Even with a diverse group of characters at the table it can be difficult to have an answer for all the options a game may present. Which member of the party is the front-person making deals and talking the party out of sticky situations?  Is the group in need of someone who can decipher ancient texts or hide in the shadows? Can we really play the game without a healer?

Today we discuss party composition and its contribution to your game’s success.  We also discuss how the importance of certain roles can shift the pacing of your campaign.

Player’s Handbook Playtest 6 recently released and with its arrival comes a large list of changes for many classes as well as the reintroduction of the monk with its more inclusive updates.

Additionally, Wizards of the Coast has made it clear that this latest playtest moves us more into the refinement phases of One D&D from the more experimental phases in previous playtests.  

Does this mean they have found the core framework of the game they are happy with?  Today, Jeremy and Hollis discuss many of these changes and give input on the playtest materials! 

A good tip for both life and for running your game is to “expect the unexpected”.  So what happens if in spite of your best efforts, it's the day you and your players are meeting up to play, but you’ve got nothing prepared?  Don’t panic!  This happens! And we are confident it has nothing to do with laziness. *wink*

Today, we discuss prepping without a plan and give you some of the tools already present in your game to keep the story moving forward. You’d be surprised about the amazing choices you can present players and the direction the game can go the more you improvise.  This was a fun topic to discuss and we hope you have fun listening!

The separation of player knowledge from character knowledge is something that trips up many new player of Tabletop RPGs.  Whether it's because we want our characters to be able to act on new information OR because we want to streamline parts of the game, each table of players has a different tolerance for "metagaming".  Is metagaming always a faux pas to avoid or is it possible that it could be doing some good?

Listen in as Jeremy and Hollis discuss metagaming, meta tools, and how to handle all things meta at your table!

Magic is a core element of Dungeons and Dragons that has changed a fair bit through each iteration. Whether its the swapping of a school of spells or the introduction of the Vancian magic system, magic has been one of the most fun ways characters are able to do some truly amazing things at their table.

Today, Jeremy and I have a chat about Magic in Dungeons and Dragons.  A listener recommended this topic and we were so happy to have the discussion and give our general thoughts about Magic as a whole in D&D.  We hope you enjoy the episode!

Potions are a truly amazing gift for players.  They provide interesting narrative options and allow players to approach problems in new ways.  How could such a powerful and interactive tool for players lead to such a long discussion?  Drink a Potion of Clarity and you'll find out that nothing is as it seems..

Today, Jeremy and Hollis discuss potions in Dungeons and Dragons.  The rules, the fun of it and the... not-so-fun of it.

Psionics have had varying degrees of inclusion throughout each edition of Dungeons and Dragons.  In some cases the psionic classes have multiple class archetypes that share their unique brand of magic, but in other instances their unique power set has been simplified with limited class options.  Why the inconsistency?

Today  Jeremy and Hollis discuss supernatural magic, psionic abilities, and  the shift of interest in them from edition to edition.

The fifth One D&D Playtest has arrived!  Its packed with large changes for both melee classes and spellcasters.  Like many other Dungeons and Dragons fans, Jeremy and Hollis wonder if these changes are steps in the right direction.

Today Jeremy and Hollis give their opinions on the changes and their impact.  Are class abilities better the more they are front-loaded or is this the very problem with classes like the Fighter?  Come join in on the discussion!

There are a lot of things to like about D&D classes. but its not perfect.
Are hybrid classes trying to do too much?
How do you balance magic against the roster of non-magical options?

While we may not have a perfect answer to those questions, it didn't stop us from complaining. Today Jeremy and Hollis discuss our least favorite D&D class and why.  We understand that our picks might upset some listeners. 
All the more reason to listen the discussion!

Fresh after a very enjoyable watch of Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, a discussion was had about what the movie did well.  This conversation got us thinking about options in the toolkits of players and Game Masters for making their own games more cinematic.

Come listen as we discuss more ways you can move the spotlight and give each player (and GM) their time to shine!  And don't worry!  NO SPOILERS for the movie in this episode!