As a Dungeon Master how ruthless should you be with your players? I say hold their feet to the fire. Some DM’s are all lollipops and unicorns though. Does Sphere of Annihilation suck? We don’t just mean literally. We also talk about goblin branding and marketing and why Duergar are overpowered. All this plus Kenku hijinks!

Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

We are excited to release part 2 of this extra special episode of the Grumpy Dungeon Masters. Join us as we run a few good friends through the end of Dread of the Ice Devil. Don’t worry nothing terrible will happen…

Also sorry for getting this out a bit late, things happened. IE I forgot to post this.

Here is a list of who was who:

• Christopher Waples
  • Grumpy DM
  • Writer of Dread of the Ice Devil
• Jay Johnson
  • Farvyn Lingenhall
  • Lvl 5 | Gnome | Wizard / School of Evocation
• Alex Winslow
  • Cover Artists
  • Ovealda Whitjaw
  • Lvl 5 | Dwarf | Paladin / Oath of Devotion
• Galen Pischke
  • Mikhail Coldbrook
  • Lvl 5 | Human | Sorcerer / Shadow Magic
• Nicolas Parker
  • Edmond Cromwell
  • Lvl 5 | Human | Rogue / Thief

There are many good villains through out the history of storytelling. But only a few real good ones that immediately pop into your mind and take residence. And we aren’t just talking Mind Flayers. Also don’t give your PC’s stupid OP abilities and gear. You’re not making the game fun. A game is about building super epic moments. To steal a phrase, “With everyone super, no one will be.”

Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

We are excited to release this extra special episode of the Grumpy Dungeon Masters. Join us as we run a few good friends through Dread of the Ice Devil. This week will be part 1 and next Thursday part 2. We didn’t cut or edit anything. We had some audio issues with the recording, so it just ends randomly. But part 2 will pick up right were this ones leaves off. Let us know if you enjoy this content and if you’d like to hear more.

Here is a list of who was who:

• Christopher Waples
  • Grumpy DM
  • Writer of Dread of the Ice Devil
• Jay Johnson
  • Farvyn Lingenhall
  • Lvl 5 | Gnome | Wizard / School of Evocation
• Alex Winslow
  • Cover Artists
  • Ovealda Whitjaw
  • Lvl 5 | Dwarf | Paladin / Oath of Devotion
• Galen Pischke
  • Mikhail Coldbrook
  • Lvl 5 | Human | Sorcerer / Shadow Magic
• Nicolas Parker
  • Edmond Cromwell
  • Lvl 5 | Human | Rogue / Thief

In this episode we discuss the RPG Writers Workshop and begin to explain our experiences with it. Then we right turn straight into doing a surprise round in 5e and how no one does them right. Then another right turn straight into an acid pit. Essentially, we talk about a lot this episode. Get your dice tray ready!

Link to the RPG Writers Workshop: https://www.rpgwriterworkshop.com/
Link to the adventure created by us through the RPG Writers Workshop:
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/323201/Dread-of-the-Ice-Devil?affiliate_id=2386112

Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Alignment has always been a hotly contested point in Dungeons and Dragons. Some people think that it is pointless beyond a few spells or items. Some just have an idea of what each alignment means and plays that. Some just avoid it all and murder hobo all day long. Fact of the matter is that of the decades that D&D has been around the system has changed. Each system handles it different in some way. So we chat about that a lot. In the end stop trying to get your chaotic good rouge or whatever to stab everyone to death because they are chaotic. Don’t play chaotic neutral and be all “I’m gonna stab, rob, and kill everyone cause I’m chaotic”. Don’t play chaotic evil and start an orphanage. Well unless you do it for evil purposes. Then feel free to do that. That’s fine.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/GrumpyDungeonMasters

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4ilejlPW8RooyCAyTw0VvC

Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grumpy-dungeon-masters/id1522223329

Sticher – https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/grumpy-dungeon-masters

Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Rules Lawyers. Power gamers. RPGers. Wargamers. Every type of player is different. Every DM is different. A part of finding a group is to understand what kind of player or DM you are and then communicating that to your group. Open communication is essential to having a good game. Let everyone at the table know what you like and dislike, and work together to have an enjoyable time. If you prefer the wargaming let the DM know and he will in turn try to make interesting encounters. If you prefer role play to combat, let everyone know and work towards having better role play. While you let others know what you like, be respectful of what the others like. Give role play a shot, see how it goes. Do your best to add to a better game and if you notice that something you are doing is frustrating others, try and find an alternative way of doing it. Happy players make a happy table.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/GrumpyDungeonMasters

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4ilejlPW8RooyCAyTw0VvC

Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grumpy-dungeon-masters/id1522223329

Sticher – https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/grumpy-dungeon-masters

Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Creating homebrew or custom content for your tabletop game is a staple of a DM’s skillset. DMs can spend decades creating a unique world for their players. But sometimes it’s not enough. For example:

DM: On your way to the next major town you pass through some smaller settlements full of common folk.
Player 1: I’d like to to know the specific details of everyone within each town, along with all the local customs and unique wares.
DM: There is no one of note, as they are all just common people and they don’t have any unique wares or customs.
Player 1: What?! That’s ridiculous they have to have something of value.
DM: Yes, they have stuff of value, but nothing of real massive value. They are common folk.
Player 2: So they DO have stuff of value? I kill them all since they are common folk and steal their valuables.
DM: What?! No. You can’t just do that. I mean you can, but there would be….
Player 3: Yeah, I’ll help him stab everyone for their valuables.
DM: So you all are just going to go on a town by town murder spree for petty cash and small trinkets. Help me out Player 4, what do you want to do?
Player 4: Huh? Oh sorry, I was looking at my phone. I cast healing word on the Barbarian.
DM: *Sigh*

Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Magic Items. Everyone loves magic items. Big ones, small ones, ones that raise the dead. They are all great, but do you know how much work goes into making them? Sure you can just slap +1 attack and damage onto a sword, but that’s not fun or interesting. Now a +1 Cast Iron pan that was used by a blind monk, who only used the pan to make sauteed mushroom and bell pepper stew, which empowered him to perform super human feats. Now that’s a magic item! And the players just sold it for gold the second they got back into town….


Well scrap that storyline, NPC, and Mini. Anyways, here’s a Beholder.

Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Posting this more to have a first episode while we get things up and running. Listen to it. Enjoy it. If you don’t you get disadvantage on your next charisma check.

Intro Music Provided by:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hit N Smash by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5360-hit-n-…
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––