Grumpy Dungeon Masters

By Christopher Waples, Jay Johnson

Two guys who have run one too many games of Dungeons and Dragons. Here we gripe about foolish players, horrible mechanics, and bad dice rolls. As well as, worldbuilding, rules, and how to deal with th... more

66 ratings

FAQs about Grumpy Dungeon Masters:

How many episodes does Grumpy Dungeon Masters have?

The podcast currently has 277 episodes available.

Grumpy Dungeon Masters episodes:

July 15, 2025 Episode 241 – Dungeons & Dragons or D&D BX
This weeks its more of the Grumpy Dungeon Masters grumping about gaming. We all know D&D 5e is built with a board game model, but is it better than board games that are designed with a campaign in mind. With the guys playing Gloomhaven on their Twitch stream the question seemed relevant.
Kristian posits the question of should Dungeons & Dragons 5E design a BX version of the game. BX stands for Basic/Expert, which is a simpler version of D&D from the early editions. Could a BX version of the game stand on it’s own and take off if released by Wizards of the Coast?
Jay takes a look at some of the spells from the 80’s Adventures set he backed on Kickstarter. A couple of choice ones would be Zone of Danger and Ghouls Just Want to Have Fun. Also the ecology of the basilisk.
Visit Zenergy Gamers for all of your gaming needs. Use code word Grumpy for 10% off any order!
Follow the Grumpy Dungeon Masters on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!
Join our Discord to chat with the Grumpy DMs. Bring us your toughest DM questions or ask us to review your TTRPG work!
Be sure to join us every Saturday at 8pm EST on Twitch for our Live Play D&D session.
Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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1h 4min
July 08, 2025 Episode 240 – Dragonbane The Roleplaying Game
This week Kristian finally gets to talk about Dragonbane. For those who aren’t familiar Dragonbane is an RPG that has been around since the early 80’s that has fairly recently had a new edition which has caught on. While GDM Jay wasn’t sold on it at first I’m pretty sure he had his mind changed after diving into it.
The guys also spend a little bit of time looking at the newest Unearthed Arcana for Dungeons & Dragons, which details all the new arcane sub-classes. Also a brief look at Mind Flayers, their strange legs, and are they time travelers.
Visit Zenergy Gamers for all of your gaming needs. Use code word Grumpy for 10% off any order!
Follow the Grumpy Dungeon Masters on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!
Join our Discord to chat with the Grumpy DMs. Bring us your toughest DM questions or ask us to review your TTRPG work!
Be sure to join us every Saturday at 8pm EST on Twitch for our Live Play D&D session.
Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

...more
1h 14min
July 01, 2025 Episode 239 – Dungeons & Dragons Is Just A Combat Simulator
Free RPG Day has come and gone and the Grumpy Dungeon Masters all managed to get some goodies. They talk about some of the findings including a Dragonbane module, some Dungeon Crawl Classics, and the ability to kick flip horses which Jay found in a zine he nabbed.
Christopher had a busy free RPG day since he was helping to host at his local store. Among all of that he also had time to sit down as a panelist and answer some questions. The Grumpy Dungeon Masters go over those questions this week and dive into the nuances of what it means to be a Dungeon Master.
Visit Zenergy Gamers for all of your gaming needs. Use code word Grumpy for 10% off any order!
Follow the Grumpy Dungeon Masters on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!
Join our Discord to chat with the Grumpy DMs. Bring us your toughest DM questions or ask us to review your TTRPG work!
Be sure to join us every Saturday at 8pm EST on Twitch for our Live Play D&D session.
Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

...more
1h 23min
June 24, 2025 Grumpy Guest – Heidi & Erik Gygax Garland
The guys were lucky enough this week to get to talk with Heidi & Erik Gygax Garland. They are both incredible game designers with their own company Gaxland and Heidi is also the daughter of Gary Gygax. They are also the creators of EGG Con, which takes place July 24th – 27th in Lake Geneva Wisconsin this year.
The Grumpy DM’s talk about meeting them at Gary Con this year and let the guests tell them plenty of stories involving their kids, foolish players, and playing games with the Gygax family growing up. Listen in and if you’re looking for some wonderful modules to run or other awesome geeky items check out their website at Gaxland.com.
Visit Zenergy Gamers for all of your gaming needs. Use code word Grumpy for 10% off any order!
Follow the Grumpy Dungeon Masters on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!
Join our Discord to chat with the Grumpy DMs. Bring us your toughest DM questions or ask us to review your TTRPG work!
Be sure to join us every Saturday at 8pm EST on Twitch for our Live Play D&D session.
Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

...more
1h 18min
June 17, 2025 Episode 238 – Free RPG Day Is Upon Us
This week is free RPG day! It’s Christmas in June! Go to freerpgday.com to find local retailers who are participating and get your free swag. Also maybe buy something while you’re there to support the local shops.
Dan finally begins his Dungeons & Dragons deep dive on Dragons! There is a whole lot of information over the years and if you want to learn a piece of the history then listen in to story time with Grumpy Dungeon Masters.
The guys also talk a little bit about Psionics again, taking a look at the historical perspective in Dungeons & Dragons. Pretty much since the beginning Psionics has caused problems with the system. Not sure that’s really changed with 5E.
Dan also introduces one of the strangest magic items. Mr. Bottle.
Visit Zenergy Gamers for all of your gaming needs. Use code word Grumpy for 10% off any order!
Follow the Grumpy Dungeon Masters on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!
Join our Discord to chat with the Grumpy DMs. Bring us your toughest DM questions or ask us to review your TTRPG work!
Be sure to join us every Saturday at 8pm EST on Twitch for our Live Play D&D session.
Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

...more
1h 21min
June 10, 2025 Episode 237 – You Got Your Psionics In My Dungeons & Dragons
This week the guys finally actually take a look at the Unearthed Arcana for Psionics in Dungeons & Dragons 5E. For those who haven’t been around forever the new Psion class might feel new to you. For these old Grognards though it just doesn’t quite hit the mark.
Christopher has been listening to the new Ravenloft audio book, Heir of Strahd. With the great voice acting in it he took note that the drow character did in fact have an Aussie accent. They do in fact come from a land down under.
Jay walks the guys through a scenario that actually happened to him that was a rookie DM making a rookie mistake. The guys all give their sage advice on how a game master should actually run that scenario to make it better for all players. Sometimes the Grumpy Dungeon Masters do actually offer advice for running better games.
Visit Zenergy Gamers for all of your gaming needs. Use code word Grumpy for 10% off any order!
Follow the Grumpy Dungeon Masters on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!
Join our Discord to chat with the Grumpy DMs. Bring us your toughest DM questions or ask us to review your TTRPG work!
Be sure to join us every Saturday at 8pm EST on Twitch for our Live Play D&D session.
Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

...more
1h 12min
June 03, 2025 Episode 236 – The Caverns of Thracia By Goodman Games
Dan has returned this week and had a little surprise in the mail. He finally got his copy of The Caverns of Thracia from Goodman Games. It’s a First Edition Dungeons & Dragons Mega Dungeon remade for more modern systems. Dan got the 5E edition while Jay got the DCC edition. They go over what all they received and dive into some of the details.
Christopher picked up an anthology of the original Dragonlance novels. As he’s a newbie to the setting the guys quickly dash his hopes of expecting great novels. That being said, the guys still love Dragonlance and talk about other good novels in the D&D genre.
Kristian brings up the question of are backstories necessary for RPG’s? The guys use their infinite knowledge and wisdom about RPG’s to determine how much backstory is needed. The verdict? Listen in to find out.
Visit Zenergy Gamers for all of your gaming needs. Use code word Grumpy for 10% off any order!
Follow the Grumpy Dungeon Masters on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!
Join our Discord to chat with the Grumpy DMs. Bring us your toughest DM questions or ask us to review your TTRPG work!
Be sure to join us every Saturday at 8pm EST on Twitch for our Live Play D&D session.
Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

...more
1h 13min
May 27, 2025 Episode 235 – Index Card RPG
Grumpy Dungeon Master Dan is on vacation this week so it’s just the other 3 knuckleheads talking gaming. Jay recently picked up the Index Card RPG and walks through the book and the system. If you’re a brand new game master or want to learn we would highly recommend starting with this book. It’s simple, it’s clean, and it will help guide you to being a great game master.
Kristian talks about a book he got in recently called the Book of Extinction, by Mage Hand Press. It’s a Dungeons & Dragons 5e monster book with real life critters that have gone extinct. The neat trick is that the book gives you the stats for the real versions of it and then gives stats for monster versions of them. If you’ve ever wanted to doom your party with a flock of passenger pigeons this is the book for you.
Christopher decides to grump a bit about some Adventure League modules he obtained at Gary Con. Four modules about giants isn’t enough to make him happy. Jay also talks about an old Rifts video game that is getting a new makeover.
Visit Zenergy Gamers for all of your gaming needs. Use code word Grumpy for 10% off any order!
Follow the Grumpy Dungeon Masters on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!
Join our Discord to chat with the Grumpy DMs. Bring us your toughest DM questions or ask us to review your TTRPG work!
Be sure to join us every Saturday at 8pm EST on Twitch for our Live Play D&D session.
Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

...more
1h 8min
May 20, 2025 Episode 234 – Dungeons & Dragons Unearthed Arcana Horror Part 2
The Grumpy Dungeon Masters take a look at the second half of the Unearthed Arcana, horror edition. It does include a couple of the more popular Dungeons & Dragons Sub-classes in the Hexblade Warlock and the Shadow Sorceror. As always they talk about the good and the bad and grump a bit.
GDM’s Jay and Christopher finally received their long awaited copies of Skyraiders of Abarax. A kickstarter they backed 4 years ago which is a campaign setting for 5E D&D. Turns out it’s a bit of a mixed bag when they dive through the material.
GDM Jay also takes a look at the game system for Against the Darkmaster. Turns out it’s a bit of a mixed bag also. While Jay loves it he’s sure his players would hate it. Such is the way of deep involved RPG systems.
Visit Zenergy Gamers for all of your gaming needs. Use code word Grumpy for 10% off any order!
Follow the Grumpy Dungeon Masters on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!
Join our Discord to chat with the Grumpy DMs. Bring us your toughest DM questions or ask us to review your TTRPG work!
Be sure to join us every Saturday at 8pm EST on Twitch for our Live Play D&D session.
Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

...more
1h 25min
May 13, 2025 Episode 233 – Horror Unearthed Arcana 2025
This week the guys take a look at some issues taking place with Goodman Games re-printing an old Judges Guild module, City State of the Invincible Overlords. They released a statement and are trying to do good things, but you will never make everybody happy.
Also this week is a look at the most recent Unearthed Arcana for Dungeons and Dragons. This one focuses on horror sub-classes. Some are old 5E sub-classes while a couple of them are brand new.
Also Christopher gets Chat GPT to figure out who wins between 100 commoners and 1 gorilla. It rolls a nat 1 as expected.
Visit Zenergy Gamers for all of your gaming needs. Use code word Grumpy for 10% off any order!
Follow the Grumpy Dungeon Masters on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!
Join our Discord to chat with the Grumpy DMs. Bring us your toughest DM questions or ask us to review your TTRPG work!
Be sure to join us every Saturday at 8pm EST on Twitch for our Live Play D&D session.
Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

...more
1h 28min

FAQs about Grumpy Dungeon Masters:

How many episodes does Grumpy Dungeon Masters have?

The podcast currently has 277 episodes available.

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Grumpy Dungeon Masters

FAQs about Grumpy Dungeon Masters:

How many episodes does Grumpy Dungeon Masters have?

Grumpy Dungeon Masters episodes:

FAQs about Grumpy Dungeon Masters:

How many episodes does Grumpy Dungeon Masters have?

More shows like Grumpy Dungeon Masters

Mastering Dungeons

The Lazy RPG Podcast - D&D and RPG News and GM Prep from Sly Flourish

The Vintage RPG Podcast

The Eldritch Lorecast