Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM
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| The 5 Mechanics You Actually Need to DM Your First Session | 29 Oct 2026 | 00:18:39 | |
New to Dungeons and Dragons and nervous about running your first game? These are the five D&D rules every beginner Dungeon Master actually needs, enough to cover about 90% of what happens at the table. You'll learn how checks and DCs work, how to read a character sheet, how initiative and combat flow, and what to do when you hit a rule you don't know. Want more help leveling up as a DM? Grab the Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter Topics covered: how to DM D&D for beginners, D&D 5e basic rules, ability checks and difficulty class (DC) ranges, ability scores and modifiers, proficiency bonus and skills, initiative and combat rounds, attack rolls, armor class, damage rolls and hit points, spell attacks and saving throws, advantage and disadvantage, and how to make a ruling when you don't know the rule. This episode is for new and DM-curious Dungeon Masters who keep hearing that they don't need to know the rules and want something more useful. Join the waitlist for Winter's Eve, our January 29 to 31, 2027 live D&D cabin weekend with a professional Dungeon Master in the Sundance and Midway, Utah area: https://session0studios.com/encounter-excursions/winters-eve/ 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/ * Dungeon Master Coaching: https://session0studios.com/coaching * Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord * Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon * Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter | |||
| Getting a Never Nerd to Play D&D | 22 Oct 2026 | 00:18:03 | |
We all have that person in our life who doesn't ever plan to play D&D, even though we'd love to play with them! It's frustrating, and it often feels like an insurmountable barrier to having a good time with someone you care about... but not today! In this episode, Tanner talks about how to make D&D more approachable for a Never Nerd, how to be genuine and empathetic in proposing it, and much more. | |||
| Balanced Encounters Are a Myth: Here's What Actually Matters | 15 Oct 2026 | 00:34:10 | |
Balanced encounters are a myth, and chasing them is costing your D&D table its best moments. Learn why Dungeon Masters should stop balancing encounters and what to build instead. You'll get a simple replacement for CR math (motivations, back pocket end states, and telegraphing) plus a true story of an encounter that went wildly off script. Want more DM tools in your inbox? Grab the Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter Topics covered in this episode: where the idea of balancing encounters comes from (the 2014 Dungeon Master's Guide and challenge rating), why CR-based encounter balance fails in real play, why a fair fight means you under-planned, how balanced encounters kill epic moments and funnel players into combat as the only solution, why TPKs actually happen and how to prevent bad ones, and a practical D&D encounter design method: build living scenes, double down on conflict and motivation, prepare back pocket end states, telegraph danger, let encounters evolve, and simplify your prep. We also announce Encounters Excursions, our new D&D retreat experience that blends tabletop sessions with real world activities. Join the waitlist for the first event, Winter's Eve: https://session0studios.com/encounter-excursions/winters-eve This episode is for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters looking for D&D encounter design tips, 5e encounter building without CR math, how to avoid a total party kill, how to run non-combat encounters, how to make combat more creative, and how to run living, reactive scenes that your players remember for years. 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:
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| Episode 1 - Well… We’re in Hell. || The Pact & Boon | 03 Oct 2026 | 01:33:20 | |
Welcome to the World of Calignos. This is the first episode of The Pact and Boon, and we find our heroes in the Prison of Mentiri within the City of Dis in the 2 levels of the 9 hells... A great place to start. Mentiri is hot, the food is terrible and our heroes are a little less than heroic. Each of our characters, Joland, Wolfgang and Alon, find themselves in difficult circumstances, some, falling from great heights while others are protecting helpless innocents. Let's see if our adventurers can survive in the 9 hells.... Mentioned in this episode: Leave Us a 5 Star Rating Thanks for listening to our show! We are so grateful for your support. If you like listening to our shenanigans, tell the world about it. Leave us a rating and a review to help give our show some credibility. Even just a quick 5 star review helps. Brought to you by Session 0 Studios For more information, visit session0studios.com | |||
| Don’t Balance Encounters: The DICE Framework for Effective Encounter Design | 01 Oct 2026 | 00:18:51 | |
Stop balancing D&D encounters and start engineering them. This episode gives Dungeon Masters a simple four-part framework, DICE, for building unique encounters on demand, no math required. You'll learn the four parts of every encounter (Doing, Incentive, Conflict, Effect), see the math behind why you'll never run out of ideas, and watch a brand new encounter get built live from a random combination. Want more encounter design tools in your inbox? Grab the Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter Topics covered in this episode: why encounter balance is overrated and often wastes prep time, what actually defines an encounter versus a non-event, the role of approach and avoidance motivation (a real psychological theory) in game design, and a full breakdown of the DICE framework for building D&D encounters: Doing (the verb, like Get, Avoid, Destroy, Preserve, Convince, or Build), Incentive (what's at stake, like a person, item, place, reputation, or piece of knowledge), Conflict (what's standing in the way), and Effect (the feel the encounter produces at the table, which falls directly out of the other three). You'll also hear the math behind just how many unique encounters this framework can generate, and watch a brand new encounter, called Out of Control, get built live and unscripted from a randomly generated combination. This episode is for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters looking for D&D encounter design tips, 5e encounter ideas beyond combat, TTRPG game design frameworks, social encounter ideas, chase and puzzle encounter design, and ways to build more varied, less combat-only encounters without spending hours balancing stat blocks. 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:
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| Session 0 Isn’t Step 1: How to Prepare Your D&D Players Before Session Zero | 17 Sep 2026 | 00:19:33 | |
Most DMs treat session zero as step one. It's not — it's where prep pays off. Professional DM Justin Lewis breaks down five conversations to have with your D&D players before session zero ever starts. From setting expectations to building real excitement to a player brief people actually reread, this is a practical guide to getting your table ready before the dice hit the table. For more, grab the Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter Covers: what session zero actually is, setting player expectations one-on-one, the DM/player promise, building excitement with new and experienced players, onboarding brand-new TTRPG players, writing a player brief, setting table norms and culture ahead of time, sending backstory and character questions before session zero, and a real story of a DM breaking his own promise mid-campaign in Out of the Abyss. Useful for D&D 5e groups, homebrew campaigns, and any tabletop RPG table looking to run a better session zero. 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/ * Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord * Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon * Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter | |||
| Stop Blaming Your Players. Start Coaching Your Table | 03 Sep 2026 | 00:20:05 | |
In this episode, I’m breaking down the three levers every DM has to fix frustrating table behavior without turning into the bad guy: structural changes to your game, direct asks you’re probably avoiding, and the mindset shifts that matter more than either one. If you’ve ever resented your players without knowing how to say so, this one’s 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 Hire a Professional Dungeon Master: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/ Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter | |||
| How to Quickly Build an Interesting Combat Encounter | 27 Aug 2026 | 00:17:52 | |
Is it possible to build a combat encounter quickly while also making it interesting? After all, most quickly-planned encounters end up just being a bunch of random enemies thrown at the players. But that's not as interesting as an encounter that has a concept, unique terrains, and monsters to match (which is the formula Tanner will be exploring in today's episode). Let's roll initiative! | |||
| Stuck? How to Keep the Cogs of the World in Motion - C.C. S2E12 | 25 Aug 2026 | 00:15:46 | |
Welcome to the Season Finale of Creative Contraband! Today Danny Barrett helps us deal with slow sessions or stuck campaigns. With these 4 different techniques, you will be able to make things move again whether you are a Dungeon Master or a Game Master. Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM. Find Danny at: https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here: 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 | |||
| Mimics and Networking with DM Neal - C.C. S2E11 | 18 Aug 2026 | 00:55:53 | |
In the third and last interview of the season, we join the very productive DM Neal, and talk about everything from Mimics and subverting expectation, to IT work and business practices. Grab a pen, open a beer and enjoy this talk filled with useful information! Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM. Find Danny at: https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof Listen to DMs Block here: https://dungeonmasterblock.podbean.com/ Listen to me on DMs Block here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6208_OKMKk Listen to Whelmed: The Young Justice Files here: https://open.spotify.com/show/7bReOYZSSmJQBXkm8A2FjF Read From LP to RP here: https://www.thestruggleisneal.com/ If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here: 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 | |||
| The Insecure DM Trope (And How Not to Become It) | 13 Aug 2026 | 00:13:13 | |
You know the trope: the DM who builds an unwinnable encounter, or a puzzle so clever it’s basically unsolvable — not because the story needed it, but because somewhere underneath, they needed to feel untouchable. In this episode, Justin unpacks the inner work behind that trope: a concept he calls “okness,” the diamond-level self-security that keeps insecurity, jealousy, and thin skin from leaking into your games. You’ll get four practical exercises — the Negative Feedback Loop, the Gratitude Journal, the Worst Case Scenario, and Subtraction — to build the kind of okness that lets you take criticism, welcome chaos at the table, and run better games because of it, not in spite of it. 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:
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| Therapy: Your Last Day on Earth - C.C. S2E10 | 10 Aug 2026 | 00:15:14 | |
Welcome back to Creative Contraband, dear Dungeon Masters! Today Danny Barrett tells us about Your Last Day on Earth, a free contemplative solo NanoRPG. We then use that as a pivot to discuss the role of TTRPGs in therapy, and how we can apply some of that knowledge at our tables, while staying safe and caring. Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM. Find Danny at: https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof Find Heltung Storytelling's work at: https://heltung-storytelling.itch.io/your-last-day-on-earth If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here: 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 | |||
| Is it Better if it's Homebrewed? | 06 Aug 2026 | 00:10:04 | |
Do you ALSO feel the crushing need to homebrew if you want to be a good DM? Well you're not alone! While one of the best aspects of D&D is the capacity to create a world, an adventure, or even classes and spells out of pure imagination, it's also a LOT of work... but is the adventure better in the end for it? That's what Tanner discusses in this episode. | |||
| TTRPGs, Performance Art and Ephemeral Artforms - C.C. S2E9 | 04 Aug 2026 | 00:13:32 | |
Welcome back, Dungeon Masters and Game Masters! Today Danny Barrett talks about the importance of being present and focusing on our players. We discuss different kinds of performance art, and the differences in replicability between paintings, music, improvisation, TTRPGs and others. Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM. Find Danny at: https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here: 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 | |||
| Neurocinema and the Kuleshov Effect - C.C. S2E8 | 27 Jul 2026 | 00:10:55 | |
Welcome back, dear Dungeon Masters and Game Masters! Today Danny Barrett tells us how the order of the information influences the conclusions we draw. We discuss examples from TV shows, and you will be able to learn how to use the Kuleshov Effect to help (or not) your players. Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM. Find Danny at: https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here: 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 | |||
| Why Your D&D Group Keeps Canceling (It’s Not a Scheduling Problem) | 23 Jul 2026 | 00:15:05 | |
Scheduling conflicts aren’t really about calendars — they’re about priorities. Justin shares the story of nearly losing three close friendships (and Session 0 Studios’ own actual play show, The Pact and Boon) before realizing that every scheduling conflict falls into one of two categories: Capabilities Problems (miscommunication, logistics, missed texts) or Priorities Problems (misaligned commitment levels). The first is easy to fix. The second is the one nobody talks about — and the one actually killing most campaigns. In this episode: • The Pact and Boon story: how misaligned commitment nearly cost three friendships • The two categories every scheduling issue falls into — and why only one of them is a “logistics” problem • Three steps to get your group’s priorities aligned before it becomes a crisis • A rundown of scheduling tools (Google Calendar, When2Meet, Doodle, the “everyone marks unavailable days” method) — and why none of them matter if priorities aren’t aligned first 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/ Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord Patreon:https://session0studios.com/patreon Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter | |||
| Pocahontas, Cars, Invincible, Avatar and Reskinning - C.C. S2E7 | 20 Jul 2026 | 00:13:45 | |
Welcome, dear Dungeon Masters and Game Masters! Today Danny Barrett shows us how reskinning can optimize effort and enhance success at the table. Do you have some more examples we missed? Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM. Find Danny at: https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here: 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 | |||
| Magic Item Shops: Guardians, Pricing, and the Players Who Want to Rob You | 16 Jul 2026 | 00:15:43 | |
Your party just walked into a magic item shop — and at least one of them is already casing the room for guards, cameras, and an exit route. Are you ready? This episode breaks down how to run magic item shops that actually hold up under player scrutiny: how to protect items players will try to steal, how to stock a shop so it feels earned rather than random (crafters, trade routes, and discovery), and why you should always price higher than your gut tells you to — especially if you’re letting players haggle. 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/ Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord Patreon:https://session0studios.com/patreon Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter | |||
| Lord of the Rings as DnD - C.C. S2E6 | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:19:49 | |
Welcome once again, dear Dungeon Masters and Game Masters! Today we talk about how the Lord of the Rings trilogy can be described mostly as DnD checks and situations. In this episode you will learn how to take a movie and analyze it in DnD terms, maybe even translating some situations into the table. Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM. Find Danny at: https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here: 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 | |||
| Railroading: Everything You Know About It Is Wrong | 09 Jul 2026 | 00:51:02 | |
Railroading has a bad reputation in the TTRPG world — but is it actually the villain DMs think it is? In this live panel from FanX 2025, Justin Lewis, Tanner Weyland, and Cayden Ottley dig into what railroading really means, why every DM does it whether they realize it or not, and where the line sits between guiding a story and steamrolling player agency. Expect real talk on good railroading vs. bad railroading, how to course-correct when you've leaned too hard on the tracks, and how player perception shapes whether a table even feels railroaded at all. 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: | |||
| Suspense vs. Surprise - C.C. S2E5 | 06 Jul 2026 | 00:17:14 | |
Welcome once again, dear Dungeon Masters and Game Masters! Today we talk about suspense and surprise from Alfred Hitchcock's movies and Game of Thrones. In this episode you will learn how to make the most impact by managing the knowledge your players have about each situation. Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM. Find Danny at: https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here: 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 | |||
| Looking Beneath the Surface: the Hidden Wishes of D&D Players | 02 Jul 2026 | 00:21:38 | |
Players (and DMs) have many unchecked assumptions for what they want out of a D&D adventure: they want "powerful loot," easy NPC interactions, and a cinematic, epic story for them to experience... right? Or is that just the surface level? Do they actually crave something more integral to D&D, like collaboration, creativity, and real consequences? Tanner discusses 5 hidden wishes that players have and DMs would benefit from addressing. | |||
| Sacred Art of Gaming Shares Wisdom about Solo TTRPGs - C.C. S2E4 | 30 Jun 2026 | 01:07:30 | |
In our second interview episode, we sit down with Sacred, and talk about Solo TTRPGs, intention, immersion and getting to know yourself. Sit back and enjoy this light-hearted talk about all things tabletop! Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM. Find Danny at: https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof Find Sacred on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Sacred_Art_of_Gaming If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here: 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 | |||
| How to Improv Like a DM (Without Freezing or Fumbling) | 25 Jun 2026 | 00:51:16 | |
What happens when a group of Dungeon Masters get on a panel at FanX and start riffing about improv? Exactly what you’d expect — a lively, unscripted conversation about the skill every DM needs but almost nobody practices on purpose. In this live panel episode, Justin sits down with three fellow DMs to talk about improv at the table — what it looks like, why it’s hard, and how to get better at it without freezing up when your players go completely off the rails. Topics we touched on: • Building improv confidence before you ever sit behind the screen • What to do in the moment when players throw you for a loop • How to keep your players involved so improv feels collaborative • Recovering gracefully when something comes out of your mouth and you immediately regret it 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/ Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter | |||
| [FIXED] Reach New Heights Through Stealing and Sampling! - C.C. S2E3 | 22 Jun 2026 | 00:19:01 | |
(Thanks to Zach for letting me know about the audio issues!) Welcome once again, dear Dungeon Masters and Game Masters! Today we steal from rappers and producers: How do they take good ideas and make them theirs? In this episode you will learn how to get the best of your favourite Dungeon Masters while staying authentic! Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM. Find Danny at: https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here: 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 | |||
| About One Shots #2: 5 Guidelines and Expectations | 18 Jun 2026 | 00:15:57 | |
Ever feel like one shots get off the rails, out of control, and become a wild beast for you to wrangle back into some semblance of a story in the limited time you have? These 5 guidelines will help you avoid overstretching, overthinking, and overstaying a one shot's welcome! | |||
| Life Updates and Inspiration - C.C. S2E2 | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:14:37 | |
Welcome once again, dear Dungeon Masters and Game Masters! Here is a little bit about what is going in my life and an apology for missing a week of content, plus some reflexions about getting inspired. Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM. Find Danny at: https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof Find Dr. Ben on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rpgphd If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here: 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 | |||
| Roll for Chaos: A Live, Unscripted D&D Adventure (Live from FanX 2025) | 11 Jun 2026 | 00:51:19 | |
What happens when you hand a live audience the keys to a D&D session and tell them to cause as much chaos as possible? You get this episode. Recorded live at FanX 2025, this one is unlike anything we've done before. No script. No safety net. Just four people at a table, a room full of audience members armed with prompts, and a whole lot of trust in the dice gods. Here's how it worked: Ian ran a one-shot for players Justin, Tanner, and Matthew — all showing up with level 10 characters ready for anything. The audience? They got to create the monsters, magic items, spells, and NPCs that showed up at the table in real time, powered by Worldsmith. The players had no idea what was coming. Neither, honestly, did anyone else. What unfolded was a live, audience-driven adventure featuring: A big bad built by the crowd — designed (or sabotaged) by the audience before the session even started. An investigation gone sideways — a midnight carriage ride, a mysterious shopkeeper, and a paranormal threat that only got weirder from there. A rescue mission with actual stakes — ambushes, improvised plans, and a magic item that nobody saw coming. A dungeon full of traps, riddles, and chaos — including a rolling boulder, a stone statue that really didn't want to be touched, and a door that rewarded the bold. A boss fight to end it all — with loot, laughs, and the kind of ending only a live audience can create. This is actual play the way it was meant to be: messy, surprising, and completely alive. Cast:Ian Hawkes — Dungeon MasterJustin Lewis — PlayerTanner Weyland — PlayerMatthew Thompson — Player 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:
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| About One-Shots #1: 4 Methods for Simple Character Creation | 04 Jun 2026 | 00:10:20 | |
In this short run of episodes, Tanner discusses various aspects about one-shots and how to plan them—and today, the topic is one-shot character creation! Sure, you could just have your players create them, but maybe they take too long, or the players are new to making characters and you don't want to add more work onto your plate. Thankfully, there are multiple ways to make character creation simple to keep your one-shot a manageable experience! | |||
| Dr. Ben Teaches Us About Authority - C.C. S2E1 | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:39:57 | |
In our first-ever interview episode, we sit down with Dr. Ben, whose work and studies span storytelling, game design, philosophy, and many other disciplines. Together, we distill practical insights on authority at the table, both within the fiction and beyond it. Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM. Find Danny at: https://www.instagram.com/gamemaster.hof Find Dr. Ben on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rpgphd If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here: 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 | |||
| Burned Out Behind the Screen: How to Reignite Your Spark as a DM (Live from FanX 2025) | 28 May 2026 | 00:50:52 | |
Every Dungeon Master hits a wall eventually. The prep feels like a chore. The session you used to look forward to is now the thing you're dreading. The spark that made you fall in love with running games has gone quiet. In this special live panel recorded at FanX 2025, Justin, Tanner, and Cayden sit down in front of a live audience to tackle one of the most real and rarely talked-about challenges behind the screen: DM burnout. This isn't just a conversation about surviving — it's about understanding what burnout actually looks like, why it happens to even the most passionate Game Masters, and how to find your way back to the table with energy and excitement. Here's what the panel digs into: What burnout really looks like — and why it's not always obvious when it's happening to you. The different flavors of burnout — creative, emotional, social, and scheduling exhaustion each hit differently and need different solutions. What causes it — from over-prepping to under-appreciated effort, the panel gets honest about the real culprits. Prevention vs. recovery — because keeping the spark alive looks different than reigniting it after it's gone out. Practical tools and techniques — including leaning on your players, co-DMing, running one-shots, and reconnecting with what first made you love TTRPGs. What NOT to do — the traps that make burnout worse when you're already running on empty. How players can help — and how GMs can ask for support in ways that feel natural rather than vulnerable. Whether you're deep in the weeds right now or just want to make sure you never get there, this episode is for you. This episode is for the DMs who know the real end boss isn't the dragon — it's burnout. And it's for every storyteller who's ever wondered, "Am I doing this right?" — and showed up anyway. 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:
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| Creative Contraband is back! - Season 2 Trailer | 27 May 2026 | 00:01:19 | |
Now with guests you might know from Youtube, we bring you more and better thoughts regarding Dungeon Mastering and other aspects of our beloved hobby. Danny Barrett gives us a glimpse of what is to come for the next 3 months! Creative Contraband is a segment designed and hosted with love by Danny Barrett for How to Be a Better DM. If you want more content for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters alike, you can find related projects and sponsored links here: 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 | |||
| The Confidence Panel: How to Believe in Yourself Behind the Screen | 21 May 2026 | 00:29:43 | |
Every Dungeon Master has sat down at the table and thought, "Am I actually good enough to do this?" Whether you're brand new to the screen or you've been running campaigns for years, confidence is something every DM wrestles with — and almost nobody talks about it honestly. In this special panel episode, Justin Lewis is joined by Tanner Weyland and Cayden Ottley for a candid, practical conversation about what DM confidence actually looks like, where it comes from, and how to build more of it. Together they dig into:
This one is for the DMs who've ever hesitated to start a campaign, fumbled through a session, or wondered if they're cut out for this. Spoiler: you are — and this episode will help you believe it. 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/worldsmithHire a Professional Dungeon Master: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/Discord: http://session0studios.com/discordPatreon: https://session0studios.com/patreonDungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter | |||
| Help! My Players Are Chaos Gremlins! | FanX 2025 Panel | 14 May 2026 | 00:52:57 | |
Episode Description Live from FanX Salt Lake 2025, this is one of six panels we recorded at the convention — and it might be the most relatable one we've done. If you've ever had a player blow up your carefully crafted plot, chase a side quest for three sessions, or demand a demonic arm mid-campaign, this panel is for you. Justin and Tanner are joined by Ian Hawkes and Cameron Cardoza from Worldsmith for a live audience conversation about one of the most common — and most misunderstood — challenges at the table: the chaos gremlin. What We Cover Framing the ProblemNot all chaos is created equal. We dig into what actually makes someone a "chaos gremlin," why chaos at the table isn't always a problem (and can actually be a gift), and how to tell the difference between harmless unpredictability and genuine disruption. One key question every DM should ask: is this chaos — or is it control? Is it excitement — or is it boredom? Setting Expectations & Knowing Your TableWe talk about the importance of Session Zero, how to have honest conversations with your players about the kind of game everyone wants to play, and how to tell when chaotic behavior crosses the line from organic fun into a respect issue. There's a meaningful difference between occasional disruption and consistent derailing — and one of them needs a real conversation. Managing Chaos in the MomentThis is where it gets practical. What do you actually do when your players go completely off-script? We cover managing your own reaction, using improv skills to embrace the chaos, and how to encourage beautiful storytelling even within unpredictable choices. Sometimes the session that goes sideways becomes the one everyone remembers. Prepping for a Chaotic GroupIf your table is classically chaotic, your prep should reflect that. We discuss how to build flexible, modular sessions — random tables, adaptable NPCs, storylines that can bend without breaking — so that no matter what your players do, you're ready to make it feel intentional. Folding the Chaos Into the StoryOne of the best long-term solutions: make the story big enough that there's no such thing as "off-script." Pull player backstories in. Let their chaotic choices reshape the BBEG. Change your expectations about what the story is supposed to be. The most memorable campaigns are usually the ones that went somewhere no one planned. Featured Panelists Justin Lewis — Co-host, H2BBDMTanner Weyland — Co-host, H2BBDMIan Hawkes — WorldsmithCameron Cardoza — Worldsmith 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:
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| Scheduling Your D&D Session Doesn't Have to Be a Nightmare | 07 May 2026 | 00:15:26 | |
The back and forth. The planned and cancelled sessions. The frustration when you finally schedule a time to meet and one player can't make it... all of this will be extremely familiar for the common DM. But it doesn't HAVE to be a reoccurring, frustrating nightmare! In today's episode, Tanner shares 5 tips to avoid scheduling frustration with your D&D party. | |||
| The 5 Senses of DMing (Part 2): Sight and Sound | 30 Apr 2026 | 00:22:20 | |
In Part 2 of this series, we finish breaking down the Performance Pillar of Dungeon Mastering—this time focusing on the two senses most DMs rely on… but rarely master: Sight and Sound. These are the tools that bring your world to life—but if you’re not intentional with them, they can fall flat or feel repetitive. In this episode, we dive into: * Sight – from ambience to battle maps, from minis to props, what your players see can deepen the immersion or destroy it * Sound – using voices, tone, pacing, and silence to create tension, emotion, and memorable moments You’ll learn how to move beyond generic descriptions and start creating scenes your players can actually see and hear in their minds. Just like Part 1, this episode is built around practical techniques you can use immediately—whether you’re running your next session tonight or planning ahead. If you want your players leaning in, paying attention, and remembering your sessions long after they end… this is where it starts. 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/ Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord Patreon:https://session0studios.com/patreon Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter | |||
| Causing Chaos: 4 Tips to Add Chaos, Surprise, and Excitement to Your D&D Game | 23 Apr 2026 | 00:20:20 | |
Are your players falling into a bit of a complacent rut? Are they playing the game almost on autopilot because it's playing out like so many adventures before? Well, it sounds like there isn't enough chaos in your game! A plot twist, a surprise combat addition, maybe even a literal rug pull in a dungeon that sends them to somewhere else entirely... whatever it is, make it purposeful, and make it common if you want to make your games chaotic and exciting again! So listen up as Tanner shares 4 tips that can change each aspect of the game in an unexpected way. | |||
| From Opera to Encounters: Turning Big Ideas into Playable Reality (ft. Esteban Senzig) | 16 Apr 2026 | 00:36:21 | |
In this episode of How to Be a Better DM, we sit down with special guest Esteban Senzig to explore creativity, collaboration, and what it actually takes to turn big ideas into something real. We kick things off with our signature segment, Make Your Monster (sponsored by Worldsmith - http://session0studios.com/worldsmith), where Esteban creates the unforgettable Operatic Pretender—a CR 20 creature that can charm its way out of almost anything… as long as you don’t exploit its very specific weakness. From there, we dive into Esteban’s experience working with immersive worlds like Evermore and Dreamwalk, and unpack lessons that apply directly to Dungeon Masters:
This episode is packed with practical insights for DMs who want to stop overthinking and start creating better, more playable experiences. Oh—and this one was filmed in the Worldsmith recording studio, because yeah… we love those guys. If you want to connect with Esteban or check out his voice acting work, you can find him here: 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:
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| The Prop Pipeline: Journey Before Destination | 09 Apr 2026 | 00:15:05 | |
Are you a perfectionist when it comes to D&D props, and you spend all your time wishing that your DM table looked just as fabulous as the tabletops you see in all the professional D&D streams and setups? Does this unrealistic expectation even keep you from TRYING to create your own special experience and props? If you are in that boat, you aren't alone! You'll never be free from those unmet setup wishes until you learn to embrace the prop pipeline and journey: one badly painted mini or badly drawn map at a time! | |||
| The 5 Senses of DMing (Part 1): Feel, Smell, and Taste | 02 Apr 2026 | 00:18:57 | |
In this episode, we break down one of the most important—and most overlooked—skills in Dungeon Mastering: performance. But instead of keeping it vague, we make it practical. I introduce a simple framework built around the five senses to help you understand how to improve your performance at the table—and just as importantly, figure out what you’re naturally good at and what you actually enjoy. In Part 1, we focus on three often-ignored tools: • Feel – how physicality, texture, and tension can shape a scene • Smell – one of the fastest ways to create immersion • Taste – the most underused sense in D&D (and how to use it effectively) You’ll walk away with specific ideas you can try in your next session—not just theory. If you’ve ever felt like your descriptions fall flat or your players aren’t fully immersed, this episode will give you a new way to approach your role behind the screen. Part 2 will cover Sight and Sound, and how to bring everything together. We’ll be back next time with another hand-crafted episode—but until then, let’s roll initiative. 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/ Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord Patreon:https://session0studios.com/patreon Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter | |||
| The Art of Climaxes: What Do Pop Songs and Videogame Power Creep Have in Common? | 31 Mar 2026 | 00:15:38 | |
Welcome to the ninth episode of Creative Contraband! Danny Barrett dives into very popular TV shows to enlighten us about the art of “eliminating” characters (or not). Today you’ll learn valuable lessons about resurrection, character arcs, keeping stakes high, and much 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 | |||
| 4 Combat Expectations That Work for Both High- AND Low-level Combat | 26 Mar 2026 | 00:20:59 | |
Have you ever sat around your table while you and your party are in a combat encounter and thought, "This should be going more smoothly..." Well, you aren't alone! Fixing the stutters, the pauses, the minutes and hours spent on someone figuring out what they want to do often comes down to one word: expectations. So Tanner shares a few combat expectations that can really smooth out the wrinkles in your next combat encounter! | |||
| What Solo TTRPGs Teach Us About DMing | 23 Mar 2026 | 00:15:22 | |
In today's episode, we explore the potential teachings of Solo Roleplaying, guided by our usual host, Danny Barrett. Learn how to identify your strengths as a Dungeon Master with minimal effort, and while having fun.
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 | |||
| The Rules of Great Encounter Design (and How to Prep Them) – Part 2 | 19 Mar 2026 | 00:22:32 | |
What actually makes a great D&D encounter? In this episode, we break down 7 essential rules for encounter design that will instantly level up your sessions—whether you’re running combat, exploration, or social scenes. You’ll learn how to design encounters that fit your story (not derail it), why your players need to want what’s on the other side, and how to create moments that feel real—even when they aren’t. We also dive into: • The CASE framework (and why most DMs ignore it) • How to keep your encounters simple without making them boring • Choosing the right pillars of DMing to emphasize • Why every encounter needs meaningful conflict • And how planning a fail state can actually make your game more fun If you’ve ever felt like your encounters fall flat, drag on, or don’t matter—this episode will give you a clear, repeatable framework to fix that. Run better encounters. Tell better stories. Be a better 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 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 | |||
| Plot Armor: What Michael Scott and GoT Can Teach Us About Stakes in DMing | 16 Mar 2026 | 00:13:44 | |
Welcome to the ninth episode of Creative Contraband! Danny Barrett dives into very popular TV shows to enlighten us about the art of “eliminating” characters (or not). Today you’ll learn valuable lessons about resurrection, character arcs, keeping stakes high, and much 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 | |||
| 5 Underutilized Skill Checks and How To Use Them | 12 Mar 2026 | 00:23:02 | |
Doesn't it always feel like more than half of your skill checks are perception or insight checks? Which is an absolute shame since there are so many other skills to use! In this episode, Tanner shares 5 skills and skill pairings that could be used in more creative ways than the pigeon-holed way we have used them in the past. | |||
| From Chess to Rats: How to Make a Great First Impression. | 09 Mar 2026 | 00:26:44 | |
In today's episode, we feature the first of many videopodcasts to come! Our usual host, Danny Barrett (and his support dog), unveils the secrets to nailing the first minutes of a campaign and of every session. You'll also learn how to build modular encounters that can adapt to any scenario your players might throw at 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 | |||
| The Rules of Great Encounter Design (Most DMs Miss These) – Part 1 | 05 Mar 2026 | 00:16:18 | |
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:
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| Dentists and Comets: The Importance of the Final Scene | 02 Mar 2026 | 00:20:50 | |
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 | |||
| Going Big: Making Memorable NPC Conversations | 26 Feb 2026 | 00:13:20 | |
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! | |||