Mastering Dungeons

Episode 219 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Recent Game Design Lessons! Shawn and Teos share what they learned from recent projects, from late 3E, 4E, and beyond. News: New Greyhawk OP Campaign, AI Takes Down Itch.io, Talking Exploration, and more! Contents 00:00:00 We're 93! 00:01:38 Redesign Gnomes? 00:10:08 Encourage in Character? 00:17:10 Adventure Opening? 00:22:14 Legends of Greyhawk and MagicCon 00:25:28 AI Takes Down Itch.io 00:26:57 12 Days of Beyond 00:29:06 Everyone's Talking Exploration 00:31:49 2024 Magic Item Changes 00:33:39 Kickstarter Project Finances 00:37:19 Recent Game Design Lessons 00:39:16 Form and Function 00:44:05 Know the Medium 00:46:08 The Audience 00:50:58 Xendrik Expeditions 00:55:09 Living Forgotten Realms 00:59:19 Ashes of Athas 01:03:01 Getting Noticed 01:04:34 Playtesting and New Editions 01:05:56 Understanding Companies 01:09:19 D&D Encounters 01:12:09 Full-Time Work 01:13:09 Balancing Freelance and Self 01:16:02 Other Paths 01:17:25 Shout-Outs Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/  Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Episode 218 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Lessons Learned from Our Early Projects! Shawn and Teos share what they learned from the days when they started as designers, back in the 2000s and the 3E era. News: Exodus is Hasbro’s Newest RPG, Lord of the Rings and Illrigger on Beyond, PAX Unplugged, and more! Contents 00:00 Snow Job 02:24 DM Types? 08:57 Exciting Sandbox Pace? 18:55 Exodus Video Game Gets RPG 30:45 Lord of the Rings on DDB 34:57 MCDM's Illrigger on DDB 38:19 D&D at PAX Unplugged 39:20 Combo Encounters 40:59 Mearls Teaching at UW 41:29 Monstrous Menagerie II 43:21 Lessons Learned from Early Projects 44:31 Build a Community? 49:47 Starting in 2000 and the LG Era 52:54 Organized Play Lessons 56:57 Learning is Investment 01:00:02 Changing Social Media 01:02:59 Clear and Concise Language 01:04:01 Understanding Industry Pay 01:05:27 Great Success is Rare 01:07:30 There is No Perfection 01:13:58 The Product that Isn't 01:16:31 Edition Change Challenges 01:18:31 Shout-Outs Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/  Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Discover the essential traits RPG companies seek in designers, from adaptability and creativity to reliability and communication skills. Dive into the latest industry news, including Hasbro’s shift away from movies and the investor lawsuit. Explore the evolving landscape of social media affecting the RPG community. Learn about the importance of mindfulness and compassion in project management, and how big ideas can shape the future of tabletop gaming. Plus, hear about exciting new projects and conventions in the RPG world!

Episode 216 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Embracing Dark Fantasy! Ben Bryne joins Shawn to discuss what makes dark fantasy such a compelling genre and how to create for dark games. Teos meanwhile hopes to recover from his technical horror as his desktop bites the dust. News: AL Update, Kobolds Make Mistakes, and more! Contents 00:00 Introduction 40:54 Dark Fantasy Campaigns 59:00 Find Ben Byrne Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/  Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Episode 215 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: What Publishers Want in a D&D Designer! Shawn and Teos review two D&D job postings and break down the skills and job functions a publisher looks for in a D&D Designer and Product Architect. News: DMG Preorder Debacles, Weapon Masteries 101, PAGE Convention, and more! Contents 00:00 Surviving 00:53 Writing Same Old Stuff? 08:02 Teaching Like Lazy DM? 14:41 D&D Beyond on Campaigns and Adventures 18:11 Critical Role Minis Canceled 20:23 DMG Preorder Debacles 23:13 Weapon Masteries 101 30:49 PAGE Convention Near Philly 33:05 State of the Mongoose 35:20 Lessons from Meetup 37:43 Jeff Stevens Steals Christmas 38:40 What Publishers Want in a D&D Designer 40:27 Growing Into a Position 42:13 D&D Designer - What You Do 56:08 Representing the Company 58:55 What You Bring 01:02:47 D&D Product Architect 01:11:22 Shout-Outs Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/  Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

The hosts share memorable highlights from Gamehole Con, showcasing the unique atmosphere and vibrant community. They delve into the new features of the D&D maps tool and discuss the upcoming 'Scions of Elemental Evil' adventure. There's lively banter about designing cleric subclasses and the importance of flexibility in game mechanics. Listeners will also hear about innovative Discord updates and the revival of Ars Magica, adding exciting dimensions to gaming experiences. Personal anecdotes and entrepreneurial insights from the convention make for an engaging listen!

Episode 213 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Want to Be a Professional Game Designer? Shawn and Teos tackle a question they hear often. Do you truly want to be a game designer, and if so, the steps to take to make meaningful progress. News: Hasbro Q3 and Layoffs, D&D 1-Shots, CR and Dimension 20 Arena Shows, and more! Contents 00:00 Post-Gamehole Buzz 03:03 Skills are Exploration? 11:06 The Adventure is the Game? 16:46 Campaign Without Gods or Planes? 20:50 Layoffs and Q3 Hasbro Results 32:47 D&D is Down 34:17 How Big is D&D? 35:22 DMG Lore Glossary 36:41 DMG Encounter Design 40:13 DM Screen Preview 41:35 PH and DM High Demand 43:19 D&D One-Shot Store Events 44:51 Scions of Elemental Evil 46:41 Critical Role and Dim 20 Arena Shows 48:15 Be a Professional Game Designer? 49:22 Do You Actually Want It? 53:41 Mix Games with Occupation 57:13 What Skills to Hone? 01:05:12 Team Skills 01:07:22 Making Patient Progress 01:12:11 Know the Current Media 01:13:05 Possible Paths 01:15:17 Help People Solve Problems 01:17:36 Know Your Worth and do Work 01:19:26 Become a Great GM 01:21:06 The Role of Conventions 01:27:35 Having "It" 01:29:48 Shout-Outs Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/  Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Live from Gamehole Con, the hosts dive into creating a campaign with audience participation. They chat about the evolution of tabletop games, highlighting the impact of simple mechanics and rich storytelling. Funny fan interactions light up the discussion, along with innovative takes on dragon lore and campaign mechanics. They explore character dynamics and the challenges of designing low magic worlds. Plus, there's a sneak peek into the new Dungeon Master's Guide and the exciting possibilities Greyhawk offers for creators!

Episode 211 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Horizons Magazine with Hannah Rose! Hannah Rose shares how she and Clara Daly are creating Horizons Magazine and what we can expect from this issue and future quarterly issues. News: London Gets DMGs, D&D Movie Netflix Success, DMG Toolbox Previews, and more! Contents 00:00 Happy Rebranding Day 01:33 Character Consequences? 13:48 Pivot from Curse of Strahd? 20:54 First DMGs at London MCM 23:38 DMG Toolbox Previews 32:58 D&D Movie Big on Netflix 35:38 Greyhawk 101 36:52 Cultural Backgrounds 2024 38:33 Trapped on Cyre 1313 39:46 Dungeons Reforged 42:09 Grim Hollow Transformed 43:11 Hannah Rose 44:43 Hannah and Clara 55:12 Why a Magazine? 58:34 Lessons from Arcadia 01:01:53 Playtesting 01:04:59 Mix of D&D and Other RPGs 01:09:03 Desk of Many Thoughts 01:11:48 How to Get Horizons 01:13:07 Patreon vs Site? 01:14:24 Issue 1 Contents - Travel 01:18:23 Star Dragons 01:19:43 Cloud City 01:23:55 NPC Atraxis 01:28:57 Future Plans 01:34:05 Find Wildmage Press 01:35:12 Shout-Outs Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/  Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Episode 210 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Wardens of the Eastern Marches! Alex Kammer tells us all about Wardens of the Eastern Marches, the new organized play program from Gamehole Publishing. News: 2024 DMG Previews, Commander Rules Committee, Bastion is for Players, and more! Contents 00:00 No Vaccine for Ladders 02:19 Remove Mechanics for Setting? 15:08 D&D Made for Conflict? 31:28 DMG Previews! 41:26 Bastions Preview 42:04 Player Rules in the DMG? 44:04 New D&D Licensed Products 45:19 Commander Rules Committee Disbands 50:31 Gamehole's Organized Play 51:11 Real Castle Floor Plans 51:46 The Best LLM is Your Brain 52:58 Sorcerer's Return 54:00 Grim Hollow Transformed Update 55:56 Alex Kammer and Eastern Marches 58:19 Importance of Organized Play 01:01:35 AL at a Crossroads 01:04:51 The Eastern Marches 01:09:06 Setting and Alliances 01:12:42 Where to Play 01:13:15 3rd Party PC Options 01:19:58 Exploring the Unknown 01:21:08 Saying Yes to Creators 01:22:59 Magic Item Certs 01:26:22 Releasing Adventures 01:29:16 Gamehole and 50th 01:34:57 What Makes Gamehole Special 01:38:39 Shout-Outs Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/  Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.