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

Justin Lewis
  • 4.8 (40)
  • 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. 9H AGO

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. JUL 31

    Are You Starting Your D&D Campaign... With Fun?

    Tanner shares a minor update about the podcast from his perspective, and talks about how to prioritize fun when starting a campaign. Hint: it's not with a lot of roleplaying like he did with his recent campaign...

    13 min
  7. Why Your Combat Slogs and How to Fix It

    JUL 24

    Why Your Combat Slogs and How to Fix It

    Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon Why your combat Slogs You haven’t set the epectations with your playersBecause you’re building combats and not encountersYou haven’t red shirted it - you’re not familiar with the baddies or the mechanicsYou as aren’t taking advantage of all 4 of the Pillars of DMingThe party doesn’t want to do a combat. You don’t know how to make the combat intensePhones are at the tableYou make it go on too long Special thanks to: Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/) TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons. Mentioned in this episode: Save time with Roll and Play Press Save yourself some precious time with Roll and Play Press. Go to https://session0studios.com/rollandplay and use code BETTERDM10 at checkout. Brought to you by Session 0 Studios Visit session0studios.com for more information.

    12 min
  8. We’re Still Alive… But things are Changing

    JUL 17

    We’re Still Alive… But things are Changing

    Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon Today we are announcing that going forward, we are cutting back on everything except just doing the podcast and only doing 10 minute un-edited episodes. This is a short term change that will allow us to focus on other priorities. Thanks so much for your support. Special thanks to: Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/) TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons. Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Session 0 Studios Visit session0studios.com for more information. I Made a CR 100 Monster I made a Monster with a Challenge Rating of 100 Why? Because I could—and it only took me 5 minutes using Worldsmith. And the best part? You can do this and much more. Get a free 7-day trial at session0studios.com/worldsmith and unlock their full suite of TTRPG generators from monsters to mythic magic items and everything in between. Yep, that’s a full 7-day trial—completely free. That’s a whole week of monsters, magic items, and more—whatever you need, zero burnout. Try it now at session0studios.com/worldsmith. Save time and make unlimited creations with Worldsmith.

    12 min
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4.8
out of 5
40 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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