Welcome to the ninth episode of Creative Contraband! Danny Barrett dives into very popular TV shows to enlighten us about the art of “eliminating” characters (or not).

Today you’ll learn valuable lessons about resurrection, character arcs, keeping stakes high, and much more.

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

Doesn't it always feel like more than half of your skill checks are perception or insight checks? Which is an absolute shame since there are so many other skills to use! In this episode, Tanner shares 5 skills and skill pairings that could be used in more creative ways than the pigeon-holed way we have used them in the past.

In today's episode, we feature the first of many videopodcasts to come! Our usual host, Danny Barrett (and his support dog), unveils the secrets to nailing the first minutes of a campaign and of every session.

You'll also learn how to build modular encounters that can adapt to any scenario your players might throw at you.

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

Great D&D encounters don’t happen by accident—they’re designed.

In this episode of How to Be a Better DM, we break down the first three core rules of encounter design that help Dungeon Masters create encounters that feel meaningful, engaging, and worth the players’ time.

First, we talk about why simplicity is one of the most powerful tools in encounter design. Overcomplicating encounters often slows the game down, while simple encounters can create fast, exciting, and memorable moments at the table.

Next, we introduce the CASE framework—how every encounter should fit into your Campaign, Arc, Session, and Encounter structure. When encounters serve the bigger story, your game starts to feel intentional instead of random.

Finally, we cover a rule that many DMs overlook: the party has to want something on the other side of the encounter. Whether it’s treasure, progress, information, or simply survival, players need a reason to engage.

These three rules will help you design encounters faster, run smoother sessions, and keep your players invested in the game.

And this is just the beginning.

In Part 2, we’ll dive deeper into additional encounter design rules that will help you turn good encounters into unforgettable ones.

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
• ​Hire a Professional Dungeon Master: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/
• ​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

In today’s episode, we’ll take magic concepts to the doctor’s office and will mix it all together to learn how to make our players remember us as genius DMs after the session is over.

If you want to make a lasting impression on your players, then this episode is for you.

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

Listen... if an NPC or a roleplayed conversation is unmemorable, why is it in your campaign? More importantly, is it possible to make each conversation a memorable experience? Well, if you GO BIG with your show, your tell, your personalities, and your NPC alignments, that'll certainly help! Tanner shares examples and reasons to go big or go home with your NPC roleplays—you'll thank us later!

Today we’ll dissect the ins and outs of immersion, guided by our usual host, Danny Barrett. In this sixth episode, we will go over the CASE framework and squeeze it for all it’s worth, going through concepts like Fourth wall, diegesis, and Verfremdungseffekt.

This episode will help you prep more intentionally and better understand the limits of fiction in this hybrid medium.

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

Welcome back to today’s show.

Today we talk about tempo, using 2 analogies.

D&D is like music.

D&D is like a heart.

If you understand those two facts, you’ll naturally improve your tempo.

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