Next Session Help:  John the Red Warlock has devised a Dino Hunt for his player’s with a Dinosaur that gets stronger with every feeding!  We’re tasked with brainstorming some fun scenarios on introducing the Dinosaur and utilizing the NPCs during the hunt.  Ask a GM:  mjsShadow has a player that  likes to use Arcane Eye to look at a room(s) before going in constantly, but it is slowing down gameplay. Let’s discuss! Use That Spell: Draconic Transformation (UA) Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help:  Majora's Descendant has created the Island of Tetra and is looking for us to brainstorm some ideas as to what makes the island unique.  Ill-Oven3506 has a player who wants their character to make a noble sacrifice. Can you do that without railroading?  Ask a GM:  Gourmetcheese01 wants to know “What should I include on a DM screen?” Search The Room: Nether Scroll of Azumar Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: We took another awesome question from the Merch Maestro himself, Diet Toothpaste, and it turned out to be so big that we split it into two parts! As we get into the Session 0 discussion we talk about Session .2 (Or Session -1 depending on how you like your numbers) and we focus mainly on the tools you can use like X-cards, Fade to Black, and NO list / Please list. We also discuss Player Table expectations and what players are going to expect from Session 0 (will there be actual playing involved?) Next episode we wrap up with world building and character building, plus a Search the Room! This discussion was a long time coming, so thank you to Diet Toothpaste for giving us the perfect opportunity to get it out there! Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

This week A&A tackle the age old question, how do you get a corpse drunk? Then the team ruminates on a dungeon based on different musical genres.  After the break, the question of what should your role-playing game room have in it comes up, and then Allysa tries to stump Adam with the spell Dragon's Breath.  As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Thanks for listening! Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession

Trigger Warning: Talk about death. Two big questions today about what to do when a player is missing from the session.   After the break, A&A talk about the birds and the bees and D&D, and then the ridiculousness of the spell Awaken.  As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Thanks for listening! Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession

A player "fun-dipped" some powdered Flameskull and A&A help figure out the consequences.  Then, Novisstatic asks about the best way to dump lore onto players and A&A go over the spell Fabricate. As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Thanks for listening! Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession

A&A are back with special guest Andy Clodfelter! Andy is a co-host of the podcast 90s Court, a player in the actual play D&D game known as Daring Adventures, and just launched his new podcast, Anomalous Fascination.  Together, Adam, Allysa, and Andy answer Deekester's question about his sister's Shrek themed campaign,  and Lowkileet's question about a very cursed item and the effects it has on the cleric that just attuned to it.  Later, OneManDustBowl asks, "what are some of the best pieces of positive feedback you've received?" Use that Spell! It's Color Spray! Or, maybe it should be known as Color Light Show!  Thanks for listening!  Please submit your questions at: NextSessionPodcast.com

This week A&A are joined by the incredible Lindsay Bernal de Barrett to answer your questions! First question comes from Iskotpop who needs help leaving clues behind for their Robin Hood plot.  Then, RadPanda36 has a player with a demon inside of them and needs some advice on what kind of demon it should be.  Later, Adam, Allysa, and Lindsay tackle Diet Toothpaste's question about how to balance one outgoing player with four reserved players.  Then, Lindsay gives the hot gossip on the amazing tricks of Rope Trick.  Thank you all for listening! You can submit your question at our website: Nextsessionpodcast.com

Adam & Allysa help Darkephoenixe explain how dragons returned from extinction, especially adult dragons. Draconic Park anyone? Also, there is a scientist turned chicken and BerryLerryTerry's girlfriend is keeping him as pet. Later, A&A discuss a great question from DropShotEpee who asks how to DM when you are feeling depressed.  Then, Allysa tries to bend all the rules with the spell Demiplane.  You can submit your questions at nextsessionpodcast.com. Thanks for listening! 

A&A are back with special guest Rainier Powers! Besides having the coolest name, Rainier is a good friend, a great RPG player, and the genius behind The Next Session's logo. In this episode, A&A&Rainier answer the question, "What do I put on the top floor of an Eldritch library of all written knowledge?" and what to do about a doppelganger that has been masquerading as a friendly NPC the entire time.  After the break, Adam & Allysa answer a question about introducing a new Player Character to the group, even if they are only going to be there for one session. Use That Spell: Time Stop! How would you spend your 1d4+1 turns when time is frozen? As always, thanks for listening! You can submit your questions and spell suggestions on our website: www.nextsessionpodcast.com

Halloween is coming!  A&A tackle a tricky question on running a Halloween game for teens who don't get to go out because of the pandemic. They also help a GM with their "bowel based dungeon." After the break, A&A explore what is inside a golem, and go over the ever useful spell, Grease! Well, only if your DM lets you put it into a jar to save for later.  Thank you for listening and your support!  You can submit questions on our website:  www.nextsessionpodcast.com

Adam & Allysa welcome their first guest, Greg Barrett! Greg Barrett is a Digital Dungeon Master who also runs LARP summer groups when not in pandemic times. He is sometimes featured on the podcast Geek in the City.    Together they tackle two questions on NPCs and one funky scenario involving an Anti-Magic Field inside of Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion. After the break, A&A discuss a level 5 spell called Negative Energy Flood. 

A magical Tome of Symphony and how to incorporate it intrigues A&A this week, along with a question about the consequences of splitting the party. After a break and another question, A&A discuss the spell stoneskin and some cool ways to use it. 

Next Session Help:  Pretty_Papaya2256 needs help coming up with consequences for their players, especially in regards to an angry pirate crew hunting them down.  NoDirection6223 has let the players discover some stones in an enemies bag. What could they be? Ask a GM:  Deadra_Churl wants to create an encounter where the players would run into an enemy and as they fight it the characters would be aged by it.  Use That Spell: Arms of Hadar Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

A&A lend their ideas to Cryinguitar's really cool vertical dungeon and help Shattered158 with how soul magic might work. After the break, A&A discuss phrases meant to scare players into listening and the spell Vitriolic Sphere.

A&A answer two fantastic questions about how to make things more balanced in the game and still fun. After the break, they discuss a wizard's hat choices and the spell Hallucinatory Terrain. 

A GM asks what to do next with their evil corporation plot line and another asks what system they should use at a senior center. A&A also discuss the spell Earthbind and some modifications to help make it more versatile.

The GM has been building up a big fight with a lamia but forgot to give the players a rest, A&A weigh in on what to do next.  Also, they talk about whether you should go through with giving the players a fake treasure at the end of a dungeon, and the spell Life Transference.

A&A help a game master tackle a tricky situation where two players came up with the same concept for their characters.  Later, they discuss how to start writing a homebrew campaign, how to make travel interesting, and the spell Antilife Shell.

Adam and Allysa introduce themselves and The Next Session before diving into a question about a soon to be party of werewolves. Later they discuss what official rules they choose to ignore and the spell Witch Bolt.

The advice podcast to plan your next role-playing adventure!  Adam and Allysa Johns (A&A) focus on helping game masters with their next role-playing session. Did your players write you into a corner? Do you need advice on what rules to implement or what rules to ignore? Do you want to hear the banter of an old married couple who grew up in the 90's? We're the podcast for you! Updating every Monday, A&A answer your specific plot questions, some general advice questions, and highlight a spell with the different ways to utilize it.  Find out more and submit questions at: www.nextsessionpodcast.com

Adam Davis from Game to Grow has joined the podcast this week to talk to our long time Australian listener ArtbyAdam. ArtbyAdam wrote in to tell us about his recent run in with the Satanic Panic that seems to follow roleplaying games like an evil shadow. We just had to have him on to tell his story and get his side of things. Search the Room: Adamantine Armor Thanks for listening! We’ll be taking a break for the rest of the year and will be back in January!  As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help:  DarkestMoose is not having fun running their campaign anymore and needs help giving closure while they end.  Stunning-Ad9453 is running Tomb of Annihilation and has a character in a no-win situation. What should they do?  Ask a GM:  Massaman955 wants to know how much poison a level 2 player can extract from a Giant Poisonous Snake. Use That Spell: Jim's Magic Missile Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: John S. would like to start a campaign with all weapons removed from the players and starting in prison. Discuss! He also wants to know what materials/ tools we keep at our table. Ask a GM: MadmanPoet wants to know “What would be a plausible relationship between a Lich and their body?” and Stahl_Konig needs a technical ruling on an Eldritch Knight casting the Green Flame Blade cantrip without the War Caster Feat and holding a shield and a weapon.  Use That Spell: Zone of Truth Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help:  AaLion95 is trying to figure out how to do an arena fight for a single player while the rest of the party sits out.  Isaar42 needs some help populating their in-game Goblin Casino. Ask a GM:  Spetzell asks, “Does Empowered Evocation apply to each round of a duration spell?” Use That Spell:  Abi-Dalzim’s Horrid Wilting  Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help:  DnDBambi has a Player Character that wants to be resurrected by the Raven Queen and would like help coming up with what the price of that transaction would be.   Ask a GM:  TheBlackIbis asks what could be in a used Bag of Holding that their players have come across? Ok_Box_7276 wants to know our opinion on players that are mechanically of one class, but played as another? Use That Spell: Remote Access Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help:  TheBlackIbis is back with a question about running a Nilbog. We ask, “what is a Nilbog?” And then we looked it up and answered the first question.  Ask a GM:  MrSillybiscuits asks “How do I become a less adversarial GM?” Take It Or Leave It: We go into the Rumor System Search The Room: The Necklace of Adaptation Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: Brown6214 needs help including a player who can not speak for some time.  Weaverco is a D&D Dad and wants some tips on using D&D as play therapy. Good thing Adam wrote the book on that!  Ask a GM: SuppleGhost wants to know “Can you cast a level spell and an innate spell as a bonus action?” Use That Spell: Id Insinuation Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Ask a GM:  VoulKanon wants to know if the inhabitants on a Morkoth island know they forget things? What’s a Morkoth? What’s a Morkoth with you?!  BarNo3385 is dying to know if their puzzle was too complicated. Puzzleheaded-Dragon needs a ruling on a crossbow expert.  Use That Spell: Otiluke's Resilient Sphere Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help:  DietToothpaste is back and wants to know some fun methods of interplanar traversal.   Ask a GM:  Majora's Descendant has a player who is a wizard necromancer summoning sometimes up to 15 zombies and two mummies. Is that right?  Search The Room: Incendiary Cloud Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: VigilantRex1 wants advice on stealing some equipment from their Players  Kauzoka has a cool idea for a campaign involving a crime family of Beholders  Ask a GM:  Micnos12 wants to know how to determine when a player triggers a trap. Use That Spell: Nathair's Mischief Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: DancingwithaMop is planning to start their campaign with the characters shackled to a wagon headed for prison.  Ask a GM:  BuddhaNews is going to run a dungeon crawl but needs some tips and tricks on how to go about it.  Take it or Leave it:  Shot-in-the-mouth has some good advice on subverting your own expectations.  Use That Spell: Primal Savagery Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: Flubbajubba2 has created an in-game way to cover for out-of-game absences, but needs to know how it all ties together. Ask a GM:  M4p80y wants to know “How do I make a big city feel bigger without building literally every building” JustDarnGood27 asks “How broken/unbalanced would allowing a PC to pull a character in with a grappling hook as a bonus action?” Search The Room: Dark Shard Amulet Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: TheBlackIbis is asking if they should retcon the outcome of the last fight since the players were supposed to win it. We say no way!  Ask a GM:  Belolonadalogalo wants to know if a monster with multi-attack can replace one of those attacks with something like a shove. Use That Spell: Rime’s Binding Ice Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: Trogdor_98 wants some help with his Wild West campaign and introducing a plot point naturally.  Lame_hurricane has us brainstorm on some subtle good things that can happen to their Lucky character. Ask a GM:  Miz_Tsunami is running a D&D game with 7 players over video chat and needs some advice! Use That Spell: Lightning Bolt  Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: Wellbentbanana asks about a possible phantom zone, where the players can start in and all be resurrected at the same time, for the beginning of his mystery campaign.  DanteWrath would like us to brainstorm on unique sacrifices for rituals.  Ask a GM:  GD might have an overpowered Polearm Master on his hands. Should he just make more powerful encounters or nerf his character?  Search the Room: Pearl of Power  Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: Raider1213 has us go over their adventure to see if the plot twist is too confusing.  Ask a GM:  PettitNice asks “Is it a bad idea to make a creature Immune to crits?” Felaric wants to know how we warm up before a game. Use That Spell: Immolation Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: Elrothir’s party made a deal with a hag and now they want out of it.  RivTinker is planning a campaign arc with the God of chaos but on a smaller scale, there is a ship with sunken cargo they need to figure out what it could be. Should it tie into the greater arc?  Take it or Leave it:  Atomfullerene has a mechanic they are offering up for underwater battles in shark infested waters.  Use That Spell: Hellish Rebuke Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: EarlyMayRabbit’s players have been carrying around a duck egg and it is finally going to hatch! What should be in it? OneDesign5063 is letting a player carbonate their healing potion, but should it do something extra?  Ask a GM:  ZhenomaDM asks, “Can magic circle trap a night hag on the ethereal plane?” Use That Spell: Dream of the Blue Veil Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: ArtemisEvenstar is making a campaign where 3 days prior to the first session magic was suddenly introduced into the world! What sort of consequences does this have?  DR_AniSahne is starting their campaign off with a murder mystery and wants help brainstorming how the players are caught in the act.  Ask a GM:  BeubtheDemonSlayer wants to know, “How do you feel about DMPCs?” Search the Room: Bag of Beans Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help:  Jradddyo has players with a bird “companion” that does not like them and do not like that it does not like them.  Ask a GM:  LazerusKI has a player with the Pirate background which lets them get away with lots of things, but does that mean he should let him?  Search The Room: Prosthetic Limb Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: Aozth has a player who has turned into a loot goblin and the rest of the party is on the verge of PVP murder. Super tense situation that we will try and unpack! Misophoniasucksdude is creating a one-shot where a goblin just cast Wish - but what did they wish for? Ask a GM:  Holycrabe wants to know “what’s the consensus on Counterspell against healing?” Brianne's DM doesn't want her to play a unicorn. Search the Room: Galder’s Bubble Pipe Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession

A&A are back with Special Guest Diet Toothpaste! Next Session Help: TheDoon has 4 players with water walk cast on them and are inside a Kraken's mouth while the Kraken is submerged underwater - What will happen? Ask a GM:  Yryel wants to know if Tritons can conjure water and heal themselves with that water? DJ_Uwawah has a question on how attacking with ranged spells into water works. Search the Room: Weapon of Certain Death  Thanks so much for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: Furious_cactus has set their players on a quest to kill a god…. But how would they even go about achieving such an ambitious goal?  QuillontheFae’s players killed a 5th level spell caster and the wizard recovered his spell book. Does that mean they get all the spells now?  Ask a GM:  BenManGinger asks “Create or Destroy Water says that it can destroy fog, and Cloudkill is described as fog, so... can it destroy that fog?” Use That Spell! Knock  Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: Nz8drzu6 wants to know how to prevent a player from eldritch blasting everything in the room to detect mimics. iNogle gave their players a lantern of revealing several sessions ago but needs help coming up with invisible things that can be revealed.  Ask a GM:  Irishgrapes is struggling with a younger player (12) and wants us to brainstorm if having initiative out of combat would be an effective tool.  Use That Spell! Enervation Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: Raddude557 has a scenario where they need to prove someone is noble without paperwork/ references. The A&A brain trust is on it! Mango He's players thwarted the plans of the BBEG's from taking a legendary item but now needs to find a new hiding place for it without rail roading the players into it. Take it or Leave it:   Xx_swagatron_xX offers some advice on a strategy turn during combat.   Search the _Homebrew_ Room:  Our friends at DNDbrews on Instagram let us talk about their fantastic items: Wasteland Dagger & The Warcry Helm! We're so excited and hopeful they will let us discuss their awesome items in the future. Fingers crossed! Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: Mithrandir2056 has set a quest for the Players to retrieve the Heart of a Nixie for a potion, however one of the players does not want to kill a Nixie. Let’s brainstorm! MorphinRiddle has a player who decided to drink a random potion that everyone is sure is acid. So…… they dead right?  Ask a GM:  FullHealthCosplay NEEDS to know how to handle Unseen Attacker.  Use That Spell! Nystul's Magic Aura Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: Ferskenkejseren’s player stole a runic keystone from a fey merchant. Now he is trying to come up with a good punishment from the fey. Let’s make some memories! Ask a GM:  Eisenheim96 wants to know about destroying objects out of combat that have hit points. “What is stopping my players just standing there and rolling d20s until they manage to hit it enough times to destroy it?” NEW SECTION! Name to be determined - We are discussing advice we have come across from out in the wild wild west of the internet. This one comes from DornKratz who says " ‘Are you sure?’ is the wrong question.” Use That Spell! Fortune's Favor Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: Koi8008 Has a player whose character is uninterested in everything. Thee end of the world is nigh and they could care less! What should they do?  Ask a GM:  _Xantamn asks, “Can a familiar cast dragon’s breath on itself?” Mesalikes wants to know what some of the things blinded monsters can still and will do.  Use That Spell! Uncommon Glamerweave Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession

Next Session Help: Badgerbaroudeur Needs some quests (not heists) that their party can do while visiting a museum in the big city they are visiting. Night at the Museum anyone?  Ask a GM:  Veena_Schnitzel wants to know how to handle a rogue’s failed skill check. Just let them keep trying until they succeed?  BeBoppaloopa has never heard about Flanking, and that is okay! But should they use it?  Use That Spell! Mass Heal Thanks for listening! As always, you can ask us a question at www.nextsessionpodcast.com Instagram: @nextsessionpodcast Twitter: @thenextsession Facebook: @thenextsession