Dragon Mind - Mindful TTRPGs

Why is there such a huge gap between those of us who LOVE lore and those of us who roll our eyes at it? Let us know by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is now on YouTube! For our YouTube channel, head to: Youtube.com/@dragonmindttrpgs Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

What elements do you emphasize, downplay, or let go of in order to run a balanced TTRPG session? Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Want more Dragon Mind? Subscribe to our YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@dragonmindttrpgs and follow us on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@dragonmindttrpgs Have a question? Ask us by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

What are the upsides and downsides of optimization? Can we broaden the definition of "optimization" to make it universally useful? Let us know by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is now on YouTube! For our YouTube channel, head to: Youtube.com/@dragonmindttrpgs Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

How do you know when it's time to end the story of a character, arc, or campaign? When do you keep going and when do you say goodbye? Why are endings so hard? For a little bit on the psychology of story endings, check out Malcolm Gladwell's episode of Revisionist History, linked below: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0703VB1lFpJLaNgv7yiHG1?si=ysK0FQBZSR2RLGShSbW46w In this segment of the Dragon Mind TTRPG Podcast, John and Stephanie borrow brilliance from our world's most insightful minds to become better game masters, players, and people. This podcast is a proud member of the Darkmore Podcast Network. To discover more content from its members, visit darkmorepodcasts.com Want to poke us about a question or have feedback about the podcast? Send us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

Today, I'm joined by Michael "Wrel" Henderson, a previous guest on Dragon Mind during our Playtest Panel Discussions and World Building Mini-Series to talk about his new grounded d20 TTRPG, Distal, which you can check out at playdisrpg.com We talk about some of the system's design goals, unique mechanics, and its extremely fun backstory generation tables. To follow Distal's development, you can subscribe to Michael's YouTube channel at youtube.com/@WarpathWrel This podcast is a proud member of the Darkmore Podcast Network. To discover more content from its members, visit darkmorepodcasts.com Want to poke us about a question or have feedback about the podcast? Send us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

In a recently uploaded video, Jeremy Crawford broke the news that we won't be receiving anymore playtest packets for the 2024 Player's Handbook. So, now is as good a time as ever to reflect on how it went. References D&D Playtest Survey Results | Player's Handbook | Unearthed Arcana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmZvRkRsfvw D&D Exec. Opens Up about OGL & One D&D | My Interview with Kyle Brink https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smyRYVzB_jQ&t=382s 6:22 - Kyle Brink’s Promise Wizards of the Coast will continue supporting third-party content for D&D https://www.geekwire.com/2022/wizards-of-the-coast-will-continue-supporting-third-party-content-for-dd/ (Original statement pre-OGL Crisis) D&D Studio Update: 2024 Core Rule Books and Survey Results https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYgSsn7b0f0&t=260s 3:46 - Defining Backwards Compatibility Weapon Masteries RANKED for One DnD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGfZ4NaLFq0 The "Outlier" spells that need fixed in D&D 5e, and how we do it with One D&D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R42s6ak2_1I Check out Mike Shea's Lazy RPG Podcast at: https://open.spotify.com/show/0QErT8qPZ1KBPSIwnGBKMZ?si=cb7aa2db52e34f32 This podcast is a proud member of the Darkmore Podcast Network. To discover more content from its members, visit darkmorepodcasts.com Want to poke us about a question or have feedback about the podcast? Send us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

Notice how this title's in quotes? In today's episode, John and Stephanie discuss the notion that "No D&D is Better than Bad D&D" by investigating the root causes of "Bad D&D" and resolving the paradox of knowing that to become a skilled GM, you'll have to run games unskillfully first. In this segment of the Dragon Mind TTRPG Podcast, John and Stephanie borrow brilliance from our world's most insightful minds to become better game masters, players, and people. This podcast is a proud member of the Darkmore Podcast Network. To discover more content from its members, visit darkmorepodcasts.com Want to poke us about a question or have feedback about the podcast? Send us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

One of the most under-recognized elements of Game Mastering is considering the real-world time spent playing and waiting in a game environment. Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Want more Dragon Mind? Subscribe to our YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@dragonmindttrpgs and follow us on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@dragonmindttrpgs Have a question? Ask us by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

In today's episode, John and Stephanie discuss their experiences playtesting and how to run a successful playtest that yields helpful information. Distal is a TTRPG in Alpha playtesting by Michael from the Playtest Panel Discussions. You can check out the system at https://linktr.ee/distalrpg In this segment of the Dragon Mind TTRPG Podcast, John and Stephanie borrow brilliance from our world's most insightful minds to become better game masters, players, and people. This podcast is a proud member of the Darkmore Podcast Network. To discover more content from its members, visit darkmorepodcasts.com Want to poke us about a question or have feedback about the podcast? Send us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

We finally get a version of the Monk that (seems) to be on par with its martial-peers. Everything looks good. The question remains: does it play good? To support this podcast, drop a 5-star review in your app of choice and let us know your favorite thing about Dragon Mind. To submit a question or topic, email us at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or let us know in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

Hot on the heels of UA 7 is UA 8: Bastions and Cantrips, as well as a discussion about the survey feedback for UA 6. To support this podcast, drop a 5-star review in your app of choice and let us know your favorite thing about Dragon Mind. To submit a question or topic, email us at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or let us know in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

Designing an encounter can serve multiple functions. Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Want more Dragon Mind? Subscribe to our YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@dragonmindttrpgs and follow us on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@dragonmindttrpgs Have a question? Ask us by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

What type of Game Balance does your table enjoy? What have been your experiences with homebrew TTRPG content? Let us know by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

In today's episode, John and Stephanie discuss the "pro mindset" that you can bring to any table you're apart of, as well as both sides of the Professional GMing relationship. In this episode, we mention a few resources to check out. They're listed below: Why I Quit Pro DM'ing and Is It For You? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjU8CyoYw0k Treantmonk's Temple - https://www.youtube.com/@TreantmonksTemple The Eldritch Lorecast by Ghostfire Gaming - https://open.spotify.com/show/5EW3iItCF2WuyP02dCRrym Pack Tactics - https://www.youtube.com/@PackTactics Ginny Di - https://www.youtube.com/@GinnyDi Bob Worldbuilder - https://www.youtube.com/@BobWorldBuilder XP to Level 3 - https://www.youtube.com/@XPtoLevel3 Matthew Colville - https://www.youtube.com/@mcolville The Monsters Know What They're Doing - https://www.themonstersknow.com/ In this segment of the Dragon Mind TTRPG Podcast, John and Stephanie borrow brilliance from our world's most insightful minds to become better game masters, players, and people. This podcast is a proud member of the Darkmore Podcast Network. To discover more content from its members, visit darkmorepodcasts.com Want to poke us about a question or have feedback about the podcast? Send us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

Sometimes what we think will happen and what actually happens are very different things. What have been your experiences with homebrew TTRPG content? Let us know by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

Another entry into our favorite news topic, D&D Fifth Edition Second Edition, also known at PHB 2024. We get the subclass previews for Barbarian, Fighter, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard. Oh yeah, it's all coming together. To support this podcast, drop a 5-star review in your app of choice and let us know your favorite thing about Dragon Mind. To submit a question or topic, email us at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or let us know in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

GMing isn't about what you do. It's about who you are. Let us know by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

A common stumbling block for new GMs is to think of their TTRPG as a story rather than a quest. Write Quests, not Stories. Let us know by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

How do you recognize a distortion in your design, and what can you do about it? Let us know by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music

How do the design elements of your game harmonize into an ideal experience? Let us know by sending us an email at dragonmindpodcast@gmail.com or posting in the Dragon Mind channel in the Darkmore Podcast Community Discord at https://discord.gg/DAJcutMt Dragon Mind is a TTRPG discussion podcast where we look through the infinite lenses of TTRPGs to discover our best selves through gaming. Gaming doesn't have to just be an escape. It can help revolutionize your reality. Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music