Podcasts about game masters

I am joined by Dillin Apelyan and James D'Amato. If you listen to the One Shot Podcast, you've probably heard of both of them, and if you're a fan of the actual play scene, you've seen their work all over. And now, they've come on to the show to discuss their brand new book.Dillin's been featured on Dropout, Critical Role, and podcasts across the space. They've designed a bunch of great games, including the HUNT(er/ed) and Neverland: The Impossible Island. You can find out more about Superdillin here. James has been working in both the comedy and TTRPG scene for years. He's the creator of the One Shot Network and the author of the Ultimate RPG book series, which is an absolute masterclass in breaking down the genre for players and Game Masters alike. You can find his books here!The pair are more than just integral parts of the community today — they're good friends and even better podcast guests. The episode was a blast, breaking down their experiences and talking in depth about their new book, The Ultimate RPG Villain Backstory Guide. They dive deep about gaming culture, their GMing experiences, and provide a lot of insight as to how you can build better NPCs and characters. REFERENCES: Adams MediaWorld of DarknessDungeons and DragonsVampyre: The MasquaradeHunter/HuntedJames' Favorite Villains: Lex Luthor - Doctor Doom - The JokerDillon's Favorite Villains: Charles Vane (Blacksails), Jubal Early (Firefly), Kenneth Marshall (Mickey 17), Erik Northman (True Blood)Star vs The Forces of EvilPokemonWitch Hat AtelierFetch Philips ArchivesMicroscopeIn This World************************************⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show for as little as $1 a month: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145Example: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our live-streaming content on ⁠⁠Twitch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to an excellent board game ⁠⁠podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Go to the Writer's Room for ⁠⁠7th Sea Adventures!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the great games from ⁠⁠A Couple of Drakes:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Tales of the Manticore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠Facebook,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Welcome, dear Dungeon Masters and Game Masters! Today Danny Barrett shows us how reskinning can optimize effort and enhance success at the table.Do you have some more examples we missed?Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM.Find Danny at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here:Worldsmith: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/worldsmith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Roll and Play Press: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/rollandplay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phantasm Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/fantasms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Monument Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠session0studios.com/monumentstudios⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Thank you to our sponsor World Anvil! Check out World Anvil to use their Worldbuilding, Writing, and Game Master tools for free! If you like what you see, use code "RAMBLE" at checkout for 51% off a yearly subscription! https://www.worldanvil.com/?c=2ToRamble⭐️ Exclusive Book Club! Join/Support on Patreon

Tales of Three Campaign OneArc 3.0 The In-between- The Night of AbundanceEpisode 84: Nightmares Brought to LifeTUO & Co. face off against the hag and she has a slew of tricks up her sleeve . . . And in her nightmare jars.Content Warnings: complicated relationship dynamics, emotional distress, fantasy violence, loss of agency, profanity, reference to nightmares.Tales of Three is an all-queer, dark fantasy dnd podcast where your three Game Masters are also your three Players!If you like what you hear please tell your friends about us & consider giving us a 5 star review! It's a quick and easy way to show your support for small creators whose content you enjoy!Follow the Cast:Arianna as Elara SpinelsparkDusty as Ivy Nightbreeze-TinkerfeyWayra as VéresFind our socials here!Want to chat with the cast, talk spoilers, play games, and make new friends? Join our Discord!If you want to help keep the podcast running and get access to bonus content check out our Patreon or buy us a coffee on Ko-fi!Check out our friends at There's Always a Tavern here!Special thanks to SG for theme song, Chriss for the logo, Fenn & Ely for the character art!Background music and SFX by Epidemic Sounds & Monument Studios.

Welcome once again, dear Dungeon Masters and Game Masters! Today we talk about how the Lord of the Rings trilogy can be described mostly as DnD checks and situations.In this episode you will learn how to take a movie and analyze it in DnD terms, maybe even translating some situations into the table.Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM.Find Danny at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof⁠⁠⁠⁠If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here:Worldsmith: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/worldsmith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Roll and Play Press: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/rollandplay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phantasm Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/fantasms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Monument Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠session0studios.com/monumentstudios⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Andreas GMs The Game Master's Trials (Den stora spelledarens prövning), written by Joakim Wendell for Fenix Magazine! Mattias and Dominic play epic "heroes" who have angered the great GM of their world. And now they must prove themselves... We're an actual play podcast where professional actors in Sweden play the best of Swedish RPGs! Led by one of Swedens most experienced and appreciated podcast game masters we play My Father's Sword by Nordic Skalds. Starring: Mattias Redbo & Dominic Kelly Game master: Andreas Lundström   Music: Andreas Lundström Cover art by: Alessia Marino

In today's episode we talk about the Sci Fi genre for games.  What is a true sci fi game?  What about Star Wars?  How do you make a sci fi game special?  We give you our thoughts and answer all these questions and more in today's episode.Leave us an email for feedback, questions, or thoughts at levelupyourgamingpodcast@gmail.comor Follow us on Facebook and engage with us at https://www.facebook.com/LevelUpYourGamingPlease leave us a review or a five star rating wherever you get your podcast.

Tales of Three Campaign OneArc 3.0 The In-between- The Night of AbundanceEpisode 83: The Night of AbundanceWith Ivy unconscious, the wolf comes out, Veronica makes a run for it, and Rayla tries to bargain with the hag.Content Warnings: complicated relationship dynamics, emotional distress, fantasy violence, loss of agency, profanity, reference to nightmares.Tales of Three is an all-queer, dark fantasy dnd podcast where your three Game Masters are also your three Players!If you like what you hear please tell your friends about us & consider giving us a 5 star review! It's a quick and easy way to show your support for small creators whose content you enjoy!Follow the Cast:Arianna as Elara SpinelsparkDusty as Ivy Nightbreeze-TinkerfeyWayra as VéresFind our socials here!Want to chat with the cast, talk spoilers, play games, and make new friends? Join our Discord!If you want to help keep the podcast running and get access to bonus content check out our Patreon or buy us a coffee on Ko-fi!Special thanks to SG for theme song, Chriss for the logo, Fenn & Ely for the character art!Background music and SFX by Epidemic Sounds & Monument Studios.

Wingspan will soon fit in your pocket, Spirit Island is getting a new publisher, and the Lazy Gamemaster has a brand new kickstarter campaign! Speaking of being a GM, if you want to be a better one, you'll want to check out our review of “So You Want To Be A Game Master” by Justin Alexander (amazon affiliate link). Then, we'll give you some examples of “great” GM advice in our Ask A Dirtbag GM segment!

Wingspan will soon fit in your pocket, Spirit Island is getting a new publisher, and the Lazy Gamemaster has a brand new kickstarter campaign! Speaking of being a GM, if you want to be a better one, you'll want to check out our review of “So You Want To Be A Game Master” by Justin Alexander (amazon affiliate link). Then, we'll give you some examples of “great” GM advice in our Ask A Dirtbag GM segment!

Welcome once again, dear Dungeon Masters and Game Masters! Today we talk about suspense and surprise from Alfred Hitchcock's movies and Game of Thrones.In this episode you will learn how to make the most impact by managing the knowledge your players have about each situation.Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM.Find Danny at: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof⁠⁠⁠If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here:Worldsmith: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/worldsmith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Roll and Play Press: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/rollandplay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phantasm Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/fantasms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Monument Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠session0studios.com/monumentstudios⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/newsletter

How do you create a memorable villain in Dungeons & Dragons? The answer isn't a stronger stat block—it's better storytelling. In this episode of The Bearded Nerd Podcast, Brian explains how Game Masters can foreshadow villains to build suspense, mystery, and emotional investment long before the final confrontation. You'll Learn: What foreshadowing actually is Five techniques for introducing villains naturally How to create anticipation without spoilers Common GM mistakes to avoid A practical framework you can use in your next campaign Perfect for new and developing Game Masters looking to tell more cinematic stories and create villains their players will remember. --- Check out the links below to join a community of new and experiences players to help you on your gaming journey: Discord ➡️ https://discord.gg/uqfUzg3aH5 Instagram ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/brianthebeardednerd/ TikTok ➡️ https://www.tiktok.com/@thebeardednerd1   Do you finally want to try playing Dungeons & Dragons? Do you want to learn how to play in a more relaxed environment? Feel free to book a session with me here: https://www.ttrpgacademy.life/store

Tales of Three Campaign OneArc 3.0 The In-between- The Night of AbundanceEpisode 82: The Morning of AbundanceWith the clock ticking our trio heads back into the woods to look for the hag. Back in town, something is out of place.Content Warnings: complicated relationship dynamics, deep woods, emotional distress, fantasy violence, loss of agency, nausea and vomiting, profanity, reference to nightmares, eating on mic during bloopers 1hr 16 minsTales of Three is an all-queer, dark fantasy dnd podcast where your three Game Masters are also your three Players!If you like what you hear please tell your friends about us & consider giving us a 5 star review! It's a quick and easy way to show your support for small creators whose content you enjoy!Follow the Cast:Arianna as Elara SpinelsparkDusty as Ivy Nightbreeze-TinkerfeyWayra as VéresFind our socials here!Want to chat with the cast, talk spoilers, play games, and make new friends? Join our Discord!If you want to help keep the podcast running and get access to bonus content check out our Patreon or buy us a coffee on Ko-fi!Special thanks to SG for theme song, Chriss for the logo, Fenn & Ely for the character art!Background music and SFX by Epidemic Sounds & Monument Studios.Go check out Dusty's fanfic here!

We're sharing HORROR stories from our early days GM'ing for D&D or other TTRPG's, giving tips on how to improve as a game master, and digging deeper into Vampire: The Masquerade on D&D Beyond.Pre-order Vampire: The Masquerade - Bound by Blood: https://marketplace.dndbeyond.com/category/4IQF87I?pid=DB4IQF87IEmail your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @dailydael Todd:  @ToddKenreck  Shawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @jberrt  Topics:00:00 - GM Horror Stories!08:27 - Lorecast SURPRISE interview?10:53 - Arcana Unleashed subclasses14:45 - Free RPG Day17:51 - Diana Jones Award nominees20:38 - First WotC workers union21:34 - V:tM Bound by Blood29:21 - Easy GM mistakes?38:56 - Level up your GM'ing50:51 - Player consequences

In our second interview episode, we sit down with Sacred, and talk about Solo TTRPGs, intention, immersion and getting to know yourself.Sit back and enjoy this light-hearted talk about all things tabletop!Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM.Find Danny at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof⁠Find Sacred on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Sacred_Art_of_GamingIf you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here:Worldsmith: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/worldsmith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Roll and Play Press: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/rollandplay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phantasm Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/fantasms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Monument Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠session0studios.com/monumentstudios⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Andreas GMs The Game Master's Trials (Den stora spelledarens prövning), written by Joakim Wendell for Fenix Magazine! Mattias and Dominic play epic "heroes" who have angered the great GM of their world. And now they must prove themselves... We're an actual play podcast where professional actors in Sweden play the best of Swedish RPGs! Led by one of Swedens most experienced and appreciated podcast game masters we play My Father's Sword by Nordic Skalds. Starring: Mattias Redbo & Dominic Kelly Game master: Andreas Lundström   Music: Andreas Lundström Cover art by: Alessia Marino

How do you make exploration fun in D&D? In this episode of The Bearded Nerd Podcast, Brian explains how Game Masters can transform travel and exploration from a boring necessity into one of the most memorable parts of a campaign. You'll learn: What exploration actually means How to create meaningful discoveries How to design memorable landmarks Environmental storytelling techniques Beginner-to-intermediate GM advice Perfect for Game Masters who want more immersive worlds and more engaged players. ---   Check out the links below to join a community of new and experiences players to help you on your gaming journey: Discord ➡️ https://discord.gg/uqfUzg3aH5 Instagram ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/brianthebeardednerd/ TikTok ➡️ https://www.tiktok.com/@thebeardednerd1   Do you finally want to try playing Dungeons & Dragons? Do you want to learn how to play in a more relaxed environment? Feel free to book a session with me here: https://www.ttrpgacademy.life/store

In today's episode we continue our series of Let's Make A One Shot.  The game we make a one shot for comes from the prompt Critical Condition.  We describe all the details you would need to consider to pull this one shot off.  Enjoy this episode as we make a one shot using the tools we talk about.Leave us an email for feedback, questions, or thoughts at levelupyourgamingpodcast@gmail.comor Follow us on Facebook and engage with us at https://www.facebook.com/LevelUpYourGamingPlease leave us a review or a five star rating wherever you get your podcast.

Welcome back to ADHD-ish! In this episode, I sit down with Paul Pape, a creative business coach who brings creativity and playfulness to entrepreneurship by turning business strategy into an adventure—literally.Together, we explore the starving artist myth, the difference between creatives and artists, and why traditional business advice often falls flat for "cloud thinkers" with ADHD.You'll hear behind-the-scenes stories about rescuing multi-million dollar businesses with a single round of "D&D Business Edition," how self-knowledge (and a character sheet!) can help you embrace your quirks, and find profit, purpose, and magic—on your own terms.Whether you're a seasoned creative entrepreneur or wondering how to turn your neurodivergence into your greatest asset, this conversation is filled with wisdom bombs, real talk, and practical strategies for making business—and life—a game worth playing.Here are my top 3 takeaways for creative entrepreneurs and fellow neurodivergents:Gamify for Engagement: Turning business challenges into quests (not just tasks!) makes even the most daunting to-do list approachable and—dare I say—fun. Paul swears by quest structures with tangible rewards to help ADHD brains stay motivated and follow through.Identity Is Your Superpower: Creating a "character sheet" for yourself enables candid self-reflection, minus the ego panic. It's a way to step outside traditional business coaching and unlock rapid personal growth—especially for those who hide or mask their real selves.Redefine Success on Your Terms: Not every creative business needs to scale. chooses bespoke, deeply connected work over group programs and mass-produced results. The real magic? Custom approaches lead to legacy-building impact for both coach and client.Ready to gamify your business? Take Paul's personality quiz at www.gamifybusiness.com/quizAbout today's guest, Paul Pape:Despite the challenges of running an all-custom operation—a model many believe is doomed to fail—Paul Pape has been thriving, creating more than 3,000 original products for an impressive roster of clients, including Disney, Universal, and Nickelodeon, as well as individuals from around the globe. His unwavering dedication and inventive spirit have sustained his business for over 20 years, proving that passion and adaptability can defy the odds.In addition to his custom design work, Paul runs Gamify Business, where he is the barkeep in a tavern for creatives. Tapping into his neurodivergent nerdery, Paul takes boring business practices and translates them into gaming themes and terminology. Character classes instead of customer avatars, quest lines instead of project plans. Want to chat with Paul about your business quest? The barkeep is in, so pull up a stool. Paul's Body of Work: Gamify BusinessTEDx Talk: Santa for NerdsPaul's Books:Stop Selling Your Shit The Creative Player's Handbook to Business Paul Pape DesignsYour ADHD-ish™ host, Diann Wingert Diann Wingert brings decades of experience as a psychotherapist and serial business owner and is now a sought-after coach to entrepreneurs with ADHD traits. Her style is direct, strategic, and always honest—peppered with the insight of someone who lives and breathes the neurodivergent experience.Diann is a fierce advocate for self-acceptance and meaningful growth at the intersection of neurodivergence and entrepreneurship. She is the creator of the ADHD-ish Method and host of the top-rated ADHD-ish podcast. Diann is many things, but she is not a gamer. She is, however, learning to tap into her nerdy side.Mentioned during the episode:Dragons & Beasties‍ ‍ Breaking Bad‍ ‍Dungeons & Dragons‍ ‍World of Warcraft‍ ‍Joe Dispenza: Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself‍ ‍‍ ‍Vincent Van Gogh‍ ‍Jackson Pollock‍ ‍The Industrial Revolution‍ Target‍ ‍TJ Maxx‍ ‍Tim Burton‍ ‍Nightmare Before Christmas‍ ‍Danny Elfman‍ ‍Johnny Lam's You Are Player 1 ‍Loved this episode? Leave a review and tell us why! © 2026 ADHD-ish™ Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.

Joshua Noel takes the reins as Game Master in this episode of Geeks on a Roll, where the crew dives headfirst into a wild tabletop RPG adventure featuring a mix of beloved characters from pop culture. Liz Clyde and Christian Ashley assemble a team that includes Hermione Granger, Captain America, Daredevil, Captain Jack Harkness, Bakugo, and Sun Wukong, all thrown together in a Bible Study of the Song of Songs. The main theme revolves around the question of love, vengeance, and freedom—serious stuff wrapped in a hilarious, chaotic package as they navigate a quirky bookstore setting. As they read the verses, things get real when they face the God Butcher, Gorr, and grapple with the concepts of sacrifice, intimacy, and community. With clever banter and unexpected twists, the gang discovers that even in the midst of chaos, they can find humor and camaraderie while learning a thing or two about love and its demands.A wild ride through the cosmos of pop culture unfolds as the Geeks on a Roll team commandeers a Bible Study session with a twist! Joshua Noel, the Game Master, takes control, steering players Christian Ashley and Liz Clyde through an unexpected adventure where beloved characters from Harry Potter, Marvel, and more converge in a cozy bookstore. The characters—Hermione, Daredevil, Captain America, Captain Jack Harkness, Bakugo, and Sun Wukong—find themselves grappling with profound themes of love, sacrifice, and community amidst the whimsical chaos of their surroundings. As they engage in a study of the Song of Songs, they must navigate their unique personalities and histories, leading to humorous exchanges and unexpected revelations about their own beliefs. The dynamic between these iconic figures, each representing different facets of heroism and humanity, creates a narrative that's as insightful as it is entertaining. The episode cleverly intertwines theology with playful banter, showcasing how even the most serious subjects can be explored through the lens of gaming and friendship. By the end, the team emerges not only victorious in their challenges but also enriched by the discussions that unfold, highlighting the importance of understanding diverse perspectives in a shared journey.Takeaways:In this episode, the hosts creatively blend theological discussions with pop culture, showcasing how beloved characters navigate complex themes of love and sacrifice.The choice of characters like Hermione and Captain Jack Harkness adds depth to the gameplay, allowing for humorous interactions and unexpected plot twists.Players engage in a Bible study of the Song of Songs, exploring intimacy and vulnerability through their characters' perspectives, creating a unique gaming experience.The dynamic between the characters reflects real-world themes of teamwork and individualism, highlighting how diverse personalities can clash or collaborate in high-stakes scenarios.This campaign cleverly utilizes humor and wit, allowing players and listeners alike to explore heavy topics without losing the light-hearted essence of tabletop gaming.The episode emphasizes the importance of community and connection, demonstrating that even in chaotic scenarios, relationships can flourish and bring meaning to the experience..Be sure to check out our merch, find extra content, and become an official member of Systematic Geekology on our website:https://systematic-geekology-shop.fourthwall.com/.Check out all of our Geeks on a Roll series:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/ce33764f-91e5-4e06-9b52-15f678b02006.Listen to more of our episodes on Marvel:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/fb519d38-2d9b-4f82-b041-81b81613543c.Don't miss any of our Harry Potter episodes:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/283bf2fe-5ab2-4637-b51c-bae776193a3a.Check out all of our My Hero Academia episodes:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/a619d224-9e2f-470a-8315-17eb110c2857.Hear more of our Doctor Who episodes:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/ed801af8-c4d8-44ec-98c2-1d55e04d11dd.Check out other episodes with Christian:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/ebf4b064-0672-47dd-b5a3-0fff5f11b54c.Check out other episodes with Joshua:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/642da9db-496a-40f5-b212-7013d1e211e0.Don't miss any of Liz's episodes:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/b4feaf6c-e817-4e86-b6f3-e13c0abc7147Mentioned in this episode:Get Your SG Merch now!Check out the link to see all of our different t-shirts, backpacks, drinking glasses, pajamas, and more! SG on FourthwallThe Anazao Podcast NetworkBe sure to check out the network website to see other podcasts trying to engage honestly with Scripture, Theology, Pop Culture, Martial Arts, Science, and more!Anazao Podcast NetworkJoin our Facebook group and Discord ServerFind our Facebook group, "Priests to the Geeks", then join our Discord server with this link to continue on the conversation with us!DiscordSystematic GeekologyOur show focuses around our favorite fandoms that we discuss from a Christian perspective. We do not try to put Jesus into all our favorite stories, but rather we try to ask the questions the IPs are asking, then addressing those questions from our perspective. We are not all ordained, but we are the Priests to the Geeks, in the sense that we try to serve as mediators between the cultures around our favorite fandoms and our faith communities.Listener Discretion AdvisedOccasionally our show discusses some sensitive subject matter and strong language. Your discretion is advised for this episode. Get Your SG Merch now!Check out the link to see all of our different t-shirts, backpacks, drinking glasses, pajamas, and more! SG on Fourthwall

Welcome back to ADHD-ish!In this episode, I sit down with Paul Pape, a creative business coach who brings creativity and playfulness to entrepreneurship by turning business strategy into an adventure—literally.Together, we explore the starving artist myth, the difference between creatives and artists, and why traditional business advice often falls flat for "cloud thinkers" with ADHD.You'll hear behind-the-scenes stories about rescuing multi-million dollar businesses with a single round of "D&D Business Edition," how self-knowledge (and a character sheet!) can help you embrace your quirks, and find profit, purpose, and magic—on your own terms.Whether you're a seasoned creative entrepreneur or wondering how to turn your neurodivergence into your greatest asset, this conversation is filled with wisdom bombs, real talk, and practical strategies for making business—and life—a game worth playing.Here are my top 3 takeaways for creative entrepreneurs and fellow neurodivergents:Gamify for Engagement: Turning business challenges into quests (not just tasks!) makes even the most daunting to-do list approachable and—dare I say—fun. Paul swears by quest structures with tangible rewards to help ADHD brains stay motivated and follow through.Identity Is Your Superpower: Creating a "character sheet" for yourself enables candid self-reflection, minus the ego panic. It's a way to step outside traditional business coaching and unlock rapid personal growth—especially for those who hide or mask their real selves.Redefine Success on Your Terms: Not every creative business needs to scale. chooses bespoke, deeply connected work over group programs and mass-produced results. The real magic? Custom approaches lead to legacy-building impact for both coach and client.Ready to gamify your business? Take Paul's personality quiz at www.gamifybusiness.com/quizAbout today's guest, Paul Pape:Despite the challenges of running an all-custom operation—a model many believe is doomed to fail—Paul Pape has been thriving, creating more than 3,000 original products for an impressive roster of clients, including Disney, Universal, and Nickelodeon, as well as individuals from around the globe. His unwavering dedication and inventive spirit have sustained his business for over 20 years, proving that passion and adaptability can defy the odds.In addition to his custom design work, Paul runs Gamify Business, where he is the barkeep in a tavern for creatives. Tapping into his neurodivergent nerdery, Paul takes boring business practices and translates them into gaming themes and terminology. Character classes instead of customer avatars, quest lines instead of project plans. Want to chat with Paul about your business quest? The barkeep is in, so pull up a stool. Paul's Body of Work: Gamify BusinessTEDx Talk: Santa for NerdsPaul's Books:Stop Selling Your Shit The Creative Player's Handbook to Business Paul Pape DesignsYour ADHD-ish™ host, Diann Wingert Diann Wingert brings decades of experience as a psychotherapist and serial business owner and is now a sought-after coach to entrepreneurs with ADHD traits.Her style is direct, strategic, and always honest—peppered with the insight of someone who lives and breathes the neurodivergent experience.Diann is a fierce advocate for self-acceptance and meaningful growth at the intersection of neurodivergence and entrepreneurship.She is the creator of the ADHD-ish Method and host of the top-rated ADHD-ish podcast. Diann is many things, but she is not a gamer. She is, however, learning to tap into her nerdy side.Mentioned during the episode:Dragons & Beasties‍ ‍ Breaking Bad‍ ‍Dungeons & Dragons‍ ‍World of Warcraft‍ ‍Joe Dispenza: Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself‍ ‍‍ ‍Vincent Van Gogh‍ ‍Jackson Pollock‍ ‍The Industrial Revolution‍ Target‍ ‍TJ Maxx‍ ‍Tim Burton‍ ‍Nightmare Before Christmas‍ ‍Danny Elfman‍ ‍Johnny Lam's You Are Player 1 ‍Loved this episode? Leave a review and tell us why! © 2026 ADHD-ish™ Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.

Thank you to our sponsor World Anvil! Check out World Anvil to use their Worldbuilding, Writing, and Game Master tools for free! If you like what you see, use code "RAMBLE" at checkout for 51% off a yearly subscription! https://www.worldanvil.com/?c=2ToRamble⭐️ Exclusive Book Club! Join/Support on Patreon

(Thanks to Zach for letting me know about the audio issues!)Welcome once again, dear Dungeon Masters and Game Masters! Today we steal from rappers and producers: How do they take good ideas and make them theirs?In this episode you will learn how to get the best of your favourite Dungeon Masters while staying authentic!Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM.Find Danny at: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof⁠⁠If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here:Worldsmith: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/worldsmith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Roll and Play Press: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/rollandplay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phantasm Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/fantasms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Monument Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠session0studios.com/monumentstudios⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Ravenloft is supposed to be full of gothic horror, tragic villains, and creeping dread. Instead, we somehow spent twenty minutes imagining a Midwestern Strahd saying You betcha before drinking your blood, arguing about wet burritos, and debating whether North Dakota counts as a real place. By the time we actually opened the book, the greatest horror wasn't the Dark Powers. It was realizing that someone somewhere willingly ordered a hot wet beef sandwich. Sponsor Spotlight: Mithos This episode is sponsored by Mithos, a modular, system-agnostic digital toolkit designed to make life easier for Game Masters. With customizable layouts, built-in player views, fog of war support, encounter tools, and an active community sharing content, Mithos helps keep your game running smoothly without juggling a dozen browser tabs. Whether you're running Dungeons & Dragons at a convention, Call of Cthulhu in a cabin, or your favorite indie RPG at home, Mithos puts everything you need in one place. Best of all, there are no subscriptions and no internet connection required. Learn more at rpgbot.net/mithos. Show Notes We finally returned to Ravenloft with The Horrors Within and dug into the new player options from Wizards of the Coast. Along the way we examined the subclasses, talked about what survived from the Unearthed Arcana playtest, and debated whether some of the changes actually improved the designs or simply made them safer. The Reanimator Artificer immediately caught our attention with its wonderfully creepy flavor. We loved the concept of Frankensteining together an undead companion and modifying it over time, even if the final numbers often felt disappointingly conservative. The subclass oozes atmosphere, but several features left us wishing Wizards had trusted the design enough to let it hit a little harder. The College of Spirits Bard received some welcome improvements from the playtest version. Moving the random spirit effects away from mandatory immediate use made the subclass far more practical, and controlled channeling solved many of the frustrations we had previously identified. This version finally delivers on the fantasy of consulting strange entities from beyond without constantly fighting against the mechanics. We also revisited the Grave Domain Cleric and looked at the redesigned Path to the Grave. While the old version was undeniably flashier, the new implementation is much easier to use in any party composition. It may not create those huge cinematic damage spikes anymore, but it provides reliable support every time it comes online. As always, our review quickly spiraled into side discussions involving Call of Cthulhu, sturgeon festivals, Midwestern rivalries, taxes, and the eternal mystery of why so many fantasy character illustrations are suspiciously attractive. That's just another day at the RPGBOT.Podcast. Key Takeaways Ravenloft: The Horrors Within delivers strong gothic flavor and some excellent artwork. The Reanimator Artificer has fantastic thematic design but several mechanics feel overly cautious. Lightning interactions with the undead companion create some amusing and creative tactics. College of Spirits Bard benefited significantly from feedback and is much easier to play effectively. Controlled Channeling fixes many of the frustrations from the Unearthed Arcana version. Grave Domain Cleric lost some of its explosive potential but gained consistency. The revised Path to the Grave works better across a wider variety of party compositions. Several subclasses showcase great ideas that feel slightly undertuned. Flavor and atmosphere are consistently strong throughout the book. No matter how serious the subject matter becomes, the conversation will eventually derail into food arguments, regional insults, or bizarre fantasy accents. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Do you feel like GM prep is turning into a second job? In this episode of The Bearded Nerd Podcast, Brian breaks down the Lazy GM Mindset and explains how busy adults can run great tabletop RPG sessions with less prep and less stress. You'll learn: How to prep smarter, not harder What information actually matters The 80/20 rule of GM preparation How to build sessions quickly How to avoid prep burnout Perfect for busy Game Masters, parents, professionals, and anyone who wants to run great games without spending hours preparing. ---   Check out the links below to join a community of new and experiences players to help you on your gaming journey: Discord ➡️ https://discord.gg/uqfUzg3aH5 Instagram ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/brianthebeardednerd/ TikTok ➡️ https://www.tiktok.com/@thebeardednerd1   Do you finally want to try playing Dungeons & Dragons? Do you want to learn how to play in a more relaxed environment? Feel free to book a session with me here: https://www.ttrpgacademy.life/store

Ravenloft is supposed to be full of gothic horror, tragic villains, and creeping dread. Instead, we somehow spent twenty minutes imagining a Midwestern Strahd saying You betcha before drinking your blood, arguing about wet burritos, and debating whether North Dakota counts as a real place. By the time we actually opened the book, the greatest horror wasn't the Dark Powers. It was realizing that someone somewhere willingly ordered a hot wet beef sandwich. Sponsor Spotlight: Mithos This episode is sponsored by Mithos, a modular, system-agnostic digital toolkit designed to make life easier for Game Masters. With customizable layouts, built-in player views, fog of war support, encounter tools, and an active community sharing content, Mithos helps keep your game running smoothly without juggling a dozen browser tabs. Whether you're running Dungeons & Dragons at a convention, Call of Cthulhu in a cabin, or your favorite indie RPG at home, Mithos puts everything you need in one place. Best of all, there are no subscriptions and no internet connection required. Learn more at rpgbot.net/mithos. Show Notes We finally returned to Ravenloft with The Horrors Within and dug into the new player options from Wizards of the Coast. Along the way we examined the subclasses, talked about what survived from the Unearthed Arcana playtest, and debated whether some of the changes actually improved the designs or simply made them safer. The Reanimator Artificer immediately caught our attention with its wonderfully creepy flavor. We loved the concept of Frankensteining together an undead companion and modifying it over time, even if the final numbers often felt disappointingly conservative. The subclass oozes atmosphere, but several features left us wishing Wizards had trusted the design enough to let it hit a little harder. The College of Spirits Bard received some welcome improvements from the playtest version. Moving the random spirit effects away from mandatory immediate use made the subclass far more practical, and controlled channeling solved many of the frustrations we had previously identified. This version finally delivers on the fantasy of consulting strange entities from beyond without constantly fighting against the mechanics. We also revisited the Grave Domain Cleric and looked at the redesigned Path to the Grave. While the old version was undeniably flashier, the new implementation is much easier to use in any party composition. It may not create those huge cinematic damage spikes anymore, but it provides reliable support every time it comes online. As always, our review quickly spiraled into side discussions involving Call of Cthulhu, sturgeon festivals, Midwestern rivalries, taxes, and the eternal mystery of why so many fantasy character illustrations are suspiciously attractive. That's just another day at the RPGBOT.Podcast. Key Takeaways Ravenloft: The Horrors Within delivers strong gothic flavor and some excellent artwork. The Reanimator Artificer has fantastic thematic design but several mechanics feel overly cautious. Lightning interactions with the undead companion create some amusing and creative tactics. College of Spirits Bard benefited significantly from feedback and is much easier to play effectively. Controlled Channeling fixes many of the frustrations from the Unearthed Arcana version. Grave Domain Cleric lost some of its explosive potential but gained consistency. The revised Path to the Grave works better across a wider variety of party compositions. Several subclasses showcase great ideas that feel slightly undertuned. Flavor and atmosphere are consistently strong throughout the book. No matter how serious the subject matter becomes, the conversation will eventually derail into food arguments, regional insults, or bizarre fantasy accents. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Tales of Three Campaign OneArc 3.0 The In-between- The Night of AbundanceEpisode 81: Sweet NightmaresTUO realizes they've been charmed, and everyone has nightmares.Content Warnings: complicated relationship dynamics, emotional distress, fantasy violence, nightmares, darkness, imprisonment, being held against one's will, allusion to harm to a child at 21:28-22:14, dog attack at 21:52-22:14, manipulation, fire, toxic romantic relationships, body gore, body horror, falling, abandonment, drowning, death of a loved one, loss of agency, profanity.Tales of Three is an all-queer, dark fantasy dnd podcast where your three Game Masters are also your three Players!If you like what you hear please tell your friends about us & consider giving us a 5 star review! It's a quick and easy way to show your support for small creators whose content you enjoy!Follow the Cast:Arianna as Elara SpinelsparkDusty as Ivy Nightbreeze-TinkerfeyWayra as VéresFind our socials here!Want to chat with the cast, talk spoilers, play games, and make new friends? Join our Discord!If you want to help keep the podcast running and get access to bonus content check out our Patreon or buy us a coffee on Ko-fi!Check out Dusty aka PossumBytes on Twitch!Special thanks to SG for theme song, Chriss for the logo, Fenn & Ely for the character art!Background music and SFX by Epidemic Sounds & Monument Studios.

In today's episode we talk about the non bad bad guy.  What is a non bad bad guy?  Why would you want a bad guy that isn't actually bad?  What are some examples of these bad guys?  We give you our thoughts and answer all these questions and more in today's episode.Leave us an email for feedback, questions, or thoughts at levelupyourgamingpodcast@gmail.comor Follow us on Facebook and engage with us at https://www.facebook.com/LevelUpYourGamingPlease leave us a review or a five star rating wherever you get your podcast.

The Adventure Guide: Secrets of Enduril is a learn-as-you-play Dungeons & Dragons starter set for families and beginner players or Game Masters. This is Part 2 of our playthrough adventure. The Adventure Guide is available on Kickstarter through July 16, 2026 or at The Adventure Guide website anytime thereafter. About us: When kids are at the table, everyone wins! Playing TTRPGs levels up kids' critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, & confidence. That's why we create our family-friendly D&D show, tips for playing with kids, and campaigns to bring the adventures home! More Family Adventures: ⁠⁠⁠Our Website⁠⁠⁠ Support Our Work: ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ A hearty huzzah for: ⁠⁠⁠Emberglow Gaming⁠⁠⁠ - GM Shield & Game Publisher (affiliate, 10% off: TheKidsTable) ⁠⁠⁠Monument Studios⁠⁠⁠ - Music (30% off: KIDSTABLE) ⁠⁠⁠Ember Rest⁠⁠⁠ - Filmed on Location ⁠Our Patreon Members⁠ - Thank you for your support! #dungeonsanddragons #actualplay #familyfriendly

Welcome once again, dear Dungeon Masters and Game Masters! Here is a little bit about what is going in my life and an apology for missing a week of content, plus some reflexions about getting inspired.Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM.Find Danny at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof⁠Find Dr. Ben on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@rpgphd⁠If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here:Worldsmith: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/worldsmith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Roll and Play Press: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/rollandplay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phantasm Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/fantasms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Monument Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠session0studios.com/monumentstudios⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Struggling to keep your campaign notes organized? In this episode of The Bearded Nerd Podcast, Brian shares a simple system for organizing NPCs, session notes, locations, plot hooks, and player goals without creating extra work. You'll learn: How to organize your GM notes What information actually matters How to prep more efficiently How to take useful session notes A simple post-session review process Perfect for new and developing Game Masters looking to reduce prep stress and run smoother campaigns. ---   Check out the links below to join a community of new and experiences players to help you on your gaming journey: Discord ➡️ https://discord.gg/uqfUzg3aH5 Instagram ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/brianthebeardednerd/ TikTok ➡️ https://www.tiktok.com/@thebeardednerd1   Do you finally want to try playing Dungeons & Dragons? Do you want to learn how to play in a more relaxed environment? Feel free to book a session with me here: https://www.ttrpgacademy.life/store

Arc 3.0 The In-between- The Night of AbundanceEpisode 80: Charmed I'm SureTUO get's the chance to party before The Night of Abundance, Véres gets flirted with, and a new person my be joining the party.Content Warnings: alcohol consumption, complicated relationship dynamics, romance, flirting, jealousy, emotional distress, fantasy violence, profanity, loss of agency and losing control of one's faculties due to magical meansTales of Three is an all-queer, dark fantasy dnd podcast where your three Game Masters are also your three Players!If you like what you hear please tell your friends about us & consider giving us a 5 star review! It's a quick and easy way to show your support for small creators whose content you enjoy!Follow the Cast:Arianna as Elara SpinelsparkDusty as Ivy Nightbreeze-TinkerfeyWayra as VéresFind our socials here!Want to chat with the cast, talk spoilers, play games, and make new friends? Join our Discord!If you want to help keep the podcast running and get access to bonus content check out our Patreon or buy us a coffee on Ko-fi!This week we are shouting out our friends at Punch & Roll! Check out their actual plays here!Special thanks to SG for theme song, Chriss for the logo, Fenn & Ely for the character art!Background music and SFX by Epidemic Sounds & Monument Studios.

Sometimes a Game Masters needs something open, full of possibilities, a mother sauce for a GM and players to build on. Join DMs Matt and Rob to explore six generic universal role-playing games systems for when you need something vanilla for your campaigns. Follow Dungeon Master of None on Blue Sky:  https://bsky.app/profile/dmofnone.bsky.social  https://www.patreon.com/DungeonMasterOfNone  Join the DMofNone Discord! Music: Pac Div - Roll the Dice Matt is reporting live from the hometown of Steve Jackson Games and as a result his audio is not great. Sorry!

Three experienced Game Masters, Ivis Flanagan, James Beck, and Rick Sandidge, are here to help you up your game. They share their experiences running Pathfinder and Starfinder adventures, and answer questions from chat. Streamed live on May 23rd, 2026. Listen Now!(mp3)

Welcome, my good Cabalists. This day, the Lords of the Dungeon gather within the Ludus to discuss the rewarding of adventurers. Many a Game Master spends countless hours crafting challenges, encounters, and memorable characters, yet gives little thought to the rewards awaiting those who overcome them. A worthy reward is more than mere coin or treasure, it is the fruit of heroic labor and a force that gives greater meaning to the tale! Join us as we explore how thoughtful rewards can enrich your players' journeys and make their victories all the sweeter. Huzzah!

The Adventure Guide: Secrets of Enduril is a learn-as-you-play Dungeons & Dragons starter set for families and beginner players or Game Masters. Skip the thick tome of rules and simply embark on adventure! Adventurers young and wise will heed the call of Queen Tabitha III to investigate mysteries, solve ancient secrets, and meet some dangerously adorable critters along the way. The adventure combines the depth of Lord of the Rings with the playfulness of Zootopia. Find out more at https://theadventureguide.emberglowgaming.com About us: When kids are at the table, everyone wins! Playing TTRPGs levels up kids' critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, & confidence. That's why we create our family-friendly D&D show, tips for playing with kids, and campaigns to bring the adventures home! More Family Adventures: ⁠⁠Our Website⁠⁠ Support Our Work: ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Follow Us: ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ A hearty huzzah for: ⁠⁠Emberglow Gaming⁠⁠ - GM Shield & Game Publisher (affiliate, 10% off: TheKidsTable) ⁠⁠Monument Studios⁠⁠ - Music (30% off: KIDSTABLE) ⁠⁠Ember Rest⁠⁠ - Filmed on Location Our Patreon Members - Thank you for your support! #dungeonsanddragons #actualplay #familyfriendly 0:00 The Kids Table Presents: The Adventure Guide, Secrets of Enduril 0:23 Meet the Cast & Players 0:54 What is The Adventure Guide? 1:37 Chapter 0: The Prologue 4:00 Character Creation 9:00 Chapter 1: The Beginning 21:35 Chapter 1: The Puzzle 28:31 Next Time on Part 2 of the Adventure

There are very few official published adventures for Daggerheart, and those are either one-shots or very short. The third party options are also limited. So what is a GM wanting a published adventure to do? In this episode I share how I'm taking adventures from other games and adapting them to Daggerheart. Because Daggerheart's system is relatively simple, it's actually pretty easy to do.Play Daggerheart with Me on Start Playing Games.Sign up for my newsletter.Subscribe via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.Check out my sci-fi novel, Critical Balance.Have you read Critical Balance? Please leave a review on Amazon.Follow me on Bluesky.Join my Discord server.Email me.Check out my YouTube channel.Join my Book Club, now on Discord.Check Out my OTHER PODCAST - Lex Out LoudCall the Game Master's Journey voice mail: 951-GMJ-LEX1 (951-465-5391).

Did you like the episode? Send me a text and let me know!!Defeat Your Business Monsters with Paul Pape | Undiscovered Entrepreneur**Episode Summary: What if the secret to building a profitable creative business was hidden inside a game of Dungeons & Dragons? In this episode, entrepreneur, fabricator, and "Santa For Nerds" Paul Pape shares how he turned 20 years of custom creative work — including projects for Disney, Universal, and Nickelodeon — into a revolutionary business consulting model called Gamified Business. Paul doesn't teach creatives traditional business strategy. He runs campaigns. He builds character sheets. He slays monsters.If you've ever struggled with imposter syndrome, perfectionism, fear of failure, or just getting off the couch and starting — this episode is your quest giver.What You'll Learn:Why creatives struggle with business (and the D&D fix that works)How Paul turned a broke 7-figure company into a thriving one in 6 monthsThe monster metaphors for imposter syndrome, failure, perfectionism & fearWhy your ideas are worth more than your labor — and how a stolen ad taught Paul that lesson the hard wayThe one piece of advice Paul gives every new entrepreneur (it's two questions)Why charging for your services actually helps your clients succeedThe Thousand Asks Challenge and Paul's 6-month goalTimestamps:[00:00:00] – Introduction & Meet Paul Pape[00:01:30] – 20 Years as "Santa For Nerds" — Disney, Universal & Custom Collectibles[00:02:30] – Birth of Gamified Business: The D&D Consulting Method[00:04:30] – How a Dragon-Making Company Went from $50K Net to 4X Revenue[00:06:00] – The Four Business Monsters: Imposter Syndrome, Failure, Perfectionism & Fear[00:11:30] – Quitting a Professor Job, a Viral Side Hustle & $50K in 6 Weeks[00:16:00] – Why the Inner Shadow Stops Most Entrepreneurs[00:18:00] – The Universe Hands Out Quests — Will You Accept Yours?[00:22:00] – The Grocery Store Lawsuit That Changed How Paul Protects His Ideas[00:29:30] – The Best Advice for New Entrepreneurs (Two Questions)[00:31:00] – Paul's 6-Month Goal & The Thousand Asks Challenge[00:32:00] – How to Find Paul & Gamify BusinessConnect with Paul Pape:

We're spending just one day out there! Join Grant of Game Master Monday and descend into the musical madness an social commentary of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) with the pod! Where to find Grant:https://linktr.ee/gamemastermondayTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/gamemastermondayBluesky: @gamemastermonday.bsky.socialInstagram: @gamemastermondayContact the Podmoviestruckpod@gmail.comwww.moviestruck.transistor.fmPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/moviestruckDiscord: https://discord.gg/cT2vm3KdeSBlueSky: @moviestruck.bsky.socialTheme by Prod. DomSoundcloudThank you to our $10 Patrons!Kaeldrannas, Maddy New, Adam Bagnall, Christian Jolliff, UwU, Zas, Ken M, Jim8333, Jacob Hunt, Azraq Shinji, Case Aiken, AnOptimist, Lairde Ray, the Norwegian one, Travis Poe, William Warren, Stag Hart (Deer Deer), Rusty_Fork, Mura Purcell, insomnite, Nathan Dunlap. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In today's episode we talk about letting your players cook.  What does it mean to let your players cook?  Why should you let them cook?  What can letting your players cook do your game?  We give you our thoughts and answer all these questions and more in today's episode.Leave us an email for feedback, questions, or thoughts at levelupyourgamingpodcast@gmail.comor Follow us on Facebook and engage with us at https://www.facebook.com/LevelUpYourGamingPlease leave us a review or a five star rating wherever you get your podcast.

Tales of Three Campaign OneArc 3.0 The In-between- The Night of AbundanceEpisode 79: A Hag Hunting We Will GoTUO and Co meet up with some . . . interesting people from Véres' recent past, and everyone goes looking for signs of the hag.Content Warnings: deep woods, darkness, profanity, romance, complex relationships, reference to starvation. Background drinking sounds on mic in last two minutes of bloopers Tales of Three is an all-queer, dark fantasy dnd podcast where your three Game Masters are also your three Players!If you like what you hear please tell your friends about us & consider giving us a 5 star review! It's a quick and easy way to show your support for small creators whose content you enjoy!Follow the Cast:Arianna as Elara SpinelsparkDusty as Ivy Nightbreeze-TinkerfeyWayra as VéresFind our socials here!Want to chat with the cast, talk spoilers, play games, and make new friends? Join our Discord!If you want to help keep the podcast running and get access to bonus content check out our Patreon or buy us a coffee on Ko-fi!Check out FrizzysDoodles for your next character art!Special thanks to SG for theme song, Chriss for the logo, Fenn & Ely for the character art!Background music and SFX by Epidemic Sounds & Monument Studios.

In our first-ever interview episode, we sit down with Dr. Ben, whose work and studies span storytelling, game design, philosophy, and many other disciplines.Together, we distill practical insights on authority at the table, both within the fiction and beyond it.Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM.Find Danny at: https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hofFind Dr. Ben on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rpgphdIf you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here:Worldsmith: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/worldsmith⁠⁠⁠⁠Roll and Play Press: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/rollandplay⁠⁠⁠⁠Phantasm Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/fantasms⁠⁠⁠⁠Monument Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠session0studios.com/monumentstudios⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/newsletter

There is no singular right way to Game Master, we said that for over 200 episodes already and this episode is no different. This episode is however about a Game Mastering Style we call "The Right Way" GMing."The Right Way" is often defined by one singular path forward and the Game Master trying to bring their players to do exactly that... sometimes that can be a good thing, and sometimes its a really bad thing. So how do we make sure we don't fall into the bad pattern? thats what we discuss today and how you can identify the Style, change your game mastering and be more open to player ideas.Check here for all further information:You can find us on the Web under these Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.doubledm.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/doubledm.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/doubledmpod/?hl=de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/doubledm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you want to reach out to us via E-Mail use: doubledmpod@gmail.comOur Midroll Music is "Midnight Tale" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Outro Music is "Ascending the Vale" Kevin MacLeod (imcompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every villain thinks they're the hero of their own story. This episode proves that sometimes they're right, and that's what makes them dangerous. Joined by James D'Amato and Dillin Apelyan, we set out to discuss villain backstories and somehow end up creating a supernatural cat-themed criminal mastermind based on Tyler's cat Cora. The result is equal parts masterclass, therapy session, and cautionary tale about what happens when a cat gains both motivation and opposable thumbs. Show Notes This week we welcome James D'Amato and Dillin Apelyan from the One Shot Podcast Network to discuss the art of creating memorable tabletop RPG villains. Drawing from their new book, The Ultimate RPG Villain Backstory Guide, we explore how Game Masters can move beyond simple evil-for-the-sake-of-evil antagonists and build villains with goals, beliefs, flaws, and histories that make them feel alive. The conversation examines why great villains are often reflections of the heroes themselves. We discuss how similar experiences can lead one character toward heroism and another toward villainy, and why understanding a villain's motivations often makes them more frightening rather than more sympathetic. A villain does not need redemption to be compelling. Sometimes knowing exactly why they became terrible only makes their choices more horrifying. To demonstrate the process, the group builds a villain from scratch using exercises from the book. Starting with the simple premise of Tyler's attention-seeking cat, we gradually construct a complex antagonist with needs, ideology, grudges, and a worldview that justifies increasingly terrible behavior. The exercise highlights how quickly a few well-designed prompts can transform a joke character into someone players would genuinely remember. We also discuss villain archetypes, the value of supporting indie RPG creators, experiences within the broader tabletop community, and how character motivations can create richer stories at the table. By the end of the episode, listeners will have practical tools for creating antagonists who challenge players emotionally as well as mechanically. Key Takeaways Great villains are people first and villains second. The most memorable antagonists have understandable desires, fears, and motivations. Even when their actions are unforgivable, players should be able to understand how they arrived at those decisions. A villain does not need to be sympathetic to be interesting. Learning a villain's history is not about excusing their actions. In many cases, understanding their choices makes them even more terrifying because they knowingly embraced a destructive path. Villains become stronger when they reflect the heroes. Some of the best antagonists share experiences, values, or struggles with the protagonists. The difference is often how they responded to those challenges, creating powerful thematic contrasts. Motivation matters more than evil. Players engage more deeply with villains who are pursuing something meaningful to them rather than simply causing destruction. Goals, needs, and personal stakes create stronger stories than random cruelty. Villain archetypes are tools, not restrictions. The book's archetypes can be combined to create unique antagonists. Mixing traits from multiple archetypes allows Game Masters to build villains that feel distinct and unpredictable. Corruption is often more interesting than conquest. Some villains do not just want to win. They want to prove they are right by pulling others into their worldview, tempting heroes and bystanders to compromise their values along the way. The people around a villain matter. Followers, allies, rivals, and victims help define who a villain is. These relationships create story hooks, reveal personality traits, and show the broader impact of the villain's actions. Small details create memorable antagonists. A villain's habits, grudges, insecurities, and personal beliefs often leave a stronger impression than their grand plans. Players remember personalities more than stat blocks. Building villains can be surprisingly collaborative. The episode's running joke about Cora evolves into a fully realized antagonist because everyone contributes ideas and follows the logical consequences of those choices. Villain creation often works best as an iterative process. Every campaign can benefit from a villain who feels alive. Whether your antagonist is a dark lord, corrupt noble, cult leader, or attention-starved cat, giving them a believable history and motivation will make every encounter more meaningful. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

How do you create tension and drama in a D&D campaign without relying entirely on combat? In this episode of The Bearded Nerd Podcast, Brian explains how Game Masters can build emotional stakes, pressure, and memorable storytelling moments that keep players deeply engaged. You'll learn: What tension and drama actually mean in TTRPGs How to create emotional investment Why difficult choices matter How consequences build immersion Beginner-to-intermediate storytelling techniques for GMs Perfect for Game Masters looking to make their campaigns feel more cinematic and emotionally impactful. --- Check out the links below to join a community of new and experiences players to help you on your gaming journey: Discord ➡️ https://discord.gg/uqfUzg3aH5 Instagram ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/brianthebeardednerd/ TikTok ➡️ https://www.tiktok.com/@thebeardednerd1   Do you finally want to try playing Dungeons & Dragons? Do you want to learn how to play in a more relaxed environment? Feel free to book a session with me here: https://www.ttrpgacademy.life/store

Every Dungeon Master hits a wall eventually. The prep feels like a chore. The session you used to look forward to is now the thing you're dreading. The spark that made you fall in love with running games has gone quiet.In this special live panel recorded at FanX 2025, Justin, Tanner, and Cayden sit down in front of a live audience to tackle one of the most real and rarely talked-about challenges behind the screen: DM burnout.This isn't just a conversation about surviving — it's about understanding what burnout actually looks like, why it happens to even the most passionate Game Masters, and how to find your way back to the table with energy and excitement.Here's what the panel digs into:What burnout really looks like — and why it's not always obvious when it's happening to you.The different flavors of burnout — creative, emotional, social, and scheduling exhaustion each hit differently and need different solutions.What causes it — from over-prepping to under-appreciated effort, the panel gets honest about the real culprits.Prevention vs. recovery — because keeping the spark alive looks different than reigniting it after it's gone out.Practical tools and techniques — including leaning on your players, co-DMing, running one-shots, and reconnecting with what first made you love TTRPGs.What NOT to do — the traps that make burnout worse when you're already running on empty.How players can help — and how GMs can ask for support in ways that feel natural rather than vulnerable.Whether you're deep in the weeds right now or just want to make sure you never get there, this episode is for you.This episode is for the DMs who know the real end boss isn't the dragon — it's burnout. And it's for every storyteller who's ever wondered, "Am I doing this right?" — and showed up anyway.Thanks for listening to today's show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmithHire a Professional Dungeon Master: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/Discord: http://session0studios.com/discordPatreon: https://session0studios.com/patreonDungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Now with guests you might know from Youtube, we bring you more and better thoughts regarding Dungeon Mastering and other aspects of our beloved hobby.Danny Barrett gives us a glimpse of what is to come for the next 3 months!Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM.If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here:Worldsmith: ⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/worldsmith⁠⁠⁠Roll and Play Press: ⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/rollandplay⁠⁠⁠Phantasm Studios: ⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/fantasms⁠⁠⁠Monument Studios: ⁠⁠⁠session0studios.com/monumentstudios⁠⁠⁠Discord: ⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/discord⁠⁠⁠Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/patreon⁠⁠⁠Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: ⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Victoria Ichizli-Bartels, author of fourteen books on gameful living and coiner of the term "self-gamification," explores how the role of the tabletop RPG game master maps onto the inner conversation we have with ourselves. She walks through Jill Bolte Taylor's "brain huddle" concept (a 90-second pause that resolves inner conflict by letting the 12 different players in our heads come to the table), three diagnostic questions for stressful moments ("what is happening inside myself," "who is talking," and "what is the goal of this person"), and a Justin Alexander hack borrowed from RPG handbooks: instead of treating a stressful thought as a crisis, respond with "yes, this can happen, now what do you do?" Listeners come away with practical reframes for daily self-management and a clearer way to spot which inner player is driving a given thought. About the Host Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral design consultancy. A globally recognized gamification strategist and TEDx speaker, he founded and hosts Professor Game, the #1 gamification podcast, and has interviewed hundreds of global experts. He designs evidence-based engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Key Takeaways Jill Bolte Taylor's "brain huddle" concept proposes that 90 seconds of pause is enough to resolve inner conflict, by letting the different characters in our heads (which Victoria counts as roughly 12 distinct players, including self-leader, self-coach, game designer, and game master) come together and find an appropriate response. The single most useful diagnostic question for a stressful moment is "what is happening inside myself," followed by "who is talking" and "what is the goal of this person" — the third one usually reveals that the inner voice is trying to protect or train you, not sabotage you. Justin Alexander's RPG game master hack, "yes, this can happen, now what do you do?", reframes intrusive or stressful thoughts (like "I want to quit my job") from a crisis into an exploration, which usually reveals you don't want the extreme outcome — you want a smaller change. RPG handbook rules ("respect your co-players, be patient, be curious, be open-minded") map directly onto self-talk. Open-mindedness toward your own impulses is the rule most people break without noticing. Victoria connects RPG engagement to Core Drive 7 (Unpredictability and Curiosity): players love active play and surprise inside games but resent it in life, even though the underlying motivator is identical. Recognizing this changes how you experience unexpected events. The strategic-game metaphor of map exploration ("the land becomes lighter as you pay attention") and cool-down phases (planting crops after taking a castle) gives a concrete vocabulary for energy management between high-output and recovery days. Topics Covered 0:00 — Opening hook on RPG surprise 0:25 — Welcome and guest reintroduction 1:51 — 14 books in and still surprised 4:06 — Writing about TTRPGs without playing them 6:47 — The game master inside your head 9:48 — Why RPGs are collaborative storytelling 12:22 — Is there a map of the mind 16:47 — Rules of the inner RPG 18:29 — The 12 players inside us 19:05 — The 90-second brain huddle 23:30 — Self-care hacks from RPG handbooks 25:37 — The yes-this-can-happen reframe 26:56 — Closing thoughts and what is next Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD About Victoria Ichizli-Bartels Victoria Ichizli-Bartels is a writer, coach, and consultant with a background in semiconductor physics, electronic engineering (Ph.D.), information technology, and business development. While not a traditional gamer, Victoria coined the term "self-gamification," a gameful, playful approach to self-care and self-help that combines anthropology, kaizen, and gamification to enhance quality of life. With over a decade of experience living gamefully, she is the author of fourteen books and the instructor of two online courses on turning life into fun games. Victoria grew up in Moldova, lived in Germany for twelve years, and since 2008 has been based in Aalborg, Denmark, with her husband and two children. Find the Guest Online Website: https://www.victoriaichizlibartels.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriaichizlibartels/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/optimistwriter Substack: https://selfgamificationclub.substack.com/ Mentioned in This Episode Be Your Best Game Master by Victoria Ichizli-Bartels (the book this conversation is built around) So You Want to Be a Game Master by Justin Alexander Whole Brain Living by Jill Bolte Taylor (the "brain huddle" concept and the four-characters model) The 5-Minute Perseverance Game by Victoria Ichizli-Bartels (her first book, published 10 years ago) Actual Real Life Role-Playing Games by Victoria Ichizli-Bartels 10,000 Hours of Play by Yu-kai Chou A.J. Jacobs and his life-as-experiment / puzzler books Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) and tabletop RPGs in general Story Cubes (the dice-and-pictures storytelling game) Core Drive 7 — Unpredictability & Curiosity (Octalysis) Free Resources and Get in Touch Core Drives in the Wild: Professor Game Free Guide Get Daily Value on Your Email Let's chat about your gamification project YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Start Your Community on Skool for Free Ask a question

Hearken, travelers, to this gathering of Game Masters, wherein the Lords speak of the folk who breathe life into realms of fantasy and adventure - the Non-Player Characters! From steadfast companions and black-hearted villains to merry fools and curious villagers, we unravel the craft of creating memorable souls to wander thy world. We speak of weaving these characters into grand tales, stirring the hearts of players through cunning plots, tense encounters, and moments of laughter round the table. Come, and learn how a well-spun character may turn a humble campaign into a legend sung through the ages!

After 24 straight hours awake, Sam Riegel takes the Game Master's seat to lead the Darrington Brigade on an unhinged adventure across the skies in the maiden voyage of Exandria's largest skyship.   Game Master: Sam Riegel   Players: Ashley Johnson Laura Bailey Liam O'Brien Marisha Ray Matthew Mercer Taliesin Jaffe Travis Willingham   Character Art by: Aviv Or | https://www.instagram.com/avivorartist/   GFX: Ben Lyons Producers: Kirby Winslow, Ashley Middlebrook and Glenn Akers   Due to temporal, logistical, and legal requirements; these auctions are only available for US residents during our April 22nd livestream from 7pm PT through approximately April 23rd at midnight. All purchases will benefit the HNC Living and Pablove Foundation.   BEACON We're excited to bring you even MORE with a Beacon membership! Start your 7-day free trial today at https://beacon.tv/join and get unparalleled access to the shows you love completely ad-free! You'll receive NEW Beacon exclusive series, instant access to VODs & podcasts, live event pre-sales, merch discounts, & a private Discord.   YOUTUBE MEMBERS / TWITCH SUBSCRIBERS Twitch Subscribers and YouTube Members gain instant access to VODs of our shows, moderated live chats, and custom emojis & badges: https://www.youtube.com/criticalrole/ https://www.twitch.tv/criticalrole   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.