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Mastering Dungeons

Mastering Dungeons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons
Daggerheart
Game Design
Role-Playing Games
Wizards Of the Coast
Greyhawk
Draw Steel
D&D
Shadowdark RPG
Character Creation
Monster Manual
D&D Beyond
Tabletop Role-Playing Games
Shadowdark
Living Greyhawk
Tabletop Rpgs
Player's Handbook
Critical Role
Dms Guild

RPG veterans and game designers Teos Abadía and Shawn Merwin look at the game and the hobby of D&D from a variety of viewpoints: reporting the news, understanding the business, reviewing the products, and illuminating the design. Whether you’re a fan, a player, a DM, or a designer, Shawn and Teos cover topics of interest to you!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes584Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesLeisure

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Artwork for Mastering Dungeons

Latest Episodes

Episode 313 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: James Introcaso on Crows, Draw Steel, and MCDM! Live from Gamehole Con!

The incredible James Introcaso discusses the last six years at MCDM, including the creation of Draw Steel and Crows, plus insight... more

Episode 312 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Remonstered! Keith Ammann Updates The Monsters Know What They’re Doing!

Keith joins Teos to discuss his innovations for running great monsters, how 5.5 monsters have changed, and the best new and updat... more

Episode 311 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Best of Dragons of Stormwreck Isle and the 3rd Starter Set!

5E’s 3rd Starter Set brings fewer components, a lower price point, and all the dragons! See why we harpy about why this is ghoul enough for y... more

Episode 310 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Best of Dragon of Icespire Peak and the Essentials Kit!

5E’s second Starter Set brings huge innovation, from Sidekicks to Quest Boards and Initiative Cards! Our review is more fun than a mimic in a gno... more

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Recent Guests

Keith Ammann
Author, The Monsters Know What They're Doing series
Episode: Remonstered! Keith Ammann Updates The Monsters Know What They’re Doing!
Lyla Fujiwara
From Brotherwise Games
Brotherwise Games
Episode: Creating Mistborn and the Cosmere RPG with Lyla Fujiwara and Lydia Suen!
Lydia Suen
From Brotherwise Games
Brotherwise Games
Episode: Creating Mistborn and the Cosmere RPG with Lyla Fujiwara and Lydia Suen!
Amanda Hamon
Senior Game Designer for D&D at Wizards of the Coast; Lead Designer on Arcana Unleashed and Arcana Unleashed Deadfall
Wizards of the Coast
Episode: Amanda Hamon and Arcana Unleashed!
Tomas Härenstam
CEO of Free League Publishing
Free League Publishing
Episode: Keys to Success from Tomas Härenstam of Free League!
Adam Bradford
Industry veteran behind D&D Beyond, Demiplane, Fantasy Grounds and Spiteworks
Free League Unbound / formerly Curse / D&D Beyond
Episode: Adam Bradford, from D&D Beyond to Free League Unbound!
Mike Shea
Creator of the Lazy GM series and Sly Flourish
MCDM Productions
Episode: Rise of the Lazy Gamemaster with Mike Shea aka Sly Flourish!
Daði Einars
Mystic Arts YouTube creator and publisher
Mystic Arts
Episode: Mystic Arts and Creator Publishing
Jeff Mueller
Guest on the show discussing Curse of Strahd conversion to Daggerheart
Episode: Best of Curse of Strahd (MD286)

Hosts

Shawn Merwin
Veteran RPG designer and longtime host; widely recognized for industry experience and leadership on Mastering Dungeons.
Teos Abadía
Veteran RPG designer and co-host; frequently leads design discussions and industry analysis on the show.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 424 ratings
  • Great D&D podcast

    Teos and Shawn do a great job of giving weekly news and reviews. They are a pleasure to listen too and are positive influence on the ttrpg community. Keep up the amazing work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MarkT333
    United States2 months ago
  • Best RPG cast!

    Shawn and Teos have deep insight into RPG games and the industry. Listening to this show will make you a better player and DM. Their community and Discord are great and supportive too!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    zajatx
    United States5 months ago
  • Great Job!

    I love this podcast and thank you for your work. I would like to nominate Phandelver as one of the greatest adventures, followed by SKT, for its modularity.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    One Wise Dragon
    United States8 months ago
  • Masters of the Craft

    Shawn & Teos do a great job of sharing their collective wisdom on such a huge variety of topics. Great commentary on the industry and hobby as a whole, supported by a wealth of experience that they share via excellent and practical advice for our games.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kreggar
    United States9 months ago
  • In-depth commentary and reviews

    Shawn and Teos have been in the industry for decades and have lots of experience under their belts. Their in depth review of rules and games and adventures always explore both the good and the bad. It is great to keep up to date with them and hear about the current state of RPGs

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    the Shepster
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Two seasoned designers offer thoughtful, well-researched takes on rules, products, and publishing.
Fans often cite the nuanced conversations as a standout compared to more sensational gaming podcasts.
The hosts provide deep, sourced RPG industry insights that feel grounded and practical.
Listeners appreciate the balanced discussions and real-world experience the hosts bring to every topic.
The show is praised as a dependable resource for DM prep, design ideas, and market trends.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#77
United States/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#141
United Kingdom/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#147
Canada/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#69
Australia/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#175
Italy/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#180
Germany/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Remonstered! Keith Ammann Updates The Monsters Know What They’re Doing!
Q: What excites you about remonstered and the 2024/5.5e changes?
Ammann explains his motivation to refresh and improve his tactics book to keep it useful, add new sidebars and flavor, and align with newer mechanical changes while preserving a narrative-first approach.
Remonstered! Keith Ammann Updates The Monsters Know What They’re Doing!
Q: Which monster ate Shawn Merwin and why?
Keith jokingly suggests the abominable yeti as the culprit, fitting Shawn's southern New York location and the playful tone of the banter.
Best of Dragons of Stormwreck Isle and the 3rd Starter Set!
Q: How does a creator's voice affect an RPG product? What makes a creator's voice recognizable in the first place? Should these voices be more prominent or could prominent voices detract from the product's cohesion and format?
Teos and Shawn discuss voice as a double-edged sword: a distinct creator voice can energize a product and make it memorable, but it can also overshadow the core material if overused. They note examples from published works where voice is strong yet controlled by style guides and project teams, suggesting that a clear, publisher-aligned voice can enhance cohesion without sacrificing readability or gameplay clarity.
Amanda Hamon and Arcana Unleashed!
Q: What does a typical week or month look like for you at Wizards of the Coast?
She explains the role of a senior game designer as project lead, overseeing concept through production, with a strong emphasis on playtesting, iteration, coordination with editors and art, as well as marketing and release support, reflecting a highly collaborative, multi-team process.
Amanda Hamon and Arcana Unleashed!
Q: How did you get started as a gamer and then as a designer?
Amanda describes starting in 3.5e/D&D as a teen, moving from gameplay into design after meeting a designer at GenCon who suggested game design as a path; she began with Pathfinder modules and gradually moved to Wizards of the Coast, leveraging journalism skills to approach design and publication with discipline.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Mastering Dungeons

What is Mastering Dungeons about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A veteran-led show covers the tabletop RPG hobby from multiple angles, combining industry news, product reviews, design discussions, and practical DM guidance. Two longtime designers drive thoughtful conversations with guests, dissecting game systems, publishing trends, and ecosystem moves while offering concrete tips for players, DMs, and creators. Notable strengths include a balanced, experience-driven perspective, deep dives into how design and business intersect, and a steady stream of actionable insights for builders and enthusiasts alike. The format often blends news analysis with design critique, making it a reliable resource for staying current without sacrificing depth or practical takeaways.

Where can I find podcast stats for Mastering Dungeons?

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How many listeners does Mastering Dungeons get?

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What are the audience demographics for Mastering Dungeons?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Mastering Dungeons has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Mastering Dungeons are there?

Mastering Dungeons launched 11 years ago and published 584 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Mastering Dungeons?

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What guests have appeared on Mastering Dungeons?

Recent guests on Mastering Dungeons include:

1. Keith Ammann
2. Lyla Fujiwara
3. Lydia Suen
4. Amanda Hamon
5. Tomas Härenstam
6. Adam Bradford
7. Mike Shea
8. Daði Einars

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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