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Artwork for Mastering Dungeons

Mastering Dungeons

Mastering Dungeons
Dungeons & Dragons
Shadowdark RPG
Planescape
Shadowdark
Role-Playing Games
RPG Game Design
Blade Runner Starter Set
World Building
D&D
Player Engagement
Dungeon Mastering
NPC Development
Village Setting
Adventure Design
Wizards Of the Coast
Game Mechanics
Adventure Hooks
5th Edition
Blade Runner RPG
Game Design

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!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes563Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureGames

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Mastering Dungeons

Latest Episodes

Episode 285 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Best of Out of the Abyss!

Out of the Abyss may be one of the finest Underdark sourcebooks D&D has created… and it’s also an adventure! See what really shines in Out of the Abyss.

News: We Try D&D Beyo... more

Shawn and Teos Do Things For the First Time!

Welcome to a special edition show, modeled after YouTube's increasingly hard-to-attain quality standards.

Contents

00:00 First Read of ToEE!

00:26 First Time Rolling Dice

01:08 First Time Seeing 5.5

more

Episode 284 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: Best of Temple of Elemental Evil!

Shawn and Teos dive into the classic Temple of Elemental Evil, inspiring countless spinoffs including 5E’s Princes of the Apocalypse. From elemental factions to demigo... more

Episode 283 of Mastering Dungeons!

Main topic: D&D Encounters Program with Chris Tulach!

Chris Tulach, organized play manager for D&D, shares how the revised D&D Encounters program will work for stores and home play, including the upcoming celebrat... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

Recent Guests

Chris Tulach
In charge of organized play at Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Episode: D&D Encounters Program with Chris Tulach! (MD 283)
Matt Colville
Head of MCDM, founder of Draw Steel
MCDM
Episode: Matt Colville Blows Our Minds on MCDM and the TTRPG Industry! (MD 282)
Savannah Houston-McIntyre
Creative Director for Baldman Games and Marketing Director for Mythmakers.
Baldman Games, Mythmakers
Episode: Legends of Greyhawk and RealmsBound with Savannah Houston-McIntyre (MD 275)
Ethan Yen
Game designer known for Prequel and other indie games.
GlyphTide Games
Episode: Heroic Sacrifice and Campaign Building with Prequel and Ethan Yen (MD 270)
Scott Fitzgerald Gray
Developmental editor with nearly 20 years of experience, primarily working on RPGs.
Freelancer, previously for Wizards of the Coast
Episode: How is an RPG Book Made? (Alphastream Collaboration)
Shannon Appelcline
A notable historian in the tabletop gaming community and author of Designers & Dragons Origins
Designers & Dragons
Episode: Shannon Appelcline and Designers & Dragons Origins! (MD 265)
Justice Ramin Arman
Managing game designer on the D&D game design team
Wizards of the Coast
Episode: Inside Heroes of the Borderlands: Justice Arman on creating D&D’s new starter set! (MD 258)
Chris Honkala
He's known as Treantmonk, a popular YouTuber focusing on D&D content.
Treantmonk's Temple
Episode: Treantmonk and Mike Balles! (MD 256)
Mike Balles
Co-founder of Latin Lounge, focuses on integrating Latin cultural elements into gaming.
Latin Lounge
Episode: Treantmonk and Mike Balles! (MD 256)

Hosts

Shawn Merwin
Co-host; industry veteran with extensive RPG design and publishing background.
Teos Abadía
Co-host; RPG designer and longtime industry contributor with a focus on design and publishing.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 410 ratings
  • 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 Statesa month 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 States3 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 States6 months ago
  • The #1 TTRPG Podcast

    if you like TTRPG discussions, Mastering Dungeons is head and shoulders above all the others. So many TTRPG podcasts have too much banter and not enough fact. MD always does their homework first, and they often take deep dives into new game systems. Plus the hosts, Shawn Merwin and Teos Abadia, are working designers who have written for Wizards of the Coast, Ghostfire Gaming, MCDM, and other large publishers, so their opinions come from a well of deep experience.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mister Lou
    United States7 months ago
  • Great show!

    I love this show and their approach to explaining the DM process to me. I’m a new player and a never DM. I’m certainly DM curious and I have found that listening to these two over the past few months has been extremely insightful. Like everyone else I’m Daggerheart intrigued and this recent episode on the Spotlight was very helpful to understand. I’m actually listening for the third time as it’s hard to understand without playing it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Thorlik
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Strong listener sentiment about consistency, depth, and usefulness for RPG designers and players.
Shows deep industry knowledge and practical advice for DMs and designers.
Two veterans bring balanced, insightful perspectives with strong design and publishing experience.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#46
United States/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#42
Canada/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#85
United Kingdom/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#48
Australia/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#93
Italy/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#109
France/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

D&D Encounters Program with Chris Tulach! (MD 283)
Q: What is the role of organized play in the D&D brand and how has it evolved?
Tulach explains organized play as a core mechanism to bring people together and deepen engagement, noting its intrinsic community value and its indirect impact on sales; he discusses shifting priorities toward new growth areas, and how Encounters fits into a broader ecosystem alongside Adventurers League and Legends of Greyhawk.
D&D Encounters Program with Chris Tulach! (MD 283)
Q: How did you get into gaming and what path led you to your current role?
Tulach describes starting with the Red Box in 1983, learning to DM, participating in GenCon as a teen, joining RPGA, and rising through the ranks to become a Wizards organizer and leader for organized play, including Living Greyhawk and Adventurers League.
Working in the RPG Industry! (MD 277)
Q: Given the different goals of organized play programs, would it be better for Wizards to manage two OP programs?
It's a difficult proposition, as it involves setting expectations and measuring success, but there is certainly merit in exploring tailored programming for different environments like stores and conventions.
The Future of RPGs in 2026? (MD 273)
Q: How is an aspiring adventure writer to get noticed?
Teos emphasizes the importance of creating often, understanding various games, and being involved in the community to establish oneself.
The Future of RPGs in 2026? (MD 273)
Q: Have you together or separately considered creating your own system?
Both Shawn and Teos acknowledge the challenges of designing new RPG systems and express hesitations due to the complexities involved.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Mastering Dungeons

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

This show centers on veteran game designers analyzing RPGs, industry trends, and game design through a D&D lens. Episodes frequently blend news, product reviews, and practical design insights, with deep dives into classic adventures, ongoing digital tools, and ecosystem shifts (open licensing, digital marketplaces, and creator economies). Listeners get strategic takes on how games are built, published, and played, along with ample real-world tactics for DMs, designers, and publishers. A standout vibe is the hosts' blend of industry pedigree, thoughtful analysis, and accessible, experience-backed storytelling, making it valuable for aspiring designers, established creators, and serious players alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Mastering Dungeons?

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How many listeners does Mastering Dungeons get?

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How many episodes of Mastering Dungeons are there?

Mastering Dungeons launched 10 years ago and published 563 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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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Mastering Dungeons?

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What guests have appeared on Mastering Dungeons?

Recent guests on Mastering Dungeons include:

1. Chris Tulach
2. Matt Colville
3. Savannah Houston-McIntyre
4. Ethan Yen
5. Scott Fitzgerald Gray
6. Shannon Appelcline
7. Justice Ramin Arman
8. Chris Honkala

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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