Not THAT kind of online RPG.

Welcome to the 11th episode of the ENNIE-NOMINATED Dungeon Master Guys podcast, our “road to Gen Con” episode. All three of the DM Guys will be in attendance once again, so we hope to see you there!

In This Episode:

• Special guest Sarah Darkmagic assists in hosting duties
• Dave talks to Brennan Taylor and Ryan Macklin about running convention games
• NewbieDM talks to Daniel Perez about running online games
• And we answer reader questions, including how to break the stigma of D&D to potential players, eating healthy at the game table, how to appeal to a mixed party of roleplayers and minmaxers in 4e, a time when a game really clicked, and money in game.

Opening Music:

• “What you Want” (ver. 2) by Kevin MacLeod

Sponsored by:

• Obsidian Portal

The Dungeon Master Guys, Episode 11 (65 mins, 63 MB)

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"Where's the money?"

Episode 10 marks the first anniversary of the Dungeon Master Guys podcast, and we’ve decided to celebrate with new campaigns, DM binders, and a big old fiasco.

As always, email us, leave a comment, or leave a voicemail on 305-349-3026 (make sure to say it’s for the DM Guys) and we’ll try to answer it in a future show.

In this episode:

• Dave talks with Jason Morningstar about Fiasco.
• The DM Guys talk about starting up new campaigns.
• The DM Guys answer a reader email about organization and DM binders, where NewbieDM announces a new project that we want you to contribute to.

Things mentioned in this episode:

• Choose Your Fortunes Wisely
• Warlord Movie Quote Powers
• Fiasco on the Bully Pulpit Games Page
• Fiasco Review
• Labyrinth Game Shop
• Playsets of the Month
• Dragon Age (note: this was recorded before Set 2 was released, which is available now in PDF)
• Rule of Three about epic tier
• E1: Death’s Reach
• Mouse Guard
• Freemarket
• Shadow Raiders (Novel)
• NewbieDM’s DM Binder
• TiddlyWiki
• Masterplan
• DM Binder Project Email: dmbinder@newbiedm.com

Opening Music:

• “What you Want” (ver. 2) by Kevin MacLeod

Sponsored by:

• Obsidian Portal

The Dungeon Master Guys, Episode 10 (50 mins, 49 MB)

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Welcome to our very special, extra long “exotic accents” episode.  There’s so much sexy accents (French Canadian, Florida Cuban and Naturalized Kiwi) in this show that Dave decided to go on a Cruise to try and fish one out of the Ocean.

As always, email us, leave a comment, or leave a voicemail on 305-349-3026 (make sure to say it’s for the DM Guys) and we’ll try to answer it in a future show.

In this episode:

• Dave and Phil talk to Cam Banks, lead designer of the Leverage RPG from Margaret Weis Productions, about the Cortex Plus system and some of its elements that can be useful to GMs in general.
• NewbieDM discusses ways to curtail D&D 4e’s combat lengths with veteran DM and writer Mike Shea.
• We answer a question related to secret skill checks, table knowledge and the ever thorny “me-too” effect of skill checks.

Things mentioned in this episode:

• The Leverage RPG
• The Smallville RPG
• Sly Flourish’s Running Epic Tier D&D Games

Opening Music:

• “What you Want” (ver. 2) by Kevin MacLeod

Sponsored by:

• Obsidian Portal

The Dungeon Master Guys, Episode 9 (56 mins, 51 MB)

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The Fourth DM Guy

On the 12th day of gaming, my players gave to me…

The Dungeon Master Guys bring you this special holiday episode. A departure from our normal format, each of the Dungeon Master Guys suggests 3 products from the year that he liked and why he liked them. It’s not too late to ask for these games for Christmas, or buy them for yourself afterward with any money you receive.

Chatty DM’s Picks:

• D&D Red Box
• Apocalypse World
• Fiasco

Dave The Game’s Picks:

• Leverage
• Dresden Files [Print, PDF]
• Gamma World

Newbie DM’s Picks:

• Monster Vault
• Heroes of the Fallen Lands / Heroes of Forgotten Kingdoms
• Dragon Age [Boxed Set, PDF]

Opening Music:

• “What you Want” (ver. 2) by Kevin MacLeod

Sponsored by:

• Obsidian Portal

The Dungeon Master Guys, Episode 8 (35 mins, 34 MB)

[Download MP3 | Podcast Feed | iTunes Link]

Gnome Stew group photo. Note: actual size.

Episode 7 of the Dungeon Master Guys is here, fresh from our post-Thanksgiving gaming.

As always, email us, leave a comment, or leave a voicemail on 305-349-3026 (make sure to say it’s for the DM Guys) and we’ll try to answer it in a future show.

In this episode:

• Chatty DM talked to the Gnome Stew crowd about their Eureka GM guide, a book featuring hundreds of fleshed out adventure/campaign hooks, arranged by genres.  Martin Ralya tells us about the book and, along with Phil Vecchione and John Arcadian, shared stories about making it.
• Dave The Game interviewed Tracy, also known as Sarah Darkmagic, about being a new DM running a game for experienced players.
• Newbie DM talked about his tips for encouraging roleplaying.
• The DM Guys answer two listener questions.

Stuff mentioned in this episode:

• Eureka: 501 Adventure Plots to Inspire Game Masters (available in print and PDF from their store, or from DriveThruRPG)
• Engine Publishing
• Silvervine Games
• Gnome Stew’s Top 30 Game Mastering Articles
• Penny Arcade D&D Podcast
• Some ways for new DMs to create roleplaying opportunities
• Screenwriting books
• Bambi vs. Godzilla

Music:

• “What you Want” (ver. 2) by Kevin MacLeod

Sponsored by:

• Obsidian Portal

The Dungeon Master Guys, Episode 7 (47 mins, 22 MB)

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I have never sparkled.

Another episode of the Dungeon Master Guys, filled with great guest stars, and just in time for Halloween. While the Chatty DM was on the way to NYCC, we had on a replacement Dungeon Master Guy: Quinn Murphy of the At-Will blog who lends us his dungeon mastering wisdom.

As always, email us, leave a comment, or leave a voicemail on 305-349-3026 (make sure to say it’s for the DM Guys) and we’ll try to answer it in a future show.

In this episode:

• Micah Wedemeyer of Obsidian Portal shares his tips on what NOT to do with a campaign wiki.
• NewbieDM interviews Wolfgang Baur of Kobold Quarterly about using horror in your RPG game and the Ravenloft setting.
• And we answer your DMing questions from Twitter.

Stuff mentioned in this episode:

• Obsidian Portal
• Ravenloft
• Essential Essentials: Rules Compendium and Heroes of the Fallen Lands
• Newbiedm.com, RPG Bloggers Network, #dnd on Twitter
• Dungeon Master’s Guide, Dungeon Master’s Guide 2, Pathfinder Gamemastery Guide, Call of Cthulhu d20, Robin’s Laws of Good Game Mastering
• Chatty DM’s series on Robin’s Laws
• What’s happening on At-Will: Tragic Imprint, Serious Skills, Dungeons & Flagons

Music:

• “What you Want” (ver. 2) by Kevin MacLeod

Sponsored by:

• Obsidian Portal

The Dungeon Master Guys, Episode 6 (51 mins, 49 MB)

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"I could run a gang!"

Our long-awaited (don’t say delayed) post-Gen Con episode! Chatty DM, Dave the Game, and Newbie DM are back from Gen Con, well rested, and you get to hear some of the great interviews we did during and after the convention. This extra long episode features two great interviews from Gen Con, and one interview following up on an announcement that happened at Gen Con. But even if you didn’t go or will never go to the convention, you’ll still find something to help your DMing.

What we didn’t do was answer any reader questions… because we don’t have any! Email us, leave a comment, or leave a voicemail on 305-349-3026 (make sure to say it’s for the DM Guys) and we’ll try to answer it in a future show.

Warning: this podcast contains some explicit language (mainly from Luke Crane.)

In this episode:

• Chatty DM asks Luke Crane “What can GMs learn from Gen Con?”
• Newbie DM talks to Mike Shea of Sly Flourish about epic-level play
• Dave the Game and Chatty DM interview Chris Perkins, Creative Manager for D&D, about being a killer DM

Stuff mentioned in the show:

• Free Market
• WotC New Product Seminar
• Sly Flourish’s DM Tips Book
• Chris’s Iomanda campaign
• Aeofel’s Return (in Chris Sims’s PAX Report)

Music:

• “What you Want” (ver. 2) by Kevin MacLeod

Sponsored by:

• Obsidian Portal

The Dungeon Master Guys, Episode 5 (45 mins, 43 MB)

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Some genres should probably not be mixed

Episode 4 – that’s some kind of milestone! Longer than a fiscal quarter (unlike what Dave may think a quarter is), shorter than a full year anniversary, still something worth celebrating. Our last episode before all three Dungeon Master Guys (Dave the Game, Chatty DM, and Newbie DM) head off to Gen Con in Indianapolis.

In this episode:

• Newbie DM talks about railroading
• Chatty DM gives some tips on how to keep players focused at the table
• Dave the Game outlines how to run a flashback adventure
• We answer two reader emails: one about mixing genres, and the other about “monster math” in paragon and epic 4e games

People/Things mentioned in the show:

• Robin Laws
• D&D Rules Updates
• In the Eye of the Beholder (Monster math post)
• The Guest DM
• Tomb of Horrors

Music:

• “What you Want” (ver. 2) by Kevin MacLeod

Sponsored by:

• Obsidian Portal

The Dungeon Master Guys, Episode 4 (34 mins, 32 MB)

[Download MP3 | Podcast Feed | iTunes Link]

"My sword detects Orcs nearby!"

Welcome to the third episode of the Dungeon Master Guys podcast! We have a big show this time around, with all kinds of special guests. So listen in to Chatty DM, Newbie DM, and Dave the Game as they fire off some more DM tips to help you improve your games.

In this episode:

• Dave the Game talks to Quinn of At-Will and Danny of Critical-Hits about improvising games
• Chatty DM talks about the “what if” method of campaign design
• Newbie DM talks to Randall Walker of Initiative Or What? about using props to make your game more immersive
• Chatty DM and Newbie DM talk to Chris Sims, freelance game designer and writer for Critical Hits, about using cursed items in your game
• Plus we answer an email and voicemail

Things mentioned in the show:

• Ultimate Toolbox
• Minting the Coin of the Realm at Initiative or What?
• Necklace of Strangulation Cursed Item at At-Will
• Kobold Hall Starter Kit at Newbie DM

Music:

• “What you Want” (ver. 2) by Kevin MacLeod

Sponsored by:

• Obsidian Portal

The Dungeon Master Guys, Episode 3 (39 mins, 19 MB)

[Download MP3 | Podcast Feed | iTunes Link]

We are always on the lookout for questions (about being a D&D 4e DM or about GMing in general), comments and suggestions.  You can leave them here in the comments, email us, or leave us a message at 305-349-3026, and we’ll be more than happy to feature them in a future show.

The only voice Chatty DM can do

The second episode of The Dungeon Master Guys podcast is here! We ran into some technical difficulties which lead to the episode being hosted by Chatty DM and Dave the Game, with Newbie DM contributing a segment and being consigned to the editing dungeon. However, we all learned a lot about podcasting, and the next episode should be even better.

In this episode:

• Chatty DM talks to Wolfgang Baur about using published adventures in your game
• Newbie DM gives tips for effective narration
• Dave the Game introduces the concept of combat “outs”
• Plus we answer some emails and comments

Products mentioned in the show:

• Open Design
• Kobold Quarterly
• Courts of the Shadow Fey
• Expedition to the Demonweb Pits
• Ptolus

Music:

• “What you Want” (ver. 2) by Kevin MacLeod

Sponsored by:

• Obsidian Portal

The Dungeon Master Guys, Episode 2 (33 mins, 32 MB)

[Download MP3 | Podcast Feed | iTunes Link]

We are always on the lookout for questions (about being a D&D 4e DM or about GMing in general), comments and suggestions.  You can leave them here in the comments, email us, or leave us a message at 305-349-3026, and we’ll be more than happy to feature them in a future show.

We hope you enjoy it.

In this show:

• Adventure prepping
• Creating a cast-of-heroes type of campaign to allow players to switch PCs
• Using failures to make your games more interesting

Mentioned in the show:

• Masterplan
• Mouse Guard

Music:

• What you Want, ver. 2 by Kevin MacLeod

We are always on the lookout for questions (about being a D&D 4e DM or about GMing in general), comments and suggestions.  You can leave them here in the comments, email us, or call us at 305-349-3026, and we’ll be more than happy to feature them in a future show.

Enough text, on with the show!

The Dungeon Master Guys Podcast Episode 1 (31 minutes, 21 MB)

[Download MP3 | Podcast Feed | iTunes Link]

Special thanks to Kyle for creating our awesome banner. Next time: An actual skill challenge, played during the show with star RPG bloggers, and more!