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

Every Dungeon Master hits a wall eventually. The prep feels like a chore. The session you used to look forward to is now the thing you're dreading. The spark that made you fall in love with running games has gone quiet.

In this special live panel recorded at FanX 2025, Justin, Tanner, and Cayden sit down in front of a live audience to tackle one of the most real and rarely talked-about challenges behind the screen: DM burnout.

This isn't just a conversation about surviving — it's about understanding what burnout actually looks like, why it happens to even the most passionate Game Masters, and how to find your way back to the table with energy and excitement.

Here's what the panel digs into:

What burnout really looks like — and why it's not always obvious when it's happening to you.

The different flavors of burnout — creative, emotional, social, and scheduling exhaustion each hit differently and need different solutions.

What causes it — from over-prepping to under-appreciated effort, the panel gets honest about the real culprits.

Prevention vs. recovery — because keeping the spark alive looks different than reigniting it after it's gone out.

Practical tools and techniques — including leaning on your players, co-DMing, running one-shots, and reconnecting with what first made you love TTRPGs.

What NOT to do — the traps that make burnout worse when you're already running on empty.

How players can help — and how GMs can ask for support in ways that feel natural rather than vulnerable.

Whether you're deep in the weeds right now or just want to make sure you never get there, this episode is for you.

This episode is for the DMs who know the real end boss isn't the dragon — it's burnout. And it's for every storyteller who's ever wondered, "Am I doing this right?" — and showed up anyway.

Thanks for listening to today's show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:

• Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmith
• Hire a Professional Dungeon Master: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/
• Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord
• Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
• Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Now with guests you might know from Youtube, we bring you more and better thoughts regarding Dungeon Mastering and other aspects of our beloved hobby.

Danny Barrett gives us a glimpse of what is to come for the next 3 months!

Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM.

If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here:

Worldsmith: ⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/worldsmith⁠⁠⁠

Roll and Play Press: ⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/rollandplay⁠⁠⁠

Phantasm Studios: ⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/fantasms⁠⁠⁠

Monument Studios: ⁠⁠⁠session0studios.com/monumentstudios⁠⁠⁠

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/discord⁠⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/patreon⁠⁠⁠

Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: ⁠⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Every Dungeon Master has sat down at the table and thought, "Am I actually good enough to do this?" Whether you're brand new to the screen or you've been running campaigns for years, confidence is something every DM wrestles with — and almost nobody talks about it honestly.

In this special panel episode, Justin Lewis is joined by Tanner Weyland and Cayden Ottley for a candid, practical conversation about what DM confidence actually looks like, where it comes from, and how to build more of it.

Together they dig into:

• What confidence really means for a Dungeon Master — and why it's not just about feeling good
• The highs and lows every DM goes through, including the moments that shake you and how to bounce back
• Practical techniques for building and maintaining confidence at the table
• How players can either fuel or destroy their DM's confidence (and vice versa)
• Why real confidence comes from time in the chair — not just prep
• How to lean into your strengths instead of comparing yourself to the pros

This one is for the DMs who've ever hesitated to start a campaign, fumbled through a session, or wondered if they're cut out for this. Spoiler: you are — and this episode will help you believe it.

Thanks for listening to today's show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmithHire a Professional Dungeon Master: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/Discord: http://session0studios.com/discordPatreon: https://session0studios.com/patreonDungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Episode Description

Live from FanX Salt Lake 2025, this is one of six panels we recorded at the convention — and it might be the most relatable one we've done. If you've ever had a player blow up your carefully crafted plot, chase a side quest for three sessions, or demand a demonic arm mid-campaign, this panel is for you.

Justin and Tanner are joined by Ian Hawkes and Cameron Cardoza from Worldsmith for a live audience conversation about one of the most common — and most misunderstood — challenges at the table: the chaos gremlin.

What We Cover

Framing the ProblemNot all chaos is created equal. We dig into what actually makes someone a "chaos gremlin," why chaos at the table isn't always a problem (and can actually be a gift), and how to tell the difference between harmless unpredictability and genuine disruption. One key question every DM should ask: is this chaos — or is it control? Is it excitement — or is it boredom?

Setting Expectations & Knowing Your TableWe talk about the importance of Session Zero, how to have honest conversations with your players about the kind of game everyone wants to play, and how to tell when chaotic behavior crosses the line from organic fun into a respect issue. There's a meaningful difference between occasional disruption and consistent derailing — and one of them needs a real conversation.

Managing Chaos in the MomentThis is where it gets practical. What do you actually do when your players go completely off-script? We cover managing your own reaction, using improv skills to embrace the chaos, and how to encourage beautiful storytelling even within unpredictable choices. Sometimes the session that goes sideways becomes the one everyone remembers.

Prepping for a Chaotic GroupIf your table is classically chaotic, your prep should reflect that. We discuss how to build flexible, modular sessions — random tables, adaptable NPCs, storylines that can bend without breaking — so that no matter what your players do, you're ready to make it feel intentional.

Folding the Chaos Into the StoryOne of the best long-term solutions: make the story big enough that there's no such thing as "off-script." Pull player backstories in. Let their chaotic choices reshape the BBEG. Change your expectations about what the story is supposed to be. The most memorable campaigns are usually the ones that went somewhere no one planned.

Featured Panelists

Justin Lewis — Co-host, H2BBDMTanner Weyland — Co-host, H2BBDMIan Hawkes — WorldsmithCameron Cardoza — Worldsmith

Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:

• Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmith

• Hire a Professional Dungeon Master: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/

• Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord

• Patreon:https://session0studios.com/patreon

• Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

The back and forth. The planned and cancelled sessions. The frustration when you finally schedule a time to meet and one player can't make it... all of this will be extremely familiar for the common DM. But it doesn't HAVE to be a reoccurring, frustrating nightmare! In today's episode, Tanner shares 5 tips to avoid scheduling frustration with your D&D party.

In Part 2 of this series, we finish breaking down the Performance Pillar of Dungeon Mastering—this time focusing on the two senses most DMs rely on… but rarely master: Sight and Sound.

These are the tools that bring your world to life—but if you’re not intentional with them, they can fall flat or feel repetitive.

In this episode, we dive into:

* Sight – from ambience to battle maps, from minis to props, what your players see can deepen the immersion or destroy it

* Sound – using voices, tone, pacing, and silence to create tension, emotion, and memorable moments

You’ll learn how to move beyond generic descriptions and start creating scenes your players can actually see and hear in their minds.

Just like Part 1, this episode is built around practical techniques you can use immediately—whether you’re running your next session tonight or planning ahead.

If you want your players leaning in, paying attention, and remembering your sessions long after they end… this is where it starts.

Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:

Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmith

Hire a Professional Dungeon Master: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/

Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord

Patreon:https://session0studios.com/patreon

Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Are your players falling into a bit of a complacent rut? Are they playing the game almost on autopilot because it's playing out like so many adventures before? Well, it sounds like there isn't enough chaos in your game! A plot twist, a surprise combat addition, maybe even a literal rug pull in a dungeon that sends them to somewhere else entirely... whatever it is, make it purposeful, and make it common if you want to make your games chaotic and exciting again! So listen up as Tanner shares 4 tips that can change each aspect of the game in an unexpected way.

In this episode of How to Be a Better DM, we sit down with special guest Esteban Senzig to explore creativity, collaboration, and what it actually takes to turn big ideas into something real.

We kick things off with our signature segment, Make Your Monster (sponsored by Worldsmith - http://session0studios.com/worldsmith), where Esteban creates the unforgettable Operatic Pretender—a CR 20 creature that can charm its way out of almost anything… as long as you don’t exploit its very specific weakness.

From there, we dive into Esteban’s experience working with immersive worlds like Evermore and Dreamwalk, and unpack lessons that apply directly to Dungeon Masters:

• How to take creative ideas from concept to execution
• How to collaborate effectively without losing your vision
• How to avoid worldbuilder’s disease and actually finish what you start

This episode is packed with practical insights for DMs who want to stop overthinking and start creating better, more playable experiences.

Oh—and this one was filmed in the Worldsmith recording studio, because yeah… we love those guys.

If you want to connect with Esteban or check out his voice acting work, you can find him here:
👉 https://www.instagram.com/estebantherenman

Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:

• Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmith

• Hire a Professional Dungeon Master: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/

• Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord

• Patreon:https://session0studios.com/patreon

• Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Are you a perfectionist when it comes to D&D props, and you spend all your time wishing that your DM table looked just as fabulous as the tabletops you see in all the professional D&D streams and setups? Does this unrealistic expectation even keep you from TRYING to create your own special experience and props? If you are in that boat, you aren't alone! You'll never be free from those unmet setup wishes until you learn to embrace the prop pipeline and journey: one badly painted mini or badly drawn map at a time!

What goodbye advice would you give to your loved ones if you were Gandalf?

In the last Creative Contraband episode, I give you mine.

Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:

Worldsmith: ⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/worldsmith⁠⁠

Roll and Play Press: ⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/rollandplay⁠⁠

Phantasm Studios: ⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/fantasms⁠⁠

Monument Studios: ⁠⁠session0studios.com/monumentstudios⁠⁠

Discord: ⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/discord⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/patreon⁠⁠

Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: ⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/newsletter