It almost feels like cliffhangers are a requirement for some DMs, or at least the professional ones! But are cliffhangers always necessary? And how can you use them more effectively as storytelling devices? Tanner discusses 3 tips for maximizing their effectiveness while avoiding cliffhanger-burnout.
Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM.
Today we continue talking about improv. We finish our tips for responding to player choices and actions.
Here are the tips:
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:
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Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter
Do you give your players much of a chance to collaborate on the storytelling? No? Well, you wouldn't be alone! In this episode, Tanner discusses some ideas for introducing collaboration into your D&D party so you can ramp up the storytelling AND player engagement!
Today's episode is all about taking a normal or underutilized D&D game mechanic and using it to its fullest to add some real excitement to your D&D games! And if anyone deserves more excitement for playing, it's the DM. Tanner shares 5 specific mechanics to check out. Are there any others you can think of?
Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM
today we continue talking about better Improv Tips for DMs
Here’s what we cover:
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:
The problem of the NPC companion... the poor shmuck that your party drags along with them that YOU suddenly have to play as if you were both a player and a DM. They are just trouble, right? NO! If you learn how to pick your battles when using them in combat, roleplay situations, and other situations, you'll see that they can add to important moments without being a drag in the meantime.
Welcome to How to Be a Better DM
Today we talk about improving improvisation when your players do something out of the blue.
Tip #1: The Rule of Intent - think about the intent of the player as you improvise and try to meet and fulfill that intent.
Tip #2: Yes AND - in your yes anding the AND should be capitalized because that’s the most important part.
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
Oh, so you'd like to create EVERY story arc, enemy, NPC, and element of your D&D adventure out of thin air, without resorting to using characters who are blatant knockoffs of well-known actors or movie characters? And let me guess: you'd also like every adventure arc be an entirely new story that's never been seen (or at least is heavily disguised). Well, this is the wrong episode for you, because Tanner discusses why copying or embracing external story and character inspiration isn't cheap, negative, or even lazy: it's actually a great tool for DMs!
Thanks for listening. Today we talk about the secret inner work required to be a great dungeon master. Here are some notes:
People Management of yourself as the DM
Self Validation
Jealousy
Curiosity
Self Regulation
Six Pillars of Self Esteem
Don’t take things personally
The 4 Agreements
Assertiveness
Personal Clarity
Journaling
Self-Discipline
Routines
Relationship Builder
The Like Switch
Grattitude
Grattitude Journal
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
Do you ever wish that players would just STOP and take things seriously for one minute?! After all, you want the next moment to FEEL important... but how can you do that? How can you add weight to your words? Namely, the type of weight that gets players to quiet down, lean forward, and think. It's not easy, but it is absolutely possible!
Every DM wants to get better, but “improvement” can feel vague. In this episode, we break it down into four concrete tools you can use to actually level up your Dungeon Mastering—whether you’re running your first campaign or your fifth.
The 4 Tools
1. The Dungeon Master Level Up Guide
• A free newsletter from Session 0 Studios that delivers practical advice and DM growth tips straight to your inbox.
2. Record Your Sessions
• Why listening back is one of the fastest ways to spot your blind spots.
• Story: Grim casts Detect Thoughts—and how hearing it later changed how we thought about the moment.
3. The After Action Report
• A simple, repeatable reflection process:
• What did we want to happen?
• What actually happened?
• Why did it happen?
• What can we learn going forward?
• Story: breaking down the last session at our own table.
4. Content You Consume
• People Management: The Like Switch, How to Win Friends and Influence People
• Performance: YouTube channels like Improve Your Voice and PVImprov
• Game Design: Game Maker’s Toolkit
• Storytelling: Writing Excuses, Matt Colville, Mystic Arts, High Rollers
These aren’t just entertainment—they’re study material for growing as a DM.
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
Here are my tips:
Use scatter terrain
Use distance
Use elevation
Capture the Flag
VIP
Zombies
Tag
Hide and Seek
Snatch and Grab
Ingredient Gathering
King of the Hill
The Ground is Lava
Shock and Awe
Library Book
The Shell Game
Add Water Elements
Add the Weather
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
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
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
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:
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
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:
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Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
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