Podcasts by Wandering DMs

Wandering DMs

Dan

Further podcasts by Wandering DMs

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Wandering DMs
5th Year Anniversary|2023 Year in Review|Wandering DMs S05 E40 from 2023-12-11T17:12

Paul & Dan look back at the year in old-school D&D for 2023. And moreover, the first 5 years on Wandering DMs! What were your favorite encounters of the year? And what can we expect in t...

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Wandering DMs
D&D Mentors|How Future DMs Are Made|Wandering DMs S05 E39 from 2023-12-04T17:12

In this episode of Wandering DMs, Dan and Paul discuss the role of mentorship in teaching D&D. How did the role of mentors help the spread of D&D in the early days? How has that changed ...

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Wandering DMs
Flying in D&D|Battles in the Sky|Wandering DMs S05 E38 from 2023-11-27T17:12

Dan & Paul reflect on the history of rules for flying in D&D. How easy and powerful should it be to achieve? Does it make castles and climbing skills useless? Is the standard spell suffi...

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Wandering DMs
Ruins of Adventure|Pool of Radiance Redux|Wandering DMs S05 E37 from 2023-11-20T17:12

Paul and Dan reflect on Dan's epic saga playing through the AD&D Pool of Radiance Gold Box game live in 2022-2023, and dig into the 1988 print publication of the same adventure, Ruins of Adv...

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Wandering DMs
Money in D&D|More Treasure, More Problems|Wandering DMs S05 E36 from 2023-11-13T17:12

Dan and Paul discuss money in D&D, and how they've both independently arrived at the need for a silver standard. From measuring encumbrance in coins to stocking dungeons with treasure, to ho...

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Wandering DMs
Werewolf Games|The Monstrous Mafia|Wandering DMs S05 E35 from 2023-11-08T17:12

Paul & Dan discuss Werewolf and Mafia-style games -- party-style games with secret roles assigned, including a hidden evil faction, and a group of mostly-innocent civilians trying to survive...

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Wandering DMs
Fearful Ends|Watch Party|Wandering DMs S05 E34 from 2023-11-06T17:12

Dan hosts a watch party for the Fearful Ends actual play, as we roll into Halloween and the last few days of the Fearful Ends Kickstarter. Join us and watch along with Dan for the first time! Listen

Wandering DMs
Diceless Devices|With Matt Finch|Wandering DMs S05 E33 from 2023-10-23T16:12

Dan & Paul are joined by Matt Finch, to talk about ways it can be more efficient in your D&D game setup to get random results with dice. Consider cards, chits, spinners, toppling block t...

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Wandering DMs
Adapting Content|With the Alexandrian|Wandering DMs S05 E32 from 2023-10-16T16:12

Dan & Paul host Justin Alexander, creator of the Alexandrian and the new book So You Want to be a Game Master, for an in-depth chat on the best ways to adapt content to and from D&D and ...

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Wandering DMs
Safety Tools|Stress Free Roleplay of Stressed Out Characters|Wandering DMs S05 E31 from 2023-10-11T16:12

How do we play characters reacting naturally to highly stressful situations without completely stressing ourselves out? Paul and Dan discuss the variety of safety tools in use in modern roleplay...

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Wandering DMs
Impossible Odds|Player Autonomy vs Overwhelming Opposition|Wandering DMs S05 E30 from 2023-10-09T16:12

With the launch of the Fearful Ends Kickstarter imminent, Dan and Paul discuss roleplaying impossible situations. How do we maintain player autonomy when the deck is clearly stacked against them...

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Wandering DMs
Natural Healing in D&D|Wandering DMs S05 E29 from 2023-09-25T16:12

Without magic, how fast does a character heal in D&D? It may surprise you how much the answer has changed over the editions! Dan & Paul debate which rule is best. And what are hit points...

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Wandering DMs
Assassins in D&D|Wandering DMs S05 E28 from 2023-09-18T16:12

Assassins were prominently available for hire in the earliest edition of Dungeons & Dragons, and they became a core character class of their own in 1st Edition Advanced D&D. Where did th...

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Wandering DMs
D&D Character Sheets|Setting the Record Straight|Wandering DMs S05 E27 from 2023-09-11T16:12

Dan and Paul dive into character sheets! Between edition changes and advancing technology, how have they changed throughout the years? And what's the best way to keep tabs on your character's mo...

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Wandering DMs
Mazes in D&D|Getting Lost is Half the Fun|Wandering DMs S05 E26 from 2023-08-28T16:12

Join Dan and Paul as they discuss the use of mazes in D&D adventures! They will explore the twists and turns of these navigation puzzles, and try to discover the line between captivating cha...

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Wandering DMs
D&D on Mars|The Warriors of Mars|Wandering DMs S05 E25 from 2023-08-21T16:12

Paul & Dan chat about the huge influence that tales set on Mars (Burroughs' John Carter Barsoom stories) had on the design of early Dungeons & Dragons. Did you know that original D&D...

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Wandering DMs
Real World Inspirations|Creating D&D Adventures From What’s Around You|Wandering DMs S05 E24 from 2023-08-14T16:12

Dan & Paul chat about using the world around them to create D&D and other TTRPG scenarios. They share personal anecdotes of times they stumbled upon real places that sparked their creati...

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Wandering DMs
Weather in D&D|What Can You Do About It?|Wandering DMs S05 E23 from 2023-08-07T16:12

Dan & Paul chat about different weather systems for D&D they've seen over the years. Do you prefer yours simple, or very detailed? Dice-based or DM narrative fiat? And why is it so impor...

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Wandering DMs
Paranoia RPGs|Mandatory Fun|Wandering DMs S05 E22 from 2023-07-23T18:22:34

Fresh from playing the Paranoia Mandatory Bonus Fun Card Game, Dan and Paul discuss their experience with various editions of the Paranoia RPG. Stay alert, trust no one, and keep your laser hand...

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Wandering DMs
Unboxing War of Wizards (1975)|Wandering DMs S02 E21 from 2023-07-09T21:55:14

Paul's acquired an ancient treasure: A copy of M.A.R. Barker's 1975 "War of Wizards" game, still in the shrink wrap, from Gary Gygax's personal collection no less! This is the first-ever publica...

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Wandering DMs
Invisibility in D&D|The Unseen|Wandering DMs S05 E20 from 2023-06-26T16:12

Dan & Paul chat about the complications of invisibility in D&D, how to handle it, and how easily opponents can counter it, through the ages. How often have you cursed because of it?

...

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Wandering DMs
Unicorns in D&D|What’s the Point?|Wandering DMs S05 E19 from 2023-06-12T16:12

Paul & Dan share their thoughts on Unicorns, which have been part of the standard monster list since the earliest days. Are they meant to be magical, fey representations of ineffable mysteri...

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Wandering DMs
D&D Honor Among Thieves|Wandering DMs Review|Wandering DMs S05 E18 from 2023-06-05T16:12

Dan & Paul give their thoughts on the 2023 movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. For old-school D&D players, is it worth the watch, or another one for the garderobe?

...

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Wandering DMs
Wargame Lessons|Revising Fantasy Medieval Campaigns|Wandering DMs S05 E17 from 2023-05-29T16:12

Paul & Dan reflect on lessons we've learned for our D&D games based on playing wargames in the recent past. Is there anything we can use to improve our fantasy RPG? Heck, yes!

...

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Wandering DMs
Morale in D&D|Let’s Get Out of Here!?|Wandering DMs S05 E16 from 2023-05-22T16:12

Dan & Paul discuss the large variety of different morale rules in classic D&D -- and its roots in related wargaming. Which method is best? What would be most believable? What makes the b...

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Wandering DMs
d6 vs. d8|What’s Best for Core D&D?|Wandering DMs S05 E15 from 2023-05-15T16:15

Paul & Dan discuss the history of what counts as the "standard" die in D&D used for hit dice, damage, miscellaneous checks, and more. Was switching from the six-sided to the eight-sided ...

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Wandering DMs
Wights, Wraiths, and Spectres|The Unholy Trinity|Wandering DMs S05 E14 from 2023-05-08T16:12

Dan & Paul reconsider some of the most feared undead in D&D -- wights, wraiths, and spectres. You know: the types that are most likely to drain your character's XP. How do you like your ...

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Wandering DMs
Pinkerton Goons vs. WOTC Fans|Game Company Gaffes|Wandering DMs S05 E13 from 2023-05-01T16:12

Did you know that the Pinkerton National Detective Agency -- famed protector of Abraham Lincoln in the 1800's, and union-busting goon squad in the 1900's -- is still around? And they have time t...

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Wandering DMs
Matt Finch|Swords&Wizardry Complete Revised|Wandering DMs S05 E12 from 2023-04-17T16:12

Paul & Dan get to chat with Matt Finch about his new full-blown edition to the Swords & Wizardry D&D retroclone, now on Kickstarter!

Since 2008, Swords & Wizardry has b...

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Wandering DMs
Our D&D House Con 2023|Live Lessons|Wandering DMs S05 E11 from 2023-04-14T16:51:11

Dan & Paul recap our annual 25-person indie house convention we hold annually on the sparkling shores of Plymouth, MA. Check our review of hour our classic games went, new games we got to tr...

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Wandering DMs
Rising Phoenix Game Con|How to Start a New Con?|Wandering DMs S05 E10 from 2023-03-27T19:02:06

Paul & Dan chat with Scott Legault, chair of the new Rising Phoenix Game Con in Massachusetts this April! What's it like to start a new game con today? And can leveraging the better part of ...

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Wandering DMs
Luke Gygax|GaryCon XV|Wandering DMs S05 E09 from 2023-03-17T19:03:09

This week, Paul & Dan get to host Luke Gygax and find out about all the happenings at the upcoming GaryCon XV convention!

Luke Gygax is the son of Dungeons & Dragons co-creator...

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Wandering DMs
Our Own Dungeons&Dragons|Original Edition Delta|Wandering DMs S05 E08 from 2023-03-06T17:12

Dan & Paul discuss our personal, customized version of D&D: Original Edition Delta!

Initially, Paul & Dan preferred different editions of Dungeons & Dragon, with some p...

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Wandering DMs
A Trip to Totalcon|Conventions 2023|Wandering DMs S05 E07 from 2023-02-27T22:03:23

Dan interviews Paul on his weekend trip to the first convention of the season, Total Confusion, the largest gaming con in New England. How to prepare in short time if you're busy like we are? Wh...

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Wandering DMs
The Legacy of Digital D&D|Ware of the Wizards|Wandering DMs S05 E06 from 2023-02-21T19:58:56

Paul & Dan reflect on the legacy of digital tools for D&D from Wizard of the Coast, and what the prospects are for what's next!

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Wandering DMs
Collaborations|Party-Based Design for D&D|Wandering DMs S05 E05 from 2023-02-06T17:12

Dan & Paul hash over the benefits & flaws of working with other people in your TTRPG design, DM'ing, nd play!

Collaboration (from Latin com- "with" + laborare "to labor", "to w...

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Wandering DMs
Linda Codega&the OGL|Breakin g the D&D License Story|Wandering DMs S05 E04 from 2023-01-30T17:12

Dan & Paul sit down with Linda Codega, the exceptional journalist at io9/Gizmodo who broke the story of WOTC planning to de-authorize the Open Game License that's been used for D&D-compa...

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Wandering DMs
Retroclone Roundup|Alternatives to D&D|Wandering DMs S05 E03 from 2023-01-29T17:55:40

Are you currently looking for an alternative the the D&D roleplaying gaming? But still committed to medieval-style fantasy gaming? Dan & Paul review the current top retroclones on the ma...

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Wandering DMs
The Alexandrian Takes on the OGL|Justin Alexander&Atlas Games|Wandering DMs S05 E02 from 2023-01-19T21:54:43

Justin Alexander is one of the most prolific and insightful RPG writers around. Between his long-running blog at The Alexandrian, his work at Atlas Games, his hundreds of published books and art...

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Wandering DMs
Why is Hasbro Nuking the D&D License?|OGL 1.1|Wandering DMs S05 E01 from 2023-01-09T17:12

Word has leaked that WOTC aims to terminate the OGL license used for 3rd-party D&D-compatible products for the last 20+ over years. Can they do it? Are all existing 3rd-party products about ...

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Wandering DMs
2022 Year in Review|Wandering DMs Season 4|Wandering DMs S04 E47 from 2022-12-12T17:12:07

Dan & Paul look back at the state of D&D in this past year of 2022, and the 4th season of Wandering DMs. What were your favorites, what were the critical fumbles for the year? What theme...

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Wandering DMs
Jon Peterson|Game Wizards|Wandering DMs S04 E46 from 2022-12-05T17:12

Paul & Dan chat with D&D historian extraordinaire Jon Peterson about his latest book, Game Wizards, on the history of TSR, the makers of D&D, and the turbulent waters of changing cre...

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Wandering DMs
D&D Boxed Text?|Magniloquent Monographs|Wandering DMs S04 E45 from 2022-11-28T17:10

Dan & Paul exchange thoughts on the use of prepared Boxed Text descriptions in D&D adventures. Are they hostile, or benign in your games?

DM Shawn Merwin wrote on D&D Beyon...

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Wandering DMs
Keith Ammann|How to Defend Your Lair|Wandering DMs S04 E44 from 2022-11-21T17:12

Paul & Dan chat with Keith Ammann ("The Monsters Know What They're Doing") on his newest book of dungeon design principles, "How to Defend Your Lair"!

In How to Defend Your Lair, g...

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Wandering DMs
Location, Location|Where You Play Is How You Play|Wandering DMs S04 E43 from 2022-11-16T14:27:16

Dan & Paul reflect on their long history of playing RPGs in a wide variety of sometimes unusual locations, and how that can affect the play of your D&D games for better & worse!

...

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Wandering DMs
Haunted Houses|Dreadful Dwellings in D&D|Wandering DMs S04 E42 from 2022-11-01T16:12

Paul & Dan look back at their favorite "Haunted House" adventures for D&D games. From Tegel Manor to Saltmarsh to Castle Amber and Ravenloft, we'll assess what works best and what doesn'...

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Wandering DMs
Jim Davis|Web DM vs. One D&D|Wandering DMs S04 E41 from 2022-10-26T18:45:13

Dan & Paul chat with Jim Davis, the wizard of Web DM, and get his thoughts on the rules drops so far for One D&D, the playtest for the upcoming next-edition of Dungeons & Dragons! Listen

Wandering DMs
Matt Finch|And the Tome of Adventure Design|Wandering DMs S04 E40 from 2022-10-18T16:12

Dan & Paul chat with Matt Finch, creator of Swords & Wizardry, about his Revised Tome of Adventure Design!

Tome of Adventure Design is a comprehensive, start-to-finish resource...

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Wandering DMs
Strongholds in D&D|Unreal Estate for Players|Wandering DMs S04 E39 from 2022-10-11T16:12

Paul & Dan chat about bases for player characters in D&D -- strongholds, ships, taverns, houses, and more!

European-style castles originated in the 9th and 10th centuries, afte...

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Wandering DMs
One D&D Expert Classes|Rogues, Rangers, and Bards|Wandering DMs S04 E38 from 2022-10-04T16:12

Dan & Paul turn a critical eye to the new One D&D (6E) rules draft on the Expert Class group: Rogues, Rangers, and Bards!

In August 2022, Wizards announced that the next phase ...

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Wandering DMs
Griffith Morgan|Exploring Tonisborg|Wandering DMs S04 E37 from 2022-10-01T12:50:30

Dan & Paul chat with Griffith Morgan about the new upcoming Kickstarter for the Lost Dungeons of Tonisborg!

In 1971, Greg Svenson and his friends took part in the very first dungeo...

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Wandering DMs
Alyssa Faden|Maps the D&D Universe|Wandering DMs S04 E36 from 2022-09-20T19:30:45

Dan chats with Alyssa Faden, mapmaker extraordinaire, about her projects mapping the worlds of Greyhawk and the rest of the D&D cosmos!

Alyssa has been a professional cartographer ...

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Wandering DMs
Slimes in D&D|Calling the Cleanup Crew|Wandering DMs S04 E35 from 2022-09-14T16:12

Paul & Dan chat about slimes, molds, oozes, and deadly gelatinous horrors in D&D. Gross!

Slime mold or slime mould is an informal name given to several kinds of unrelated eukar...

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Wandering DMs
Fantasy Languages|Watcha Talkin’About?|Wandering DMs S04 E34 from 2022-09-09T16:12

Dan & Paul chat about the state of languages in D&D and other fantasy RPGs.

Tolkien was of the opinion that the invention of an artistic language in order to be convincing and ...

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Wandering DMs
What’s Up With One D&D|Threat or Menace?|Wandering DMs S04 E33 from 2022-09-07T16:12

Paul & Dan assess the information so far on the next edition of D&D after 5E.

In August 2022, Wizards announced that the next phase of major changes for Dungeons & Dragons ...

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Wandering DMs
D&D Stat Generation|Methods&Measures|Wandering DMs S04 E32 from 2022-09-05T17:55

Dan & Paul survey the different options across the years for D&D PC ability score generation.

Which is best for your D&D game? What are the advantages and disadvantages of ...

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Wandering DMs
Jason Morningstar|Playing at Desperation|Wandering DMs S04 E31 from 2022-08-22T16:12

Paul & Dan chat with Jason Morningstar, creator of Fiasco, Desperation, and other great RPGs.

Jason Morningstar is an American indie role-playing game designer, publishing mostly t...

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Wandering DMs
Death of the DM|Wandering DMs S04 E30 from 2022-08-20T16:12

Paul & Dan chat about the history of attempts to remove the DM from D&D games.

The Dungeon Master (DM) assumes the role of the game master or referee and describes for other pl...

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Wandering DMs
Necromancer Games|Whisper&Venom|Wandering DMs S04 E29 from 2022-08-18T16:12

Dan & Paul chat with Zach Glazar of Necromancer Games on their new Kickstarter!

Whisper & Venom, the acclaimed adventure setting, is being resurrected and expanded for Fifth Ed...

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Wandering DMs
Jousting in Original D&D|Live Tournament|Wandering DMs S04 E28 from 2022-08-16T16:11

Dan is challenged by viewer Stephen Wendell to an old-school D&D Jousting tourney!

How was Jousting in Original D&D performed? It referred back to the mini-game in the pre-D&am...

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Wandering DMs
Dinosaurs in D&D|Real Terrible Lizards|Wandering DMs S04 E27 from 2022-08-14T19:10

Paul & Dan discuss the presence of Dinosaurs in D&D!

Do you love D&D? Do you love Dinosaurs? Well, if you're like us, it's a lock you'll want to run your PCs up against the...

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Wandering DMs
Flanking in D&D|And More Combat Options|Wandering DMs S04 E26 from 2022-07-20T16:12

Dan & Paul discuss Flanking and other combat options in D&D.

5th Edition D&D has several optional combat rules in the DMG: Flanking, Facing, and Diagonal movement. These ec...

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Wandering DMs
The Hasty and the Hateful|Fiasco Actual Play|Wandering DMs S04 E25 from 2022-07-18T04:12

Paul & Dan play a hot game of Fiasco with our best-ever gaming friends. This special episode recorded for Paul's birthday includes nearly two and a half hours of actual play with Dan, Paul, ...

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Wandering DMs
Full-Blown Fiasco|Dude, Where’s My Dice?|Wandering DMs S04 E24 from 2022-07-01T19:58

Dan & Paul discuss the newest, diceless edition of the Fiasco RPG.

Fiasco is a role-playing game by Jason Morningstar, independently published by Bully Pulpit Games. It is marketed...

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Wandering DMs
Creeping Doom of the Pumpkin King|Wilderness Design Dash|Wandering DMs S04 E23 from 2022-06-30T16:12

They've done a number of Dungeon Design Dashes before, but for the first time ever, Dan & Paul go to create a complete wilderness adventure in an hour live on camera. With no advance prep an...

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Wandering DMs
GIANTS|D&D Heavyweights|Wandering DMs S04 E22 from 2022-06-29T16:12

Paul & Dan chat about the presence of giants in D&D from the elder times to now.

Giants are found in the legendary tales of all cultures around the world, and they're critical ...

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Wandering DMs
Advanced D&D Pool of Radiance|The Gold Standard|Wandering DMs S04 E21 from 2022-06-20T16:12

Paul & Dan reminisce on the Advanced D&D Gold Box computer game, Pool of Radiance.

Pool of Radiance was a role-playing video game developed and published by Strategic Simulatio...

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Wandering DMs
Kieron Gillen|DIE RPG|Wandering DMs S04 E20 from 2022-06-17T16:12

Dan & Paul chat with award-winning comic creator Kieron Gillen on his new DIE RPG.

Kieron Gillen is one of our favorite comic authors working today -- he's written series for the X...

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Wandering DMs
Wild West RPGs|Sixguns&Sorcery|Wandering DMs S04 E19 from 2022-06-15T16:12

Dan & Paul review our favorite Wild West RPGs.

Some gamers argue that any fantasy or sci-fi RPG, including Dungeons & Dragons, is mostly Wild West plot tropes covered over with...

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Wandering DMs
James Maliszewski|How to Run a 7-Year Campaign|Wandering DMs S04 E18 from 2022-06-13T16:12

Dan & Paul catch up with James Maliszewski of Grognardia on his "House of Worms" campaign!

Have you ever managed to run a D&D campaign for 7 years and counting? Well, James Mal...

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Wandering DMs
Spencer Crittenden|Mastering HarmonQuest|Wandering DMs S04 E17 from 2022-06-11T19:15:41

Paul & Dan interview Spencer Crittenden, the GM on HarmonQuest and other shows!

Spencer Crittenden is one of our favorite famous DMs. He ran the game on Dan Harmon's HarmonQuest as...

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Wandering DMs
TDR|Season 01 Episode 11|Inner System Blues Recap from 2022-05-30T16:12

Christian & crew recap our Inner System Blues cyberpunk game in the 2400 system.

Let's chat about the 2400 game system we used for our Inner System Blues cyberpunk game. What worke...

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Wandering DMs
Art of D&D|Vol. 3: The 90’s|Wandering DMs S04 E16 from 2022-05-27T16:12

Dan & Isabelle assess the D&D art of the 90's.

Brooklyn-based fine artist Isabelle Garbani joins us again for another installment of "Art of D&D": this time, in the 1990's,...

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Wandering DMs
Karen Twelves|Improv for Gamers|Wandering DMs S04 E15 from 2022-05-25T16:12

Dan & Paul interview Karen Twelves, author of "Improv for Gamers".

The Wandering DMs love improv and think using tools from that field are essential to a great D&D game. In thi...

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Wandering DMs
TDR|Season 01 Episode 10|Inner System Blues Part IV from 2022-05-23T16:12

Christian & crew conclude our Inner System Blues cyberpunk game in the 2400 system.

Amidst the burning wreckage of a carrier ship, a violent storm at sea, gunfire from guards and d...

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Wandering DMs
Golems|Artificial Omnipotence|Wandering DMs S04 E14 from 2022-05-20T16:12

Dan & Paul review the history of Golems in D&D.

It's been said that the Golem is "a highly mutable metaphor with seemingly limitless symbolism". Springing from Jewish folklore,...

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Wandering DMs
TDR|Season 01 Episode 09|Inner System Blues Part III from 2022-05-16T16:12

Christian & crew continue our Inner System Blues cyberpunk game in the 2400 system.

In Inner System Blues part III, the NULL crew of KIT, BECCA, ThinkBot, and Victor finally get ab...

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Wandering DMs
House Con 2022|All Together Now|Wandering DMs S04 E13 from 2022-04-08T04:12

Dan & Paul reflect on their first "house con" in three years.

In normal times, Dan, Paul & their friends have a private "house convention" for a weekend each spring. That was p...

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Wandering DMs
Our Appendix N|Wandering Inspiration|Wandering DMs S04 E12 from 2022-04-06T04:12

Dan & Paul discuss our most influential fantasy readings.

Wandering DMs Paul Siegel and Dan “Delta” Collins host thoughtful discussions on D&D and other TTRPGs every week. Comp...

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Wandering DMs
TDR|Season 01 Episode 08|Inner System Blues Part II from 2022-04-05T14:07:05

Can the gang break out of the trap at Arasaki Geo Tech industrial park?

Christian & company continue our Inner System Blues cyberpunk game series in the 2400 system. Having raised ...

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Wandering DMs
Ramsey Campbell|The Way of the Worm|Wandering DMs S04 E11 from 2022-03-26T16:12

Dan & Paul talk to legendary fantasy & horror writer Ramsey Campbell!

The Oxford Companion to English Literature describes Ramsey Campbell as “Britain’s most respected living h...

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Wandering DMs
TDR|Season 01 Episode 07|Inner System Blues Part I from 2022-03-25T16:12

New cyberpunk PCs get made live, and a very hot & wet mission is put forth.

We start a new cyberpunk series, with Christian running the Inner System Blues system for 2400. Special ...

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Wandering DMs
Desolate Sanctum of the Flying Lich|Dungeon Design Dash|Wandering DMs S04 E10 from 2022-03-24T16:12

Dan & Paul a high-level dungeon, live in one hour!

Hey, what's that flying rock overhead, and what are those dark winged shapes flying around it? Only the bravest of superheroes an...

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Wandering DMs
TDR|Season 01 Episode 06|Kids On Bikes Retrospective from 2022-03-23T16:12

The wrap & retrospective of our Kids on Bikes live play series. What did you think?

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Wandering DMs
Frog God Games|Splinters of Faith|Wandering DMs S04 E09 from 2022-03-12T17:12

Frog God Games tell us about their new adventure path & temples sourcebook.

We're joined by Jeff Harkness & Gary Schotter to tell us about Frog God Games' upcoming mega-campaig...

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Wandering DMs
TDR|Season 01 Episode 05|Kids On Bikes Part 4 from 2022-03-11T17:12

The big finale of our game of Kids on Bikes run by Colleen. What is this strange new dark video game in the arcade? Perhaps the closing of the arcade is not the scariest thing the kids must face...

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Wandering DMs
Luke Gygax|GaryCon XIV|Wandering DMs S04 E08 from 2022-03-10T17:12

Dan & Paul are joined by special Guest Luke Gygax to talk about the upcoming GaryCon XIV, the return to live conventions, and navigating how to keep everyone safe & secure. Plus we'll ta...

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Wandering DMs
TDR|Season 01 Episode 04|Kids On Bikes Part 3 from 2022-03-09T17:12

We continue our game of Kids on Bikes run by Colleen. What is this strange new dark video game in the arcade? Perhaps the closing of the arcade is not the scariest thing the kids must face.

...

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Wandering DMs
Challenge Ratings|What Are They Good For?|Wandering DMs S04 E07 from 2022-03-08T17:12

Paul & Dan have a spirited discussion on Challenge Ratings -- as well as Monster Levels from classic D&D, the Monster Mark system from White Dwarf, Equivalent Hit Dice, and other ways of...

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Wandering DMs
TDR|Season 01 Episode 03|Kids On Bikes Part 2 from 2022-03-07T17:12

We continue our game of Kids on Bikes run by Colleen. Can Stan and Stan save the Arcace / Tackle Shop? Will Walleye Vance win the Crocaqotaqua Fishing Festival again? And will we find out what e...

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Wandering DMs
Greg Svenson&D.H. Boggs|Lost Dungeons of Tonisborg|Wandering DMs S04 E06 from 2022-03-06T21:03:29

Dan hosts special guests Greg Svenson (a.k.a "The Great Svenny" from Dave Arneson's Blackmoor) and D&D archaeologist D.H. Boggs to talk about their presentation of "The Lost Dungeons of Toni...

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Wandering DMs
TDR|Season 01 Episode 02|Kids On Bikes Part 1 from 2022-02-26T17:12

This week we kick off our game of Kids on Bikes run by Colleen! Radical!

Check out...

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Wandering DMs
Diegetic Disasters|When Rules Wreck the Realm|Wandering DMs S04 E05 from 2022-02-24T22:06:42

Dan & Paul dive back into AD&D 1st and 2nd Edition for examples of adventures that played out edition-shifts in real-time in the campaign world of the time. In Greyhawk we had "Fate of I...

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Wandering DMs
Nerdarchy Assembles|Mage Forge!|Wandering DMs S04 E04 from 2022-02-01T17:12

The Wandering DMs host the guys from Nerdarchy -- Ted, Dave, and Doug -- to tell us about their new product for D&D 5E: Mage Forge! Over 250 new magic items with full descriptions and art, i...

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Wandering DMs
Changing Editions|What’s Next for D&D?|Wandering DMs S04 E03 from 2022-01-31T19:58:13

There's a new edition of D&D on the horizon. Dan & Paul discuss the issues & experiences of prior edition switches to the game. Should changes be widespread, or more restrained? Is b...

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Wandering DMs
TDR|Season 01 Episode 01|Ten Dead Rats Review from 2022-01-31T17:12

For the season opener of TDR we review the Ten Dead Rats campaign that spawned this show! And we'll announce the GM and system for our first game of the season!

The TDR crew play short...

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Wandering DMs
Crumbling Dungeon of the Ice Bees|Dungeon Design Dash|Wandering DMs S04 E02 from 2022-01-19T17:12

Dan & Paul are back with another design-dash challenge. Can they stock a whole dungeon in a single hour this time? Can they deal with the discovery of a beast that's not even in the Monster ...

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Wandering DMs
Return to Dark Tower|Electronic Wizardry|Wandering DMs S04 E01 from 2022-01-16T20:55:52

Dan & Paul discuss our joy for the classic 80's digitally-assisted boardgame Dark Tower, and the new app-enabled Return to Dark Tower out this year. Does the sequel live up to our memories? ...

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Wandering DMs
2021 Year in Review|Wandering DMs Season 3|Wandering DMs S03 E46 from 2021-12-31T17:12

As 2021 comes to a close, Dan & Paul reflect on the year that's gone by and the 3rd Season of Wandering DMs. Some our favorites, some of our bombs, and some things we've rethought thanks to ...

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Wandering DMs
Keith Ammann|MOAR! Monsters Know What They’re Doing|Wandering DMs S03 E45 from 2021-12-30T17:12

Dan & Paul chat with special guest Keith Ammann, author of the acclaimed book & blog, The Monsters Know What They're doing, about his upcoming sequel MOAR! We'll get into how Keith has a...

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Wandering DMs
Player Narrative Control|Does it Belong in D&D?|Wandering DMs S03 E44 from 2021-12-28T17:12

Paul & Dan discuss the role of Player Narrative Control, and whether it has any place in D&D or not. Does it increase engagement with players in the game, or does it break the sense of r...

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Wandering DMs
Selecting Magic Items|Powerful Possibilities|Wandering DMs S03 E43 from 2021-12-27T17:12

Dan & Paul discuss Selecting Magic Items in your D&D campaign: What's the right level? How much is too much? What can you do later if you give the players an overpowered magic item?

...

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Wandering DMs
Cursed Items|Treacherous Talismans|Wandering DMs S03 E42 from 2021-12-26T17:31:46

Paul & Dan discuss Cursed Magic Items in a D&D. How often should they appear? How difficult to get rid of them? How has the philosophy changed across the editions? And what benefit do th...

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Wandering DMs
Multi-Party Campaigns|Greater Gaming|Wandering DMs S03 E41 from 2021-11-25T17:12

Dan & Paul discuss multi-party campaigns: How can a DM handle more than one play group marauding about a single world? How to handle interactions or conflict between the groups meeting in di...

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Wandering DMs
Trading Magic|Markets for Magic|Wandering DMs S03 E40 from 2021-11-18T17:12

Dan & Paul share ideas on how magic can be bought, sold, trading, exchanged, and maybe leased in your D&D games. Is it a good idea at all? Can PCs freely sell their hard-earned magic ite...

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Wandering DMs
Playtests|Is the Game any Good?|Wandering DMs S03 E39 from 2021-11-14T19:21:38

Paul & Dan discussing playtesting your new game or adventure design. Is it worthwhile doing it? What amount is valuable? How do you do it? When do you know your game design is done and ready...

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Wandering DMs
Vampires|The Most Dreaded|Wandering DMs S03 E38 from 2021-10-24T16:12

Paul & Dan take an old-school spin on Vampires in D&D games. Why were they considered "the most dreaded" of all the original D&D monsters? What pop traditions influence your vampires...

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Wandering DMs
How to Make D&D Scary!|Dungeons&Dread|Wandering DMs S03 E37 from 2021-10-22T16:12

Dan & Paul discuss how best to get your D&D sessions in jump-scare mode for a thrilling October!

Wandering DMs Paul Siegel and Dan “Delta” Collins host thoughtful discussions o...

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Wandering DMs
Dungeon Design Dash 1 Part 2|Traps in No Time|Wandering DMs S03 E36 from 2021-10-19T16:12

Dan & Paul buckle in to complete their one-page live dungeon design with a hard limit in their 2nd hour! This time they're focused on laying a bunch of fiendish traps, tricks, and puzzles to...

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Wandering DMs
Michael Curtis|Stonehell Dungeon|Wandering DMs S03 E35 from 2021-10-17T19:02:10

Dan & Paul get to speak with Michael Curtis -- creator of the acclaimed OSR Stonehell Dungeon, the Dungeon Alphabet, and contributor to over 60 titles in Dungeon Crawl Classics other Goodman...

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Wandering DMs
Dungeon Design Dash 1 Part 1|Adventure in an Hour|Wandering DMs S03 E34 from 2021-09-15T16:12

Dan & Paul set themselves a challenging design goal -- can they build an entire dungeon adventure, live on air, in a single hour? Will they collapse under the burden? Maybe with help from ou...

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Wandering DMs
Timm Woods|The Green Knight RPG|Wandering DMs S03 E33 from 2021-09-13T16:12

Dan interviews Timm Woods -- pro DM, PhD in English literature, and now designer of The Green Knight RPG in association with the movie by A24 Films! We loved the film -- written & directed b...

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Wandering DMs
Peter Adkison|Gen Con 2021|Wandering DMs S03 E32 from 2021-09-11T16:12

Dan & Paul get to sit with legendary gaming mogul Peter Adkison -- game designer, founder of Wizards of the Coast, rescuer of TSR and Dungeons & Dragons, owner and co-chair of the Gen Co...

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Wandering DMs
Mark Greenberg|The New Necropolis|Wandering DMs S03 E31 from 2021-09-09T16:12

Dan & Paul are joined by Mark Greenberg from Necromancer Games to chat about the new revision to Necropolis. Based on the original work by the grandmaster himself, Gary Gygax, Necropolis is ...

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Wandering DMs
Shapeshifting|Becoming the Beast|Wandering DMs S03 E30 from 2021-09-08T16:12

Polymorphing magic, druidic shapeshifting, and more -- shapechanging is one of the trickiest things in D&D to get right. How has it changed over the years? Is it overpowered, underpowered, o...

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Wandering DMs
Unarmed Combat|Grappling with Fate|Wandering DMs S03 E29 from 2021-09-08T00:39:02

Dan & Paul roll up their sleeves to debate the best use of unarmed combat in your D&D games. Pummeling, grappling, overbearing and more -- how often does this get used in your games? Wha...

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Wandering DMs
Peter Bebergal|On Appendix N|Wandering DMs S03 E28 from 2021-07-31T16:12

Paul & Dan are joined by Peter Bebergal, author of the amazing anthology Appendix N: the Eldritch Roots of Dungeons & Dragons! We loved this book, and we're looking forward to a deep div...

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Wandering DMs
Julian Bernick&Bob Brinkman|DCC Dying Earth|Wandering DMs S03 E27 from 2021-07-17T16:12

Dan & Paul are joined by Goodman Games' Julian Bernick and Bob Brinkman -- to talk about their upcoming magnum opus for the DCC Dying Earth game! D&D wouldn't be a thing without Jack Van...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Special Part 02 from 2021-07-15T16:12

The exciting finale of our end of season 3 special - GoGoGolf GMed by Christian! Will our group of dungeon inspectors find where they put the golf in this dungeon? Or at least figure out where t...

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Wandering DMs
Content Generators|Intelligent Design|Wandering DMs S03 E26 from 2021-07-14T16:12

Dan, Paul, and our viewers hold a round-table to discuss our favorite procedural-content-generators to save time for the burdened DM. Books, tables, and programs that create characters, monsters...

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Wandering DMs
Bards|Playing a Different Tune|Wandering DMs S03 E25 from 2021-07-13T19:20:30

Dan & Paul investigate the history of Bards throughout the editions of D&D. Did you know that in 1st Edition Bards were considered the apex predator, the peak of powergamers dreams? What...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Special Part 01 from 2021-06-23T16:12

At the end of season 3 we decided to play a quick special game of GoGoGolf GMed by Christian! Check out this silly romp with plenty of golf related puns, talking inanimate objects (and goo!), an...

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Wandering DMs
Jim Davis&Jonathan Pruitt|Web DM: Weird Wastelands|Wandering DMs S03 E24 from 2021-06-21T16:12

Paul & Dan are excited to be joined by Jim Davis and Jonathan Pruitt, co-hosts and co-creators of Web DM! Where we'll get the chat all about their new book -- Worlds of Web DM: Weird Wastela...

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Wandering DMs
James Maliszewski|Sci-Fi&Fantasy|Wandering DMs S03 E23 from 2021-06-18T20:54:05

Dan & Paul are joined by famed OSR Grognardia blogger James Maliszewski, to talk about mixing Science Fiction in your Fantasy. An expert in both classic D&D and M.A.R. Barker's Tekumel (...

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Wandering DMs
Art of D&D|Vol. 2: The 80’s|Wandering DMs S03 E22 from 2021-06-15T16:12

Dan is joined once again by Brooklyn-based artist Isabelle Garbani for another chapter in their ongoing exploration of the history of art in Dungeons & Dragons. It's sure to be another discu...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 16 from 2021-06-09T16:12

In the season 3 finale the gang finds themselves fighting a large group of skaven and beastmen, with the help of a few of Middenheim's own military leaders, and bar-hopping across town in the co...

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Wandering DMs
Matt Finch|Old School Prevails|Wandering DMs S03 E21 from 2021-06-07T16:12

Dan & Paul are joined by special guest Matt Finch: Creator of the award-winning Swords & Wizardry retroclone of OD&D, author of the Quick Primer for Old School Gaming, designer of lo...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 15 from 2021-06-04T17:41:44

From enjoying the Festival of Fine Ales to attending a fancy dinner party and an opera, the gang attempts to disentangle the mysterious network of influence around the Graf of Middenheim while e...

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Wandering DMs
Thieves Guilds|Organizing Crime|Wandering DMs S03 E20 from 2021-05-21T16:12

Paul & Dan have a thoughtful conversation on Thieves' Guilds in D&D and other RPGs: Does one prominently feature in your campaign? Does it exclude the non-thief players? Is it a better e...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 14 from 2021-05-19T16:12

The gang meet with a vampire and some elves, and discusses the problem of the taxes. Indigo faces off against Dieter for the title of the Graf's Champion.

Join us in the latest install...

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Wandering DMs
Satine Phoenix&Jamison Stone|Sirens: Battle of the Bards|Wandering DMs S03 E19 from 2021-05-18T19:35:50

Paul & Dan are joined by special guests Satine Phoenix & Jamison Stone, co-creators of the upcoming product from Apotheosis Studios, Sirens: Battle of the Bards -- an epic 300-page campa...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 13 from 2021-05-18T19:23:19

With Bruno off in search of high end snuff, the rest of the party infiltrates the den of narap dealers, but what they find there is far from what they expected. Will they earn the trust of a hig...

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Wandering DMs
Fighter Sweep Attacks|Combat Dominance|Wandering DMs S03 E18 from 2021-05-12T16:12

Paul & Dan discuss the old rule in Original and 1st Edition D&D where Fighters get as many attacks per turn as their level vs. low-level opponents. What classic fiction inspired this rul...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 12 from 2021-05-10T16:12

Yeffi makes a date with an elf, Mina falls in love over tea, Bruno acquires a new mortal enemy, and Indigo buys some meat on a stick. Can they figure out how to mingle in polite society, win the...

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Wandering DMs
Tim Kask|Editing Original D&D|Wandering DMs S03 E17 from 2021-05-07T16:12

Dan & Paul are joined by special guest Tim Kask (really!): Game designer, editor of the Original Dungeons & Dragons Supplements (including works by Gygax and Arneson), inaugural editor o...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 11 from 2021-05-06T16:12

The gang approaches Middenheim and does their best to avoid the tax-man. Will they make it into town with their coin-purses in tact?

Join us in the latest installment of our Original D...

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Wandering DMs
Prepping Modules|Learning the Script|Wandering DMs S03 E16 from 2021-05-05T16:12

What notes do you make when preparing to run a published module? Do you find it's necessary for every adventure you run, or do you manage to avoid it most of the time? What format of adventure p...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 10 from 2021-05-04T13:46:19

The gang spends some time talking to ghosts, and ends up with more questions than answers. Should they trust the Grand Theogonist, or Al-Ulric, or any high priest for that matter?

Join...

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Wandering DMs
50 Years of Chainmail|More Medieval Miniatures|Wandering DMs S03 E15 from 2021-05-04T13:42:25

It's the 50th anniversary of the Chainmail game being published; miniature combat for medieval armies by Gary Gygax & Jeff Perren. With a little appendix known as the "Fantasy Supplement" in...

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Wandering DMs
Jennell Jaquays|Judges Guild and Beyond|Wandering DMs S03 E14 from 2021-04-10T16:12

Dan & Paul are joined by long-time RPG design star Jennell Jaquays for a special interview. We plan to get some inside information on her creation of the legendary Dark Tower and Caverns of ...

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Wandering DMs
Roads and Highways|Wandering DMs S03 E13 from 2021-04-09T12:26:27

Dan & Paul discuss the state of the Roads and Highways in our D&D campaign worlds. The original editions of D&D didn't give any specific rules for them, and all adventuring was presu...

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Wandering DMs
How is D&D Good For You?|Wandering DMs S03 E12 from 2021-03-30T16:09

Inspired by our discussion last week with writer Ethan Gilsdorf, Dan and and Paul continue the thread: Are there benefits to playing D&D for other parts of your life, other than just a fun p...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 09 from 2021-03-29T13:07:24

The gang finds more ways to have fun with the invisibility spell, Yeffi drinks the stew, and Bruno helps the Grand Theogonist receive a vision from Sigmar. But are the Sigmarites really the savi...

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Wandering DMs
Ethan Gilsdorf|Fantasy Freaks&Gaming Geeks|Wandering DMs S03 E11 from 2021-03-17T16:12

Dan & Paul are visited by special guest Ethan Gilsdorf -- Journalist, memoirist, essayist, critic, poet, and teacher. Author of the seminal book, "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks", documenti...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 08 from 2021-03-16T16:12

Yeffi finds more clues of larger goings on in the Empire at the Orlock estate, and the gang decides to hit the road to Middenheim. Rising tensions between the Cults of Sigmar and Ulric, however,...

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Wandering DMs
Luke Gygax|Ethereal Gary Con XIII|Wandering DMs S03 E10 from 2021-03-15T20:57:41

Luke Gygax joins Dan & Paul to talk about the upcoming Gary Con XIII in a few weeks, the rise and transition to online gaming in the last year, writing and running tournament adventures, gam...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 07 from 2021-03-15T20:54:16

Indigo mobilizes a group of commandos, Yeffi contemplates the taste of blood, Bruno almost gets a pair of pants, and Mina breaks Bruno's heart and other things. All this and a great golden dwarf...

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Wandering DMs
Jonathan Tweet|The Evolution of Games|Wandering DMs S03 E09 from 2021-03-04T17:12

Dan & Paul are joined by special guest Jonathan Tweet! The lead designer on D&D 3E and principal author of the 3E Player's Handbook. Lead designer of the early 2000's D&D Chainmail M...

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Wandering DMs
Should You Read the DMG?|Different Ways to Learn D&D|Wandering DMs S03 E08 from 2021-03-03T16:46:35

Can you learn to play and run D&D by reading the Dungeon Masters' Guide? Should you? Is it a good read, or a bad one? Was it ever different in the past? What other resources are as good, or ...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 06 from 2021-02-25T17:12

The group goes out in search of their bald-headed halfling friend, and finds religion along the way. From fighting off skaven to investigating the dwarven engineering guild, they can't seem to a...

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Wandering DMs
Eat, Plague, Love|A Pandemic Valentine|Wandering DMs S03 E07 from 2021-02-24T17:12

A Valentine's Day special: Dan is joined by Brooklyn food artist Isabelle Garbani to talk about food and surviving a plague in the Middle Ages. Gather your loved ones close for this one. Where a...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 05 from 2021-02-23T17:12

As the gang debates whether or not to follow the skaven invaders, something unusual happens in the Chaos Terrarium. Will Bruno be able to keep control of Francis, or is this just Gutbag all over...

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Wandering DMs
Jon Peterson|The Elusive Shift|Wandering DMs S03 E06 from 2021-02-22T17:12

Dan & Paul get to chat with Jon Peterson, eminent historian of D&D and other TTRPGs. We've loved his earlier work, Playing at the World, to death -- and now we get to chat up his newest ...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 04 from 2021-02-09T17:12

Further exploration of Castle Witgenstein reveal that the party may not be the only uninvited guests in the castle tonight. But can they stop bickering about ethics long enough to deal with this...

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Wandering DMs
Player Expenses|Where Does the Gold Go?|Wandering DMs S03 E05 from 2021-02-07T16:47:59

Paul, Dan, and our live viewers discuss player-character expenses in D&D. A fool and his money are soon parted, but exactly how? What mixture of expenses is right for the DM to make the game...

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Wandering DMs
Griffith M. Morgan III|Secrets of Blackmoor|Wandering DMs S03 E04 from 2021-01-29T17:12

Dan & Paul get to chat with Griffith M. Morgan III, Writer and Directors of the Secrets of Blackmoor film -- documenting Griff's 6-year epic series of investigations and interviews with all ...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 03 from 2021-01-28T21:53:07

The gang continues to explore the interior of Castle Witgenstein, and declares "This Castle Sucks!" Will they finally locate Lady Margritte, and if so, will she deliver the answers they're after...

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Wandering DMs
Critical Hits|Points of Contention|Wandering DMs S03 E03 from 2021-01-28T21:37:14

Dan & Paul discuss Critical Hits in D&D and other TTRPGs: Where did they come from, how many styles and experiments have we seen over the years, what are our current preferences? (We don...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 02 from 2021-01-19T03:27

With Bruno fast asleep from eating some suspicious mushrooms, the rest of the gang must find a way to the inner bailey of Castle Witgenstein. Will they find a way of circumventing the guard with...

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Wandering DMs
Rosters&Records|Physical vs. Virtual|Wandering DMs S03 E01 from 2021-01-16T22:24

Paul & Dan discuss the pros & cons of keeping your rosters, records, PC sheets, spells, and rules in a physical-vs-virtual format. In the online gaming era: do you still keep your physic...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 03 Episode 01 from 2021-01-16T17:12

The gang is back, at last ready to try and infiltrate the spooky castle that nobody wants to go into. But first Indigo gets into an argument with some locals down at the pub, Mina experiments wi...

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Wandering DMs
Barbarians|Do You Rage?|Wandering DMs S03 E01 from 2021-01-16T03:15:11

Barbarians in D&D: are they the new Fighter? Where pulp or literary traditions do they come from, and when did they first appear in the game? Have they always been the same as, or different ...

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Wandering DMs
Fiasco Rock Band|Live Play|Wandering DMs S02 E50 from 2020-12-17T17:12

Dan & Paul are joined by guests Max & Andy from Ten Dead Rats to close out our 2nd season with a special live play session: let's play Fiasco with the Touring Rock Band playset! Some of ...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 19 from 2020-12-16T17:12

The party heads into town and plans a visit to Dr. Rousseaux's. There they discover more about the goings on in Witgendorf than they ever imagined possible, leading Mina to conclude that it is t...

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Wandering DMs
Dice Mechanics|Design, Art, and Strategy|Wandering DMs S02 E49 from 2020-12-15T17:12:54

Dan & Paul discuss Dice Mechanics: How do you use them bones in your TTRPG games? Do you prefer the linear model of just a single d6 or d20? Or are multiple dice with bell-shaped results mor...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 18 from 2020-12-08T17:12

The party journeys into the forrest outside of Witgendorf in search of their contact Bliktrund. While searching for the bandit camp, however, they find something far more nefarious lurking in th...

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Wandering DMs
Dice Designs|Tools of the Trade|Wandering DMs S02 E48 from 2020-12-05T14:26:24

Paul & Dan discuss dice in D&D and other TTRPGS: Where did they come from, and what was the historical imperatives that dictated their current use? Would it be preferable to use all clas...

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Wandering DMs
Ability Scores|Methods and Modifiers|Wandering DMs S02 E47 from 2020-11-25T17:12

Dan & Paul discuss Ability Scores for D&D player characters across the editions -- Options for how they're generated, what modifiers they produces, what in-game effects they have, and di...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 17 from 2020-11-23T17:12

The gang returns to Kemperbad only to discover their pal Sergei doesn't have the quantities of product being demanded by Franc. A last minute plan is formulated to make a big score to get them o...

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Wandering DMs
Grappling|Wrestling with Complexity|Wandering DMs S02 E46 from 2020-11-20T17:12

Dan & Paul discuss Grappling rules in D&D and other TTRPGs over the years and editions. Should it be simple or complex? How much detail do you want included? Does it warrant a unique sub...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 16 from 2020-11-18T17:12

Fearing the creepy castle that seems to inevitably call them towards it, the gang instead heads off to Altdorf to unload their cargo and try and learn a little more about the mysterious Von Witt...

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Wandering DMs
City Adventures|Maps, Movement, and Chases|Wandering DMs S02 E45 from 2020-11-17T20:22:11

Paul and Dan discuss running City Adventures in D&D and other RPGs. So many different mechanics have been tried over the years. What do the original texts say about cities -- or did they lea...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 15 from 2020-11-09T17:12

The gang returns to Kemperbad and plots their next step. There they meet up with an old friend, before setting off to the tower in hopes of finally putting use to Dagmar's balls.

Join...

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Wandering DMs
Shannon Applecline|Designers&Dragons|Wandering DMs S02 E44 from 2020-11-08T22:15:17

Dan & Paul speak with special guest Shannon Applecline -- author of the 4-volume series (and counting!) Designers & Dragons, the most encyclopedic overview to date of RPG companies, prod...

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Wandering DMs
The Tomb of Ra-Hotep with Web DM from 2020-11-08T22:09:03

Special surprise for Halloween 2020 -- the Wandering DMs host our friends from Web DM for a horrifying delve into the Lost Tomb of Ra-Hotep. It's the adventure that predated and inspired Gary Gy...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 14 from 2020-10-31T16:12

Announcing our new official full time fourth cast member: Andy Grimaldi! Andy joins us as Mina, the hapless apprentice of Etelka Herzen, just as the gang interrupts their strange ritual in a cav...

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Wandering DMs
Games within Games|Expanding Your Game with Others|Wandering DMs S02 E43 from 2020-10-30T14:28:49

How often does your D&D game contain other games? Dan & Paul discuss how very common this was in the early days of the hobby, and when it's still a good idea now. Can your game be built ...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 13 from 2020-10-30T14:24:09

The gang arrives at the surprisingly comfortable village of Unterbaum, and learns a little of the history of their goal, the mysterious "Devil's Bowl". Will the ancient druidic magic be enough t...

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Wandering DMs
Jeff Grubb|Forgotten Realms, Marvel, and More!|Wandering DMs S02 E42 from 2020-10-21T16:12

Paul and Dan get an in-depth interview with long-time game designer Jeff Grubb and get answer to some questions we've been dying to ask for years. What were the AD&D Open tournament events l...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 12 from 2020-10-19T22:50:37

The gang returns to Kemperbad and meets up with some old friends. Orlock returns to complicate their motives around the fate of Etelka Herzen, before they set off to try and sail up the River St...

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Wandering DMs
Public vs. Private Games|How Watchers Change an RPG|Wandering DMs S02 E41 from 2020-10-15T16:12

Dan and Paul reflect on the axes of visibility for an RPG in 2020: public vs. private, and also in-person vs. offline. Since we've done every combination of those measures, what are the take-awa...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 11 from 2020-10-14T23:57:56

Bruno spends some quality time with a mob of dwarves, while Indigo and Yeffi have a heart to heart with a goblin in a dress. The party puts together some more pieces of the puzzle, and begins to...

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Wandering DMs
Epidiah Ravachol|Designer of Dread|Wandering DMs S02 E40 from 2020-10-07T16:12

Dan & Paul speak with Epidiah Ravachol, the designer of the Dread RPG (winner of the Ennie for Innovation in gaming award), the game-as-prog-rock-album Wolfspell, and the Worlds Without Mast...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 10 from 2020-10-05T21:09:18

The gang investigates the mysterious tower previously owned by Etelka Herzen, and meets the new inhabitant Gutbag. Indigo is surprised to find himself outmatched by goblins, Bruno partakes in a ...

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Wandering DMs
Blowing Up Your D&D Game|Ultimate Unexpected Events|Wandering DMs S02 E39 from 2020-10-05T20:57:47

Have you ever accidentally blown up your entire D&D campaign? Party ignores all warnings and marches into a TPK? Time-traveling mishaps throws them in far future? Give player a nuke and they...

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Wandering DMs
James Maliszewski|Grognardia Returns!|Wandering DMs S02 E38 from 2020-09-23T16:12

James Maliszewski is back, and so is Grognardia! As the creator of one of the OSR's most esteemed blogs from 2008-2012, he took a well-earned break which wound up lasting 8 years. But now it's 2...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 09 from 2020-09-21T16:12

Indigo, Bruno, and Yeffi spend an evening at The Happy Man Tavern with the rescued Elvyra, and learn quite a bit more than they expected. From the sinister plots of the Red Crown to much more pe...

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Wandering DMs
Action Economy 2|Second Attacks|Wandering DMs S02 E37 from 2020-09-16T16:12

Dan and Paul once again spar over how much stuff you can do in one round of D&D. Do you like your fighters with fractional attacks, double attacks, attacks by weapon type, or as many attacks...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 08 from 2020-09-13T20:32:48

In our latest installment of Ten Dead Rats we are joined by special guest Nat Silverman, playing the bounty hunter Freder. Joining forces with our gang in their hunt for the missing Elvyra, the ...

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Wandering DMs
Sean K. Reynolds|From TSR to Monte Cook Games|Wandering DMs S02 E36 from 2020-09-07T16:12

Dan & Paul are joined with special guest Sean K. Reynolds, who has a long and storied career with D&D and fantasy RPGs: design & development for D&D 2E, 3E, Pathfinder, Greyhawk,...

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Wandering DMs
Action Economy in D&D|What Can I Do in a Round?|Wandering DMs S02 E35 from 2020-09-02T15:01

The action economy in D&D: what can you do in one round? How long is a round in D&D anyway -- does it depend on edition or DM choice? How have the terms changed? How have initiative and ...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 07 from 2020-08-31T15:11

Wrapping things up in Kemperbad the group returns to river travel once more, but will they travel up the Stir towards the Barren Hills, or up the Reik to Grissenwald? Can the dwarves of Grissenw...

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Wandering DMs
Philosophy and D&D|Wandering DMs Season 02 Episode 34 from 2020-08-27T15:44:09

Dan and Paul are joined by Professor of Philosophy Landon Schurtz to take advantage of his work in the fields of games, design, and aesthetics. What do we count as a game, and why? Does the defi...

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Wandering DMs
TPKs in D&D (Total Party Kills)|Wandering DMs Season 02 Episode 33 from 2020-08-19T16:12

Dan & Paul discuss the possibility of TPKs (Total Party Kills) in D&D of any edition. A lively, wide-ranging discussion that touches on the very roots of D&D. Do you permit it, promo...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 06 from 2020-08-18T21:24:26

The gang steels themselves to face off against Count Orlock, and is shocked to encounter more ghosts from their past. Will they take the opportunity to finally be rid of their vampiric adversary...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 05 from 2020-08-11T13:11

The gang has dinner at the Orlock estate, and makes the acquaintance of their new friend, Quinn Fireforged. Together they try to navigate the unusual social pressures of dinner with a bloodthirs...

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Wandering DMs
Alignment in D&D|Wandering DMs Season 02 Episode 32 from 2020-08-10T19:46:14

Paul & Dan take sides on the great D&D Alignment debate. Pretty sure we'll resolve this in the hour.

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Wandering DMs
Gen Con 2020|Wandering DMs Season 02 Episode 31 from 2020-08-10T19:38:30

Dan & Paul discuss the online version of Gen Con 2020 on its last day. Panels, games, the online experience, conventions past, present, and future.

Check out the panels Paul hoste...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 04 from 2020-08-03T00:38:59

The gang arrives in Kemperbad, does some shopping, meets some new friends, and reunites with one old one.

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Wandering DMs
James Mendez Hodes on Race in D&D|Wandering DMs Season 02 Episode 30 from 2020-07-29T14:16:20

Dan & Paul are joined by gaming cultural consultant James Mendez Hodes to discuss the current state of race and cultural issues in D&D and other RPGs.

Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 03 from 2020-07-25T20:29:29

Bruno experiments in chiropractic medicine, Indigo gets a hug, and Yeffi discovers she has the worst smuggling partners in the world.

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Wandering DMs
Superhero Games|Wandering DMs Season 02 Episode 29 from 2020-07-23T12:52:58

Dan and Paul discuss experiences with superhero games: High or low power level? Licensed characters or custom? Abstract or granular? Marvel, DC Heroes, Hero System, Mutants & Masterminds, Sa...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 02 from 2020-07-23T12:50:59

Digging further into the mystery of the cursed dwarven worksite, the gang discovers some strange ancient artifacts, and one disturbingly familiar one.

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Wandering DMs
Doug Vehovec|Season 02 Episode 28 from 2020-07-16T16:12

Paul and Dan speak with Nerdarchy's own Doug Vehovec about blogging, "Out of the Box: Encounters", Marvel FASERIP, and a whole lot more.

Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 01 from 2020-07-15T21:11:31

The gang is back, well, most of them. They spend some quiet time together as guests of Franc, and perhaps promise a little more in return than they're comfortable with, before finally deciding t...

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Wandering DMs
Dungeon of Zulkir|Season 02 Episode 27 from 2020-07-08T02:19:54

Special live play birthday session! Paul & Dan are joined by guests Colleen, Andriy, Fury, and (disinvited artist) Isabelle to play in the Cheat Your Own Adventure storytelling system. What ...

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Wandering DMs
Trading|Season 02 Episode 26 from 2020-06-30T12:17:17

Dan & Paul discuss injecting trade and economic options as part of your D&D game; things we've done right, things we've done wrong. What's the best way to deliver it to players who want ...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 23 from 2020-06-27T13:39

In the Season 1 finale, Yeffi goes off on a mysterious errand with Franc, while the rest of the gang heads over to The Cracked Tavern to meet Drachilda. It does not go quite as they expected.

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Wandering DMs
R.A. Salvatore|Season 02 Episode 25 from 2020-06-23T15:00

Paul and Dan get to chat with best-selling author R.A. Salvatore about gaming, writing, running D&D, the new Drizzt Do'Urden book, the creation of Icewind Dale, and a bunch of other awesome ...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 22 from 2020-06-20T14:02

The gang returns to Altdorf, does some shopping, and seeks out more clues on the elusive cult of the Purple Hand.

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Wandering DMs
Encumbrance|Season 02 Episode 24 from 2020-06-19T14:01:10

Paul and Dan weigh in on their different viewpoints on the best encumbrance system: from OD&D to B/X to 5E. Should we weigh things in coins, pounds, stone, or slots? How much do the individu...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 21 from 2020-06-13T02:46:24

The gang sets sail in their new boat to Weissbruck! Their goal of a quick resupply before moving on to Altdorf is interrupted by shadows of the past.

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Wandering DMs
Dungeon Crawl Classics|Season 02 Episode 23 from 2020-06-10T02:25

Paul and Max host (and Dan joins as a last-minute guest): Let's dig into Goodman Games' Dungeon Crawl Classics system -- between us we've run a 2-year campaign and a whole lot of con games with ...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 20 from 2020-06-06T16:12

The gang boards a boat headed up river to Altdorf, and meets some unusual people along the river.

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Wandering DMs
Wandering Monsters|Season 02 Episode 22 from 2020-06-05T12:35:26

Dan & Paul discuss the pros & cons of Wandering Monsters. Where do they come from? Do you need to edit them to their environment? Should you roll randomly, and when, and how? Great ways ...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 19 from 2020-05-30T13:25

A fight breaks out at the Warehouse, and we finally break out the Insanity Cards during the gang's last night in Bogenhafen.

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Wandering DMs
Keith Ammann|Season 02 Episode 21 from 2020-05-27T12:28

Dan and Paul discuss monster tactics with Keith Ammann, author of The Monsters Know What They're Doing.

The Monsters Know What They're Doing -- Listen

Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 18 from 2020-05-27T00:21:48

An unexpected ally helps the gang out, only to mysteriously disappear. Bruno steals a pot, Indigo eats some apples, Trebbiano gets a letter, and Yeffi kills a man.

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Wandering DMs
Wizards|Season 02 Episode 20 from 2020-05-18T16:12

Dan & Paul get nitty-gritty about the classic D&D Wizards class; on the history, Vancian spells, spellbooks, expanding spell rosters, how they fit into a party, what kinds of players the...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 17 from 2020-05-18T00:55:08

The gang has breakfast with Councilor Magerius, makes an unannounced visit to the Teugan estate, and lose track of each other in the wine cellar.

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Wandering DMs
Ernie Gygax|Season 02 Episode 19 from 2020-05-13T18:40:08

Dan and Paul get and in-depth chat with special guest Ernie Gygax about his role in developing classic D&D, DM'ing for big dungeons groups, his most recent and current projects, and a whole ...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 16 from 2020-05-10T23:00

Yeffi makes contact with the Thieves Guild of Bogenhafen, and proves to be an incredibly competent thief. With new friends in tow, the gang puts together a very lucrative job.

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Wandering DMs
Fighters|Season 02 Episode 18 from 2020-05-04T16:12

Dan and Paul discuss the fighter class, from Fighting Man to Battle Master.

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 15 from 2020-05-03T21:22:49

With Yeffi off visiting friends at the Crossed Pikes, the remainder of the group follows up with their friends at the Physicians Guild, meets some members of the Stevedores Guild, and takes anot...

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Wandering DMs
Toby Drewry|Season 02 Episode 17 from 2020-04-28T11:41:28

Dan and Paul talk to Toby Drewry, lead developer of the d20Pro virtual tabletop, and CEO of Mesa Mundi Inc. A deep dive into theory and use of VTT's.

Check out d20Pro here (free 30-da...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 14 from 2020-04-24T21:11:44

The group continues to chase down the mysterious illness of the Justice, and finds a concerning connection with some illustrious citizens of the town.

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Wandering DMs
Miniatures|Season 02 Episode 16 from 2020-04-21T16:58:33

Dan and Paul discuss the use of miniatures in D&D, how to find the balance between supporting visually complex set pieces and quick on-the-fly encounters, and how it all translates into virt...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 13 from 2020-04-19T21:12:58

The party returns to the surface world, gets a bath, and has some trouble reconnecting with their patron.

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Wandering DMs
Adriel Wilson|Season 02 Episode 15 from 2020-04-13T16:12

Dan and Paul talk to Adriel Wilson of 9th Level Games about heightening narrative aspects in games, constructing ongoing stories, comic books, novel dice mechanics, and more.

More 9th ...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 12 from 2020-04-11T17:14:46

The gang takes on their dirtiest job yet, makes some new friends, and discovers something far worse than what they went looking for.

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Wandering DMs
Virtual Helgacon|Season 02 Episode 14 from 2020-04-06T16:12

Dan and Paul discuss Virtual Helgacon: their annual house con turned online for the covid lockdown. Covering games we've played recently like D&D, Fiasco, Troika, and Book of War. Online gam...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 11 from 2020-04-06T00:46:14

The party continues to enjoy the festival, witnesses some real surprises at the freak show, and tracks down the truth about the law offices of Lock, Stöck, and Barl.

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Wandering DMs
D&D for One Player|Season 02 Episode 13 from 2020-04-01T13:56:37

Dan and Paul discuss D&D games for one player: classic programmed modules, one DM vs one player, and many other options.

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 10 from 2020-03-29T20:15:32

The party makes it to Bogenhafen just in time for the festival. Yefi meets a fellow dwarf, Indigo plays the shell game, Trebbiano buys a cage, and Bruno attempts to figure out love.

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Wandering DMs
D&D on the Internet|Season 02 Episode 12 from 2020-03-25T13:01:14

Dan and Paul discuss how to play tabletop roleplaying games over the internet. From video chat to virtual table tops, they cover all the best ways to keep your game running when everyone cannot...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 09 from 2020-03-22T03:00:52

The trail goes dead as the party attempts to find the murderer and the meaning of the purple hand tattoos.

Editor's Note - I'm afraid the internet was not kind to us during this one an...

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Wandering DMs
Web DM Jim|Season 02 Episode 11 from 2020-03-16T16:12

Web DM Jim joins Dan & Paul to discuss the interplay between 0E and 5E game styles, old-school sensibility, and bringing maximum drama and tension to the table and streams.

Web DM...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 08 from 2020-03-15T19:33:33

The gang tracks down the mysterious men with itchy ears, and makes a grisly discovery.

Editor's Note -- we had a rogue microphone generating some static mid-game. It does eventually g...

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Wandering DMs
Zenopus Archives|Season 02 Episode 10 from 2020-03-09T00:59:56

Dan and Paul discuss Holmesian Basic D&D and The 5E Ruined Tower of Zenopus with author and Holmes historian Zach Howard.

Zenopus Archives Website: Listen

Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 07 from 2020-03-07T16:10:19

Blood flies at the Orlock ball, and the party makes a new friend with a guy named Frank.

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Wandering DMs
Video Games|Season 02 Episode 09 from 2020-03-03T21:04:34

Dan and Paul discuss their personal careers and history in gaming and video games live from the PAX East show floor.

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 06 from 2020-03-02T19:24:58

The gang goes shopping, meets a witch hunter, and dresses in drag to attend a vampire's ball.

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Wandering DMs
TotalCon 34|Season 02 Episode 08 from 2020-02-24T02:23:35

Dan and Paul speak like from the convention floor of TotalCon 34. They discuss the many games Paul ran, the problem of communicating game style in a convention blurb, meeting up with patrons, a...

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Wandering DMs
XP Awards|Season 02 Episode 07 from 2020-02-24T02:20:54

Paul and Dan discuss the merits of different XP award systems: How to weight monsters, treasures, and magic. Points vs. milestones. Linear vs. geometric progressions. And lots more.

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 05 from 2020-02-24T02:18:43

A pleasurable evening is spent at the coaching inn, and a devious plan is hatched on route to Altdorf.

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Wandering DMs
Emma Lambert and Attending Conventions|Season 02 Episode 06 from 2020-02-10T02:18:30

Dan and Paul are joined by Web DM Communications Director Emma Lambert, and they discuss the ins and outs of attending gaming conventions.

Editor's Note: We had some audio issues durin...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 04 from 2020-02-08T13:36:52

Posing as coachmen, the party encounters mutants along the road, and an intriguing opportunity arises for Indigo.

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Wandering DMs
Food|Season 02 Episode 05 from 2020-02-02T19:56:18

Dan and Paul make cookies! And talk about food at the gaming table while playing roleplaying games, as a prop in roleplaying games, and in the fiction and mechanics of roleplaying games.

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 03 from 2020-01-31T21:32:52

The crew makes it to Carroburg, delivers their charge, and plots their course to Altdorf.

Note - This episode experienced some unusual audio problems. I've done my best to clip out t...

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Wandering DMs
Steven McAuley, Joe Manganiello, and Bringing Old School to 5e|Season 02 Episode 04 from 2020-01-26T21:29:41

Dan and Paul are joined by Steven McAuley and surprise guest Joe Manganiello to discuss their roots in old school gaming, and how it impacts their current 5th Edition D&D games. Cool sites t...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 02 from 2020-01-26T21:15:03

Trebbiano becomes sick and is confined to his bunk. The rest of the crew does their best to deal with the creature lurking in the hold of the Belle, and things don't go quite as planned.

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Wandering DMs
Colleen Nachtrieb and Ten Dead Rats|Season 02 Episode 03 from 2020-01-26T20:39:34

Paul is joined by guest Colleen Nachtrieb to discuss their new actual play stream Ten Dead Rats. They discuss the system, the setting, and how live streaming differs from normal home play aroun...

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Wandering DMs
Ten Dead Rats|Season 01 Episode 01 from 2020-01-19T17:07:49

The characters meet in Marienburg. A surgery becomes more of a shanking. The going price of a bagful of dwarf is debated. The party discovers there is something unusual about the package they...

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Wandering DMs
Ian McGarty and Self Publishing|Season 02 Episode 02 from 2020-01-12T19:57:17

Dan and Paul are joined by special guest Ian McGarty. They discuss self publishing D&D publications online, and reflect on their experiences creating, testing, and promoting their work.

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Wandering DMs
New Campaigns|Season 02 Episode 01 from 2020-01-06T01:20:32

Dan and Paul kick off season two with a boat-load of exciting announcements, followed by a discussion about starting up a new campaign.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 35: PAX Unplugged from 2019-12-10T01:45:21

Dan and Paul discuss their trip to PAX Unplugged 2019 in Philadelphia.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 34: Endings from 2019-12-01T19:50:47

Dan and Paul discuss how to plan for ending your roleplaying campaign. How do you give your players a satisfying conclusion without just fizzling out?

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Wandering DMs
Episode 33: Languages from 2019-11-24T19:32:42

Dan and Paul discuss fantasy languages in D&D -- from monster and racial languages to alignment languages, the magic used to understand them, and how restricting access to them can benefit y...

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Wandering DMs
Episode 32: Puzzles and Riddles from 2019-11-17T19:42:45

Dan and Paul discuss how to effectively use puzzles and riddles in your D&D game.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 31: Dreams, Visions, and Prophecies from 2019-11-10T19:36:10

Dan and Paul discuss all the mechanisms for foretelling and enforcing fated outcomes in D&D.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 30: Time from 2019-11-03T20:21:39

Dan and Paul discuss the passage of time in D&D games, from hours of torchlight, to weeks of spell research, to what their game calendars look like.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 29: Horror Gaming from 2019-10-27T18:56:56

Dan and Paul discuss horror in roleplaying games, if D&D is a horror setting, and make several other exciting announcements.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 28: DH Boggs from 2019-10-20T18:24:19

Dan and Paul are joined by special guest DH Boggs to discuss the history of D&D as run by Dave Arneson.

Links from the Show
Wandering DMs
Episode 27: Gaming Gear from 2019-10-13T19:08:49

Dan and Paul discuss the gear they've bought for gaming over the years - what works, what doesn't, and what has turned out to be just plain silly.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 26: Advice for New DMs from 2019-10-06T18:43:35

Dan and Paul go over words of advice for new DMs thinking of running their first game.

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Episode 25: Mind Control from 2019-09-29T19:04:44

Dan and Paul discuss magic that takes over your character, from paralysis to charm, and how to deal with it from both the player and DM's perspective.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 24: Metagaming from 2019-09-22T18:22:23

Dan and Paul discuss metagaming in D&D - what it is, how to prepare for it, and how to deal with it when it catches you by surprise.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 23: Introducing New Characters from 2019-09-15T18:33:35

Dan and Paul discuss how to introduce new characters into a game, whether due to new players showing up to the table or an unexpected character death mid-game.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 22: Basic Dice Math from 2019-09-14T01:32:57

Dan discusses the basics of D&D dice math and probability, and dispels some common misunderstandings. There will be a quiz!

  • Torben Mogensen's Troll dice roller: Listen
Wandering DMs
Episode 21: DM’s Role from 2019-09-01T18:17:14

Dan and Paul discuss what is unique about the role of the DM at the table, and why they enjoy DMing games.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 20: Humor in Gaming from 2019-08-25T19:20:03

Dan and Paul discuss Humor in Gaming, including systems that have supported to to various degrees, and how best to write and prepare for including humor in your game.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 19: D&D Art (1974-1980) from 2019-08-22T13:54:51

Dan is joined by guest artist and educator Isabelle Garbani, who works from Brooklyn in sculpture, recycled materials, and public installations. Together they look at and discuss the evolution o...

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Wandering DMs
Episode 18: Player vs. Character from 2019-08-22T13:53:21

Dan and Paul discuss the separation of player and character - should you do it, when should you do it, and what problems does it create or solve?

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Wandering DMs
Episode 17: Sub Classes from 2019-08-22T13:52:34

Paul and Dan discuss additional classes beyond the big four - from AD&D sub-classes to the current list on D&D Beyond.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 16: Learning D&D from 2019-08-22T13:51:56

Dan and Paul discuss how they were first exposed to the hobby, and how that process has changed for new players over the years.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 15: Infravision from 2019-08-22T13:51:17

Dan and Paul discuss infravision in old school D&D. We touch on combat vs. exploration, how it plays into other visibility effects such as invisibility and detection magic, and a variety of...

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Wandering DMs
Episode 14: Technology and Software from 2019-08-22T13:50:44

Dan and Paul discuss technology and software they have used or in some cases created for their D&D games.

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Episode 13: Level Disparity from 2019-08-22T13:49:45

Dan and Paul discuss how to deal with level disparity in your D&D campaign.

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Episode 12: Henchmen from 2019-08-22T13:43:29

Dan and Paul discuss the pros and cons of hiring in some help to your D&D adventuring party.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 11: Intelligent Swords from 2019-08-22T13:42:09

Dan and Paul discuss the frequency of intelligent swords, their powers, how to adjudicate battles for control, and share some stories of using intelligent swords in their own games.

Vi...

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Wandering DMs
Episode 10: Death, Crits, and Resurrection from 2019-08-22T03:24:40

Dan and Paul discuss the deadliness of old school gaming, and how they handle critical hits, death, and resurrection.

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Episode 9: HelgaCon from 2019-08-22T03:10:16

Dan and Paul wrap up their experiences playing at a local house-convention.

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Episode 8: Conventions vs. Campaigns from 2019-08-22T03:06:37

Dan and Paul discuss the differences between running an ongoing never-ending home campaign, and a short 4-hour convention session.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 7: Dragons from 2019-08-22T02:51:20

Dan and Paul discuss dragons, and how they differ across editions.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 6: Hex Crawls from 2019-08-22T02:17:57

Dan and Paul discuss their experiences playing and running hex-crawls. They explore what worked, what didn't, and give advice on what they think makes for a really good hex-crawl adventure.

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Episode 5: Tomb of Horrors from 2019-08-22T02:12:22

Dan and Paul discuss the module S1: Tomb or Horrors, including the history of the module and their experience running and playing it.

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Episode 4: Clerics from 2019-08-22T02:09:30

Dan and Paul discuss the cleric class, and why they have been removed from OED.

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Episode 3: Thieves from 2019-08-22T01:58:57

Dan and Paul discuss the history of the thief class, and how they use thieves in their own campaigns.

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Episode 2: Improv and New DMs from 2019-08-22T01:39

Dan and Paul chat about improvisation as a DM tool, and how we teach such things to bourgeoning DMs.

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Wandering DMs
Episode 1: What is Old School? from 2019-08-19T00:49:16

Dan and Paul discuss what exactly qualifies as "old school", or at least agree that it's impossible to qualify.

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