are the worst. If you're anything like my wife, you'd rather quit a show entirely than sit through another ad. So why suffer? Just skip them. Join our Patreon at patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and enjoy ad-free episodes with exclusive patron-only content—all for just $5 a month. Look at you, all fancy with your uninterrupted listening experience. So stop wasting time on ads (like this one). Go to patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and upgrade your listening today!Patreon

DMs, today we are talking about fitting in—specifically helping players fit into your D&D group and party. Whether it's a player who doesn't know how to cross that metaphorical gap, or the party doesn't know how to welcome someone new fully, today Tanner is giving some tips to help you pull them in and welcome them!Mentioned in this episode:Why Listen to Ads?Ugh, another ad break. Let's be real—ads are the worst. If you're anything like my wife, you'd rather quit a show entirely than sit through another ad. So why suffer? Just skip them. Join our Patreon at patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and enjoy ad-free episodes with exclusive patron-only content—all for just $5 a month. Look at you, all fancy with your uninterrupted listening experience. So stop wasting time on ads (like this one). Go to patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and upgrade your listening today!PatreonTry Worldsmith Today!Give yourself access to infinite possibilities with Worldsmith! It's the ultimate tool for Dungeon Masters to spark creativity or just save your bacon when you're in a bind. You can generate infinite stories, traps or treasures. Sign up at https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcastWorldsmithBrought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Always Have Your Sessions Prepared!You work 8 hours a day. You spend time with your family when you come home. You do work around the house and it seems you never have as much time as you would like to prepare your D&D sessions. Does this sound like you? Wouldn't it be amazing to have endless material prepared for your D&D sessions anyways? That's where Roll and Play Press comes in. Roll and Play Press provides D&D 5e Compatible materials for any type of session. Running a one-shot? Check out their One Shot Wonders book with over 100 one-shot ideas. Getting started with your new sci-fi campaign? Get their Game Master's Sci-Fi Toolkit to have your games much more prepared. Why reinvent the wheel? Check out Roll and Play Press at rollandplaypress.com and get 10% off when you buy something by using the code BETTERDM10. Roll and Play PressJoin Our PatreonYou may be asking yourself, “How do I get more out of How to Be a Better DM?” You probably want even more tips, more entertainment, or perhaps access to a secret society that rules the world… Well, we don't rule the world yet, but it sounds like what you need is to join our Patreon. You'll get access to our private Discord which will give you direct access to all the hosts of this show as well as other dungeon masters who are just like you. You'll also be able to make fan requests for How to Be a Better DM. Lastly, you help support the show so we can give you even better content. Go to https://session0studios.com/startadventure and join our Patreon today!

Your party has already split 30 minutes into session one—again. The rogue sneaks off, the barbarian wrestles in the local church, and the bard… well, who even knows? If you're tired of struggling to keep your party together, this episode is for you. Discover the Coalescence Event, a powerful DM tool that ensures your players stay united through meaningful storytelling, emotional stakes, and shared goals. Learn the 9 essential methods to organically bond your party—from shipwrecks to common enemies—and create a campaign that feels natural, immersive, and unforgettable.Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.We Like YouHey Bud… How's it going? Just wanted to say… we like you. We're think you're pretty cool. We hope you like us too. If you do like us and what we're doing, you can support us on our Patreon. Just $1 a month is enough. Just go to https://session0studios.com/patreon and show your support. But even if you don't… we still like you. See ya around bud. PatreonWhy Listen to Ads?Ugh, another ad break. Let's be real—ads are the worst. If you're anything like my wife, you'd rather quit a show entirely than sit through another ad. So why suffer? Just skip them. Join our Patreon at patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and enjoy ad-free episodes with exclusive patron-only content—all for just $5 a month. Look at you, all fancy with your uninterrupted listening experience. So stop wasting time on ads (like this one). Go to patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and upgrade your listening today!PatreonGive Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.

Alignment—one of the most debated mechanics in Dungeons & Dragons. Is it a vital storytelling tool or an unnecessary restriction? In this episode, Tanner and Justin dive deep into the purpose of alignment, its impact on roleplay, and whether it should still have a place in modern campaigns. Plus, hear real stories of alignment gone hilariously wrong and discover ways to make it more meaningful at your table. Don't miss this insightful discussion that could change how you run your game!Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Try Worldsmith Today!Give yourself access to infinite possibilities with Worldsmith! It's the ultimate tool for Dungeon Masters to spark creativity or just save your bacon when you're in a bind. You can generate infinite stories, traps or treasures. Sign up at https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcastWorldsmithJoin Our DiscordSo a little bit of a spoiler alert. We're building an army. That's right, we're building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today. Discord

Ever lost something truly great? Well, our first recording with Ashley May King disappeared into the void, but lucky for you, she's back for an incredible conversation about writing horror and Mystery! Join us as we dive into storytelling, Dungeon Mastering techniques, and how to create unforgettable tabletop adventures. Don't miss this episode of How to Be a Better DM!Check out more of Ashley at https://www.instagram.com/ashleymayking/Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Try Worldsmith Today!Give yourself access to infinite possibilities with Worldsmith! It's the ultimate tool for Dungeon Masters to spark creativity or just save your bacon when you're in a bind. You can generate infinite stories, traps or treasures. Sign up at https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcastWorldsmithJoin Our DiscordSo a little bit of a spoiler alert. We're building an army. That's right, we're building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today. DiscordGive Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.

Do you think that there is the perfect length for a campaign? Well, rather than spending forever finding that out, let's instead consider the advantages of both extremes of campaigns: a short, 5-15 session campaign, or a long 20, 30, 40+ campaign carried throughout the years.Our sponsor, Worldsmith: session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcastMentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.We Like YouHey Bud… How's it going? Just wanted to say… we like you. We're think you're pretty cool. We hope you like us too. If you do like us and what we're doing, you can support us on our Patreon. Just $1 a month is enough. Just go to https://session0studios.com/patreon and show your support. But even if you don't… we still like you. See ya around bud. PatreonTry Worldsmith Today!Give yourself access to infinite possibilities with Worldsmith! It's the ultimate tool for Dungeon Masters to spark creativity or just save your bacon when you're in a bind. You can generate infinite stories, traps or treasures. Sign up at https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcastWorldsmith

There's one mistake I've made over and over as a DM, and every time, it has sucked the life out of my campaigns. The worst part? I didn't even realize I was doing it. But fixing it? That took just one simple change. Today, I'm sharing that tip with you—along with 12 others—to make sure your early campaign isn't just fun but keeps your players hooked all the way to the endgame.IntroWelcome back to How to Be a Better DM, the show that helps you craft unforgettable D&D sessions. I'm Justin Lewis, and for over three years, my cohosts and I have explored every dungeon master challenge under the sun. Today, we're tackling a crucial question: How do you make your campaign's opening strong enough to keep players coming back for more? Whether you're a new DM or a veteran, these 13 tips will help you sidestep common pitfalls and build a campaign that players can't wait to continue.The first few sessions of your campaign determine whether your players stay invested—or quietly start looking for another game. If you get this wrong, you might find yourself scrambling to keep their attention, dealing with last-minute cancellations, or, worst of all, facing a total campaign collapse. But if you get it right? Your players will be hooked, excited, and fully immersed in your world. Let's make sure that happens.Starting their first campaign is exciting yet nerve-racking for many people. You want to make sure you've gotten it all right! Most often, though, we feel we are falling short of where we want to be. That's all right, though. Almost nothing is more instructive than doing things wrong and learning from them.Your campaign's early stages can be a pivotal period for your party and yourself as a DM. Everyone is still learning how to play together and the early stages of any campaign are when it is most fragile. It's not that difficult to stop playing because the emotional investment hasn't yet been made.So to help you safeguard your early campaign and help you overcome the fragility, here is a simple list of Do's and Don'ts for your early campaign.And there's one tip near the end of this list that completely transformed my campaigns. It's something I overlooked for years, but once I figured it out, my players became way more engaged. I'll share that one toward the end—so stick with me.Before I get deeper into this particular rabbit hole, let me just say that every DM has their own way of doing things—these are just my lessons. Take what works for you and leave the rest.Ok here are my do's and don'ts for the Early Campaign.Do Plan out the Story ArcsBecause the early campaign is so fragile, one way to strengthen it is by planning out your story arcs. That's why you should apply the CASE method. For those of you that don't know that that is, check out episode 157, but in brief, the CASE method stands for Campaign, Story Arc, Session, Encounter.You use the case method to plan each portion of a campaign by building that portion with its smaller constituent parts, encounters build sessions, sessions build story arcs and story arcs build campaigns.Have you ever felt lost 2 sessions into your campaign? That's why the CASE Method exists.In this case, that means that you storyboard and timeline the general story arcs you think are going to happen. You want to do this so that at the very minimum, you have a general idea of the flow of the campaign. Your Story Arc plan is not going to be what happens. Player choice and the natural flow of the game is going to dictate which story arcs get played and which simply fade into irrelevance. It's important to have a general idea of the direction of the campaign so that you can tease certain things that are coming down the pipe (more on that when we get to number 13).For example in one of

Welcome back to the 5th installment of our short series on writing a Homebrew one-shot. In this episode, we're joined by our friend Rob Van Auken and we continue work on The Chimefall Ceremony: For Whom the Bell TolIs.This miniseries is designed to help give you an idea of how to collaborate on a project like this and how to write and publish a one-shot.Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.We Like YouHey Bud… How's it going? Just wanted to say… we like you. We're think you're pretty cool. We hope you like us too. If you do like us and what we're doing, you can support us on our Patreon. Just $1 a month is enough. Just go to https://session0studios.com/patreon and show your support. But even if you don't… we still like you. See ya around bud. PatreonAlways Have Your Sessions Prepared!You work 8 hours a day. You spend time with your family when you come home. You do work around the house and it seems you never have as much time as you would like to prepare your D&D sessions. Does this sound like you? Wouldn't it be amazing to have endless material prepared for your D&D sessions anyways? That's where Roll and Play Press comes in. Roll and Play Press provides D&D 5e Compatible materials for any type of session. Running a one-shot? Check out their One Shot Wonders book with over 100 one-shot ideas. Getting started with your new sci-fi campaign? Get their Game Master's Sci-Fi Toolkit to have your games much more prepared. Why reinvent the wheel? Check out Roll and Play Press at rollandplaypress.com and get 10% off when you buy something by using the code BETTERDM10. Roll and Play Press

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM.Today, Tanner and Justin are joined by Ryan and Allison from The Kids Table DND (https://www.youtube.com/@thekidstablednd).Playing D&D with kids is a very intimidating concept for some DMs, and in today's show, we dive into how to do it right and the benefits it can lend to the kids and to the adults playing alongside them.Today's show is not just for parents. It' useful for every DM to really diveinto Simplicity and learn how to do things in an easy and user friendly way.Mentioned in this episode:Always Have Your Sessions Prepared!You work 8 hours a day. You spend time with your family when you come home. You do work around the house and it seems you never have as much time as you would like to prepare your D&D sessions. Does this sound like you? Wouldn't it be amazing to have endless material prepared for your D&D sessions anyways? That's where Roll and Play Press comes in. Roll and Play Press provides D&D 5e Compatible materials for any type of session. Running a one-shot? Check out their One Shot Wonders book with over 100 one-shot ideas. Getting started with your new sci-fi campaign? Get their Game Master's Sci-Fi Toolkit to have your games much more prepared. Why reinvent the wheel? Check out Roll and Play Press at rollandplaypress.com and get 10% off when you buy something by using the code BETTERDM10. Roll and Play PressGive Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.We Like YouHey Bud… How's it going? Just wanted to say… we like you. We're think you're pretty cool. We hope you like us too. If you do like us and what we're doing, you can support us on our Patreon. Just $1 a month is enough. Just go to https://session0studios.com/patreon and show your support. But even if you don't… we still like you. See ya around bud. PatreonBrought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.

Have you ever been... frustrated with D&D? Or with your game? Or even your player interactions? Great news: you can always solve the frustrations that come as a DM--the problem is that a lot of DMs try to push down and ignore the signs of their own frustration, leaving their game and their feelings towards it to get worse and worse. Today, Tanner discusses some easy ways to resolve frustration with various aspects of the D&D experience.Mentioned in this episode:Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.We Like YouHey Bud… How's it going? Just wanted to say… we like you. We're think you're pretty cool. We hope you like us too. If you do like us and what we're doing, you can support us on our Patreon. Just $1 a month is enough. Just go to https://session0studios.com/patreon and show your support. But even if you don't… we still like you. See ya around bud. PatreonHire Us as Your Dungeon MasterDid you know that you can have one of our hosts here at How to Be a Better DM be your dungeon master? That's right. All of our podcast hosts are professional dungeon masters that you can hire for your private or corporate dungeons and dragons game. We can do one-shots or long-term campaigns. If you want to schedule your first session with us, go to https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/ and get started. Dungeon Master for HireBrought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM.On today's show, we are joined by Rob Van Auken to continue our work on our homebrew one-shot, For Whom the Bell Tolls: The Chimefall Ceremony.This episode should help you learn how to do a collaborative project with friends as well as how to write and publish a one-shot.Here are the links to the previous episodes in case you need them:Part 1: https://session0studios.com/podcast/homebrew-collaboration-with-rob-van-auken-part-1/Part 2: https://session0studios.com/podcast/the-chimefall-ceremony-homebrew-project-building-with-rob-van-auken-part-2/Part 3: https://session0studios.com/podcast/for-whom-the-bell-tolls-homebrew-collaboration-part-3/Mentioned in this episode:We Like YouHey Bud… How's it going? Just wanted to say… we like you. We're think you're pretty cool. We hope you like us too. If you do like us and what we're doing, you can support us on our Patreon. Just $1 a month is enough. Just go to https://session0studios.com/patreon and show your support. But even if you don't… we still like you. See ya around bud. PatreonGive Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Hire Us as Your Dungeon MasterDid you know that you can have one of our hosts here at How to Be a Better DM be your dungeon master? That's right. All of our podcast hosts are professional dungeon masters that you can hire for your private or corporate dungeons and dragons game. We can do one-shots or long-term campaigns. If you want to schedule your first session with us, go to https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/ and get started. Dungeon Master for HireBrought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM.Today is a coaching episode with Samantha Fortune.We talked about using a timeline to prep sessions and to use real-life weather to inspire the weather in games. Samantha also highlights the power of in-game favors and using those to motivate characters to do things or to intimidate them to do things.Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Hire Us as Your Dungeon MasterDid you know that you can have one of our hosts here at How to Be a Better DM be your dungeon master? That's right. All of our podcast hosts are professional dungeon masters that you can hire for your private or corporate dungeons and dragons game. We can do one-shots or long-term campaigns. If you want to schedule your first session with us, go to https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/ and get started. Dungeon Master for HireStart Leveling Up As a DMWouldn't it be nice to gamify your dungeon master abilities? In D&D, characters can reach level 20, so why can't dungeon masters? We're happy to tell you that now, you can. We created the Dungeon Master Level-Up Guide. It's a simple tool to gamify your progression to higher and higher levels of dungeon mastering. It includes Dungeon Master Levels 1 to 20 with associated XP requirements as well as a long list of Dungeon Master activities that will give you XP. Each activity has a Challenge Rating and an XP amount. In order to level up, all you need to do is find out how much XP you have, find out how much you need and pick activities to try. You can get the Dungeon Master Level-Up guide for free by going to session0studios.com/newsletter/, sign up for our newsletter and we'll email you the Level-Up Guide. Finally, leveling up as a DM can be as fun as leveling up a character. Level Up Guide

Welcome back!Today, I'll talk about my goals as a DM for 2025. May these inspire you to make your own goals.Develop my SizzleCreate the Ultimate Session Planning FrameworkFinish and Publish 3 One-shot AdventuresImprove combat / Make it Less BoringPerfect the CASE MethodWork on my SkillsWork on Interpersonal Communication and RelationshipsWork on the Game part of Roleplaying gamesImprove my min/maxing of Combat encountersMentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Start Leveling Up As a DMWouldn't it be nice to gamify your dungeon master abilities? In D&D, characters can reach level 20, so why can't dungeon masters? We're happy to tell you that now, you can. We created the Dungeon Master Level-Up Guide. It's a simple tool to gamify your progression to higher and higher levels of dungeon mastering. It includes Dungeon Master Levels 1 to 20 with associated XP requirements as well as a long list of Dungeon Master activities that will give you XP. Each activity has a Challenge Rating and an XP amount. In order to level up, all you need to do is find out how much XP you have, find out how much you need and pick activities to try. You can get the Dungeon Master Level-Up guide for free by going to session0studios.com/newsletter/, sign up for our newsletter and we'll email you the Level-Up Guide. Finally, leveling up as a DM can be as fun as leveling up a character. Level Up GuideHire Us as Your Dungeon MasterDid you know that you can have one of our hosts here at How to Be a Better DM be your dungeon master? That's right. All of our podcast hosts are professional dungeon masters that you can hire for your private or corporate dungeons and dragons game. We can do one-shots or long-term campaigns. If you want to schedule your first session with us, go to https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/ and get started. Dungeon Master for Hire

In any publicly traded company, shareholders who own a portion of the company can expect a year-end review and a prospectus of what the new year will bring. This is to give some accountability of those running the company to those who've invested their time and money into it.Well, seeing as how you've decided to invest at least your time into this podcast, I think it only fair that we give you some sort of report so that we can be somewhat accountable to you for what this show is doing and what it will do in the future.Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM.I'm Justin Lewis and for over 3 years now, you and I have been figuring out better ways to help you improve your DMing craft without having to devote extra time, money or stress. You might be new to the show, in which case, thanks for giving us a chance and letting us invade your earspace, or you might have been with us from the beginning, in which place, please make yourself known to us because we actually have no idea who has been listening to us since the beginning. Whoever you are, we're happy your here.Let me let you in on how I view things.I view you listening to us as an investment. Of course, we are doing everything we can to make sure you get tremendous value everytime you pop us in your earbuds and go for a run, or do the dishes, but frankly, we know what we are. We know we aren't the most professionally produced show. You can probably tell simply by hearing my baby boy in the background. We also know that we don't do this full-time and honestly, are still growing as dungeon masters ourselves.But…Many of you choose to listen to us anyway. In fact, many of you are grateful to us and have binged our show! Somehow, despite our weaknesses, you've still managed to find some good and enjoy it. To me, that shows that you are putting an investment into us. You're devoting some of your precious time to listen to us and to us that investment of yours requires us to do the very best we can to make the show better.So for this episode, don't consider yourself a dungeon master only, but also consider yourself an investor in our show and consider me the CEO giving you a report of how things went this year. Now I know this analogy only goes so far, but I hope you get the idea.Let me first start off by giving a brief summary of what we did this year:Monsters.Rent: When we first started 2024, we had just closed up shop on our previous business model of Monsters.Rent. Obviously, for us to be able to keep doing this podcast, we needed to figure out some way to use it to get resources so we could make it better. Previously, we tried creating a D&D mini subscription rental service. Unfortunately, we just couldn't figure out how to make the logistics of it work. We had a nice run, but over time we just realized we couldn't make it work. Session 0 Studios: So instead, we pivoted to Session 0 Studios. We brought on Cayden and Jake and created Session 0 Studios and started our new show The Pact and Boon. For those of you that don't know, The Pact and Boon is our sister show which is an actual play show following the stories of 3 unlikely adventurers who start their journey in the pits of Hell. Full transparency, over this last year, we had quite a few road bumps with that particular show and have honestly had a pretty hard time aligning ourselves on how to keep it going. If you follow that show, you've probably noticed that we've been on hiatus for a second. First off, we're very sorry about that. Because The Pact and Boon is so new, we got excited and bit off more than we could chew. So coming in the new year, we're going to restart up the show and settle on a more consistent posting schedule even if we don't post as much. We'll also have a new element added in where each of us will switch off being the Dungeon Master! Starting in January of 2025 we'll have Tanner running the show

Welcome back to today's show.Here's a simple session 0 checklist to help you set your games up for successGet the First Session ScheduledSet Expectations2a. Your Expectations2b. The party's Expectations and WantsTable RulesThe Premise of the StoryPlaytestingParty ConnectionsToolsMentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Hire Us as Your Dungeon MasterDid you know that you can have one of our hosts here at How to Be a Better DM be your dungeon master? That's right. All of our podcast hosts are professional dungeon masters that you can hire for your private or corporate dungeons and dragons game. We can do one-shots or long-term campaigns. If you want to schedule your first session with us, go to https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/ and get started. Dungeon Master for HireStart Leveling Up As a DMWouldn't it be nice to gamify your dungeon master abilities? In D&D, characters can reach level 20, so why can't dungeon masters? We're happy to tell you that now, you can. We created the Dungeon Master Level-Up Guide. It's a simple tool to gamify your progression to higher and higher levels of dungeon mastering. It includes Dungeon Master Levels 1 to 20 with associated XP requirements as well as a long list of Dungeon Master activities that will give you XP. Each activity has a Challenge Rating and an XP amount. In order to level up, all you need to do is find out how much XP you have, find out how much you need and pick activities to try. You can get the Dungeon Master Level-Up guide for free by going to session0studios.com/newsletter/, sign up for our newsletter and we'll email you the Level-Up Guide. Finally, leveling up as a DM can be as fun as leveling up a character. Level Up Guide

It's hard knowing what to throw at your players during an encounter. Luckily, D&D has a nifty challenge rating system set up to help you out. Easy!.... right? Actually, no. So many DMs don't know how to approach Challenge Ratings for their encounters because of the dense tables and calculations. However, it isn't something worth stressing about at all, as you'll learn in today's episode.Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.

All things must end. But endings always bring new beginnings. As the year 2024 comes to a close, many of us become thoughtful and introspective. In my case, the introspection has allowed to think on the many changes I've personally made throughout this year and the dungeon master I'm morphing into. So today, I'd like to share some of the most important lessons I've learned over this last year and hopefully some of these lessons can help you too.Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM. If you're listening to this show, you've tried not being the dungeon master. You've stopped DMing and have just tried to be a player for a while, but for whatever reason, you just can't not be the DM. Other people stop showing up, you feel the urge to write and run the story or it's just in your blood. And because of that, we made this show to help you with your affliction! I'm your host Justin Lewis and I'm very happy to be chatting with you today of all days because tomorrow on December 6th, I will be guesting on 2 panels at Dragonsteel Nexus in Salt Lake City. Dragonsteel Nexus is the convention put on by Brandon Sanderson's company Dragonsteel and I'm lucky enough to be able to participate. If you're in the area, you should grab a ticket and come and hang out with me in real life. I'll be joining a panel on TTRPGs for Authors and Writers and another on GMing 101. It should be a fun experience and frankly, I am a little nervous so any positive vibes are appreciated.This year was the first year where any of us here at Session 0 Studios and How to Be a DM were able to guest on panels. The first happened earlier this year at Dead Wars in Provo Utah and frankly, we've all evolved a lot since then.But before I get to the lessons learned, I must tell you guys something; I'm going to be a little vulnerable here. I'm a sham.I'm not saying this for sympathy or anything, I'm just trying to be real and vulnerable. On most days, I feel like a big fat phony. It's mostly because I honestly consider myself to be a pretty mediocre Dungeon Master. Looking back over my DMing career, I see a huge gap between where I am and where I want to be. It's humbling really. I've gotten so much better over this last year, but that improvement has really only made me more aware of how much farther there still is to go.When I first started How to Be a Better DM, I started it for a few reasons. First of all, I love podcasts and I love podcasting. Back in 2016 and 2017, I'm pretty sure I told people that podcasts were among the things I did for fun. I love the medium and I love being able to say something. I think we all have something to say, and maybe podcasting is my way of saying something.Secondly, and this is something most of you are probably not aware of, I had a previous podcast and that turned out to be less than successful, as least in my eyes. I want to do this full-time and the previous podcast wasn't really going anywhere. It was a personal development podcast about doing hard things to make your life better. I called it The Hard Thing Podcast. Yeah… I know… Not the greatest name. Towards the end, I actually ended up rebranding it to Becoming the Hero which is actually still live to this day. I stopped doing that podcast because I'd tried putting together a summit of previous guests which included a couple navy seals, army rangers and a CIA spy. It was an online summit and even with a small advertising budget, I didn't get any signups even when I dropped the price to free. I felt like I didn't have any authority in that space and I eventually stopped putting out episodes because I felt the target market was too broad and that I couldn't compete. When I stopped putting out episodes and nobody reached out asking where I'd gone, I knew it was the right decision.In contrast, I saw Dungeons and Dragons as a great market to get into. I love the game and I...

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DMToday Cayden and Justin sit down with the creators of worldsmith.io to talk about worldbuilding and how to do it more effectively with less time and hassle.Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Follow us on InstagramThanks again for listening to our show. If you like our content and would like to engage with more of our content, head over to our Instagram account, @howtobeabetterdm, and give us a follow. Make sure to watch some of our helpful Dungeon Master Rules videos to give yourself some structure and procedure as a Dungeon Master. Don't forget to reach out with a DM and we can talk shop. https://www.instagram.com/howtobeabetterdmpodcast/Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Always Have Your Sessions Prepared!You work 8 hours a day. You spend time with your family when you come home. You do work around the house and it seems you never have as much time as you would like to prepare your D&D sessions. Does this sound like you? Wouldn't it be amazing to have endless material prepared for your D&D sessions anyways? That's where Roll and Play Press comes in. Roll and Play Press provides D&D 5e Compatible materials for any type of session. Running a one-shot? Check out their One Shot Wonders book with over 100 one-shot ideas. Getting started with your new sci-fi campaign? Get their Game Master's Sci-Fi Toolkit to have your games much more prepared. Why reinvent the wheel? Check out Roll and Play Press at rollandplaypress.com and get 10% off when you buy something by using the code BETTERDM10. Roll and Play Press

Want to take your campaign from good to unforgettable? In this episode, we're diving into the art of foreshadowing! Learn how to plant subtle clues, create epic payoffs, and keep your players hooked with those jaw-dropping "aha!" moments. Whether it's a prophecy, a recurring symbol, or a suspicious NPC, foreshadowing is your secret weapon for immersive storytelling.What You'll Learn in This Episode:What foreshadowing is and why it's essential for a cohesive campaign.The difference between direct and subtle foreshadowing (and when to use each).How to plan your big reveals and drop hints that feel natural.Practical DM tips for layering clues, using red herrings, and tracking your foreshadowing efforts.Real-world examples you can adapt for your table.Quick Highlights:Start with the reveal: What big moment are you building toward?Use NPC dialogue, environmental details, and symbols to plant your hints.Repeat clues and let them evolve, but avoid overwhelming players with too many.Encourage player speculation—sometimes their theories are better than your plans!Resources Mentioned:Tips for managing clues and continuity in your campaign.How to balance foreshadowing with the flow of gameplay.Connect With Us:Did you use any of these tips in your campaign? Share your story!https://session0studios.com/https://www.instagram.com/howtobeabetterdmpodcast?igsh=YmU0b3Zsbms1anUwMentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Always Have Your Sessions Prepared!You work 8 hours a day. You spend time with your family when you come home. You do work around the house and it seems you never have as much time as you would like to prepare your D&D sessions. Does this sound like you? Wouldn't it be amazing to have endless material prepared for your D&D sessions anyways? That's where Roll and Play Press comes in. Roll and Play Press provides D&D 5e Compatible materials for any type of session. Running a one-shot? Check out their One Shot Wonders book with over 100 one-shot ideas. Getting started with your new sci-fi campaign? Get their Game Master's Sci-Fi Toolkit to have your games much more prepared. Why reinvent the wheel? Check out Roll and Play Press at rollandplaypress.com and get 10% off when you buy something by using the code BETTERDM10. Roll and Play PressGive Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Follow us on InstagramThanks again for listening to our show. If you like our content and would like to engage with more of our content, head over to our Instagram account, @howtobeabetterdm, and give us a follow. Make sure to watch some of our helpful Dungeon Master Rules videos to give yourself some structure and procedure as a Dungeon Master. Don't forget to reach out with a DM and we can talk shop. https://www.instagram.com/howtobeabetterdmpodcast/

Do you think deeply about every piece of loot that you give? Or does your party get a kick out of getting the most random, most funny, more chaotic gear and equipment that D&D has to offer? Depending on your answer, you might want to focus on either personalizing or randomizing how you give out loot. But which is better? Listen to our episode and find out!Mentioned in this episode:Follow us on InstagramThanks again for listening to our show. If you like our content and would like to engage with more of our content, head over to our Instagram account, @howtobeabetterdm, and give us a follow. Make sure to watch some of our helpful Dungeon Master Rules videos to give yourself some structure and procedure as a Dungeon Master. Don't forget to reach out with a DM and we can talk shop. https://www.instagram.com/howtobeabetterdmpodcast/Always Have Your Sessions Prepared!You work 8 hours a day. You spend time with your family when you come home. You do work around the house and it seems you never have as much time as you would like to prepare your D&D sessions. Does this sound like you? Wouldn't it be amazing to have endless material prepared for your D&D sessions anyways? That's where Roll and Play Press comes in. Roll and Play Press provides D&D 5e Compatible materials for any type of session. Running a one-shot? Check out their One Shot Wonders book with over 100 one-shot ideas. Getting started with your new sci-fi campaign? Get their Game Master's Sci-Fi Toolkit to have your games much more prepared. Why reinvent the wheel? Check out Roll and Play Press at rollandplaypress.com and get 10% off when you buy something by using the code BETTERDM10. Roll and Play PressGive Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.

Welcome to How to Be a Better DM.Today we talk about how to start an actual play podcast, how to keep going with a creative idea and how to make it happen with Brennon from the Afterlife Pod.Today is part 1 of a special 2-part series. The 2nd part of this show is over on the Afterlife Pod. You can find out more about the Afterlife Pod at https://www.patreon.com/AfterlifePod/Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Always Have Your Sessions Prepared!You work 8 hours a day. You spend time with your family when you come home. You do work around the house and it seems you never have as much time as you would like to prepare your D&D sessions. Does this sound like you? Wouldn't it be amazing to have endless material prepared for your D&D sessions anyways? That's where Roll and Play Press comes in. Roll and Play Press provides D&D 5e Compatible materials for any type of session. Running a one-shot? Check out their One Shot Wonders book with over 100 one-shot ideas. Getting started with your new sci-fi campaign? Get their Game Master's Sci-Fi Toolkit to have your games much more prepared. Why reinvent the wheel? Check out Roll and Play Press at rollandplaypress.com and get 10% off when you buy something by using the code BETTERDM10. Roll and Play PressFollow us on InstagramThanks again for listening to our show. If you like our content and would like to engage with more of our content, head over to our Instagram account, @howtobeabetterdm, and give us a follow. Make sure to watch some of our helpful Dungeon Master Rules videos to give yourself some structure and procedure as a Dungeon Master. Don't forget to reach out with a DM and we can talk shop. https://www.instagram.com/howtobeabetterdmpodcast/

Welcome Back to How to Be a Better DM!Today is a very special episode. Today is a Dungeon Master Coaching episode with our friend Aaron Singh.Today we talk about Dungeon Mastering for kids and tying up loose ends in your campaign.If you're interested in having your own dungeon master coaching session go to https://session0studios.com/coaching. If you let us record the first episode, it's free.Mentioned in this episode:Sign Up For Dungeon Master CoachingWouldn't it be nice to have someone in your corner as a DM? Maybe having someone who can help you find solutions to your DMing problems and help you improve every aspect of your game. Well, here at How to Be a Better DM we are trying an experiment. We are offering 5 free coaching sessions to listeners of the show. During these coaching sessions, we'll work with you through your strengths and weaknesses as a DM and help you generate a game plan to make both better. You can either send in a recording of one of your games, or we'll attend it live if able. If all else fails, we can still chat about your struggle and talk through any prep you've done for your upcoming games. Just go to session0studios.com/coaching and sign up.Dungeon Master CoachingGive Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Follow us on InstagramThanks again for listening to our show. If you like our content and would like to engage with more of our content, head over to our Instagram account, @howtobeabetterdm, and give us a follow. Make sure to watch some of our helpful Dungeon Master Rules videos to give yourself some structure and procedure as a Dungeon Master. Don't forget to reach out with a DM and we can talk shop. https://www.instagram.com/howtobeabetterdmpodcast/Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.

Your party probably gets into a lot of sticky, unforeseeable moments, where death or a terrible consequence is on the table. At that moment, you might be tempted to utilize a Deus Ex Machina plot device, saving them from their own mistakes through some person or change that they never expected. But is that a crutch for you, or an opportunity? Let's talk about it!Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Always Have Your Sessions Prepared!You work 8 hours a day. You spend time with your family when you come home. You do work around the house and it seems you never have as much time as you would like to prepare your D&D sessions. Does this sound like you? Wouldn't it be amazing to have endless material prepared for your D&D sessions anyways? That's where Roll and Play Press comes in. Roll and Play Press provides D&D 5e Compatible materials for any type of session. Running a one-shot? Check out their One Shot Wonders book with over 100 one-shot ideas. Getting started with your new sci-fi campaign? Get their Game Master's Sci-Fi Toolkit to have your games much more prepared. Why reinvent the wheel? Check out Roll and Play Press at rollandplaypress.com and get 10% off when you buy something by using the code BETTERDM10. Roll and Play PressJoin Our DiscordSo a little bit of a spoiler alert. We're building an army. That's right, we're building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today. Discord

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM.Today we talk about the afterlife. Listen to episode 109 of our show to learn about death in D&D if you want more on this topic.Here are some questions to help you flesh out the topic of the afterlife in youIs there an afterlife?How many types are there? With many different gods who rule over many different domains, you need to know how many afterlifes are there?Are there any negative ones?What is it like in any of those afterlifes? You need some sort of description of the experience a soul would have in that afterlife.What interactions do souls have with their deity and with other souls?What determines whether they end up in one afterlife versus another? Is it a pick and choose, or do actions determine the eternal resting place of a soul.Is there a chance you end up where you don't want to be?Is it permanent? Once you're in one type of afterlife, can you change to a different afterlife, even if you don't want to?Has anyone returned to life from the afterlife? If so, what do they remember?Do people know or understand the afterlife?Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Always Have Your Sessions Prepared!You work 8 hours a day. You spend time with your family when you come home. You do work around the house and it seems you never have as much time as you would like to prepare your D&D sessions. Does this sound like you? Wouldn't it be amazing to have endless material prepared for your D&D sessions anyways? That's where Roll and Play Press comes in. Roll and Play Press provides D&D 5e Compatible materials for any type of session. Running a one-shot? Check out their One Shot Wonders book with over 100 one-shot ideas. Getting started with your new sci-fi campaign? Get their Game Master's Sci-Fi Toolkit to have your games much more prepared. Why reinvent the wheel? Check out Roll and Play Press at rollandplaypress.com and get 10% off when you buy something by using the code BETTERDM10. Roll and Play PressJoin Our DiscordSo a little bit of a spoiler alert. We're building an army. That's right, we're building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today. Discord

We've all been there: you've had a great run with all your players. Month after month, and maybe even week after week, you've been able to meet without any significant delays or gaps. And then, all of a sudden, it's hard to meet. And if you do discuss meeting up, people don't seem to prioritize it as much. And you're worried that the campaign might not have much longer to live, so to speak. So, what do you do? Let's talk about it.Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Add the Magic of Sound to Your GameplayWhen you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That's why we've teamed up with Monument Studios. Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout. Monument StudiosJoin Our DiscordSo a little bit of a spoiler alert. We're building an army. That's right, we're building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today. DiscordGive Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.

Welcome back to today's Show.Today, we talk about 8 tips for beginner dungeon masters.Stop Waiting - For Finding Players listen to this episode: https://session0studios.com/captivate-podcast/how-to-find-your-dd-group/Push Past the Learning CurveStart where you are.Focus on your Strengths or on Finding your StrengthsDon't Stop - Be ConsistentFocus on Player EngagementDo what feels fun and coolBe Real with Your PlayersThanks for listening.Mentioned in this episode:Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Add the Magic of Sound to Your GameplayWhen you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That's why we've teamed up with Monument Studios. Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout. Monument StudiosJoin Our DiscordSo a little bit of a spoiler alert. We're building an army. That's right, we're building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today. DiscordBrought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DMToday we have a special episode with Jay Foster from Swole Initiative (https://swoleinitiative.com/)Today we talk about a lot of things including:The importance of player check-insHow to push boundaries without crossing lines or veilsWhy and how to add theme to your gameAnd more.If you liked today's episode and you want Jay to come back on the show, go onto Jay's social medias and tell him thanks for joining us and show him some love.Mentioned in this episode:Join Our DiscordSo a little bit of a spoiler alert. We're building an army. That's right, we're building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today. DiscordGive Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Add the Magic of Sound to Your GameplayWhen you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That's why we've teamed up with Monument Studios. Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout. Monument StudiosBrought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DMThis is another RAW episode, which means more personality and less polish.I'm your host today, Justin Lewis.Today we talk about what I would spend $50 on to improve my D&D hobby.This is my list:A dungeon master screenA new SourcebookA large tablecloth and some pipe cleanerA lot of Foam and some paintA set pieceSome LED lightsA simple sound systemMinis I guessMentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Join Our DiscordSo a little bit of a spoiler alert. We're building an army. That's right, we're building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today. DiscordGive Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Add the Magic of Sound to Your GameplayWhen you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That's why we've teamed up with Monument Studios. Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout. Monument Studios

Welcome back to the show!Today we talk about what skills you need to develop as a DM.MechanicsUnderstanding the basic gameplay of the gameBeing able to make twists on the rules or invent new ones to suit your gamePlayer ManagementScheduling ManagementRelationship ManagementStory WritingBeing able to create beautiful settingsBeing able to build amazingly real charactersPlot twists, turns and developmentsPacingRoleplayingVoice ActingPersonification of the different charactersImprovisationPrevious episode about improv: https://session0studios.com/captivate-podcast/improve-and-comedy/PresentationOnline Game Technology MasteryMinis and MapsLoreFull understanding of the lore of your worldFull understanding of available DnD LoreExperience PlanningThe extrasThe Wow FactorCombatSpeeding it upKeeping it InterestingMentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.We Like YouHey Bud… How's it going? Just wanted to say… we like you. We're think you're pretty cool. We hope you like us too. If you do like us and what we're doing, you can support us on our Patreon. Just $1 a month is enough. Just go to https://session0studios.com/patreon and show your support. But even if you don't… we still like you. See ya around bud. PatreonAdd the Magic of Sound to Your GameplayWhen you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That's why we've teamed up with Monument Studios. Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout. Monument Studios

Welcome back to today's RAW podcast episode.This is a special episode where it is shorter and less edited and more real.On today's show we talk about 8 voice acting tips from a non-voice actor.They are:Tip #1: CommitTip #2: Faster or SlowerTip #3: Eye ContactTip #4: Loud or QuietTip #5: Pauses or BreaksTip #6: Your BreathTip #7: Inflection and EmphasisTip #8: AccentIf you like today's episode reach out to us and let us know.Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.We Like YouHey Bud… How's it going? Just wanted to say… we like you. We're think you're pretty cool. We hope you like us too. If you do like us and what we're doing, you can support us on our Patreon. Just $1 a month is enough. Just go to https://session0studios.com/patreon and show your support. But even if you don't… we still like you. See ya around bud. PatreonAdd the Magic of Sound to Your GameplayWhen you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That's why we've teamed up with Monument Studios. Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout. Monument Studios

Sometimes, it feels like all of your efforts are focused on the things you DON'T feel good at as a DM: maybe you don't feel like you do voices well. Or you don't feel great at drawing maps. Or maybe you feel like combats drag a bit. Whatever it is, you definitely have spent too much time focusing on your weaknesses. Stop it! This episode is all about finding and focusing on your strengths as a DM. You've got them, and we're going to talk about them!Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.

Welcome back to this RAW episode of How to Be a Better DM.This is from an Instagram Live I did about how to move DnD along when it gets slow and boring.Here are 8 tips to help you move things along in your DnD games:When the party has been planning too long introduce a complication.Describe something trivial in suspiciously extreme detail.Make the bad guys make a moveJump CutTalk honestly with your playersSkip the Boring BitsBring the EnergyEnd things EarlyMentioned in this episode:Give Us a Rating and ReviewYou obviously have really good taste, you're listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you've ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.Listen to Our New PodcastAs a listener of this show, you obviously love story. Now that you've learned how to craft your own story on this show, wouldn't it be nice to have some inspiration? Or maybe just a moment of immersion and escape? Then come join us in our new Actual Play D&D 5e show, Pact and Boon. Enter the World of Calignos where our characters, Jolly, Wolfgang and Alon will meet each other in Hell. Enjoy our troublemaking and near-death experiences wherever great podcasts are heard. Just go to session0studios.com/pactnboon and start listening today. Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM!Today is a special episode with our guest, author, and professional Dungeon Master Dan Wells!Check out information about Dan Wells here: https://www.thedanwells.com/Dan is partnered with Dungeon Master Direct which has some great events coming up: https://dungeonmasterdirect.com/On today's show, we talk about:Professional Dungeon MasteringHow it's ok to use pre-written modules for professional dungeon master campaignsAs a dungeon master, you need to figure out your strengths and your weaknesses and lean heavily into those.You also need to lean into the collaborative nature of RPGsThis episode was facilitated and recorded in the space at We Geek Together in Provo. You can shop at their store in Provo or online at https://www.wegeektogether.com/Mentioned in this episode:Start Leveling Up As a DMWouldn't it be nice to gamify your dungeon master abilities? In D&D, characters can reach level 20, so why can't dungeon masters? We're happy to tell you that now, you can. We created the Dungeon Master Level-Up Guide. It's a simple tool to gamify your progression to higher and higher levels of dungeon mastering. It includes Dungeon Master Levels 1 to 20 with associated XP requirements as well as a long list of Dungeon Master activities that will give you XP. Each activity has a Challenge Rating and an XP amount. In order to level up, all you need to do is find out how much XP you have, find out how much you need and pick activities to try. You can get the Dungeon Master Level-Up guide for free by going to session0studios.com/newsletter/, sign up for our newsletter and we'll email you the Level-Up Guide. Finally, leveling up as a DM can be as fun as leveling up a character. Level Up GuideListen to Our New PodcastAs a listener of this show, you obviously love story. Now that you've learned how to craft your own story on this show, wouldn't it be nice to have some inspiration? Or maybe just a moment of immersion and escape? Then come join us in our new Actual Play D&D 5e show, Pact and Boon. Enter the World of Calignos where our characters, Jolly, Wolfgang and Alon will meet each other in Hell. Enjoy our troublemaking and near-death experiences wherever great podcasts are heard. Just go to session0studios.com/pactnboon and start listening today. Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.

You've probably wondered if you could do or give more. Specifically with your roleplaying, you may have finished a session and thought that you could do better. I've been there too. I've had many sessions where I've wished that I was a much better roleplayer.Luckily today, we're going to share 7 tips to help you give more to your roleplaying.Welcome to How to Be a Better DM.This is the show that helps you speed up the learning curve of being a DM without spending extra time, and extra hassle.I'm Justin Lewis, and I've been helping dungeon masters now for over 150 episodes. I've spoken with Voice Actors, writers and even real life experts, all to help you be a Better DM.Why Give more to your Roleplaying:We've all had those experiences after a really good roleplay where there's almost this stunned silencePart of why we got into D&D was to reach that full immersionYour players want you to give everything you haveHow to Give more to your Roleplaying:Be vulnerableTry things that may not work outThink about your players altruisticallyForget yourselfTry some real life Improv ClassesPractice your Acting/Public SpeakingUse the White Space of DMingMentioned in this episode:Start Leveling Up As a DMWouldn't it be nice to gamify your dungeon master abilities? In D&D, characters can reach level 20, so why can't dungeon masters? We're happy to tell you that now, you can. We created the Dungeon Master Level-Up Guide. It's a simple tool to gamify your progression to higher and higher levels of dungeon mastering. It includes Dungeon Master Levels 1 to 20 with associated XP requirements as well as a long list of Dungeon Master activities that will give you XP. Each activity has a Challenge Rating and an XP amount. In order to level up, all you need to do is find out how much XP you have, find out how much you need and pick activities to try. You can get the Dungeon Master Level-Up guide for free by going to session0studios.com/newsletter/, sign up for our newsletter and we'll email you the Level-Up Guide. Finally, leveling up as a DM can be as fun as leveling up a character. Level Up GuideListen to Our New PodcastAs a listener of this show, you obviously love story. Now that you've learned how to craft your own story on this show, wouldn't it be nice to have some inspiration? Or maybe just a moment of immersion and escape? Then come join us in our new Actual Play D&D 5e show, Pact and Boon. Enter the World of Calignos where our characters, Jolly, Wolfgang and Alon will meet each other in Hell. Enjoy our troublemaking and near-death experiences wherever great podcasts are heard. Just go to session0studios.com/pactnboon and start listening today. Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM.Today we talk about how to bounce back after a bad session. Today is also a very special episode as it is our first published Dungeon Master Coaching episode.If you want to sign up for some dungeon master coaching, go to https://session0studios.com/coaching/If you let us record the first session, the first session is free.Mentioned in this episode:Start Leveling Up As a DMWouldn't it be nice to gamify your dungeon master abilities? In D&D, characters can reach level 20, so why can't dungeon masters? We're happy to tell you that now, you can. We created the Dungeon Master Level-Up Guide. It's a simple tool to gamify your progression to higher and higher levels of dungeon mastering. It includes Dungeon Master Levels 1 to 20 with associated XP requirements as well as a long list of Dungeon Master activities that will give you XP. Each activity has a Challenge Rating and an XP amount. In order to level up, all you need to do is find out how much XP you have, find out how much you need and pick activities to try. You can get the Dungeon Master Level-Up guide for free by going to session0studios.com/newsletter/, sign up for our newsletter and we'll email you the Level-Up Guide. Finally, leveling up as a DM can be as fun as leveling up a character. Level Up GuideSign Up For Dungeon Master CoachingWouldn't it be nice to have someone in your corner as a DM? Maybe having someone who can help you find solutions to your DMing problems and help you improve every aspect of your game. Well, here at How to Be a Better DM we are trying an experiment. We are offering 5 free coaching sessions to listeners of the show. During these coaching sessions, we'll work with you through your strengths and weaknesses as a DM and help you generate a game plan to make both better. You can either send in a recording of one of your games, or we'll attend it live if able. If all else fails, we can still chat about your struggle and talk through any prep you've done for your upcoming games. Just go to session0studios.com/coaching and sign up.Dungeon Master CoachingBrought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM.Today, we talk with Ethan Myers from Lyres for Hire. you can check him out at https://www.instagram.com/lyresforhire/?hl=enWe talk about some linguistic tactics to use to make characters sound more real.The 3 recommended in today's show are:Phonotactics: keeping the general rules for sounds and sound pairs consistent within a regionIdioms: Creating sayings or turns-of-phrase to communicate complicated ideasJargon: Specific vocabulary related to niche areasThanks for listening and we'll see you next time.Mentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Start Leveling Up As a DMWouldn't it be nice to gamify your dungeon master abilities? In D&D, characters can reach level 20, so why can't dungeon masters? We're happy to tell you that now, you can. We created the Dungeon Master Level-Up Guide. It's a simple tool to gamify your progression to higher and higher levels of dungeon mastering. It includes Dungeon Master Levels 1 to 20 with associated XP requirements as well as a long list of Dungeon Master activities that will give you XP. Each activity has a Challenge Rating and an XP amount. In order to level up, all you need to do is find out how much XP you have, find out how much you need and pick activities to try. You can get the Dungeon Master Level-Up guide for free by going to session0studios.com/newsletter/, sign up for our newsletter and we'll email you the Level-Up Guide. Finally, leveling up as a DM can be as fun as leveling up a character. Level Up GuideListen to Our New PodcastAs a listener of this show, you obviously love story. Now that you've learned how to craft your own story on this show, wouldn't it be nice to have some inspiration? Or maybe just a moment of immersion and escape? Then come join us in our new Actual Play D&D 5e show, Pact and Boon. Enter the World of Calignos where our characters, Jolly, Wolfgang and Alon will meet each other in Hell. Enjoy our troublemaking and near-death experiences wherever great podcasts are heard. Just go to session0studios.com/pactnboon and start listening today.

On today's episode, we have Tyler & Noah, the musical masterminds behind Monument Studios. As some of you know, Monument Studios has been a sponsor of How To Be a Better DM, and our Live-play D&D show The Pact & Boon for the better part of the past year. Their app Fantasy + is a must have for any dungeon master! Tune in to hear about their upcoming Kickstarter launching on August 20th, and how you can get some of the most amazing rewards ever offered on the platform! Check out Monument Studios here: https://www.monumentstudios.net/Check out their music app Fantasy + here: https://www.fantasy-plus.com/Enjoy 10% off your first month with the code BETTERDM. Support us and support these amazing artists, while also giving your players the best experience possible. Don't forget to check out their Kickstarter as well:Join the CampaignMentioned in this episode:Add the Magic of Sound to Your GameplayWhen you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That's why we've teamed up with Monument Studios. Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout. Monument StudiosFollow us on InstagramThanks again for listening to our show. If you like our content and would like to engage with more of our content, head over to our Instagram account, @howtobeabetterdm, and give us a follow. Make sure to watch some of our helpful Dungeon Master Rules videos to give yourself some structure and procedure as a Dungeon Master. Don't forget to reach out with a DM and we can talk shop. https://www.instagram.com/howtobeabetterdmpodcast/Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.

Welcome to How to Be a Better DM.Today is a special episode.In it, you'll hear the first 30 minutes of one of our professional dungeon mastering sessions.Some of the players are new to D&D and have very little experience.If you're interested in this episode, and want to hear the rest of the session, reach out to us on our Discord. If enough people reach out, we'll put all of the rest of the session up on the podcast.If you're interested in having us be your professional dungeon master, go to session0studios.com/dm4hireMentioned in this episode:Brought to you by Session 0 StudiosVisit session0studios.com for more information.Play D&D with UsDid you know that you can have one of our hosts here at How to Be a Better DM be your dungeon master? That's right. All of our podcast hosts are professional dungeon masters that you can hire for your private or corporate dungeons and dragons game. We can do one-shots or long-term campaigns. If you want to schedule your first session with us, go to https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/ and get started. Dungeon Master for HireFollow us on InstagramThanks again for listening to our show. If you like our content and would like to engage with more of our content, head over to our Instagram account, @howtobeabetterdm, and give us a follow. Make sure to watch some of our helpful Dungeon Master Rules videos to give yourself some structure and procedure as a Dungeon Master. Don't forget to reach out with a DM and we can talk shop. https://www.instagram.com/howtobeabetterdmpodcast/

When you are planning a combat encounter, do you know how to get it into the "Goldilocks" zone in terms of length? You don't want it so short that no one got anything out of it, but you also don't want it so long that all the players are secretly praying that it will be over after the next turn.To help you plan the length of your encounter, whether beforehand or on the fly, here are 3 questions:Question #1: Has each player had a chance to feel either useful, powerful, or seriously threatened?Question #2: Has this combat encounter had at least one “story-worthy” moment?Question #3: Does the length of this combat match its importance?Learn how these questions can help you execute an appropriately-lengthy combat in today's episode!Mentioned in this episode:Sign Up For Dungeon Master CoachingWouldn't it be nice to have someone in your corner as a DM? Maybe having someone who can help you find solutions to your DMing problems and help you improve every aspect of your game. Well, here at How to Be a Better DM we are trying an experiment. We are offering 5 free coaching sessions to listeners of the show. During these coaching sessions, we'll work with you through your strengths and weaknesses as a DM and help you generate a game plan to make both better. You can either send in a recording of one of your games, or we'll attend it live if able. If all else fails, we can still chat about your struggle and talk through any prep you've done for your upcoming games. Just go to session0studios.com/coaching and sign up.Dungeon Master CoachingFollow us on InstagramThanks again for listening to our show. If you like our content and would like to engage with more of our content, head over to our Instagram account, @howtobeabetterdm, and give us a follow. Make sure to watch some of our helpful Dungeon Master Rules videos to give yourself some structure and procedure as a Dungeon Master. Don't forget to reach out with a DM and we can talk shop. https://www.instagram.com/howtobeabetterdmpodcast/