Thinking Critically: A D&D Discussion – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

Thinking Critically: A D&D Discussion

Danilo Vujevic

Leisure

Frequency: 1 episode/11d. Total Eps: 108

A discussion show with different guests each episode. We take a single concept or idea and discuss what that means within the D&D framework to help you get the most out your sessions, whatever side of the screen you sit on. Consider it an NPR-style, variety bucket of thought-provoking analysis and humorous anecdotes!
All music by Kevin MacLeod.
Art by Béi: https://www.beiworkshop.com/

Read moreCollapse

Site

RSS

Apple

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇩🇪 Germany - hobbies
19/05/2025
#83
🇬🇧 Great Britain - hobbies
07/09/2024
#97
🇬🇧 Great Britain - hobbies
06/09/2024
#68

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.

See all

https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
168 shares
https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/
98 shares
https://www.optionalrule.com/
80 shares

https://twitter.com/Danilo_DnD
70 shares
https://twitter.com/ThinkCritDnD
66 shares
https://twitter.com/mpstreet88
53 shares

https://www.instagram.com/thinking_critically_dnd
136 shares
https://www.instagram.com/thefoolishswamidm
6 shares
https://www.instagram.com/optionalrule
4 shares

RSS feed quality and score

Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.

See all

RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 68%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

Recent episodes with titles, durations, and descriptions.

See all

Translation

Season 5 · Episode 6

Friday, December 22, 2023 • Duration 01:02:35

Welcome back! I'm joined by fellow Englishman Austin, a.k.a. AC Whikcom, to discuss how to translate concepts and ideas into your TTRPG settings. Austin takes us through how to take those errant thoughts you have at 3am and turn them into publishable content worldwide, with a spattering of anecdotes throughout. We also criticise the language bloat of D&D 5e, and conclude that having a million random, niche languages that only one creature speaks probably doesn't add much value!

02:48 - From Brain to Page
15:41 - A Creative Journey
37:51 - The Language Problem
49:21 - Self-Publishing
53:56 - Genre Remixing

Buy Dead Surprise on Amazon!

Find Austin on:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/A-C-Whikcom/author/B0CHWCZHT2
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/dead-surprise/a-c-whikcom/9781803528717
Website: https://www.acwhikcom.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Lands-of-Ferox/100086909630678/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/landsofferox/

Find Thinking Critically online:

Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
Socials: @ThinkCritDnD
Dungeons, Dice, & Dudes: https://linktr.ee/DDandD

Patrons:

Tabletop Journeys @ttjourneys: https://ttjourneys.com/
Joe from The Fourth Leg @jcd0818: https://anchor.fm/james-h-anderson
Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Podcast art by Lily from https://www.facebook.com/beiworkshop

Read moreCollapse

Influence

Season 5 · Episode 5

Friday, October 6, 2023 • Duration 57:54

It's my pleasure to welcome back to the show a previous guest from the Generations episode, Mikey! What I had intended to be a "how characters can influence the campaign" discussion, quickly turned into what makes us tick, where we get inspiration from, and the people who've supported us along the way. Listen for titbits on how to conscientiously crib from popular culture and advice on finding our own DM soundboard.

02:00 - The Sub/Conscious Real World
29:31 - Art Rather than Science
36:52 - The Thinking Critically Effect

Find Thinking Critically online:

Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
Socials: @ThinkCritDnD
Dungeons, Dice, & Dudes: https://linktr.ee/DDandD

References:

'Generations' episode of Thinking Critically
'Ravenloft' episode of Thinking Critically

Patrons:

Tabletop Journeys @ttjourneys: https://ttjourneys.com/
Joe from The Fourth Leg @jcd0818: https://anchor.fm/james-h-anderson
Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

Mystery

Season 4 · Episode 21

Friday, March 10, 2023 • Duration 01:11:21

*Minor Outer Wilds spoilers in this episode*

I'm joined by Michael K. Ross from The RPG Academy to talk how to design enthralling and fair mysteries, puzzles, and enigmas.

Action 12 Cinema Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/therpgacademy/action-12-cinema

12-Hour Charity Stream for Naomi House: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sl-gameon23

04:24 - There’s Been a Murder!
12:54 - Crafting Rewarding Mysteries
29:53 - Implicit Trust and the Beauty of Experimentation
45:35 - Building a Thematic Setting
55:33 - Quickfire Tips

Find Michael on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRpgAcademy
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/therpgacademy/action-12-cinema
Website: www.therpgacademy.com
AcadeCon: http://www.acadecon.com/

Find Thinking Critically online:

Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
Socials: @ThinkCritDnD
Dungeons, Dice, & Dudes: https://linktr.ee/DDandD

References:

GUMSHOE: https://pelgranepress.com/2018/02/14/gumshoe/

Mistakes

Season 1 · Episode 7

Friday, December 4, 2020 • Duration 01:13:09

"A crazy babble of death and anteaters."
My good friend of 20 years, Jamie Mitchell, joins me to talk about all the mistakes we've made on our parallel journey to DM-hood. How these mistakes have shaped us and the mitigation strategies we take to ensure everyone continues to have fun. This one get's real crazy in the last 10 minutes so stick with it as you may not have heard such a segue from D&D into hentai before, and if anyone says I couldn't fight an anteater, they're lying!

02:15 - A game of happy accidents
04:08 - Player mistakes - creation & mitigation
28:28 - DM mistakes - embarrassing coverups
69:12 - Narrative fluidity to change mistakes into opportunities

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Read moreCollapse

Happiness

Season 1 · Episode 6

Friday, November 27, 2020 • Duration 01:08:37

This time I'm joined by Simon Eustace, and this episode is chock full of life lessons; you're going to come out the other side a better human being. Simon brings his four years of experience of playing unique D&D characters, and is my table-buddy in our Dungeons, Dice, and Dudes real play podcast (of which this episode is full of spoilers for). We talk about what makes each of us happy, and how to be happier both at and away from the gaming table.
Donate to Simon's Movember! https://uk.movember.com/mospace/14460089
P.S. See if you can spot my sneaky audio addition in post!

02:06 - Happiness: the goal of D&D
05:29 - Is player happiness intrinsically tied to their character?
16:13 - What makes us happy
23:18 - Unhappiness sandwich
35:45 - What makes a DM happy
46:00 - Player character happiness
55:52 - Non-player character happiness
63:02 - What to do if you're not happy

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Read moreCollapse

Roles

Season 1 · Episode 5

Friday, November 20, 2020 • Duration 01:15:18

The second international episode! I'm joined by Howie, a.k.a the Blue Collar DM, and hooo boy do we hit some big topics. Everything from representing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, to how to role play earnestly, and staying honest to yourself.

03:47 - DM Facilitation of party role composition
12:56 - Class stereotypical roles
23:48 - How the role of the DM differs from the players
28:34 - Disassociation and 'my guy' syndrome
39:14 - Ebb & flow
43:01 - Presumptions of role playing classes
48:02 - The role of NPCs
62:30 - Sincere role playing and earnest characters

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Read moreCollapse

Design

Season 1 · Episode 4

Friday, November 13, 2020 • Duration 01:04:29

A landmark episode! I'm joined by Karim, a.k.a FeverDreamStudios, and we get real deep into the design of D&D. How it's designed, how to design for it, and ways that PCs and DMs can design around and with each other. Too many nuggets of wisdom to list here, if I do say so myself!

01:49 - The design of Fifth Edition
08:26 - How PHB design affect player expectations
16:59 - How to start homebrewing
22:18 - Magic in a homebrew setting
31:35 - Designing adventures
39:05 - Integrating PC backstories
43:12 - Designing antagonists
52:30 - Avatar and alignments
57:00 - Designing social encounters

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Read moreCollapse

Experience

Season 1 · Episode 3

Friday, November 6, 2020 • Duration 01:11:18

In this first of a two-parter, Ian Langton and I discuss how the "experience" of Dungeons & Dragons has shifted, not only since earlier editions, but also as the players mature. Ways to get "good" experience, and how differing levels of play experience can dramatically impact the moment-to-moment gameplay.

03:04 - What makes a fun experience
06:44 - How the DM experience has changed
15:25 - Difficulties of DM'ing
25:33 - How DM experience shapes player experience
33:45 - Good ways to get more experience
52:54 - The DM "experience"
59:55 - Anecdotal evidence

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod
Reference to 'The Elfish Gene: Dungeons, Dragons and Growing Up Strange' by Mark Barrowcliffe

Read moreCollapse

Ability

Season 1 · Episode 2

Friday, October 30, 2020 • Duration 01:04:15

Jack Wain and I discuss what "ability" means within the 5e context. We take a look at what makes an effective player and how those skills are transferable to being a successful DM. We discuss ability skills and how some, such as the oft derided Animal Handling, get a bad rap through no fault of their own. This episode's Big Question is ability modifiers: big box or small box?

00:01:41 - How to determine player ability
00:08:58 - Signifiers of a good DM
00:20:40 - Ability scores
00:40:59 - Dissonance between player and character ability
00:50:36 - Improvisation in published adventures
00:55:26 - Impact of score simplification over earlier editions
01:00:30 - Big box or little box?

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod
Reference to The Monsters Know What They're Doing by Keith Ammann.

Read moreCollapse

Conflict

Season 1 · Episode 1

Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Duration 01:05:32

Rob McPerhson and I discuss how "conflict" is an intrinsic part of the D&D experience; constructive and destructive conflict between PCs, but also how every PC requires an internalised conflict pushing them to adventure. We cover a few tools for resolving conflict both at the table and away from it, and how "my guy" syndrome can quickly and easily ruin an otherwise good game.

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod

Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod

Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Read moreCollapse

Thinking Critically: A D&D Discussion – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Thinking Critically: A D&D Discussion – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other99+

Twitter99+

Instagram28

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other99+

Twitter99+

Instagram28