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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 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!
Latest Episodes
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- 1 weeks ago1h 34m
Best of Heroes of the Borderlands 5.5 Starter Set!
Episode 314 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Heroes of the Borderlands 5.5 Starter Set! One year after 5.5 launched – was it worth the wait? We look at this innovative starter set and how it updates the classic Keep on the Borderlands! News: Hasbro and D&D’s Q3 Revenue Growth, D&D Wallpaper, Misplaced Monsters, and more! Contents 00:00 Gamehole Memories 01:38 Go See Wildwood Movie! 02:57 Tastiest Monster? 05:46 What Should Aspiring GMs Read? 13:53 Hasbro's Huge Q3 2026 18:58 Wizards' Record Q3 for Magic 22:24 D&D Revenue Estimate 24:14 Estimating 2026 and 5.5 Impact 26:10 Misplaced Monsters V2 26:56 Sad Bioware News 28:43 D&D Wallpaper at Target 30:31 Army Painter D&D Paints and Academy 31:20 Pacific NW RPG Fest 33:23 Heroes of the Borderlands Starter Set 36:58 History of Starter Sets 39:56 What Makes This Different 46:03 What's Inside? 55:03 Credits and 2025 Releases 57:35 Premise and Approach 01:02:54 Every Player Can DM 01:05:37 Wilderness Booklet and Road 01:19:06 Woods, Fens, and Tamarack Stand 01:23:16 Balancing Brevity, Open Play, and DM Info 01:28:49 Random Encounters 01:29:54 Shout-Outs 01:33:57 What Are We Gonna Do Now? 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.
- 2 weeks ago52 min
James Introcaso on Crows, Draw Steel, and MCDM! Live from Gamehole Con!
Episode 313 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: James Introcaso on Crows, Draw Steel, and MCDM! Live from Gamehole Con! The incredible James Introcaso discusses the last six years at MCDM, including the creation of Draw Steel and Crows, plus insights into being a creator in the industry. (No separate News segment this week!) Contents 00:00 Live from Gamehole! 01:36 Excited for Dark Sun? 03:16 If Universes Beyond is Most Poplular? 05:16 Knitting Like the DMs Guild? 08:30 James Introcaso and MCDM's Transformation 12:12 Designing for Hope & Fear 14:51 Advantages of Full-Time Employment 16:52 Product Line and Enjoying Victories 20:59 Crows RPG 23:28 Crows Gameplay 26:05 Motivation in Crows 28:02 Crows as a Big MCDM Change 31:03 Playtest and Revision Approach 34:34 Adventure Design Rut? 38:05 Stretching Crows and an OGL? 40:18 Mechanics vs Narrative for New RPG? 45:44 Playtesting Higher Levels? 49:35 New RPGs and Flexibility? 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.
- 3 weeks ago1h 41m
Remonstered! Keith Ammann Updates The Monsters Know What They’re Doing!
Episode 312 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Remonstered! Keith Ammann Updates The Monsters Know What They’re Doing! Keith joins Teos to discuss his innovations for running great monsters, how 5.5 monsters have changed, and the best new and updated monsters! News: D&D and Magic Joining Union, PH 5.5 Errata, Star Wars and Dark Sun Previews, Project Lamordia Review, and more! Contents 00:00 Rapping with Keith 02:29 Sirrangia Update 03:04 Is Turn-Loss Educational? 11:25 D&D and Magic Joining Union 19:42 Project Lamordia Launched 24:14 5.5 PH Errata Update 25:25 Star Wars and Dark Sun News 29:46 D&D Staff DMing at Gamehole 31:26 Ohlen Launches Malborn 34:06 Encounter Organization 40:53 Microscope 2E 42:51 Threats of the Timescape 44:33 Job Trail 45:52 Keith Ammann 47:45 Keith's Origin Story 49:40 Why Books? 53:50 Has Success Changed Keith's Game? 56:55 What Remonstered Offers 01:00:42 New Innovations 01:07:56 Shenanigans 01:17:56 Best New and Updated Monsters 01:21:55 Monster Type Changes 01:27:05 The Flumph and Alignment 01:33:04 Where to Buy Keith's Books 01:36:39 Shout-Outs 01:41:11 What Are We Gonna Do? 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.
- 4 weeks ago1h 37m
Best of Dragons of Stormwreck Isle and the 3rd Starter Set!
Episode 311 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Dragons of Stormwreck Isle and the 3rd Starter Set! 5E’s 3rd Starter Set brings fewer components, a lower price point, and all the dragons! See why we harpy about why this is ghoul enough for you. News: Free Warcraft D&D Adventure, D&D Professions and Factions in WoW, Lamordia Modern Ravenloft, and more! Contents 00:00 Swim Any Day in November 03:28 Designer Peer Group? 12:05 Impact of Creator's Voice? 20:24 Free World of Warcraft Adventure 21:09 First Look at Wow Professions 25:03 WoW Factions and Renown 26:08 Ravenloft Project Lamordia 27:40 October D&D Drops Review 31:55 Disability Pride Dice 33:03 Renegade Loses Wolf Gains Hasbro 34:30 Critical Role Grunge Video Game 35:00 WizKids Hiring Marketing 35:43 Draw Steel Hooked on Crafting 36:49 Blacksmith's Guild and Iridoss Campaign 38:18 Dragons of Stormwreck Isle 39:14 Product History 43:33 '80s Tie-In 46:30 Other 2022 Products 48:12 Premise and Approach 50:29 Personal Goals 55:04 First Encounter Consequences 01:04:12 Zombie Resurgence 01:06:33 Quest Overviews 01:09:44 Exploration Encounters 01:13:13 Seagrow Caves 01:15:47 Cursed Shipwreck 01:20:01 Clifftop Observatory 01:28:10 Conclusion 01:32:42 Shout-Outs 01:36:50 What Are We Gonna Do? 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.
- Sep 30, 20261h 38m
Best of Dragon of Icespire Peak and the Essentials Kit!
Episode 310 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Dragon of Icespire Peak and the Essentials Kit! 5E’s second Starter Set brings huge innovation, from Sidekicks to Quest Boards and Initiative Cards! Our review is more fun than a mimic in a gnome home. News: Wizards Fires and Hires, Warcraft Monsters First Look, Dragonlance Book White Board, and more! Contents 00:00 Sirrangia and Encounters 02:40 Our Art Preference? 10:30 Warcraft First Look: Monsters! 14:08 LaTia Jacquise Departs Wizards 17:23 Wizards Hires Celeste Conowitch 19:20 Dragonlance Book Brainstorm 22:24 100 D&D Novels Return 25:40 Daggerheart and D&D at Lucca 27:59 One Ring's Huge Backerkit 29:52 Dragon of Icespire Peak 31:39 Starter Set History 36:59 What's In The Box? 43:42 Digital Codes on DDB 46:15 Other 2019 Products 48:20 Premise and Approach 58:20 Introducing Sidekicks 01:00:58 Quest Board and First Quests 01:13:09 Follow-Up Quests 01:21:27 Other Locations 01:25:39 Ending the Adventure 01:32:51 Shout-Outs 01:38:16 What Are We Gonna Do? 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.
- Sep 23, 20261h 43m
Creating Mistborn and the Cosmere RPG with Lyla Fujiwara and Lydia Suen!
Episode 309 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Creating Mistborn and the Cosmere RPG with Lyla and Lydia! Lyla Fujiwara (Cosmere RPG Director) and Lydia Suen (Cosmere Lead Designer) of Brotherwise Games join us to share what it took to create the Mistborn Setting for the Cosmere RPG! Learn about Plotweaver, time-swap adventures, freelancing, and much more! News: Warcraft 5E First Look, Draw Steel Encounters, Free Stuff, Jedi in 5E Star Wars, and more! Contents 00:00 Best Podcast Ever 03:01 Jedi in 5E Star Wars? 12:02 Warcraft 5E First Look! 16:05 DMAP Goes to Azeroth 17:08 Seeker's Guide to Dread Demigods 18:33 Draw Steel Encounters 22:50 Building Cities Like Theme Parks 25:16 Treska on RPG Freelancing 27:41 Tomb of the Heretics for Shadowdark 28:29 Eidolon: The Night Market 29:26 Free Draw Steel Intro 30:30 Creating Mistborn and Cosmere 31:21 Lyla Fujiwara and Lydia Suen 38:38 What is the Cosmere and Plotweaver? 44:18 Record-Setting Crowdfunding Impact 49:29 Types of Stories Cosmere Tells 52:14 Plot Die and Character Goals 59:21 Mistborn's Design 01:01:32 Heroic and Invested Paths 01:07:38 Kandra and Other Novel Options 01:09:21 Managing All the Lore 01:15:18 Adventure Design in Mistborn 01:21:39 Time Swapping Two Eras 01:30:05 What's Next for Mistborn and Cosmere? 01:31:05 How to Design for Cosmere? 01:38:54 Shout-Outs 01:42:41 What Are We Gonna Do? 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.
- Sep 16, 20261h 38m
Best of Lost Mine of Phandelver, the first D&D Starter Set!
Episode 308 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Lost Mine of Phandelver, the first D&D Starter Set! The adventure (and rules) that kicked off 5E! We look at why every starter set has to measure itself against this one. News: Dan Ayoub on Leading D&D, 5 New Underdark Species, D&D Encounters Unboxing, and more! Contents 00:00 Start Your Sets 01:17 Published Campaign Help? 06:03 Are VTTs Changing Design? 14:06 3 New Underdark Subclasses 24:58 5 New Underdark Species 27:19 Arcana Unleashed Delays 28:35 D&D Encounters Kit Contents! 32:44 Dan Ayoub on Leading D&D 36:36 Castle Ravenloft DM Screen 39:06 PAX Unplugged Houston 41:47 Steve Jackson Steps Down as CEO 43:04 Lost Mine of Phandelver 44:35 History of Starter Sets 47:51 What It Offers 52:35 What Else in 2014? 55:50 Premise and Approach 01:00:01 A Strong Start? 01:11:06 Gobline Caves 01:14:27 Exploring Phandalin 01:22:08 Area Quests and Cragmaw Castle 01:26:18 Wave Echo Cave 01:33:20 Shout-Outs 01:37:23 What Are We Gonna Do? 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.
- Sep 9, 20261h 29m
Amanda Hamon and Arcana Unleashed!
Episode 307 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Arcana Unleased with Amanda Hamon! Amanda joins us to discuss the Arcana Unleashed products she led – the process, the design, and the exciting contents of both books! News: Ravenloft Netflix TV Show, New D&D Beyond Drops, PAX West Report, and more! Contents 00:00 Return from PAX West 04:21 RPGs Providing Right Information? 12:41 Single-PC Encounters? 21:00 Ravenloft Netflix TV Series 24:33 Drops for Season of Magic 25:34 Storied Encounters and Fantastic Locations 29:43 Castle Ravenloft Board Game Returns 31:42 5.5 Munchkin TTRP 32:53 Hellbinder's Guide to Harvesting & Crafting 33:44 Was a $1607 Kickstarter Worth It? 35:51 Amanda Hamon Unleashed! 36:40 Amanda's Origin Story 39:13 Journalism to Game Design 44:11 Working at Wizards 46:12 D&D's Recent Growth 48:02 Arcana Unleashed Duality 52:53 Alustriel Silverhand 55:26 AU Contents and Old vs New 58:19 Schools of Magic and DM Tools 59:59 Magical Patrons Unify Subsystems 01:02:42 Evolving Magic Items 01:05:21 Deadfall Adventure Concept 01:06:13 High-Level Spy Thriller 01:09:06 Thayan Gazetteer 01:11:34 Depicting Thayan Life 01:13:18 Adventure Options 01:15:35 Organized Play Tie-Ins 01:15:58 Spoiler for Cool Encounter 01:18:31 High-Level Challenges 01:20:50 See Amanda at Conventions 01:23:47 Shout-Outs 01:28:21 What Are We Gonna Do? 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.
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About 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 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!
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