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Artwork for How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM

Justin Lewis
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeon Mastering
Storytelling
Player Engagement
Dungeon Master
Combat Encounters
Character Development
Role-Playing Games
Game Mechanics
Improvisation
Role Playing Games
Character Creation
Tabletop Role-Playing Games
World Building
Tabletop Gaming
Combat Mechanics
Player Agency
Campaign Planning
Game Design

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 D... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes278Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM

Latest Episodes

In this short run of episodes, Tanner discusses various aspects about one-shots and how to plan them—and today, the topic is one-shot character creation! Sure, you could just have your players create them, but maybe they take too long, or the players... more

In our first-ever interview episode, we sit down with Dr. Ben, whose work and studies span storytelling, game design, philosophy, and many other disciplines.

Together, we distill practical insights on authority at the table, both within the fiction ... more

Every Dungeon Master hits a wall eventually. The prep feels like a chore. The session you used to look forward to is now the thing you're dreading. The spark that made you fall in love with running games has gone quiet.

In this special live panel re... more

Now with guests you might know from Youtube, we bring you more and better thoughts regarding Dungeon Mastering and other aspects of our beloved hobby.

Danny Barrett gives us a glimpse of what is to come for the next 3 months!

Creative Contraband is... more

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Recent Guests

Esteban Senzig
Actor, designer of immersive experiences at Evermore (Utah) and Dreamwalk (Utah); voice acting and game design background
Evermore Utah; Dreamwalk Utah
Episode: From Opera to Encounters: Turning Big Ideas into Playable Reality (ft. Esteban Senzig)
Kyle Shire
Senior producer for Critical Role, writer, and comedian
Critical Role
Episode: DM Lessons Learned from Standup Comedy with Kyle Shire
London Carlisle
Dungeon Master and NPC design expert
Session 0 Studios
Episode: No More Boring NPCS - Design a Better NPC with London Carlisle
DM Shea
Dungeon Master and co-host of Dungeon Master Talk
Dungeon Master Talk
Episode: How to make Lifelike NPCs with DMs Shea and Kyle from Dungeon Master Talk
DM Kyle
Dungeon Master and co-host of Dungeon Master Talk
Dungeon Master Talk
Episode: How to make Lifelike NPCs with DMs Shea and Kyle from Dungeon Master Talk
Jay Foster
DM, storyteller, and creator of Level 20 Training
Swole Initiative
Episode: Diving Deep into Theme, Fate, and Storytelling with Jay Foster from Swole Initiative
Ashley May King
A talented writer for horror and mystery games, specializing in 'Call of Cthulhu'.
Episode: The Lost Episode? Lessons from Ashley May King on Mastering the Art of DMing in Horror and Mystery
Samantha Fortune
Dungeon Master with experience in running multiple campaigns
Episode: DM Coaching: Timelines and Weather with Samantha Fortune
Dan Wells
Best-selling author and co-host of Writing Excuses podcast
Writing Excuses, Dungeon Master Direct
Episode: Dan Wells: What are You Good at As a GM?

Hosts

Justin Lewis
Host of How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM
Cayden Ottley
Host of How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM
Tanner Weyland
Host of How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 253 ratings
  • Very good

    It’s a good useful podcast. Its definitely levelled up my DMing

    Question: I once made a character with expertise in intimidation and andvantage on it. So what I could do is on my turn just intimidate the entire battle field. How should my DMs deal with character like this? (such as bards)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    _kholin_
    Australia2 months ago
  • This is great

    This podcast really helped me improve my DMing skills

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I don’t want to nickname 😭
    Canada3 months ago
  • Very good

    It’s a good useful podcast. Its definitely levelled up my DMing

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    _kholin_
    Australia3 months ago
  • Great show

    This is a great podcast. It has helped me grow into a good DM.

    P.S. when will there be more pact and boon episodes?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DungeonMaster567
    United Statesa year ago
  • Amazing

    Just good it helped me start dming

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cubes of the world
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests and co-hosts bring useful perspectives and real-world examples.
A common thread is appreciation for how tips scale from new DMs to seasoned players.
Listeners praise the practical, actionable DM tips and energetic delivery.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#117
United States/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#110
Canada/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#173
Australia/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#66
Poland/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#78
Denmark/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#224
Ireland/Leisure/Hobbies

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From Opera to Encounters: Turning Big Ideas into Playable Reality (ft. Esteban Senzig)
Q: What's the biggest mistake DMs make when building a world, and how do you avoid it?
World Builders' Disease—getting so caught up in building a grand world that you never start playing. Keep it simple at the core, make the beginning, middle, and end clear, and allow players to improvise and influence the middle through collaborative storytelling.
From Opera to Encounters: Turning Big Ideas into Playable Reality (ft. Esteban Senzig)
Q: How do you take a bunch of ideas and decide which ones to move forward with?
Identify a core, simple motivation for the character, ensure the idea serves the story, and be prepared to nix ideas that don't align with that core through collaboration and iterative development.
Plot Armor: What Michael Scott and GoT Can Teach Us About Stakes in DMing
Q: How can you explain then that Matt Mercer, being one of the best in the world, gives the player that moment by asking how do you want to do this?
The host explains that while Matt Mercer often defers to player-led moments, he still narrates the scene in detail after the players describe their actions to maintain cinematic clarity and build the moment, showing a balance between player agency and DM narration.
Pauses and Silences: What we say by not saying
Q: Do you think it is possible to use these rituals to make new roleplayers feel comfortable in a table with more experienced players?
Yes, using rituals can help create a comfortable environment and facilitate engagement for new players.
Rituals in Art - Infinite solutions in a simple concept
Q: How do I keep players engaged with elements I've introduced in previous sessions?
It's essential to bring up elements earlier in the session instead of when you need them. Use recaps or hints to remind players about these elements.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, tips-driven show for Dungeon Masters at every level, with a focus on improving storytelling, session zero prep, NPC realism, and pacing. Episodes cover a mix of actionable techniques—from running engaging encounters and managing chaos at the table to scheduling, props, and immersive senses—often illustrated with concrete examples and host-led guidance. A notable strength is the hosts' emphasis on collaboration, iterative improvement, and community, plus frequent references to tools, guest insights, and real-world play experiences. The show appears approachable for newer DMs while still offering useful frameworks and pacing strategies that veteran DMs can adopt, making it a solid resource for ongoing DM development and hobbyist ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. So You Wanna Be a Dungeon Master
2. Critical Role
3. Dungeons and Daddies
4. Ninjas Are Butterflies
5. The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

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this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 278 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Esteban Senzig
2. Kyle Shire
3. London Carlisle
4. DM Shea
5. DM Kyle
6. Jay Foster
7. Ashley May King
8. Samantha Fortune

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