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

Justin Lewis
  • 4.8 (43)
  • 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. 1D AGO

    The Rules of Great Encounter Design (Most DMs Miss These) – Part 1

    Great D&D encounters don’t happen by accident—they’re designed. In this episode of How to Be a Better DM, we break down the first three core rules of encounter design that help Dungeon Masters create encounters that feel meaningful, engaging, and worth the players’ time. First, we talk about why simplicity is one of the most powerful tools in encounter design. Overcomplicating encounters often slows the game down, while simple encounters can create fast, exciting, and memorable moments at the table. Next, we introduce the CASE framework—how every encounter should fit into your Campaign, Arc, Session, and Encounter structure. When encounters serve the bigger story, your game starts to feel intentional instead of random. Finally, we cover a rule that many DMs overlook: the party has to want something on the other side of the encounter. Whether it’s treasure, progress, information, or simply survival, players need a reason to engage. These three rules will help you design encounters faster, run smoother sessions, and keep your players invested in the game. And this is just the beginning. In Part 2, we’ll dive deeper into additional encounter design rules that will help you turn good encounters into unforgettable ones. 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​Hire a Professional Dungeon Master: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/​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

    16 min
  2. Dentists and Comets: The Importance of the Final Scene

    4D AGO

    Dentists and Comets: The Importance of the Final Scene

    In today’s episode, we’ll take magic concepts to the doctor’s office and will mix it all together to learn how to make our players remember us as genius DMs after the session is over. If you want to make a lasting impression on your players, then this episode is for you.   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

    21 min

  3. FEB 26

    Going Big: Making Memorable NPC Conversations

    Listen... if an NPC or a roleplayed conversation is unmemorable, why is it in your campaign? More importantly, is it possible to make each conversation a memorable experience? Well, if you GO BIG with your show, your tell, your personalities, and your NPC alignments, that'll certainly help! Tanner shares examples and reasons to go big or go home with your NPC roleplays—you'll thank us later!

    13 min
  4. The unexpected upside of the CASE framework: Diegesis and the fourth wall in DnD

    FEB 23

    The unexpected upside of the CASE framework: Diegesis and the fourth wall in DnD

    Today we’ll dissect the ins and outs of immersion, guided by our usual host, Danny Barrett. In this sixth episode, we will go over the CASE framework and squeeze it for all it’s worth, going through concepts like Fourth wall, diegesis, and Verfremdungseffekt. This episode will help you prep more intentionally and better understand the limits of fiction in this hybrid medium.   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

    18 min

  5. FEB 19

    Fixing Tempo: Athletic Conditioning for the Heartbeat of Your D&D Games

    Welcome back to today’s show. Today we talk about tempo, using 2 analogies. D&D is like music. D&D is like a heart. If you understand those two facts, you’ll naturally improve your tempo. 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

    22 min
  6. Pauses and Silences: What we say by not saying

    FEB 16

    Pauses and Silences: What we say by not saying

    DISCLAIMER:The musical composition is called 4’33”, by John Cage. (Forgot to say the name). It can be found here: https://youtu.be/TrlKxV5KWJo?list=RDTrlKxV5KWJo   Welcome to the fifth Creative Contraband episode! After some minor technical inconveniences, we explore the delicate art of empty spaces guided by the usual host Danny Barrett. Drawing from neuroscience, music, and other arts, you’ll learn about building suspense, tension release, cognitive processing limits, and more.   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

    14 min

  7. FEB 12

    Brevity: Say Less To Do More

    Doesn't it always feel like you have to fill the silence? Or explain better—explain more, even? As a DM, do we say too much when saying a little would go a lot further? Kind of a weird principle, but one that an over-explainer like Tanner is willing to tackle in today's episode!

    19 min
  8. 3 Things Your Table Will Thank You For

    FEB 9

    3 Things Your Table Will Thank You For

    In this special episode of Creative Contraband, our host shares some hard-earned life advice for DMs. Today, Danny’s yapping serves up valuable lessons in sustainability, improv, and experimentation. 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

    16 min
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4.8
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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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