How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM

Welcome back to another episode.

Today we walk about railroading, allowing players to do whatever they want, focusing on player perception and making sure the game is fun for the player at all times.

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If you want more specific resources, check out these other episodes:

Tips for Improv: Episode 161

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Ever dreamt of creating the perfect D&D game room, but felt overwhelmed by budget, and space limitations, or clueless about the coolest tech hacks? This episode is your one-stop guide! We'll delve into inspiring ideas, from crafting an immersive atmosphere to incorporating unexpected gadgets to elevate your campaign. Whether you're a seasoned Dungeon Master or a newbie setting up your first session, get ready to transform your game room into a legendary space that will have your players begging for more!

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM. In this episode, we journey deep into the realm of D&D game room creation with the incredible Daniel Hanzlian, the mastermind behind the inspiring Instagram account @danzlianthedm! If you've ever fantasized about building the ultimate space for epic campaigns but felt restricted by budget, space, or a lack of tech know-how, then buckle up!

We'll cast a spell on the following:

• Budget-Friendly Fantasy: Unleash the power of creative solutions and discover how to craft an immersive atmosphere without breaking the bank.
• Optimizing Your Space: Maximize your square footage for legendary gameplay, whether you have a grand hall or a cozy corner.
• Tech Hacks for Tabletop Titans: Learn how to leverage unexpected gadgets and digital tools to elevate your campaign to new heights.
• From Inspiration to Implementation: Turn your game room dreams into reality with a step-by-step approach that's both practical and awe-inspiring.

Ready to transform your game room into a haven for unforgettable adventures? Dive into this episode and discover the secrets to crafting a legendary space that will have your players cheering for more!

For more ideas and inspiration, be sure to check out Daniel's work on Instagram: @danzlianthedm

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You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.

Welcome back to today's show.

Today, Tanner and Justin have the great pleasure of joining the Level Up Your Gaming Podcast (https://levelupyourgaming.buzzsprout.com/) with hosts Josh and Aaron to talk about transplanting rules into your game from different RPG systems.

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You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.

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What's up everyone! Thanks for listing to how to be a better DM. Here's a quick synopsis of today's episode hosted by (me) Cayden Ottley.

In today's episode I talk about 10 places that you need in any fantasy town that your players are visiting. This obviously varies from place to place depending on setting, political system, and your own rules to name a few, but this comprehensive list will help you get started. Enjoy!

1. Tavern - A place to meet, drink, dance, and potentially hear gossip. The Tavern creates great rollplaying opportunities and is a classic place to receive epic quests. 
2. Marketplace - Every town will have some sort of commerce. People need to make a living! A marketplace allows the party to pick up unique items unique to the area, and potentially meet some interesting NPC’s.
3. Government Building - The place where decisions are made and justice is served. This is the place for political intrigue, where players might petition for help, confront corrupt officials, or attend important meetings.
4. Blacksmith’s Shop - No town is complete without at least a few blacksmith’s shops. This is where weapons are forged, armor is repaired, and custom gear can be crafted. The blacksmith can be a valuable ally, providing expertise and perhaps even quests.
5. Church or other site of worship - Spirituality plays a crucial role in many fantasy settings, so a church or other site of worship is a must. This place provides solace, guidance, and perhaps divine intervention. 
6. Food or wealth source - Every town needs a source of sustenance and income. This could be a farm, a mine, a fishing dock, or any other resource. It’s the lifeblood of the town’s economy and a potential source of conflict or adventure.
7. Jail - The jail is where lawbreakers are kept, and it can be a grim reminder of the town’s darker side. It’s also a potential adventure site—whether your players are breaking someone out, investigating a mysterious prisoner, or serving time themselves.
8. Hospice - A place of healing is vital for any community. The hospice, whether it’s a grand hospital or a healer’s cottage, offers medical care and respite for the sick and injured. It can be a haven for your players to recover, learn about local ailments, or meet knowledgeable healers who may need help with curing a mysterious disease.
9. Criminal Layer or Resistance Base -  Every town has its shadows. A criminal lair or resistance base adds depth and intrigue. This hidden location is where rogues gather, plots are hatched, and rebellions are planned. Whether it's a thieves' guild, a rebel hideout, or a smuggler’s den, this place can provide players with under-the-table jobs, secret information, and morally complex decisions.
10. Inn - Last but certainly not least is the inn. Similar to the tavern, the inn offers a place for travelers to rest, but it’s also a hub of activity where stories are shared and alliances are formed. The innkeeper can be a font of local lore, and the inn itself can be the starting point for many adventures.

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Get The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree For Free

Take a trip down to the bayou in The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree.

Give Us a Rating and Review

You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.

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Brought to you by Session 0 Studios

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Want to step up your crafting game in D&D? Think of implementing 3 aspects into your crafting: Skills/Proficiencies, Materials, and Place. These will help you make crafting attainable, story driven, and worth it for your players.

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Get The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree For Free

Take a trip down to the bayou in The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree.

Give Us a Rating and Review

You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.

Save time with Roll and Play Press

Save yourself some precious time with Roll and Play Press.

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Why are prepping sessions so hard? Why can’t it be as easy as remembering a simple phrase, maybe something strange like PUT A CLUE? Why can’t I save time by learning this phrase PUT A CLUE and then using it to prepare my sessions so much faster?

Friend, you’re in luck. Today’s episode is for you.

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM, the show to help dungeon masters new and old learn how to take their DMing skills to the next level. I’m Justin Lewis and I’ve been helping Dungeon Masters solve simple and complex problems with my cohosts for over 150 episodes now. We’ve talked with professional voice actors, writers, podcasters, and even real life blacksmiths, all to help you fix your DMing mistakes, and truly become the World’s Greatest DM.

As I mentioned today’s show is about helping you do Session Prep in a way that takes less time, far less mental stress, and helps you structure yourself to get finished faster and in a more complete way.

To do that, I give you the PUT A CLUE framework. Simply fulfill each of the aspects of this framework and your Session Prep is done.

The PUT A CLUE framework breaks down as follows:

Purpose: Understand the general goal and purpose of the session

Unfinished business: Wrap up and recap what happened in the last session

Timeline: Write down a general chronological plan of what you want to have happen

Acts and Arcs: Separate that timeline into a few acts (or scenes)

Characters: Prepare characters and their actions that are needed for the session

Locations: Prepare the setting and maps needed for the session

Unexpected: Prepare a twist or something unexpected for the session

Encounters: Flesh out the mechanics and final details of each encounter

Maybe it’s simplifying session prep, but in that case, GOOOD!

There’s no reason session prep has to drain your soul.

Try out the framework and see how it works for you.

Thanks for listening to today’s show.

This podcast is a part of the Session 0 Studios Network.

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Give Us a Rating and Review

You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.

Brought to you by Session 0 Studios

Visit session0studios.com for more information.

Dive deep into the captivating world of blacksmithing in Dungeons & Dragons with our special guests Matt and Stan from Wasatch Forge. In this thrilling episode, we unravel the secrets of the blacksmith's shop, from forging blades to the mystical infusion of magic into steel. Discover the craft behind the art, and uncover how you can enhance your D&D experience with authentic blacksmithing knowledge. Don't miss out on this immersive journey into the heart of craftsmanship and adventure!

Welcome back to part 2 of our interview with Wasatch Forge. This is How to Be a Better DM, the show that is designed to help new or veteran dungeon masters become masters.

Today we dive back into Wasatch Forge for the 2nd part of our interview.

Check them out at https://www.wasatchforge.com/

From today's show you will:

• Gain insights from master blacksmiths on accurately portraying a blacksmith shop in your D&D game.
• Learn about the tools and equipment essential for blacksmithing, including anvils, hammers, and forges.
• Explore the historical accuracy of blacksmithing techniques, debunking myths commonly seen in movies and games.
• Delve into the process of creating a Memorial Blade infused with the cremains of a loved one, blending artistry with emotion.
• Discover the potential for incorporating blacksmithing quests into your D&D campaigns, adding depth and authenticity to your storytelling.
• Get tips on managing player expectations regarding the availability and limitations of blacksmith services in-game.
• Gain a deeper appreciation for the dedication and craftsmanship of blacksmiths, both in fantasy worlds and real life.

Mentioned in this episode:

Add the Magic of Sound to Your Gameplay

When you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Monument Studios.

Monument Studios

Give Us a Rating and Review

You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.

Join Our Discord

So a little bit of a spoiler alert. We’re building an army.

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Brought to you by Session 0 Studios

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Dungeons and Dragons 5e gets a lot wrong about Blacksmiths. There is almost no realism. Pretty strong statements right?

But that's exactly what we dive into in our conversation today with Matt and Stan from Wasatch Forge, a local blacksmith school here in Salt Lake City Utah. Visit https://www.wasatchforge.com/ for more information.

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM.

Today is the first part of our interview with Wasatch Forge. Come back on Saturday for Part 2.

We talk about a few things today, not the least of which being:

• How can you incorporate blacksmiths into D&D in a realistic way?
• What are some pet peeves about blacksmiths in D&D
• What do most DMs get wrong about Blacksmiths

Overall it was a very fun conversation.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join Our Discord

So a little bit of a spoiler alert. We’re building an army.

Discord

Save time with Roll and Play Press

Save yourself some precious time with Roll and Play Press.

Give Us a Rating and Review

You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.

Brought to you by Session 0 Studios

Visit session0studios.com for more information.

Finding players can be difficult. Having lycanthropes in your party can be difficult. Using the Longstrider spell can be difficult.

Lucky for you, we talk about all of that.

On today's BONUS episode, Tanner and Justin are invited onto the Next Session Podcast with Alyssa and Adam.

They have a great conversation sharing tips for always finding players, tips on how make lycanthropy work, a cute cow/bumblebee mashup, and finally the Longstrider spell.

Check out the Next Session Podcast at https://www.nextsessionpodcast.com/

They really do offer amazing content.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join Our Discord

So a little bit of a spoiler alert. We’re building an army.

Discord

Add the Magic of Sound to Your Gameplay

When you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Monument Studios.

Monument Studios

Give Us a Rating and Review

You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.

Brought to you by Session 0 Studios

Visit session0studios.com for more information.

Join host Cayden Ottley on How to Be A Better DM, on a captivating journey into the realms of fantasy and adventure within Dungeons and Dragons fifth edition. In this episode, Cayden shares five invaluable tips for crafting immersive worlds in your D&D campaigns.

From establishing a rich history filled with legendary events to creating diverse cultures and societies, each tip is a gateway to deeper immersion for both players and Dungeon Masters alike. Cayden also emphasizes the importance of designing memorable locations, incorporating intriguing lore and mythology, and above all, encouraging player investment in the world-building process.

Drawing inspiration from real-world cultures, mythologies, and personal experiences, Cayden's insights offer practical guidance for aspiring storytellers seeking to elevate their D&D campaigns to new heights.

Tune in to How to Be A Better DM and embark on a quest to unlock the full potential of your imagination in the world of Dungeons and Dragons.

Mentioned in this episode:

Brought to you by Session 0 Studios

Visit session0studios.com for more information.

Give Us a Rating and Review

You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.

Join Our Discord

So a little bit of a spoiler alert. We’re building an army.

Discord