Shawn is back and he and Teos continue to break down the opening sequences of the hard cover D&D Fifth Edition adventures! Which ones hold up as adventures for new […]

Mastering Dungeons – Starting Strong Part 3

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 products, and illuminating the design.  Whether you’re a fan, a player, a DM, or a designer, Shawn and Teos cover topics of interest to you!

Games

Leisure

Episode 194 of Mastering Dungeons! 


Main topic: Running a Daggerheart Campaign!
Daggerheart tells us each session should be built fresh, based on the previous session. And the world is a map populated by the players. Let’s see the benefits and challenges of this approach!
News: Roll20 Acquires Demiplane, D&D; Movie’s Surprises, Hiring at Avantis MCDM FG, and more!
Contents

00:00 Inevimitable

01:08 Cost of Experience?

10:51 Narrative Game Defined?

17:16 D&D; Movie's Strong 2024

21:02 2024 MM Covers Revealed

26:08 Hiring at Avantis MCDM FG

29:01 Roll20 Acquires Demiplane

35:45 4E Turns 16 and Eberron 20

36:41 Worldbuilding with Glimpses

40:10 Teos Controls Neverwinter MMO?

41:01 Diana Jones Finalists

42:06 The Light Fantastic

43:22 The Deck of Many Drinks

46:45 Daggerheart Campaigns

47:13 Review Context

49:19 Daggerhear's Clear Perspective

54:23 Build a Map

58:48 Filling Space, Leaving Blanks

01:02:43 Incorporate Backstories

01:09:01 Backstory vs Adventure First

01:17:23 Planning a Story Arc

01:22:42 A Living World

01:27:22 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.

Daggerheart: Building a Campaign! (MD 194)

Episode 193 of Mastering Dungeons! 


Main topic: Running a Daggerheart Session!
Daggerheart provides advice on how to create a session based on the heroes. But is it actionable advice? Is Shawn raging while Teos remains positive? Find out the shocking truth!
News: WotC Hiring AI, Paramount Cancels D&D;, Foundry Launches RPG, and more!
Contents

00:00 Somewhat Tainted by Madness

01:49 Hope and Fear in 5E?

13:06 Campaign vs One-Shot Kickstarter?

18:23 Post-Project Framework?

26:05 DMG 2024 Cover Previews

30:34 D&D; TV Show Not Paramount

32:38 WotC Hiring AI

39:15 Barrier Peaks Revised

41:57 D&D; Destiny

43:10 PAX West Badges

44:53 Foundry Launches Ember RPG

46:38 Your Charisma Score

49:36 Jennell Jaquays Honored

50:10 Blade Runner Rebellion

52:35 Running Daggerheart Sessions

53:31 Aspirational vs Actionable Advice

01:01:54 Running a Session

01:02:46 Thinking in Beats

01:10:00 Preparing Combat Encounters

01:15:30 Crafting Scenes

01:19:29 Shawn Loves Using Conflict

01:25:16 Countdown vs Skill Challenges

01:29:08 Using Downtime

01:30:59 Character Death

01:32:48 TPKs and New PCs

01:33:47 Leveling Up

01:38:53 Shout-Outs



Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
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.

Daggerheart: Running a Session! (MD 193)

Episode 192 of Mastering Dungeons! 


Main topic: Daggerheart GM Moves and Mechanics!
Daggerheart lets a GM act at any time, yet encourages moves that push the narrative and create fun for players. Let’s take a look!
News: Andy Collins Returns to WotC, Chaosium Hires, Gamehole News, and more!
Contents

00:00 Back in Black

01:47 Know Other RPGs to Design?

07:26 Prepared vs Extemporaneous?

17:34 Chaosium Adds Staff

20:39 Andy Collins Returns to WotC

24:48 GameHole Badge Reg

26:37 PoC Mentoring Dinner at GHC

28:10 RPGs Spur Climate Empathy

31:21 Diana Jones Emerging Designers

32:27 Blade Runner Replicant Rebellion

33:33 Daggerheart GM Mechanics

35:26 Core Roll Mechanics

36:59 GM Mechanics

41:39 Calling for Action Roles

43:13 Guaranteed Success

46:21 Experiences and Rolls

50:01 Making GM Moves

54:59 Example Moves

56:29 Adventure Considerations

01:00:43 Choosing Moves

01:07:22 Hard and Soft Moves

01:09:08 Fear

01:18:42 Countdowns

01:21:47 Shout-Outs



Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
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.

Daggerheart: GM Moves and Mechanics! (MD 192)

Episode 191 of Mastering Dungeons! 


Main topic: 13th Age 2E Design with Rob Heinsoo!
The much admired 13th Age RPG has a second edition on kickstarter! Designer Rob Heinsoo discusses the game’s innovations and takes a look back at leading 4E design, the OGL as seen by WotC, and much more!
News: Greyhawk in the DMG, Homebrew vs Prewritten, D&D; Worlds & Realms, and more!
Contents
00:00 New MD Search Engine! 

01:59 Digital vs Paper Future?

06:23 Scene Transitions?

10:49 Greyhawk in the DMG

16:15 D&D; Worlds & Realms

18:08 Talisman 5E

19:04 Prewritten vs Homebrew

21:30 Iskander Adventures - MT Black

22:42 Brazil Flood Charity Bundle 

23:36 Jeff Stevens Saints and Sinners 

24:56 Rob Heinsoo and 13th Age 2E 

25:25 Rob's One Unique Thing

29:58 Three Dragon Ante

33:22 Shadowfist Design

37:09 Success on Design Team

41:30 Listening Power

42:52 Leading 4E D&D; Design

45:56 4E's Goals

49:46 4E Digital Tool Impact

54:22 Why Rescind an OGL?

57:05 13th Age Innovations

58:25 The Icons

01:01:08 One Unique Thing design

01:04:08 Engaging Monster Design

01:09:07 2E Beyond Kickstarter?

01:14:04 Shout-Outs
13th Age 2E Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pelgranepress/13th-age-second-edition-storytelling-action-fantasy-game 
Rio Grande Flood Charity Bundle: https://doar.acnur.org/page/ACNURBR/doe/enchentes-no-sul-do-brasil 
New Search Engine: https://mdsearch.alphastream.org/ 
Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
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.

13th Age 2E Design with Rob Heinsoo! (MD 191)

Episode 190 of Mastering Dungeons! 


Main topic: Daggerheart Review – GM Advice!
We found the heart of Critical Role, and it’s in the GM advice section. Shawn and Teos dig into this advice, fantastic for any game but tailor-made for Daggerheart’s play.
News: Critical Role Launches Beacon, MCDM on D&D; Beyond, 2024 PH Art Reveal, and more!
Contents

00:00 Mother's Day

02:04 RPG vs Video Game ROI?

07:19 Vancian vs Roll to Cast?

15:11 D&D; SRD 5.2 in February!

18:56 2024 PH Art Sneak Peak

22:31 D&D; Dead by Daylight

23:45 Critical Role Launches Beacon

25:42 D&D; GenCon Events

31:40 MCDM Books on D&D; Beyond

33:32 Is D&D; Changing Course?

40:08 Secret Vecna Wallpaper

40:39 Vecna Prequel Will Be Sold

41:47 Black Flag Reference Document

43:29 Deck of Player Safety on Demiplane

44:59 13th Age 2E on Kickstarter

46:47 Rethinking Alignment

48:14 Distal d20

49:10 Kickstarter 2023 Review

50:29 Daggerheart GM Advice

51:00 1.4 Playtest Update

52:33 THIS is Critical Role!

57:26 GM Principles

01:03:09 Ask Questions

01:09:03 Imperfect Improvisation

01:12:06 GM Best Practices

01:13:40 Treat PCs as Competent

01:16:04 Create Meta Conversation

01:17:01 Ground the World in Motive

01:23:42 Pitfalls to Avoid

01:32:19 Shout-Outs



Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon.
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.

Mastering Dungeons – Starting Strong Part 3

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