Today we talk about how to fix Combat Encounters 1. Use Scatter Terrain 2. Use Distance 3. Use Elevation Also, we are doing 6 panels at FanX coming up in Salt Lake City in September so if you are in the area, come see us! 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://s...
Aug 21, 2025•12 min•Ep. 226
Tanner talks about Points of Interest: what they are, why some DMs find them difficult to prepare, and how to make them worthwhile. Remember that it's about making the world exciting, not just full!
Aug 14, 2025•21 min
Welcome to How to Be a Better DM Today we talk about 7 mistakes I still make: Not taking in the moment and enjoying. Not surprising my party Trying to be a dungeon master that I’m not Comparing Myself to Other DM Not being me Forcing my expectations on other players Not Skipping the Boring Bits 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 ...
Aug 07, 2025•12 min•Ep. 224
Tanner shares a minor update about the podcast from his perspective, and talks about how to prioritize fun when starting a campaign. Hint: it's not with a lot of roleplaying like he did with his recent campaign...
Jul 31, 2025•13 min
Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon Why your combat Slogs You haven’t set the epectations with your players Because you’re building combats and not encounters You haven’t red shirted it - you’re not familiar with the baddi...
Jul 24, 2025•12 min•Ep. 222
Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon Today we are announcing that going forward, we are cutting back on everything except just doing the podcast and only doing 10 minute un-edited episodes. This is a short term change that ...
Jul 17, 2025•12 min•Ep. 221
Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon While our guest, Kyle Shire, has many talents and credits to his name, major ones including his senior producer role at Critical Role as well as being the creator of the Queen By Midnigh...
Jun 26, 2025•34 min
Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon We share a brief announcement in this episode... also, to clarify, I realized on relistening that I made it sound like Justin was the one having the baby, when we all know that his wife ...
Jun 12, 2025•22 min
TL;DR: If your sessions start strong but crash halfway through, it’s not your story, your prep, or even your players—it’s your energy management. In this episode, Justin breaks down the hidden reason your games lose momentum mid-session and teaches you how to fix it permanently. Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fa...
Jun 05, 2025•25 min
Welcome back to the 6th installment of our short series on writing a Homebrew one-shot. In this episode, we're joined by our friend Rob Van Auken and we continue work on The Chimefall Ceremony: For Whom the Bell TolIs . This miniseries is designed to help give you an idea of how to collaborate on a project like this and how to write and publish a one-shot. Also, a little bit of Rob's audio is lost at the end due to a poor connection... sorry! Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Session ...
May 29, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon Justin and Tanner are joined for this episode by an amazing DM, London Carlisle! While he's known for being an impressive DM at events such as "D&D In A Castle", his acting experienc...
May 22, 2025•34 min
Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon Feeling stuck or burned out as a Dungeon Master? You’re not alone—and you’re not out of options. In this episode, Justin and Tanner break down the Four Core Skills that every great DM ne...
May 15, 2025•34 min
Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon Whether your new player is a wide-eyed first-timer or cautiously dipping a toe into the hobby, Tanner shares key strategies for making their early sessions fun, engaging, and not overwhe...
May 08, 2025•20 min
Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon Your world deserves to feel alive. In this episode of How to Be a Better DM , Justin dives deep into the art of “show, don’t tell” — not for your villains this time, but for your cities ...
May 01, 2025•36 min
Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon We've all been there: the endless turns, actions, and HP ticking down as you slog through another combat that you don't know how to end fast enough. Why did your combat become like this?...
Apr 24, 2025•21 min
Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon AI is here—and it’s not going anywhere. But what does it mean for Dungeon Masters? In this episode, Justin and Tanner dive deep into how artificial intelligence is already impacting the ...
Apr 17, 2025•37 min
Here are today's sponsors: Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon Is it important for you NPCs to "feel" a certain way when players interact with them? And more importantly, does making a fleshed out, goal-driven NPC add to the story or just add to you...
Apr 10, 2025•55 min
Most villains fail not because they're weak—but because your players aren’t emotionally invested . In this episode, we kick off a powerful new storytelling series with a focus on “Show, Don’t Tell”—starting with the most misunderstood piece of storytelling in D&D: the villain . You’ll learn: Why simply saying “he’s the bad guy” never works How to build villains that evoke real fear, anger, or awe A concrete method for triggering emotional investment Real-world villain examples (and mistakes ...
Apr 03, 2025•31 min
What does it really mean to be a strong Dungeon Master? Is it about rules mastery, epic voices, or maybe... sonic attacks and diamond scales? In this episode of How to Be a Better DM , returning guest Jay Foster from Swole Initiative joins Justin Lewis for a monster of a conversation—literally. First, Jay becomes the first victim of our brand-new segment, “What’s Your Monster?” powered by our friends at WorldSmith. (Spoiler: It’s epic.) Then we dig deep into the power of theme in D&D campaig...
Mar 28, 2025•53 min
In this special episode of How to Be a Better DM , Justin Lewis shares key takeaways from the GMing 101 panel at Dragon Steel Nexus 2024. Learn how to manage player expectations, improve group communication, and create more engaging game sessions. Whether you're a new DM or a seasoned pro, these tips will help you level up your game! Special thanks to : Benj Weyland for our Graphic Design TJ Max, TechSenpai and Juka for being our Discord Moderators Foxy Beard for being a Patron. Mentioned in thi...
Mar 20, 2025•1 hr 16 min
DMs, today we are talking about fitting in—specifically helping players fit into your D&D group and party. Whether it's a player who doesn't know how to cross that metaphorical gap, or the party doesn't know how to welcome someone new fully, today Tanner is giving some tips to help you pull them in and welcome them! Mentioned in this episode: Why Listen to Ads? Ugh, another ad break. Let’s be real—ads are the worst. If you’re anything like my wife, you’d rather quit a show entirely than sit ...
Mar 13, 2025•24 min
Your party has already split 30 minutes into session one—again. The rogue sneaks off, the barbarian wrestles in the local church, and the bard… well, who even knows? If you’re tired of struggling to keep your party together, this episode is for you. Discover the Coalescence Event , a powerful DM tool that ensures your players stay united through meaningful storytelling, emotional stakes, and shared goals. Learn the 9 essential methods to organically bond your party—from shipwrecks to common enem...
Mar 06, 2025•31 min
Alignment—one of the most debated mechanics in Dungeons & Dragons. Is it a vital storytelling tool or an unnecessary restriction? In this episode, Tanner and Justin dive deep into the purpose of alignment, its impact on roleplay, and whether it should still have a place in modern campaigns. Plus, hear real stories of alignment gone hilariously wrong and discover ways to make it more meaningful at your table. Don’t miss this insightful discussion that could change how you run your game! Menti...
Feb 27, 2025•36 min
Ever lost something truly great? Well, our first recording with Ashley May King disappeared into the void, but lucky for you, she’s back for an incredible conversation about writing horror and Mystery! Join us as we dive into storytelling, Dungeon Mastering techniques, and how to create unforgettable tabletop adventures. Don’t miss this episode of How to Be a Better DM ! Check out more of Ashley at https://www.instagram.com/ashleymayking/ Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Session 0 St...
Feb 20, 2025•47 min
Do you think that there is the perfect length for a campaign? Well, rather than spending forever finding that out, let's instead consider the advantages of both extremes of campaigns: a short, 5-15 session campaign, or a long 20, 30, 40+ campaign carried throughout the years. Our sponsor, Worldsmith: session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast Mentioned in this episode: Give Us a Rating and Review You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you ...
Feb 13, 2025•25 min
There’s one mistake I’ve made over and over as a DM, and every time, it has sucked the life out of my campaigns. The worst part? I didn’t even realize I was doing it. But fixing it? That took just one simple change. Today, I’m sharing that tip with you—along with 12 others—to make sure your early campaign isn’t just fun but keeps your players hooked all the way to the endgame. Intro Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM, the show that helps you craft unforgettable D&D sessions. I’m Justin Le...
Feb 06, 2025•29 min
Welcome back to the 5th installment of our short series on writing a Homebrew one-shot. In this episode, we're joined by our friend Rob Van Auken and we continue work on The Chimefall Ceremony: For Whom the Bell TolIs . This miniseries is designed to help give you an idea of how to collaborate on a project like this and how to write and publish a one-shot. Mentioned in this episode: Give Us a Rating and Review You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after ...
Jan 30, 2025•57 min
Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM. Today, Tanner and Justin are joined by Ryan and Allison from The Kids Table DND ( https://www.youtube.com/@thekidstablednd ). Playing D&D with kids is a very intimidating concept for some DMs, and in today's show, we dive into how to do it right and the benefits it can lend to the kids and to the adults playing alongside them. Today's show is not just for parents. It' useful for every DM to really diveinto Simplicity and learn how to do things in an eas...
Jan 23, 2025•52 min
Have you ever been... frustrated with D&D? Or with your game? Or even your player interactions? Great news: you can always solve the frustrations that come as a DM--the problem is that a lot of DMs try to push down and ignore the signs of their own frustration, leaving their game and their feelings towards it to get worse and worse. Today, Tanner discusses some easy ways to resolve frustration with various aspects of the D&D experience. Mentioned in this episode: Do You Want to Earn some...
Jan 16, 2025•21 min
Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM. On today's show, we are joined by Rob Van Auken to continue our work on our homebrew one-shot, For Whom the Bell Tolls: The Chimefall Ceremony . This episode should help you learn how to do a collaborative project with friends as well as how to write and publish a one-shot. Here are the links to the previous episodes in case you need them: Part 1: https://session0studios.com/podcast/homebrew-collaboration-with-rob-van-auken-part-1/ Part 2: https://session0s...
Jan 14, 2025•1 hr 3 min
