Most DMs have had at least one period of time when their party suddenly starts meeting A LOT less often. Whether it's life changes or just a lack of interest, what do you do? Do you quit, stay the course, or make a change? That's the topic of today's podcast with Tanner. He gives DMs 3 steps to help them decide on next steps if their campaign is becoming a thing of the past. Let's learn how to be a better DM!

Today we fix combat encounters, plus my kids have something to say.

This is what we talk about:

Use scatter terrain

Use distance

Use elevation

Capture the Flag

VIP

Zombies

Tag

Hide and Seek

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

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Monument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudios

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Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Do you feel like, unless you plan every single item, NPC interaction, and every encounter down to the letter, that you'll lose control as a DM? Well this episode is for you! Tanner discusses randomness, rolling for items, enemies, and more, and also shares ways your next D&D session can be RANDOM without being LESS.

Also, for anyone curious about FanX, where we'll be on 6 different panels, check out this link: https://fanxsaltlake.com/

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://session0studios.com/fantasms

Monument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudios

Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord

Patreon:https://session0studios.com/patreon

Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

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!

Welcome to How to Be a Better DM

Today we talk about 7 mistakes I still make:

1. ​Not taking in the moment and enjoying.
2. ​Not surprising my party
3. ​Trying to be a dungeon master that I’m not
4. ​Comparing Myself to Other DM
5. ​Not being me
6. ​Forcing my expectations on other players
7. ​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 and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplay

Phantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasms

Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord

Patreon:https://session0studios.com/patreon

Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

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...

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

1. You haven’t set the epectations with your players
2. Because you’re building combats and not encounters
3. You haven’t red shirted it - you’re not familiar with the baddies or the mechanics
4. You as aren’t taking advantage of all 4 of the Pillars of DMing
5. The party doesn’t want to do a combat.
6. You don’t know how to make the combat intense
7. Phones are at the table
8. You make it go on too long

Special thanks to:

Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)

TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators

Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.

Mentioned in this episode:

Save time with Roll and Play Press

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