Season 8 wraps up with questions from the mailbag. How can you handle players roleplaying outside their stats? Why do groups always fall apart? Should a level 3 spell deal 48d6 damage? And is it the job of the DM to make sure the party is balanced?

Balls and gala events are great climactic set pieces, but pulling them off can be tricky. By taking a look through history, we can identify what makes them unique and how you can transform an overwhelming night of NPC interaction into an interactive skill challenge and social event for your players.

Players will surprise you with roleplay, be it a natural 20 Persuasion or unknown spell. Be prepared for the odd languages and have a plan for player spells, like comprehend languages, tongues, speak with dead, and speak with plants.

There is nothing wrong with filler combat when used appropriately. Give yourself a break from planning the main plot and add some filler while you figure out the next step.

Traps are cool, but they need proper setup and delivery. It's not just order of operations and mechanics, it's about tension and theming.

This mailbag tackles a multipart question from a new DM, how to make use of player theories, setting your own expectations for session zero, and how to deal with one of the most difficult problem players—the "but that's just what my character would do."

Every DM wants big set pieces packed with crowds for their players to be heroic in, but how do you manage such a scene? Here are tips and strategies to reduce your burden in executing the masses while still giving your players achievable goals and objectives.

Players love the idea of owning a castle, but all the hard work of running and managing its execution falls on the DM. Use these tricks to keep your fort from getting bogged down!

The life of adventure can be thrilling, but a functional world and economy means that some tasks might be more mundane. Create a montage for your players using assorted skill challenges to help showcase their impact on the world beyond just saving it from the big bad.

Livestreams and podcasts of D&D should be different from your home games. Factors like linear stories, paid actors, an audience, combat adaptations, world lore, and even being stuck in a chair change D&D from a game into a product. Enjoy your hobby and avoid stressing.