Better Improv For Dungeon Masters: The Rule of Intent and Yes AND
Welcome to How to Be a Better DMToday we talk about improving improvisation when your players do something out of the blue.Tip #1: The Rule of Intent - think about the intent of the player as you improvise and try to meet and fulfill that intent.Tip #2: Yes AND - in your yes anding the AND should be capitalized because that’s the most important part.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/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsMonument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudiosDiscord: http://session0studios.com/discordPatreon:https://session0studios.com/patreonDungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter
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12:46
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12:46
Embracing External Inspiration in D&D Without Shame
Oh, so you'd like to create EVERY story arc, enemy, NPC, and element of your D&D adventure out of thin air, without resorting to using characters who are blatant knockoffs of well-known actors or movie characters? And let me guess: you'd also like every adventure arc be an entirely new story that's never been seen (or at least is heavily disguised). Well, this is the wrong episode for you, because Tanner discusses why copying or embracing external story and character inspiration isn't cheap, negative, or even lazy: it's actually a great tool for DMs!
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14:26
The Secret Inner Work of Exceptional Dungeon Masters
Thanks for listening. Today we talk about the secret inner work required to be a great dungeon master. Here are some notes:People Management of yourself as the DMSelf ValidationJealousyCuriositySelf RegulationSix Pillars of Self EsteemDon’t take things personally The 4 AgreementsAssertivenessPersonal ClarityJournalingSelf-DisciplineRoutinesRelationship BuilderThe Like SwitchGrattitudeGrattitude JournalThanks 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/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsMonument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudiosDiscord: http://session0studios.com/discordPatreon:https://session0studios.com/patreonDungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter
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16:36
Do Your Words Have Weight As A DM?
Do you ever wish that players would just STOP and take things seriously for one minute?! After all, you want the next moment to FEEL important... but how can you do that? How can you add weight to your words? Namely, the type of weight that gets players to quiet down, lean forward, and think. It's not easy, but it is absolutely possible!
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20:23
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20:23
4 Tools for Dungeon Master Improvement
Every DM wants to get better, but “improvement” can feel vague. In this episode, we break it down into four concrete tools you can use to actually level up your Dungeon Mastering—whether you’re running your first campaign or your fifth.The 4 Tools1. The Dungeon Master Level Up Guide • A free newsletter from Session 0 Studios that delivers practical advice and DM growth tips straight to your inbox.2. Record Your Sessions • Why listening back is one of the fastest ways to spot your blind spots. • Story: Grim casts Detect Thoughts—and how hearing it later changed how we thought about the moment.3. The After Action Report • A simple, repeatable reflection process: • What did we want to happen? • What actually happened? • Why did it happen? • What can we learn going forward? • Story: breaking down the last session at our own table.4. Content You Consume • People Management: The Like Switch, How to Win Friends and Influence People • Performance: YouTube channels like Improve Your Voice and PVImprov • Game Design: Game Maker’s Toolkit • Storytelling: Writing Excuses, Matt Colville, Mystic Arts, High RollersThese aren’t just entertainment—they’re study material for growing as a DM.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/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsMonument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudiosDiscord: http://session0studios.com/discordPatreon:https://session0studios.com/patreonDungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter
About How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM
Learn how to be a better DM (Dungeon Master) so you can tell better stories for yourself and your friends.
Learn things like how to start a campaign, how to create realistic NPCs, how to move the plot along, and how and why to use session 0's for your party.
Join hosts Justin Lewis, Cayden Ottley and Tanner Weyland as they distill all the DM tips, tools and resources for the beginner DM, for the DM with a few years of experience and for the Forever DM who's been playing for 20 years.
If you're sick of searching for things like, "How to create a homebrew DND campaign?", click the play button and listen to become the best dungeon master you ever could be!
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