Ep 96: Eberron Rising
/Matt and Rob review the official Eberron hardcover source book for 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons, Eberron: Rising from the Last War.
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
The Doors - The Changeling
Episode 95: Building Big Bads
/From Iago to Ivan Drago, your campaign is only as good as its villain, so Matt and Rob talk about how to make one that doesn't suck. Please enjoy the digressions on ball-thwacking, dwarves, and the moon.
Music:
Billie Eilish -- Bad Guy
Lion King -- Be Prepared
Taylor Swift -- The Man
Tears for Fears -- Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Deltron 3030 -- Mastermind
Bishop Briggs -- Jekyll & Hyde
Shinedown -- Enemies
Episode 94: Consent in Gaming
/DMs Rob and Matt dive into Consent in Gaming from Monte Cook Games.
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
Love - Alone Again Or
Ep 93: Worldbuilding History
/DMs Matt and Rob discuss how to build your campaign world's history without writing a dissertation in the process.
Episode 92: 2Fast, 2Avernus
/Matt and Rob review Descent Into Avernus (please ignore the fact that they call it "Descent TO Avernus" through the entire podcast). Rob gets really excited and says 'like' a lot, sorry, and Matt's internet connection goes out halfway through and we have to communicate via morse code, so sorry about that too.
We also talk about the new UA and how much smarter we are than the professionals.
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
Fear Factory - Descent
Dethklok - Go Forth and Die
Slayer - Hell Awaits
Ep 91: Unwanted Advice - The Reawakening
/Rob and Matt are back to save your game. Plus, what is good for the goose is good for the gander, as we build a magic item using a Kushan relic. Here's the link!
Image from the Seshat Databank.
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
Metalocalypse - Impeach God
David Bowie - Rebel, Rebel
Travis Scott - goosebumps
Episode 90: Of Brands and Burgers
/Matt and Rob talk about Feast of Legends, the Wendy's themed RPG.
Recording this episode made our souls feel the way eating a Wendy's burger makes our bodies feel.
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
Jimmy Buffet -- Cheeseburger in Paradise
Ep 89: Worldbuilding Horny Victorian Fantasy
/Lord help us, DMs Matt and Rob are back on their BS. Your hosts review the worldbuilding in the new fantasy series, Carnival Row.
Letters:
MP writes, "How do both of you organize your notes?"
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
The Decemberists - The Perfect Crime #2
Episode 88: Subclass September
/The dark and gritty Dungeon Master of None reboot, "DMoN 2000," is upon us. We talk subclasses:
Letters:
"Help me design a way to kill god!"
"Can an RPG module be art?"
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
The Ventures - Walk, Don't Run
Stone Temple Pilots - Dead & Bloated
Talking Heads - Artists Only
BONUS: Actual Prep 2 - Finishing Touches
/It's part two of DM Matt's Actual Prep series. You can listen to part one, in which Matt designs an adventure "live," here.
DM Matt reflects on how to use your few moments before a game session to prep, what to adjust on the fly, and how to reflect on your adventures critically.
Also, the adventure that Matt and Rob wrote based on these episodes is available for purchase on the DMsGuild!
Links:
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
Reba McEntire - Why Not Tonight
The J. Geils Band - Freeze-Frame
Bobby Bare - Dropkick Me, Jesus
BONUS EPISODE: BS about GNS
/Fate has forced us into another desperate solo episode, so please enjoy Rob talking about GNS theory, and if you're mad about anything he said that's wrong, please e-mail Matt.
You can read the original post about GNS yourself here: http://www.indie-rpgs.com/articles/1/.
Episode 87: Class Analysis
/Matt and Rob talk about how to fit a proper class analysis into your worldbuilding, though this time it's mostly about designing character classes for your RPG and not a materialist interpretation of fantasy worlds, we managed to hold off on the dialectics this time around.
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
Freedom Call - Warriors
Aladdin - A Whole New World
Sheb Wooley - Purple People Eater
Sabaton - Winged Hussars
Episode 86: Dungeon Master of One
/Your favorite DMs discuss a topic they are ABSOLUTELY qualified to give advice on: running "solo" or "duet" campaigns. Listen for some useful tips on how to make a campaign for one person and to listen to Matt mispronounce "smorgasboard" and "gestalt".
Letters at the end!
Links:
Actual Prep Episode
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
Celine Dion - All By Myself
The Turtles - So Happy Together
Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. - You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)
One Direction - You & I
Ep 85: DM Tips from Dungeon World
/As part of our quest to steal advice from every RPG ever published, DMs Rob and Matt discuss Dungeon World by Sage LaTorra and Adam Koebel. Dungeon World has a great description of how RPGs work and some excellent tips you can use in games run in any system.
Stay tuned for the mailbag and the return of "Real or Woe!"
Letters:
Jason asks: "Can I get a preview copy of the Actual Prep adventure?"
Nick asks: "How can I role-play a Kenku without being annoying?"
Vic asks: "Here are some logical rules for different spell-casting stats for the various Warlock patrons. Also, should I remove the ability score requirements for multi-classing?"
Douglas asks: "What advice do you have for running a one-on-one play?"
Links:
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
New Order - Blue Monday
Lowland Hum - In the Garage
Grover Washington Jr. - Just the Two of Us
Motörhead - The Game
Ep 84: 2 Path 2 Finder
/Remember Pathfinder? It's back, in pog form!
DMs Matt and Rob review the brand new 2nd edition rules of the Pathfinder Role-Playing Game.
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
Dua Lipa - New Rules
Roxy Music - Editions of You
Ep 83: Worldbuilding - Technology
/Technology. What is it? Dungeon Masters Rob and Matt discuss how to think about and deploy technology in your own campaign worlds. Then, it's the firearms debate to end all firearms debates.
Letters:
Gerard writes - "Are the DMoNs fans of Baldur's Gate?"
John writes - "Here's a great way to present the confusing one-spell-a-round rule to new players!"
Don't forget to call in to the DUNGEON MASTER HOTLINE: (774) 203-4629!
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
Marilyn Manson - Killing Strangers
Ep 82: Anyone Can DM
/DMs Matt and Rob discuss the basics of what a Dungeon Master is and what a Dungeon Master does. Today, we review the DM advice presented in the 5e D&D Essentials Kit. But first, a game of "Weal or Woe," in which, Rob has to guess whether the RPG product is real or fake!
Matt and Rob discuss the roles presented in the Essentials Kit: referee, storyteller, and role-player. They break down the core mechanics and goals of any Dungeon Master.
Conclusion: Anyone can DM!
Letters:
Dalton asks: "Do I need a wizard in my party?"
Adam writes: "Aren't there times when it is good to hide your DM dice rolls?"
Alexander writes: "Where are my half-feats?"
Links:
Matt's Homebrew Half-Feat Rules
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
BTS (featuring Hasley) - Boy with Luv
Weezer - In the Garage
Ep 81: Dungeon Master Book Club - Black Leopard, Red Wolf
/Welcome to our first Dungeon Master Book Club! DMs Matt and Rob discuss Marlon James' Black Leopard, Red Wolf. Listen in for some great inspirational storytelling and ideas for monsters, NPCs, and fantastical magic!
Links:
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
Letters:
Dan writes: You forgot about Earthsea's sexual peaches!
Michael writes: I love the Genesys system. Do you have tips for running with only two players?
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock
Ep 80: Greyhawk!
/Special guest Andy is back to talk about the first Dungeons and Dragons campaign setting: Greyhawk!
We delve into the history of Greyhawk's design, discuss what makes Oerth unique, and share our favorite things for you to pilfer from Flanaess for your own campaign worlds.
Links:
Anna B. Meyer's Greyhawk Cartography
Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil by Monte Cook
David Howery's adventures in Dungeon Magazine #15, #22, #30, and #32
Music:
Pac Div - Roll the Dice
Drake - Started from the Bottom
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Satan Said Dance
Duran Duran - The Wild Boys
Ep 79: Actual Prep - Writing an Adventure
/DM Matt goes solo! He walks you through his process of writing an adventure in under an hour. Inspired by the image below and Tremors, Matt creates a village and monster for you to steal!
