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PODCAST

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

Learn how to be a better DM (Dungeon Master) so you can tell better stories for yourself and your friends. Learn things like how to start a campaign, how to create realistic NPCs, how to move the plot along, and how and why to use session 0"s for your party. Join hosts Justin Lewis, Cayden Ottley and Tanner Weyland as they distill all the DM tips, tools and resources for the beginner DM, for the DM with a few years of experience and for the Forever DM who"s been playing for 20 years. If you"re sick

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All Episodes

00:13:24

Cliffhangers: 3 DM Tips for using them like a—

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/12/18

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.

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00:13:08

Tips for Improv: Reacting and Responding to Players’...

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/12/11

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:The Rule of IntentYes ANDSpark or PromptsTake Pauses and BreathesTake Advantage of Cool MomentsOutsource to the PlayersMaintain the tone or Subvert it 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:

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00:19:36

Lessons in Collaborative Storytelling

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/12/04

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!

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00:21:36

5 D&D Game Mechanics to Get Excited About

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/11/20

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?

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00:12:35

Tips for Better DM Improv Part 2

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/11/13

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DMtoday we continue talking about better Improv Tips for DMsHere’s what we cover:The Rule of IntentYes ANDSparks or Prompt ListsTaking Pauses or BreathesThanks 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/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios:

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00:20:20

What to do with an NPC Companion...

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/11/06

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.

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00:12:46

Better Improv For Dungeon Masters: The Rule of Intent...

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/10/30

Welcome to How to Be a Better DMToday 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:

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00:14:26

Embracing External Inspiration in D&D Without Shame

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/10/23

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

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00:16:36

The Secret Inner Work of Exceptional Dungeon Masters

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/10/16

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 DMSelf ValidationJealousyCuriositySelf RegulationSix Pillars of Self EsteemDon’t take things personally The 4 AgreementsAssertivenessPersonal ClarityJournalingSelf-DisciplineRoutinesRelationship BuilderThe Like SwitchGrattitudeGrattitude JournalThanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some

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00:20:23

Do Your Words Have Weight As A DM?

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/10/09

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!

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00:10:41

4 Tools for Dungeon Master Improvement

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/10/02

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 Tools1. 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

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00:12:40

How to Make Combat Encounters Fun Again: Part 3

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/09/18

Here are my tips:Use scatter terrainUse distanceUse elevationCapture the FlagVIPZombiesTagHide and SeekSnatch and GrabIngredient GatheringKing of the HillThe Ground is LavaShock and AweLibrary BookThe Shell GameAdd Water ElementsAdd 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/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm

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00:09:07

What To Do When Your Campaign Stops

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/09/11

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!

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00:11:31

Combat Encounters are Broken: Let’s Fix Them - Part 2

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/09/04

Today we fix combat encounters, plus my kids have something to say.This is what we talk about:Use scatter terrainUse distanceUse elevationCapture the FlagVIPZombiesTagHide and SeekThanks 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/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsMonument Studios:

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00:18:19

Embracing Randomness in D&D

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/08/28

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/

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00:11:57

How to Fix Combat Encounters Part 1

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/08/21

Today we talk about how to fix Combat Encounters1. Use Scatter Terrain2. Use Distance3. Use ElevationAlso, 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/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios:

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00:21:06

Points of Interest: Prepping Multiple Meaningful...

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/08/14

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!

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00:11:35

7 Dungeon Master Mistakes I’m Still Making

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/08/07

Welcome to How to Be a Better DMToday we talk about 7 mistakes I still make:Not taking in the moment and enjoying.Not surprising my partyTrying to be a dungeon master that I’m notComparing Myself to Other DMNot being meForcing my expectations on other players Not Skipping the Boring BitsThanks 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/worldsmithRoll and Play

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00:12:37

Are You Starting Your D&D Campaign... With Fun?

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/07/31

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...

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00:11:37

Why Your Combat Slogs and How to Fix It

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2025/07/24

Here are today's sponsors:Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcastRoll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplayStudio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsOur Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreonWhy your combat SlogsYou haven’t set the epectations with your playersBecause you’re building combats and not encountersYou haven’t red shirted it - you’re not familiar with the baddies or the

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