tl;dm - A D&D DM Podcast

Alan and Tyler discuss running a horror game, and how to do it, and other things.

We talk a fair bit about Critical Role, Matt Mercer, and the effect their fans have on the hobby.

Before excitedly cracking open the new campaign sourcebook to talk favorites and disparage dislikes, the boys talk playing and running Waterdeep: Dragon Heist.

Chime in on Twitter and tell us what your party did with Trollskull Manor!

Alan and Tyler return from an extended hiatus to talk more about roleplaying and the new non-D&D game that Alan is running, Stars Without Number.

FIRST THINGS FIRST - wow, Alan's microphone is picking up all of the plosive sounds. Sorry for that. BUT struggle through it if you can, because this episode is simply chock full of insights, exercises, and anecdotes from special guest and friend of the show James D'Amato!

The TL;DMs sit down with James to talk about what it feels like to play in and run a published adventure as opposed to a homebrew one, and use that as a springboard to segue into their experience running a CR 23 head-to-head cage match against the legendary Acererak.

James also talks about aspects of personal play and how they apply on both the player and DM side. Conveniently, the OneShot host and podcast aficionado has written an entire book of personal play prompts and avenues ("The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide" - check it out!). James gives us some teasers from the book and the trio talk about how personal play can add to the roleplaying experience at the table.

It's been a while between recordings, and the TL;DMs have some campaign recaps to get to. In particular, they talk about arc and session structure, and mechanical benefits of visual aids for table engagement.

Then, Tyler posits some opportunities for NPC-themed story arcs since his table has several characters that they're deeply invested in.

There are, OF COURSE, some tangents. The pair talk about their go-to DnD characters/classes and what they enjoy most about those archetypes.

But the main focus of Episode 31 is creating powerful moments across all levels. Cinematic moments of play that become tense or heroic or "oh shit" moments at the table. The kinds that make memories that last and that have the players leaving the table want to retell those stories later on.

It's been a while (again)!

The TL;DMs get some time to catch up and then do a brief breakdown on Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, the most recent release from the DnD 5e team. They talk about what makes for a good theoretical supplement for a homebrew campaign. They also spend a little time hating on the new wealth of options for Tieflings--give a listen for their reasoning and decide for yourself if it's justified!

Then. The JUICE. Tyler and Alan ask each other questions to suss out what kind of content they think is missing from fifth edition. They talk Pokemon Masters, Alchemical Experts, and big ol' bareknuckle streetfighting Grapplers. What are the things we want to play that feel like they're unavailable (or too mechanically demanding) in Dungeons and Dragons? How can we best approximate them with the rules as we got 'em?

Another topic of discussion is HIGH LEVEL FIGHTING. Big PCs with their capstones against campaign-ending devastation monsters. What does it look like? How does it feel to play against? How about to run? How truly awful is the Sphere of Annihilation? The TL;DMs do their best to answer.

It has been some time since the tl;dm duo has had a chat, and they're back in all their rambling, opinionated... glory?

They lead off with a discussion on how DnD fundamentally changes as a play experience as the party levels up, and what that means for different styles of play. From the DM standpoint it also impacts how encounters and combats are planned or balanced, which both Tyler and Alan share some strategies and weaknesses for.

The TL;DMs also take a moment to talk about running real, honest-to-god, intelligent villains. There is a huge difference between intelligent high-CR (challenge rating) creatures and bigger, scarier monsters, and sometimes the stat blocks don't make clear that some bad guys are dangerous because of their MO rather than their stats-on-paper. Alan and Tyler break down how that can impact resource management, balance, and most importantly, FUN.

Alan had a campaign reboot and we talk about the whys and what's happeneds for that new direction. 

After that, and so many, many meanderings, we get to the meat of our episode, story stakes-- what they are, how to make them, and when to use them.

Our dearest friend and favored player Jeff Murdoch returns to our 'cast to talk with us about recaps, session zeros, skill checks and so much more.

In the session zero discussion, we talk about one of the most important uses of a session zero, which is checking in with your players to see what they enjoy doing in games. From there we discuss how to manage those delights and expectations.

Then we get into the meat of the episode: skill checks. When should they happen, what should they determine, when should you skip them entirely. We. Discuss. It all.