How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM

Justin Lewis
  • 4.8 (41)
  • HOBBIES
  • UPDATED DAILY

Learn how to be a better DM (Dungeon Master) so you can tell better stories for yourself and your friends. Learn things like how to start a campaign, how to create realistic NPCs, how to move the plot along, and how and why to use session 0's for your party. Join hosts Justin Lewis, Cayden Ottley and Tanner Weyland as they distill all the DM tips, tools and resources for the beginner DM, for the DM with a few years of experience and for the Forever DM who's been playing for 20 years. If you're sick of searching for things like, "How to create a homebrew DND campaign?", click the play button and listen to become the best dungeon master you ever could be! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster Discord Server: https://discord.gg/g77qt8quM2 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeabetterdmpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@session0studios YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@session0studios Professional Dungeon Master Services: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/ DM Coaching: https://session0studios.com/coaching/

  1. 2D AGO

    4 Tools for Dungeon Master Improvement

    Every DM wants to get better, but “improvement” can feel vague. In this episode, we break it down into four concrete tools you can use to actually level up your Dungeon Mastering—whether you’re running your first campaign or your fifth. The 4 Tools 1. The Dungeon Master Level Up Guide • A free newsletter from Session 0 Studios that delivers practical advice and DM growth tips straight to your inbox. 2. Record Your Sessions • Why listening back is one of the fastest ways to spot your blind spots. • Story: Grim casts Detect Thoughts—and how hearing it later changed how we thought about the moment. 3. The After Action Report • A simple, repeatable reflection process: • What did we want to happen? • What actually happened? • Why did it happen? • What can we learn going forward? • Story: breaking down the last session at our own table. 4. Content You Consume • People Management: The Like Switch, How to Win Friends and Influence People • Performance: YouTube channels like Improve Your Voice and PVImprov • Game Design: Game Maker’s Toolkit • Storytelling: Writing Excuses, Matt Colville, Mystic Arts, High Rollers These aren’t just entertainment—they’re study material for growing as a DM. Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff: Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmith Roll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplay Phantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Monument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudios Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord Patreon:https://session0studios.com/patreon Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

    11 min

  2. SEP 18

    How to Make Combat Encounters Fun Again: Part 3

    Here are my tips: Use scatter terrain Use distance Use elevation Capture the Flag VIP Zombies Tag Hide and Seek Snatch and Grab Ingredient Gathering King of the Hill The Ground is Lava Shock and Awe Library Book The Shell Game Add Water Elements Add the Weather Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff: Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmith Roll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplay Phantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Monument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudios Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord Patreon:https://session0studios.com/patreon Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

    13 min

  3. SEP 11

    What To Do When Your Campaign Stops

    Most DMs have had at least one period of time when their party suddenly starts meeting A LOT less often. Whether it's life changes or just a lack of interest, what do you do? Do you quit, stay the course, or make a change? That's the topic of today's podcast with Tanner. He gives DMs 3 steps to help them decide on next steps if their campaign is becoming a thing of the past. Let's learn how to be a better DM!

    9 min

  4. SEP 4

    Combat Encounters are Broken: Let’s Fix Them - Part 2

    Today we fix combat encounters, plus my kids have something to say. This is what we talk about: Use scatter terrain Use distance Use elevation Capture the Flag VIP Zombies Tag Hide and Seek Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff: Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmith Roll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplay Phantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Monument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudios Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord Patreon:https://session0studios.com/patreon Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

    12 min

  5. AUG 28

    Embracing Randomness in D&D

    Do you feel like, unless you plan every single item, NPC interaction, and every encounter down to the letter, that you'll lose control as a DM? Well this episode is for you! Tanner discusses randomness, rolling for items, enemies, and more, and also shares ways your next D&D session can be RANDOM without being LESS. Also, for anyone curious about FanX, where we'll be on 6 different panels, check out this link: https://fanxsaltlake.com/

    18 min

  6. AUG 21

    How to Fix Combat Encounters Part 1

    Today we talk about how to fix Combat Encounters 1. Use Scatter Terrain 2. Use Distance 3. Use Elevation Also, we are doing 6 panels at FanX coming up in Salt Lake City in September so if you are in the area, come see us! Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff: Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmith Roll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplay Phantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Monument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudios Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord Patreon:https://session0studios.com/patreon Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

    12 min

  7. AUG 14

    Points of Interest: Prepping Multiple Meaningful Options Without Losing Your Mind

    Tanner talks about Points of Interest: what they are, why some DMs find them difficult to prepare, and how to make them worthwhile. Remember that it's about making the world exciting, not just full!

    21 min

  8. AUG 7

    7 Dungeon Master Mistakes I’m Still Making

    Welcome to How to Be a Better DM Today we talk about 7 mistakes I still make: ​Not taking in the moment and enjoying.​Not surprising my party​Trying to be a dungeon master that I’m not​Comparing Myself to Other DM​Not being me​Forcing my expectations on other players ​Not Skipping the Boring Bits Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff: Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmith Roll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplay Phantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord Patreon:https://session0studios.com/patreon Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

    12 min
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4.8
out of 5
41 Ratings

About

Learn how to be a better DM (Dungeon Master) so you can tell better stories for yourself and your friends. Learn things like how to start a campaign, how to create realistic NPCs, how to move the plot along, and how and why to use session 0's for your party. Join hosts Justin Lewis, Cayden Ottley and Tanner Weyland as they distill all the DM tips, tools and resources for the beginner DM, for the DM with a few years of experience and for the Forever DM who's been playing for 20 years. If you're sick of searching for things like, "How to create a homebrew DND campaign?", click the play button and listen to become the best dungeon master you ever could be! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster Discord Server: https://discord.gg/g77qt8quM2 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeabetterdmpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@session0studios YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@session0studios Professional Dungeon Master Services: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/ DM Coaching: https://session0studios.com/coaching/

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