Mastering Dungeons

By Mastering Dungeons

RPG veterans and game designers Teos Abadía and Shawn Merwin look at the game and the hobby of D&D from a variety of viewpoints: reporting the news, understanding the business, reviewing the produ... more

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FAQs about Mastering Dungeons:

How many episodes does Mastering Dungeons have?

The podcast currently has 365 episodes available.

Mastering Dungeons episodes:

December 18, 2024 Listener Question Mega-Show (MD 220)
Episode 220 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Listener Question Mega-Show!
What do we do when we have tons of listener questions? Shawn and Teos dedicate the main segment to answering some truly awesome questions. Find out why this was the most fun we’ve had in months!
News: Moonbeam Launches Alpha, New Maps Features, D&D Immersive Quest, and more!
Contents
00:00 Bad Movie Season
02:14 Maps Adds Monster Stats
10:18 D&D Immersive Quest
14:11 D&D Adventurer Magazine
15:53 Licensing and WotC
18:05 Mearls on Death Saves
39:02 Jail-Compliant RPGs
40:54 One Foot in Fairy Land
42:47 Moonbeam Launches Alpha
44:34 Listener Questions
45:29 Improv Anxiety?
49:39 Player vs Character Skill?
01:02:12 Find Playtesters?
01:07:36 Easy RPG Entry Point?
01:18:46 Tricks for Creativity?
01:25:14 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
...more
1h 30min
December 11, 2024 Recent Game Design Lessons (MD 219)
Episode 219 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Recent Game Design Lessons!
Shawn and Teos share what they learned from recent projects, from late 3E, 4E, and beyond.
News: New Greyhawk OP Campaign, AI Takes Down Itch.io, Talking Exploration, and more!
Contents
00:00:00 We're 93!
00:01:38 Redesign Gnomes?
00:10:08 Encourage in Character?
00:17:10 Adventure Opening?
00:22:14 Legends of Greyhawk and MagicCon
00:25:28 AI Takes Down Itch.io
00:26:57 12 Days of Beyond
00:29:06 Everyone's Talking Exploration
00:31:49 2024 Magic Item Changes
00:33:39 Kickstarter Project Finances
00:37:19 Recent Game Design Lessons
00:39:16 Form and Function
00:44:05 Know the Medium
00:46:08 The Audience
00:50:58 Xendrik Expeditions
00:55:09 Living Forgotten Realms
00:59:19 Ashes of Athas
01:03:01 Getting Noticed
01:04:34 Playtesting and New Editions
01:05:56 Understanding Companies
01:09:19 D&D Encounters
01:12:09 Full-Time Work
01:13:09 Balancing Freelance and Self
01:16:02 Other Paths
01:17:25 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
...more
1h 22min
December 04, 2024 Lessons Learned from Our Early Projects (MD 218)
Episode 218 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Lessons Learned from Our Early Projects!
Shawn and Teos share what they learned from the days when they started as designers, back in the 2000s and the 3E era.
News: Exodus is Hasbro’s Newest RPG, Lord of the Rings and Illrigger on Beyond, PAX Unplugged, and more!
Contents
00:00 Snow Job
02:24 DM Types?
08:57 Exciting Sandbox Pace?
18:55 Exodus Video Game Gets RPG
30:45 Lord of the Rings on DDB
34:57 MCDM's Illrigger on DDB
38:19 D&D at PAX Unplugged
39:20 Combo Encounters
40:59 Mearls Teaching at UW
41:29 Monstrous Menagerie II
43:21 Lessons Learned from Early Projects
44:31 Build a Community?
49:47 Starting in 2000 and the LG Era
52:54 Organized Play Lessons
56:57 Learning is Investment
01:00:02 Changing Social Media
01:02:59 Clear and Concise Language
01:04:01 Understanding Industry Pay
01:05:27 Great Success is Rare
01:07:30 There is No Perfection
01:13:58 The Product that Isn't
01:16:31 Edition Change Challenges
01:18:31 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
...more
1h 24min
November 27, 2024 Qualities RPG Companies Look for in an RPG Designer (MD 217)
Episode 217 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Qualities RPG Companies Look for in an RPG Designer!
Shawn and Teos review the qualities companies say they look for in an RPG designer.
News: Investors Sue Hasbro, Hasbro Abandons Movies, Juggling Teenagers, and more!
Contents
00:00 Hello World
02:11 Adopt Rules More Quickly?
13:22 Juggling Teenagers?
21:01 Hasbro Shifts from Movies
24:43 Investors Sue Hasbro
27:10 Social Media Changes
32:31 Post Office D&D Flyer
33:30 Winter Fantasy
34:13 Goodman Games Con
35:10 Roll20 Bastion Contest
35:58 DM David's D&D Wish List
39:39 Cupcake Dragon Card Game
40:56 Iskandar Explorer's Journal
41:50 What Publishers Look For
42:51 Standardized Job Descriptions?
45:25 Wide Skill Range
49:53 Reliability and Communication
58:32 Curiosity
01:01:23 Style Guides
01:04:06 Excitement
01:05:45 Mindfulness and Compassion
01:09:11 Big Bold Ideas
01:11:28 Courage
01:17:30 2 Designers
01:23:37 Praise
01:24:48 Shout-Outs
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
...more
1h 30min
November 20, 2024 Embracing Dark Fantasy (MD 216)
Episode 216 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Embracing Dark Fantasy!
Ben Bryne joins Shawn to discuss what makes dark fantasy such a compelling genre and how to create for dark games. Teos meanwhile hopes to recover from his technical horror as his desktop bites the dust.
News: AL Update, Kobolds Make Mistakes, and more!
Contents
00:00 Introduction
40:54 Dark Fantasy Campaigns
59:00 Find Ben Byrne
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
...more
1h 1min
November 13, 2024 What Publishers Want in a D&D Designer (MD 215)
Episode 215 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic:
What Publishers Want in a D&D Designer!
Shawn and Teos review two D&D job postings and break down the skills and job functions a publisher looks for in a D&D Designer and Product Architect.
News: DMG Preorder Debacles, Weapon Masteries 101, PAGE Convention, and more!
Contents
00:00 Surviving
00:53 Writing Same Old Stuff?
08:02 Teaching Like Lazy DM?
14:41 D&D Beyond on Campaigns and Adventures
18:11 Critical Role Minis Canceled
20:23 DMG Preorder Debacles
23:13 Weapon Masteries 101
30:49 PAGE Convention Near Philly
33:05 State of the Mongoose
35:20 Lessons from Meetup
37:43 Jeff Stevens Steals Christmas
38:40 What Publishers Want in a D&D Designer
40:27 Growing Into a Position
42:13 D&D Designer - What You Do
56:08 Representing the Company
58:55 What You Bring
01:02:47 D&D Product Architect
01:11:22 Shout-Outs

Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
...more
1h 17min
November 06, 2024 Looking Back on Gamehole Con ‘24 (MD 214)
Episode 214 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Memories of Gamehole Con!
Shawn and Teos look back on all of the events they attended and lessons from attending conventions. Hear why Gamehole is so special.
News: Claim Elemental Evil, Maps Adds Encounters, Audio-Only Drizzt, and more!
Contents
00:00 Stealing Credit Cards
03:08 Cleric Subclasses Setting Only?
09:21 Good Design Not Obvious?
13:57 Claim Scions of Elemental Evil
16:26 D&D Maps Adds Encounters
19:26 Audible-Only Drizzt Novel
20:32 Discord D&D Collection
21:41 Ars Magica Definitive Collection
23:25 Rodney Thompson List and Games
25:04 MT Black World War Weird
26:08 Thunder Road Vendetta RPG
27:36 Draconis Peaceful 5E
28:57 Gamehole Revisited
29:32 Whether to Attend Conventions
33:05 Wednesday Pre-Con Gatherings
38:15 Thursday's Events
47:32 Making the Most of Friday
59:27 Packed Saturday
01:04:28 Thankful Sunday Finish
01:06:39 Shout-Outs

Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
...more
1h 11min
October 30, 2024 Want to Be a Professional Game Designer? (MD 213)
Episode 213 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Want to Be a Professional Game Designer?
Shawn and Teos tackle a question they hear often. Do you truly want to be a game designer, and if so, the steps to take to make meaningful progress.
News: Hasbro Q3 and Layoffs, D&D 1-Shots, CR and Dimension 20 Arena Shows, and more!
Contents
00:00 Post-Gamehole Buzz
03:03 Skills are Exploration?
11:06 The Adventure is the Game?
16:46 Campaign Without Gods or Planes?
20:50 Layoffs and Q3 Hasbro Results
32:47 D&D is Down
34:17 How Big is D&D?
35:22 DMG Lore Glossary
36:41 DMG Encounter Design
40:13 DM Screen Preview
41:35 PH and DM High Demand
43:19 D&D One-Shot Store Events
44:51 Scions of Elemental Evil
46:41 Critical Role and Dim 20 Arena Shows
48:15 Be a Professional Game Designer?
49:22 Do You Actually Want It?
53:41 Mix Games with Occupation
57:13 What Skills to Hone?
01:05:12 Team Skills
01:07:22 Making Patient Progress
01:12:11 Know the Current Media
01:13:05 Possible Paths
01:15:17 Help People Solve Problems
01:17:36 Know Your Worth and do Work
01:19:26 Become a Great GM
01:21:06 The Role of Conventions
01:27:35 Having "It"
01:29:48 Shout-Outs

Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
...more
1h 34min
October 23, 2024 Live from Gamehole: Create a Campaign With Us! (MD 212)
Episode 212 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Live from Gamehole: Create a Campaign With Us!
Amazing fans at Gamehole Con help us create a campaign, live!
News: Perkins’ New Job, DMG Review, What it Feels Like to Be Nr 2, and more!
Special thanks to Dante of Ghostfire Gaming for recording and processing the audio for this episode. You are the best, Dante!
Contents
00:00 Live from Gamehole Con
01:28 Number 2?
02:23 What Excited Us This Week?
05:14 Previous Edition Mechanic?
09:28 Systems we Want to Try?
11:32 Recent Influences?
15:27 Our DMG Preview
18:11 DMG and Greyhawk
19:43 Greyhawk on DMsGuild
21:55 Perkins' Last Book
24:04 Trail of Cthulhu 2E
26:19 Hundred Dungeons
27:19 Grim Hollow Transformed
27:48 Creating a Campaign Setting Live

Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
...more
54min
October 16, 2024 Horizons Magazine with Hannah Rose! (MD 211)
Episode 211 of Mastering Dungeons!
Main topic: Horizons Magazine with Hannah Rose!
Hannah Rose shares how she and Clara Daly are creating Horizons Magazine and what we can expect from this issue and future quarterly issues.
News: London Gets DMGs, D&D Movie Netflix Success, DMG Toolbox Previews, and more!
Contents
00:00 Happy Rebranding Day
01:33 Character Consequences?
13:48 Pivot from Curse of Strahd?
20:54 First DMGs at London MCM
23:38 DMG Toolbox Previews
32:58 D&D Movie Big on Netflix
35:38 Greyhawk 101
36:52 Cultural Backgrounds 2024
38:33 Trapped on Cyre 1313
39:46 Dungeons Reforged
42:09 Grim Hollow Transformed
43:11 Hannah Rose
44:43 Hannah and Clara
55:12 Why a Magazine?
58:34 Lessons from Arcadia
01:01:53 Playtesting
01:04:59 Mix of D&D and Other RPGs
01:09:03 Desk of Many Thoughts
01:11:48 How to Get Horizons
01:13:07 Patreon vs Site?
01:14:24 Issue 1 Contents - Travel
01:18:23 Star Dragons
01:19:43 Cloud City
01:23:55 NPC Atraxis
01:28:57 Future Plans
01:34:05 Find Wildmage Press
01:35:12 Shout-Outs

Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
Show Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/
Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.
...more
1h 39min

FAQs about Mastering Dungeons:

How many episodes does Mastering Dungeons have?

The podcast currently has 365 episodes available.

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