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Episode 178 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Shadowdark RPG’s Combat, Travel, and Downtime! Teos shares the exploits in a recent Shadowdark game, adding context as Shawn and Teos review Shadowdark’s rules for combat, travel, and downtime. News: Hasbro’s D&D Finances and Strategy, 2024 Release Info, Humblewood on Beyond, and more! Contents00:00 More Dragons01:26 Counterproductive Playtesting?07:39 Designer Responsability?15:17 D&D Release Schedule15:44 2024 Conventions17:31 Vecna Eve of Ruin20:48 Making of OD&D25:26 Infinite Staircase26:34 Core Books28:45 Converse Lego and Pop-Tarts31:21 Roll20 Character Sheet32:21 Humblewood on Beyond34:30 Hasbro Q436:55 DnD Finances40:58 Hasbro's D&D Strategy43:10 Universes Beyond45:27 Shadowdark Gameplay45:56 Playing with Meaghan J50:59 Hiding in Shadowdark55:50 Surprise and Initiative59:13 Actions01:02:58 Rulings Not Rules01:06:35 Damage01:09:55 Morale01:15:48 Death01:20:01 Overland Travel01:24:53 Downtime01:29:33 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Episode 177 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Shadowdark RPG – Gameplay (MD 177) From initiative and darkness to checks and luck tokens, Shawn and Teos examine the rules that distinguish the game. News: D&D Thanks You, Manganiello Speaks, Pelgrane Blog Rocks, and more! Contents00:00:00 Winter Fantasy for One00:01:35 Shadowdark Balance?00:10:50 Shadowdark Readthrough Review?00:17:40 D&D 50th Thank You00:19:33 Joe Manganiello Speaks00:26:28 Pelgrane Press Blog00:27:33 Sorcerer's Fate00:29:15 Shadowdark00:29:58 Crawlers00:35:58 Rolling Dice00:39:39 Luck Tokens00:43:24 Abilities and Checks00:49:30 Time and Initiative01:04:43 Resting and Surprise01:06:05 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). MP3 file metadata populated with Online MP3 Podcast Chapter Editor, built by Dominik Peters. https://mp3chapters.github.io/ and customized for Mastering Dungeons by Vladimir Prenner from Croatia.

Episode 176 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: News with Graham! With Shawn fighting off a cold, Graham joins us to take a look at the news. Back to Shadowdark next week! News: Foundry Gets 2024 5E, Kickstarter Growth, Adventures that Teach, and more! Contents00:00:00 Graham Ward!00:02:55 Player-DM Trust00:10:20 D&D Stewardship00:23:00 2024 Glimpses00:25:22 Bigger Books?00:27:16 Playtest Survey Results00:30:49 D&D Novels and Journals00:34:25 D&D Foundry Partnership00:35:54 Kickstarter Up Down?00:39:11 Associate D&D Event Manager00:40:46 The Park Job00:41:25 18 RPG Luminary Interviews00:41:58 Release from OGL Vault00:43:28 Adventures That Teach00:45:27 5E Attack Variability00:48:54 Graham on Shadowdark00:53:15 Find Graham00:56:07 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Episode 175 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Shadowdark RPG – Characters and Magic With Shadowdark’s simplicity, how do ancestries, classes, and class features distinguish themselves? Shawn and Teos examine the classes, alignment, and magic systems to see how this game manages to be so good. News: D&D Turned 40, D&D in VR, a Real Fortress Dungeon, and more! Contents00:00:00 Rub Your Face00:01:19 Compelling Hooks?00:11:43 RPGs for New GMs00:19:02 D&D Turns 5000:21:56 D&D VR Game00:26:35 Beyond Stats00:29:33 Real Dungeon00:31:01 50th Minis00:32:48 Mathemagician Rituals00:34:38 Zweihander Reforged00:35:22 Hacking Across Editions00:39:03 Shadowdark Characters00:40:48 Ancestries00:46:14 Classes - Fighter00:48:35 Talents00:50:12 Stat Boosts00:51:46 Wizard and Priest00:53:30 Thief01:00:29 Backgrounds01:02:08 Alignment and Deities01:05:16 Titles01:07:24 Gear and Slots01:10:36 Cohesive Game Elements01:13:27 XP01:17:41 Magic01:32:05 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Episode 174 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Shadowdark RPG – Reviewing the Basics Shawn and Teos delve into Shadowdark. While their torchlight holds, they examine the first chapters of this tome. Learn the basics of Shadowdark’s design and what sets it apart from other similar RPGs. News: New D&D from Random House, How to Have Fun, Fighting AI, and more! Contents00:00:00 Powerless00:02:16 Stale RPGs?00:09:09 BladeThulu?00:18:54 An RPG's Heart00:25:32 New Random DnD00:29:02 Fighting AI00:32:54 Post-WotC Endeavors00:35:57 L5R00:38:47 Ingredients for Fun00:42:14 Shadowdark00:44:04 What is Shadowdark00:54:32 Overview01:02:54 Book Intro01:06:50 Shadowdark's Assumptions01:10:01 Character Design01:14:38 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Episode 173 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Blade Runner Starter Set – Electric Dreams Adventure Review Mike Shea joins Shawn while Teos hunkers down without power. In the main segment, Shawn and Teos take a look at the adventure included in the Blade Runner starter set by Free League. We review the amazing value and how it provides for open play and interesting choices. News: Remembering Jennell Jaquays, D&D Meta Plots, Evil Hat Shares Finances, and more! Contents00:00 Mike Shea!07:22 Fun Downstroke?17:14 Party Boost?22:10 5E Metaplot?31:07 Remembering Jennell Jaquays34:40 Evil Hat Q444:46 Andy Stuns46:06 Roll20 Versions47:58 Surviving Strangehollow50:02 Electric Dreams Adventure52:06 Intro and Plot57:11 Options and Events1:01:06 The Story1:10:53 Final Confrontation1:13:56 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Episode 172 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Blade Runner Starter Set – Rules Review Shawn and Teos take a look at the packed contents of the Blade Runner starter set by Free League. We review the amazing value and provide an overview of the rules. News: MCDM Raises $4.6M, Golden Ages, Winter Fantasy Signups, and more! Contents00:00 Renewed01:10 Half on Miss?10:24 Stun Condition?21:49 Creative Actions?33:45 RPG Sales Mixed34:55 Winter Fantasy Signups37:19 2023 Review 39:10 Golden Ages50:11 The Forged Dragons50:53 Weapons of Legend 51:58 Lore2453:21 Lamordia The God Engine54:19 MCDM RPG $4.6M54:57 Blade Runner Starter Set56:11 Setting Overview58:51 Starter Set Contents 1:01:55 Rules Overview 1:04:25 Specialties1:04:49 Health and Resolve1:06:08 Downtime1:08:24 Humanity Points1:15:13 Game Loop1:21:25 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Episode 171 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: 2023 Review and 2024 RPG Outlook Shawn and Teos look back at the rollercoaster year of 2023 and what excites us about the coming year. News: Drakkenheim on DDB, LotR Stars Play BG3, Valiant Adventures, and more! Contents00:00 Renown01:12 Setting Customizations?14:21 Affordable Expectations?29:22 LotR Stars Play BG330:33 CORE20 RPG32:34 Drakkenheim on DDB34:07 Valiant Adventures 35:02 Hundred Dungeons35:53 Folkvangr36:46 Year End, Year Ahead 37:41 What Excited Us?43:04 What We Covered44:49 Shawn’s Year46:04 2023 Rollercoaster 52:35 Fans and Platforms59:59 Design Together 1:01:22 What We Miss from 1E 1:05:07 Our RPG Acronyms1:12:06 Great Year for MD1:14:48 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Episode 170 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Planescape’s Adventure: The Conclusion! The final two chapters of Turn of Fortune’s Wheel! We look back on how DMs can make the most of the adventure. News: Understanding WotC Layoffs, Netflix Talks BG3, Greatest RPG Adventures, and more! Contents00:00 Rollercoaster 202302:19 Resource Management?10:33 Lazy Barbarian?17:58 WotC Layoffs37:15 BG3 on Netflix38:32 Spelljammer Academy Returns!39:53 Greatest RPG Adventures 43:50 13 Planescape DM Tips46:27 Enchanting Emporiums47:03 Kaz the Minotaur47:41 Fortune’s Wheel Context51:56 Setup for the End59:11 Platinum Rooms1:06:50 Dungeonland1:08:46 Supertemporal Arena1:12:25 Fiend’s Ante1:14:07 Facing Shemeska1:16:22 Incarnations Unite!1:20:07 Gzemnid’s Spiral1:30:52 Conclusion 1:36:42 Final Thoughts1:44:30 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Episode 169 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Planescape’s Adventure: Outlands and Spire! We expect big payoffs as the adventure reveals it's biggest secrets. Is the payoff worth it? Find out how the answer isn’t yes, as we review Chapters 12 and 13 Turn of Fortune’s Wheel. News: MCDM Breaks Records, Roll20 Overhaul, GaryCon Epic, and more! Contents00:00 Malled and Mauled01:30 Impossible DC?14:36 Frustrated Player?20:34 MCDM Breaks Records26:03 Roll20 Overhaul31:10 D&D VTT Praised34:05 Midwest GameFest35:20 2-Hr Adventure Template37:39 $10 Creator Relief Coupon39:24 GaryCon Epic Stream42:35 Fortune’s Wheel Recap44:34 Outlands Explorations47:18 Planar Glitch Table58:50 What are Encounters?1:01:32 Angels in the Outlands1:07:38 Mausoleum of Chronepsis1:11:23 Semuanya’s Bog1:15:42 Mimir Payoff?1:19:34 Dendradis and Ascetelis1:22:47 Finding RO4M in the Spire1:31:10 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Episode 168 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Planescape’s Adventure: Gate Towns! Seven gate towns must be visited! How well does the 4-page format work, and what would we change? Find out as we look at Chapters 5-11 of Turn of Fortune’s Wheel. News: Ghostfire and Dungeon Dudes on DDB, D&D 50th Anniversary Products, D&D Stamps, and more! Contents00:00 Holiday and PAX Miracles05:05 Progression Complexity?14:56 Publishing Process?24:02 Converting Adventures?31:23 DDB Ghostfire Dudes41:09 D&D 2024 Panel 43:17 Caverns of Tsojcanth45:43 Vecna Eve of Ruin 46:58 Infinite Staircase 49:44 Making of OD&D 51:56 Core Rules Preview55:53 D&D Stamps57:22 Planescape’s 5E Adventure 59:22 Gate Town Goals1:04:06 Automata1:15:16 Design and Advice1:21:15 Excelsior1:25:16 Faunel1:32:44 Closing Thoughts1:39:22 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Episode 167 of Mastering Dungeons!  Main topic: Turn of Fortune’s Wheel: Casino and Outlands! Casino games are more fun when player goals align. This and the villain present challenges for the DM, if not the players. We venture into the Outlands and experience a castle out of a Miyazaki film. News: D&D Move Sequel, Peril Design, Gygax Shoes, PAX U Events, and more! Contents00:00 Holiday System Shock02:32 Is Death the End?16:50 Peril Design?32:27 D&D PAXU Events37:29 Heroes’ Feast Adventure39:57 New Deck Date40:39 Playtest Packet 842:53 D&D Movie Sequel?44:49 Enchanting Emporiums46:19 Gygax Shoes47:01 Scale Tail & Claw47:26 Stormlight RPG Team49:08 Fortune’s Wheel50:02 Our Story So Far50:48 Chapter 3 Casino53:29 Games vs Goals59:30 Meeting Shemeska1:03:21 Levels and Story1:10:13 Into the Outlands1:13:49 Walking Castle1:18:13 Mosaic Mimir Quest1:28:09 Closing Thoughts1:29:55 Shout-OutsThank you for listening! Get the full show notes with links on Patreon. Our intro and outro music is Metropolis Fanfare, provided royalty-free by Tabletop Audio (https://tabletopaudio.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).