Curmudgeons And Dragons

[#103] This month, we’re doing a series of DM Tips in list form. This week, Jim offers his take on the five things you can do in advance to improve your 5e sessions, in order of importance.

• There’s a lot of ways to take session notes, here’s a nice simple template from Sly Flourish.
• If you have the right fancy gaming table, you can actually leave it set up!
• A deluxe, high-end miniatures case can help keep everything neat.
• We never miss a chance to endorse The Monsters Know What They’re Doing.

Everything we love can be found at curmudgeonsanddragons.com

Hosted by Jason Portizo and Jim Crocker.
Produced and Edited by Jason Portizo.

Curmudgeons and Dragons is a JTP Audio production.

[#102] In this DM Advice segment, Jason and Jim offer their thoughts on dueling patrons, checking over and over, and our favorite "reverse metagaming"

• You can read the original posts on juggling warlock patrons, repeating skill checks, and reverse meta-gaming.
• Some patrons are better than others, at least according to our pals at CBR.
• We couldn’t tell you what to do if you had to open a safe in real life, but this guy can.
• PLase try to remember the bass player’s name.
• Join the conversation at the DMAcademy subreddit.

Check out other DMAcademy episodes
And the youtube, too!

Hosted by Jason Portizo and Jim Crocker
Produced and Edited by Jason Portizo

Curmudgeons and Dragons is a JTP Audio production

[#101] In this edition of Horror Stories, Jim, Jason, and Josey share the tale of the Board Game Night that would not be denied!

• Read the original story and comments
• In case you don’t know what Catan is.
• Josey was talking Bullshit.
• Roll20 is notoriously difficult to program in. Here’s the API.
• For more stories of terrible games, check out the RPG Horror Stories subreddit.

New episodes every Friday now with video!
Check out our other episodes!
And the youtube, too!

Hosted by Jason Portizo, Josey Diaz, and Jim Crocker
Produced and Edited by Jason Portizo
Curmudgeons and Dragons is a JTP Audio production

[#100] It’s our 100th episode SPECTACULAR! THANK YOU, ADVENTURERS!

We’re taking a moment to look back and follow up with some of our favorite episodes, talk about where we’ve been, and a little about where we’re going.

Episodes we look back at and get updates on:

• OG C&D host Jack O’Connell came on to share an exclusive Wholesome Story with us!
• #01: Our very first Horror Stories Commentary
• #85: Wholesome Stories VI
• #87: DM Academy VII
• #95: Soul Coins and Safety Tools

Everything we love can be found at curmudgeonsanddragons.com

Hosted by Jason Portizo, Josey Diaz, and Jim Crocker
Produced and Edited by Jason Portizo

Curmudgeons and Dragons is a JTP Audio production

[#99] Josey returns from academia to grace us with her presence! Today’s horror story is about what happens when you don’t think through letting your PCs play chaotic evil and the Main Characters that can result.

AUDIOPHILE NOTE: Jason was so excited about the new microphone he bought just for this recording session that he didn’t notice it was pretty badly damaged and didn’t sound right. He fixed it with the best technology available but it’s not up to our standards. Sorry!

• Read along with us at the original reddit link
• It’s easy to play games like Oblivion and Fallout as a murder-hobo, but playing as a pacifist is the real challenge.
• Jason advised against going Full Tarantino.
• Chaotic Neutral has a variety of flavors.
• Check us out on TikTok!
• For more stories of terrible games, check out the RPG Horror Stories subreddit.

New episodes every Friday, now with video!
Check out our other episodes!
And the youtube, too!

Hosted by Jason Portizo, Jim Crocker, and Josey Diaz.
Produced and Edited by Jason Portizo

Curmudgeons and Dragons is a JTP Audio production.

[#98] Jason and Jim look to the Reddit mailbag to offer their advice to DMs in a variety of situations. This week: monster stat transparency, DMing for kids, and how to handle skill check pile-ons.

• Do you tell players about legendary resistance?
  • Here’s a great primer on how Legendary Resistance works from Halfling Hobbies.
• Running a game for kids. How?
  • The Magic School Bus started with a book series that was made into an animated TV show.
  • WotC has a ready-made selection of ready-to-play characters.
  • Jim suggested Strixhaven as an ideal open-table beginner game.
• How I discourage meta-gaming at my table
  • Jason mentioned Paradox Perfect and the AP he enjoyed from the 3 Black Halflings Podcast.
  • Jim mentioned Forged in the Dark RPGs.
  • The Avatar Legends RPG just shipped and should be in stores soon.
• Join the conversation at the DMAcademy subreddit.

Check out other DMAcademy episodes
And the youtube, too!

Hosted by Jason Portizo and Jim Crocker
Produced and Edited by Jason Portizo.

[#97] We welcome back special guest Melissa Mayhew for a Horror Story that asks whether becoming a cannibal who tortures and murders another PC makes you an asshole. Josey is off this week.

• Check out the original post and comments.
• Check out Melissa’s musical endeavors, Action Rabbit and Sour Candy Project.
• The idea of DM Fiat goes back decades. Here’s a good rundown on Stack Exchange
• Jason invoked the classic Dreamcast RPG Shenmue.
• The 3.5 edition had a Hatred Domain for clerics, not imported into 5e.
• Gaslighting definitely means something different than what you think it does.
• For more stories of terrible games, check out the RPG Horror Stories subreddit.

New episodes every Friday, now with video!

Check out our other episodes!
And the youtube, too!

Hosted by Jason Portizo, Jim Crocker, and Melissa Mayhew.
Produced and Edited by Jason Portizo

Curmudgeons and Dragons is a JTP Audio production

[#96] This week, we welcome back special guest Melissa Mayhew, a local musician and D&D player. Jason, Jim, and Melissa a Horror Story of playing an online game from grandma’s bathroom. Josey is off this week.

AUDIOPHILE NOTE: We did our best to clean up the little bit of echo we had during recording, but you may notice a bit of it here and there. Apologies in advance.

• Check out the original post and comments.
• Check out Melissa’s musical endeavors, Action Rabbit and Sour Candy Project.
• You can find a wide range of paid (and apparently the occasional free) games at Start Playing.
• Definitely look into having a drag queen birthday party
• Jason mentioned NADDPOD, which is how the kids refer to Not Another D&D Podcast.
• For more stories of terrible games, check out the RPG Horror Stories subreddit.

New episodes every Friday, now with video!
Check out our other episodes!
And the youtube, too!

Hosted by Jason Portizo, Jim Crocker, and special guest Melissa Mayhew
Produced and Edited by Jason Portizo

Curmudgeons and Dragons is a JTP Audio production.

[#95] Jason and Jim delve into the horror stories that can come up in Dungeons and Dragons, from the tales of players tasked with retrieving soul coins to the challenges of being a relationship with your DM. With their special guest, Melissa Mayhew, they discuss how to properly address and avoid these uncomfortable scenarios and the importance of setting ground rules, while also reminding us that horror stories can sometimes still have a happy ending.

• Check out Melissa’s musical endeavors, Action Rabbit and Sour Candy Project.
• We referred back to Jim’s immortal tale of Flapjack the Mage.
• According to people who know what they’re talking about, you couldn’t actually ride a velociraptor.
• Soul Coins are a video game thing that actually made their way into 5th Edition.
• Please weigh in on whether Melissa’s situation was more of a quandary, a kerfuffle, or a dilemma.
• For more stories of terrible games, check out the RPG Horror Stories subreddit.

New episodes every Friday, now with video!
Check out our other episodes!
And the youtube, too!
Hosted by Jason Portizo, Jim Crocker, and special guest Melissa Mayhew
Produced and Edited by Jason Portizo

Curmudgeons and Dragons is a JTP Audio production

[#94] Jim and Jason offer advice to DMs about civil wars, chariots, and a hybrid advice/horror story!

• Read the original Civil War post.
• Read the unexpected guests post
• Read the chariots post
• There’s a long, rich history of killing your dad in dramatic fiction.
• Vecna is, technically, a God in 5th Edition, and as such has no official stat block.
• Join the conversation at the DMAcademy subreddit.

Check out other DMAcademy episodes

And the youtube, too!

Hosted by Jason Portizo, and Jim Crocker
Produced and Edited by Jason Portizo